Warren White, AG; Mike Armbrust, President; and Timothy Mulcrone, Chair of Polio Eradication 5960.

The Rotary International Foundation honors all clubs who contribute at least $2000 annually to eradicate polio.  Saint Croix Falls,/Taylors Falls contributed well over this amount in 2011/2012. 

The winners for the 2012 Rotary Raffle are:

• 1st Prize – 2013 Ford Mustang or $15,000
  Dale Schmidt, Hudson, WI
• 2nd Prize – Fox 50 Scooter
  Steve Martin, Hudson, WI
• 3rd Prize – $500 Cash
  Monica Pesavento

Congratulations to our winners and thank you for supporting Rotary!

Our Rotary emblem is a wheel in the shape of a gear with cogs on the outside.These cogs can only function purposefully when engaged with the cogs of another geared wheel.

In which way will the cogs turn?

Our Rotary Motto gives us the direction: “Service Above Self!”

When we devote ourselves only to the forward movement of our own geared lives, we do so at the detriment of others whose cogged-wheeled lives are consequently turned backward.

But when, through Rotary, we seek the benefit of others, encouraging their accomplishment, and sharing pride in their advancement, we often selflessly gear and direct our lives in such a way that their life may improve forward.

Unable to find two cogged wheels for this Moment of Reflection, I did find a similar illustration in this children’s toy. Its shape, and many colors, and intricate interconnections, remind me of our local Rotary Club.

• We do care for each other!
• We do encourage each other!
• We do serve side by side!

But our Rotary Call is so much larger than our local Rotary club!

Like this expanding interconnected sphere, through Rotary we are expanded………….. We are challenged!!! , and We-are-connected-to-a-world-of- those-for-whom-we-selflessly-live-out: “Service Above Self.”

Dear Lord,

Thank-you for the incredible folks in this room who have cared for, encouraged, and challenged us in dark times and bright. Continue to expand our world and our call, through Rotary, to others with whom we choose to be selflessly bound and connected in “Service Above Self”.

Hear us by whatever Name we call upon you. I pray in Jesus’ name.  ~Amen.

Global Grant:

• Bozcakoy/Cappadocia, Turkey “Water Distribution System”

Supporters include:

• Rotary District 2430 (Turkey)
• 7 participating Rotary Clubs
• Rotary District 5960 (Minnesota/Wisconsin)
• 5 participating Rotary Clubs
• Rotary Club of Ingleheim, Germany

The application process was headed up by Rotary District 2430 and was submitted and approved allowing for a major renovation to the Cappodocia Turkey Water Distribution System – which was a failing system of asbestos reinforced concrete pipes, which was apparently the standard at that time it was made 30-40 years ago.

The pipes cracked over the years of use and both leaked water out and allowed infiltration of ground water that was frequently contaminated with e-coli and other germs. Replacement of the pipes will provide a significant health improvement to the community.

The Kapydokya, Turkey Club (shown in the pictures below) directly oversaw the completion of the project.  John Lennes of the Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club was the District 5960 project leader as our District Water Resources Chair.

Rotarians and guests will enjoy:

• Appetizer Buffet
• GSE Team Presentation
  
• Dance performed by Lydia Gusman, Exchange Student
  
• Live Auction*

*Funds raised at auction will help support International Club Projects

When:

Monday April 2, 2012
6:30 PM Appetizer Buffet and Cash Bar
$15 per person

Where:

Chateau St. Croix Winery
1998A State Road 87
St. Croix Falls, WI 54024

RSVP

RSVP by March 26, 2012 with names of attendees to: Susan@fallslaw.com or call (715) 483-1864 and leave message.

• Ben Clausen, St. Croix Falls High School
• Heather Larsen, Osceola School High School

Ben Clausen, Student of the Month with most influential teacher Brian Jacobson & President Elect Mike Armbrust.

Heather Larsen, Student of the Month with most influential teacher Vicki Donahue & Club President Elect Mike Armbrust.

Five Russian Delegates, an Open World Facilitator, American sponsor/host, and an interpreter spent part of the day in St. Croix Falls as part of the Open World Leadership Center – business person exchange.  The delegates, through and interpreter were live on Rotary Club Radio – a podcast about Rotary and then spoke at the St. Croix Falls Rotary – giving a presentation of their local Rotary back in Russia.  The delegates were given a club banner/flag to bring back to their local Rotary Club as a traditional Rotary Club gift to visiting Rotarian’s from around the world.

For more information on the Open World Leadership Center, visit: OpenWorld.gov or visit Rotary Club Radio for a descriptions of the delegate’s activities in their stay in America.

Russian Delegates from the Open World Leadership Center accepting a SCF Rotary Club Banner to take home with them to their local Rotary Club in Russia. Also shown Mike Armbrust, St. Croix Rotary Club President Elect, Kirk Anderson, Rotary Club Radio Host, and Greg Bartz, White Bear Lake Rotary Club.

On Rotary Club Radio

About the Open World Leadership Center

The Open World Leadership Center administers the Open World program, one of the most effective U.S. exchange programs for countries of the post-Soviet era. Begun as a pilot program in 1999 and established as a permanent agency in late 2000, the Center conducts the first and only international exchange agency in the U.S. Legislative Branch and, as such, has enabled more than 17,000 current and future leaders from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan to meaningfully engage and interact with Members of Congress, Congressional staff, and thousands of other Americans, many of whom are the delegates’ direct professional counterparts.

SCF Plungers:

• Lydia – Exchange Student from Indonesia
• Steve McCormack – St. Croix Falls, WI
• Jagath ‘Jug’ Karun – Osceola, WI

Video starts at SCF’s plunge.  Feel free to watch the whole video by rewinding!

