BULLETIN – August 27, 2025
By Tim Dempsey
President Gore rang the bell, Jim Curtis gave the pledge, Doug Fendon led us in prayer, and Denis Kratohwil took us through “try with a little help from my friends” with a surprisingly short introduction.
WHEEL:
There were 3 wheels today! A new record?
-Dennis Kratohwil was wheeled for interrupting Ellen Young’s singing.
-Tom Miller was wheeled for not bragging about an eagle he had golfing.
-See below :)
BRAGS:
-New member Kyle McCartney bragged about the services offered by Wintrust Bank. Scott Hezner was promptly wheeled for not telling Kyle about shameless self-promotion being a wheelable offense.
-Bill Taranowski’s son David started at Purdue.
-Doug Fendon was told his AFib was nothing serious!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-President Gore suggested that we take banners from our Club when we travel and visit other Rotary Clubs and exchange them with the visited Club.
-Doug Fendon advised that Rotary shirts that were ordered are coming today.
FUN & FROLICS:
Kim Smith conducted a golf chipping contest. Maybe she should have had a rep from each table?
PROGRAM:
Today’s program was Howard Jaffe updating us on charitable giving. This year we are sponsoring events that the charities we support are conducting. We have tickets for Misericordia’s fundraiser on 9/7. On 9/9 we will present the gazebo project at Sunrise Rotary Park to the Village Trustees at 7 pm. Mickey Finn’s will have a fundraiser for the USO on 9/18. We will have volunteers pouring beer. Those charities without events will be awarded checks on 9/17 and 9/24.
Our next fundraiser is 3/7/26 and will once again feature a performance by a Second City troupe. We need to start getting more sponsors. This year we raised $158k and will give away $158.5k. We gave away $12k for student scholarships. We donated money to rebuild the gazebo at Sunrise Rotary Park. We earmarked $10k for international projects. We sponsored the Libertyville Days Parade, the Farmer’s Market, and Wine about Winter in Libertyville. We reserve $250 per member for matching contributions to the Rotary Foundation, Polio Plus, Shelter Box and giving Tuesday.
The remaining $98k will go to 47 organizations. 7 are new. We will be sponsoring their events and will have tickets and tables at those events. We have given over $600k to the Rotary Foundation since the Club was founded and $2.7 million overall in donations. Our Second City events are one of the top 5 events drawing people to Libertyville. Sponsors account for 40% of our donations and the event accounts for 60%. Our charitable foundation has achieved a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. That is their highest rating. Kudos to Howard for his work on our charitable efforts.
RAFFLE:
-Daily: $28 won by Bill Taranowski.
-Progressive: $197 (48 cards). Tom Miller drew the 10 of diamonds. ROLLOVER!
NEXT WEEK:
-Greeter & Prayer: Michael Schachner.
-Fun & Frolics: Diana Servos.
-Program: Matt Thompson, LHS Baseball Coach.
ROTARY MINUTE:
What is the Rotary Foundation’s funding timeline?
A three-year funding cycle gives districts time to plan programs and allows the Foundation time to invest contributions. The earnings from those investments help pay for admin costs, program operations, and fund development costs.
The funding cycle means that a contribution made in the 2025-26 year will be invested in the 26-27 year, and projects scheduled in the 27-28 year, with the funds able to be spent in the 28-29 year.
FOUR WAY TEST:
Tom Miller led us in the Four Way Test.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
“You won’t win if you don’t begin.” Robert Schuller
