Welcome to our club web site. I'm Mark Smith, Club President for the 2025-26 Rotary year. Our club was created on January 1, 2021 when the former Wood River and East Alton clubs merged to become the Riverbend East Rotary club. Feel free to browse our newsletters, photo albums and other content you may find of interest. The club also sponsors a Facebook page. You may link to those sites below and to the right. Our club is located on the Illinois side of the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area. When you are in the area, please feel free to attend one of our meetings. 

Upcoming Programs
Installation Dinner - Rustic Roots (Evening)
Jun 26, 2025
Program Host-John Pearson
Jul 03, 2025
Program Host-Erin Phillips
Jul 10, 2025
Piasa Armory - Scott Pulaski
Jul 17, 2025
Program Host-Brad Pulaski
Lucas Schneider-SSP/CEJA IL
Jul 24, 2025
Program Host-Bill Pyatt
Alton River Dragons - No Noon Meeting
Jul 31, 2025
5th Thursday Event
DG Bill Knake - Official Visit
Aug 14, 2025
2025 Family Cookout/Belk Park
Sep 18, 2025
View entire list...
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays:
  • Mark Allison
    June 5
  • Mark Vaughn
    June 5
  • Patrick Anderson
    June 9
  • George Moore
    June 23
Spouse/Partner Birthdays:
  • Denny Yount
    June 15
Join Date:
  • Darren Carlton
    June 1, 2006
    19 years
  • Mark Speciale
    June 1, 1974
    51 years
  • Scott Levan
    June 1, 1991
    34 years
  • Ty Bechel
    June 1, 2017
    8 years
  • Allen Hale
    June 5, 1975
    50 years
  • Erin Phillips
    June 14, 2007
    18 years
  • Patrick Anderson
    June 18, 2018
    7 years
We meet In Person
Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.
JULIA'S BANQUET CENTER
101 Eastgate Shopping Center
East Alton, IL 62024
United States of America
Phone:
(618) 259-7522
Fax:
(618) 259-7614
Email:
riverbendeastrotary@gmail.com
Venue Map
Our Mailing address:
POB 56
East Alton,IL 62024-0056
Upcoming Events
Photo Albums
Home Page Stories
JUNE 12, 2025 PROGRAM
We heard an enthusiastic presentation from the Wood River Library Director Lindsey Herron. She shared some stats from the recently ended fiscal year and talked about the wide variety of programs that the library hosts-from toddler events to AARP sponsored tax filing.
APRIL 24, 2024 PROGRAM
Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America) representative Nick Schubert joined us an provided an overview of the the variety of programs offered by the organization.
APRIL 17, 2025 PROGRAM
We were joined by Karen Wilson, Executive Director of our local food pantry, Operation Blessing . She gave us an overview on the operation and some thoughts about the Riverbend area homeless population.
APRIL 10, 2025 PROGRAM
Beverly Farm Chief Development Officer Taylor Justice joined us to talk about the 137 year old institution that serves 300 developmentally disable clients from 43 states.
MARCH 27, 2025 PROGRAM
Madison County Historical Society volunteer Steven Hansen joined us to talk about all the great things the organization is doing to preserve our local history. Find out more by linking here http://madcohistory.org
MARCH 20, 2025 PROGRAM
Rusty Wheat joined us to talk about the Chain Gang program.  The program's mission is to help keep our communities clean.
MARCH 13, 2025 PROGRAM
East Alton Ice Arena Manager Larry Thatcher joined us to talk about the 30 year history of the facility (he's been in charge since day 1). It's been a great add to the community.
JANUARY 23, 2025 PROGRAM
Wieland Group representatives Mike Roth and Jeff Byrd talk about the almost $600M modernization and expansion of their East Alton brass facility scheduled for completion in 2028.
JANUARY 16, 2025 PROGRAM
We viewed a Zoom presentation from Eswatini, Africa about their national health plan. Our club, in partnership with a couple of Eswatini clubs, are putting together a Rotary International proposal to fund/build a health clinic.
DECEMBER 12, 2024 PROGRAM
Retired Air Force Colonel Dave Boots was on hand to talk about his military career and explain his current position at Scott Air Force Base providing the Air Force with global logistics support.
DECEMBER 5, 2024 PROGRAM
We welcomed Lynn Engelman, President of the Wood River Heritage Council. She spoke about the historical Vaughn Hill Cemetery.
NOVEMBER 21, 2024 PROGRAM
Member Paul Hoover reviews and shares and his insight on the book Good Energy by Casey Means MD.
NOVEMBER 14, 2024 PROGRAM
Transformation Coach Tara Hurst joined us to talk about taking charge of our lives and becoming the best person we can be. Tara can be reached via Facebook, coachtarahurst@gmail.com and 618.823.3309.
NOVEMBER 7, 2024 PROGRAM
The Alton chapter of Sleep In Heavenly Peace Co-President Dave Hardwick joined us to talk about the program that provides beds to children who have none. The chapter recently installed it's 1000th bed since its founding in 2020. For more information visit http://SHPbeds.org
OCTOBER 10, 2024 PROGRAM
Club foundation board president Joe silkwood shared information about plans to support community projects via a $15k per project donation.
OCTOBER 3, 2024 PROGRAM
Glenn Breuklander talks about the recent visit he and immediate past president Rodney Durr made to Eswatini Africa to assess a possible Rotary medical clinic project.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 PROGRAM
Club member Sherry Tite talks abut the recent makeover experience of her Airliner Bar & Grill by the Bar Rescue TV team.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 PROGRAM
Jamie Heilman, a member of the Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home staff, was on hand to talk about prefunding funeral expenses and organizing your personal information to help minimize the stress on your family after your death.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 PROGRAM
 2024 Business of the Year Werts Welding & Tank Services, owner Dwight Werts, gave us the history of the business which his father started in 1957. They now hav  eight locations reaching from Billings, MT to Tampa, FL.
AUGUST 22, 2024 PROGRAM
Jessica Levan, a Soil Conservationist with NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service), was on hand to tell us about the wide range of services offered by her agency. NRCS is an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
 