The event was sponsored by the North Branch Rotary Club of MN was a great success!

If you would still like to sponsor a jumper with a donation, please use the button below!

Donations will be used in community projects that Rotary sponsors! Thank you for supporting the Rotary Club of St. Croix Falls!

• Alicia Graveson, St. Croix Falls High School
• Emilie Anderson, Osceola School High School

Alicia Graveson, Student of the Month with most influential teacher Sarah Schmidt & Club President LeeAnn Vitalis.

Emilie Anderson, Student of the Month with most influential teacher Theresa Ellefson & Club President Elect Mike Armbrust.

Rotary President LeeAnn Vitalis presents a $1,200 check to the Back Pack Program

The Rotary Club of St. Croix Falls is raising money to provide milk, a much needed item, to the program.  You can donate by clicking the image above (all proceeds will go towards milk coupons) or to receive a Tax Deduction for your Donation, please send a check payable to the Salvation Army & write “SCF Backpack Project” on the memo line.

Financial donations can be sent to:

St. Croix Falls Middle School
c/o Denise Sinclear Todd
740 Maple Drive
St. Croix Falls, WI 54024

Would your company do a matching gift?  This would be a great way to increase your donation!

If you have any questions, call Denise Sinclear Todd at 715-483-2507 (ext. 1204) or Maria Gjovig at ext. 1172.

On Saturday, February 4th, 2012 – some brave members of the St. Croix Falls Rotary Club will participate in the 3rd Annual Polar Plunge in Harris, MN.  The event, sponsored by the North Branch Rotary Club, is held at the Fish Lake County Park.

Registration starts at 11:00 AM and Plunging starts at 12:00 PM
Everyone is welcome to come and watch or even sign up to jump in!!!  The more the merrier!

Click for Directions

If you would like to sponsor a jumper with a donation, please use the button below!

Donations will be used in community projects that Rotary sponsors!  Thank you for supporting the Rotary Club of St. Croix Falls!

• Christopher Eisen, St. Croix Falls High School
• Cody Brunclik, Osceola School High School

• Lauren Koshmeder, St. Croix Falls High School
• Arianna Vasquez, Osceola School High School

Lauren Koshmeder, Student of the Month with most influential teacher Sue Imoff & Club President LeeAnn Vitalis.

Arianna Vasquez, Student of the Month with most influential teacher Amanda Meyer & Club President LeeAnn Vitalis.

Remembering Patrick Struve

Rotarian Patrick Struve

It is with deep sadness that we report the passing of a long time Rotarian and member of the St. Croix Falls Rotary Club.  Rotarian Patrick Struve (81) passed away on November 13, 2011 at a care facility in Luck, WI.  Patrick had a passion for Rotary and loved to serve others.  He was particularly interested in the fight to eradicate Polio throughout the world through Rotary vaccinations and supporting a children’s hospital in the Country of Haiti after the tragic earth quake in 2010.

Patrick’s service was commemorated on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 with the display of Patrick’s 8th Paul Harris Fellow Awards (Paul Harris Fellow +7).  Although Patrick was unable to receive the award at the meeting, it was a celebration of his ‘Service Above Self” lifestyle, generosity, and spirit of Rotary in action.

Due to Patrick’s untimely passing, club leadership was unable to present the Paul Harris Pin to him in person, but in his honor, it will be given to his wife Vicki with the full appreciation of the club.   Patrick will be missed dearly by our Club; Rotary has lost a great Rotarian.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2011

Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Parish
Balsam Lake, WI.

• Visitation: 10am
• Funeral: 11am
• Lunch: 12pm

Past Paul Harris Awards for Patrick

Obituary

Dr. Patrick William “Pat” Struve  |  Visit Guest Book

Age 81 Of Balsam Lake, Wisconsin Passed away on November 13, 2011 from complications of cancer. Born on January 25, 1930 to Hugo and Catherine Struve in Davenport Iowa where Patrick spent his early years before attending East Waterloo High School where he played football and baseball for the Trojans.

On graduation from high school in 1948, he entered Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, IA where he received his B.A. He received his masters degree and PhD from the University of Iowa. Patrick served in the US Navy during the Korean War from 1951 to 1954. He worked as an educator at City High School in Iowa City, IA, Ball State University in Muncie, IN, Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN. and as an administrator at the State Department in Madison, WI and South Washington County in MN.

For 15 years, he owned and operated Allied Glass Products in Cedar Rapids, IA. He retired to Balsam Lake, WI in 1995 where he and his wife, Vicki resided until his death. Patrick was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Dorothy Harness Struve, daughters Marie and Michele Struve and Lori Perkins. He is survived by his wife, Vicki; children, Mike (Liz) Struve, Sharon (Brian) Napstad, John (Jill) Struve, Jeff Struve, Gary Peterson, Anne (Steve) Benson, Glenn Peterson, 19 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 11:00 at Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Balsam, Lake, WI. Visitation one hour prior to service. Internment at Cedar Memorial in Cedar Rapids, IA. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Rotarian Society, American Cancer Society or charity of choice.

• Erin Kessler, St. Croix Falls High School
• Asher Elmquist, Osceola School High School

Erin Kessler, Student of the Month with most influential teacher Brian Jacobson.

Asher Elmquist, Student of the Month with most influential teacher Theresa Ellefson.

The goal of this literacy project is to distribute the books to school and community libraries around Prishtina via a non-governmental organization known as Biblioteca.   This project was initiated by former Chisago Lakes Rotarian and retired district court Judge Linn Slattengren who has been living and serving in various roles for the past 8 years in Kosovo.  The books being sent have been collected by several Rotary Clubs in Western Wisconsin and Eastern Minnesota from schools, colleges, libraries and homes over the past 3 years with volunteer time.

