Events

Please join us for a review of our outstanding Rotary year!

Invocation: Judy Freund

Greeters: Paul McGinnis & Ruth Petermann

Please consider this time an opportunity to take action through committee meetings, fundraising, or a project. Our location will not be available during our "off" weeks so please use other locations. 

Please join us for a recap of Taste of the Valley, an update on the upcoming Golf Tournament, and a brief presentation on an event the Environmental Committee is organizing in September.

Greeters: Ethan Anderson & Bill Fehrenbach

Please join us for a presentation on Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization that provides beds for children, so no kid sleeps on the floor. Tom Vogler is the owner/operator of Superior Carpet Cleaning. He cleans carpet and furniture, details interior vehicles, and strips and waxes linoleum floors. Tom has provided these services in the St. Croix Valley and beyond for the last 20 years. He started volunteering for SHP in March of 2024, and helped start the Wi-St. Croix Chapter of SHP in Oct 2024. So far, Tom has been on projects for SHP involving 5,810 beds.   

Ways to support Sleep in Heavenly Peace:

• Sponsor a bed build for $5,000: A build is a minimum of 20 beds, complete with mattress, sheets, pillow, and comforter.
• Shop the Walmart mattress wishlist.
• Mail a check to Tom Vogler, 968 Falcon Dr, River Falls, WI. 54022
• Become a monthly donor online: Just $20 per month for a year will provide a bed for a kiddo.
• Register for upcoming volunteer opportunities.
• Provide storage for the new SHP trailer; the team is also looking to wrap the trailer.
• Join the core team and support delivery, organizing volunteers, building, and social networking.
• Provide bedding: Many comforters are made by quilting groups and donated.
• Provide lumber: 2 X 4s, 2 X 6s, and 1 X 4s
• Follow their Facebook Page.

Apply for a bed online at shpbeds.org!

Invocation: Tom Van Pelt

Greeters: John Duntley & Chris Wood

Please join us for a presentation about St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity and the Housing Coalition Project. Kristie Smith joined St. Croix Valley Habitat for Humanity in Hudson, Wisconsin as Executive Director in May 2020 and comes to the organization after 30+ years in the marketing/communications and nonprofit community. Her focus is on empowering communities through affordable homeownership in Pierce & St. Croix Counties. Through board and staff development, significant fundraising work, and community support, Smith has seen the nonprofit grow.

She is a passionate affordable housing advocate and is part of the steering committee responsible for The Starter Home Project that includes Momentum West, Derrick Companies, Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Pillar Bank, See What I Mean Consulting, and The Moes Sell Homes.

Prior to joining SCV Habitat, Kristie spent 20 years in the nonprofit sector, focusing on media, marketing, and event development. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication St. Cloud State University and a Master’s degree from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. A native of Minnesota, Kristie has lived in the Twin Cities region, Chicago, and Bermuda, and has spent many summers in Shell Lake and Hayward, WI where much of her family is from. She has two grown children and lives in Lake Elmo, Minnesota.

Invocation: Annette Cook

Greeters: Paul McGinnis & Tom Van Pelt

The St. Croix River watershed is nearly 8,000 square miles and includes dozens of tributary streams and hundreds of lakes. Where are we making good progress to protect and restore water quality, and what challenges are coming in the future? Angie Hong has been an environmental educator for more than twenty years. She is coordinator of the East Metro Water Education Program, where she works with local government to implement educational programs that teach and inspire local residents and community leaders to protect water resources in the region. Her weekly column in the Stillwater Gazette—Valley Life Newspaper shares tips and tales about keeping water clean and is also available at eastmetrowater.org. Follow her outdoor adventures on social media @mnnature_ awesomeness.

Invocation: Pam Klingfus

Greeters: Jamie Johnson & Ruth Petermann

Please consider this time an opportunity to take action through committee meetings, fundraising, or a project. Our location will not be available during our "off" weeks so please use other locations. 

Please join us for an update from the UWRF Chancellor, John Chenoweth. John Chenoweth began his tenure as interim Chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in March 2025. 

Prior to arriving at UW-River Falls, Chenoweth served as the provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater since July 2021. At UW-Whitewater, he oversaw five academic colleges across two campuses, including Arts and Communication, Business and Economics, Education and Professional Studies, Integrated Studies, and Letters and Sciences, along with the School of Graduate Studies, Continuing Education, and 25 other campus offices. 

Before becoming provost, Chenoweth was the dean of the College of Business and Economics at UW-Whitewater, the largest AACSB-accredited business school in Wisconsin. He joined UW-Whitewater in 2002 and held numerous administrative jobs, including associate dean, interim director of the Center for Global Education, and department chair of Information Technology and Business Education. 

Chenoweth holds an Ed.D. in educational leadership and policy analysis from East Tennessee State University, a master's degree in computer science from the University of South Dakota, and a bachelor's degree in computer science from Augustana University. 

Chenoweth has been married to his wife Suzanne, a reading and math interventionist at Lincoln Elementary School in Whitewater, for nearly 32 years. They have two adult sons, Dalton and Colin. 

Greeters: Seth Blum & John Edwards

Club Visioning: This presentation will help club members to learn what Club Visioning is, why it's needed, and how you can (and should!) participate. Visioning is conducted by experienced facilitators with the goal of helping club members to create, define, and implement meaningful programs for your club and community. International Convention: Kerry will share inspiration from the Calgary Convention in June.

Invocation: John Duntley

Greeters: Ethan Anderson & Gar Christenson

Please join us for a presentation on how erosion control protects water and soil resources in St. Croix County. We'll also have a presentation from our exchange student, Olivia Pettey, on her year abroad in Italy.

