Past Rotary Exchange Student Marcela Silva from Brazil made a return trip to the Rotary Club of Sycamore Wednesday. Silva stayed with the Jeff Jacobson family five years ago and came back for the wedding of Jeff’s eldest daughter. Various Rotarians welcomed Silva back and praised her for being a model Exchange Student during her time in Sycamore.
Sycamore City Manager Michael Hall outlined five focus areas for the city to meet a growing population and take advantage of the latest technologies. Hall joined the city in January after serving in a similar capacity in a suburb of Milwaukee. He grew up in a military family and experienced moves to bases in eleven states while growing up.
New Sycamore City Manager Michael Hall wants to help the city adapt to growth and use the latest technologies for efficient delivery of services. Speaking at Wednesday’s noon meeting, Hall explained how his father’s military service involving computer technology spurred him to explore a career in computer sales and marketing. After 12 years in private business, he decided to explore public service work at towns in Colorado, Utah, and Wisconsin before coming to Sycamore. Hall is interested in helping Sycamore retain its small-town values while using the best technology to meet its growing community needs.
Hall uses the “why” leadership philosophy of Simon Sinek to approach types and staffing of services to best serve the city. This means understanding how services are provided and what resources are needed to meet community expectations for their delivery.
Hall said he has five priority focus areas. They are Technical Upgrades (such as replacing financial software that dates from the 1990’s); Long-term Financial Stability; Up-to-Date Capital Infrastructure (such as buildings, vehicles, roads, sewer, and water services); Economic Development; and Community Engagement (getting more people involved with community decisions such as a new city beautification committee).
Hall said one outcome of his “why” approach to management is having each city department explain their services, staffing levels, and longer-range needs. Residents will be able to see technology enhances when the city launches a newly upgraded web site by January. Hall said it is all part of expanding resources to grow with the city.
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 February, 50/50 raffle proceeds will help support the Navajo Water Project to bring clean, hot and cold running water to families across New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. 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!
Members of the Rotary Club of Sycamore volunteer each August to deliver Meals on Wheels through the Voluntary Action Center, and we will do so again next month! Thank you to the following volunteers for covering the Sycamore West route on the following dates:
Tuesday, August 2 - Michael DeVito & Sally Bruch
Wednesday, August 3 - Paulette Renault & Mark Spiegelhoff
Thursday, August 5 - Nicole Linke & Sue Emberson
Tuesday, August 9 - Paul Callighan & Julie Sgarlata
Thursday, August 11 - Bob Hammon & Bob Wildenradt
Friday, August 12 - Brandon Diviak & Matt Nelson
Tuesday, August 16 - Ray Dembinski & Pat Shafer
Thursday, August 18 - Paul Callighan & Dr. Michele Jurkovic
Friday, August 19 - Jeff Keicher & Eric Jones
Tuesday, August 23 - Dolores Davis & Tim Neubert
Thursday, August 25 - Jim Stoddard & Paul Stromborg
Friday, August 26 - Tim Neubert & Heidi Wright
Tuesday, August 30 - Dave Hamilton & Brandon Diviak
NOTE: The actual route can change daily if clients cancel or return from time off. Here are just a few things to note about delivering Meals on Wheels. VAC asks that volunteers arrive between 10:35 and 10:50 at the Meals on Wheels office (Voluntary Action Center, 1606 Bethany Road, Sycamore) to pick up the meals and route sheets. The route takes about an hour or so to deliver. Someone must be home to receive the meal. Meals cannot be left without some form of contact. VAC requests volunteers to call the client if no one answers the door and then the office (815-758-3932 ext. 232). Thank you!
We will be building every Saturday through 2022, so if this week doesn't work for you, there will be many more opportunities to get involved.
In addition, I am also looking for someone who would like a non-construction volunteer task. There are some Saturdays when we need someone on the build site to greet volunteers, get necessary forms completed, connect with our lunch providers, make sure people are staying hydrated, etc. It really isn't a difficult task, but an important one. If this sounds interesting to you, please let me know. I will work with you on that.
If you have never volunteered with us before, see the notes below for more information.
Thank you for your interest and support of Habitat for Humanity!
