2010 District 6250 Conference
May 21-22, 2010
Radisson Hotel La Crosse & La Crosse Center
La Crosse, WI
“No one should belong to Rotary for more than three years before attending a district conference”.
Chuck Keller
Rotary International President 1987
Launched the Polio Eradication Program
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| Dean Dickinson District Governor Rotary District 6250 |
Breathe a Song
The theme for the District Conference is “Breathe a Song”. It derives from the poem by
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “The Arrow and the Song” .
I shot an arrow into the air, - It fell to earth, I knew not where;
for, so swiftly it flew, the sight - Could not follow it in its flight.
I breathed a song into the air, - It fell to earth, I knew not where;
for who has sight so keen and strong, - That it can follow the flight of song?
Long, long afterward, in an oak - I found the arrow, still unbroke;
and the song, from beginning to end, - I found again in the heart of a friend.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This poem has significant meaning for those of us in Rotary. Arrows… and bullets and bombs do not bring a lasting peace. It is the “song of service” that Rotarians sing, that enters into the hearts and minds of those we serve, that will secure for ourselves and our children’s children, the promise of a more just and peaceful world. Our conference is dedicated to that song of service that brings hope where there is none, that changes and saves lives, that makes a difference.
I want to extend to each of you a most cordial invitation to come to the district conference. THERE IS NO REGISTRATION FEE. You only purchase the meals that you want. So, please consider bringing your non-Rotarian spouse. Join the chorus as we celebrate, educate and motivate ourselves to greater service in Rotary.
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| Jennifer Jones , Presidents Representative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jennifer is the President of Media Street Productions Inc., a television production and post-production company. Media Street is proud to be recognized as a caring corporate citizen and was named “Company of the Year” by the Windsor and District Chamber of Commerce as well as receiving numerous international awards for broadcasting excellence. In Rotary, she serves as the Zone 29 Coordinator for the Public Image Resource Group, a member of the Advisory Board for Rotary Canada and the Promotions Committee for the 2011 RI Convention ( New Orleans). Jennifer has served as an international volunteer in the Brazilian Amazon, Peru, Haiti, Venezuela and Tanzania. In April 2008, Jennifer acted as the Host Organizing Chair of the Rotary World Peace Summit. This event brought together leaders from across the globe in a dialogue about practical and realistic means to creating peace in our world. She has been recognized with many awards and recognitions including the YMCA Peace Medallion and Wayne State University’s Peacemaker of the Year Award – a first for a Canadian. Jennifer is the President of the Board of Directors at Maryvale Adolescent and Family Services. She is the Chair-Elect for the Windsor Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce and the 2 nd Vice Chair of the Board of Governors at the University of Windsor. Jennifer is happily married to Nick Krayacich a local family physician. They share a love for many things including travel, cycling, golf and relaxing at their family cottage. They also share a thirst for adventure and reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa in January 2009. Jennifer and Nick are Paul Harris Fellows, Major Donors, Level Three Charter Members of the Bequest Society and have two Youth Exchange sons from Brazil and Denmark. Anita Rieder, The Keynote Address Anita is the primary contact for EREY (Every Rotarian, Every Year) and other fundraising strategies. She joined the staff at The Rotary Foundation in June 2007 and enjoys assisting Rotarians with growing Our Rotary Foundation! Her connection with Rotary International began in high school when she received a scholarship from the Rotary Club of Amherst, Massachusetts; and during one summer she temped at The Rotary Foundation in the Ambassadorial Scholarships division! In the last five years, she volunteered in leadership roles for several music organizations. Prior to The Rotary Foundation, she worked in development for Tuesday’s Child, a nonprofit agency that serves children with behavioral and developmental delays. Anita is also a classical flutist, and she performed professionally throughout the Midwest as well as in Europe and Japan. She taught for nine years in higher education and holds a doctoral degree in music from Northwestern University. A former Fulbright Scholar in London, U.K., Anita has lived and studied in Matsumoto, Japan and Jalapa, Mexico. While music remains a passion for Anita, she believes in the philosophy of life-long learning and is very much enjoying her new chapter in life at The Rotary Foundation. She lives in Evanston, Illinois with her husband Bob, daughters Gillian and Nathalie and their dog Bruce.
