Please be advised that the theme for the July 15 club meeting will be HAWAIIAN SHIRTS. Whether attending in-person or via Zoom, wear your best Hawaiian shirt...or next best attire!
Adding impact to the first hybrid in-person/virtual meeting of Sycamore Rotary since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (see photos at bottom of newsletter), Sara Schairer, founder and executive director of “Compassion It”, gave her featured speaker presentation from her base in California. “Compassion It” is a non-profit organization with a global following seeking to promote a sense of freedom from suffering for all. Founded at a time when Schairer herself was going through some rough personal times, she says she was seeking that “feel good” glow that comes from demonstrating and receiving compassion. She began promoting “compassion” through bumper stickers, T-shirts, and ultimately a double-sided wrist band that can be flipped when delivering an act of compassion. The wrist band went “viral” on social media eventually finding advocates throughout the United States and in 50 different countries on six continents. More than 160,000 wrist bands have now been distributed. This led her to coursework at Stanford University and her certification as a facilitator in Compassion Training.
Schairer took Rotarians through an exercise of “feeling” compassionate. It provoked sensitivity outcomes such as peace, calm, and warmth. She also asked members to think about how they perceive people differently such as children, the elderly, nurses, teachers, lawyers, politicians, inmates, and dictators. Regardless, of power, status, competence, or even disdain, Schairer suggested that compassion for all is a way to overcome biases and negativity. More details are available at her organization’s web site: www.compassionit.com. Schairer was invited to speak by her cousin, Rotarian Jeff Jacobson.
Following is the current speaker/presentation schedule through August 12:
Wednesday, July 15 (Hybrid meeting: In-person at Blumen Gardens and online via Zoom): Club General Assembly (Sycamore Rotary Club Board)
Wednesday: July 22 (Hybrid meeting: In-person at Blumen Gardens and online via Zoom): Project Ventus/Facebook Data Center (DeKalb City Manager Bill Nicklas)
Wednesday, July 29 (Hybrid meeting: In-person at Blumen Gardens and online via Zoom): Rotary Club's Green Initiative (Patrick Marsden)
Wednesday, August 5 (Hybrid meeting: In-person at Blumen Gardens and online via Zoom): TBD
Wednesday, August 12 (Hybrid meeting: In-person at Blumen Gardens and online via Zoom): Current State of Sycamore Police Department (Chief Jim Winters)
Born: July 7, 1940 (Blytheville, AR); Died: July 3, 2020 (Madison, WI)
Service, love and kindness to others was the way George F. Beasley lived and how he shall be remembered by many for years to come.
Born July 7, 1940 in Blytheville, Arkansas, George Franklin was the son of Herbert Lee Beasley and Abby "Ruby" Louise Beasley (neé Myer). Working in the cotton fields by the age of three, George recognized the value of hard work and helping others in his community to support their families and still find time to enjoy life and each other. George died on July 3, 2020 at 6:20 a.m. in Madison, Wisconsin with his wife, Nancy, and children by his side.
George married Nancy Margaret Beasley (neé McComb) on September 9, 1961. Together, they had three children, Timothy Edward Beasley (Kathy) of Genoa, Illinois, Laurel Elizabeth O'Brien (John) of Geneva, Illinois and David Charles Beasley (Diane) of DeKalb, Illinois. George is survived by his wife, three children and four grandchildren, Griffin John (18), Colin Patrick (16) and Owen George (12) O'Brien and Nolan David Beasley (5) and his brother, Herbert "Dwaine" Beasley, and numerous cousins and extended family; many of whom George considered his brothers and sisters.
After graduating from Arlington Heights High School, the first in his family to graduate from high school, in 1958, George worked for 7-Up in Chicago. Then, George worked at Spaulding Fiber, later Richardson Company in DeKalb, Illinois. George and his family moved to Sycamore in 1962 and made their home there until 2010. George had a passion for everything Sycamore and invested himself in Chamber of Commerce and Sycamore Spartans in his love of the community and all who live there. George began working as a State Farm agent in 1974 in Sycamore.
As his son, Tim, would later share at George's retirement from State Farm in 2005, it suited him to be a small town insurance agent. If you had a flooded basement, George would go to your house to help you clean up and dry out. If you had a car accident, George would meet you at the hospital and remind you that you are important; not the vehicle. If your young driver wanted to buy motorcycle insurance, George would explain the perils of driving a motorcycle and try to talk the young person out of the purchase altogether. Tim shared there was a young man in Sycamore who faced many hardships and challenges. George set out to help him by first guiding him to find a job. Then, George drove him to work in Rockford for months until the young man had enough money to put a down payment on a reliable car. Then, he sold him an insurance policy. Tim remarked, "That was making quota my dad's way."
