We had a great turnout for the Thursday evening fellowship at PJ's Courthouse Tavern this week, with many club members (and spouses) in attendance. Thank you to Paulette Renault and the Fellowship Committee for organizing this gathering! Cheers!
Club President Tim Neubert shares the results of the recent Club Health Check survey, both areas we are doing well (and should continue) and areas in which our club can and should improve. During the club discussion that followed, some items were identified as relatively easy "low hanging fruit", while others will take a concerted and long-term effort by the club. Thanks to all who participated in the survey and/or the discussion!
During this week's club meeting, I shared the results of the recent Club Health Check survey. Within the survey, respondents were asked to add a checkmark to any of the 75 statements to which they agreed. The statements were divided into 5 sections (15 statements each): Your Club Experience, Service and Socials, Members, Image, and Business & Operations. Seventeen club members responded to the anonymous survey. Thank you for your participation!
The following 10 items received at least 15 checkmarks (at least 88% of respondents), indicating they are things we're doing well:
Your Club Experience
I look forward to attending club meetings and other club activities.
I’ve made several new friends in the club.
Our club meeting programs are relevant, interesting, and varied.
Our meetings are organized and are run professionally.
Service and Socials
Our club has applied for or used Rotary Foundation grant funds for a service project.
Our club contributes to The Rotary Foundation.
Image
Our club appeared in the local media several times last year.
We display Rotary or Rotaract signs and banners at our meeting place, service project sites, and events.
Business and Operations
Our club president attends the presidents-elect training seminar (PETS), and club leaders attend the district training assembly.
Our club sets and approves a budget for the upcoming Rotary year, designates a treasurer, and keeps separate bank accounts for administration and fundraising or project funds.
The following 17 items received fewer than 6 checkmarks (no more than 29% of respondents), indicating they are things we can do better:
Your Club Experience
I have made international connections through Rotary.
We have a greeter or greeters who welcome members and visitors to meetings.
We provide members with flexible meeting opportunities (attending virtually or in person or watching recordings if they miss a meeting).
Service and Socials
Our club has direct communication with partners, friends, and alumni.
We visit My Rotary Discussion Groups, attend project fairs, or consult The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers to look for ideas and partners before we choose a new project.
Members
A designated person checks and follows up on membership leads assigned to our club.
Newer and seasoned members are paired for mentoring relationships.
Our club has had a net increase in members in the past year.
Our club has had a net increase in members who represent diverse groups.
Our club retains at least 90% of its members each year.
Image
The club brochure we give to community members and prospects shows the impact we make.
Our club invites members of the media to cover our service work.
We use marketing materials from Rotary International, such as public service announcements, videos, images, and logos.
Business and Operations
Our club has a club administration committee chair.
Our club has a strategic plan that we update regularly.
We ask our members to complete a member satisfaction survey each year and use the results to shape the club.
The following comments/suggestions were also shared by respondents:
"Call members who have missed a couple of meetings to check on them."
"Guests should introduce themselves, not be introduced by the President or their invitee."
"Try assigning names to tables at one meeting, just to mix up the members more."
Committees and individual club members should take action to address these gaps where they can. This topic will be included on next board meeting agenda (September 7), and discussions at the club level will continue as we work to improve our organization!
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 February, 50/50 raffle proceeds will help support the Navajo Water Project to bring clean, hot and cold running water to families across New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. 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 17, 1786 – Frontiersman and politician Davey Crockett is born in Hawkins County, Tennessee. He would die at age 49 during the defense of the Alamo in Texas.
August 19, 1871 – Aviation pioneer Orville Wright is born in Dayton, Ohio.
August 19, 1946 – 42nd U. S. President Bill Clinton is born in Hope, Arkansas.
August 20, 1833 – 23rd U. S. President Benjamin Harrison is born in North Bend, Ohio (he is the grandson of the 9th President, William Henry Harrison).
August 15, 1969 – Woodstock began in a field near Yasgur’s Farm at Bethel, New York. The three-day concert featured 24 rock bands and drew a crowd of more than 300,000 young people. The event came to symbolize the counter-culture movement of the 1960’s.
August 16, 1896 – While salmon fishing near the Klondike River in Canada’s Yukon Territory, George Carmack spots what look like nuggets of gold in a creek bed. His discovery sparks the last great gold rush in the American West.
August 17, 1978 – The first transatlantic balloon trip was completed. Americans Max Anderson, Ben Abruzzo, and Larry Newman had departed from Maine 137 hours earlier in “Double Eagle II” and landed about 60 miles west of Paris.
August 19, 1920 – The 19th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution is ratified giving women the right to vote.
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