Prior to last Saturday’s packing, the books were stored at the former Franconia farmstead of Slattengren (now owned by Bob & Rita Pavey).  The St. Croix Falls Rotary Club donated a total of $500 to the project, which was spearheaded by the Chisago Lakes Rotary, who was awarded a Rotary District Grant totaling $7,000 to accomplish this literacy initiative.  This project was made possible with additional financial support from the Rotary Clubs of North Branch & Siren/Webster along with a local donation of $1,900 from the Chisago Lakes Rotary Club and matching donations of the Rotary of Prishtina International, Kosovo.

The St. Croix Falls Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at Noon at the Dalles House in St. Croix Falls.  For more information about this service club and how to get involved in your community, visit www.scfrotary.org.

Kirk Anderson
PR Chairman for the St. Croix Falls Rotary Club
PO Box 291
St. Croix Falls, WI 54024
rotary@scfrotary.org

• Alex Frey, St. Croix Falls High School
• Megan Doll, Osceola School High School

Alex Frey, Student of the Month with most influential teacher.

Megan Doll, Student of the Month with most influential teacher.

Meet & Greet – at Festival Theatre following parade then to Thompson Parkway for the show.

Download Louie Anderson Poster.

Louie Anderson is a Minnesota born comedian that has done everything from appearances on TV shows like Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, and David Letterman, to major film roles in “Coming to America” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Most recently, Anderson is known for his role as the host of the wildly popular TV show “Family Feud.” Louie is also a best selling author and has recently finished his newest book on family, THE F WORD, HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR FAMILY. Now he is traveling the States doing what Louie loves to do, Stand Up Comedy.

Tickets Available at:
Festival Theatre (SCF): 715-483-3387
Indian Creek Winery & Grill (SCF): 715-483-2829
or online at: www.festivaltheatre.org

• All ticket Sales Benefit Historic Festival Theatre in Downtown St Croix Falls.
• All Beer & Wine sales benefit the Rotary Club of St. Croix Falls.

Advance Tickets
$35 – General Admission
$50 – Reserved Admission: Includes “Meet and Greet” with Louie before the show

It will be a special evening of terrific food, lasting memories, and official events, including the installation of this year’s new Rotary President LeeAnn Vitalis.  The Rotary Club is part of Rotary District 5960 under the leadership of Governor Judy Freund.

Over the years, the local Rotary Club has made significant contributions to the community.  Whether by supporting battered women’s shelters, local food shelves, hiking trails, skate parks and recreation, literacy programs, education , disaster relief, or eradicating Polio around the world – Rotary Club members are volunteers who choose to server other daily.  ‘Service Above Self’ is Rotary’s motto.

Rotary Clubs work collaboratively and by collaborating with other individuals and organizations, the St. Croix Falls/Taylors Falls Rotary Club has been able to amplify its service far beyond what any single person could do alone!  That sets Rotary apart and explains why we see consistent growth and participation in our club.

On June 26, 1986, a small group of businessmen chartered the St. Croix Falls/Taylors Falls Rotary Club for fellowship and opportunities to server others.  Of those founding members, our club is honored to still have four of those Rotarians at our weekly meetings. We wish to congratulate the charter member Rotarians Jerry Wyatt, Steve Swenson, Tom Engel and John Edling for 25 years of service in our community.

The Rotary Club of St. Croix Falls/Taylors Falls is a Chapter of Rotary International, a worldwide organization of business leaders dedicated to humanitarian service, high ethical standards and goodwill.

“Our members take great pride in the service we perform for our community and are thrilled when we can positively affect the lives of those who are less fortunate than ourselves.  We’ve found that we ‘re truly able to have fun making a difference!” said former President, Rebecca Berg.

For more information on Rotary, please contact Kirk Anderson at rotary@scfrotary.org.

The Rotary Club of St. Croix Falls is pleased to be a participating club in the $72,592 humanitarian grant put together by the Blaine-Ham Lake Rotary Club.  The following press release explains what the project entails.

Date: April 19, 2011
Blaine-Ham Lake Rotary Club
St. Croix Falls Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of Blaine-Ham Lake is the International Sponsor Club for the Rotary Foundation Global Humanitarian Grant to provide medical equipment focused on maternal and child health to four public hospitals in Argentina. The club, along with 20 other Rotary Clubs in Minnesota and Argentina, has joined together with the respective Rotary Districts and The Rotary Foundation to make the $72,592 grant reality.

As part of the sustainability component of the Grant, the Blaine-Ham Lake Rotary Club along with several other local Clubs are hosting four doctors from Argentina to meet with physicians and other healthcare providers, hospital and other health care administrators, community and county agency representatives, public safety officials, and numerous others to learn about the American health care system from April 9th to April 21st. Dr. Humberto Acosta, Dr. Cecilia Zerbo, Dr. Veronica Pringay, and Dr. Marcos Hermida will be arriving in the United States on April 9th to begin their Vocational Training Team experience.

The following Clubs contributed to the Grant: Anoka, Belle Plaine, Blaine-Ham Lake, Cambridge-Isanti, Coon Rapids, Elk River, Fridley-Columbia Heights, Greater Rochester, Hudson Daybreak, New Brighton-Mounds View, Rochester, Rochester Risers, St. Croix Falls/Taylors Falls, Wabasha, White Bear Lake, Woodbury and Zumbrota along with District 5960 in Minnesota/Wisconsin, and Alberti, General San Martin, General Sarmiento, and Villa Libertad de General San Martin along with District 4855 in Argentina.

Equipment at the four hospitals, Hospital Nuestra Senora de la Mercad, Hospital San Martin, Hospital Eva Peron, and Hospital Raul Larcade, includes hearing, neurological and other screening equipment for newborns, and equipment to detect uterine cancer. It is estimated that the equipment will help approximately 61,000 patients annually.

