Rotary Messenger
Rotary Club of Eau Claire
In This Issue
• Hmong Community
Update
• Youth Rotars Honored
• Greeters and
Classification Talks
Schedules
Visiting Rotarians
• None
Guests
• Youth Rotar School Reps:
o Jeff Pepowski (Altoona)
o Kris Terhark (Memorial)
o Maureen Doughty (North)
o Joe Eisenhuth (Regis)
• Kevin Spinner
Leave of Absence
• Angie Niska (9/7/2008 –
3/7/2009)
Make-ups
• Michael Golrick, Carrollton
(New Orleans), September 29
• Marje Bunce, Wausau,
October 6
• John DeRosa, Eau Claire
Morning, October 9
The 4-Way Test
Of the things, we think,
say or do:
1. Is it the ‘Truth’?
2. Is it ‘Fair’ to all concerned?
3. Will it build ‘Goodwill’ and
‘Better Friendships’?
4. Will it be ‘Beneficial’ to all?
Editor: Jerry Reinecke
October 6, 2008
Hmong Community Update by Kai Moua
(Thank you to Jacqe Lahn for providing this “Program Summary”)
Kai Moua, his expectant wife and two sons were among the first Hmong
refugees to arrive in Eau Claire more than 32 years ago sponsored by
Trinity Lutheran Church. Kai has been a life-long leader of the Eau Claire
area Hmong Association. He began working for the City of Eau Claire in
1989 where he served as a liaison
between the Hmong community and city
departments. Since 1997, he has
continued to work part-time with the
police department. His wife worked
several years as an interpreter and
liaison with the city/county health
department in accessing services for
Hmong women.
Kai reported that there are 396 Hmong
American families (2,800 individuals) in
the Eau Claire area. Sixty-seven families
have arrived since 2004, with 27 coming
directly to Eau Claire rather than from
another American location. Among the
new refugee families who’ve settled in
Eau Claire since 2004, nine have already
purchased a home.
Kai Moua
Major local employers for non-English speaking Hmong immigrants have
been Menards and Minnesota Wire and Cable. Ashley Furniture is also a
significant employer of Hmong Americans.
Most Eau Claire area Hmong American residents arrived 20-25 years ago.
Currently, 65% own homes. A primary goal of the Hmong Association has
been employment within the community. At present 24 Hmong
Americans are employed by the Eau Claire school district with 17 as
teacher’s aids. Seven Hmong are on staff at UW-Eau Claire. Seven are
social workers with Eau Claire County.
Within the post secondary educational community there are 143 students
attending UW-Eau Claire, 85 at CVTC. The K-12 system has 1,065
Hmong American students with 300 of these in the public high schools.
A primary goal of the local community is to return post-secondary
graduates to the Eau Claire community. Kai stated that, upon graduation,
most of the young people find employment elsewhere, but he was pleased
to cite four doctors who have found employment within Eau Claire.
Classes are held at the Hmong Association to prepare persons for
American citizenship. Kai reported that 85% of residents are American
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09/29/2008
Our Calendar
October 13 – Vocational Service
Trip to the Boys & Girls Club
(meeting begins at 11:30)
October 20 – Classification
Talks… Jeanne Chilson, Ron
Heilmann and Delana Nelsen
October 21 – Board of Directors
Meeting, noon at Bank Mutual
October 27 – Hobbs Municipal
Ice Center… an example of a
Public/Private Partnership by
UWEC Chancellor Brian
Levin-Stankevich
citizens. They have partnered with Literacy Volunteers to develop their
language skills. Another goal is to register citizens and encourage them
to vote. A young leadership class will graduate 17 youth on October 20.
Kai continues his work as a city/community liaison for the Eau Claire
Police Department. His children include a daughter, who is a lawyer
employed as a public defender in Racine. His sons live in the Twin Cities
where one is in management, with the other having returned to college
after having worked in real estate.
Youth Rotars Honored October 6
The October Youth Rotars, as selected by their respective schools on the
basis of academics and school/community activities, are pictured below.
We congratulate them and wish them well.
November 3 – to be announced
(Youth Rotar Day)
November 10 – The Rotary
Foundation by Dean Dickenson
of the LaCrosse Rotary Club
Officers/Board of Directors
(2008-09 Rotary Year)
President – Don Huebscher
President-Elect – Jacqe Lahn
Vice President – Jon Niebergall
Secretary – Wendy Gustofson
Exec Sec / Treas – Jerry Reinecke
Past President – Sam Stagliano
Avenues of Service:
Club – Angela Hite
Community – Bob Schmidt
International – Mark Morse
Vocational – Marcia Van Beek
Contact Us
Left to Right: Carissa Steuck (Memorial), Kristina Lund (Regis),
Chelsea Fedie (Altoona), Michael Golden (North), Christina Wiedbusch
(Memorial), and Jocelyn Kaese (North)
Greeters and Classification Talk Schedules
Greeters (1)
Classification Talks
October 13
None – Meeting at Boys & Girls Club
None
www.eauclairerotary.org
October 20
Glenn Horejsi and Scott Johnson
Don Huebscher
715-833-9216
Jeanne Chilson,
Ron Heilmann,
Delana Nelsen
October 27
Paula Kimbllin and Terry Klonecki
None
November 3
Dan Donnellan and Jacqe Lahn
None
November 10
Rob Kreibich and Brian Larson
None
Rotary Club of Eau Claire
P.O. Box 671
Eau Claire, WI 54702-0671
Date
[email protected]
Jerry Reinecke
715-838-7640
[email protected]
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09/29/2008