I want to pause and thank you for your hard work and dedication. As we Unite for Good, we enter this holiday season knowing we have made a tangible impact on our communities and the world, with even more on the horizon for 2026!
I am proud to serve as your District Governor, but even more proud of the incredible members here in District 6250. Every day, I meet new faces and am consistently impressed by the Rotary spirit, passion, and energy I see in action.
The past few weeks have been incredibly busy with travels and events, starting with the Madison South Club, especially known for its long-standing, efficient Brat Stand at UW Football games. I was privileged to present their club with awards for being #1 in our District's Foundation giving, having a $100 Average Giving and $100 Per Capita. What an honor for their small but mighty and passionate club! Past-President Steve Fine and President Mike True also honored four Rotarians for achieving 50 years of Rotary membership—what an incredible achievement! Thank you, Club President Mike, for a great visit! [Top Photo]
Posted by Marth Klatt, Tomah Rotary Club, DGE '27-28
Get ready to connect, collaborate, and energize your club experience! Register Here! This interactive workshop is designed to help you build meaningful connections, share innovative ideas, and discover practical strategies for success—all while having fun.
Together, we’ll explore ways to:
Increase the impact of your club projects
Expand outreach and engage your community more effectively
Strengthen your club’s foundation for innovation, sustainability, and long-term growth
Whether you’re looking to refresh your approach or take your club to the next level, this workshop is your gateway to inspiration and transformation.
The surprising science behind why people say no to joining Rotary
Influence isn’t about making a stronger case – it’s about making people feel understood, a shift Rotary clubs must embrace to connect and grow.
We’ve all been there. We craft the perfect pitch, present the most compelling case, and still… the answer is no. Or worse, polite indifference. Whether we’re trying to grow our Rotary club’s membership, get a new project off the ground or engage a younger audience, the frustration is the same: why don’t people ‘get it’?
The answer lies in a simple but confronting truth: people are not persuaded by logic alone.
For decades we’ve assumed that if we just explain things clearly, show the benefits, outline the impact, people will be convinced. But behavioral science tells a different story. When people resist change or new ideas, it’s rarely because they don’t understand. It’s because they feel something is at risk: loss of control, loss of certainty or even loss of identity.
Thank you to the clubs that have implemented succession plans and elected their future leaders. If your club has not yet elected a president for the 2026–27 Rotary year, now is the time. Both your club and the district need this information as PETS is less than three months away, with Pre-PETS training even sooner.
Please share your election results or questions with District Administrator Lisa VanderKelen at d6250lvanderkelen.rotary@gmail.com. Rotary International requires PETS training before a newly elected president may take office on July 1, 2026. Additional questions may be directed to Scott Ryan, DG 2026–27, at scottryanrotarian@gmail.com.
Speaking of PETS!
The 2026 President-Elect Training Seminar will be held March 6–8, 2026, in Itasca, Illinois. This new and improved event features inspiring plenary speakers, expanded Rotary Youth Exchange content, and enhanced emerging leader programming.
Your very own District 6250 is known for having the most robust Rotary Friendship Exchange programs in North America? Take advantage of these once -in-a-lifetime opportunities!
Please read fully and contact Edwin Bos edwin@bosdesignbuilders.com if interested in a Kenya Friendship Exchange. If you don’t receive a confirmation, please resend.
Background: In January of 2025 District Governor Mike Kloss was standing in a banquet line at International Assembly in Orlando; the annual gathering of Rotary District Governors from the entire world. While waiting, he and District Governor Wairimu Njage struck up a conversation. After an exchange of business cards and a large-scale Zoom call; this Friendship Exchange was born.
What: Rotary Friendship Exchange with Rotary Clubs and Rotarians in Kenya.
When: District 6250 travel to District 9212 in East Africa will be from May 15 to May 25, 2026. District 9212 Rotarians will travel to our District in the fall of 2026 with exact dates TBD.
Where: Kenya. Fly into Nairobi. Transport between cities by car, mini-bus, bus or train.
How: RFE (10 days or so), must be willing to let others organize your life and to go with the flow during the RFE.
The Rotary Leadership Series (RLS) was launched in the summer of 2020, initially offering early-morning Zoom sessions every other month. Featuring outstanding local presenters, the program was designed for members of the eight area Rotary clubs around La Crosse and their guests.