While working in Sycamore, George also gave his time to serving as a Sycamore Jaycee member and President, Sycamore Rotary President. Sycamore Fire and Police Commission and DeKalb Republican Chairperson.
When he and Nancy decided to move to Portage, Wisconsin to live on Swan Lake for their retirement because Nancy's family had a cottage there since 1932. George had learned to water ski there and they agreed that Portage was where they should live and love the rest of their life together. George did not really retire; but rather further committed himself to service as: a Portage Rotary President and member, Pacific Township Supervisor for ten years, Portage Service Club Association Co-founder (helping to build the Splash Pad and Band Shell), and a part of Positively Portage, a new community foundation.
George and Nancy are also members of Federated Church in Sycamore, Illinois and the Portage Presbyterian Church in Portage, Wisconsin. They met in high school singing in the Choraliers, and sang in a variety of singing groups including George's nearly famous group, The Sycamorons. George and Nancy also sang at weddings together for many years.
For eight years in Portage, George got to know Santa Claus well and was able to often connect him with young believers in Portage and Pardeeville who would tell Santa their greatest hopes with stars in their eyes for Christmas morning. In addition to the agreed upon appearances and Christmas photo opportunities, George also relished those moments he helped Santa find some small children who lived in disadvantaged circumstances and listen to help fulfill their Christmas morning dreams. George's connections with Santa Claus brought true magic to even his grandchildren who wondered whether his mom knew their Papa George knew Santa so well.
George is known by many friends and family as someone who makes a difference. He cared about every person he met. He and Nancy have loved welcoming people to their home and treated everyone like family. He loves spending time on the lake and traveling with Nancy and others to Marco Island, Florida. George also spent every bit of time he could with Nancy singing or laughing together and encouraging her efforts as a published author as she conducts her research on the Underground Railroad and the Civil War during their travels. George could also often be found checking on neighbors and friends or lending a helping hand for anyone he learned needed it. He truly loves his neighbors. The poem hanging in George's home and office by an anonymous author captured how George lived his life:
I have wept in the night for the shortness of sight that to somebody's needs made me blind; but I have never once felt a tinge of regret for being a little to kind.
*If you would like to contribute to a memorial in George's honor, in lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund has been created through Portage Area Community Charitable Trust (AKA Positively Portage) in George Beasley's name.
Whether you can join us in person or not, we would love to hear your stories about George! If you would like to contribute to a celebration of George's 80 years of life, please click on this link. Just a picture or a short story is fine. It is easy and only takes one minute. Thank you!
The newest member of Sycamore Rotary is Steve Wilder. He is the new Superintendent of Schools for Sycamore District 427. He previously served as Superintendent of Knoxville, Illinois schools Steve is no stranger to Rotary having been a member and past president of the Galesburg club. Steve brought his wife, Michelle, with him to Wednesday’s meeting. They are the parents of four children.
July 5, 1810 – Promoter and Showman P. T. Barnum is born in Bethel, Connecticut.
July 7, 1906 – Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Leroy (Satchel) Paige is born in Mobile, Alabama. Following a career in the Negro Leagues, at age 42, he becomes the first African American pitcher in the American League and is part of the World Series winning Cleveland Indians team.
July 10, 1943 – Tennis Star Arthur Ashe is born in Richmond, Virginia. He wins 33 titles including the U. S. men’s singles and U. S. open in 1968 and the men’s singles at Wimbledon in 1975.
July 11, 1767 – Sixth U. S. President John Quincy Adams (the son of Second President John Adams) is born in Braintree, Massachusetts.
July 6, 1885 – Dr. Louis Pasteur gave the first successful anti-rabies inoculation to a youngster who was bitten by an infected dog.
July 7, 1895 – President William McKinley signed a resolution annexing Hawaii (which had to wait for statehood until 1959).
July 7, 1930 – Construction begins on Hoover Dam. Over the next five years approximately 21,000 people would be employed to build it.
July 11, 1804 – Vice President Aaron Burr fatally shoots his long-time political antagonist Alexander Hamilton during a duel in Weehawken, New Jersey.
About 30 "masked" Rotarians attended the 7/8 meeting, all conforming to the State Health guidelines. 21 other Rotarians, as well as our guest speaker, attended via Zoom.
All members attending the meeting at Blumen Gardens received a temperature scan as they entered the building.
Birthdays & Club Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Paul Barnaby
July 1
Michael DeVito
July 2
Thomas Mangan
July 4
Sejal Patel
July 9
Jim Stoddard
July 11
Lavarre Uhlken
July 20
David McCann
July 22
Steve Wilder
July 26
Join Date
MJ Schwartz
July 1, 2015
5 years
Renae Wilkinson
July 12, 2017
3 years
To provide feedback or contribute content for this newsletter, please contact Tim Neubert at timneubert@sbcglobal.net.
