Make a Difference DKC/Feed My Starving Children Event (Hosted by Suter Company) Provided a Great Opportunity for Service Above Self!
District Governor-Elect Dave Emerick was among the guests at this week’s meeting. Emerick says he’s getting acquainted with clubs throughout District 6420 ahead of his term in office for 2023-2024. Emerick is a member of the East Moline/Silvis Club.
The newest judge for the 23rd Circuit, Jill Konen, reflected on her change of career after previously being a family practice attorney during this week’s meeting. Konen was sworn in as Associate Judge in September filling a vacancy created by the elevation of the sitting Associate Judge to full Circuit Judge status.
The newest judge for the 23rd Circuit, Jill Konen, says she is still getting used to all the people in a courtroom rising every time she enters or leaves the courtroom after being on the other side of the judge’s bench as a family practice attorney. Konen was appointed an Associate Judge and sworn in in September after the previous Associate Judge was elevated to full Circuit Judge status. She presides over misdemeanor, traffic and DUI , and small claims cases. With her appointment, the 23rd Circuit becomes a trend setter with women judges outnumbering men judges 4 to 3. Konen is a graduate of the Northern Illinois University School of Law.
Konen says the transition to judgeship has impacted her reactions in court and her lifestyle. Where she previously would speak up aggressively on behalf of a client, she now must take a more contemplative role. She also is compelled by the impartial application of the law for both sides in a case rather than championing just one point of view. From a personal standpoint, she said she has more of a predetermined schedule rather than the on-call 24-hours a day life of a family practice attorney. She added that her traffic court experiences prompt her to drive more slowly than before because she doesn’t want the embarrassment of getting a traffic citation.
Judge Konen says she became an attorney to help make a positive impact in people’s lives. This is something she says hasn’t changed as she continues see her role as a person who helps others through the legal system.
In October, club members were asked to complete a survey. The survey was focused on the potential for a new "meal-optional" membership type, but asked related questions about the club's purpose (in their minds).
Thank you to those who participated! This group has varied ideas about our club, which I think is great! I am honored to preside over such a diversity of thought. That said, with something like the potential introduction of a new membership level, the board felt majority should rule.
Following is a summary of the results...and the board's subsequent decision about a new membership type:
In your opinion, what is the purpose of Rotary? Please rank in order of importance (1 being highest, 5 being lowest).
Providing Service to Others - average of 1.90
Fellowship - average of 2.41
Networking - average of 2.90
Promoting Education - average of 3.21
Grow Local Economies - average of 3.45
Do you feel having a meal attached to the meeting is beneficial to the fellowship of the club?
Strongly agree - 18 respondents
Agree - 5 respondents
Neutral - 3 respondents
Disagree - 2 respondents
Strongly disagree - 1 respondent
Do you think there is value to offering a new membership type that eliminated meals?
Extremely valuable - 5 respondents
Very valuable - 4 respondents
Somewhat valuable - 3 respondents
Not so valuable - 6 respondents
Not valuable at all - 9 respondents
If a new membership type is created and you would like to continue to have lunch provided, would you be willing to pay additional fees for your meal?
Strongly approve - 3 respondents
Approve - 5 respondents
Neither approve nor disapprove - 6 respondents
Disapprove - 6 respondents
Strongly disapprove - 7 respondents
Board Decision
The Board has decided a new membership type without a meal requirement will not be offered at this time.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me. Thanks!
The 2022-2023 Club Fundraising and Planned Giving "budget" was shared during this week's meeting and is summarized below. So when someone asks you, "How does your Rotary Club positively impact the community?", you'll have a great answer!
Fundraisers
$15,000 - 50/50 Meeting Raffle (Year-Round)
$7,000 - Meeting Fines & Happy Dollars (Year-Round)
$5,000 - Pancake Breakfast (October)
$5,000 - Holiday Green Raffle (November - December)
$1,500 - Double Good Popcorn Sales (January)
$6,000 - Hula-for-Loota (April)
$2,000 - BBQ Drive Thru Dinner (June)
$41,500 - TOTAL
Planned Giving
$7,500 - 50/50 Raffle Winners
$4,250 - SHS Scholarship Fund
$3,880 - Other International Project (TBD)
$2,750 - Spartan Food Pantry
$2,750 - Sycamore Food Pantry
$2,250 - Literacy in Third Grade Classrooms (15)
$2,000 - Interact HS Club Advisors
$2,000 - Shelter Box
$1,500 - Interact HS Club Program
$1,370 - District 6420 Grant: Habitat for Humanity
$1,200 - RYLA
$1,000 - Coats for Kids
$1,000 - EarlyAct Club (North Grove Elementary)
$1,000 - Feed My Starving Children
$1,000 - Interact MS Club Program
$1,000 - "Nothing Reads Like a Book" 6420 Project
$1,000 - Student of the Month
$900 - Adopt-A-Family Program
$500 - Rotary Reader Program
$400 - Books for Ukrainian Children
$250 - Habitat for Humanity
$250 - Pay-It-Forward House
$250 - Safe Passage
$250 - School Supplies
$250 - Tails Humane Society
$250 - The Barn on Baseline
$250 - Cause for February (TBD)
$250 - Cause for March (TBD)
$250 - Cause for June (TBD)
$41,500 - TOTAL
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact me (Tim Neubert) or any another board member. Thanks!
As with Happy Dollars and fines, 50/50 raffle proceeds have long been earmarked for the scholarship fund for Sycamore High School seniors. In an effort to "spread the wealth" and support more causes, the members of your Rotary Board have determined that 50/50 raffle proceeds collected each month will benefit a different cause.
