The Spoke -- March 23, 2017 (Mar 23, 2017)

Guest Speaker: Tara Russo

The number of elderly persons and those in need of assistance continues to grow, and it falls to Elder Care Services of DeKalb County to help out both the aged...and adults with ongoing medical problems who need supervision.

Tara Russo from Elder Care Services says they helped over 6,500 people in the county last year, with some level of assistance; they ensure that the persons under their care are monitored for signs of poor health, hunger, neglect and abuse. The latter is especially troublesome; although they now have more legal remedies available, they still have to respect their clients' rights to self-determination -- and to protect themselves against abusers, some of whom have become more aggressive in recent years.

She also says that they attend to basic needs beyond health for some clients; it's not unusual for some to come up short on money at the end of the month, and face a difficult choice between eating and paying other bills. But they now provide "Get Me to Monday" bags, with basic foodstuffs which can support clients over a weekend until the next pension or Social Security check comes in.

The bags also contain a list of resources available to senior citizens and those in continual health care, giving them a place to turn if they need help with specific problems.

Sign-up sheets will be going around at all upcoming Rotary Club meetings, as we seek volunteers to help out with our Rotarians at Work Day projects.

You'll be needed on Saturday, May 6th from 9:00 a.m. until noon at our work sites -- the Pay it Forward House, Rotary Park at Sycamore Lake, and the Kishwaukee SRA office at Hopkins Park in DeKalb.

If you're unable to join us that day, we are also collecting items for the Amazing Grace Organization. This not-for-profit agency collects items for placement in care packages to cancer patients; Interact will be setting up collection boxes on the Sycamore H.S. campus, and would like to find other businesses around town to put boxes in. If you would like to provide space at your business for a collection box, you may contact Interact through Ben Swedberg at ben.swedberg@gmail.com

Rotarians are invited to donate items at any participating location, or at the Rotary meetings on April 26 and May 3; here is a list of items you can donate:

Necessities for Comfort

*desk lamps (fluorescent lights can cause headaches)

*Biotène mouthwash (for mouth sores)

*hard candy/mints (to counter taste changes)

*air fresheners (to deodorize the room)

*inspirational décor (to revive the room)

*fleece pillowcases/blankets (for comfort and warmth)

*fun socks/slippers/hats/scarves (for warmth)

*comfortable clothes/zip-up sweatshirts (for comfort and warmth with port access)

*snacks/beverages/gift cards to local restaurants (to eliminate the need for hospital food)

*stuffed animals

Entertainment

*portable speaker for the room

*IPod

*IPad

*laptop

*sporting events

Leisure

*coloring books (child or adult, depending on age)

*materials for easy/packable crafts

*beads/yarn for bracelets

*yarn for knitting/crocheting

*makeup and nail polish

*books

*movies

*magazines

*board games

*crossword puzzles/Sudoku/mind games

Extra

*jewelry

*wallets

*purses

*sport memorabilia

Preparations underway for Hula-for-Loota

Rotary's annual taste of Hawaii returns on Thursday, April 20th as we host the annual Hula-for-Loota bash at Chapel in the Pines.

This annual night of fun will help raise monies for the Sycamore Rotary Club's scholarship fund; we will have the traditional draw-down raffle, with numbers being eliminated one by one...until we get down to the final number(s), and the winner of our grand prize of $3,000.

We'll also have a 50/50 drawing, gift baskets and cash prizes for giveaway during the drawing, food and a cash bar for all participants.

If you would like to donate a gift to our prize baskets, or buy a number in our draw-down, contact Paul Michel at any upcoming Rotary meeting.

Attendance Report -- March 29, 2017

Attendance: 37.68%

Visiting Rotarians: Doug Johnson (DeKalb); applying to transfer to Sycamore

Other Guests: Marcela Silva (exchange student), and host sister Sophie Melton

Apr 05, 2017

Michelle Donahoe and Joyce Mathey

Give DeKalb County 2017

Apr 12, 2017

To Be Announced

Apr 19, 2017

To Be Announced

Apr 26, 2017

Kevin Poorten

Kishwaukee/Northwestern Medicine Wellness Center

View entire list

Board Meeting

Blumen Gardens

Apr 05, 2017
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Hula-for-Loota

Chapel in the Pines

Apr 20, 2017
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM

District 6420 Conference

Starved Rock State Park

Apr 28, 2017 12:00 PM –
Apr 30, 2017 12:00 PM

Board Meeting

Blumen Gardens

May 03, 2017
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Rotarians at Work Day

May 06, 2017
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Rotary Club of Sycamore, Illinois

We meet Wednesdays at 11:45 AM

Blumen Gardens

403 Edward Street
Sycamore, IL 60178
United States

District Site

Venue Map

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2016-2017

President -- Sue Emberson

President-Elect -- Eric Jones

Past President -- Russell Bishop

Secretary -- Sally Bruch

Treasurer -- Michele Jurkovic

Director -- Ray Dembinski

Director -- Pat Shafer

Assistant Treasurer -- Lavarre Uhlken

Sergeant-at-Arms -- Brian Adams

Monthly Committees

July -- Curt Lang, Gary Evans, Jim Moris, Chip Houdek, Sally Bruch, Fred Peltz

August -- Barry Schrader, Ben Swedberg, Lloyd Larson, Jim Buck, Julenne Davey, Dave McCann

