Rebecca Arnold, former member of the Rock Island Rotary Club, is a Family Health Educator in Bangladesh, where she resides with her son.

 

Although she was home visiting her parents in Rock Island at the time of the recent hostage crisis in Bangladesh, she shared the following insight: "We are safe in the US. but quite shaken up. That restaurant is not far from our apartment, and I usaually go there about once a week.  The 3 college students that were among the slain hostages had all graduated from the school my son's attends back in 2015. I fly back to Bangladesh on July 18th - as long as the situation is tenable."  

 

Twenty-two people and six terrorists died after a 10-hour siege July 2 inside a restaurant in Bangladesh's capital.

 

Newspaper accounts state that the victims were given a test: recite verses from the Quran or be punished. Those who passed were allowed to eat. Those who failed were tortured and slain. 

 

Rebecca continues her association with Rotary as a member of Eclub One in Colorado. Please keep Rebecca and her son in your thoughts and prayers.

 

 

 

 

The Rock Falls Rotary Club celebrated its 80^th anniversary with an invitation to all Past Presidents to come to celebrate and share the history of their presidencies. 

 

Rock Falls Rotary was founded June 6, 1936. Rotary Clubs served as the Chamber of Commerce at that time and included the city fathers and business owners in Rock Falls.

 

Those who shared their year as a Rock Falls Rotary President included the following from left to right:

Julie Logan 2015 – 2016; Bob Sondgeroth 2008-2009 and 2013 – 2014; Pat Novak 2001 – 2002 and 20003 – 2004; Mark Young 2000-2001; Mike Albert 1998-1999; Pam Erby 1995-1996 and 2014 – 2015; David Blanton 1996 – 1997; Betty Clementz 1997 – 1998; Joe Wetzell 1991-1992; Bill Wescott 1986 – 1987; Glen Kuhlemier 1977 – 1978; and Carl Gates 1974 – 1975.

 

 

 

Every good building, every family, every successful business or organization must be built on a strong foundation in order to survive and thrive. 

 

The same is true of The Rotary Foundation and District 6420’s Foundation team. With a bit of trepidation, I have taken over the position of District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair (DRFCC) effective July 1. 

 

At this time, I want to express my personal appreciation and the appreciation of all Rotarians in our District to outgoing DRFCC Elise Cadigan (below). She led us through the treacherous waters of Future Vision and the new Rotary Foundation strategy for managing grants. She has served tirelessly within her club (Rockford), the district (6420), and The Rotary Foundation itself. She will continue to be very involved both here and at The Rotary Foundation for the benefit of all of us. Thank you, Elise!

 

 

  

 

The Northern Winnebago County Rotary Club is again sponsoring two 4-H awards at the Winnebago County Fair this year.

 

We sponsor the award for Poultry Grand Champion overall pair-pen of chickens and Visual arts champion computer-generated art.

 

We also participate in the fur & feather auction. This is where the 4-H members sell their animals from the current fair year to help fund their projects for the next fair year. Last year we purchased a rabbit from 4-H member Stephanie Graupner shown in the pictures above. We then donated it back to her to be auctioned off to raise funds for the Winnebago County Fair Association.