River Falls Rotary: People of Action.

Enhancing Opportunities for Youth; Creating a Better World for All.

JOIN A PROJECT

From mentoring area youth to planting trees, highway cleanup and events, there's something for every volunteer spirit. Rotary People of Action make a difference in their communities and in the world.

PARTNER WITH US

Be a part of the "End Polio Now" effort. (more) You or your organization can make a difference in eradicating this devastating disease by contributing to Rotary International.

DISCOVER NEW CULTURES

Rotary sponsors youth exchange programs as well as member on-site volunteer projects. Discover and celebrate diverse perspectives with a global organization.
River Falls Rotary Burger Battle
We are excited to share that after a multiple-year hiatus, the River Falls Rotary Club is resurrecting the River Falls Rotary Burger Battle.
Latest News
This week's meeting is a definite departure from our norm.  Thanks to The Sycamore, we are being treated to lunch as well as to a tour of their facility.  The other departure from standard is that, due to the need to provide a number for lunch, we have 25 RSVPs for lunch. (If you're not sure, the list of Yes responses is available by clicking Read More).
 
Megan Harstad suggests arriving at or before noon, parking in the main lot off of Sycamore Street, then going in through the main entrance.  She'll direct us to the dining hall.  After lunch, we'll get about a 20-minute tour.
 
 
Rufus Elging is our most recent exchange student.  He comes from Stockholm, Sweden and from a family of four: his mother is a book editor; father is the librarian for the Swedish military, and a brother.  His host family has a mother, father, 2 sons and 2 daughters and one away at college. He is starting to get used to having so many people in the household. He says the 8-year-old “sister” follows him around like a puppy.
In Sweden, the equivalent to our high school is called gymnasium, which covers grades 10 to 12. Rufus is in the 11th grade over there and is considered a junior here. Sweden does not have sports as part of the school system. Sports are a separate endeavor and according to Rufus, you must start in a sport when you are young. That is why he was so glad that his host family signed him up for some sports activities at his school here, including cross country this fall. He likes basketball, running and soccer (called football outside of the United States). He tasted turkey for the first time when he had a turkey leg at the Minnesota State Fair (kudos to the Miller family for getting him there on the final day). The turkey leg was so big he cradled it like a baby.
Thanks to the 5th Tuesday assembly line, we put together 50 bags of personal care items for Wiley's Closet at RFHS and for the Cat's Closet at MMS.  Thanks are due to all who participated and to Karla and Linda for project management!
 
River Falls native, recent RFHS graduate, and incoming UWRF student Gabe Olson-Jensen described the development and pursuit of his interests in plant science.  What started as gardening in his youth has led him toward academic study and work in the field of Horticulture and Genetics.
 
Gabe started grafting plants at age 12 with help from Mark Christopher at Maple Leaf Orchard.  He contacted Dr. Jim Luby at U of M to obtain budwood in order to graft apple trees.  In 7th grade at MMS, Gabe asked to use an inactive greenhouse at the school, and he used it to grow a variety of “bizarre” plants.  He noted with understandable pride that the greenhouse remains in use.
A few sentences summarizing what we saw on Tuesday can't do justice to the film.  Mike presented a slightly edited version in two parts, with comments about the process and about how he worked with a cast consisting of first-time, non-actor middle school students.  The filmmaking skills Mike developed in the corporate world during his working days were evident in the totally professional caliber of the film.  And the message the film and its cast conveyed is that we all need to respect and conserve the Kinnickinnic River and its watershed.
 
Speaking of the watershed:  Mark Ritzinger, who appeared in the film and was one of our guests, mentioned that he offers tours of the watersheds that feed the Kinni.  He said that touring the northern end of the KRLT conservation area can add a great deal to people's understanding of the Kinni.  He takes groups of 4 at a time.  Mark's email is markritzinger@yahoo.com.
 
Click Read More to read about Mike as well as his summary of Stories from the Water:
Join us!
Come visit with us!
 
Our meetings are
Tuesdays at 7:00 a.m. 1st, 3rd, and 5th weeks of the month
2d and 4th Tuesdays at noon
 
Ezekiel Lutheran Church
202 S. 2nd St.
River Falls, WI 54022
United States
 
Rotary International Logo
 
Service Above Self
 
Our mailing address:
PO Box 311, River Falls, WI 54022
 
Find us on the map!
 
Upcoming Speakers
Megan Harstad
Sep 26, 2023
FIELD TRIP - lunch meeting at The Sycamore
Patty Hall, White Bear Lake Rotary
Oct 03, 2023 7:00 AM
Uganda Water Project Supported by District Grant
Issac Grover, Hudson Daybreak Rotary
Oct 10, 2023 12:00 PM
St Croix River Dunk Fundraiser
Upcoming Events
Club Calendar
September 2023
S M T W T F S
27
28
29
30
31
01
02
03
04
06
07
08
09
10
11
13
14
15
16
17
18
20
21
22
23
24
25
27
28
29
30
Club Executives & Directors
President
Immediate Past President
Facebook
Follow us on Facebook!