Rotary Student of the Month William Donahoe shares his appreciation for leadership development through sports at Sycamore High School during this week’s meeting. Donahoe is a four-year participant on the soccer team and currently is a team captain. He also plays on the volleyball and baseball teams. Donahoe gets high marks in academics including being a member of the National Honor Society and a State Scholar. He is a Spanish Language assistant and volunteers through his church with retreats and youth programs. Donahoe hopes to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering at either Marquette or Loyola University. He is donating his $100 check from Rotary to the Hope Haven Homeless Shelter.
The Director of “Honor Flight Chicago”, Doug Muffle, was the keynote speaker at this week’s Rotary meeting. Meffley spoke about “Honor Flight Magic” when explaining the impact made on veterans by giving them a no-cast trip to Washington, D.C. The Honor Flights are open to all veterans of conflicts through the Viet Nam War. Meffley said Honor Flight Chicago has underwritten 106 flights serving 9,955 veterans since it began operation in 2008.
Honoring veterans with an all-expense paid trip to the nation’s capital is what “Honor Flights” is all about explained Chicago Director Doug Meffley when speaking to Sycamore Rotarians. Meffley said that beyond a trip, “we change lives” by helping with healing and closure from their military service. “Honor Flights” began its Chicago operation in 2008 (the organization was started in Ohio in 2005). Since then, there have been 106 flights serving 9,995 veterans according to Meffley. He said there first flight in June of 2008 was for 60 World War II veterans, included 45 guardian assistants, involved 3 busses, and cost $35,000. He compared this with their most recent trip involving 113 veterans, 158 guardians, 6 busses, and a cost of $140,000. “Honor Flights” now services veterans through the Viet Nam War period. Meffley shared some personal stories of veterans. It showed the impact of his organization on a member of the Tuskegee Airmen from World War II, a Korean War veteran who had earned a purple heart, and a Viet Nam war veteran who earned two purple hearts and who got reconnected with a high school friend who thought the veteran had died in the war.
Beyond doing the “Honor Flights,” Meffley said their group does various awareness projects. Their Operation Education program seeks to bring veteran connections, education, and inspiration to school students. Their outreach has extended to 108 elementary schools, 50 middle schools, and 45 high schools. Mission Never Forget sends out birthday cards to veterans. They do Veteran Homes contacts which includes yard signs at the care facilities. Meffley said they even do a podcast.
Meffley said hundreds of volunteers are involved in an “Honor Flight”. On flight day the veterans and volunteers gather at Midway Airport in the early morning hours wearing various colored t-shirts identifying them as a participant or helper. Even after a full-day of activities the veterans get a surprise mail-call on their trip home that was coordinated in advance with family or fiends of veterans. “Honor Flights” is totally supported by donations. Their website, www.honorflightchicago.org, has information on how to donate and/or recommend a participant.
The Sycamore Rotary Club is having a "Cabin Fever Night" at the Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb. We are planning a great evening out focusing on the 5th principle of the four way test. That is - Is It Fun!
There will be fellowship, food, beverages, and a movie. I hope you will join us. After all - who does not enjoy an evening with friends?
The Mission of the Rotary Club of Aurora Sunrise is to provide service by using our time, talent, and financial resources to inspire, initiate, and involve our members and friends in activities that help promote the general well-being of youth in our communities.
The Rotary Club of Aurora Sunrise is honored to host the 20th Annual Wine & Chocolate Extravaganza at the Stonebridge Country Club (2705 Stonebridge Blvd. in Aurora) on March 25, 2023 from 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
Live & Silent Auctions, 50/50 Raffle, Games and Prizes. All proceeds from this event benefit our community!
For more information, including how to buy tickets, please visit rotaryaurora.org.
As with Happy Dollars and fines, 50/50 raffle proceeds have long been earmarked for the scholarship fund for Sycamore High School seniors. In an effort to "spread the wealth" and support more causes, the members of your Rotary Board have determined that 50/50 raffle proceeds collected each month will benefit a different cause.
For the month of March, 50/50 raffle proceeds will help support DeKalb County Community Gardens to empower residents to choose healthy and sustainable foods through community education. The Board has committed that the total amount given to this cause will be no less than $250.
Thank you for your support of this important cause...and best of luck with the raffle!
