If you're a new Rotarian, and are a bit confused about what all the terms mean and what the Club's traditions are, you can get a full briefing at a New Members Orientation Breakfast on Thursday, November 1st.
PDG Bob Hammon will conduct the session, to be held at 7:15 a.m. at Eggsclusive Cafe, located at 265 W. Peace Road in Sycamore. Anyone who has joined our Rotary Club in the past year is welcome to attend.
District 6420 will hold its annual Foundation Dinner at Brandywine Banquets in Dixon on Saturday, November 4th. It will run from 4:45 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
The Foundation Dinner is a celebration and recognition of District 6420 Rotary members and their support for The Rotary Foundation. The dinner is open to all district members who want to learn about The Rotary Foundation. For more information go to this link
It's becoming a national trend in courts across the country -- basing bond for a criminal defendant on their record and their reliability, instead of on whether they can post the right amount of cash. And Illinois is moving into the area of bond reform, in an effort to give defendants a fairer shake from the system.
The Hon. Judge Robbin Stuckert from the 23rd Judicial Circuit, serving DeKalb County, was joined at the October 25th Rotary meeting by the county's Pre-Trial Services Director Michael Venditti to outline the changes being made in how defendants are assessed prior to arraignment, and whether they qualify for release or need to be held pending trial
Venditti notes that posting bond is proving not to be a deterrent in preventing defendants from returning to court; in fact, many violent defendants are able to be released because they can afford a cash bond...while poorer ones remain jailed, because of their inability to pay. He says that spending even a few days behind bars can upend a suspect's life, with the loss of jobs, income, family and standing in the community; those problems can remain even after the adjudication of their case -- regardless of the outcome.
His office now provides judges with fuller information on a defendant to the judge making their bond determination; they conduct pre-trial interviews, do a background check, and give their results to the judge...a fuller package of information to work with than jurists have received in the past. And changes are being considered in state law to give defendants access to counsel, including the presence of a public defender at bond call -- something not provided for in the past (although some jurisdictions, including DeKalb County, may have financial trouble in meeting requirements).
It's still within the discretion of the court on whether or not to have the defendant held, set a bond or release them on their own recognizance.
We will honor veterans with the Rotary Club of Sycamore, as well as others in the community, during the November 8th meeting. The featured speaker will be Amy Bickner, discussing Women in the Military
Also featured at this meeting: A quartet from Sycamore H.S. will perform the National Anthem Sycamore M.S. Interact will give a special veteran's presentation Prizes will be awarded to this year's Pumpkin Bake-Off winners
The Sycamore Rotary's meeting on November 29th will feature information on the various charities we'll be supporting during the holiday season.
Neilly Berger, the Homeless Liason for the Sycamore School District, will be the featured speaker; she will update us on what the district does for its homeless students during this season and year 'round.
There will also be updates on what we're doing for this year's Adopt a Family project; we will be assisting up to five families and some individual emancipated students, by providing them with Christmas gifts and other perks for the holiday season.
Other projects to be covered include the Sycamore Food Pantry, Operation Warm, Goodfellows and Toys for Tots. Rotarians are asked to contribute to the latter, by bringing a new, unwrapped toy to the Rotary meeting; these items will be presented during the annual Toys for Tots Benefit Concert in DeKalb on Sunday, December 3rd.
This year's Pancake Breakfast was the last one held at the Federated Church; beginning in 2018, plans call for hosting the event at the St. Mary's Parish Activity Center.
Due to demand, space constraints and other considerations, the Rotary Club plans on holding the annual breakfast there on Saturday, October 27th, 2018.
We would like to thank the staff and personnel at The Federated Church for allowing us to use their facilities over the years; and we look forward to making the move to our new venue in 2018.
Wednesday, November 22nd -- Make-Up Session at Blumen Gardens: In lieu of the regular meeting, we will have a make-up session at the usual time; attendance is optional, and those on hand will receive make-up credit.
Wednesday, November 29th -- "Season of Giving" Kickoff: Featuring a presentation from Neilly Berger, the Sycamore School District's Homeless Liason; and information on Adopt a Family, the Sycamore Food Pantry, Goodfellows, Operation Warm and the Toys for Tots Collection.
Saturday, December 2nd -- Salvation Army Kettle Collection: Rotarians will again spend a day manning one of the iconic Salvation Army red kettles to take in contributions for support of the needy during the holiday season. Times and location will be announced shortly.
Wednesday, December 20th -- Sycamore Rotary Holiday Party: Our annual holiday celebration will be held at Taxco Restaurant in downtown Sycamore, at the regular meeting time; please watch for further details.
Sunday, December 24th -- Goodfellows Gift Distribution: Rotarians are invited to join other members of the public in bringing goodwill to those in need on Christmas Eve. You are invited to come to Blumen Gardens at 8:00 a.m. that day to help deliver gifts on behalf of the Goodfellows.
Wednesday, December 27th -- Meeting cancelled: Please enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones.
All other meetings will take place at the usual time and location.
The Rotary Club of Sycamore continues its tradition of marking World Polio Day on Tuesday, October 24th with a public display...as the logo for Rotary International's "End Polio Now" campaign is projected onto the front of the DeKalb County Courthouse.
This projection, shown from Friday, October 20th through early Wednesday, October 25th, is meant to reaffirm Rotary's effort to wipe out polio worldwide; End Polio Now provides funding and volunteers to fan out in countries where this disease is still prevalent, and immunize children against polio.
Right now, there are only three countries in the world where polio is extant in the wild -- and it's Rotary's goal to eliminate this disease once and for all.
Make a Difference DKC is again preparing for its annual food packing event on behalf of Feed My Starving Children...and Rotarians are being asked to help, by supporting their annual raffle or buying specially designed T-shirts.
Tickets are now being sold for $20 each, with $8 going back to the organization which sells the ticket; the grand prize is $10,000, to be drawn on November 12th at the conclusion of this year's food packing event.
If you would like to buy or sell raffle tickets, tickets are available now and at upcoming Rotary meetings; sales will continue through November 9th.
T-shirts for this year's Make a Difference DKC are also on sale; these shirts are designed by a local student, and cost $22 each. That will be enough to provide 100 meals for starving children (at $.22 per meal).
Shirts are available in adult S/M/LG/XL/XXL and youth M/L.
Volunteers will be needed for the food packing itself, to be held from Thursday, November 9th through Sunday, November 12th at The Suter Company in Sycamore. Our Rotary Club will again be sponsoring the event, and providing volunteers to help pack food for distribution to needy children in areas around the world.
Please contact Heidi Wright for more information at (815) 895-9186, or at Hwright@suterco.com
Attendance Report -- November 1, 2017
Attendance: 64.29%
Visiting Rotarians: Jim MacMurdo (Kishwaukee Sunrise)
Guests of Members: Jessica Hayes (Eric Jones); Jenny Weber (Sally Bruch)
Other Guests: Luca-Sophie Giese (exchange student)
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