AUGUST 8, 2024 PROGRAM
Karen Boyd, an Oncology Navigator with the Moeller Cancer Center on the campus of OSF HealthCare in Alton, joined us to talk about some of the programs that are offered by the Cancer Center and HealthCare units.
AUGUST 1, 2024 PROGRAM
BJC Alton Memorial Hospital representatives Rusty Ingram, Director of Business Development and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Laura Barton, joined us to talk about recent developments at the hospital campus.
 
JULY 11, 2024 PROGRAM
We were joined by Roxana School District  Superintendent Deb Kreutzrager. She made a slide show presentation that addressed all the good things that the Roxana school "family" are accomplishing and the issues than can impact the life of a school dropout.

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Club Officers
President
Bill Pyatt
President Elect
Mark Smith
Treasurer
George Moore
Secretary
Lori Palmer
Community Service
Chris Herzog
Club Service
Paul Hoover
Sergeant Arms
Patti Anderson
Club Foundation President
Joe Silkwood
Club Foundation Treasurer
Mark Vaughn
Intrernational Service
Rod Croxford
Newsletter Editor
Rick Hooks
Vocational Service
Mark Smith
Immediate Past President
Rodney Durr
Home Page News

Active Paul Harris Fellows

Mark Allison
Patti Anderson
David Ayers
Pat Boyle
Rod Croxford
Rodney Durr
Cory Gallivan
Paul Guccione
Allen Hale
Chris Herzog
Rick Hooks
Paul Hoover
Jean Kainz
Donna Karpan
Michael Kelly
Scott Levan
George Moore
Virgil Moore
Tommie Myers
Lori Palmer
John Pearson
Erin Phillips
Brad Pulaski
Bill Pyatt
Wendell Ross
Joe Silkwood
Mark Smith
Mark Speciale
Henry Studnicki
George Tyler
Mark Vaughn
Alana Yount
Rotary Links
 
Links