April ended on a strong note with TriCon 2025 highlighting what is possible when hundreds of service-oriented Rotarians come together. As you know, District 6250 has been teaming up with two other Wisconsin Districts (6220 and 6270) for the past several years to create a single place where Rotarians can congregate to be inspired, to share insights and to join in fellowship with friends.
(Photo l to r) IFeed 2025 volunteers, District Governor Todd Restel, District Governor-Nominee Scott Ryan and District Governor-Elect Mike Kloss. Photographed by Rotary Club of La Crosse After Hours.
This year once again upped the game for all future TriCon events through its amazing keynote speakers, educational breakout sessions, the always important impromptu conversations in the hallways, fellowship and loads of FUN.
April is also the month of our District Annual meeting where we made important decisions for the Districts future such as voting on the following: 1- members of our 2025-26 Board of Directors, 2 - the District Governor Nominee Designate (e.g. our DG for 2027-28) and 3 - the nominating committee who is responsible for finding our 2028-29 District Governor. We also received updates from our Committees who are working hard to support our Clubs.
Each year, Rotary International honors a maximum of 150 Rotarians with the prestigious “Service Above Self” award. One of this year’s winners is Mary Van Hout who has worked tirelessly for our District. Mary will readily admit that this award would not have been possible without the many Rotarians who have worked with her as a team. Our District, as well as many other Districts, is the direct beneficiary of her many Rotary (and non-Rotary) accomplishments. If you know Mary and weren’t at TriCon 2025, please reach out and congratulate her for this significant and well-deserved honor.
TriCon was one of my last opportunities to talk to hundreds of people as a District Governor before I “retire” into the role of Past District Governor. During one of my talks, I had the opportunity to highlight the following items and asked people to take action on these opportunities over the next couple of weeks:
- Public Image - Keep a lookout out for Wisconsin’s newest “Special Group License Plate” which will highlight Rotary International. Please consider getting this license plate in a few months upon its release. (We do not yet have a specific release date but will keep you informed via the District Dispatch newsletter).
- Peace – Today, our planet is experiencing over 30 active military conflicts. One specific action step to work for Peace is the completion of the “Rotary Positive Peace Academy” course. This free course has been completed by all of RI President Stephanie Urchick’s Board of Directors. More information on this course can be on RI’s website.
- Water, Sanitation and Hygiene – Start planning a celebration: If you are looking for a new idea, very few people have ever celebrated World Toilet Day on Nov. 19th in our District. If you plan a fellowship event on this date, it will likely be everyone’s first time celebrating this day as well as this concept. I guarantee that this unique event will get people talking at work and at other places which will have the positive effect of generating a lot of Rotary-based conversations. Conversations spark interest and could possibly lead to new visitors coming to your club. It worked for my club!
- Membership – Invite a friend, colleague, acquaintance, spouse, etc. as a visitor to your club. Nothing is more powerful than a personal and specific invitation.
- Succession Planning – Our District Governor line reflects a gold standard when it comes to succession planning. After I finish my term in two months, we have three Rotarians lined up to become DG (in 2025-26, 2026-27 and 2027-28). By fall, we will have identified the next DG. If your club has a similar depth in its Presidential leadership line, your club is most likely very healthy. If you don’t have this type of succession planning in place, I promise you that a clear line of leadership succession will be beneficial to your club.
Respectfully,
Todd Restel
District Governor 6250