banner
Stories
Classification Speech: Troy Oates
 
Troy Oates has a diverse life; he works in financial management, is active with his family and his sons' sports teams, and has invested in a number of outside businesses...including cranberry farming.
 
Oates is co-founder and senior Vice President at ForthRight Financial Planning in Sycamore; he specializes in helping individuals and families with their financial planning.  A native of Algonquin, he has been married since 1996 and has two twin sons; he is heavily involved in coaching them in football, baseball and wrestling, and the family enjoys attending games and outdoor events.
 
Building on a strong work ethic he developed by helping with his family's sodding business, he has not only grown as a financial planner but has branched out as an investor in private companies, including a personal storage and moving business -- and a cranberry farm, located northwest of Wisconsin Dells.
 
He told the Rotary Club about how the cranberry business works; berries have to be carefully tended, picked gently because they're easily bruised, and stored in open water holding ponds.  He first became involved in the business after meeting the relative of a childhood friend, who owns and operates the farm and sought an investor to help him along.
 
Oates credits his faith, his family and his dedication to work as the driving forces of his life; and he says he remains committed to giving back to the community.
 
Outbound Exchange Student holds soap sale fundraiser
 
Eriq Walker is taking a unique approach to raising funds for his outbound exchange trip to Argentina; he’s selling laundry and dish soap, to get the monies needed.
 
Between now and Friday, April 22nd, Eriq is selling five-gallon buckets of various types of laundry items – liquid soap, High Efficiency detergents, dish soap and fabric softener.  The buckets cost an average of $35 each; one-gallon versions of various products are also available at $10 each…and pumps for the five-gallon buckets (which are highly recommended) are available at $5 each.
 
Rotarians will receive an order form via e-mail, and orders will be collected at the April 20th Rotary Club meeting.  Payment can be made in cash, or checks made out to Keith Walker.  If you can't attend that meeting, or if you have any other questions, call Chip Houdek at (815) 501-1173.
 
May 25th Rotary Club meeting at DTMA
 
The Sycamore Rotary Club will be going on the road -- or more properly, the tarmac -- when it holds its regular weekly meeting on Wednesday, May 25th at DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport.
 
Rotarians will get a chance to see the airport hangars, equipment and aircraft up close...and learn more about the airport and its operations.
 
Officers nominated for Sycamore Rotary Board
 
Jude Wilbers has been nominated to join the Sycamore Rotary Club's Board of Directors; if elected by the membership, he will begin serving on the Board beginning July 1st.  He would serve as Club President in the 2019-2020 Rotary year.
 
Also nominated for new terms at the March 23rd Rotary Meeting are incumbent Secretary Sally Bruch, and current Treasurer Michele Jurkovic. 
 
As required under our bylaws, each nomination will be posted for one month; a final vote on these nominees is scheduled to be taken at the April 20th club meeting.
 
Hula for Loota set for Thursday, April 21st
 
The Sycamore Rotary Club's annual Hula-for-Loota fundraiser is scheduled for Thursday, April 21st; it will be from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at Chapel in the Pines in Sycamore.
 
This annual Hawaiian-themed event is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club's scholarship fund; the featured event is a draw-down raffle, with numbers being removed one-by-one...and the last one drawn, wins the grand prize of $3,000. There will also be cash and prizes given away throughout the drawing, as well as a 50/50 drawing.
 
There are four tickets still remaining; if you are interested, please contact Tami Armstrong at Tami.Armstrong@firstmidwest.com
 
This week's second edition of The Spoke will be held for release until Friday, so that we may include information from Thursday night's Hula-for-Loota.
 
Volunteers sought for Rotarians at Work Day
 
Volunteers are now being sought for Rotarians at Work Day, to be held on Saturday, May 7th at sites around Sycamore and DeKalb.
 
This annual project has Rotarians roll up their sleeves and help local not-for-profit agencies which have work that needs to be done.  We will be joining forces with the other Rotary Clubs and New Generations Clubs, pitching in at the following locations:
 
     Rotary Park, Sycamore -- Park Pride Day
     Pay it Forward House, Sycamore -- Gardening and yard work
     Joiner Cemetery, Sycamore -- clean-up and gardening for Memorial Day
     Kishwaukee Special Recreation Association -- interactive garden, and office filing
 
Please sign up at any Rotary meeting between now and May 4th; all projects will run from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. (except for the Joiner Cemetery project, which will begin at 10 o'clock).  Contact Brian Adams for further information.
 
Golf outing set for June 29th
 
The Sycamore Rotary Club's annual Golf Outing has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 29th at the Sycamore Golf Course.  The four-person scramble begins at 1 o'clock, immediately following a make-up session at 12:00 p.m. inside the clubhouse.
 
