The Spoke -- May 9, 2017 (May 09, 2017)

Rotarians at Work Day finishes with Amazing Grace, YSB auction

This year's edition of Rotarians at Work Day saw volunteers at our three main project sites -- the Pay it Forward House, Rotary Park at Sycamore Lake and Hopkins Park with Kishwaukee SRA; about a dozen Rotarians from Sycamore were joined by their compatriots from DeKalb and Kishwaukee Sunrise, performing service projects for these local not-for-profit agencies.

Our collection drive for the Amazing Grace Organization was also completed, as two boxes of items were donated for use in care packages going to cancer patients. Our Rotary Club also donated over $300 to Amazing Grace during Give DeKalb County on Thursday, May 4th. Grace Waller founded the organization, after her own experience with cancer treatment; she says they raised over $2,000 during Give DeKalb County, and have taken in over $85,000 total with other fundraisers across the country; she thanked the Rotary Club for its help.

One project remains for 2017; volunteers are still welcome to join in with the Youth Service Bureau's annual bicycle auction on Saturday, May 20th. It will be from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. at their offices in downtown DeKalb (next door to Faranda's); assistance with set-up and movement of bicycles will be needed.

And for the future, we will be looking at splitting up the projects among the three area Rotary Clubs, giving each responsibility for at least one; on top of that, DGE Steve Kuhn plans to urge other Rotary Clubs in District 6420 to have their own Rotarians at Work Day next spring, to spread the project across northern Illinois.

Sycamore Rotary project, electronic platforms honored by District 6420

Just days before this year's Rotarians at Work Day, the 2016 edition of the project was recognized as the District 6420 Club Project of the Year. Project chairman Brian Adams (center) receives the award from DG Elect Steve Kuhn (left) and Jeff Keicher.

The Sycamore Rotary Club also received the awards for Best Website and Best Use of Social Media; Adams also received an Honorable Mention as the District Club Officer of the Year, as the club's Sergeant at Arms.

The Rock Falls Rotary Club shares the Club Project of the Year Award, for its End Polio Now Walk.

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At the District 6420 Conference, PDG Bob Hammon was again selected to represent the District at the upcoming Council of Legislation for Rotary International; this body convenes every three years, to propose and consider additions to Rotary's bylaws and operating procedures followed by Rotary Clubs around the world...as well as RI itself.

Hammon was appointed during the annual District 6420 Conference at Starved Rock State Park; PDGs Elise Cadigan and Shannon Scheffel were chosen as alternate delegates to the COL.

Student of the Month: Jack Mizgalski

From a young age, Jack Mizgalski loved to play ball; he says he would spend plenty of time rolling balls along the floor, back and forth with his parents -- so much so, that they say he all but ignored his other toys.

That translated into a love of sports, which has led to him being a standout for the Sycamore Spartans; he has spent almost all of his four years at Sycamore High School with the baseball and basketball teams, serving as captain for each and racking up regional and all-conference honors.

He has also excelled in the classroom, placing in the top 25 of the Academic Honor Roll and receiving advanced placement in calculus. Jack has also served on the Student Council, is a member of the National Honor Society and has been with the Business Academy for the past two years.

Jack also volunteers his time with Feed My Starving Children, and with a youth basketball camp; he plans to attend Wisconsin-La Crosse in the fall, to major in Business with a focus on either management or economics.

In recognition of his accomplishments, the Sycamore Rotary Club has provided $100 for donation to the charity of his choice; he has selected the youth sports scholarship program at the Kishwaukee Y, enabling children whose families can't otherwise afford the YMCA fees to participate in sports.

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Due to a last-minute change in the team's schedule, NIU Baseball Coach Mike Kunigonis was unable to appear as our guest speaker at the May 3rd meeting; we hope to have him back with us at a future date.

Volunteers needed for MS Bike Tour on June 10th

Rotarians are being asked to offer their time on Saturday, June 10th, to assist with the MS Bike Tour rest stop in Sycamore.

Sycamore Rotarians will be manning the stop at North School from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. that day. Volunteers will set up the rest area, greet the riders as they check in, distribute water and other items to those riders and provide any other assistance needed.