Invocation: Jamie Johnson

Greeters: Pam Klingfus & Ruth Petermann

Please consider this time an opportunity to take action through committee meetings, fundraising, or a project. Our location will not be available during our "off" weeks so please use other locations. 

Please join us for a presentation from Golden Rule Initiative Team (GRIT) members on what GRIT is and how you can get involved!

Invocation: Dr. Gar Christenson

Greeters: Dave Drewiske & Matthew Rudquist

Tropical Wings is the Friends Group of the National Park Service Sister Parks partnership between 14 National Parks in the Upper Midwest and seven National Parks in Costa Rica, focused on the neotropical migratory birds that we share. In 2018, Tropical Wings worked with the City of Hudson to earn Bird City WI status, and they have led the effort to maintain the certification each year. This presentation will explore what it means for Hudson to be a Bird City, including the benefits to birds, people, and the community.

Patty Mueller is the president of the non-profit conservation group Tropical Wings, among other volunteer work in conservation and education in the St. Croix Valley. She has worked in environmental education and youth and family camping in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Alaska, New York, and Maine. She taught high school science at Hudson High School,and was the Project Manager for an EPA-funded Master Watershed Stewardship grant program. Patty enjoys bird watching, hiking, Nordic skiing, paddling, travel, and gardening. She and her husband live in Hudson, WI.

Invocation: Dave Drewiske

Greeters: Annette Cook & Lee Kroll

Shelly Smith is the Executive Director at Our Neighbors' Place, where she has been helping those in need since 2016. She also serves on the United Way St. Croix & Red Cedar Valley Board of Directors as well as the River Falls Community Hospital Advisory Board. Outside of work, you can find Shelly garage-saling, thrifting, or visiting one of her 3 daughters.

Please also join us in celebrating our September Students of the Month.

Invocation: Pamela Klingfus

Greeters: Paul McGinnis & Chris Wood

Please consider this time an opportunity to take action through committee meetings, fundraising, or a project. Our location will not be available during our "off" weeks so please use other locations. 

Please join us for an update on Rotary's Polio Plus goal and information about the fundraiser & event at the end of October.

Invocation: Paul McGinnis

Greeters: Ruth Petermann & Erika Schendel

Please join us to learn about the initial output from the September 24 Visioning Session and provide your input. Whether you attended the session or not, you will have time to weigh in and voice your ideas on where the club should focus over the next three years. You will be given an opportunity to work at your tables and provide input as we work on creating and refining a club vision for the coming years.

Invocation: Dave Drewiske

Greeters: Chris Kost & Steve Wilcox

Please join us for a discussion on the "science of play" and the link to brain development and community building. The library intends to use every square foot of their new space (formerly the police department)  for a new children's area. Why? It's a research-based decision.

Invocation: Pat Casanova

Greeters: Val Romansky & Skelly Sekelsky

Join us for a presentation from our District Governor as he shares district goals and news. We will also celebrate our October Students of the Month.

Invocation: Jamie Johnson

Greeters: Seth Blum & Jamie Johnson

Please consider this time an opportunity to take action through committee meetings, fundraising, or a project. Our location will not be available during our "off" weeks so please use other locations. 

Please join us for an update on the international grant to upgrade the medical facilities at BKL Walawalkar Hospital, Dervan, Ratnagiri district, Chiplun, India.

Founded by Shri Vithalrao Joshi Charities Trust, BKL Walawalkar Hospital is a multispecialty tertiary care institution. The hospital has a 25-year legacy of providing community-based health care with a special focus on underserved communities impacted by poverty, malnutrition, limited literacy, and social taboos. The Stillwater Sunrise Rotary and the Pune Tilak Road Rotary clubs submitted an international grant to upgrade and expand the hospital's diagnostic and surgical equipment, enabling the hospital to serve approximately 2,500 additional patients per year.

Margie is a retired CPA with a passion for The Rotary Foundation and currently serves as the District Rotary Foundation Chair. With a special interest in global and district grants, Margie takes great joy in helping clubs get their grant ideas off the ground and into communities where they can make a real difference in the daily lives of those served.

Invocation: Annette Cook

Greeters: Judy Freund & Val Romansky

At least two Hudson Daybreak Rotarians have hiked across what many consider the US's most spectacular natural feature–the Grand Canyon–in recent years. Hear the details of Bill Fehrenbach's excursion with a UW-Stevens Point Adventure Tours group this June, a trip that was "fraught with uncertainty"!

Invocation: Jamie Johnson

Greeters: John Dusek & Dave Schafer

Join us for the Fall 2025 Grant Meeting, one of the most rewarding gatherings of the year! We’ll hear from local organizations making real change, present their grant checks, and celebrate how HDR funds are strengthening our community. It’s a chance to connect, feel inspired, and be reminded why our collective efforts matter so much. Don’t miss this uplifting morning!

Invocation: Julie Heifner

Greeters: Megan Boldig & Shelley Tougas

Please consider this time an opportunity to take action through committee meetings, fundraising, or a project. Our location will not be available during our "off" weeks so please use other locations. 

We need you at this week’s meeting as we plan for our Club’s future! When you enter the room, look for the table with the topic you’d like to focus on and collaborate with some like-minded Rotarians. The 5 different topics you can choose from include:

• Recreate Membership and Retention Committee
• Work towards net 20 new members by 2028
• Research youth needs through Developmental Assets model 
• Assess existing community surveys to set direction towards a signature project
• Enhancing Public Image

Each table will work with the table captain to create an Action Plan for your topic, outlining the steps, the people responsible, and the goal deadlines.

Invocation: Tom Van Pelt

Greeters: Bill Fehrenbach & Jamie Johnson