The new DeKalb County History Center Communications and Development Manger Caroline Menzer updated Rotarians on the latest Center happenings at this week’s meeting. Menzer is a third generation Sycamore resident and a recent graduate from NIU. She is now pursuing a master’s degree in public administration.
The DeKalb County History Center is in the midst of converting a corn crib on their property into a meeting and event space. The Center qualified for a $500,000 matching grant from the State of Illinois.
Growing up as a third generation Sycamore resident and a recent graduate from NIU, Caroline Menzer is well-prepared for her new job as Communications and Development Manager for the DeKalb County History Center. Menzer enthusiastically shared updates on various activities taking place at the Center including special exhibits done in collaboration with the renowned Smithsonian Museums and research opportunities at the Center’s Joiner History Room. Menzer explained that the mission of the Center is to Explore, Gather, Engage, and Inspire.
Besides offering 60 programs at their main campus at North Main Street and Heron Creek Drive in Sycamore, Menzer said the Center works cooperatively with other sites providing an additional 61 other programs. They have about 160 volunteers contributing more than five-thousand hours of service. These include video programs, brown bag lunches, genealogy classes, and Master Gardeners raising as much as six-thousand pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables which go to the Salvation Army food pantry.
Menzer said the Center is in the midst of fundraising after qualifying for a $500,000 matching grant from the State of Illinois mainly to convert an old corn crib into a meeting and event place. One of their fundraisers called “Cocktails at the Crib” takes place this Saturday at the Center from 4-7 PM.
The DeKalb History Center is open from 10-4 daily Tuesday through Saturday and Noon to 3PM Saturday. They are closed Sunday and Monday. Their website is www.dekalbcountyhistory.org.
July 14, 1913 – 38th U. S. President Gerald Ford is born in Omaha, Nebraska. He is the only person to serve as Vice President and President without ever being elected to those offices.
July 14, 1912 – American folksinger and social activist Woodie Guthrie is born in Okemah, Oklahoma.
July 18, 1918 – Nelson Mandela, South African lawyer, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and politician who led the country out of apartheid as first President of South Africa is born in Mvezo.
July 19, 1865 – Charles Horace Mayo, who with his brother and others co-founded the famed Mayo Clinic, is born in Rochester, Minnesota.
July 13, 1787 – Congress enacts the Northwest Ordinance establishing procedures for transforming territories into states to be considered equal to the original 13 (Illinois becomes one such state in 1818).
July 14, 1789 – The fall of the Bastille Prison occurs at the beginning of the French Revolution. This will later be celebrated as a day of French unification over the monarchy.
July 17, 1955 – Disneyland is opened by Walt Disney in Anaheim, California. Originally planned as an eight-acre park across the street from the Walt Disney Burbank Studios to be called Mickey Mouse Park, it evolved into a 160-acre site near Anaheim highlighting multiple Walt Disney characters and movies appealing to children and adults.
July 18, 1947 – President Harry Truman signs an Executive Order formally determining the line of succession for the Presidency beyond that of Vice-President (i.e., Speaker of the House, Senate President, etc.) and includes how to handle cases of disability. This later becomes the basis of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution which is ratified in 1967.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2025-2026
President – Jonelle Bailey
President Elect – Becky Springer
Director (President Nominee) – Matt Nelson
Director (President Designee) -
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
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