“We have worked with these Rotary Clubs in Argentina as partners in providing medical equipment for maternal and newborn care for several years now, but this is the largest and most collaborative grant especially with the exciting opportunity to host the Vocational Training Team from Argentina. The opportunity to make a difference in another part of the world with so many other partners working together is truly the spirit of Rotary,” said Tanya Crawford, President of the Blaine-Ham Lake Rotary Club.

The equipment will be ordered and delivered by September 1, 2011, once the Vocational Training Team returns to Argentina.

Rotary International is a volunteer organization of business, professional, and community leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. There are approximately 1.2 million Rotary club members belonging to 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Learn more at www.rotary.org or www.district 5960.org.

Contact: Tanya Crawford, President, Blaine-Ham Lake Rotary Club
E-mail: tmcrawford8@gmail.com
Tel: 763-458-7004

Phil Kerber, member of the St. Croix Falls Rotary, asked me to share a story from his old stomping grounds in Waterloo, IA.  Phil has been a member of Rotary for long time and has many stories to tell, but the story of Doug Oberman’s fight with Polio has an important heart touching message that inspires Phil and many other Rotarians fighting to eradicate Polio.

Doug Oberman was only eight years old when he contracted polio. He was in a coma for ten days and when he woke up he found he could not move his arms or legs. He spent 18 months in a polio ward at University of Iowa hospital, with three of those months spent in an iron lung.

Today, Doug still cannot use his arms and sleeps each night in an iron lung. He never recovered from the effects of polio, but with his family’s support and encouragement, he participated fully in life.

“Because I couldn’t use my arms, I had to use my brain,” he said.

He became a lawyer and joined Swisher & Cohrt law firm in Waterloo in 1972. Doug joined the Rotary Club of Waterloo and became involved in raising money to eradicate polio throughout the world. He was the keynote speaker at the 2002 Rotary International Convention in Barcelona, Spain, doing his part to gain enthusiastic support for polio eradication.

To read the full story, click HERE.

St. Croix Falls Rotary Bird House Project

The Family Fun Night was hosted by the St. Croix Regional Medical Center and catered by the Village Pizzeria in Dresser.  A special thanks to the presenters who brought our clubs history to life and Mike Armbrust, who put everything together.

The 16 bird houses built during the event and many more to be built in the weeks to come, will be hung around the area as a club project.

• Zach Christenson, St. Croix Falls High School
• Lucas Sletten, Osceola School High School

Zach Christenson, Student of the Month, most influential teacher Steve Magnuson, and Rebecca Berg, Rotary President.

Lucas Sletten, Student of the Month, most influential teacher Art Aytay, and Rebecca Berg, Rotary President.

Join by clicking here

Rotary District 5960 covers parts of Southeastern and East Central Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin.

Visit the District web site by clicking here

• Nick Johnson, St. Croix Falls High School
• Lisa Rydeen, Osceola School High School

Nick Johnson, Student of the Month; most influential teacher and Rebecca Berg, Rotary President.

Lisa Rydeen, Student of the Month; most influential teacher and Rebecca Berg, Rotary President.

• District Governor, Craig Leiser – 2010-2011, has determined the theme for his year as Governor will revolve around water and water projects.  Did you know that 21 out of the 65 clubs in District 5960 have “water” in some form in their name?  Can you list them all?
• The watershed of every club in the district ultimately drains into the Mississippi River – then gets to New Orleans.  Do you know your watershed?
• How many lakes, streams, creeks, rivers in our District?

Thursday Afternoon

• Grants Management Seminar -

Friday Morning

• District Assembly for 2011 – 12 officers and Annual Business Meeting

Friday Evening

• Keynote Speaker: Don Shelby, retired WCCO/CBS News Anchor
• Entertainment: Kenny Salwey, “The River Rat” author and Public Radio Personality

Saturday Morning

• Elena Hendrick – Kairos in Nicaragua “Fast for Hope” Session

Saturday Noon

• Foreign Exchange Students parade of flags & talent show.

Friendship and Community Fountain

• Each Club should bring a gallon of their own water to add to the reservoir.

Water Resource Programs Breakout sessions

• St. Croix Wild and Scenic River
• The Mississippi River Recreational Park
• Minnesota River Wildlife Management

Where does our water go and who is using it?

The Water Cafe

Tables will be provided for for clubs to bring examples, pictures, slide shows or other items to offer as examples of their water resource projects this past year.

• Joseph Thayer, St. Croix Falls High School
• Ashley Johnson, Osceola School High School

Joseph Thayer, Student of the Month; most influential teacher and Rebecca Berg, Rotary President.

Ashley Johnson, Student of the Month; most influential teacher and Rebecca Berg, Rotary President.

• Dan Nelson, St. Croix Falls High School
• Nicole Peck, Osceola School High School

Dan Nelson, Student of the Month; Mike Wilson, Counselor and Rebecca Berg, Rotary President.

Nicole Peck, Student of the Month; Matt Haus, most influential teacher and Rebecca Berg, Rotary President.

Applicants are now being sought for the new global grant scholarship from Rotary District 5960. Worth $30,000 annually, this exclusive scholarship will help fund a graduate-level student from the St. Paul area, southeastern Minnesota or western Wisconsin to pursue educational and service dreams generating impact in the areas of Rotary’s new future vision focus:

• Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
• Disease prevention and treatment
• Water and sanitation
• Maternal and child health
• Basic education and literacy

Economic and community development Global grant scholarship applications are now available at www.rotary5960.org/scholarships.

