Beginning on May 23rd 2025, a small team of Rotarians and friends of Rotary will embark on an epic 1800 mile, month long, bicycle ride which will take them from Rotary International headquarters to the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary.Over their journey they will ride through seven states and climb over 78,000 feet. They will visit some of North America's most iconic parks and sights as they traverse a number of mountain ranges. During their adventure they will meet with Rotarians along the way and raise awareness of Rotary.
Each rider has a unique story and connection to cycling and Rotary which will be enhanced by this once in a lifetime adventure. Riding the entire way will be John Schultz, President of the Rotary Club of Linn County; DGE Ward Budwig of the Decorah Rotary Club; as well as past president of Changemakers Rotary Club, LeRoy Kemnitz. They will begin their ride with PDG Tom Drenan and other Rotarian friends from the Evanston Illinois area.To learn more about their ride or get involved, please contact John Schultz at johnmschultz@gmail.com
We recited the four way test to remind us of our Rotary ethics of truth, fairness, goodwill, friendships and beneficial to all. 
Rita Wachuta-Breckel was the winner of our 50/50 raffle. Congratulations Rita!
Use the hashtags #servicebeforeself, #peopleofaction, and #rotary to add to service related social media posts. Rotary has a presence in FaceBook, Reddit, TicToc and Instagram.
We are currently collecting for ShelterBox USA, who provide shelter and supplies after natural disasters or in areas of conflict. Changemakers has pledged $500 by June 10th. We are half-way there, thank you to all who have donated. 
Operation Pollination is gearing up for the upcoming growing season. Visit the 
•To make pollinator garden seed packets to pair with a small pamphlet and to hand them out at a community event
I have another life changing event to share with you. I attended the TriCon 2025 Rotary Conference this past weekend in Brookfield, Wisconsin. TriCon is an annual conference for Districts 6220, 6250, and 6270. We were treated to fun and fellowship, five plenary sessions, and six workshop sessions. 
We also heard from Ken Shuppert who was Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick’s representative and from Ed Futa Rotary International’s representative to the United Nations. 
A presentation from the Bridge & Build Wisconsin organization that encourages Rotarians to participate in this initiative to address the mental health of our youth. In November 2025 they will have a kick-off event at Lambeau Field where “high school students and their mentors will learn, collaborate, and develop action plans for their schools and communities.”
As many of you know, I was a participant in the Rotary District Friendship Exchange to Budapest, Hungary two years ago. Changemakers Rotary was represented by Cheryl Mader and Cathy Statz. Other clubs represented were Madison West Middleton, Madison, Mount Horeb, La Crosse-Valley View, and Columbus Fall River. I became a member of Changemakers Rotary Club on July 1, 2023 because of this exchange. Cheryl Mader’s sister Mary Van Hout from Madison West Middleton Rotary Club was with us. At the 2025 TriCon Conference Mary was awarded the International Rotary Service Above Self award. This is the description of the award: “Rotary’s highest honor recognizes Rotarians who demonstrate Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self, by volunteering their time and talents to help others. The award is internationally competitive, and is granted to no more than 150 Rotarians worldwide. Today, no more than one individual from each district, each year can earn the prestigious honor.”
This month we have a recording of Eric Toensmeier, talking about perennials, pollinators, and permaculture. The recording was sent by the ESRAG Operation Pollination group. 
Sharon recorded an interview with Julie Zilmer, a member of our club and a third grade teacher who received a grant for establishing a pollinator garden at her school, for the students and the community to learn and enjoy. Congratulations to Julie on getting this grant.
The fourth Tuesday of the month is for committee meetings. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 25 at 5 pm. Join a committee and enhance your Rotary experience! If you are passionate about something that would help Rotary advance its mission, let a club officer know.
In July, Fran Wargolet, a Kenosha Rotarian and ambassador to ShelterBox U.S.A. spoke to us about this organization that is a partner if Rotary International. It offers shelter and supplies to people in natural disaster areas and to others in areas of conflict, sometimes before a peace settlement has bee reached. The shelter might be a tent, tarp, or house repairs. At the January service committee meeting, we decided to begin our next project for ShelterBox USA. We set up a fundraising goal of $500 by June 10th. We can all help in donating and telling our friends, families, and associates about this opportunity to make a difference by making a donation to the Changemakers Rotary District 6250 Foundation account. 
Congratulations to Valerie Wachuta for becoming a Paul Harris Fellow. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation.
