Tasha Sims is the Finemaster with Leap Year trivia…Yikes!
Gerald Lott, Executive Director of Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery is our Guest Speaker. He was introduced by one of our newest members…Heather Tomlinson.
Our guest speaker Gerald Lott, introduced Club Members to The Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery which is a non-profit Recovery Community Organization created to advocate for recovering people in Lee, Whiteside, Ogle, and DeKalb counties. The collective works on behalf of all people affected by alcoholism and substance use disorders in order to build an environment that encourages, promotes, and sustains healthy recovery.
His organization’s mission is:
1. Hosting monthly recreation/education events to demonstrate that there is fun in sobriety, allowing sober socialization and rebuilding healthy lifestyles. 2. Producing a monthly Newsletter to encourage communication within the Recovery Community between support groups, institutional stakeholders, and recovering people. 3. Conduct Outreach Programs, working with Newcomers, on local boards, and speaking at school. 4. Assisting people to find appropriate treatment options for recovery.
Their organization’s sole purpose is to support and strengthen the safety net of activities and meetings for those in recovery. Voices of Recovery is not aligned with any one path to recovery and are open to multiple methods and philosophies.
Besides the many positive developments that Mr. Lott shared with us since 2019 i.e. securing grant funds, increasing access points, opening an additional sober living house for men in Dixon, etc. he showcased a brand new effort for providing “Narcan” availability through a lunch box size Narcan spray holder with an electronic video player explaining how to properly administer this agent spray to individuals who may have passed out due to a drug overdose or negative reaction. This is an amazing new technology, although somewhat pricey at $200 per box, needs high traffic sites for installations. Gerald asked any members who may have interested businesses to contact him or Heather. The Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery number is 779-707-0151 at their office: 114 East Everett Street, Dixon, IL 61021. Website: www.svvor.org.
February 25, 1873 – Italian operatic tenor Enrico Caruso is born in Naples, Kingdom of Italy. He is considered the first “lyric” tenor (dramatic tenor) in Italian opera. He is also one of the first major singing talents to be commercially recorded, releasing 247 recordings from 1902 to 1920.
February 26, 1802 – French author Victor Hugo (Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Miserables) is born in Besancon, France. Hugo is also renowned for his poetry collection and produced more than 4,000 drawings during his lifetime. In addition, he was a respected politician and was given a state funeral attended by over 2 million people when he died.
February 26, 1829 – German born clothing designer Levi Strauss is born in Buttenheim, Bavaria. He emigrated to the United States and set up shop in San Francisco to serve the Gold Rush trade. In 1871 Strauss and tailor Jacob Davis founded the first company to manufacture blue jeans using rivets to strengthen them,
March 1, 1904 – American band leader Glenn Miller is born in Clarinda, Iowa. He gained enormous popularity during the 1930’s and 1940’s. He went missing in 1944 while crossing the English Channel in a plane en route to a performance in Paris.
February 25, 1862 – President Abraham Lincoln signs the First Legal Tender Act creating the first legal tender flat paper money in the United States. Called “greenbacks” due to their distinctive green design on the reverse side of the notes, they are still legal currency (although very rare). The currency used at the moment are Federal Reserve Notes which were authorized in 1913.
February 27, 1950 – The 22nd Amendment to the U. S. Constitution is ratified limiting the President to two terms or a maximum of ten years in office.
March 1, 1932 – The 20-month-old son of aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped from his home Hopewell, New Jersey. Although the Lindbergh’s paid a $50,000 ransom, the child’s body was found several months later in a wooded area a few miles from the home.
March 1, 1961 – President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps which sends young American volunteers to developing countries to assist with health care, education, and other basic human needs.
Birthdays & Club Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
John Peterson
August 1
Dave Smith
August 14
Janice Docherty
August 19
Join Date
Bob Hammon
August 1, 1984
40 years
Clifford Golden
August 1, 2018
6 years
Troy Oates
August 1, 2014
10 years
Brandon Diviak
August 5, 2015
9 years
Dave Smith
August 8, 2019
5 years
Jeffrey Petersen
August 12, 2010
14 years
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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: Paul Barnaby, Larry Berke, Riley Oncken
January: Ray Dembinski, Joyce Klein, Rob Mondi, Tim Neubert
Fellowship: Paulette Renault, Pat Shafer, 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
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