For the month of May, 50/50 raffle proceeds will help support The Barn on Baseline to rescue and adopt out dogs and cats. The Board has committed that the total amount given to this cause will be no less than $250.
Thank you for your support of this important cause...and best of luck with the raffle!
Addressing conflict through a grassroots process that puts people at the center and involves the whole community is a way to create lasting change — and the approach that’s the basis of the partnership between Rotary and Mediators Beyond Borders International.
MBBI collaborates with Rotary clubs and districts around the world on peacebuilding efforts. The group brings its expertise in a mediation process defined by community collaboration and empowerment, and Rotary lends its credibility, trust, and deeply rooted local knowledge.
In partnership, the organizations create opportunities for difficult dialogues and train local facilitators, with a special focus on increasing women leadership in mediation and peacebuilding.
“It’s a multiplier effect,” says Scott Martin, a founding member of MBBI and Rotary Peace Fellow. “Together, we ask, ‘Who else needs to be included,’ help affected parties connect to the humanity in each other and themselves and facilitate conversations that can be lifesaving.”
MBBI also works regularly with clubs to focus inwards, a program called ‘Peace Conversation Facilitation’ (PCF) that helps members discuss challenging topics, and builds consensus around issues that affect their respective communities.
“We can each hear about a problem and each have a different understanding of it,” Martin says. MBBI can help clubs move beyond talking about an issue to creating the kinds of engagement that are healthy and productive for everyone involved.
Conflict is “an essential part of the human experience,” Martin says. The key, however, is to not ignore or sidestep it, but to address it, keep it from escalating into violence, and learn from it. This can transform the energy that drives conflict into more inclusive, constructive interactions, and ultimately safer, more connected, and more prosperous communities.
Martin says Rotary’s focus on working alongside affected people, business leaders, and coalescing with communities as a whole is very much in keeping with this ethos. “The new vision for Rotary is inspiring,” he says. “It’s bringing about change among ourselves and in the community, and measuring that impact.”
November 14, 1815 – American inventor and engineer Robert Fulton, who developed the first commercial steamboat, is born in Little Britain, Pennsylvania.
November 18, 1901 – George Gallup, American survey sampling pioneer and inventor of the Gallup poll, is born in Jefferson, Iowa.
November 18, 1923 – American astronaut and first American in space, Alan Sheperd, is born in Derry, New Hampshire.
November 19, 1831 – James Garfield, the 20th U. S. President, is born in Orange, Ohio. He was shot by a disgruntled office holder and died after being in office just a little over six months.
November 15, 1881 – The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions of the United States and Canada is formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Five years later it is renamed the American Federation of Labor (AFL).
November 17, 1558 – Queen Elizabeth I ascended the throne of England at the age of 25 (reigning until her death at age 69).
November 17, 1869 – The Suez Canal was formally opened after more than ten years of construction.
November 19, 1863 – President Abraham Lincoln delivers his Gettysburg Address dedicating 17 acres of the Gettysburg battlefield as a National Cemetery.
Birthdays & Club Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Robert Wildenradt
June 1
Stephen Hansen
June 14
Jeff Keicher
June 17
Robert Brown
June 24
Christine Kalina
June 25
Join Date
Julie Sgarlata
June 6, 2012
11 years
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2022-2023
President – Tim Neubert
President Elect – Brandon Diviak
Director (President Nominee) – Steve Wilder
Director (President Designee) - Jonelle Bailey
Past President – Paulette Renault
Treasurer – Dr. Michele Jurkovic
Secretary – Sally Bruch
Monthly Committees
July: Board of Directors
August: Jeff Keicher, Steve Kuhn, Pat Shafer
September: Michael DeVito, Dave Hamilton, Jeff Jacobson, Velvet Mason
October: Paul Callighan, Matt Nelson, Paul Stromborg
November: Jim Buck, Sue Emberson, Jeff Frank, Mark Spiegelhoff, Jim Stoddard, Heidi Wright
December: Paul Barnaby, Larry Berke, Troy Oates, Riley Oncken
January: Ray Dembinski, Chase Goodeill, Joyce Klein, Rob Mondi
February: Jonelle Bailey, Becky Springer, Steve Wilder
March: Chip Houdek, Brendan Wilson
April: Bob Hammon, Jeff Petersen
May: Bob Brown, Brandon Diviak, Paul Loner
June: Stephen Hansen, Fred Peltz, Paulette Renault
Standing Committees
Membership: Jonelle Bailey, Ray Dembinski, Bob Hammon, Steve Kuhn, Troy Oates, Jeff Petersen, Bob Wildendradt
Public Image: Bob Brown, Paul Callighan, Dave Hamilton, Stephen Hansen, Jeff Keicher, Joyce Klein
Fellowship: Paul Barnaby, Larry Berke, Jeff Jacobson, Paul Loner, Riley Oncken, Paulette Renault, Pat Shafer, Mark Spiegelhoff
Service: Brandon Diviak, Jeff Frank, Michele Jurkovic, Rob Mondi, Fred Peltz, Brendan Wilson, Heidi Wright
Foundations: Jim Buck, Sue Emberson, Chase Goodeill, Curt Lang, Matt Nelson, Jim Stoddard, Paul Stromborg
New Generations: Michael DeVito, Chip Houdek, Velvet Mason, Julie Sgarlata, Becky Springer, Steve Wilder
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