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Welcome to our Club!
Buffalo Grove

Service Above Self

We meet In Person
Thursdays at 12:15 PM
Continental Restaurant
788 S Buffalo Grove Rd
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
United States of America
IN PERSON 1st, 2nd and 3rd Thursdays of each month at Continental Restaurant during COVID-19.
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Upcoming Events
  • Board Meeting
    CONTINENTAL RESTAURANT
    Jul 21, 2022
    11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Board Meeting
    CONTINENTAL RESTAURANT
    Aug 18, 2022
    11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Board Meeting
    CONTINENTAL RESTAURANT
    Sep 15, 2022
    11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Board Meeting
    CONTINENTAL RESTAURANT
    Oct 20, 2022
    11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Board Meeting
    CONTINENTAL RESTAURANT
    Nov 17, 2022
    11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Board Meeting
    CONTINENTAL RESTAURANT
    Dec 15, 2022
    11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Board Meeting
    CONTINENTAL RESTAURANT
    Jan 19, 2023
    11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Board Meeting
    CONTINENTAL RESTAURANT
    Feb 16, 2023
    11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Board Meeting
    CONTINENTAL RESTAURANT
    Mar 16, 2023
    11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Board Meeting
    CONTINENTAL RESTAURANT
    Apr 20, 2023
    11:15 AM - 12:00 PM
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President
Brett Robinson
Membership Chair
Rob Seitz
Public Image Chair
Melanie Santostefano
President Elect
Lisa Siwek
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Shawn Collins
Outreach Chair
Lisa Siwek
Co-Secretary
Chad Waynee
Co-Secretary
Leslie Forman
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Shannon O'Connor
Director at Large
Dane Bragg
Director at Large
Miriam Campbell
Director at Large
Dan Wolf
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Melanie Santostefano
Membership Chairperson
Rob Seitz
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Dane Bragg
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Martha Weiss
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Danny Moya
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Thomas Kloepfer
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Thomas Kloepfer
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Our Golf Outing with Special Leisure Services Foundation is Aug. 10

SLSF Buffalo Grove Golf Classic 2022

Wed Aug 10 2022 at 09:30 am to 05:30 pm, The Arboretum Club - Buffalo Grove, IL

Join the Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove and Special Leisure Services Foundation to support recreational programs for children and adults with disabilities.  Golfers will enjoy lunch, dinner, and drinks along with 18 holes at the beautiful Arboretum Golf Club.  All proceeds will support Special Leisure Services Foundation (SLSF), the fundraising arm of Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA) and the Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove. NWSRA provides recreational programs so that children and adults with disabilities have the opportunity to have fun, make friends, be included, go new places, learn new things and celebrate their lives. 

If you would like to avoid paying the online fees, please contact Megan O'Brien at 847-392-2848, ext. 267 or e-mail megano@slsf.me to register, sponsor or donate today!

SLSF Buffalo Grove Golf Classic 2022

 Our Club's Environmental Service Project May 21
Thanks to all of the club members and their family members who volunteered at the planting at Willow Stream Park on May 21st.  Our efforts resulted in the planting of 400 seedlings of native plants and 12 native shrubs - all before the rain started and scattered everyone.  Thanks to Jeff Weiss for planning and organizing the event.  Also, we received District 6440's Public Image grant that reimbursed us for one-half the cost of the hats and visors that Martha ordered.  We look official!
        
Award of our club's Firefighter of the Year 
President Brett presented our club's Firefighter of the Year Award to FF/PM Patrick Dinsmore.  During his 26 years with the BGFD, Pat has demonstrated an unwavering positive attitude toward both fellow firefighters and citizens in the community.
 
Pat has been a dedicated member of the department's Technical Rescue Team (TRT) for the past 20 years and has recently transitioned off of the TRT to allow newer members to become involved. He maintained his involvement while passing on his knowledge and experience to train others in various rescue techniques.
 
Recently, Pat has taken on the responsibility of maintaining the pressurized equipment for the fire department, which includes the self-contained breathing apparatus, associated accessories and OSHA mandated annual fit testing for all personnel.
 
As a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Pat is involved with his local VFW post. Pat was also an original member of the Buffalo Grove Professional Firefighters Local 3177 Honor Guard. Most recently Pat was selected to be a Guardian for the Lake County Honor Flight #18.  In recognition of this award, the Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove will contribute $500 in Pat’s name, $250 to the Rotary Foundation, and the remaining $250 to a charity of his choosing,the Honor Flight.  Congratulations to him!  Here is Pat with Fire Chief Mike Baker and President Brett.
Thanksgiving Food Boxes
 
Our club, along with the Wheeling Rotary Club, organized Thanksgiving food boxes to help families celebrate the holiday. 

This giving effort continues to grow its reach by engaging more individuals and organizations.  Each year, the Rotary clubs purchase food boxes to be donated to local families experiencing food insecurity, who are referred by school counselors from Buffalo Grove area school districts and the police department social worker.

This year, the clubs jointly purchased 150 holiday meal boxes from the Northern Illinois Mobile Food Pantry, representing a nearly $5,000 investment in the program. Each food box contains a whole turkey, stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce, potatoes, white rice, corn, green beans and dry black beans, as well as mixed fruit, cake mix, frosting and hot cocoa.

Board games donated by the Buffalo Grove Rotary Club will also be given to families with school-aged children, in addition to books donated by Wheeling Rotarian Rich Rosen.