Congratulations to Changemaker Julie Zilmer, who has won an Illinois Schoolyard Habit Action Grant for Elmwood Elementary School in Zion, Illinois. Julie is a 3rd grade teacher and Earth Club Leader. The project is a 12 foot by 12 foot pollinator garden designed to provide essential habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinating species. The primary goal is to provide students and staff with hands-on leaning opportunities, fostering curiosity and critical thinking about ecosystems, pollinators, and plant growth. Another goal is to strengthen connections between the school and the local community by creating a shared space. 
Sun Prairie East High School Interact has three projects for second semester. 1) Letters of Love to make and send cards to patients and Children's Hospitals and to involve elementary and middle school students. 2) To make pollinator garden seed packets to pair with a small pamphlet and to hand them out at a community event 3) End of semester book drive to donate books to elementary student to take home for the summer. Interact President Teegan Davis and her Cap City Cougars hockey team are state bound. Congratulations Teegan!.
Tricon will be April 25 - 26 in Brookfield Wisconsin. 
Our guest speaker for March was Bill O'Donnell, who talked to us about his experiences in Team Rubicon. Team Rubicon is a veteran-led humanitarian organization that serves global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises.
Team Rubicon started with a 2005 UW Madison graduate Jake Wood, who became a marine. After his time in the marines, an earthquake in Haiti occurred. He knew that he and his fellow veterans had the skillset needed to help with the recovery in Haiti. He gathered his friends and equipment and they all went to help in Haiti. Their name was chosen after crossing the river between the Dominican Republic and Haiti, like Caesar crossing the Rubicon. After returning, they realized they could work on projects in US too. One original member committed suicide two years later. No they have a training that includes suicide prevention. Most training is on-line, but hands on is in person.
Rubicon has done projects in all 50 states and several countries. They work with other agencies including Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and Emergency Road Clearance Teams. Highly skilled sawyers, be at the airport within 6 hours of call. 
February is the Rotary Month of Peace Building and Conflict Prevention. In July, Fran Wargolet, a Kenosha Rotarian and ambassador to ShelterBox U.S.A. spoke to us about this organization that is a partner if Rotary International. It offers shelter and supplies to people in natural disaster areas and to others in areas of conflict, sometimes before a peace settlement has bee reached. The shelter might be a tent, tarp, or house repairs. At the January service committee meeting, we decided to begin our next project for ShelterBox USA. We set up a fundraising goal of $500 by June 6th. We can all help in donating and telling our friends, families, and associates about this opportunity to make a difference by making a donation to the Changemakers Rotary District 6250 Foundation account. 
Operation Pollination's next growing season is approaching fast. Make you plans for Spring and visit the 
Our March meeting will feature Bill O'Donnell, who will talk to us about his experiences in Team Rubicon, a veteran lead humanitarian organization tat serves global communities before, during, and after disasters and crises.
Our guest speaker for February was Paul Sukenik, member of the Madison South Rotary Club. Paul has been with Habitat for Humanity of Dane County since 2016 when he started as Family Services Director. Currently he is Vice-President of Community Services for Habitat for Humanity of Dane County.
So far they have built over 500,000 homes in all 50 states and about 70 countries. 6.8 million people have been served by Habitat. Jimmy Carter was in Madison for Habitat for Humanity in the early 2000's.
There are 32 Habitat affiliates and 29 ReStores in Wisconsin. Dane County, one of the Wisconsin affiliates, has two ReStores, builds about 15 homes per year, and provides home repair and financial education.
Some people who are initially turned down take the financial education and then are later approved for a home.
All are encouraged to contribute to the Rotary Foundation Annual Fund-SHARE. In order to be eligible for grants, we need to average $100 per person per year donations to the Rotary Foundation, in a program called Every Rotarian Every Year.
The fourth Tuesday of the month is for committee meetings. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, January 28 at 5 pm. Join a committee and enhance your Rotary experience! If you are passionate about something that would help Rotary advance its mission, let a club officer know.
Rotary Magazines - you can receive these online or print. The default is online. To switch to print, email data@rotary.ort or call the circulation department 866-976-8279. Rotary International has begun charging the clubs for the magazines, and so we need to pass this along to our members. Quarterly dues will be $75 starting on January 1st, 2025.
Tricon will be April 25 - 26 in Brookfield Wisconsin. Registration is now open. The Rotary International Convention will be in Calgary Canada, June 21 through 25. 
Changemaker Cathy Statz shared with us 2025 International Year of Cooperatives.
A cooperative is an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and democratically-controlled enterprise. They exist more for service than for profit. People take to priority over the enterprise.
The Cooperative Principles include
Cooperative Values include:
Ethical Values include:
Cathy travels a lot for cooperative education. She recently travelled to India for a global cooperative conference. 
Changemakers Rotary@Changemaker_Rotary
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Service Above Self
La Crosse, WI 54601
United States of America