Rotarians will have an opportunity to unload, organize and stock shelves of the Township’s food pantry.The Township serves income qualified residents by providing shelf-stable food items, produce, dairy and frozen meat.  

 

To sign-up, contact Ghida Neukirch at gneukirch@cityhpil.com.  

If you would like to donate items to the food pantry, please bring your donations to any Rotary meeting the month of April!

 

The District conference is May 17th - 20th at the Blue Harbor Resort & Spa in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

 

District 6440 clubs are asked to help identify high school candidates to participate in a Rotary-UN model conference. The event is free to participants and will be held June 2nd in conjunction with the Rotary International Presidential Peacebuilding Conference in Chicago. The conference will focus on education and literacy. Lyle Staab is conference co-chair. Any questions, please contact Lyle at gov.lyle@rotary6440.org.

 

Rotary International Convention is in Toronto, June 23rd - 27th.

 

Monica Joyce, Speaker

Bryan Johnston, Belfast Rotary

Tom Zengeler, Libertyville Club

Monica Joyce, is the Executive Director & Founder of “Slam Dunk for Diabetes” basketball camps for children.  She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Food and Nutrition from Mundelein College/Loyola University, and a master’s degree in Human Services Administration from Spertus College.

 

Slam Dunk for Diabetes is a non-profit organization where over 3,000 children with type 1 and type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes were able to attend a free basketball camp. In this camp the children get a unique experience with other children they can relate to and learn from. The kids learn how to be active while monitoring their diabetes properly in a controlled environment. Slam Dunk for Diabetes is in its 14^th year and is sponsored by the Chicago Bulls Training Academy. Monica shared a slide show going over the importance of this program for these kids and how the program creates a structured, fun approach for children facing diabetes.

 

Monica’s inspiration for this successful program started in February 2003 as she read a story about a residential basketball camp for kids with diabetes founded by former Portland Trail Blazers center, Chris Dudley, who developed Type 1 diabetes at age 16. Refusing to let his diabetes get in the way,  Chris pursued his dream of playing professional basketball and played in the NBA for years. As a diabetes educator, Monica was sure that a diabetes basketball camp in Chicago could be successful, especially one that targets inner-city kids. Her goal was to help kids learn to manage their diabetes within the context of something meaningful and enjoyable.  The camp, which is free to youngsters with diabetes or pre-diabetes, is now in more than five cities. Monica’s most recent focus has been bringing Slam Dunk to Waukegan this summer. Monica is targeting low income children with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and hoping to have a large turnout. To spread the word Monica is working with Lurie Children’s Hospital, the Erie clinic and the Waukegan school district. 

 

She is currently serving as Advanced Clinical Dietitian and Diabetes Educator for a Northwestern Medical Group.  In that role, she does comprehensive management of patients with type 1 & type 2 diabetes, as well as those with gestational diabetes. Ms. Joyce has received many distinguished awards for her work:  She was honored in 2015 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  She was also featured in Remarkable Woman  in the Sunday Chicago Tribune on January 20, 2018.