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Citizen of the Month: Srdan Selimbegovic
 
In 1993, Bosnia was in the midst of a civil war -- and 19 members of a school basketball team were fighting for their lives.
 
The Sycamore Rotary Club learned of their plight; working through Rotary International and several diplomatic channels, the Rotary Club was able to help those high school-age players and two of their coaches secure passage out of the country.  Literally dodging bullets as they ran across the tarmac, they boarded a plane to Germany, flew on to the U.S. and settled in Sycamore...where they were able to carry on their education, while several of them took to the court for the Spartans.
 
Now, all have grown up and gone their separate ways; but Srdan Selimbegovic remained in town, eventually opening up MVP Sports Bar & Pub 64 and becoming a part of the Sycamore community.  He and his teammates were embraced by the people here, and he says their willingness to help a group of young men -- with no family, no money and only the clothes on their backs -- speaks to what Sycamore, and Rotary, are all about.
 
In recognition of what he and his teammates have accomplished, Srdan has been chosen as the April Citizen of the Month -- an honor which took him by surprise.  The Rotary Club has provided $100 for contribution to the charity of his choice; Srdan has donated it to the Sycamore High School Athletic Department.
 
Guest Speaker: PDG Bob Hammon
 
Every three years, Rotary International holds its Council on Legislation, which examines policies for RI and its member Rotary Clubs to follow.  PDG Bob Hammon was selected to serve as a delegate for this year's meeting, held in downtown Chicago.
 
He says the preparation work was far more extensive than he'd expected; members had to pass an on-line test and a screening process before being confirmed as delegates.  They then had to follow strict rules of procedure during the four-day conference, which involved hundreds of Rotarians from around the world.  The delegates were required to examine and vote on hundreds of pieces of legislation, all covering the organization and operation of Rotary Clubs around the world.
 
PDG Bob says this Council may be remembered as one of the most progressive in Rotary history; it granted clubs more freedom in determining their meeting schedule and membership, and updated membership requirements.  The Council did impose an additional dues increase of $4 per year, based on a financial forecast which showed Rotary's cash reserves were just a few years away from falling below acceptable levels.
 
EarlyAct Clubs hold spring service projects
 
The EarlyAct Clubs at North Grove and South Prairie elementary schools each staged a service project this spring, giving students the opportunity to give back to the community.
 
North Grove EarlyAct, led by Principal Ryan Janisch, built and painted a book shelf for Habitat for Humanity. The shelf has been filled with books donated by the families and students of North Grove.
 
South Prairie EarlyAct, under Principal Kreg Wesley, sponsored their after-school Penny Games on April 19th. 50 participants played six different games, using pennies donated by Tami Armstrong from First Midwest Bank; Marijo Schwartz was supervisor for one of the games, and several Rotarians donated money for gift cards for a prize raffle.
 
A total of $71 was raised, for donation to Rotary International's Pennies for Polio.
Rotarians at Work Day T-shirts available
 
Those who have signed up to work at one of our Rotarians at Work Day job sites can pick up their official T-shirts at the upcoming Rotary Club meeting.
 
These shirts (similar to the one pictured) are for wearing while we are at work on Saturday, May 7th; Rotarians will be at Rotary Park, the Pay it Forward House, the Joiner Cemetery and Hopkins Park to help out various not-for-profit organizations with essential tasks.
 
If you are unable to attend the meeting, remaining shirts will be distributed at the site.
 
Roll of past Rotary Club officers available on line
A listing of past Rotary Club officers and others is now available on the club website.
 
Go to the main page to find a list of all Rotarians who have served as:
     -- Club President
     -- Secretaries and Treasurers
     -- District Governor
 
Also available is a listing of every recipient of the John W. Ovitz, Jr. Rotarian of the Year Award
 
May 25th Rotary Club meeting at DTMA
 
The Sycamore Rotary Club will be going on the road -- or more properly, the tarmac -- when it holds its regular weekly meeting on Wednesday, May 25th at DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport.
 
Rotarians will get a chance to see the airport hangars, equipment and aircraft up close...and learn more about the airport and its operations.
 
Golf outing set for June 29th
 
The Sycamore Rotary Club's annual Golf Outing has been scheduled for Wednesday, June 29th at the Sycamore Golf Course.  The four-person scramble begins at 1 o'clock, immediately following a make-up session at 12:00 p.m. inside the clubhouse.
 
In the evening, the annual Installation Dinner will feature the inauguration of Sue Emberson as the Club President for 2016-17...and the presentation of the John W. Ovitz, Jr. Rotarian of the Year Award.
 
