What We Do

Hilltopper Rotary is about making a difference locally and globally. We combine our skills, ideas, and energy to tackle community needs through funding and hands-on service. Always open to new ways to serve and connect, we welcome anyone ready to do good with us.

Below is a list of current Hilltopper activities:

Volunteer Opportunities and Local Projects

• Great River Sound
  • Every Tuesday throughout the summer Great River Sound brings the most talented local musicians to scenic Dash-Park in downtown Onalaska, Wisconsin for a FREE to the public concert. Concerts start in June and run throughout August every Tuesday evening from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Dash-Park, which is located across from Great River Landing in downtown Onalaska, is a wonderful outside venue. There is some seating on-site, but it would be a good idea to bring a comfortable chair or blanket just in case, along with sunglasses, your beverage of choice (it is a public park and sealed / unopened containers of alcohol are okay), and some snacks (or even order dinner to-go from one of the great downtown restaurants nearby!). Great River Sound is presented by the Onalaska Hilltopper Rotary Club.
    https://greatriversound.com/
    https://www.facebook.com/GreatRiverSoundOnalaskaWi
• Santa's Breakfast
• Onalaska / Holmen Thanksgiving Dinner
  • The Onalaska & Holmen Community Thanksgiving Dinner is a free annual meal hosted by local Rotary clubs and community partners. Held each Thanksgiving at the Onalaska Armory, it offers in-person dining, take-out, and home delivery—bringing neighbors together to share food, gratitude, and community.
    https://www.octd.org/
• Rotary Lights
  • Rotary Lights is an annual gift to the Coulee Region as a cooperative effort among the area's Rotary Clubs, numerous other non-profit groups and volunteer organizations, sponsors, and last but not least - the amazing individuals that make up our Steering Committee and Board. This annual display began in the year of 1995 and has grown tremendously since then due to the fantastic support from the greater La Crosse community.  Nearly 200,000 visitors per year enjoy this holiday tradition while driving, walking or taking a carriage ride through Riverside Park.  Our club volunteers opening night which is the Friday after Thanksgiving.
• Place of Grace   
  • Volunteering at Place of Grace Dinner is a meaningful way for our club to live out Rotary’s value of service. Together we prepare and serve a warm meal, share conversation, and extend hospitality to those in need—helping to nourish both body and spirit. It’s an opportunity that reminds us how small acts of kindness create powerful connections in our community.
• Other former projects have included:
  • Onalaska Community Days Centering Onalaska
  • Onalaska Fire Dept
  • Onalaska Park & Recreation
  • Onalaska Police Dept - K9 Unit
  • Onalaska Food Pantry
  • Rotary Rockin' Ribs
  • Adopt a Highway - Onalaska Hwy 53
  • Challenge Academy - Ft McCoy
  • Onalaska School Gardens
  • Onalaska Show Choir

International Projects 

• Puerto Vallarta Water Project
  • When Hilltopper Rotary’s Mike Diveley met fellow Rotarian Ken Reiser from Ohio at a Rotary meeting in Puerto Vallarta nearly a decade ago, a powerful partnership began. Ken’s club has supported a life-changing water filter project for 13 years and Hilltopper Rotary has proudly been part of it for the past 8.
  • This incredible project brings clean, safe, and *free* drinking water to rural communities in Jalisco, Mexico—places where families often rely on contaminated streams shared with livestock. Without access to purified water, these communities face serious health issues, financial burdens from buying sugary drinks or bottled water, and children dropping out of school early to help support their families.
  • With these filters, each capable of purifying up to 170 gallons a day and lasting over 10 years, families are healthier, kids can stay in school, and futures are brighter.
• Youth Exchange
  • Rotary Youth Exchange is a life-changing program that gives students the opportunity to live and study in another country, experience new cultures, and build friendships across the world. Each year, students from our community travel abroad — and students from around the world come to the U.S. — creating lasting connections and promoting peace through understanding. As Rotary club members, we have the privilege of hosting these incredible students, sharing our culture, and welcoming them into our families and community for the year.

Fundraisers 

• Pork Q
  • The Hilltopper Rotary Pork Q has been a community tradition since 2019 and serves as our club’s main fundraiser. Held twice a year, the event brings members together to smoke and serve pulled pork meals, with Rotarians involved every step of the way. Each Pork Q supports a selected cause, with all proceeds going directly back into our local community.
• Other fundraisers have included:
  • Spring Gala
  • The Pause Project - Student drinking and driving video.

Interact

• iFeed
  • iFeed is a one-day event  where over 50,000 dried meals are packed and boxed, ready for shipment to a country where children are hungry.  It's also a one-day all-Coulee Region food drive to fill area food pantries.  iFeed is a joint service project of the area Interact Clubs and the La Crosse Area Rotary Clubs as an extension of Rotary Lights Food collections.
• Onalaska Interact Club @OHS International
  • Rotary Interact is a service club for students ages 12–18 who want to make a difference in their schools and communities. Guided by local Rotary clubs, Interact members develop leadership skills, build friendships, and learn the value of service above self through hands-on projects — both locally and globally.
• Student Exchange Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA)
  • The District RYLA camp seeks Rotarian volunteers as camp counselors to work with high school leaders who attend each year.
• Scholarships
  • Each year, our Rotary club awards scholarships to local high school students who demonstrate leadership, community involvement, and a commitment to making a positive impact. These scholarships recognize outstanding young people who live the Rotary ideal of Service Above Self and help support their continued education and future goals.

Social Events

• District Conference - May
  • Each year District 6250 puts on an annual conference that all 62 Rotary Clubs in the District are invited to attend. Here Rotarians learn about best practices, projects and changes to area Rotary Clubs. All members are encouraged to attend.
• Great River Sound Opening Night - June
  • Our club helps kick off the Great River Sound concert series each summer with a happy hour gathering at the first concert of the season. It’s a chance to enjoy live local music at Dash-Park, connect with friends, and celebrate the start of a beloved community tradition that runs throughout the summer.
• Avenues of Service – August
  • Annual all-area Rotary Club recognition dinner for exemplary service and outstanding dedication to ideals of Rotary; members are encouraged to join for recognition/socialization. A raffle is conducted with proceeds benefiting our local Rotary Works Foundation – a Foundation that supports the work of the nine local Rotary Clubs.
• UWL Football Game - October
  • Each fall, Hilltopper Rotary gathers for a football social to cheer on the UWL Eagles. The day starts with a tailgate before heading into the stadium to enjoy the game together. It’s a chance for fellowship, fun, and celebrating the energy of UWL football with our members and friends.
• Holiday Social - December
  • We celebrate the holiday season alongside the Holmen Rotary Club with a festive meal, good company, and meaningful stories that highlight the spirit of Rotary.
• Happy Hour with Mexican Theme - Spring
  • Hilltopper and Sparta Rotarians will come together in fellowship to celebrate the success of their shared water filter project in Jalisco, Mexico. This meaningful partnership has provided clean, safe drinking water to families in need and strengthened the bonds between our clubs. The gathering is a time to reflect on the project’s impact, share stories, and celebrate what can be accomplished when Rotarians unite in service.
• Other socials have included:
  • Wine Bus Trip