In the spring of 2022, the series expanded to welcome members of the public, increasing its reach and showcasing Rotary’s commitment to leadership development. This expansion also enabled the program to attract accomplished speakers from across the country. Today, RLS events are held quarterly in conjunction with the Thursday noon meeting of the Rotary Club of La Crosse. Each presentation runs 30 minutes, with some speakers appearing in person and others joining virtually. All sessions remain accessible to the public via Zoom.
Marshfield Rotary member Ben Bauer has released his first children’s book, Mary’s Bright Idea — a project rooted deeply in the spirit of Rotary, community, and the power of service. Ben has served in several District and Zone leadership roles, including District 6250 Governor in 2022-2023.
Inspired by the magic and generosity surrounding Marshfield’s beloved holiday light display, the story follows a young girl named Mary who discovers that behind all the sparkle is a mission to help others. Through gentle storytelling and beautiful illustrations by Kylie Ganther, the book highlights themes that every Rotarian will recognize: kindness, empathy, community, and the impact of small acts of service.
Have questions about the Rotary Brand Center or Canva? You’re not alone—and Michelle and Melissa are ready to help. Join us for a practical, beginner-friendly Zoom session designed to help Rotarians confidently create simple, polished social media posts for their club’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
This session is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to create a Rotary-compliant logo, feels unsure navigating Canva, or simply wants a clearer starting point for promoting their club online. You bring the questions, and we’ll bring the answers.
Rotarians, as we begin our sixth month of the Rotary year, I’m excited to once again share some great news with you! Our District continues to see positive momentum in membership, with another small gain this month. As of the beginning of December, our membership stands at 2,222 — a net increase of +13 year to date.
We’ve had a strong first six months with Membership Olympics, and now is the time to build on everything we’ve learned to keep that momentum going. Many of you were able to attend the Madison Vibrant Club Workshop, where a variety of thoughtful ideas were shared and discussed. I encourage you to bring those ideas back to your own club meetings for further conversation.
District 6250 Rotarians Dean and Nancy McHugh of Holmen Area Rotary Club will be leading an annual RV caravan from Chicago to Tulsa, beginning at Joliet, IL on May 29, 2026 and staying at campgrounds along the way in Secor and Springfield, IL, and St. Louis and Springfield, MO.
Their nine-day adventure will include stops at iconic Route 66 towns and attractions as they make their way to join other Rotarians at the Annual RV Fellowship Rally in Tulsa, OK, from June 7 – 12, 2026 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66.
Posted by Lynn Perez-Hewitt, Fitchburg Verona Horizons
One Rotarian, one rowing machine, one club, one goal: 70,000 meters in 22 days.
Lynn Perez-Hewitt has firsthand experience with The Ride to End Polio in Tucson, Arizona. No, rather than riding a bike in the race, she coordinated the finish line booth to greet returning riders. Since leaving Tucson she has followed the development of indoor rides to end polio and now even knitting to end polio. This year she decided to put herself and her rowing machine to the new test.
It was 70 years ago that the Salk vaccine became available and began to change and save lives. Rowing 70,000 meters in honor of that anniversary was meaningful. World Polio Day was October 24th. The Ride to End Polio in Tuscon was November 22nd. 70,000 meters in 22 Days. Could she do it? Oh, and she's 72 years old.
Mount Horeb Club Interact students demonstrated their commitment to service this week by running the concession stand at the girls’ basketball game, raising funds to support future community projects. Their enthusiasm, teamwork, and leadership were evident throughout the evening.
Posted by Laurie Marks, Chief of Staff, World Affairs Seminar
Rotary Club Sponsorship Opportunity for Teens in Your Community Aimed at Peace-building and World Affairs
The World Affairs Seminar (WAS) is a weeklong residential camp for high school students interested in global perspectives on issues of peacebuilding, diplomacy, community engagement, and civic dialogue. This year the seminar will be held from June 20-26, 2026, at Carroll University in Waukesha. WAS is in its 49th year, and has over 30,000 past delegates from Wisconsin, nationally, and internationally, with around 200+ attendees each year.
The theme for the seminar each year is based on one of the United Nation’s Goals for Sustainable Development and includes keynote speakers, a peacebuilding simulation, capstone projects, team leadership activities and more. Over 85% of the attendees to WAS are sponsored through a local service club in their community, and delegates return from the seminar prepared to share in a presentation describing the experience at a meeting of their sponsoring club.
