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Welcome from Rotary Lights President Pat Stephens |
Welcome to
Rotary Lights 2007-----
We are excited to bring you the 13th year of
this special project. It continues to grow and
improve because of the complete year-round
dedication of so many wonderful volunteers.
As our annual display expands I still get asked
how the city can afford to pay the electric bill
and maintain such a wonderful holiday lighting
display when there are so many other community
needs. PLEASE, let me assure you that there are
not ANY tax dollars or other expenses paid by
the city. The entire costs of the Rotary Lights
project are covered by private contributions,
financial help from all area Rotary Clubs, and
through the gifted talents of thousands of
volunteers. Not many communities could tackle a
major project in this manner and achieve the
success we have.
Eighty-one non-profit organizations have
answered the call to participate in Rotary
Lights for 2007. (Our largest number of
groups—ever!) We will tally over 2,600
volunteers who work many months building,
designing, erecting, fixing, repairing and
storing the huge Rotary Lights inventory. It is
truly a total community effort. There is nothing
else like it.
A few new things to notice for 2007:
• Because of its popularity, we have expanded
the size of the Ice Castle (Heated Tent).
• We will hold the first ever Rotary Lights Fun
Run on Dec. 2.
• We have expanded our food collection process.
• We’ve added two FM frequencies to better
communicate with our visitors.
• Watch for La Crosse’s biggest igloo.
• We have constructed our first animated display
to music.
For 2006, we collected 171,252 non-perishable
food items pushing our total over 1 million
items since we began in 1995. We’ve set our
sites this year on reaching 200,000. The mission
of Rotary Lights is to “Feed the hungry of the
Coulee Region.” With the continued efforts of so
many, I’m confident we’ll accomplish that task.
Listed elsewhere in this booklet are the names
of those who serve on the Rotary Lights Board of
Directors and the hardworking Steering
Committee. If you know and see these people,
please thank them for their dedicated service.
Their efforts remind us that the La Crosse area
is really a special place to live.
Please, have a safe and peaceful holiday season!
Pat Stephens
President of
Rotary Lights
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