Construction Volunteer Information
Habitat for Humanity DeKalb County Illinois welcomes volunteers to our construction sites. Regardless of your skill level (first time you’ve held a hammer or skilled builder), we will provide opportunities to work alongside our partner family and other Habitat volunteers. Examples of volunteer jobs include: framing, siding, painting, insulating, flooring, trim work, landscaping, and cleaning. We will provide instruction throughout the day.
Build Day Schedule:
7:45a.m.- 8 a.m. Arrival and sign-in. (Please complete the required waiver formif this is your first day with Habitat). Volunteers between the ages of 16-18 years are required to have adult supervision and waiver completed before volunteering. The minimum age to volunteer with Habitat is 16 years old.
8:00 a.m. We begin with a Safety Talk and construction goals for the day.
12:00 p.m. Lunch is provided. Habitat provides lunch and water for volunteers.
2:30 p.m. Site clean-up begins
3:00 p.m. Workday complete. Thank you!
What to bring: Please wear clothing that you do not mind getting dirty or possibly damaged. Sturdy, hard-soled, closed-toed shoes are required. Sunscreen is advised when working outdoors.
Habitat provides tools for volunteers. However, if you have your own tools/toolbelt and wish to bring those, that is fine. You can check with the volunteer coordinator for a list of recommended tools. Please label all of your tools ahead of time.
Port-A-Potty: Yes, that’s right. Just want you to be aware that we do not have indoor plumbing or running water on site.
It's always a good idea to bring a "bag" chair if you have one.
Covid-19 Safety Precautions:
Habitat for Humanity prioritizes the health and safety of our staff and volunteers. Currently, we have the following guidelines in place (subject to change based on case levels, as well as CDC, state, and local guidelines):
We ask that if you aren't feeling well, to please stay home out of precaution.
Use hand sanitizer throughout the day, especially before/after using tools.
Masks are no longer required; however, we welcome and support anyone that chooses to wear a mask.
We encourage volunteers and staff to practice social distancing when possible.
August 10, 1874 – Herbert Hoover, the 31st U. S. President, is born in West Branch, Iowa. He is the first President born west of the Mississippi River.
August 11, 1921 – “Roots” author Alex Haley is born in Ithaca, New York.
August 12, 1881 – Film pioneer Cecil B. DeMille (“The Ten Commandments” and “The Greatest Show on Earth”) is born in Ashfield, Massachusetts.
August 13, 1860 – Wild West performer Annie Oakley, known for her shooting ability, is born in Darke County, Ohio.
August 7, 1947 – Norwegian anthropologist Thor Heyerdahl captains the balsa wood raft Kon-Tiki to completion of a 4,300-mile, 101-day journey from Peru to an island near Tahiti to prove his theory that prehistoric South Americans could have colonized the Polynesian Islands. His account of the journey became an international best-selling book and a film documentary of the journey would win an academy award in 1951.
August 9, 1974 – Effective at noon, Richard M. Nixon resigned from the Presidency as a result of the Watergate scandal.
August 9, 1936 – African American track star Jesse Owens wins his fourth gold medal of the 1936 Berlin Olympics striking a propaganda blow against Nazi leader Adolf Hitler who was touting Aryan superiority.
August 11, 1965 – Six days of riots begin in the Watts area of Los Angeles triggered by a traffic stop and subsequent fight between an African American motorist and a white member of the California Highway Patrol. The rioting results in 34 deaths, more than 3,000 people arrested, and damage to property listed at $40 million.
Club member Bob Brown is always ready to pound the pavement and chase a story. Here he is again getting the scoop! [Photo by Paulette Renault]
During the August 3rd club meeting, Jeff Keicher mentioned (and highly recommended) visiting Shabbona Lake State Park's sunflower field this summer. Jeff's comments inspired Bob Brown to take his wife, Diane, and their granddaughters, Josie and Annie, the very next day. After enjoying the sunflowers, they enjoyed lunch at Pokanoka's Dockside Cafe on Shabbona Lake. Bob and his family now highly recommend a visit to the park to others as well! (Photo credit: Bob Brown)
To provide feedback or contribute content for this newsletter, please contact Tim Neubert at timneubert90@gmail.com.
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