In an effort to streamline meeting set up and eliminate last-minute issues with technology, please email a copy of the guest's presentation to Spencer Niebur prior to the meeting. Randy will load the presentation on his laptop so the guest speaker doesn't have to worry about technology the day of the meeting. Guests can bring their own laptop if they insist but we prefer to have the presentations in advance. Thank you.
July
Tom Weber
Tim Schadeberg
August
Sheri Ross
Sheila Connors
September
Penny Tiedt
Dave Burgess
October
Joe Kress
Bob Allen
November
Tom Mickelson
Sally Egan
December
Jodi Ehrenberger
Lynnetta Kopp
Club Response
July
3 - No Meeting
10 - Tim Schadeberg
17 - Jeff Sexauer
24 - Walt Smanski
31 - Karla Stanek
August
7 - Pat Stephens
14 - No Meeting - Avenues of Service Dinner Aug. 15
The Rotarian of the Year award is given to a Rotarian who has given exceptional service to Rotary International and/or to the Rotarian's club or to the community in the name of Rotary during the 2016-17 Rotary Year. Spencer Niebur was nominated by past Roarians of the Year for his passion and commitment to the Club. With 10 days notice before Pre-PETS, Spencer agreed to serve as East's president elect and he co-chaired the inaugural Lobsterfest fundraiser. He exemplifies the Rotarian ideal of "service above self."
Congratulations, Spencer, on receiving this well-deserved award!
As we close the 2016-17 Rotary Year, let's thank Randy Van Rooyen for his dedicated leadership this past year.
I don't know if Randy was ever a Boy Scout, but he certainly ascribes to the "leave the campsite better than you found it" rule. After conducting a thoughtful member survey, he enhanced or created new ways for our membership to engage, both in service and in fellowship. Pre- and post-meeting emails, 5th Monday socials, and the 45th Anniversary Celebration helped Rotarians stay engaged and connected. Quarterly drawings encouraged Rotarians to invite guests to our meetings and 10 new members were welcomed into our club. The President's Challenge encouraged us to take one or two small steps to expand our Rotary experience. A succession plan was put into place and now we have greater depth and continuity in the leadership team. And the creation of a new signature fundraiser, Lobsterfest, will enhance the club - and benefit our community - for years to come!
Thank you, Randy, for your time and dedication to Rotary East!
DG Joe Ruskey will be visiting our club on Monday, July 10. Check out District 6250's website for more information about the great things happening in our district!
Joe has been a member of the Prairie du Chien Rotary club since 2003. He served as President in 2007 -2008, a member of the board of directors, membership chair, and chair of the fundraising committee. In 2008 Joe started to work with the district as an AG for group 10. He held this position from 2008 – 2012. In 2012 Joe accepted the position of District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair. He will continue in this role until July 2016. He has been a part of the team that has helped usher in Future Vision throughout District 6250. Joe feels that with Future Vision, Our Foundation is uniquely positioned to change lives all over the world while ensuring dollars are used to their fullest. That is the power of Our Foundation.
Even though Joe has been in Rotary since 2003, he states he ‘actually’ became a Rotarian in 2007 when becoming president of his club. While in this roll Joe truly learned what Rotary is. It lined up with his and his wife’s belief that we are only here to serve others. Continuing into the role of AG, Joe learned more about the power of Rotary both locally and internationally. As he learned about the Foundation, he became more convinced that Rotary allowed him and his family to walk out their beliefs.
Joe has been involved in both local projects and international projects. He has worked with clubs all over the district to make sure that their ideas and projects are backed and strengthened through both district and global grants. Joe and his team have been involved in awarding hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of grants allowing him to have a front row seat to the power of Rotary and the amazing tool that Our Foundation is. He was personally involved in a project in Ghana that allowed over 86000 people to have their lives changed. Joe believes that is a statement of the importance and necessity of Rotary. He also believes that right now is so important because needs all over the globe increase daily. In addition, we are so close to finishing our job to eradicate polio. We are on track to see it eliminated in 2018. He believes we can’t let up when we are so close.
Joe lives in Prairie du Chien with his wife, Tina, his daughter, Samantha, and his Son, Joseph. His Daughter was an outbound Rotary Exchange Student to Denmark in 2013/14. His family has also hosted 2 inbound exchange students. Joe and Tina are both supporters of the Rotary Foundation. Tina is a Paul Harris and a bequest society member. Joe is a Paul Harris plus member, a sustaining member, a bequest society member, and a Paul Harris society member. Joe and Tina own Dependable Solutions, Inc., a technology consulting firm specializing in Computer Network Support, design, and implementation with locations in Prairie du Chien, Boscobel, and La Crosse.
In his spare time, Joe enjoys diving, grilling, and travelling with his wife and kids. Joe and Tina enjoy travelling throughout the district and beyond to different Rotary events and clubs. It allows them to see all the good Rotary does around the world and it is something so important to both of them.