A sign-up sheet will be passed around at upcoming Rotary Club meetings; shifts are from 9-12 noon, noon-3 p.m. and 3-6 p.m. You can contact Ray Dembinski for more information.

Suggested items for donation to Amazing Grace

Necessities for Comfort

*desk lamps (fluorescent lights can cause headaches)

*Biotène mouthwash (for mouth sores)

*hard candy/mints (to counter taste changes)

*air fresheners (to deodorize the room)

*inspirational décor (to revive the room)

*fleece pillowcases/blankets (for comfort and warmth)

*fun socks/slippers/hats/scarves (for warmth)

*comfortable clothes/zip-up sweatshirts (for comfort and warmth with port access)

*snacks/beverages/gift cards to local restaurants (to eliminate the need for hospital food)

*stuffed animals

Entertainment

*portable speaker for the room

*IPod

*IPad

*laptop

*sporting events

Leisure

*coloring books (child or adult, depending on age)

*materials for easy/packable crafts

*beads/yarn for bracelets

*yarn for knitting/crocheting

*makeup and nail polish

*books

*movies

*magazines

*board games

*crossword puzzles/Sudoku/mind games

Extra

*jewelry

*wallets

*purses

*sport memorabilia

Rotarians invited to installation for DG Steve Kuhn, President Eric Jones

Please join us for brunch on Sunday, June 25, 2017 for the installation of our new District Governor, Steve Kuhn. The event will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Faranda's, 302 Grove Street in DeKalb.

The event will also feature the installation of Eric Jones as President of the Sycamore Rotary Club, and the announcement of this year's recipient of the John W. Ovitz, Jr. Rotarian of the Year Award.

Cost is $30.00 per person; the deadline to register is Monday, June 19th. Reservations must be made in advance; no payments will be accepted at the door.

To register, please contact Sue Emberson at semberson@royal-travel.com

Send payments to:

Sycamore Rotary Club

P.O. Box 332

Sycamore, IL 60178

Attendance Report -- May 10, 2017

Attendance: 54.93%

Visiting Rotarians: Eric Olson (DeKalb)

Other Guests: Grace Waller (Amazing Grace); Theresa Jacobsen (Marcella’s host mother); Cmciane Michelini and Ana Flavia Michelini (Marcela’s host family); Brianna Jacobsen, Lizzie Ackerman, & Ashley Montano (Interact)

May 17, 2017

Renee McGuan

"The Wall That Heals" Display

May 24, 2017

Pam Duffy and Vickie Guthrie

KCH Emergency Services

May 31, 2017

Malwina Bardoni

Midwest Museum of Natural History

Jun 07, 2017

Paul Stromborg

Reclassification Speech

Jun 14, 2017

Chase Goodeill

Classification Speech

Jun 21, 2017

Amanda Runge

Shelter Box USA

View entire list

Rotary Board Meeting

Blumen Gardens

May 31, 2017
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Bike MS: Tour de Farms

North School

Jun 10, 2017
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Installation for DG Steve Kuhn & Club Officers

Faranda's Banquet Center

Jun 25, 2017
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Make-Up Session

Sycamore Golf Course

Jun 28, 2017
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM

Sycamore Rotary Golf Outing

Sycamore Golf Course

Jun 28, 2017
1:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Rotary Board Meeting

Blumen Gardens

Jul 05, 2017
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Rotary Club of Sycamore, Illinois

We meet Wednesdays at 11:45 AM

Blumen Gardens

403 Edward Street
Sycamore, IL 60178
United States

District Site

Venue Map

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2016-2017

President -- Sue Emberson

President-Elect -- Eric Jones

Past President -- Russell Bishop

Secretary -- Sally Bruch

Treasurer -- Michele Jurkovic

Director -- Ray Dembinski

Director -- Pat Shafer

Assistant Treasurer -- Lavarre Uhlken

Sergeant-at-Arms -- Brian Adams

Monthly Committees

July -- Curt Lang, Gary Evans, Jim Moris, Chip Houdek, Sally Bruch, Fred Peltz

August -- Barry Schrader, Ben Swedberg, Lloyd Larson, Jim Buck, Julenne Davey, Dave McCann

