New Rotary Club of Sycamore President Brandon Diviak is promising a year actively building on Rotary International President Gordon McInally’s theme “Create Hope in the World.”  To start with, he said a District Rotary grant of $3,000 will help meet equipment needs at the Spartan Food Pantry which is seeing demand for services increase.  Additionally, he noted the District has challenged clubs to a goal of food and product donations totaling 20 pounds per member.  He said a system to measure donations will be implemented soon.  Diviak said plans are already in the works to do several service projects including delivering Meals-on-Wheels for Voluntary Action Center in August and working with the Park District to paint the Rotary Pavilion in September.  As a new feature, Diviak plans to launch a second club meeting drawing called “Moment of Hope” where no-cost or low-cost ways to show care and concern in the community will be shared.

 

Diviak said committee assignments will be finalized and publicized this month.  He hopes to have at least four off-site meetings and invited suggestions on places for lunch and a tour.  Adding membership is important, he encouraged all members to “Bring a Friend.”   He also said he would seek ways to highlight ties with Rotary school groups (EarlyAct and Interact), and the satellite club at Oak Crest.  Diviak mentioned that the Executive Board meetings will be the first Wednesday after the regular club meeting and said these meetings are open to all.

 

Diviak is a native of Buffalo, New York and came to this area to attend Northern Illinois University.  He spent his early working career in the restaurant and retail industries and joined Resource Bank about ten years ago which also led to his invitation to join Rotary.  He currently is an investment representative with the bank.  He concluded his inaugural meeting remarks by saying his overall goal is to make Sycamore Rotary worthwhile and fun.                

July 11, 1767 – Sixth U. S. President John Quincy Adams (the son of Second President John Adams) is born in Braintree, Massachusetts.

 

July 12, 1817 – American philosopher Henry David Thoreau is born in Concord, Massachusetts.

 

July 14, 1913 – 38^th U. S. President Gerald Ford is born in Omaha, Nebraska.  He is the only person to serve as Vice President and President without ever being elected to those offices.

 

July 14, 1912 – American folksinger and social activist Woodie Guthrie is born in Okemah, Oklahoma.

July 9, 1956 – Broadcasting personality Dick Clark  makes his first appearance as host of the show American Bandstand.  Clark hosted the show through 1988 and is also known for hosting ABC’s New Year’s Eve TV broadcast from 1974-75 through 2005-06.

 

July 11, 1804 – Vice President Aaron Burr fatally shoots his long-time political antagonist Alexander Hamilton during a duel in Weehawken, New Jersey.

 

July 13, 1787 – Congress enacts the Northwest Ordinance establishing procedures for transforming territories into states to be considered equal to the original 13 (Illinois becomes one such state in 1818).

                                 

July 14, 1789 – The fall of the Bastille Prison occurs at the beginning of the French Revolution.  This will later be celebrated as a day of French unification over the monarchy.