A film clip featuring Anne Steuer, executive director of the Children's Museum of La Crosse, is one of 10 "aha moments" that will be featured in Mutual of Omaha's 2010 national TV advertising campaign.

The company's five-month Aha Moment Tour visited La Crosse in August. People were invited to talk about their "aha moment," a defining event in which they gained real wisdom. More than 1,000 moments were recorded, and the top 10 as selected in online voting are featured at www.ahamoment.com.

"I said that in the two-and-a-half years it took us to start the museum, my co-worker and friend, Leanne Poellinger, and I left each other hundreds of messages," Steuer said Tuesday. "This was before everyone had cell phones. It just went on and on.

"On the day of our grand opening (in February 1999), there was a huge bouquet (of flowers) at the front desk with my name on it," Steuer said. "I opened the card and it said 'This is Leanne reminding Anne to relax and enjoy the day. It's open.'"

Poellinger is the museum's marketing and development director.

Steuer said she learned "You can really dream big and it can really happen, if you can find other folks who share the passion and are willing to work hard."