Sycamore exchange student Gracia Watson's Japan blog
 
This year's Outbound exchange student Gracia Watson is spending a year in Japan; to find out what she's up to, go to her blog at this link
 

Attendance -- April 27, 2016

     Attendance:  53.25%

     Visiting Rotarians:  Bob Pritchard (Kishwaukee Sunrise)

     Guests of Rotarians:  Karen Lang (Dr. Curt Lang)

 
Speakers
May 11, 2016
PDG Bob Newlon
Also: Presentation to Sycamore Park District
 
May 18, 2016
Dan and Pat Stovall
Citizens of the Month
 
May 25, 2016
Meeting at DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport
 
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Golf Outing Make-Up Session
Sycamore Golf Course Clubhouse
Jun 29, 2016
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
 
Sycamore Rotary Club Golf Outing
Sycamore Golf Course
Jun 29, 2016
1:00 PM – 5:30 PM
 
Sycamore Rotary Club Installation Dinner
Sycamore Golf Course Clubhouse
Jun 29, 2016
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
 
Club Information
Welcome to our Club!
Sycamore
Service Above Self
We meet Wednesdays at 11:45 AM
Blumen Gardens Banquet Facility
403 Edward Street
Sycamore, IL  60178
United States
DistrictSiteIcon
District Site
 
VenueMap
Venue Map
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2015-16
President -- Russell Bishop    
President-Elect -- Sue Emberson  
Past President -- Riley Oncken
Secretary -- Sally Bruch    
Treasurer -- Michele Jurkovic    
Assistant Treasurer -- Lavarre Uhlken
Director -- Eric Jones    
Director -- Ray Dembinski    
Sergeant at Arms -- Brian Adams
 
Monthly Program Committees
July
Sally Bruch, Gary Evans, Curt Lang, Jim Moris, Chip Houdek
 
August
Dave McCann, Barry Schrader, Ben Swedberg, Lloyd Larson, Jim Buck, Julenne Davey, Nicole Stuckert
 
September
Tim Carlson, Mario Fontana, Suzanne Anderson, Paul Michel, Rose Treml, Bert Gray, Jeff Jacobson
 
October
Don Clayberg, Jeff Frank, Marcy Buick, Dave Andrews, Jim Schwarzbach, Lavarre Uhlken, Dave Miller
 
November
Tami Armstrong, David Galica, Pete Johnson, Julie Sgarlata, Kreg Wesley, Kathy Countryman
 
December
Dan Gibble, Steve Balster, Zac Sheedy, Bob Wildenradt, Heidi Wright, Brad Waller, Eric Jones
 
January
Paul Barnaby, Michele Jurkovic, Pat Shafer, Tom Sparacino, Jesse Boelter, Keven Dahl
 
February
Larry Berke, Brian Gregory, Ahmed Kamel, Fred Peltz, Richard Willey, Jude Wilbers, Rose Henton
 
March
Dave Hamilton, Jeff Petersen, Paulette Renault, Russell Bishop, Ray Dembinski, Phil Ruff
 
April
Bob Hammon, Paul Borek, Shelley Hendricks, Jim Bowers, Troy Oates, Marijo Schwartz
 
May
Cliff Bottigliero, Sue Emberson, Mark Spiegelhoff, Darryl Wolff, Eric Johnson, Mark Hilde
 
June
Jim Stoddard, Paul Stromborg, Michael Flora, Craig Mathey, Brian Adams, Jeff Keicher
 
New Generations
Chair—Julie Sgarlata
At-Large Committee Members – Kathy Countryman, Eric Jones, Don Clayberg, Julenne Davey, Nicole Stuckert, Darion Page
Sycamore H.S. Interact – Ben Swedberg  
Sycamore M.S. Interact – Nicole Stuckert 
South Prairie EarlyAct – Julie Sgarlata  
North Grove EarlyAct – Mark Hilde       
Long Term Youth Exchange – Chip Houdek
Short Term Youth Exchange – Tim Carlson
Group Study Exchange – Fred Peltz, Troy Oates
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, Rose Henton, Curtis Lang, Bert Gray
Annual Giving – Jim Stoddard, Jim Buck, Riley Oncken, Jim Bowers
Foundation – Jim Stoddard, Jim Buck, Riley Oncken
Scholarships – Peter Johnson, Ray Dembinski, Michele Jurkovic, Don Clayberg, Darion Page, Julenne Davey
 
Service Above Self and Service Projects
Chair – Ray Dembinski
Multiple Club Project Coordination – Fred Peltz, Bob Hammon, Paul Stromborg
Water Project – Heidi Wright, Ahmed Kamel, Keven Dahl, Bob Wildenradt, Tami Armstrong, Julenne Davey, Lavarre Uhlken, Marijo Schwartz
Meals on Wheels (August) – Curt Lang, Bob Smith, Cliff Bottigliero
Dictionary Distribution (September) – Lavarre Uhlken, Brian Adams, Suzanne Anderson, Shelley Hendricks
Pancake Breakfast (October) – Marcy Buick, Michele Jurkovic, Jeff Petersen, Paulette Renault, Dave McCann, Jesse Boelter
Feed My Starving Children (November) – Heidi Wright, Jeff Frank, Eric Jones, Paul Stromborg, Paul Borek, Ed Eggers, Marijo Schwartz
Salvation Army Bell-Ringing (December) – Dave Andrews, Jim Moris, Kathy Countryman, Rose Treml
Adopt a Family (December) – Heidi Wright, Dave Miller, Brad Waller, Julenne Davey, Paul Callighan, Marijo Schwartz
Rotarians at Work Day (April) – Brian Adams, Pat Shafer, Bert Gray, Brandon Diviak, Sejal Patel, Mark Spiegelhoff, Rose Henton, Darion Page, Troy Oates, Marijo Schwartz
 