Susan Thorning , A Conversation About Rotary Foundation Grants Susan Thorning, a member of the Rotary Club of Mission Bay, California, will be chairing a conversation concerning the Rotary Foundation and in particular the ins and outs of the matching grant process. She is the current chair of the District 5340 Grants Committee. District 5340 is one of the strongest supporters of to the Rotary Foundation and is also one of the most active in the application of matching grants. Susan is currently overseeing nearly 80 matching grants that are in various stages of funding and/or implementation. District 5340 has been selected to be one of the pilot districts in the Future Vision Plan of the Rotary Foundation. We have set a start time of 2:30 with no stated end time. When you meet Susan you will understand why. This is going to be a very interesting break out session for the members of our foundation committee, for foundation chairs from the respective clubs and for anyone interested in developing a better understanding of the matching grant process.
Barb Groner, Rotary's Gift to the World, The Eradication of Polio
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| Rick Kyte, Building Trust, Building Community | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The most significant task facing our generation today is creating a sustainable human ecology. Just as natural organisms require a healthy environment in order to flourish, so too do human beings require a healthy community, established through trust, meaningful work, and loving relationships. Biography Richard Kyte is Director of the D. B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership and Professor of Philosophy at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin where he teaches a variety of ethics courses dealing with issues in business, health care, law, politics, the environment, and religion. He has published and lectured widely on topics related to justice, forgiveness, virtue, and the meaning of life.
Tom Thibideau, Learning, Serving and Leading: a Rotarian Way of Life
Ron Denham - Water and Sanitation Rotary Action Group (WASRAG )
He was a member of the R.I. Task Force on Community Concerns in 1994-95 and Zone Coordinator for Family and Community Concerns in 1995-96. The following year he was Coordinator of the New Generations program. He was Discussion Group Leader at the 1995 and 1996 International Assemblies for incoming District Governors, and also Zone 22 trainer in 1995 and 1996. He was Rotary International Membership Coordinator Zone 22 ( Canada, St. Pierre & Miquelon , Alaska and Siberia) for the Rotary years 2001-04. He was also Canadian Chairman for the global Private Sector Appeal to Eradicate Polio. He has been active with Rotary clubs in Siberia and the Far East since 1997. He participated in the chartering of clubs in Kemerovo, Novosibirsk, Komsomolsk-na-Amur and Omsk and has participated in Rotary conferences in Barnaul, Novosibirsk and Khabarovsk. He has been General Coordinator of the Water Resources Task Force (or its equivalent) since 2004. More recently he was elected chair of the Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action group (WASRAG). During this time he has supported a range of water and sanitation projects in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Ghana, and in many states in India. His current mission is to encourage all 1.2 million Rotarians to become familiar with world water issues, and every Rotary club (32,000) to become involved in a water/sanitation project. Ron is married to Lynn. They have three children and eleven grandchildren. When not practicing his profession or working for Rotary they take time out to ski and travel.
David has served as a ShelterBox Response Team member (SRT) since early 2007. As one of the first US SRTs, he has responded to various disasters around the world. When Cyclone Nargis ravaged Myanmar in May of 2008, David was one of a handful of relief workers to successfully enter the country to provide aid to survivors. He helped oversee the distribution of over 2,000 ShelterBoxes throughout the nation’s hardest-hit Delta region. He remains on call for ShelterBox deployments. David’s background is in law enforcement and he currently owns and operates a Real Estate Appraisal Company in Brentwood, TN. David lives Brentwood with his wife, Andrea and three children, Madison, Aidan and Asher.
Carlos Rioja, “I Am Only One Person... What Can I Do?”
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| Saints Tour (for non-Rotarian guests only) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The “saints tour” will take place on the campus of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA). A small band of German immigrant sisters built the St. Rose Convent in 1870. In 1906 the Mary of the Angels (Maria Angelorum) and the Perpetual Adoration Chapels were completed. Resembling a Romanesque basilica, common in Europe, and with 160 angels depicited, this venue is one of the most popular and prominent visitor sights in La Crosse. Our hostess, a member of the Rotary Club of La Crosse, Sister Mary Ann Gschwind. Cost is $10 per person.
Sinners Tour (for non-Rotarian guests only) For those who prefer a walk on the “wild side” we are offering the “Sinners” half of two off premises events with a visit to the Wine Guyz, one of La Crosses favorite wine bars. Dan, the man at Wine Guyz, is going to host up to sixty of our district conference attendees at a wine tasting soiree. You need not be a connoisseur. Dan is going to share some great information and have you enjoy some wonderful wines. You will not want to miss this one…a short walk from the convention center, this will be one of the best hours of the week-end. It will fill up fast so do not be disappointed and get your reservation in as soon as possible. Cost is $10 Per Person
Michael Massey is a singer, songwriter, pianist, performer, and producer who has written or collaborated on over 250 rock, pop, country, and instrumental songs. He has three critically acclaimed albums, including Pop Album of the Year at the 2006 Madison Area Music Awards. Michael also has won numerous ADDY, TELLY, and WAVE awards for excellence in original music for advertising. While maintaining a busy performance schedule, Michael is also known for his ability to write in virtually any musical genre including scoring, post, long form, theater, radio spots, and television commercials. Michael’s clients for radio and television commercials include New Balance, Country Kitchen, UW Hospital, Meriter, Great Wisconsin Credit Union, American, Oscar Mayer, Metra, Michael’s, and United Way.
