The Spoke -- July 23, 2015 (Jul 23, 2015)

Stories

Guest Speaker: Gracia Watson

This year's exchange student from Sycamore has aspired to be one since her early middle school days...but faced deadline pressure to get her paperwork filed, doing so just in time to qualify for a year in Japan.

Gracia Watson gave the Sycamore Rotary a preview of her year abroad, which will begin shortly; she will be living in a town near Osaka, spending the year with one or more families...including one with a Canadian man and his Japanese family.

Gracia says it's been her desire to get involved in the exchange program for some time, and she has already made more friends among the Rotarians she's worked with. While she's aware of the pitfalls that students face during their exchange year, she believes it will be the experience of a lifetime.

Volunteers still needed for Meals on Wheels

Volunteers are still needed for this year's Meals on Wheels project; during the month of August, members of the Sycamore Rotary Club donate their time to deliver meals to senior citizens around town...on behalf of the Voluntary Action Center.

Drivers are still needed for each of the following dates:

Monday, August 3rd -- 2 persons needed

Monday, August 17th -- 1 needed

Tuesday, August 18th -- 1 needed

Tuesday, August 25th -- 1 needed

Friday, August 28th – 2 needed

Monday, August 31st – 1 needed

If you are free to help out on any of these dates, please contact Sue Emberson at semberson@royal-travel.com

Sycamore Rotary donates school supplies

Sycamore Rotarians once again provided school supplies, as part of a county-wide effort to prepare children from financially troubled families for the school year.

Rotarian Dan Gibble delivered the supplies to the annual concert held at The House Cafe in downtown DeKalb; admission to this country and gospel music event is any type of school supplies, and the Rotary Club has been donating items for years. Members brought them in for collection during the July 15th meeting.

Organizer Gary Mullis (pictured) has sponsored this concert in conjunction with the Salvation Army for many years; he holds a similar show each December, on behalf of Toys for Tots.

Sycamore Rotary Golf Outing rescheduled for July 29th

The Sycamore Rotary Club's annual Golf Outing has been re-scheduled for Wednesday, July 29th at the Sycamore Golf Course.

Flooding which hit the area in late June forced the closure of the course, and the postponement of the event. Rotarian Dan Gibble, chairman for the Golf Outing committee and Executive Director of the Sycamore Park District, says the course is open again and ready for the club's use.

The day will follow the same schedule:

Make-up Session -- 12:00 p.m. at the Clubhouse

Outing -- Four-man scramble from 1:00 to 5:30 p.m.

Dinner -- 5:30 p.m. at the Clubhouse

A letter to Rotarians from R.I. President K.R. "Ravi" Ravindran

On 24 July, Nigeria will have passed one year with no new cases of wild poliovirus. This is the longest the country has ever gone without a case of polio and a critical step on the path toward a polio-free Africa.

We’ve come a long way since the bleak years when the virus reached its peak. It was only a decade ago that polio struck 12,631 people in Africa- three quarters of all cases in the world.

11 August will mark an even greater milestone: one year since the last case of polio in Africa. For Africa to be certified polio-free, all countries in the region, including Nigeria, must go two more years without a case of polio. To do this, all children in Nigeria must continue to receive the polio vaccine, including those in hard-to-reach and underserved areas.

I am immensely proud of our Rotarians who have donated $688.5 million to fight polio throughout Africa, including more than $200 million to Nigeria. I congratulate these Rotarians from Africa and around the world who have also devoted countless hours to immunize the children who now have the opportunity for healthier, happier lives.

Please note if the stringent World Health Organization testing criteria are met, then Nigeria could well be removed from the list of polio-endemic countries in September of this year.

Thirty years ago we told the world what Rotary believes: that we can achieve the eradication of only the second human disease in history. Our belief is close to becoming reality. For every child, let’s make sure that reality is a bright one.

Warm Regards,
Rotary International President K.R. "Ravi" Ravindran

Rotary to have night at White Sox game on August 4th

Rotary Districts 6420, 6440 and 6450 are banding together for a night at the old ball game on Tuesday, August 4th, as the White Sox host Tampa Bay at U.S. Cellular Field.