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, David Galica, Jude Wilbers
Sergeant at Arms – Brian Adams, Lavarre Uhlken, Barry Schrader, Curt Lang
 
Club Fellowship
Chair – Jeff Keicher
Fines – Jeff Keicher, Marijo Schwartz, Darryl Wolff, Jeff Jacobson
Golf Outing – Dan Gibble, Brian Gregory, Steve Balster, Brad Waller, Jude Wilbers
100% Attendance Lunch (August) – Sally Bruch, Jim Buck, Robert Smith
Holiday Party (December) – Jeff Petersen, Zac Sheedy, Gary Evans, Dave Hamilton, Tami Armstrong, Paulette Renault, Craig Mathey
Rural-Urban Day (February) – Bob Wildenradt, Troy Oates, Eric Johnson, Lavarre Uhlken
Hula-for-Loota (April) – Paul Michel, Rose Henton, Tami Armstrong, Darryl Wolff, Jim Bowers
 
Membership
Chair – Sue Emberson
Recruitment – All members are expected to bring at least one prospective member as a guest
New Member Orientation – Bob Hammon, Ray Dembinski
Member Retention – Jim Stoddard, Bob Wildenradt, Larry Berke, Nicole Stuckert, Kathleen Merner
 
- See more at: http://portal.clubrunner.ca/5772/Stories/committee-assignments-2015-2016#sthash.x7dtgs3j.dpuf
 
Monthly Program Committees
January -- Paul Barnaby, Michele Jurkovic, Pat Shafer, Tom Sparacino, Jesse Boelter, Keven Dahl
February -- Larry Berke, Brian Gregory, Ahmed Kamel, Fred Peltz, Richard Willey, Jude Wilbers, Rose Henton
March --Dave Hamilton, Jeff Petersen, Paulette Renault, Russell Bishop, Ray Dembinski, Phil Ruff
April --Bob Hammon, Paul Borek, Shelley Hendricks, Jim Bowers, Troy Oates, Marijo Schwartz
May --Cliff Bottigliero, Sue Emberson, Mark Spiegelhoff, Darryl Wolff, Eric Johnson, Mark Hilde
June --Jim Stoddard, Paul Stromborg, Michael Flora, Craig Mathey, Brian Adams, Jeff Keicher
 
New Generations
Chair—Julie Sgarlata
At-Large Committee Members – Kathy Countryman, Eric Jones, Don Clayberg, Julenne Davey, Nicole Stuckert, Darion Page
Sycamore H.S. Interact – Ben Swedberg  
Sycamore M.S. Interact – Nicole Stuckert 
South Prairie EarlyAct – Julie Sgarlata  
North Grove EarlyAct – Mark Hilde       
Long Term Youth Exchange – Chip Houdek
Short Term Youth Exchange – Tim Carlson
Group Study Exchange – Fred Peltz, Troy Oates
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, Rose Henton, Curtis Lang, Bert Gray
Annual Giving – Jim Stoddard, Jim Buck, Riley Oncken, Jim Bowers
Foundation – Jim Stoddard, Jim Buck, Riley Oncken
Scholarships – Peter Johnson, Ray Dembinski, Michele Jurkovic, Don Clayberg, Darion Page, Julenne Davey
 
Service Above Self and Service Projects
Chair – Ray Dembinski
Multiple Club Project Coordination – Fred Peltz, Bob Hammon, Paul Stromborg
Water Project – Heidi Wright, Ahmed Kamel, Keven Dahl, Bob Wildenradt, Tami Armstrong, Julenne Davey, Lavarre Uhlken, Marijo Schwartz
Rotarians at Work Day (May) – Brian Adams, Pat Shafer, Bert Gray, Brandon Diviak, Sejal Patel, Mark Spiegelhoff, Rose Henton, Darion Page, Troy Oates, Marijo Schwartz
 
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, David Galica, Jude Wilbers
Sergeant at Arms – Brian Adams, Lavarre Uhlken, Barry Schrader, Curt Lang
 
Club Fellowship
Chair – Jeff Keicher
Fines – Jeff Keicher, Marijo Schwartz, Darryl Wolff, Jeff Jacobson
Golf Outing – Dan Gibble, Brian Gregory, Steve Balster, Brad Waller, Jude Wilbers
Rural-Urban Day (February) – Bob Wildenradt, Troy Oates, Eric Johnson, Lavarre Uhlken
Hula-for-Loota (April) – Paul Michel, Rose Henton, Tami Armstrong, Darryl Wolff, Jim Bowers
 
Membership
Chair – Sue Emberson
Recruitment – All members are expected to bring at least one prospective member as a guest
New Member Orientation – Bob Hammon, Ray Dembinski
Member Retention – Jim Stoddard, Bob Wildenradt, Larry Berke, Nicole Stuckert, Kathleen Merner
Russell Hampton
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