Join the fun at the Sycamore Park District tomorrow! Our club will be supporting the "Fly a Kite" activity from 4:30 to 5:00 PM.
Rotarian and DeKalb County Treasurer Becky Springer shared key information on the workings of her office during this week’s meeting. Springer explained how she not only collects tax dollars and pays bills but also leverages fund balances for significant investment returns.
DeKalb County Treasurer, and Sycamore Rotarian, Becky Springer collects property taxes, disburses them to taxing bodies, and pays the county’s bills, but she also is a major investor of fund balances seeking to get the highest returns possible as a way to help taxpayers. The many aspects of the County Treasurer’s office were explained by Springer at this week’s meeting.
Springer said she sends out about 39,000 tax bills each year and collects about $237 million dollars. This revenue is then distributed to 186 local taxing bodies. Springer also manages tax abatements for Enterprise Zones in the County as well as delinquent property tax collections (estimated by Springer to be 250 to 300 properties per year). Springer displayed a pie chart showing which categories of taxing bodies receive a percentage of revenues collected. The largest support goes to public schools – just over 62%.
Springer said she is most proud of her ability to increase interest income from tax collections held by the Treasurer pending distribution to taxing bodies as well as general county funds. For comparison, she said in 2021 interest earned from taxes was $6,585 but went up to $184,259 last year due to a change in investment strategy. The interest is then added to tax distributions giving an extra bonus to the taxing bodies. Springer said interest income for general county funds is also up, going from $161,000 in 2021 to $1.23 million in 2022. Springer explained the changes by saying, “I chase yields.”
Springer had several other information points for Rotarians. She said thanks to services from locally based technology company DEVNET, the county’s property data system is at a point where her office will be able to offer electronic tax billing and payment. Payments are also accepted at local banks, at the Treasurer’s office and by mail. Springer said a new auditor was retained in accordance with best practices to rotate auditors every few years to make sure close watch is kept over spending procedures. Springer also made Rotarians aware of the Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral law allowing tax obligations to be put against a person’s home equity giving seniors a chance to remain in their home despite fixed income constraints.
Springer said she left the private financial sector when the treasurer’s office opportunity arose and said she feels it fulfills her passion for wanting to be of service to others.
The keynote speakers at the 2023 Rotary International Convention are transforming health care, rethinking cities, advancing the cause of peace, and working to protect our environment. They share a vision of a more sustainable, equitable world. When they take the stage in Melbourne, Australia, 27-31 May, they’ll tell how that vision can be realized – not just in the years to come, but right now.
Some of the convention speakers include:
Leymah Gbowee
She's a 2011 Nobel Peace Laureate and champion of women’s rights. Gbowee led a nonviolent movement that helped end a 14-year-long civil war in Liberia. She has lived in a refugee camp, worked as a counselor for child soldiers and currently sits on the United Nations Secretary-General’s High Level Advisory Board on Mediation. She’s the founder and current president of the Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa and serves as the executive director of the Gender, Law and Transformative Peace Initiative of the City of New York (CUNY) School of Law, USA. She was a founding member and Liberia coordinator of the Women in Peacebuilding Network, a program of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
Kari Aina Eik
She makes cities smarter. She’s headed such initiatives as the United Smart Cities Program and the United Cities Organization and Funds. During more than 15 years at the United Nations and 10 years as Secretary General of the Organization for International Economic Relations, she led numerous programs to meet global environmental targets and shape the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Currently, she is working to reimagine effective philanthropy at the SDG Impact Fund.
Gregory Rockson
He's revolutionizing health care in Africa through mPharma, the company he co-founded at age 22. mPharma uses data analytics and innovative inventory services to reduce the cost of pharmaceuticals while preserving quality. As CEO, Rockson has overseen the Ghana-based company’s expansion to eight other African countries. mPharma now owns leading pharmacy chains in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, and has become the largest operator of community pharmacies in Sub-Saharan Africa. In partnership with over 1,000 hospitals and pharmacies, the company has helped more than 2 million people save on medications.
Nakeeyat Dramani Sam
She's a 10-year-old climate change activist and poet. She’s the youth ambassador for the Climate Vulnerable Forum and spoke for Ghana at COP27 in Egypt. “Have a heart and do the math,” she told delegates there. “It’s an emergency.” Sam won the “Ghana Talented Kid” competition at the age of 7 and has been honored as a Young Peace Ambassador in her country. She’s the author of the book “Nakeeyat Trees for Life” and is currently working on her next project, “One Tree, One Child.”
The convention will also feature entertainment from The Tenors, an award-winning, multi-platinum, operatic pop recording group who have performed thousands of concerts on five continents. They have performed for The Royal Family, six U.S. presidents, the G20 world leaders, on over 150 TV shows, at all the major league sports all-star games, and are coming to Melbourne to perform for attendees at the RI Convention!
Rotary members around the world will come together in Melbourne to forge new relationships and get inspired. Thanks to a world-class lineup of speakers, they’ll also find plenty of new ideas to take home.