The evening will be used to highlight Rotary's End Polio Now campaign; 100% of the proceeds from the tickets will go towards the EPN fund. Over 10,000 Rotarians have attended this annual game in the past, and with enough on hand there will be an opportunity for an on-field parade.

Tickets are available at the District 6450 website, at www.Rotary6450.org; register by July 24th to guarantee your seat.

100% Attendance Luncheon scheduled for Wednesday, August 26th

The Sycamore Rotary Club will hold its Perfect Attendance Luncheon during the Rotary Club meeting on Wednesday, August 26th. All Rotarians who had 100% attendance during the 2014-2015 Rotary year will be honored during the meeting.

Rotarians are reminded about the need for consistent attendance; it not only keeps them involved with club business, but permits them to get to know their fellow Rotarians better. And both enable us to continue our mission to provide Service Above Self for the Sycamore community.

If you want to get a jump on next year's attendance, be sure to get credit for attending any or all of the Golf Outing events on Wednesday, July 29th. You are also encouraged to make up at other Rotary Club meetings, or participate in Rotary Club projects.

July 22, 2015

Attendance: 56.25%

Visiting Rotarians: Mike Villatta, California

Guests of Members: Branden Diviak (Dave McCann); Cassie Wood (Jeff Frank)

Speakers

Aug 05, 2015
Courtney Dennison
Sycamore Schools OSCAR Program

Aug 12, 2015
Joyce Mathey
Pay it Forward House

Aug 19, 2015
Kevin Poorten
CEO, Kishwaukee Community Hospital

Aug 26, 2015
Eric Olson
Editor, Daily Chronicle

View entire list

Upcoming Events

100% Attendance Luncheon

Blumen Gardens

Aug 26, 2015
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM

VAC Meals on Wheels Ends

Aug 31, 2015
10:30 AM – 11:45 AM

Rotary Club Visioning Meeting

Sycamore United Methodist Church

Sep 19, 2015
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Club Information

Welcome to our Club!

Service Above Self

We meet Wednesdays at 11:45 AM

Blumen Gardens Banquet Facility

403 Edward Street
Sycamore, IL 60178
United States

District Site

Venue Map

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015-16

President -- Russell Bishop

President-Elect -- Sue Emberson

Past President -- Riley Oncken

Secretary -- Sally Bruch

Treasurer -- Michele Jurkovic

Assistant Treasurer -- Lavarre Uhlken

Director -- Eric Jones

Director -- Ray Dembinski

Sergeant at Arms -- Brian Adams

Monthly Program Committees

July

Sally Bruch, Gary Evans, Curt Lang, Jim Moris, Chip Houdek

August

Dave McCann, Barry Schrader, Ben Swedberg, Lloyd Larson, Jim Buck, Julenne Davey, Nicole Stuckert

September

Tim Carlson, Mario Fontana, Suzanne Anderson, Paul Michel, Rose Treml, Bert Gray, Jeff Jacobson

October

Don Clayberg, Jeff Frank, Marcy Buick, Dave Andrews, Jim Schwarzbach, Lavarre Uhlken, Dave Miller

November

Tami Armstrong, David Galica, Pete Johnson, Julie Sgarlata, Kreg Wesley, Kathy Countryman

December

Dan Gibble, Steve Balster, Zac Sheedy, Bob Wildenradt, Heidi Wright, Brad Waller, Eric Jones

January

Paul Barnaby, Michele Jurkovic, Pat Shafer, Tom Sparacino, Jesse Boelter, Keven Dahl

February

Larry Berke, Brian Gregory, Ahmed Kamel, Fred Peltz, Richard Willey, Jude Wilbers, Gina Delmont

March

Dave Hamilton, Jeff Petersen, Paulette Renault, Russell Bishop, Ray Dembinski, Robert Smith, Phil Ruff

April

Ed Eggers, Bob Hammon, Paul Borek, Shelley Hendricks, Jim Bowers, Eric Stice

May

Cliff Bottigliero, Sue Emberson, Kurt Klein, Darryl Wolff, Eric Johnson, Mark Hilde

June

Jim Stoddard, Paul Stromborg, Michael Flora, Craig Mathey, Brian Adams, Jeff Keicher

New Generations

Chair—Julie Sgarlata

At-Large Committee Members – Kreg Wesley, Kathy Countryman, Eric Jones, Don Clayberg, Julenne Davey, Nicole Stuckert

