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Greetings Rotarians,

I wanted to send a short update that I will be taking the next step in my life and career journey to try something new in a move to Denver, CO. 
 
It has been a great experience connecting and building friendships throughout the region and the District all while having lots of fun to make a difference. Thank you for making me so welcome, listening to my off the wall ideas and for the good we did together. Rotary is truly an experience that I wouldn't trade for anything! 
 
I am coordinating on transitions with roles I still retain and plan to be physically moving sometime in Q1 2022.
 
Thank you for your service to Rotary and our members, we need all the good news we can get! I still plan to finish out my president term with After Hours and the mobile clinic project primarily remote :) 
 
Be well,
Josh 
Rotary After Hours President 2021-22
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The Ugly Sweater 5K is Rotary After Hours' biggest fundraiser and makes much of what we as do as a club, possible. 

The 2021 UGS5k may go down as our best yet! 
 
31 RAHtarians pitched in +
93 community volunteers signed up to help +
15 spools of lights, 6 inflatables, 220 poles, 6 generators and a lot of other stuff lit the course for all to enjoy +
Santa, Mrs. Clause, The Grinch and Buddy the Elf made an appearance +
Hundreds and hundreds of hours were spent planning and setting up = (drum roll please)
..........
 
We raised over $17,000 with the help of our  505 participants and our many generous sponsors! Incredible!
 
Our sincere gratitude goes out to:
Our event chair, Ashley Santolin and the Ugly Sweater Committee for all their work planning for this year's 5k.
Brandon Harris for leading the charge on course logistics with Bradley Burke and Neil Wieser. Not ONE strand of lights was out along the course on Saturday evening. Impressive work guys!
James Murray for finding so many community volunteers to make setup and takedown go faster than ever.
 
And to each and every one of you who helped make the Ugly Sweater 5k a successful event! THANK YOU! We couldn't have done it without you!
 
.  
 
 
 
Save the Date: Saturday, December 3 for our 2022 Ugly Sweater 5K!
For all of our 2021 Ugly Sweater 5k Pictures, check out this album and this one on Facebook!
Or many can be found here as well! 
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It's Great to Have Bradley in Rotary After Hours!

Serendipity brought Bradley (or Brad is fine, he says!) to Rotary After Hours. Originally looking for a way to make this world a little better by giving back and lending a helping hand at Riverfest, he came across RAH's need for volunteers to help with the fencing. He signed up to help our club and the rest his history for this Westby, WI native! 

Growing up on a 200 acre-Dairy Farm, Bradley knows the meaning of hard work. His family milked 60 cows and raised 7 acres of tobacco every year. Active in FFA in high school, he showed his Holstein Heifer named Missy at the Wisconsin State Fair. The skills he learned have helped him in his 31-year career at Trane Technologies, where he presently is an Advanced Manufacturing Engineer. 

When he's not having to travel for work, he enjoys spending time outdoors backpacking, hiking (ask him about his 13 and 14-teeners he's done), skiing, biking or hunting. You'll also find Bradley working on his house, repairing cars, motorcycles and snowmobiles. Bradley has three kids - Abbi (24), Allison (21), and Braden (16) so being a dad keeps him busy.

Please give him a warm RAH welcome at the next meeting or event and thank him for all his help with the Ugly Sweater 5k course setup!

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Welcome to Rotary After Hours Carissa Goddeau!

Born and raised in La Crosse, WI, this former Central High Interact'er is back home after graduating from UW-Madison. Go Bucky! She is a staff assistant in Congressman Ron Kind's District Office. 

A huge foodie, Carissa loves finding new local places to eat or trying out new recipes. She enjoys biking, painting, bullet journaling, Sudoku, video games and working on advocacy campaigns. Any Survivor super fans out there? Talk to Carissa and plan your next season's viewing party!

She'll never forget her visit to La Jolla beach (CA) when thousands of leopard sharks came to shore. Harmless, they swam right up next to her, leaving her with an amazing experience she'll never forget.

Carissa said she wanted to find a group with similar service-oriented values and has always loved volunteering. She knew Rotary After Hours finds and creates lots of volunteer opportunities where she could donate my time and she's excited to be a part of RAH and start helping the La Crosse area community!

Please give her a warm RAH welcome at the next meeting or event!

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Jingle All The Way!

RAHtarians were out in full force on November 18th, ringing bells and collecting donations for those needing a little extra kindness this holiday season. It is a yearly tradition that After Hours looks forward to every year. Many thanks to everyone who volunteered to ring and fill the red kettles for the Salvation Army. 
 