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 June, 50/50 raffle proceeds will help support CASA DeKalb County, Inc. to advocate for and serve as the voice for children who have experienced abuse or neglect in DeKalb County. 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!
The Rotary Club of Sycamore is committed to supporting many great causes. Following are the causes we have support since July 2022:
$372.50 to Sycamore District 427 for School Supplies (50/50 raffle cause for August)
$300.00 to Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County (50/50 raffle cause for September)
$465.50 to Safe Passage (50/50 raffle cause for October)
$1,350.00 for Polio Plus (funds raised through Chicken Salad Tasting with Suter Company)
$2,761.00 for Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County’s 2022 Home Build (w/ Dist. 6420 Matching Grant)
$400.00 to Usborne Books (during District conference) to provide reading materials to Ukrainian refugees attending two schools in Chicago's Ukrainian Village
$896.00 for Adopt-a-Family
$1,000.00 to Coats for Kids
$1,000.00 to Feed My Starving Children/Make a Difference DKC
$352.50 to Spartan Food Pantry (50/50 raffle cause for November)
$1,000.00 to Sycamore Public Library to fulfill District 6420 Governor's "Nothing Reads Like a Book" initiative
$292.50 to Sycamore Food Pantry (50/50 raffle cause for December)
$500.00 to Pay-It-Forward House (50/50 raffle cause for January)
$400.00 to Navajo Water Project (50/50 raffle cause for February)
$365.00 to DeKalb County Community Gardens (50/50 raffle cause for March)
$297.50 to Tails Humane Society (50/50 raffle cause for April)
$500.00 to South Prairie Elementary School (Rotary Reader)
April 9, 1898 – American Pro-Football Hall of Fame halfback and coach (founder, first coach of the Green Bay Packers), Curly Lambeau, is born in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
April 10, 1847 – Newspaper publisher magnate Joseph Pulitzer is born in Budapest, Hungary. With his wealth he endows the journalism school at Columbia University and the prizes annually given in his name for excellence in journalism.
April 13, 1743 – The principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, is born in Shadwell, Virginia.
April 14, 1866 – American teacher famous for educating the blind and deaf Helen Keller, Anne Sullivan, is born in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts. Sullivan herself was visually impaired and was a graduate of the same school for the blind that would eventually be used by Keller.
April 12, 1961 – Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in outer space. His 108-minute orbit of the earth propels him into international fame.
April 14, 1865 – President Abraham Lincoln is shot and mortally wounded while watching a play at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C.
April 15, 1947 – 28-year-old Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American player in Major League Baseball when he steps onto Ebbets Field to compete for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
April 15, 1912 – The supposedly unsinkable luxury ocean liner Titanic strikes an iceberg while crossing the Atlantic on its maiden voyage and tragically sinks with a loss of more than 1,500 lives.
Birthdays & Club Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Becky Springer
October 3
Paul Stromborg
October 3
Joyce Klein
October 21
Matt Nelson
October 22
Sally Bruch
October 29
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2023-2024
President – Brandon Diviak
President Elect – Steve Wilder
Director (President Nominee) – Jonelle Bailey
Director (President Designee) - Becky Springer
Past President – Tim Neubert
Treasurer – Dr. Michele Jurkovic
Secretary – Sally Bruch
Sergeant at Arms – Paulette Renault
Monthly Committees
July: Board of Directors
August: Jeff Keicher, Brandon Diviak, Pat Shafer
September: Dave Hamilton, Jeff Jacobson, Jim Stoddard
October: Paul Callighan, Matt Nelson, Paul Stromborg
November: Sue Emberson, Jeff Frank, Mark Spiegelhoff, Heidi Wright
December: Paul Barnaby, Larry Berke, Riley Oncken
January: Ray Dembinski, Joyce Klein, Rob Mondi, Tim Neubert
June: Stephen Hansen, Steve Wilder, Paulette Renault
Standing Committees
Membership: Jonelle Bailey, Ray Dembinski, Bob Hammon, Steve Kuhn, Jeff Petersen, Bob Wildendradt, Jeff Jacobson, Brandon Diviak, Matt Nelson, Riley Oncken
Public Image: Bob Brown, Paul Callighan, Jeff Keicher, Joyce Klein, Tasha Sims
Fellowship: Paulette Renault, Pat Shafer, Mark Spiegelhoff, Sally Bruch, Sue Emberson Dave Hamilton, Paul Barnaby, Larry Berke
Service: Brandon Diviak, Jeff Frank, Michele Jurkovic, Rob Mondi, Brendan Wilson, Heidi Wright, Alicia Cosky, Tim Neubert
Foundations: Jim Buck, Sue Emberson, Matt Nelson, Jim Stoddard, Paul Stromborg
New Generations: Chip Houdek, Julie Sgarlata, Becky Springer, Steve Wilder
Scholarships: Tim Neubert, Julie Sgarlata, Ray Dembinski, Steve Kuhn, Michele Jurkovic, Don Clayberg
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