Congratulations to Florence Aliesch, our 2011 Mrs. Oktoberfest!

La Crosse native combines artistic work with volunteer!
 
For more than a decade, La Crosse native Florence Aliesch has helped prepare young women to join Oktoberfest’s royal family as Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest. This year, she’s getting pointers herself on being in the royal family.  Aliesch was officially named the 2011 Mrs. Oktoberfest at a special reception Wednesday, Sept. 21, at UW-La Crosse. The title honors a La Crosse-area woman who has impacted the community in her profession and as a volunteer. She was the fourth of five Oktoberfest Royal Family members named for 2011, which is the 51st year of the festival, Sept. 23-Oct. 1.

“I am deeply humbled and honored to become part of the Oktoberfest Royal Family,” says Aliesch, who is director of Creative Services at UW-La Crosse. She was told about the honor in June. Two past Mrs. Oktoberfest title holders took her to lunch under the auspices of asking her to do some more volunteer work for the Mrs. O reception. Instead, they told her she was being honored this year.

Aliesch has more than a decade of volunteering with Oktoberfest. She was on the Board of Directors from 1997-2003, serving as president in 2002. She chaired the Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest Scholarship Pageant from 2002-08, and still works with the program. And, she was the chief designer for “The Fest of Times,” a book detailing the first 50 years of Oktoberfest published in 2010.

But, Aliesch hasn’t limited her volunteering to the fest. For the last 15 years, she has designed the Rotary Lights promotion handouts. She was one of the original planners of the Neighbors Helping Neighbors project that helps the elderly, disabled and others get their yard work done by volunteers each spring. She helped organize downtown parades in January 1997 and 1998 to celebrate Green Bay Packers Super Bowl appearances. And, she helped organize welcoming celebrations for visiting riverboat passengers in 1997.

Aliesch also continues to volunteer to advance her profession of graphic design. She has been a member of the conference committee for the Great Lakes Region of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, a Midwestern organization for college advancement professionals. For more than a decade Aliesch has done award-winning design work on the district’s marketing materials.
 
With her love of graphic design and volunteering dedication, Aliesch selected “Art of Volunteering” as her slogan for the upcoming year. Each year the Mrs. selects a theme that is put on a specialized button that she hands out to fest-goers. This year Aliesch designed the Mrs. Oktoberfest button again – but this time for herself.
 

The Florence Aliesch file:

• Director of Creative Services, UW-La Crosse, since 1998.
• Previously Graphic Designer and Promotions Coordinator at the La Crosse Tribune, Graphic Artist at Fort McCoy, Crescent Printing and Gateway Foods.
• Holds a bachelor’s degree from Viterbo University, 1981.

Community Recognition:

• Maxine Garvalia Excellence in Philanthropy Award, Scenic Bluffs Chapter of the American Red Cross, 2011
• YWCA Tribute to Outstanding Women, Volunteer Services, 2005

Community Involvement:

• Rotary Lights Steering Committee, 1996-present
• Adopt-A-Highway volunteer, 1998-present
• Scenic Bluffs Chapter of the American Red Cross Board of Directors 2004-2011  
• Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest Scholarships Program Chairperson, 2002-08
• Oktoberfest Board of Directors, 1998-2003
• President of the Oktoberfest Board of Directors 2002
• Neighbors Helping Neighbors Project | organizing committee, 1996-2001
• Visiting River Boat Task Force, 1997
• Downtown Packer Parade organizing committee, 1997, 1998
• Onalaska Jaycees member, 1982-86
• Various fundraising walks

Professional:
Great Lakes District of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Conference Committee member and graphic designer, 1999-present.

Personal:
Married to Mike Aliesch. Children: Joshua and Brandi Aliesch, Sonja Aliesch, Emily and Joshua Swanson, Joe Heintz and Dan Heintz.  Six grandchildren: Zachary, Vincent, Taylor, Ione, Sophia and Nora. 

 * Fondly remembered.