December = Club Elections! Have you served as a Board Member of your Club? If so, you know the importance of leadership and the opportunity you have to help guide your Club in both fellowship and service! 

 

For those wanting the constitutional details: The Standard Rotary Club Constitution provides that Club Officers shall minimally include the immediate past, present and next Club President, Club Secretary, Treasurer and Sergeant-at-Arms. The Recommended Rotary Club Bylaws further provide that elections be held by Dec. 31 for officers and board members who will take office next July 1st. 

 

Incoming Presidents are reminded of President-Elect Training, including District Orientation the morning of Feb. 18 at Kish College, and Midwest PETS in Itasca March 3-5. Pres-Elects are pre-paid for both; Clubs should consider sponsoring your Pres-Nominee to also attend Midwest PETS! 

 

 

 

 

Register for a four-state conference on “what’s happening to our water?” from the well to the drinking faucet in your home -- set for the evening of Jan. 10 and the day of Jan. 11 at Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa in rural Jo Daviess County outside Galena.  

 

The conference is planned and conducted by the Jo Daviess County League of Women Voters and the Galena Rotary Club in concert with the Galena Gazette. Participating are 60 Leagues and Rotary clubs in Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

 

Please participate by webinar or phone in our Annual Mid-Year Meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11.

 

Who should attend: Presidents, Presidents-Elect and Assistant Governors. But all district Rotarians can join in if they wish!

 

Agenda: Setting and achieving specific goals for President's Citation, Governor's Citation and District Awards -- EVERYONE qualifies... but how?! We will also give highlights of what's coming up in 6420!

 

Questions or Comments? Submit to DGScott6420@gmail.com, and they will be answered by email and/or during the webinar if beneficial for all concerned! 

 

Goal: EVERY Club is to be "present" by (at least) your current President and President-Elect.

 

Register to receive information on how to log in or call in.

 

"See" you there !

Rotary.org will have limited access Dec. 3 to 5 for membership database work.

 

This will temporarily prevent registering for Atlanta, making contributions or accessing Rotary Club Central. News & content will still be available.

 

 

 

Rotary International has created a fabulous video (password is Rotary123) featuring the Harvard Rotary Club and its stewardship of a community garden that benefits many. 

 

The Harvard club has funded the seeds, plants and supplies for the Harvard Community Garden for the past five years and has received Rotary Foundation District Grants for various purposes to help the garden and the Harvard Food Pantry become a success. 

Rotarians work with the University of Illinois Extension’s Master Gardeners of McHenry County along with community volunteers to produce fresh vegetables for the Harvard Food Pantry. Without the expertise and passion of the master gardeners, the garden would not be the success it has become.

 

 

 

You may see one of these if you're driving toward Chicago! 

 

Our Northern Illinois Rotary alliance -- Districts 6420, 6440 and 6450 -- is proudly presenting a series of billboards featuring "Rotary In Action" and directing viewers to NorthernIllinoisRotary.org.

 

WOW - An event NO ONE will want to miss!

 

What if you had the opportunity to host a reception for Rotary International President John Germ of USA, President-Elect Ian Riseley of Australia, President-Nominee Sam Owori of Uganda, VP Jennifer Jones of Canada, and all the RI Directors? WE DO!  

 

Our three Northern Illinois Rotary Districts will play host to them all, and more, the afternoon of Monday, Jan. 23, 2017, at RI Headquarters in Evanston! Events will begin with HQ tours from 1-3 pm, followed by a joint presentation of "The ABCs of Rotary" at 3 pm, and "THE RECEPTION OF RECEPTIONS"  at 4:30 pm. Those wishing to stay for the evening may do so; a block of rooms will be reserved nearby. 

 

Registration is not yet available, and space is going to be very limited, but mark your calendars and watch for our next edition of the District Newsletter for further details. District Governor Scott Shore extends thanks to District 6440 Gov. Rick Rivkin for putting this plan into gear!  

Rotary is fellowship! … And so it follows that within Rotary there are numerous special fellowships that bring together Rotarians with similar interests!

 

Fellowships vary as much as Rotarians' interests vary, from amateur radio buffs to beer enthusiasts, cycling to fishing, flying to scuba diving, and MANY more! You can check them all out online.

 

One fellowship is actively seeking new members: The International Fellowship of Rotarian Educators offers to connect those interested in sharing their interest with others worldwide.

 

Membership is available for as little as $20 per year -- or less for a multiple-year membership.

 

 

 

District 6420 Inbound Youth Exchange students recently got a taste of the American holiday season, American farming history, American family fun and life in an Italian Renaissance home. How?

 

On Nov. 19-20, seven of D6420’s inbound students participated in Quad Cities Youth Exchange Weekend, hosted by Moline and Rock Island Rotary Clubs. The weekend was a celebration of American Midwest culture and those of the students.

 

 

 

 

 

Did you know that 49 Rotarians were delegates and advisers during the creation of the United Nations? They eventually were signatories on the charter for the UN.  

 

Since then, Rotary International maintains the highest consultive status of any nongovernment organization. Every year, the UN hosts Rotary for a "Rotary Day at the United Nations." 

 

This year's conference (Nov. 12) highlighted critical humanitarian activities undertaken by both the United Nations and Rotary International. The theme was  “Responsible Business, Resilient Societies.”  PDGs Elise Cadigan and Shannon Scheffel attended along with 1,400 other Rotarians.  

 

    

 

 

 

 

The Rotary Club of Savanna recently held an all you can eat fish fry to raise money for scholarships for West Carroll Seniors. 

 

The West Carroll Interact Club provided some great help, along with our Assistant Governor. 

 

The Rotary Club of Savanna awards three scholarships each year for grand total of $4,000. 

 

Pictured from left: Savanna Rotarian Mark Klein, Interact students Josie Anderson and Hayley Guilinger, and AG Helen Kilgore.

 

 

 

A historic property in rural Plano, Sherman R. Cook Memorial Scout Park, is under redevelopment through a partnership between Plano Rotary, the Plano American Legion and Boy Scout Troop 71.

 

In 1965, Plano resident Carrie P. Cook, widow of Sherman R. Cook, deeded the property at 1701 Little Rock Road, Plano, to “be used by the youth of Plano, including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of Plano, Illinois.”  

 

Mrs. Cook, in declaring the trust, identified her “interest in the youth of this country, and more specifically in the organized scouting movements in the Plano Illinois area.” She wished to create a living memorial to her deceased husband, noting that he was equally interested in youth and scouting during his lifetime. 

 

 

 

We have the opportunity to guide youth in shaping the world they will inherit!

 

The 2017 World Affairs Seminar will be held at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wis. (near Milwaukee) June 24-30, 2017.

 

Students ages 16-18 who have at least completed their sophomore year are eligible. Cost is $685. Clubs might consider partial scholarships.

 

For info and agenda, visit http://www.worldaffairsseminar.org/ or click here to view the event pamphlet.

 

STEP ONE: Decide how many students your club will sponsor @ $300 each. 

 

STEP TWO: Let your community know that your Rotary Club can make SUMMER YOUTH EXCHANGE happen in your community! Get the word out to local high schools, foreign language teachers, Interact Clubs and local papers – a chance to showcase our “international” side.