Qualified candidates must be endorsed by their local Rotary Club by Jan. 3, 2011. Endorsed candidates by local clubs need to submit their application online by Jan. 10, 2011. Interviews for district finalists will be conducted on Jan. 29, 2011 in the Twin Cities. Scholarship recipient will then be able to study at an international university starting Fall 2011.

For more information about the global grant scholarship eligibility, the global locations to which the scholarship can be used and more, visit www.rotary5960.org scholarships or EMAIL MICHELLE Rotary is the world’s largest privately-funded source of international scholarships and has more than 30,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographic regions.

One is from Japan, the other from Brazil.

One of this year’s Rotary Club Youth Exchange program students attends St. Croix Falls High School, the other Osceola High School.

Chisato Toda and Guilherme “Mol” Lobo seem to have a lot in common, though. Both of the 16-year-old high school juniors appear intent on pursuing a well-rounded American experience during their 11-month stays with host families in the United States.

Mol has quickly become a key member of Osceola’s varsity soccer team and Chisato has joined the cross country running team at St. Croix Falls. Mol also plans to be a part of the high school swimming and track teams and try a winter snow sport such as skiing.

“I know I will not be very good, but I want to try,” he says about skiing.

One of his hosts, Kirk Otto, calls Mol “a force to be reckoned with” in soccer, which Mol has played all his life. “He may not be intimidating in size, but he is fast. And it’s interesting to watch him control the ball. He’s one of the best ball control kids on the team.”

Otto says “it’s really been helpful for Mol to have these soccer skills.”

Chisato is a member of the yearbook club and plans to join the performance dance line team.

“As a group, they’re very outgoing,” Otto says about Rotary exchange students.

Otto and his wife, Carol, have hosted six exchange students—three from Finland, two from Australia, and now Mol, from Fabricano, Brazil. Otto heads up the exchange student program for the Rotary Club of St. Croix Falls-Taylors Falls, which includes members from Osceola.

LeeAnn Vitalis, director of employee services and human resources at the St. Croix Regional Medical Center in St. Croix Falls, joined the local Rotary club about two years ago.

Chisato, whose home is in Osaka, Japan, is the first exchange student she and her husband, Kris, have hosted.

“I’m getting a lot more out of this than I can ever imagine giving,” Vitalis says. “Being a host mom, I am just delighted to have Chisato. I feel like I’m really blessed.”

With two sons, who soon will turn seven and nine, Vitalis wanted to host a girl.

“I think what’s important is that they have a well-rounded experience,” Vitalis says of the foreign students.

Rotary clubs try to engender that by having the students stay with two or three different host families during their 11 or 12 months away from home.

“It’s much easier to be a host family when it’s just for three or four months,” Otto notes.

There is, of course, a careful selection process for host families.

“Mol’s spent a lot of time with all three of my [adult-age] kids, and their kids—my grandkids,” Otto says. “So they all know him and like him. It’s great. He’s just become part of the family. . . . They’re here to learn what our culture’s all about, so we just make them part of everyday life.”

Otto took Mol and Chisato to the Minnesota State Fair. Vitalis took the pair to the annual Renaissance Festival at Shakopee, MN. It’s fair to say that both events were something of a culture shock to the visitors.

Chisato had her first tent camping experience with the Vitalis family.

Mol has been to the Mall of America, and Chisato to the local Wal-Mart at least a dozen times.

Chisato and Mol both say American food is sweeter than the food they are used to eating back home. Mol found that both pickles and beer jerky are not to his liking.

“The ultimate purpose of this whole thing is just international understanding,” Otto says. “You get to know people from these other countries and other cultures and you’re going to look at the world differently.”

Rotary International’s student exchange program is the largest such program in the world.

“We’ve got kids everywhere,” Otto says.

Mol’s family has hosted several foreign exchange students. In fact, a student from Taiwan is staying at his Brazilian home now.

Chisato’s grandparents currently have a girl from North St. Paul at their house.

A student from here is spending this school year in Switzerland.

“It seems typical of the program for other countries to require that back and forth,” Otto says. “We’re a little bit more random here, whereas overseas, from what I hear, it’s much more ‘you send, you get.’ We typically have plenty of families that want to do it [host students], so it’s not that big a deal.”

Vitalis believes spending time in another country as a months-long resident rather than a short-time tourist makes a big impact on someone’s life.

“I wasn’t a Rotary exchange student,” Vitalis says, “but in college I studied abroad in Australia, and I think that’s one of the best things. The world gets a little bit smaller, and you start to understand people and cultures better. And you can’t go wrong with that.”

Chisato attends the St. Croix Falls High School even though the Vitalis family lives in Taylors Falls.

“The school has been wonderful,” Vitalis says. “The counselor there, Mr. Wilson, is really good.”

Both Chisato and Mol changed their class schedules after the school term began to drop difficult classes and accommodate extracurricular activities.

As Vitalis notes, learning a new subject—United States government, for example—in a new language is difficult.

“It takes a couple of months before their English skills really get up to speed,” Otto says. “But people this age learn really fast. They had a good foundation before they got here, and there’s already a significant difference.”

In Japan students start learning English at the middle school level.

“We don’t learn conversation so much, but we learn writing and reading,” Chisato says.

Otto has had the opportunity to travel to Finland to visit former exchange students he hosted.

“I just love the hospitality we receive when we go visit foreign exchange students back in their home countries,” he says. “It’s a real experience.”

In the role of host, he says, “The first week or so you have your party manners on, then they’re just one of the kids.”

www.osceolasun.com/detail/63063.html

ShelterBoxes for Haiti being packed by the team of volunteers

The St. Croix Falls Rotary Club would like to thank everyone who participated in the fundraising efforts to purchase a shelter box for Haiti.  We have all witnessed the devastation around the world as natural disasters continue to wreak havoc in nations that are far from us by distance, but close in our hearts and minds.

