Executive Director of DeKalb Convention and Visitors Bureau
(discussing Opportunity Unbound)
Wednesday, August 31, 12:00 PM
______________________________
Annual Rotary Cookout
Good Tymes Shelter @ Sycamore Park District
Thursday, September 15
Beginning at 5:30 PM
BYOB
______________________________
Dr. Matt Streb Gives Optimistic Outlook About Northern Illinois University (NIU). The Political Science Professor is the first-ever Chief of Staff to an NIU President. His duties include being liaison between the President and Board of Trustees.
District 6420 Literacy Committee and Guests: (left to right), front: Laura Kann, District Governor; Andy Axup, District Literacy Chair; Adriane Shore, Putnam County; back: David Emerick, District Governor-Elect; Scott Shore, PDG, Putnam County; John Hurley, Loves Park; Bob Brown, Sycamore
NIU will celebrate its 115th homecoming October 8th and presidential Chief of Staff Dr. Matt Streb told Sycamore Rotarians this week that a lot of positive momentum is underway at the campus. The State of Illinois just recently announced it will begin the design phase of the 23-million-dollar Northern Illinois Center for Community Sustainability (NICCS). The NICCS is part of a group of state funded research and innovation hubs with the NIU site focusing on the environment, water resources, and food systems. It will be built near the Convocation Center on the west edge of the campus. At the same time, plans are moving forward for a $78 million Health Technology Center for a state-of-the-art facility for health education and research. The center will replace an existing dormitory at Annie Glidden Road and Lucinda Avenue that is no longer used. Projections call for both buildings to come on-line in 2025. Dr. Streb also noted the importance of a $600,000 agriculture planning grant where NIU climatologists will work with insurers and farmers to analyze crop adaptability to weather conditions.
Freshman enrollments are at an all-time high according to Dr. Streb, although he said the days of a 25-thousand student body are unlikely to be repeated. Dr. Streb said factors affecting student numbers are increases in graduation rates (students completing coursework more quickly), the national trend of decreases in students entering community colleges (NIU gets about 50% of new students from transfers), and challenges with student retention rates. Although NIU was an early adapter of test-free admissions, Dr. Streb said the quality of students arriving on campus is stronger than ever with incoming students last year having the highest average high school Grade Point Average (GPA) in the school’s history. He said studies show GPA is a better indicator of overall success rates when compared to standardized tests such as ACT and SAT. Dr. Streb said NIU continues to be a destination for family first generation college students (as outlined in a testimonial by Rotarian and NIU graduate Jeff Keicher during his introduction of Dr. Streb).
Dr. Streb said the university is excited to be celebrating their 115th Homecoming in October, one of the oldest homecoming events in the state. The university community is planning a number of special events October 3 through 9. Coming off their MAC championship season last year, Dr. Streb said head football coach Thomas Hammock has an optimistic outlook for their game against the University of Toledo.
For the first time in 2 years, the District 6420 Literacy Committee met in person to review strategies for increasing district clubs literacy participation in our post-Covid world. The committee reviewed the annual District Literacy Awards and discussed possibilities for an International District Literacy project (more details to come). Under the continued strong leadership of Committee Chair Andy Axup, Quad Cities Rotary, the following committee members: John Hurley, Loves Park; Adriane Shore, Putnam County; PDG Scott Shore, Putnam County; and Bob Brown, Sycamore; met in Dixon to review 2022/3 literacy plans and awards. Unable to attend were: Mark Spiegelhoff, Sycamore and Kelley Doty, River Cities.
Additionally, new District Governor, Laura Kann and District Governor-Elect Dave Emerick visited the Literacy Committee meeting, literacy being a Rotary initiative that is important to many of the 48 clubs throughout the district. One of Laura’s key initiatives for her Rotary Governor year is “Nothing Reads like a Book” whereby each Rotarian is asked to donate a book to a local library. The opportunities are opened to more than the conventional school and public libraries. Clubs are challenged to be creative when considering libraries in senior facilities, home schooling, hospitals, clinics, etc. Governor Laura recognizes the importance of a society that is literate…and that Rotary, with its broad reach, can positively impact members’ communities.
The District Literacy Committee strongly endorses the “Nothing Reads like a Book” initiative and challenges all District 6420 Clubs on their own literacy projects!
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 March, 50/50 raffle proceeds will help support DeKalb County Community Gardens to empower residents to choose healthy and sustainable foods through community education. 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!
