ARY - Rotary Lights

Welcome Rotary Lights ... It’s our 16th year!
The mission of Rotary Lights remains to … “feed the hungry
of the Coulee Region.” During the past 15 years, we have
collected more than 1.6 million food items. With the usual
community’s generosity, we hope to collect an additional
200,000 items this year, placing us in the perfect position to top
the 2 million mark in 2011!
That sounds like a lot of food — and it is. But, the food is used
quickly (usually in about 8-10 weeks) with the need being so
great. Nine area food pantries will share in the food collected
in the park this season. All the food collected through our “out
of park partners” goes to the Hunger Task Force. Keep those
non-perishables coming!
Mother Nature has provided a beautiful fall, giving us two to
three wonderful weeks to decorate the park before things went
back to “normal.” The hard work of Tom Svec, Tom Hundt,
Basil Martin, Larry Peterson, Bill Hoel, Andy Wettstein, Dan
Moen, Jerome Gundersen, Jim Cody, Steve Link, Hank Fillner
and many others got us off to a great start. I’m sure you’ll
admire their handiwork.
Over the last few years instead of increasing the number of
lights in the park, we have replaced a good portion of our
inventory with LED bulbs. These C-9’s, C-7’s and mini-lights
burn brighter, are more durable, and use a fraction of the
electricity. Thanks to the efforts of La Crosse County Board
members and administrators, the La Crosse Common Council,
federal stimulus money, and Xcel energy credits, we were able
to secure a grant that accelerated moving to a more energyefficient
display. Thanks to everyone who made this possible!
We hope you noticed the electronic sign as you entered the
park. Thanks to La Crosse Sign, we’re able to better inform our
visitors of dates, times and special events in the park. It has
been a great addition to our Rotary Lights display.
On behalf of the Stephens Family (including 11 grandchildren);
fellow Rotarians in all area clubs; participating non-profits; a
very dedicated Board of Directors and steering committee; and
thousands of willing volunteers, please accept best wishes for a
safe and happy holiday season!
Irish hugs,
Pat Stephens, President
Rotary Lights
Pat Stephens-Chair
Florence Aliesch
Gar Amunson
Tony Ciano
Mark & Sarah Dahlke
Mike Diveley
Jamie Durocher
Steve Earp
Tim Ehler
Hank Fillner
Scott Gleason
Elmer Grassman
Jerome Gundersen
ROTARY LIGHTS
La Crosse, Wis.
Table of Contents
2010 Participating & Benefiting Non-Profits ............6
Growing to over “Million Reflections” ......................9
Map of Park ............................................................10
Nightly Volunteer Groups/Food Pantry ..................11
Major Sponsors ......................................................13
Feed the Hungry of the Coulee Region..................15
Corporate Night Sponsors ......................................18
2010 Rotary Lights Board of Directors
Pat Stephens-President
John Wettstein-Vice President
Larry Peterson-Secretary
Jamie Durocher-Treasurer
Roger Bjorge
Leo Chaput
Bill Hoel
Dar Isaacson
Terry Miller
Nancy Proctor
Jim Spencer
Karla Stanek
Beth Stempinski
Joe Thesing
Dave Trapp
Jim Warren
Bill Wiesjahn
2010 Rotary Lights Steering Committee
Tom Hundt
Basil Martin
Doug Michel
Dan Moen
Loren & Pat Molling
Duane & Jan Moore
Mariann Peterson
Myrna Schmidt
Pat Smith
Tom Svec
Dave Thurston
Andy & Amy Wettstein
Matt Zimmerman
Photos of Rotary Lights taken by - Dave Larsen