The Spoke -- April 21, 2017 (Apr 21, 2017)

Six winners split pot at 2017 Hula-for-Loota

These lucky Rotarians split the top prize of $3,000 at the Sycamore Rotary Club's 20th annual Hula-for-Loota fundraiser:

(Left-right) Riley Oncken, Jim Stoddard (on behalf of Dave Leifheit), Michele Jurkovic, Char Johnson, Sue Emberson and Paul Borek.

In the background is Paul Michel, who once again spent weeks getting the project ready and who conducted the draw-down. Our thanks to him and the rest of the committee, to Diann's Catering from Tom & Jerry's, and to the staff at Chapel in the Pines for another successful event. (All proceeds will go to the Rotary Club's scholarship fund.)

Guest Speaker: Ralph Crafton

The Fargo Hotel in downtown Sycamore has undergone a transformation, thanks to the work of developer John Pappas and Ralph Crafton; but the latter told our Rotary Club at its April 19th meeting that upgrading the building wasn't easy.

He says their projects usually involve creating a building from the ground up; but with the Fargo, they had a mandate to maintain as much of the current structure as they could, and had to make what were for them some unusual changes to their regular procedures.

They had to deal with an older building with its wiring and piping already in place; much of the water and electric controls were located in inaccessible areas of the building, and they had to be moved to more convenient locations while being brought up to modern standards. Workers also had to rebuild the interior and redesign the rooms from hotel to long-term residences...as well as converting the ground floor to retail space.

They also had to tear down unusable parts of the building, including the banquet hall (the former meeting place for the Sycamore Rotary Club) and the private home built directly behind the main hotel.

But the additional effort paid off; Crafton says they held one open house to show potential tenants what the refurbished building had to offer -- and the apartments sold out in just one day. The retail space was also quickly snapped up.

Crafton says they'll now be turning their efforts to the former Otto's building in downtown DeKalb; unlike this project, they will raze the main building and start from scratch.

Empty Bowls auction starts off fundraiser for Sycamore Food Pantry

Sycamore H.S. art teacher Katherine Katz (right), along with student Morgana Gandsey, came to the April 19th meeting in advance of that evening's Empty Bowls fundraising sale for the Sycamore Food Pantry.

Students at the high school made over 200 bowls during art class; these were sold at $10 apiece, with proceeds going to the pantry at Sycamore United Methodist Church.

To jump-start the sale, they brought a sampling of bowls to be auctioned off at the meeting; they took in over $300 for the sale of just a half-dozen bowls. It was so successful, that Katz says they may incorporate an auction into next year's sale.

Volunteers, donations needed for Rotarians at Work Day

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 now have an additional volunteer opportunity available; the Youth Service Bureau is seeking assistance with their annual Bike Auction on Saturday, May 20th. Their offices are located in downtown DeKalb, next to Faranda's; help will be needed starting at 7:00 a.m.

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 has set up collection boxes on the Sycamore H.S. campus, at Country Insurance or at Spex Expressions.

Rotarians are invited to donate items at any participating location, or at the Rotary meetings on May 3 and May 10.

Suggested items for donation to Amazing Grace

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

Rotarians invited to installation for DG Steve Kuhn, President Eric Jones

Please join us for brunch on Sunday, June 25, 2017 for the installation of our new District Governor, Steve Kuhn. The event will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Faranda's, 302 Grove Street in DeKalb.

The event will also feature the installation of Eric Jones as President of the Sycamore Rotary Club, and the announcement of this year's recipient of the John W. Ovitz, Jr. Rotarian of the Year Award.

Cost is $30.00 per person; the deadline to register is Monday, June 19th. Reservations must be made in advance; no payments will be accepted at the door.

To register, please contact Sue Emberson at semberson@royal-travel.com

Send payments to:

Sycamore Rotary Club

P.O. Box 332

Sycamore, IL 60178

Pictures still needed for Rotary photo directory

We are still looking for pictures of two Rotarians whose images aren't included in the official photo directory -- Dick Hagen, and Bill Scott (both are retired from active participation in the club, but remain honorary members).

If you happen to have a picture of either one, or if you would like to update your own photo, please contact or send to Brian Adams at brianadams62@hotmail.com

The photo directory is accessible through your account on the club website.

Attendance Report -- April 26, 2017

Attendance: 50.70%

Guests of Rotarians: Ken Brooks (Riley Oncken)

Other Guests: Marcela Silva (exchange student)

May 10, 2017

Marcela Silva

Exchange Student

May 17, 2017

Renee McGuan

"The Wall That Heals" Display

May 24, 2017

Pam Duffy and Vickie Guthrie

KCH Emergency Services

May 31, 2017

Malwina Bardoni

Midwest Museum of Natural History

Jun 07, 2017

To Be Announced

Jun 14, 2017

To Be Announced

Jun 21, 2017

Amanda Runge

Shelter Box USA

View entire list

Rotarians at Work Day

May 06, 2017
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Rotary Board Meeting

Blumen Gardens

Jun 07, 2017
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Bike MS: Tour de Farms

North School

Jun 10, 2017
9:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Installation for DG Steve Kuhn & Club Officers

Faranda's Banquet Center

Jun 25, 2017
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Make-Up Session

Sycamore Golf Course

Jun 28, 2017
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM

Sycamore Rotary Golf Outing

Sycamore Golf Course

Jun 28, 2017
1:00 PM – 5:30 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