September -- Mario Fontana, Paul Michel, Bert Gray, Jeff Jacobson, Tim Carlson, Brandon Diviak

October -- Jeff Frank, Marcy Buick, Dave Andrews, Jim Schwartzbach, Dave Miller, Don Clayberg

November -- Pete Johnson, Dave Galica, Julie Sgarlata, Kathy Countryman, Tami Armstrong, Troy Oates

December -- Steve Balster, Bob Wildendradt, Brad Waller, Eric Jones, Dan Gibble, Kathleen Merner

January -- Pat Shafer, Michele Jurkovic, Keven Dahl, Paul Barnaby, Heidi Wright

February -- Brian Gregory, Nicole Stuckert, Riley Oncken, Ahmed Kamel, Larry Berke

March -- Jeff Petersen, Paulette Renault, Russell Bishop, Ray Dembinski, Dave Hamilton, Steve Kuhn

April -- Paul Borek, Shelley Hendricks, Jim Bowers, Bob Hammon, Paul Callighan, Sajel Patel

May -- Mark Spiegelhoff, Cliff Bottigliero, Rose Henton, Mark Hilde, Darion Page, Rose Treml

June -- Paul Stromborg, Brian Adams, Lavarre Uhlken, Jeff Keicher, Jim Stoddard, Marijo Schwartz

New Generations

Chair—Julie Sgarlata

At-Large Committee Members – 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/Short Term Youth Exchange – Chip Houdek, Tim Carlson, Jeff Jacobson, Jeff Keicher

Group Study Exchange – Troy Oates, Fred Peltz

RYLA -- Ben Swedberg

Student of the Month – Steve Balster

Foundation & Grants

Chair – Paul Stromborg

At-Large Committee Members – Don Clayberg, Bob Hammon
Polio Plus – Paul Stromborg, Curtis Lang, Bert Gray
Annual Giving/Foundation – Jim Stoddard, Jim Buck, Jim Bowers, Riley Oncken
Scholarships – Pete Johnson, Jeff Keicher, Ray Dembinski, Michele Jurkovic, Don Clayberg

Service Above Self and Service Projects

Chair – Ray Dembinski

Multiple Club Project Coordination – Bob Hammon, Dave Miller, Paul Stromborg, Keven Dahl

Water Project – Heidi Wright, Riley Oncken, Julenne Davey

Meals on Wheels (August) – Brian Adams, Curt Lang, Sejal Patel, Darion Page, Mark Spiegelhoff

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

Pancake Breakfast (October) – Dave McCann, Marcy Buick, Marijo Schwartz, Brad Waller, Michele Jurkovic, Fred Peltz, Jeff Petersen, Paulette Renault

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

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

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

Rotarians at Work Day (May) – Brian Adams, Pat Shafer, Bert Gray, Brandon Diviak, Sejal Patel

Public Image and Awareness

Chair – Brian Adams

Website – Eric Jones, Fred Peltz, Paul Barnaby

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

Public Image Campaign and Social Media – Brian Adams, Marijo Schwartz, Mark Hilde

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

IT/Audio-Visual – Eric Jones, Brian Adams

Club Fellowship

Fines – Jeff Keicher, Riley Oncken, Paul Callighan, Marijo Schwartz, Jeff Jacobson, Jim Bowers

100% Attendance Lunch (August) – Sally Bruch

Holiday Party (December) – Jeff Petersen, Gary Evans, Dave Hamilton, Tami Armstrong, Paulette Renault, Julie Sgarlata

Rural-Urban Day (February) – Bob Wildenradt, Troy Oates, Larry Berke

Hula-for-Loota (April) – Paul Michel, Julie Sgarlata, Tami Armstrong, Jim Bowers

Golf Outing (June) – Dan Gibble, Brian Gregory, Steve Balster, Brad Waller

Membership

Chair – Sally Bruch
Recruitment – All members are expected to bring at least one prospective member as a guest
New Member Orientation – Bob Hammon, Ray Dembinski, Brandon Diviak, Russell Bishop
Member Retention – Jim Stoddard, Bob Wildenradt, Larry Berke, Nicole Stuckert