September -- Mario Fontana, Paul Michel, Bert Gray, Jeff Jacobson, Tim Carlson, Brandon Diviak

October -- Jeff Frank, Marcy Buick, Dave Andrews, Jim Schwartzbach, Dave Miller, Don Clayberg

November -- Pete Johnson, Dave Galica, Julie Sgarlata, Kathy Countryman, Tami Armstrong, Troy Oates

December -- Steve Balster, Bob Wildendradt, Brad Waller, Eric Jones, Dan Gibble, Kathleen Merner

January -- Pat Shafer, Michele Jurkovic, Keven Dahl, Paul Barnaby, Heidi Wright

February -- Brian Gregory, Nicole Stuckert, Riley Oncken, Ahmed Kamel, Larry Berke

March -- Jeff Petersen, Paulette Renault, Russell Bishop, Ray Dembinski, Dave Hamilton, Steve Kuhn

April -- Paul Borek, Shelley Hendricks, Jim Bowers, Bob Hammon, Paul Callighan, Sajel Patel

May -- Mark Spiegelhoff, Cliff Bottigliero, Rose Henton, Mark Hilde, Darion Page, Rose Treml

June -- Paul Stromborg, Brian Adams, Lavarre Uhlken, Jeff Keicher, Jim Stoddard, Marijo Schwartz

New Generations

Chair—Julie Sgarlata

At-Large Committee Members – Kathy Countryman, Eric Jones, Don Clayberg, Julenne Davey, Nicole Stuckert

Sycamore H.S. Interact – Ben Swedberg

Sycamore M.S. Interact – Nicole Stuckert

South Prairie EarlyAct – Julie Sgarlata

North Grove EarlyAct – Mark Hilde

Long/Short Term Youth Exchange – Chip Houdek, Tim Carlson, Jeff Jacobson, Jeff Keicher

Group Study Exchange – Troy Oates, Fred Peltz

RYLA -- Ben Swedberg

Student of the Month – Steve Balster

Foundation & Grants

Chair – Paul Stromborg

At-Large Committee Members – Don Clayberg, Bob Hammon
Polio Plus – Paul Stromborg, Curtis Lang, Bert Gray
Annual Giving/Foundation – Jim Stoddard, Jim Buck, Jim Bowers, Riley Oncken
Scholarships – Pete Johnson, Jeff Keicher, Ray Dembinski, Michele Jurkovic, Don Clayberg

Service Above Self and Service Projects

Chair – Ray Dembinski

Multiple Club Project Coordination – Bob Hammon, Dave Miller, Paul Stromborg, Keven Dahl

Water Project – Heidi Wright, Riley Oncken, Julenne Davey

Meals on Wheels (August) – Brian Adams, Curt Lang, Sejal Patel, Darion Page, Mark Spiegelhoff

Dictionary Distribution (September) – Lavarre Uhlken, Brian Adams, Shelley Hendricks

Pancake Breakfast (October) – Dave McCann, Marcy Buick, Marijo Schwartz, Brad Waller, Michele Jurkovic, Fred Peltz, Jeff Petersen, Paulette Renault

Feed My Starving Children (November) – Heidi Wright, Jeff Frank, Eric Jones, Paul Stromborg, Marijo Schwartz

Salvation Army Bell-Ringing (December) – Dave Andrews, Jim Moris, Kathy Countryman, Rose Treml, Paul Borek

Adopt a Family (December) – Heidi Wright, Dave Miller, Brad Waller, Julenne Davey

Rotarians at Work Day (May) – Brian Adams, Pat Shafer, Bert Gray, Brandon Diviak, Sejal Patel

Public Image and Awareness

Chair – Brian Adams

Website – Eric Jones, Fred Peltz, Paul Barnaby

The Spoke – Barry Schrader, Paul Barnaby, Brian Adams, Shelley Hendricks

Public Image Campaign and Social Media – Brian Adams, Marijo Schwartz, Mark Hilde

Sergeant at Arms – Brian Adams, Lavarre Uhlken, Barry Schrader, Curt Lang

IT/Audio-Visual – Eric Jones, Brian Adams

Club Fellowship

Fines – Jeff Keicher, Riley Oncken, Paul Callighan, Marijo Schwartz, Jeff Jacobson, Jim Bowers

100% Attendance Lunch (August) – Sally Bruch

Holiday Party (December) – Jeff Petersen, Gary Evans, Dave Hamilton, Tami Armstrong, Paulette Renault, Julie Sgarlata

Rural-Urban Day (February) – Bob Wildenradt, Troy Oates, Larry Berke

Hula-for-Loota (April) – Paul Michel, Julie Sgarlata, Tami Armstrong, Jim Bowers

Golf Outing (June) – Dan Gibble, Brian Gregory, Steve Balster, Brad Waller

Membership

Chair – Sally Bruch
Recruitment – All members are expected to bring at least one prospective member as a guest
New Member Orientation – Bob Hammon, Ray Dembinski, Brandon Diviak, Russell Bishop
Member Retention – Jim Stoddard, Bob Wildenradt, Larry Berke, Nicole Stuckert