Rotary has been supporting the efforts of disaster relief through the local clubs and our club has been able to fund 4 boxes so far – through personal donations and individual donors.

As with any shelter box, we are given a number that allows us to track the boxes location/deployment and find out who we were able to help.  This latest box was sent to Pakistan, to help with the flooding in that country.

Shelter Box #13843

To track this box, go to: www.shelterboxusa.org

For more information our Rotary or if you would like to visit our club, please contact us today! We’d love to have you be our guest at our next meeting!

Rotary Club Radio Episode 014

Find the full episode of Rotary Club Radio on its new website!

Press Release
Osceola, WI
September 12, 2010

The Rotary Club of St. Croix Falls and the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs of Hudson, WI were in Osceola during the Wheels and Wings celebration to officially draw the 3 lucky winners of the Rotary Club’s Raffle.  The drawings signified end of the Rotary Clubs largest fundraising efforts.

Rotary is an organization of business and professional men and women united worldwide who provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.”

Rotary International, founded in 1905 as the world’s first service club organization, is made up of over 32,000 clubs and 1.3 million members in more than 200 countries.

Its members form a global network of business and professional leaders who volunteer their time and talents to serve their communities and the world.

Portions of the funds raised by selling raffle tickets will be used to fund the clubs efforts to complete projects both locally and internationally.  Although Rotary is best known for its efforts to eradicate Polio, they are also involved in education, providing clean water, food distribution, and shelters after disasters like the one in Haiti.

Rotary Club would like to thank everyone who supported our efforts by buying a raffle ticket and let everyone know that as an active organization, we are always looking for new men and women who want to give something back to the community and the world through service.  We want to invite you to visit one of our club meetings to see what rotary is all about.

2010 Rotary Raffle Winners

1st Place – 2010 Red Ford Mustang
Anna Leask, Prescott, Wisconsin

2nd Place – 2010 Scooter
Sam Blesi, St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin

3rd Place – $500 Cash
Abigail Fett, Hudson, Wisconsin

Congratulations to our 2010 Rotary Club Raffle winners!  Your support is so important to us!

Contact:
Kirk Anderson
St. Croix Falls Rotary Club
rotary@scfrotary.org

What is Rotary?

The St. Croix Falls Rotary Club celebrated the changing of the Guard with new leadership and vision, but with the same focus on service.

The St. Croix Falls Rotary Club celebrated a new Rotary Club year with the rotation in of new leadership from the organization’s top – down. Each year, Rotary Clubs around the world celebrate the inauguration of a new Rotary International President, but at the same time, they celebrate new District Governors and Club Presidents too. The event is called the changing of the Guard.

This year the Changing of the Guard celebration was hosted at the home of Jon and Cheryl Cermin of St. Croix Falls. The Rotary Club of St. Croix Falls wants to acknowledge the hospitality of the Cermin’s, which allowed us to recognize the completed term of, now Past President, Terry Hawkins. And with appreciation for her year of leadership, she was present with a Paul Harris Fellow award.

Also, special recognition was given to an outgoing member of the Rotary Board – Richard Hartung, Club Secretary. For his years of dedicated service to the St. Croix Falls Rotary Club, Richard was also recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.

This year’s incoming President is Rebecca Berg, who was ceremonially given the Rotary Gavel for the 2010-2011 Rotary Year. Congratulations and special thanks to Rebecca’s attitude of service to our club and community here in St. Croix Falls.

As part of the Changing of the Guard celebration, the St. Croix Falls Rotary Club recognized its newest board members:

• LeeAnn Vitalis, President Elect – who will lead our club during the 2011-12 Rotary Year.
• Steve McCormack, Secretary
• Rich Potvin, Vocational Service
• Tom Klugow, Club Service

Returning members of the board include:

• Brian Adams – Foundation
• Kirk Anderson – Public Relations
• Mike Armbrust – Membership
• Cheryl Johnson – Community Service
• Terry Hawkins – International Service (Past President)
• Kirk Otto – Youth Exchange/Youth Protection Officer
• Tom Engel – Treasurer

This year’s Rotary International Theme is, “Building Communities – Bridging Continents.” Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.”

As Rotary Club President, Rebecca Berg will encourage Rotarians to use their skills and talents to contribute to the local community and the world. Rotary is a humanitarian service organization with over 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary has made the eradication of polio its top priority for the world.

Rotary is dedicated to making a difference in the local community and world through several areas of focus which include: disease prevention and Treatment, water and sanitation, economic and community development, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and peace and conflict resolution.

For more information about Rotary visit www.Rotary.org or www.SCFRotary.org

For Immediate Release
July 5, 2010

On June 29, 2010, two hundred Rotarians and guests attended the installation of Craig Leiser as Rotary International District 5960 Governor for 2010-2011.  Craig Leiser is past President of the Stillwater Sunrise Club and will devote his next year to the District’s 3100 members in 65 clubs and 4 Rotaract Clubs across south-central and southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Craig has been serving the district for the past 2 ½ years as District Governor Elect.  As governor, Leiser will emphasize the Rotary International Theme of Building Communities-Bridging Continents.  His personal goal is to have every club complete a water project and every member attend one meeting outside his or her own club.  Craig will visit each of the 65 clubs during his year as governor.

Contact:

Marlene Gargulak
Public Relations Chair
Rotary District 5960
2195 18 3/8 Avenue
Rice Lake, WI. 54868
mgargulak@charter.net
715-234-8314

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The St. Croix Falls Rotary Club wants to send our greetings  to the new Rotaract Club and say “welcome to the district.”  Unfortunately, a representative from our club was unable to attend personally, but we were happy to send a gift to celebrate their Charter event.

