Last year PDG Mike Kloss traveled with “Victor the Duck” as he visited our district clubs. While I will not be accompanied by a mascot, I am grateful my wife Mary has agreed to accompany me and attend as many club visits as possible.
The real service of Rotary begins at the club level. From western and southern Wisconsin to eastern Minnesota, our Rotary clubs are making a difference in 29 counties and the many cities, towns, and villages they serve.
Local members often feel their small clubs may not be so important. To the contrary, these clubs understand the needs of their smaller communities and they dig in to make lasting change.
We started the year off right by visiting a couple of inspiring clubs near our home.
Posted by Todd Restel Chair, DG Nominating Committee
District 6250 is beginning the process of identifying the Rotarian who will serve as our District Governor in 2029-30.
At this stage, we are simply asking for recommendations. No nomination forms or club resolutions are required, and the Nominating Committee will discreetly contact recommended individuals to determine their interest. Please send suggested names by Sunday, Sept. 13 to Nominating Committee Chair Todd Restel at trestel@1supply.com or 608-790-5134.
District 6250 has a new leader at the helm of its Rotary Foundation efforts. Jodi Widuch, a longtime member of the Rotary Club of La Crosse, is stepping into the role of District Rotary Foundation Chair with a passion for helping clubs turn Foundation resources into meaningful service.
Drawing on years of Rotary leadership and hands-on project experience, Jodi shares what inspired her to say “yes” to the role, reflects on the impact of past Foundation-supported work and looks ahead to the opportunities for clubs across the district. Read on to learn more about our district's new Foundation Chair, Jodi Widuch.
Photos tell your story in a fraction of a second. So they need to have heart.
In these photos can you find the heart? The service?
Mostly we see the SELF in Service Above Self. Until we get to the picture of the children holding dictionaries. Yes, the story is about giving dictionaries to children. Surprised?
Now think about the photos you take. Do you capture emotion? Can the viewer identify the service in the image?
I know we love our big checks, but for a big check to tell a story the reader needs to see who’s being helped.
If you want to take a picture of a big check, pair it with one that shows who is helped. Help your readers connect with the real power of a gift, the ‘why’ we’re in Rotary.
We have waited for literally years to be able to make this announcement. As of August 1st, the Wisconsin DOT has approved and made available Rotary license plates you can proudly display on your automobile. You can even personalize your own custom plates, offering a great opportunity to display who we are and what we stand for… “Service Above Self.” Best of all, $25 of your fee goes to the End Polio Now campaign,
Order your plates today by going to the Wisconsin DOT website at:
Why are we talking about Annual Reports in September? Because now is the ideal time to start organizing your club's accomplishments and establish a simple system for collecting photos, stories, and activity highlights throughout the year.
“This is more than a walk! It is a united movement to raise awareness and demonstrate the power of Rotary in action. Together, we are helping support the collective goal of raising $1 million toward polio eradication while reminding the world that we are ‘This Close’ to ending polio forever.”
Rotarians across our region are gearing up for something big - the World’s Largest Polio Walk on Saturday, Oct. 24. We invite every club to be part of it by planning their own local walk.
For more details, read on. Questions? Email Kathy Reinolt (reinoltk@gmail.com), District Polio Chair.
Join us for two amazing Vibrant Club Workshops! Register HERE to attend. Space is limited and other districts are interested in attending, so register NOW before you miss an opportunity!
For more information, go to our website and register while you're there!
The Rotary Club of Poona Midtown in Pune, India, is developing a Global Grant project to help people living with thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder that requires regular blood transfusions. The initiative would provide a fully equipped mobile blood collection and donation unit to expand access to safe, reliable blood supplies, including in remote communities.
The club is seeking Rotary partners to help bring the project to life through financial support and collaboration. Read more about the project, its potential impact and how your club can get involved.
Eleven members of District 6250 traveled to Newfoundland for a Friendship Exchange filled with new connections, local culture and memorable experiences. Along the way, the group explored historic sites, visited Rotary projects and experienced firsthand the hospitality that has made Newfoundland famous.
From St. John’s to Clarenville and Gander, the journey offered plenty of opportunities to learn, serve and build lasting friendships. The group returned home as honorary Newfoundlanders after being “Screeched In,” a local tradition that included Screech rum, a few hard-to-repeat phrases and, of course, kissing a cod. Read more about their adventures and the connections they hope will bring their new Newfoundland friends to District 6250 in the future.