Members of the Rotary Club of Sycamore volunteer each August to deliver Meals on Wheels through the Voluntary Action Center, and we will do so again next month! Thank you to the following volunteers for covering the Sycamore West route on the following dates:
Tuesday, August 2 - Michael DeVito & Sally Bruch
Wednesday, August 3 - Paulette Renault & Mark Spiegelhoff
Thursday, August 5 - Nicole Linke & Sue Emberson
Tuesday, August 9 - Paul Callighan & Julie Sgarlata
Thursday, August 11 - Bob Hammon & Bob Wildenradt
Friday, August 12 - Brandon Diviak & Matt Nelson
Tuesday, August 16 - Ray Dembinski & Pat Shafer
Thursday, August 18 - Paul Callighan & Dr. Michele Jurkovic
Friday, August 19 - Jeff Keicher & Eric Jones
Tuesday, August 23 - Dolores Davis & Tim Neubert
Thursday, August 25 - Jim Stoddard & Paul Stromborg
Friday, August 26 - Tim Neubert & Heidi Wright
Tuesday, August 30 - Dave Hamilton & Brandon Diviak
NOTE: The actual route can change daily if clients cancel or return from time off. Here are just a few things to note about delivering Meals on Wheels. VAC asks that volunteers arrive between 10:35 and 10:50 at the Meals on Wheels office (Voluntary Action Center, 1606 Bethany Road, Sycamore) to pick up the meals and route sheets. The route takes about an hour or so to deliver. Someone must be home to receive the meal. Meals cannot be left without some form of contact. VAC requests volunteers to call the client if no one answers the door and then the office (815-758-3932 ext. 232). Thank you!
We will be building every Saturday through 2022, so if this week doesn't work for you, there will be many more opportunities to get involved.
In addition, I am also looking for someone who would like a non-construction volunteer task. There are some Saturdays when we need someone on the build site to greet volunteers, get necessary forms completed, connect with our lunch providers, make sure people are staying hydrated, etc. It really isn't a difficult task, but an important one. If this sounds interesting to you, please let me know. I will work with you on that.
If you have never volunteered with us before, see the notes below for more information.
Thank you for your interest and support of Habitat for Humanity!
Construction Volunteer Information
Habitat for Humanity DeKalb County Illinois welcomes volunteers to our construction sites. Regardless of your skill level (first time you’ve held a hammer or skilled builder), we will provide opportunities to work alongside our partner family and other Habitat volunteers. Examples of volunteer jobs include: framing, siding, painting, insulating, flooring, trim work, landscaping, and cleaning. We will provide instruction throughout the day.
Build Day Schedule:
7:45a.m.- 8 a.m. Arrival and sign-in. (Please complete the required waiver formif this is your first day with Habitat). Volunteers between the ages of 16-18 years are required to have adult supervision and waiver completed before volunteering. The minimum age to volunteer with Habitat is 16 years old.
8:00 a.m. We begin with a Safety Talk and construction goals for the day.
12:00 p.m. Lunch is provided. Habitat provides lunch and water for volunteers.
2:30 p.m. Site clean-up begins
3:00 p.m. Workday complete. Thank you!
What to bring: Please wear clothing that you do not mind getting dirty or possibly damaged. Sturdy, hard-soled, closed-toed shoes are required. Sunscreen is advised when working outdoors.
Habitat provides tools for volunteers. However, if you have your own tools/toolbelt and wish to bring those, that is fine. You can check with the volunteer coordinator for a list of recommended tools. Please label all of your tools ahead of time.
Port-A-Potty: Yes, that’s right. Just want you to be aware that we do not have indoor plumbing or running water on site.
It's always a good idea to bring a "bag" chair if you have one.
Covid-19 Safety Precautions:
Habitat for Humanity prioritizes the health and safety of our staff and volunteers. Currently, we have the following guidelines in place (subject to change based on case levels, as well as CDC, state, and local guidelines):
We ask that if you aren't feeling well, to please stay home out of precaution.
Use hand sanitizer throughout the day, especially before/after using tools.
Masks are no longer required; however, we welcome and support anyone that chooses to wear a mask.
We encourage volunteers and staff to practice social distancing when possible.
August 23, 1912 – Actor/dancer Gene Kelly (whose many credits and innovations include dancing with an umbrella in the 1952 musical film “Singin’ in the Rain”) is born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
August 25, 1918 – American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein is born in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
August 27, 1908 – 36th U. S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson is born near Stonewall, Texas.
August 27, 1910 – Mother Teresa is born in Skopje, Yugoslavia. Her religious order of nuns in Calcutta, India, the Missionaries of Charity, becomes famous worldwide for helping the poor and sick.
August 21, 1959 – President Dwight Eisenhower signs a proclamation admitting Hawaii as the 50th State of the Union.
August 23, 1927 – Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti are executed in Massachusetts for the killing of two people during a factory payroll robbery. Prior to the executions, there are protests claiming unfair treatment of the pair because they had radical political leanings and were Italian.
August 24, 79 AD – Vesuvius, an active volcano in southern Italy, erupts and destroys the city of Pompeii and also the cities of Stabiae, Oplontis, and Herculaneum.
August 24 and 25, 1814 – During the War of 1812, Washington, D.C. is invaded by British forces who burn the Capitol, the White House, and other public buildings.
.png)
