Welcome to our club web site. I'm Rodney Durr, Club President for the 2023-24 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.
Member Birthdays:
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Mario SherrellOctober 10
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Wendell RossOctober 21
Anniversaries:
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Lori PalmerRodney PalmerOctober 23
Join Date:
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Dannika HopkinsOctober 26, 20221 year
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Kansas McLainOctober 26, 20221 year
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Brad LaviteOctober 28, 201013 years
We meet In Person
Thursdays at 12:00 PM
JULIA'S BANQUET CENTER
101 Eastgate Shopping Center
East Alton, IL 62024
United States of America
East Alton, IL 62024
United States of America
Our Mailing address:
POB 56
East Alton,IL 62024-0056
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Christmas Wonderland
Dec 05, 2023
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The first run of the new Soapbox Race car down Berkshire Hill

Machinist Union District 9 Business Representative Roy Collins was in the house to give us an overview of the Machinist Union history and share some of the union benifits that are afforded their 700,000 members.

Dream Home program founder Sherry Gilleland joined us to tell us how the program has grown and prospered as it begins its 14th year of bringing joy to the less fortunate in our area. Sherry can be reached at gilleland@sbcglobal.com.

United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Rachelle Crowe, joined us to share some criminal prosecution success stories.

Roxana school district employees Ryan Peters and Bethany Martin tell us about the new Family Outreach Center and the services it makes available for students district wide.

Comedy Sportz St. Louis representative Mike McGuire took us through a series of fun improv exercises to help our listening skills. Learn more about the business by linking here http://cszstlouis.com

Rotarian John Pearson introduces the East Alton-Wood River High School Alumni Hall of Fame class of 2023.

Alton (IL) based 5A's Animal Shelter Executive Director Rich Jun was in the house to tell us about the shelter that was established in 1956. In 2023 the shelter has placed 171 pets in new homes. More info can be found on their web site http://fiveas.org or on Facebook.

Wood River Mayor, and club member, Tom Stalcup shared with us all the good things that are happening in the city,

After accepting our Business of the Year award, Missy Yates, owner of Rustic Roots in Wood River, talks about her business success and her commitment to the community. To find out more about RR link here https://rusticroots-woodriver.com/

Curtains Up Theater Company President Vince and The Wizard of Oz production Director Christy talk about next month's presentation at the Nazarene Community Center in Roxana, IL. Info here http://www.ticketsforoz.com

USA Pickleball Ambassador, Ruby Berghoff, joined us to share the history of the sport (began in 1965), the rules and equipment options.

Community Hope Center Executive Director Paul Militzer joined us to share all the good things happening at the CHC. They are currently seeking a larger building that is more centrally located in the Riverbend area. More information is available at http://www.communityhopecenteril.org
Rotarian Rick Hooks talks about his recent trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Rotarian Scott Levan shared some of his experiences with trying to discern the burial wishes of a deceased person without specific instructions. He urged everyone to provide written instructions to the person(s) who will be responsible for your funeral arrangements.
Sleep in Heavenly Peace Alton Chapter Co-President Dave Hardwick was on hand to bring us up to date on what is happening with the local chapter that serves 14 area zip codes. Program info at SHPBEDS.ORG
Terminal Railroad Association (TRRA) Chief Engineer Eric Fields was on hand to share some of the long history of the company and the future of railroading in the St. Louis metro area
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MemberBrad Lavite presents a slide show about his M.A.S.H-like Iraqi War adventures in 2003.
Club members Rodney (pictured), Robin and Lori talk about their recent Rotary District 6460 Spring Training training sessions. They briefly spoke about the Rotary Foundation, Rotary Fellowships, Rotary Action Groups and the Rotary Learning Center.
East Alton Ice Arena General Manager Larry Thatcher shares the backstory of the facility that dates back to the early 90's. He's been there from the very start.
Police Officer Lee Brousseau shares information about the Tyler Timmins Memorial Foundation that was established to honor the officer who was killed in the line of duty in October 2021. Additional information can be found on their Facebook page.
Cindy Durr, DO provides a historical overview of polio in the United States.
District Rotary Foundation chair Brian Barstead told us about the foundation and drew the name of the lucky Paul Harris Fellow recipient.
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Mark Allison
Patti Anderson
David Ayers
Leonard Berg
Pat Boyle
Rhonda Breslin
Rod Croxford
Steve Dowdy
Rodney Durr
Cory Gallivan
Paul Guccione
Allen Hale
Jim Herndon
Chris Herzog
Rick Hooks
Paul Hoover
Jean Kainz
Donna Karpan
Michael Kelly
Brad Lavite
Scott Levan
George Moore
Virgil Moore
Tommie Myers
Randy Nelson
Lori Palmer
John Pearson
Erin Phillips
Brad Pulaski
Bill Pyatt
Wendell Ross
Joe Silkwood
Mark Speciale
Henry Studnicki
George Tyler
Mark Vaughn
Alana Yount