The high school Student of the Month recognition began this week and featured Evelyn Irwin who shared her passion for horses, music, and travel. Irwin has her own horse and has volunteered at the Kendall Road Equine Hospital in Elgin and the Runaway Ranch in Sycamore. Her musical interests include orchestra, choir (singing in the Jazz Choir and Madrigals), and band (she plays the cello, French horn, and even the ukelele) and has participated in state music competitions. As a freshman, Irwin got chosen for a role in the musical “Mama Mia” leading to an interest that has seen her in succeeding musicals ever since. Her travels have an international experience having been born in Canada, lived in Australia, and spent time in Madagascar where her parents were doing research. Irwin has excelled in academics and is a member of the school’s National Honor Society. She was an AP Scholar Award winner for her exemplary college level placement exams scoring; College Board National Recognition for scoring in the top 10% of test takers; and earned a score of 35 out of a possible 36 on her ACT college entrance exam. Beyond high school, Irwin says she has interests in music theater and equine medicine and is considering Augustana College, St. Olaf College, or possibly a school in Canada. Irwin said she will donate her Rotary check to the Oaken Acres Wildlife Center.
District Rotary Foundation Committee member Jim Stoddard briefed his fellow club members on how Foundation funding works plus District grants recently made. Stoddard said it was the local, regional, and international impact of Rotary grants that originally interested him in joining Rotary besides making contacts at the local club level.
Club member Jim Stoddard shared background on the Rotary Foundation and recent grant- making at the District level during this week’s meeting. Stoddard is a member of the District Foundation Committee.
Donations to the Rotary Foundation are set up for both operational support and ongoing return to Districts for their grant making purposes. Donations to the Annual Fund are held for three years with income going to Foundation Operations. After this, monies are split between the World Fund for global grants and programs and District Designated Funds for local grant-making. There are several forms of recognition for Foundation donations. Sustaining members give $100 or more a year, Paul Harris Fellows are recognized for giving a cumulative $1,000 to the Foundation, Paul Harris Society members give $1,000 or more annually, and Every Rotarian Every Year Club recognition goes to clubs reaching $100 per capita giving plus all dues paying members give at least $25 to the Annual Fund.
Stoddard went through a list of recent grants at the District level to show the impact of Foundation donated funds that come back for local distribution. A grant of $12,000 was given to a project in Brazil for minimally invasive Thoracic Surgery as an extension of an earlier disease prevention and treatment initiative from last year. A $10,000 grant will go to Baja, Mexico for dog collars to combat Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. A mental health services and education grant of $10,000 will go to a project in Kosovo. A $10,000 grant will go for a water system expansion in Guatemala. A $5,000 grant for Epilepsy awareness will go for a project in Zambia.
For those interested in hearing more about the District Foundation activities, Stoddard said the annual Foundation dinner will be held November 5th in Rock Falls.
August 30, 1797 – “Frankenstein“ author Mary Shelley is born in London, England.
September 1, 1875 – “Tarzan of the Apes” creator Edgar Rice Burroughs is born in Chicago.
September 1, 1923 – Boxing champ Rocky Marciano is born in Brockton, Massachusetts. He is the only heavyweight champion to finish his career undefeated.
September 2, 1850 – A. G. Spalding, Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, manager, and executive and co-founder of the Spalding sporting goods company, is born in Byron, Illinois.
August 31, 1997 – Britain’s Princess Diana dies at age 36 from injuries suffered in a high-speed car chase in Paris while being pursued by photographers.
September 1, 1939 – At 5:30 AM, Adolph Hitler’s armies invade Poland marking the start of World War II in Europe.
September 2, 1945- The Japanese formally surrender to allied forces in a signing ceremony aboard the battleship USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
September 3, 1783 – The Treaty of Paris is signed by John Adams, Ben Franklin, and John Jay formally ending the American Revolutionary War between Britain and the United States.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2026-2027
President – Becky Springer
President Elect – Matt Nelson
Director (President Designee) - To Be Determined
Past President – Jonelle Bailey
Treasurer – Dr. Michele Jurkovic
Secretary – Pat Shafer
Sergeant at Arms – Paulette Renault
Monthly Committees
July: Board of Directors
August: Brandon Diviak, Jeff Keicher, Pat Shafer
September: Dave Hamilton, Jeff Jacobson, Jim Stoddard
October: Paul Callighan, Matt Nelson, Scott Schramer
November: Sue Emberson, Dr. Jeff Frank, Phil Meyers
December: Kristen Campbell, Ray Dembinski, Riley Oncken
January: Joyce Klein, Tim Neubert
February: Jonelle Bailey, Tasha Sims
March: Jim Buck, Becky Springer, Brendan Wilson
April: Bob Hammon, Jeff Petersen
May: Bob Brown, Steve Kuhn, Julie Sgarlata
June: Paul Barnaby, Paulette Renault
Standing Committees
Fellowship: Paulette Renault, Sue Emberson, Dave Hamilton, Pat Shafer
Foundations:Matt Nelson, Jim Stoddard, Sue Emberson, Jim Buck
Membership: Jonelle Bailey, Ray Dembinski, Brandon Diviak, Bob Hammon, Jeff Jacobson, Steve Kuhn, Phil Meyers, Matt Nelson, Riley Oncken, Jeff Petersen, Bob Wildendradt
New Generations: Becky Springer, Julie Sgarlata, Brandon Diviak
Public Image: Bob Brown, Paul Callighan, Jeff Keicher, Joyce Klein, Tasha Sims
Scholarships:Tim Neubert, Ray Dembinski, Phil Meyers, Dr. Michele Jurkovic, Steve Kuhn
Service: Brandon Diviak, Dr. Jeff Frank, Dr. Michele Jurkovic, Tim Neubert, Brendan Wilson