The Rotaract Club celebrated their charter event on Wed, May 19, 2010.  The event took place at the Rochester Golf & Country Club in Rochester MN.  A Club Chartering Event is a special time to mark the beginning for a club and we are very excited for the Rochester Rotaract club.

So, what is Rotaract?

Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. Rotaract clubs are either community or university based, and they’re sponsored by a local Rotary club. This makes them true “partners in service” and key members of the family of Rotary.

As one of Rotary’s most significant and fastest-growing service programs, with more than 7,000 clubs in about 163 countries and geographical areas, Rotaract has become a worldwide phenomenon.

How does it work?

All Rotaract efforts begin at the local, grassroots level, with members addressing their communities’ physical and social needs while promoting international understanding and peace through a framework of friendship and service.

For more information on the Rochester Rotaract Club, visit: www.rochesterrotaract.org

Rotary Club Radio Episode 013

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Presenting the Students of the Month plaques to the schools was Dr. Steve Bont of St. Croix Falls.  The winners of the $100 scholarship were: Austin Whittenberger of St. Croix Falls High School and Jessica Martell of Osceola High School.

The 2009-2010 Students of the Month From The St. Croix Falls High School

• Cory Gebhard, October 2009
• Megan Yunker, November 2009
• Jon Mikl, December 2009
• Austin Whittenberger, January 2010
• Gabby Nuckles, February 2010
• Katie Burns, March 2010
• Alicha Greenlee, April 2010
• Christian Wolfe, May 2010

The 2009-2010 Students of the Month From The Osceola High School

• Kristine Gustafson , October 2009
• Ricky Hoverman,  November 2009
• Jessica Martell , December 2009
• Megan Tarman , January 2010
• Avery Bundgaard , February 2010
• Cera Nelson , March 2010
• April Elise Strobach , April 2010
• May James Cross , May 2010

Also present at the meeting was Fmr. Police Detective and Talk Show host, Dan Conry.  Dan offered the students some words of wisdom about the real world and encouraged them to do their best.  You can find more information about  Dan at his website: www.DanConry.com

Next years Foreign Exchange Student, Elliott Frokjer, was also at our meeting to receive a special gift from the St. Croix Falls Rotary Club, presented by Warren White.  Elliott will be going to Switzerland as an Outbound Foreign Exchange Student.

Rotary Club Radio Episode 012

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Rotary Club Radio Episode 011

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Rotary Club Radio Episode 010

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Rotary Club Radio Episode 009

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• Katie Burns, St. Croix Falls High School
• Cera Nelson, Osceola School High School

Katie Burns, Student of the Month; Mr. Matt Beversdorf, most influential teacher
and Terry Hawkins, Rotary President.

Cera Nelson, Student of the Month; Sara Henke, Counselor
and Terry Hawkins, Rotary President.

Rotary Club Radio Episode 008

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Rotary Club Radio Episode 007

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Learn how to construct a well written resume along with tips for “Selling” yourself – even in a new career path.  Also learn how to prepare for interviews.  Improve your odds of landing a position in these tough economic times!

Class is taught by Mike Armbrust from Management Recruiters of the St. Croix Valley.

2 convenient times and locations for these classes:

Monday March 1 – 6:30 p.m. – FREE
Peace Lutheran Church 2355 Clark Road near Dresser

Tuesday March 2 – 6:30 p.m. – FREE
Bone Lake Lutheran Church 1101–255th Ave. near Luck

Call 715.553.0707 for more information

Sponsored by Rotary Club of St. Croix Falls and United Way of Polk County

• Gabby Nuckles, St. Croix Falls High School
• Avery Bundgaard, Osceola School High School

Gabby Nuckles, Student of the Month; Mrs. Sue Imoff, Most Influential Teacher
and Terry Hawkins, Rotary President

Avery Bundgaard, Student of the Month; Mr. Kelly Stephens, Most Influential Teacher
and Terry Hawkins, Rotary President

Rotary Club Radio Episode 006

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Rotary Club Radio Episode 005

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Pat Struve, Paul Harris Fellow and Club President Terry Hawkins

January 20, 2010

Rotarian Pat Struve, of the St. Croix Falls Rotary Club, was presented with his +6th Paul Harris Award by Club President, Terry Hawkins.

A Paul Harris Fellow is an individual who donates $1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, or the Humanitarian Grants Program, or people who have that amount contributed in their name, can be recognized as Paul Harris Fellows. Each new Paul Harris Fellow receives a commemorative certificate and a pin.  Individuals who donate multiple $1,000 dollars become Paul Harris + members.

Upon receiving his Paul Harris Pin, Pat recalled life as a boy in the midst of the Polio crisis in America. He remembered vividly, not being able to play with other kids because of the Polio outbreak and seeing friends and family members die or disabled as a result of the virus.  According to Pat, “when Rotary began it’s Polio Vaccination project, I saw it as an opportunity to end polio in my generation ~ and Rotary has almost done it.”

Congratulations to Rotarian Pat Struve for his years of service in Rotary and his generous gift to Rotary International to End Polio Now.

You can more information about Rotary and Paul Harris at: Rotary.org

Kristina Cipelli Stelmakh, Rotary Exchange Student from Italy, placed 4th in the 2010 DECA Conference for District 1.  Kristina, a Senior at St. Croix Falls High School, was competing in the Career and Development conference and was awarded an Individual Award for Hotel and Lodging Management.

Way-to-Go Kristina!

You can find more out about DECA at: www.deca.org

Fading hope was restored as NYPD and FDNY rescued more earthquake victims, 7 days after the quake struck. Beating the odds, a brother and sister were rescue after their father flagged down a Haitian police office who sent for the New York City Rescue Team.  That father was feeding his children through a tube and communicating with them until help arrived.

