Sycamore Rotarian Jim Buck regales club members on his “linguistic pet peeves or quirks.” His multiple page list had enough examples to challenge, entertain, and educate the scholars in attendance.
Jim Buck began his Rotary linguistic overview by commenting on the evolution of the reply to a comment going from “you’re welcome,” to “ no problem,” and now “no worries.” Through multiple pages of examples, Buck sought to educate, often with humor, on how different generations give words and phrases entirely new meanings. For example, did you ever think a “dashboard” would refer to a computer screen image instead of the panel where gauges are mounted for the driver of a car?
Buck also noted how mistakes in grammar are now commonly accepted. You frequently hear the phrase “hopefully we’ll win” when it should be “we hope we’ll win.” The first phrase incorrectly uses an adverb as a verb.
On the pet peeve side of things, Jim didn’t hold back with his criticism. Right at the top of his list was the almost universal adaptation of the phrase “going forward” instead of using “in the future.” Jim asked, “why is everyone afraid of saying in the future?”
Among the “quirks” mentioned by Buck were “homophones.” These are same-sounding words spelled differently and with different meanings or uses. His list of examples included “to, too, and two” along with “rain, reign, and rein.”
Buck gave credit to his legal colleagues for pointing out and explaining many of the phrases and definitions he shared during his talk. And should you ever be in a conversation with Jim and he looks at you quizzically or with irritation, you know you’ve probably used language from his pet peeves or quirks list.
March 18, 1837 - The 22nd and 24th President, Grover Cleveland, is born in Caldwell, New Jersey. He is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms in office.
March 19, 1869 – Flamboyant showman and theater producer, Florence Ziegfeld, is born in Chicago. His Ziegfeld Follies revue ran on Broadway from 1907 through 1931.
March 21, 1685 – Organist and prolific composer Johann Sebastian Bach is born in Eisenach, Germany.
March 22, 1948 – Composer and theatrical producer Andrew Lloyd Weber is born in Kensington, London, England.
March 17, 461– Ireland, and eventually anywhere in the world where the Irish gather, pays homage to the death of St. Patrick of Ireland, the fifth century missionary and later bishop who brought Christianity to Ireland’s masses.
March 18, 1974 – The five-month-old Arab oil embargo against the U.S is lifted. The embargo was in retaliation for the American support of Israel during the Yom Kipper War of 1973 in which Egypt and Syria suffered a crushing defeat. The embargo caused U.S. gas prices to soar 300%.
March 19, 2003 – The U.S launched an attack to topple Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Troops made rapid progress and conquered the capital, Baghdad, in just 21 days ending Hussein’s rule.
March 23, 1775 – Patrick Henry helps ignite the American Revolution with a speech in Richmond, Virginia. He delivers these now famous words to those assembled, “…I know not what course others will take; but for me, give me liberty or give me death.”
Birthdays & Club Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Alicia Cosky
September 1
Riley Oncken
September 1
Steven Kuhn
September 3
Larry Sill
September 10
Ray Dembinski
September 13
William Fairchild
September 14
Join Date
Sejal Patel
September 2, 2015
9 years
Paul Barnaby
September 8, 1979
45 years
Ahmed Kamel
September 11, 2005
19 years
Brendan Wilson
September 29, 2021
3 years
________________________________________
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2024-2025
President – Steve Wilder
President Elect – Jonelle Bailey
Director (President Nominee) – Becky Springer
Director (President Designee) - Matt Nelson
Past President – Brandon Diviak
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, Paul Stromborg
November: Sue Emberson, Jeff Frank, Phil Meyer
December: Larry Berke, Ray Dembinski, Riley Oncken
Fellowship: Paulette Renault, Larry Berke, Sue Emberson, Dave Hamilton, Pat Shafer
Foundations:Paul Stromborg, Jim Buck, Sue Emberson, Matt Nelson, Jim Stoddard
Membership: Jonelle Bailey, Ray Dembinski, Brandon Diviak, Bob Hammon, Jeff Jacobson, Steve Kuhn, Phil Meyer, Matt Nelson, Riley Oncken, Jeff Petersen, Bob Wildendradt
New Generations: Chip Houdek, Julie Sgarlata, Becky Springer, Steve Wilder
Public Image: Bob Brown, Paul Callighan, Jeff Keicher, Joyce Klein, Tasha Sims
Scholarships:Tim Neubert, Don Clayberg, Ray Dembinski, Michele Jurkovic, Steve Kuhn, Julie Sgarlata
Service: Brandon Diviak, Alicia Cosky, Jeff Frank, Michele Jurkovic, Rob Mondi, Tim Neubert, Brendan Wilson
.png)
