Both Club President Michael DeVito and Secretary Sally Bruch stressed the importance of increasing membership during their presentations at the Club Assembly meeting.
DeVito encouraged club members to mark July 21 on their calendars and attend the kick-off for a local satellite chapter of Rotaract. The event will be from 6-8 PM in a private room at Fatty’s Pub and Grill in DeKalb. As reported at the recent International Convention, Rotaract now has full member status by Rotary. DeVito explained that Rotaract will give a meeting alternative to young professionals (ages 18 to 30). Meetings will focus on professional development, leadership development, and service projects. DeVito’s wife, Madeline, and brother are among the organizers.
Secretary Bruch noted the decline in traditional club memberships over the years. Five years ago, there were 90 regular club members, but that number has dwindled to 62. She also said 20% of the club members (for those where age is reported in Club Runner) are age 70 or older. To spur new member interest, an “Identifying Prospective Members Worksheet” was shared in hopes of expanding the list of people being asked to attend a meeting. Bruch pointed out that it was the “asked to attend” outreach that originally got her interested in Rotary. As an added incentive, Bruch said there will be two prizes awarded for membership recruitment this year. One will be for the most potential members brought as guests and the other for most new members signed up. Bruch also paid tribute to the late Barry Schrader for helping form the Oak Crest Retirement Center Satellite Club that now has 34 members.
An added highlight to the meeting was the formal induction of the club’s newest member, Sycamore School District Superintendent Steve Wilder.
Michael DeVito, newly-inducted Sycamore Rotary Club President, announced that he is leading the launch of a brand new local Club, Rotaract Club of Sycamore with his wife, Madeline (pictured), who will become the inaugural club president. Rotaract is a global service organization of young adult leaders who are helping to solve the world's most pressing challenges. One of over 10,000 clubs in 184 countries, the Rotaract Club of Sycamore works in partnership with the Rotary Club of Sycamore and Rotary International to improve local and international communities. There are already 25 interested potential members in this newly-formed club. Other interested area young adults interested in service to their community and greater world can contact this new club at: rotaractclubofsycamore@gmail.com for more information or visit their website at rotaractclubofsycamore.com.
The Mission for Rotaract Clubs with young people ages 18 and older, is to develop leadership and professional skills, exchange ideas with community leaders and have fun through physical and social needs of their communities through service.
The Guiding Principles of Rotaract are focused on Rotary's 4 Way Test:
Remember...NO MEETING THIS COMING WEEK! Enjoy your holiday!
Following is our schedule of upcoming speakers/presentations:
Wednesday, November 25 - NO MEETING (holiday)
Wednesday, December 2 (Hybrid meeting: In-person at Blumen Gardens, pending status of Covid mitigation efforts, and online via Zoom): DeKalb County Community Foundation (Daniel Templin)
Wednesday, December 9 (Hybrid meeting: In-person at Blumen Gardens, pending status of Covid mitigation efforts, and online via Zoom): Classification Speech (Joyce Klein)
Wednesday, December 16 (Hybrid meeting: In-person at Blumen Gardens, pending status of Covid mitigation efforts, and online via Zoom): Fate of the USS Peter Silvester - Feb 6, 1945 (Stephanie Forsberg)
Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
50% are using video calling to connect with loved ones
39% of people who never or seldom pray have started
25% of people are reading more books
21% have attended a large gathering online
21% have used food delivery services
12% have attended an online exercise class
Sources: HUNTER's Food Study Special Report; Pew Research Center March survey; Statista March media consumption survey; Democracy Fund + UCLA Nationscape Project; Ipsos/Axios poll
July 12, 1817 – American philosopher Henry David Thoreau is born in Concord, Massachusetts.
July 14, 1913 – 38th 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 18, 1918 – South African anti-apartheid leader and later that country’s President, Nelson Mandela, is born; he is the son of a tribal chieftain.
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.
July 16, 1969 – The Apollo 11 Lunar landing mission begins with a liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center at 9:37 AM.
July 18, 1947 – President Harry Truman signs an Executive Order formally determining the line of succession for the Presidency beyond that of Vice-President (i.e. Speaker of the House, Senate President, etc.) and includes how to handle cases of disability. This later becomes the basis of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution which is ratified in 1967.
Many Club members wore their Hawaiian best while gathering for the Club Assembly on July 15!
Induction of Steve Wilder, new Superintendent of Sycamore CUSD 427, on July 15.
