Rotary Club of La Crosse

Rotary Club of La Crosse We'd love you to visit! We meet Thursdays at Noon (networking at 11:30) at the Radisson, 200 2nd Street, La Crosse, WI 54601. Call for more details!

Check our newsletter for specific venue location each week. Rotary International is comprised of 1.2 million business and professional leaders in more than 168 countries providing humanitarian services, building goodwill and peace in the world.

05/18/2026

Rebecca Hopkins recently joined our club so we thought we would get to know her a bit better! Here's Rebecca as our Rotarian Spotlight to share a little bit about herself.
Her favorite Music:
I am very eclectic but I love Prince, Chappell Roan and 80's.
Her biggest hobby:
I enjoy singing.
A FUN fact about her:
I have had the privilege in my career to travel internationally. I got the chance to lead one of the first accreditation teams in Palestine for Teacher education.
What she has appreciated about Rotary with our club so far:
Watching the young people receive club scholarships through the Extra Efforts Program. I was touched to see how these students have persevered through hardships. I was so impressed with them and happy our club acknowledges them for their bravery and hard work.

A fellow Rotarian of our club and our Mayor of La Crosse, Shaundel WashingtonSpivey, spoke with our club today about his...
05/14/2026

A fellow Rotarian of our club and our Mayor of La Crosse, Shaundel WashingtonSpivey, spoke with our club today about his role as mayor. Thank you, Mayor Shaundel, for your time you spent with us.

05/13/2026

Our club has thoroughly enjoyed our Rotary Youth Exchange student, Pedro, and this week he is our Rotarian Spotlight! Heeeeere's PEDRO!
How long has he been a Rotarian?
For almost a year now.
What is his favorite food?
*Milanesa
What is his biggest hobby?
Playing soccer
What is a FUN fact about him?
He never learned how to whistle. He can’t whistle! 🤷🏻‍♂️
What is a favorite rotary moment so far? He volunteered for Rotary Lights on NYE and really enjoyed it.

*Milanesa is a quintessential Argentine dish consisting of a thin, breaded, and fried cutlet (beef, chicken, or pork), brought by Italian immigrants and now considered a national staple eaten on average three times a week. Often served with french fries, mashed potatoes, or as a sandwich, it is typically seasoned with garlic and parsley.

05/08/2026

Welcome to the spotlight, Mary Ann Gschwind! Let's learn a little bit about this extraordinary Rotarian.
How long has she been in Rotary?
For 24 years!
What is her favorite Team?
Michigan State (Most of us know this fact - she doesn't hide it!)
What is her biggest hobby?
Music! She loves to attend the musicals and music events in our area as much as she can. (& she sings a beautiful meal blessing, too!)
What is a FUN fact about her?
She took ballet for four years when she was younger and her mother had a wooden statue made of her which she still has & showed to us!
Thank you, Mary Ann, for sharing things about yourself with us. We love that you are a Rotarian in our club!

04/28/2026

Let's get to know Kahtan Al-Kaissy, a more recent addition to our Rotary club!
Kahtan joined our club one year ago!
His favorite Sport? (I think he could do all of them, but he picked...)
Hockey and Golf
His biggest hobby?
He loves being outdoors, and said, "I feel like our souls should be outside!"
Here's a FUN fact most people can't share:
His dad was a professional wrestler known as The Iron Shiek (pictured above.) He was a well-known wrestler most of Kahtan's life (70s-90s)
His best Rotary moment so far?
Volunteering for rotary lights with his wife when he first joined. He felt included and loved the joyful atmosphere!
We're happy you are a part of our club, Kahtan!

Join us this Thursday, April 30th, as Richard Strauss, our president-elect, talks about the history, mission, and vision...
04/26/2026

Join us this Thursday, April 30th, as Richard Strauss, our president-elect, talks about the history, mission, and vision of the Lao Friends Hospital for Children and the types of care the hospital provides.
Richard will also discuss what he learned from his visit about the patients and families cared for in LFHC, the hospital providers, and the goal of having 100% Lao doctors, nurses, administrators, and other medical staff in the next few years.
We look forward to hearing from Richard, a Rotarian for 23 years and a retired pediatric and neonatal intensive care physician, who also enjoys his role as a (very) part-time medical Spanish interpreter.

The Rotary Leadership Series is proud to host journalist, bridge-builder, and author Monica Guzman, who lives for meanin...
04/16/2026

The Rotary Leadership Series is proud to host journalist, bridge-builder, and author Monica Guzman, who lives for meaningful conversations sparked by curious questions. Her bestselling book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, has been featured in The New York Times, The Glenn Beck Podcast, and Reader’s Digest, and was named one of the “10 Best Books to Read Before College” by U.S. News & World Report. Monica, founder and CEO of Reclaim Curiosity, works to help people better understand one another. She also serves as an advisor to Braver Angels, the nation’s largest cross-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to depolarizing America, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Viewpoints Project, a nonprofit focused on strengthening curiosity-driven approaches to disagreement in educational settings.

In this engaging 30-minute program, we will “flip the script.” Participants will begin with a real-world conflict scenario they might encounter in their family, workplace, or community. After a brief roundtable discussion, Monica will join the session virtually to respond to participants’ questions and insights. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, practical learning experience about navigating today’s challenges with understanding and respect, you won't want to miss this program. Monica Guzman

04/15/2026

Start planning your involvement today!

04/14/2026

Check out our Rotarian of the Week, John Siegel! John has been a Rotarian in our club for approximately 3 years. Read on to learn a bit more about John!
What is your favorite Sport?
Watching all sports but especially Football

What is your biggest hobby?
Being on the river

What is a FUN fact about you?
I enjoy the theatre. That is how I met my wife, Regina. She and I also used to sing for weddings and even sang at our own wedding.

What is your best rotary moment so far?
Volunteering at Tricon for "Pints for Polio." I also enjoy attending weekly meetings with all of the other Rotarians.

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Address

PO Box 1914
La Crosse, WI
54601

Opening Hours

11:30am - 1pm

Telephone

+16085264491

Website

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