Rotarians gather after a day of golf at the Sycamore Golf Club to hear players’ results and the installation of the 2023-2024 board. Golf prize winners included Team Diviak (Lowest Team Score - 71), Team Bailey (Highest Team Score - 88), Tim Neubert (Closest to the Pin, Anyone - Hole 7), Jim Stoddard (Longest Drive, Men - Hole 9), Lisa Metcalf (Long Drive, Women - Hole 9), and Paul Stromborg (Longest Putt - Hole 16).
Outgoing President Tim Neubert is given a ceremonial gavel as thanks for his service this past year. He gave an overview of this past Rotary year. Neubert recounted around 20 community events and fundraisers that showed how Sycamore is a Rotary Club of action making a difference locally and globally.
Incoming President Brandon Diviak is sworn in by Outgoing President Tim Neubert for the official transition to a new Rotary year. Diviak says he plans to build on the club’s tradition of making a difference. He specifically said his goals will include locally implementing this year’s Rotary International theme of “hope”, promoting mental health awareness (also an international focus), and empowering young people.
Members of the 2023-2024 Rotary Club Board of Directors are officially sworn in. (Left to Right): President Brandon Diviak, Director Becky Springer, President Nominee Jonelle Bailey, Sergeant at Arms Paulette Renault, Treasurer Dr. Michele Jurkovic, President Elect Steve Wilder, and Past President Tim Neubert. (Not pictured: Secretary Sally Bruch.)
Named this year’s Rotarian of the Year was Pat Shafer. Shafer was recognized for his consistent commitment to the club through his volunteer service, especially with help at the Saint Mary’s Parish Activity Center where the Club’s regular Wednesday noon meetings are held as well as many special events. Shafer noted he is celebrating his ten-year anniversary as a Rotarian and that joining the club was transformational for him when setting up his insurance business. He said Rotary's Four-Way Test became the primary guideline for his business transactions which led to exceptional successes. Congratulations Pat on your well-deserved recognition!
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as President of the Rotary Club of Sycamore for the past year! I am proud of what we accomplished together during this time. Rotarians truly are "People of Action"!
So let's take a brief trip down memory lane...and revisit what we did this past year…together:
Built club strength and camaraderie with a cookout at the Park District (July)
Implemented a plan to support various causes through our 50/50 raffle (August through June)
Read to students in 3rd grade classrooms throughout the school year (September through May)
Performed service and provided grant dollars to Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County and the Malta home built for the Ramey family (October)
Continued our long tradition of serving a pancake breakfast to our community (October)
Engaged with Rotarians from other area clubs at the District Conference (November)
Partnered with The Suter Company and Feed My Starving Children to make a difference to those at risk of starvation (November)
Rang bells in support of the Salvation Army's programs (December)
Donated 81 books for teens and adults through the Sycamore Public Library (December)
Celebrated Bob Wildenradt's 60 years with the club...and PERFECT attendance! (January)
Then celebrated Brendan Wilson's win of our 50/50 raffle after the pot built for just short of a full year (February)
Raised thousands of dollars through 3 days of Double Good Popcorn sales (February)
Cleaned up Sycamore Lake Rotary Park, with lots of help from Interact and Rotaract clubs (March)
Flew Rotary-themed kites with kids during a community event hosted by the Sycamore Park District (April)
Made final preparations for Hula for Loota (April)
Hosted Hula for Loota, under Paulette’s leadership, for fun and fundraising (May)
Learned how to play Pickleball, thanks to Paul Stromborg and Jonelle B. (May)
Awarded $7,800 in scholarships to 9 deserving High School Seniors (May)
Donated $25,00 to Sycamore Food Pantry (May)
And hosted a Drive-Thru Dinner to raise funds for ShelterBox (June)
Along the way, we also...
Inducted two new members
Recognized four Paul Harris Fellows
Celebrated Oak Crest Satellite Club's 5th Anniversary
1804 – Novelist and short story writer Nathanial Hawthorne (“The Scarlet Letter’ and “The House of the Seven Gables”) is born in Salem, Massachusetts.
1826 – Popular song writer Stephen Foster is born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania.
1872 – 30th President of the United States Calvin Coolidge is born in Plymouth, Vermont.
1878 – Entertainer, composer, and theatrical producer George M. Cohan (“Yankee Doodle Boy” and “A Grand Old Flag”) is born in Providence, Rhode Island (technically his birth certificate says he was born on July 3 but he and his family always maintained he was born on July 4).
1883 – The creator of popular cartoons depicting complicated gadgets Rube Goldberg is born in San Francisco, California.
1927 – Prolific American playwright Neil Simon is born in the Bronx, New York.
June 30, 1971 – The 26th Amendment to the Constitution is ratified granting 18-year-olds the right to vote. This adds 11 million voters to the election rolls.
July 2, 1788 – Congress announced the United States Constitution was ratified by the required nine of 13 States and a committee was appointed to make preparations for the American government.
July 4, 1776 – The “Declaration of Independence” was approved by the Second Continental Congress declaring why the 13 Colonies regarded themselves as independent sovereign states.
Membership: Jonelle Bailey, Ray Dembinski, Bob Hammon, Steve Kuhn, Jeff Petersen, Bob Wildendradt, Jeff Jacobson, Brandon Diviak, Matt Nelson, Riley Oncken
Public Image: Bob Brown, Paul Callighan, Jeff Keicher, Joyce Klein, Tasha Sims
Fellowship: Paulette Renault, Pat Shafer, Sally Bruch, Sue Emberson, Dave Hamilton, Paul Barnaby, Larry Berke
Service: Brandon Diviak, Jeff Frank, Michele Jurkovic, Rob Mondi, Brendan Wilson, Heidi Wright, Alicia Cosky, Tim Neubert
Foundations: Jim Buck, Sue Emberson, Matt Nelson, Jim Stoddard, Paul Stromborg
New Generations: Chip Houdek, Julie Sgarlata, Becky Springer, Steve Wilder
Scholarships: Tim Neubert, Julie Sgarlata, Ray Dembinski, Steve Kuhn, Michele Jurkovic, Don Clayberg
.png)