The growth of this giving program would not be possible without these community partners:
• Garden Fresh Market, 770 S. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove: Donated nearly $7,000 in food to be packed into additional food boxes by volunteers and given out alongside food baskets on distribution day. The grocer is also providing $20 Garden Fresh Market gift cards to each recipient family.
• PetSmart, 20771 N. Rand Road, Kildeer: Donated dozens of stuffed animals.
• The Ela Township Women's Knit Club: Donated approximately 100 hand knit baby blankets, 80 hand knit hats and 50 hand knit scarves.
• Hillside Towing, 120 W. University Drive, Arlington Heights: Donated a lift truck to move food pallets on distribution day.
• Route 12 Rental, 1306 E. Rand Road in Arlington Heights: Donated a truck to move food.
Additional community partners and volunteers include: The Continental Restaurant, 788 S. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove; Kolbi Pipe Marker Company, 416 Campus Drive, Arlington Heights; Buffalo Grove High School; Buffalo Grove Police Department; and the Buffalo Grove Park District.
A Message from Club President Brett Robinson
 
Hello!
 
My goal for our club for this coming year is to engage the Buffalo Grove community in as many ways as we can! That could mean bringing in new members or volunteers, recipients of our fundraising and good works, and even sponsors to help us achieve our goals for giving back. If you are interested in making a difference and making connections with individuals who are impacting our world locally and globally – Rotary is something you should investigate! I invite you to join our club as a guest on Thursdays – we meet from 12:15 pm – 1:30 pm on Zoom and in person, currently, due to the pandemic. 
 
While COVID-19 has changed some of the ways that we function as a club, it has not stopped our commitment to our causes. We remain steadfast in continuing to raise funds for, and supporting our Community Grants for organizations that are impacting the Buffalo Grove community, scholarships for young people and individuals who are looking to attend a four-year university, as well as go into public service (emergency services) and the trades. Our outreach touches individuals who are in-need, through reading to young children, delivering Thanksgiving food baskets to in-need families, structured activities for the developmentally disabled and more – and that is just a snapshot of our local impacts as there are many more.
 
Globally, Rotary is involved in the fight to end polio, ensure there is clean drinking water for third world countries, and we go on mission trips to Guatemala to help build infrastructure, schools, and more.
 
If you want to feel a part of something bigger than yourself and get involved in activities that are helping others – Rotary just may be for you! Email info@bgrotary.org for more information, and or message us through our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloGroveRotary/.
 
Brett Robinson
2021-2022 President
Buffalo Grove Rotary Club
Dedication of the Ernie Karge Rotary Green Was On July 1st 
We had a great turnout for the dedication of the Ernie Karge Rotary Green on July 1st.  Ernie was a member of our club for nearly 40 years, served as president from 1982-83, and retained perfect attendance for the full term of his membership. For his commitment, he was honored as Rotarian of the Decade for the 1990s.  Ernie also served 24 years on the village’s board of fire and police commission and was the grand marshal of the Buffalo Grove Days Parade in 2005.  Ernie was a great example of living a life of Service Above Self.  We are fortunate to have his wife Joan, who always volunteered with him at so many Rotary events, as an honorary club member.  The renaming of the park is a great tribute to Ernie who gave so much to our community.
Rotary Supports Our Community with Mobile Food Pantry
bgrotary buffalo grove buffalo grove rotary community service rotary
 
  
 
Buffalo Grove Rotary proudly hosted a second Mobile Food Pantry this year, in partnership with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, on Saturday, June 5 at Mike Rylko Park. The first Mobile Food Pantry took place January 30 and was funded by the club and served 200 families. The most recent event was made possible by a generous, and anonymous, Buffalo Grove resident. The Rotary club provided 21 volunteers and were humbled to serve nearly 100 individuals in need of food. Cars filed in off of McHenry Road and drove through the parking lot in front of the Spray ‘N Play as Rotarians loaded food and other household items. 
 
Are you interested in making a difference in your community? If so, consider learning more about the Buffalo Grove Rotary Club and how we impact the world locally, and internationally.  Our motto is ‘Service Above Self’. Be our guest for lunch! Email info@bgrotary.org.  
 
Several Members of Our Club Receive Multiple Paul Harris Recognitions 
At our April 29th meeting, several of our club members were awarded multiple Paul Harris recognitions that acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation.  Congratulations to Dane, Ryan and Dan S. who became Paul Harris Fellows for the second time, to Steve K. who became a fellow for the fourth time and to Rob who became a fellow for the eighth and ninth time.  Thank you so much for supporting Rotary's humanitarian and educational programs.
Dedication of Rotary Pier and the Bench for Dennis Gilbert
Thank you to all of the members who attended the June 13 dedication of the fishing pier and the trees that our club provided donations toward, and the bench in honor of Dennis Gilbert in Green Lake Park.  We had great club representation and many of Dennis' family members attended who appreciated the tribute to him.  Dennis was a very active member of our club, a loyal friend to many, and he is missed.
       
You Can Help End Polio
Did you know that your local Rotary Club of Buffalo Grove provides annual support to the End Polio Now initiative?  Through local fundraising efforts, we have increased our contribution to $2,000 annually to eradicate polio on the planet.  To find out more about this global initiative and how you can help, visit the End Polio Now web page!
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