Lincolnshire Morningstar Rotary Club

Meeting Minutes – October 1, 2026

Call to Order

President Dale McClain called the meeting to order.

Recruiting Brainstorming Recap 

• Fellowship begins at 7:30 a.m.
• Increase new member engagement through early involvement and additional service opportunities.
• Encourage members to bring guests to social and service events.
• Establish a Quarterly Social Coordinator role.
• Consider allocating Charitable Committee funds for social/recruiting events (to be reviewed with Janice).
• Lincolnshire kiosk sign is available for Rotary use. Brad Burke confirmed the kiosk sign could be used for club messaging.
  • Dawn suggested posting recruitment messages following high‑visibility community events.
• Quarterly Social Event: October 22 at 6:00 p.m. at Half Day Brewery.
  • Members are encouraged to bring one guest.
  • Joe noted this date coincides with a Bears game but still encouraged inviting prospective members.

Improving Club Visibility

• Wear club shirts, Rotary pins, and name badges.
• Offer presentations to area businesses, nonprofits, and retirement communities.
• Rotate offsite meetings (e.g., Sedgebrook, Curt’s Café, Lambs Farm).
  • Dale would like November’s meeting to be offsite—possible locations include Danny Spungen’s office or the Holocaust Museum.
  • Joe will contact Curt’s Café; Mark offered the Riverside Foundation Day Program in Libertyville.
  • Joe and Mark will coordinate the November offsite meeting. Target dates: Nov. 12, Nov. 19, or Dec. 17. 

100 Caring Women of Lake County

Dale provided an update on the presentation by Judy McNiff.

Recent Activities

Flags for Heroes

• Costs: approximately $1,500
• Revenue: slightly over $1,600
• Event met its fundraising goal and covered materials.
• Marketing will be strengthened for next year.

Come From Away

• Members found the show rewarding.
• Discussion emphasized the importance of publicizing the club’s support for veterans and club accomplishments.
• Members agreed that the club would benefit from a dedicated PR lead member.

5K Race

• Sponsor payments have beed received from final donors, including: Marriott, Culver’s, Shire Law, Tamarak.

• President McClain noted the Lincolnshire Marriott Theater donated four event show tickets.

  • Rather than auction them, Mark Ingrum agreed to purchase all four tickets in the amount of $250.

     

  Alan Nerad described the engagement plan using playing cards to encourage members to bring possible new members to the club..

Upcoming Activities

October 22 Social Event

• Member recruitment and social is focus for the event.
• Club members approved covering additional appetizer costs beyond the $250 from the sponsorship gift cards if needed.

Boo Bash – October 30, 2026

• North Park
• Set‑up: 4:30 p.m.
• Event: 5:00–8:00 p.m.
• Food will be collected for the food pantry.
• Dawn suggested adding a QR code to business cards or small flyers to promote club for those in attendance.

Phone List

• Brad will bring printed member contact sheets to the next meeting.

December Holiday Event – December 10, 2026

• SHS Choir performance (Joe to confirm).
• Alan encouraged promoting the event and inviting members from the Deerfield and Wheeling clubs.

Thanksgiving & Holiday Baskets

• Members were encouraged to donate cash or Jewel gift cards to support 1–2 local families.

Angaza Center Computer Donation Pipeline

• The club would like to re‑engage with the Angaza Center and pursue partnerships with local corporations to establish a pipeline for donated computers.

President‑Elect for 2027–28

• The position must be designated by December 31, 2026.

Rotary Bench / Park Recognition

• Buffalo Grove recently dedicated a park bench and installed a peace pole in honor of a Rotary member.
• The club discussed exploring a similar opportunity in Lincolnshire.
• Guest Glenn Meier noted he would share information about the BG Rotary Peace Pole.

Polio Walk – October 24, 2026

• 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., Lake Arlington.
• The club will not participate formally, but members are encouraged to walk independently.

Guest Speaker

There was no guest speaker this week.

Social Events

Members briefly discussed additional upcoming social opportunities.

Upcoming Calendar

Oct 8, 2026 – Guest Speaker: Kalie Schultz, Lake County Haven

Oct 15, 2026 – Bill Urban, NH Rotary / Business Meeting

Oct 22, 2026 – Quarterly Social, Half Day Brewery @ 6 p.m.

Oct 23, 2026 – Stevenson H.S. Trivia Night (Youth Rotary)

Oct 29, 2026 – No Meeting

Oct 30, 2026 – Boo Bash (North Park; 5–8 p.m., setup 4:30 p.m.)

Nov 5, 2026 – Guest Speaker: Renee Silverman (Luggage for Freedom)

Nov 12/19, 2026 – TBD (Potential Offsite)

Nov 26, 2026 – No Meeting (Thanksgiving)

Dec 3, 2026 – TBD

Dec 10, 2026 – Holiday/Year‑End Breakfast & SHS Choir

Dec 17, 2026 – TBD (Possible Offsite Meeting)

Dec 25 & 31, 2026 – No Meeting (Christmas / New Year’s)

Jan 7, 2027 – Business Meeting

Raffle

A raffle was conducted.

Adjournment

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.