In the evening, the annual Installation Dinner will feature the inauguration of Sue Emberson as the Club President for 2016-17...and the presentation of the John W. Ovitz, Jr. Rotarian of the Year Award.
 
Sycamore exchange student Gracia Watson's Japan blog
 
This year's Outbound exchange student Gracia Watson is spending a year in Japan; to find out what she's up to, go to her blog at this link
 

Attendance -- April 13, 2016

     Attendance:  55.26%

     No Guests

Speakers
Apr 20, 2016
 
Apr 27, 2016
 
May 04, 2016
 
May 11, 2016
 
May 18, 2016
 
May 25, 2016
 
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Hula for Loota
Chapel in the Pines
Apr 21, 2016
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
 
District 6420 Conference
Clock Tower Resort
Apr 29, 2016 12:00 PM –
May 01, 2016 12:00 PM
 
Rotarians at Work Day
May 07, 2016
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
 
Club Information
Welcome to our Club!
Sycamore
Service Above Self
We meet Wednesdays at 11:45 AM
Blumen Gardens Banquet Facility
403 Edward Street
Sycamore, IL  60178
United States
DistrictSiteIcon
District Site
 
VenueMap
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, Rose Henton
 
March
Dave Hamilton, Jeff Petersen, Paulette Renault, Russell Bishop, Ray Dembinski, Phil Ruff
 
April
Bob Hammon, Paul Borek, Shelley Hendricks, Jim Bowers, Troy Oates, Marijo Schwartz
 
May
Cliff Bottigliero, Sue Emberson, Mark Spiegelhoff, 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 – Kathy Countryman, Eric Jones, Don Clayberg, Julenne Davey, Nicole Stuckert, Darion Page
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, Troy Oates
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, Rose Henton, 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, Darion Page, 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, Marijo Schwartz
Meals on Wheels (August) – Curt Lang, Bob Smith, Cliff Bottigliero
Dictionary Distribution (September) – Lavarre Uhlken, Brian Adams, Suzanne Anderson, Shelley Hendricks
Pancake Breakfast (October) – 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, Brandon Diviak, Sejal Patel, Mark Spiegelhoff, Rose Henton, Darion Page, Troy Oates, Marijo Schwartz
 
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, David Galica, Jude Wilbers
Sergeant at Arms – Brian Adams, Lavarre Uhlken, Barry Schrader, Curt Lang
 
Club Fellowship
Chair – Jeff Keicher
Fines – Jeff Keicher, Marijo Schwartz, 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
Holiday Party (December) – Jeff Petersen, Zac Sheedy, Gary Evans, Dave Hamilton, Tami Armstrong, Paulette Renault, Craig Mathey
Rural-Urban Day (February) – Bob Wildenradt, Troy Oates, Eric Johnson, Lavarre Uhlken
Hula-for-Loota (April) – Paul Michel, Rose Henton, 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, Ray Dembinski
Member Retention Jim Stoddard, Bob Wildenradt, Larry Berke, Nicole Stuckert, Kathleen Merner
 
- See more at: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/5772/Stories/committee-assignments-2015-2016#sthash.x7dtgs3j.dpuf
 
Monthly Program Committees
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, Rose Henton
March --Dave Hamilton, Jeff Petersen, Paulette Renault, Russell Bishop, Ray Dembinski, Phil Ruff
April --Bob Hammon, Paul Borek, Shelley Hendricks, Jim Bowers, Troy Oates, Marijo Schwartz
May --Cliff Bottigliero, Sue Emberson, Mark Spiegelhoff, 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 – Kathy Countryman, Eric Jones, Don Clayberg, Julenne Davey, Nicole Stuckert, Darion Page
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, Troy Oates
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, Rose Henton, 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, Darion Page, 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, Marijo Schwartz
Rotarians at Work Day (May) – Brian Adams, Pat Shafer, Bert Gray, Brandon Diviak, Sejal Patel, Mark Spiegelhoff, Rose Henton, Darion Page, Troy Oates, Marijo Schwartz
 
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, David Galica, Jude Wilbers
Sergeant at Arms – Brian Adams, Lavarre Uhlken, Barry Schrader, Curt Lang
 
Club Fellowship
Chair – Jeff Keicher
Fines – Jeff Keicher, Marijo Schwartz, Darryl Wolff, Jeff Jacobson
Golf Outing – Dan Gibble, Brian Gregory, Steve Balster, Brad Waller, Jude Wilbers
Rural-Urban Day (February) – Bob Wildenradt, Troy Oates, Eric Johnson, Lavarre Uhlken
Hula-for-Loota (April) – Paul Michel, Rose Henton, 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, Ray Dembinski
Member Retention Jim Stoddard, Bob Wildenradt, Larry Berke, Nicole Stuckert, Kathleen Merner
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
Sage