Incoming Club President Becky Springer is ready to implement a program of work for the coming Rotary year that will live up to the international slogan “Create Lasting Impact.” Springer was impressed that incoming International President Olayinka Hakeem Babalola made an in-person appearance at the President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) she attended. She said she also enjoyed learning how other Clubs engage in programs and projects to improve their communities. Springer said the training is probably useful for the club’s President Nominee as well, but for now, she said she is keeping a notebook for Nominee Matt Nelson with tips to help him prepare for serving in the top club office. Springer also gave a special shout-out to Past President Brandon Diviak who will be going off the Board but was credited with especially strong support for fundraising.
Springer said she is excited about various service projects for club members. These include “Meals on Wheels” delivery in August and adding help in the winter months; the Pancake breakfast during Pumpkinfest in October; “Feed My Starving Children” in November, “Adopt-A-Family” in December, the Rotary Reader program from January through March, a Trivia night in April, and a clean-up day at Rotary Park in May. Springer said Sycamore Rotary successfully qualified for a grant of $1,266 that will go to support the “Meals on Wheels” program of Voluntary Action Center. She also hopes to expand the club’s support of food pantries by adding a third pantry for funding.
Fundraising from fines and “Happy Dollars” is another area where Springer hopes to show impact. She plans to target school supply purchases in July and August, the “Be the One” charity in September and October, “Goodfellows” in November and December, and the Navajo Water Project in January and February. She is soliciting ideas for the March through June timeframe. Major fundraisers for the club will include the Pancake breakfast in October, the Double-Good Popcorn sales January 29-February 1, the Green Raffle in April along with a Trivia night, and the June Golf Outing.
Springer hopes to build a strong volunteer base throughout her term, expand membership, raise awareness through social media, and broaden club membership awareness during the Pancake breakfast and Trivia events. Springer pledged to be completely accessible and shared her phone number (815-739-3151) and email (thespringers4@gmail.com) hoping for strong connections with the members of Sycamore Rotary.