The Rotary Club of La Crosse After Hours is thrilled to celebrate Marissa Dickinson as its Rotarian of the Year and recipient of the Rotary Lifetime Achievement Award presented at the Avenues of Service event for the clubs in the La Crosse area.
For more than a decade, Marissa has brought Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” to life through generous giving, can-do leadership, and a steadfast commitment to improving lives. She is also the kind of “glue” that keeps Rotary After Hours growing, connected, and moving forward in our community.
Marissa has never been one to sit on the sidelines. She served as president of the Rotary Club of La Crosse After Hours in 2021–2022 and has chaired both the club’s Public Image and Foundation committees. At the district level, she has chaired the Rotary District 6250 District Grants Committee, served on the district board, and contributed to the District 6250 Public Image Committee. Marissa is always willing to step up and leads with thoughtfulness, dedication and follow-through.
And that is only part of the list. Marissa co-chaired Interact iFeed for several years, served twice on the TriCon Planning Committee, and shared her knowledge as a TriCon breakout-session speaker. She has rolled up her sleeves for the Ugly Sweater 5K Committee, the 2024 Pickleball for Polio Committee, and the Food Drive Fridays Steering Committee. She also contributed to Rotary After Hours’ strategic planning sessions in 2020 and 2024, helping strengthen the club’s organization, visibility, and reach. If there is a worthwhile Rotary project underway, chances are Marissa has helped it succeed.
Her service has traveled far beyond Wisconsin, too. Marissa served on the Razia’s Bus Committee, helping secure transportation that improves access to education for girls in Afghanistan. In Mexico, she contributed to the Valladolid Stove Project and took part in a Rotary service trip to Valladolid. Back home, she played a key role in the multi-club initiative for the St. Clare Health Mission Mobile Medical Clinic, a collaborative effort that raised more than $300,000 to expand healthcare access for underserved people throughout the Coulee Region. From buses and stoves to mobile healthcare, Marissa’s impact covers a lot of ground-- quite literally and this is just the beginning!
Marissa is a lifelong learner as well as a leader. She completed the Emerging Leader Track at the Rotary Zone Institute in Houston and attended Rotary International conventions in Bangkok, Sydney, and Hamburg. Those experiences reflect her enthusiasm for learning from the global Rotary community and for bringing fresh ideas and inspiration home to her club and district. Rotary has been part of Marissa’s life since basically birth, so it is safe to say service is in her DNA. We cannot wait to see what she does next.
Her generosity is just as remarkable as her résumé. Marissa is a member of the Bequest Society and a Paul Harris Fellow +8, distinctions that reflect sustained support for The Rotary Foundation and its humanitarian work. Named Rotarian of the Year in 2021 and again for 2025–2026, she has earned the admiration of fellow members not only for everything she gets done, but also for the humility, kindness, and dependability she brings to every effort. We need more Marissa's in the world!
Whether she is leading a major initiative, working behind the scenes, mentoring others, or simply asking, “How can I help?”, Marissa represents the very best of Rotary. Her work has changed lives, strengthened organizations, and connected communities across the Coulee Region and around the world—and she has made the journey more joyful for everyone alongside her. We are so proud of you, Marissa!
Thank you, Marissa, for your outstanding service, inspiring leadership, generous spirit, and lasting impact. Congratulations on this well-earned achievement—and here’s to the adventures and accomplishments still ahead! 