The Rotary Club of Sycamore is committed to supporting many great causes. Following are the causes we have support since July 2022:
$372.50 to Sycamore District 427 for School Supplies (50/50 raffle cause for August)
$300.00 to Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County (50/50 raffle cause for September)
$465.50 to Safe Passage (50/50 raffle cause for October)
$1,350.00 for Polio Plus (funds raised through Chicken Salad Tasting with Suter Company)
$2,761.00 for Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County’s 2022 Home Build (w/ Dist. 6420 Matching Grant)
$400.00 to Usborne Books (during District conference) to provide reading materials to Ukrainian refugees attending two schools in Chicago's Ukrainian Village
$896.00 for Adopt-a-Family
$1,000.00 to Coats for Kids
$1,000.00 to Feed My Starving Children/Make a Difference DKC
$352.50 to Spartan Food Pantry (50/50 raffle cause for November)
$1,000.00 to Sycamore Public Library to fulfill District 6420 Governor's "Nothing Reads Like a Book" initiative
$292.50 to Sycamore Food Pantry (50/50 raffle cause for December)
$500.00 to Pay-It-Forward House (50/50 raffle cause for January)
March 1, 1904 – American band leader Glenn Miller is born in Clarinda, Iowa. He gained enormous popularity during the 1930’s and 1940’s. He went missing in 1944 while crossing the English Channel in a plane en route to a performance in Paris.
March 2, 1893 – American soldier and politician Sam Houston is born in Rockbridge County, Virginia. In his teen years he is raised by Cherokee Indians. He serves as a Congressman and Governor of Tennessee and later leads the Texas Army in the War for Texas Independence from Mexico. He then serves as Senator and Governor of the new state of Texas.
March 3, 1847 – Telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell is born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Bell’s invention borrowed techniques from his vocation of teaching deaf persons to speak.
March 4, 1888 – American football legend Knute Rockne is born in Voss, Norway. He coached Notre Dame football for 13 seasons amassing a record of 105 wins, 12 losses, and five ties.
February 27, 1950 – The 22nd Amendment to the U. S. Constitution is ratified limiting the President to two terms or a maximum of ten years in office.
March 1, 1932 – The 20-month-old son of aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped from his home Hopewell, New Jersey. Although the Lindberghs paid a $50,000 ransom, the child’s body was found several months later in a wooded area a few miles from the home.
March 1, 1961 – President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps which sends young American volunteers to developing countries to assist with health care, education, and other basic human needs.
March 4, 1789 – The first meeting of the new Congress under the U. S. Constitution took place in New York City.
Birthdays & Club Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
James Houdek
March 2
Michele Jurkovic
March 3
Chase Goodeill
March 15
Katharine Kuhn
March 15
Laura Regnery
March 16
Mark Spiegelhoff
March 20
James Buck
March 30
Jeffrey Jacobson
March 31
Join Date
Chase Goodeill
March 1, 2017
6 years
Riley Oncken
March 2, 2009
14 years
Rob Mondi
March 2, 2022
1 year
Ray Dembinski
March 11, 2004
19 years
Becky Springer
March 12, 2021
2 years
Sam Knuth
March 18, 2021
2 years
Paul Loner
March 22, 2019
4 years
James Houdek
March 23, 2009
14 years
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2022-2023
President – Tim Neubert
President Elect – Brandon Diviak
Director (President Nominee) – Steve Wilder
Director (President Designee) - Jonelle Bailey
Past President – Paulette Renault
Treasurer – Dr. Michele Jurkovic
Secretary – Sally Bruch
Monthly Committees
July: Board of Directors
August: Jeff Keicher, Steve Kuhn, Pat Shafer
September: Michael DeVito, Dave Hamilton, Jeff Jacobson, Velvet Mason
October: Paul Callighan, Matt Nelson, Paul Stromborg
November: Jim Buck, Sue Emberson, Jeff Frank, Mark Spiegelhoff, Jim Stoddard, Heidi Wright
December: Paul Barnaby, Larry Berke, Troy Oates, Riley Oncken
January: Ray Dembinski, Chase Goodeill, Joyce Klein, Rob Mondi
February: Jonelle Bailey, Becky Springer, Steve Wilder
March: Chip Houdek, Brendan Wilson
April: Bob Hammon, Jeff Petersen
May: Bob Brown, Brandon Diviak, Paul Loner
June: Stephen Hansen, Fred Peltz, Paulette Renault
Standing Committees
Membership: Jonelle Bailey, Ray Dembinski, Bob Hammon, Steve Kuhn, Troy Oates, Jeff Petersen, Bob Wildendradt
Public Image: Bob Brown, Paul Callighan, Dave Hamilton, Stephen Hansen, Jeff Keicher, Joyce Klein
Fellowship: Paul Barnaby, Larry Berke, Jeff Jacobson, Paul Loner, Riley Oncken, Paulette Renault, Pat Shafer, Mark Spiegelhoff
Service: Brandon Diviak, Jeff Frank, Michele Jurkovic, Rob Mondi, Fred Peltz, Brendan Wilson, Heidi Wright
Foundations: Jim Buck, Sue Emberson, Chase Goodeill, Curt Lang, Matt Nelson, Jim Stoddard, Paul Stromborg
New Generations: Michael DeVito, Chip Houdek, Velvet Mason, Julie Sgarlata, Becky Springer, Steve Wilder
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