 
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Tis’ the Season to Adopt a Family and Make Their Holidays Bright

La Crosse County's "For Goodness Sake Project" is an annual holiday gift program where members of our community, businesses, and organizations sponsor individuals or families. Thanks to all those who helped with volunteering opportunities at Airfest, Riverfest, Country Boom and Oktoberfest, Rotary After Hours was able to use a portion of the money earned to help make a difference this Christmas. We used $1000 of the funds to sponsor a single mom with a 16-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son. A tragic death recently struck the family and after recovering from the devastating blow, they are starting a new chapter of their lives in a new town. Our club was also awarded a new member grant in the 2020-21 year (thank you Rotary District 6250) in which the newer members chose to spend half the grant funds ($500) on adopting an additional family. A teen girl was living with her grandma who recently passed away and is now living with her uncle. 
 
On Wednesday, December 8th RAHtarians shopped at Target and Kohl's, picking out toys, clothes, and household items for the two families.
The following evening, RAHtarians gathered to wrap all the presents that were purchased. 

Amy Schmidt says "I'm so grateful to be part of a club giving back to local families this season. Also, glad to practice my bow making 🙂."

We've worked hard to raise this money throughout the year and were so excited to give back and put the funds to good use! We hope we made Christmas a little brighter this year for these two families.

Thank you Justin G. and metre for letting us transform your space into Santa’s workshop for the night and to Katelyn and Amy for getting us organized!
 
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Walking in a Winter Wonderland

3,000,000 lights illuminating Riverside Park, a 140-foot Christmas tree, and animated light displays filling the park. Add 5 inches of freshly fallen snow and it became a winter wonderland volunteering at Rotary Lights. From welcoming guests entering the park to collecting canned goods and donations at the end, it is always amazing to witness the countless number of people who enjoy the lights each year and the generosity of our community first hand. 
 
Rotary Lights started 27 years ago with the mission to "Feed the Hungry of the Coulee Region." Over 4 million food items have been collected since 1995. Nearly 160,000 visitors per year enjoy this holiday tradition while driving, walking or taking a carriage ride through Riverside Park.
 
Click to see more pictures of our members volunteering! 
 
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A Year to Remember at Razia Jan's Zabuli Education Center

 
 
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After Hours Membership

Active Members: 62

Welcome to our Newest Members:

  • Carissa Goddeau

Rotarians Leaving Us:

Rotary Attendance

  • December: 50%

Challenge: Invite a friend, coworker or acquaintance to join a RAH event to check it out! 

 
Member Birthdays
Kristin Swartz
March 10
 
Lori Francis
March 20
 
Join Date
Aaron Miller
March 2, 2011
13 years
 
Danielle Rathke
March 2, 2011
13 years
 
Dustin Luecke
March 2, 2016
8 years
 
John Brevik
March 2, 2011
13 years
 
Justin Garvey
March 2, 2011
13 years
 
Lori Francis
March 2, 2011
13 years
 
Marissa Dickinson
March 2, 2016
8 years
 
Ryan Born
March 2, 2011
13 years
 
Shane Stuhr
March 2, 2011
13 years
 
Ben Addington
March 7, 2014
10 years
 
Olga Dedkova
March 7, 2023
1 year
 
Brianna Boehm
March 19, 2019
5 years
 
 
 

Photo Albums

Ugly Sweater 2021
Rotary Lights 2021
Service
Socials
Club Meetings
Paul Harris Fellow Recipients
 
Club Information
 
"Serve to Change Lives" 
 
We meet the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month 
5:30-6pm - Networking/social
6-7pm - Club Meeting/program
 
*A virtual option to join will most always be made available
 
RAH service and social opportunities vary each month - check out the upcoming events below to learn more! 
 
Upcoming Events
Volunteer: BBBB Bingo Co-Hosting
Omni Center
Apr 03, 2024
4:00 PM – 8:30 PM
 
Pints for Polio: A Social Fundraiser!
Big Al's Pizza
Apr 04, 2024
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
 
Another Build Day
Apr 06, 2024
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
 
Service Committee Meeting
The Main - An Event Space
Apr 09, 2024 7:00 PM
 
RAH Board Meeting
Online
Apr 16, 2024
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
 
TriCon
Green Bay
Apr 18, 2024 - Apr 20, 2024
 
Volunteer: Mobile Meals
Apr 22, 2024 10:30 AM –
Apr 28, 2024 12:30 PM
 
Membership Committee Meeting
Apr 23, 2024 7:00 PM
 
View entire list
Board of Directors & Officers
President
 
President Elect
 
President Elect Nominee
 
Immediate Past President
 
Treasurer
 
Treasurer-Elect
 
Secretary
 
Secretary-Elect
 
Sergeant-at-Arms
 
3-Year Director (23-25')
 
1-Year Director (23')