Watch the child expressions of joy as he is pulled from the wreckage, it is truly heart warming.

Haiti will face years of difficult recovery and with the death toll surpassing 150,000 people and climbing, the shattered government is trying to bury the dead and provide for the survivors.  With the help of some world governments and countless organizations like Rotary and Shelter Box, Haiti has received much needed relief and supplies, but because of the chaotic scene, many still haven’t received assistance.

As more help arrives and supplies like medicine, food and clean water are delivered, the short term mission to save lives will turn into a long term mission to sustain and rebuild a nation.

Millions are now homeless and unable to contemplate the steps necessary to begin such a rebuilding task. They will need shelter, food, water, and support to begin the process. If you would like to help, you can donate money to provide a shelter box that will help give shelter and needed supplies to an extended family of 10 people.

There are many wonderful relief agencies working in Haiti right now and support from individuals and businesses are necessary for humanitarian efforts to continue.

To Donate:

• Rotary
• Shelter Box
• RedCross
• Salvation Army

To donate, visit: www.shelterbox.org

Rotary Club Radio Episode 004

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Rotary Club Radio Episode 003

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Rotary Club Radio Episode 002

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Rotary Club Radio Episode 001

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• Austin Whittenberger, St. Croix Falls High School
• Megan Tarman, Osceola School District

Austin Whittenberger, Student of the Month; Mike Wilson, Counselor
and Terry Hawkins, Rotary President

Megan Tarman, Student of the Month; Josh Robinson, Most Influential Teacher
and Terry Hawkins, Rotary President

Beautiful Lights at the Dalles House in St. Croix Falls, WI ~ yes, it was a White Christmas!

Christina, our Exchange Student from Italy.

• Jon Mikl, St. Croix Falls High School
• Jessica Martell, Osceola High School

Jessica Martell, Student of the Month; Amanda Meyer, Teacher
and Terry Hawkins, Rotary President

Jon Mikl, Student of the Month; Shawn Gudmensen, Teacher
and Terry Hawkins, Rotary President

The club was recognized for the development of the Wheel Skate Park on Hwy 35 in St. Croix Falls across from City Hall.

Warren White conceived the idea of creating a wheel park almost fifteen years ago to give young people a place to gather and exercise. He finally got all the “stars in alignment” to get it done.

Without White’s persistence and technical knowledge, and the support from the City of St. Croix Falls, this project might not have happened. The skate park became a reality for the community in 2008 through the efforts of Warren White, Dr. Cheryl Johnson, the City of St. Croix Falls, and other local Rotarians who raised money for it and donated the physical labor to construct it and improve it.

“Only three clubs were recognized at the district conference for completed projects and we were one of them. Warren’s vision finally came true”, said Steve Ritter, former club President.

“It was such an honor for us to be recognized at the district level and know that we met the criteria to be submitted to the international level for recognition. What a shocker now to be selected at the highest level of Rotary membership and to be honored with this award today!”

Rotary is an organization of business and professional men and women united worldwide who provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.” Rotary International, founded in 1905 as the world’s first service club organization, is made up of over 32,000 clubs and 1.3 million members in more than 200 countries. Its members form a global network of business and professional leaders who volunteer their time and talents to serve their communities and the world.

Rotary Clubs welcome visiting Rotarians and Guests to attend when they are in town. If you would like to visit the St. Croix Falls Rotary Club, please visit the website, www.scfrotary.org for more information.

• Megan Yunker, St. Croix Falls High School
• Ricky Hoverman, Osceola High School.

Megan Yunker, St. Croix Falls High School
Rotary President, Terry Hawkins

Ricky Hoverman, Osceola High School
Rotary President, Terry Hawkins

• Cory Gebhard, St. Croix Falls High School
• Kristine Gustafson, Osceola High School.

Cory Gebhard SCF Student with Matt Beversdorf teacher

Cory Gebhard SCF Student with Matt Beversdorf teacher
Rotary President, Terry Hawkins

Kristine Gustafson Osceola student with Pam Brunclik teacher

Kristine Gustafson Osceola student with Pam Brunclik teacher
Rotary President, Terry Hawkins

The St. Croix Falls Rotary Club sponsored a Shelter Box ($1,000) through the Shelter Box Project.

After 20 years of hard work, Rotary and its partners are on the brink of eradicating this tenacious disease, but a strong push is needed now to root it out once and for all. It is a window of opportunity of historic proportions.

Your contribution will help Rotary match a $100 million challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The resulting $200 million will directly support immunization campaigns in developing countries, where polio continues to infect and paralyze children, robbing them of their futures and compounding the hardships faced by their families.

As long as polio threatens even one child anywhere in the world, children everywhere remain at risk. The stakes are that high.

Inbound: Carlos Meyer Marquez

Carlos Meyer Marquez Rotary Club Bolivia Presentation
March 11, 2009

Outbound: Kristina Flandrena

One of the things that distinguishes Rotary from other Service organizations is the connection to the international community. Nowhere is this more evident than through the unique mechanism of funding service projects in foreign countries.

In their wisdom, Rotary established a foundation, which collects contributions from Rotary Clubs around the world. The funds are held for three (3) years during which time the earnings are used to run the administrative system that supports Rotary worldwide. At the end of 3 years, the entire amount is then released to be used for International and local Community Service projects.

These funds allow local funds to be leveraged over 3 times ($1 becomes $3+) before being sent to the area of need. To ensure integrity of funds and minimize administrative burden on service projects, the entire project management system and approval of funds is overseen by Rotary clubs located in the community benefiting from the project.

The St. Croix Falls club has been very active in generating funds as well as supporting projects that impact lives in communities around the world.

The St. Croix Falls Rotary Club completed the Wheel Park, located across from City Hall in St. Croix Falls.