Sycamore H.S. Interact – Ben Swedberg

Sycamore M.S. Interact – Nicole Stuckert

South Prairie EarlyAct – Julie Sgarlata

North Grove EarlyAct – Mark Hilde

Long Term Youth Exchange – Chip Houdek

Short Term Youth Exchange – Tim Carlson

Group Study Exchange – Fred Peltz, Ed Eggers

RYLA -- Ben Swedberg

Student of the Month – Steve Balster

Foundation & Grants

Chair – Paul Stromborg

At-Large Committee Members – Bob Smith, Don Clayberg, Bob Hammon
Polio Plus – Paul Stromborg, Gina Delmont, Curtis Lang, Bert Gray
Annual Giving – Jim Stoddard, Jim Buck, Riley Oncken, Jim Bowers
Foundation – Jim Stoddard, Jim Buck, Riley Oncken
Scholarships – Peter Johnson, Ray Dembinski, Michele Jurkovic, Don Clayberg, Kreg Wesley, Julenne Davey

Service Above Self and Service Projects

Chair – Ray Dembinski

Multiple Club Project Coordination – Fred Peltz, Bob Hammon, Paul Stromborg

Water Project – Heidi Wright, Ahmed Kamel, Keven Dahl, Bob Wildenradt, Tami Armstrong, Julenne Davey, Lavarre Uhlken

Meals on Wheels (August) – Curt Lang, Bob Smith, Cliff Bottigliero, Mary Jo Schwartz

Dictionary Distribution (September) – Lavarre Uhlken, Brian Adams, Suzanne Anderson, Shelley Hendricks

Pancake Breakfast (October) – Gina Delmont, Marcy Buick, Michele Jurkovic, Jeff Petersen, Paulette Renault, Dave McCann, Jesse Boelter

Feed My Starving Children (November) – Heidi Wright, Jeff Frank, Eric Jones, Paul Stromborg, Paul Borek, Ed Eggers, Marijo Schwartz

Salvation Army Bell-Ringing (December) – Dave Andrews, Jim Moris, Kathy Countryman, Rose Treml

Adopt a Family (December) – Heidi Wright, Dave Miller, Brad Waller, Julenne Davey, Paul Callighan, Marijo Schwartz

Rotarians at Work Day (April) – Brian Adams, Pat Shafer, Bert Gray

Public Image and Awareness

Chair – Brian Adams

Website – Eric Stice, Eric Jones, Fred Peltz, Paul Barnaby

The Spoke – Barry Schrader, Paul Barnaby, Brian Adams, Shelley Hendricks

Public Image Campaign and Social Media – Brian Adams, Eric Stice, Mark Hilde, David Galica, Jude Wilbers

Sergeant at Arms – Brian Adams, Lavarre Uhlken, Barry Schrader, Curt Lang

Club Fellowship

Chair – Jeff Keicher

Fines – Jeff Keicher, Eric Stice, Darryl Wolff, Jeff Jacobson

Golf Outing – Dan Gibble, Brian Gregory, Steve Balster, Brad Waller, Jude Wilbers

100% Attendance Lunch (August) – Sally Bruch, Jim Buck, Robert Smith

Sycamore Sausage Fest (Oktoberfest) – Jeff Keicher, Eric Stice, Dave Andrews, Jeff Jacobson, Jeff Frank, Eric Jones, Kreg Wesley, Chip Houdek

Holiday Party (December) – Jeff Petersen, Zac Sheedy, Gary Evans, Dave Hamilton, Tami Armstrong, Paulette Renault, Craig Mathey

Rural-Urban Day (February) – Bob Wildenradt, Ed Eggers, Eric Johnson, Lavarre Uhlken

Hula-for-Loota (April) – Paul Michel, Gina Delmont, Tami Armstrong, Darryl Wolff, Jim Bowers

Membership

Chair – Sue Emberson
Recruitment – All members are expected to bring at least one prospective member as a guest
New Member Orientation – Bob Hammon, Eric Stice, Ray Dembinski
Member Retention – Jim Stoddard, Bob Wildenradt, Larry Berke, Nicole Stuckert, Kathleen Merner