Friday Child Care (5:30 to 8:30) Potty trained children ages 3-11are welcome. Parents and children will be bused from the Radisson Hotel to the La Crosse Children's Museum. Parents will drop off their children and and continue on to the Bayou Bash at the Myrick Hixon Eco-Park. Parents will then return by bus to pick up their children at 8:30. Cost is $15 per child. Saturday Child Care (5:30 to 8:30) Cost is $15. |
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Jennifer is a proud member of Rotary and is the Past District Governor of District 6400 ( Windsor and Essex County, ON - Wayne Monroe and Lenawee Counties, MI).
Anita Rieder, Annual Giving Officer Zone 28 & 29, The Rotary Foundation 
Barbara became involved in Rotary in 1998 when she retired after 30 years in education, having worked in the Cassopolis Public schools as an elementary teacher, school librarian, and school principal. That career was a great training ground for her Rotary work with planning and leading Polio Immunization volunteer teams to India and Africa. Barbara has been to both India and Africa seven times. She has made it possible for over 700 people to share in the work of Polio Eradication. Not all of these were Rotarians. Many were the spouses, children, grandchildren, and friends of Rotarians--and many have become Rotarians themselves as a result of their involvement in this World Community Service effort. Barbara is presently the World Community Service chairperson for District 6360. She is also a past president of the Rotary club of Dowagiac, Michigan 
Tom Thibodeau, a 25-year member of the Viterbo faculty was recently named Distinguished Professor of Servant Leadership. Among his awards are Viterbo Teacher of the Year in 1987, Toastmaster’s Man of the Year in 1989, Freking-Iverson Ecumenical Leadership Award in 1991, Franciscan Skemp Foundation Spheres of Influence Award in 1999, Coulee Catholic School’s Mardi Gras King in 2000, and in 2008, he was named to the Wall of Fame by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse. He was most recently named Grand Parade Marshall for the Oktoberfest Parade. Thibodeau is also a co-founder of Place of Grace Catholic Worker House located in La Crosse. In 2001, Thibodeau was instrumental in coordinating an effort that led to the establishment of the Master of Arts in Servant Leadership degree, the only graduate program of its kind in the U.S. Today, he serves as director of that program 
A Rotarian for almost 50 years, Ron first joined in 1958 in Welland. After moving to Toronto he joined his present club—Toronto-Eglinton—in 1964. He was President in 1973-74 and, after being director of several district programs, including Vocational Service, Public Relations and Community Service, was elected District Governor for the year 1993-94. He was elected Paul Harris Fellow in 1988 and is a Benefactor and Major Donor to The Rotary Foundation. In recognition of his contribution to Rotary, his vocation and to the world community he was presented with the “Service above Self” award in 2005.
David currently serves as Program Director for ShelterBox’s national affiliate in the US, ShelterBox USA. David oversees the North American SRT (ShelterBox Response Team) program which trains and deploys volunteers into these disaster zones to ensure the delivery of vital aid to those most affected. David travels and speaks on behalf of SB USA to generate support and visibility for ShelterBox within the USA. 
Appearing under the auspices of the Rotary Club of Holmen, Carlos O. Rioja, a native of Peru, made his home in the United States for an extended period of time prior to returning to his native country in 1998 in order to fulfill a life long commitment to serve his people. An executive with the Oshkosh Truck Corporation, Carlos was a member, and continues being an Honorary member of the Rotary Club of Oshkosh-Noon, is a member and Past President of the Rotary Club of La Molina Vieja and held several District Officer positions with District 4450 in Lima, Peru. He was appointed by then Governor Tommy Thompson, Honorary Ambassador for Wisconsin in Peru, Council for Hispanic Affairs and Advisor to the Governor on Foreign Trade Issues. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce for eight years. In 1994 he was invited to the White House by President Bill Clinton to share his advice on NAFTA and Free Trade Issues. He is a Board Member and Director of International Affairs for EIGER, a technical education institute with 50 thousand students and 15 branches throughout Peru. Carlos holds a degree from the University in Lima and a Master of Business Administration from Seattle University, Seattle, Washington. Married to Blanca, they have two children, Ricardo (Jennifer) and Patricia (Vince Maine), and four grandchildren. 