March student of the month Julia Hattar shares her passions for community involvement and care for animals while speaking to Sycamore Rotarians. Hattar is vice president of the High School National Honor Society and a Society tutor, studies business leadership, and is involved with the Peer Ministry Team including their music outreach. Through St. Mary’s Church, she is a mission team volunteer and works as a counselor during the summer at Camp WOW in Walworth County, Wisconsin. She works as a Childcare Provider for the YMCA and has also done receptionist and cashier work at local businesses. Hattar has spent a decade riding horses which she says has taught her that the ability to “control” the 2,000 pound animal is not nearly as important as the ability to “understand” the animal. This philosophy led to her interest in veterinary medicine. She hopes to pursue this degree at the University of Iowa after graduation. With the belief that everyone has potential to achieve success, Hattar will donate her Rotary check to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul for its help to the needy.
Rotarian Jim Buck gave a language assessment at this week’s meeting identifying the use of slang, modern jargon, and pet peeves in everyday conversation. Credit goes to the Rotarian graphics staff (Paulette Renault) for the creative PowerPoint slide used for Buck’s introduction.
Rotarian Jim Buck shows part of a two-volume set of “slang” shared with him by club member Bob Brown that he used for research on his subject for this week’s meeting. Buck said he also used interviews with younger workers at the law firm where he works and his own personal reaction to comments he hears through everyday conversation to make his lists of questionable word meanings found in everyday language.
Rotarian Jim Buck was armed with lists of slang terms, modern jargon, and pet peeves to share with Rotarians at this week’s meeting. His vocabulary collection came from books, interviews, and his own note taking and updated a similar presentation from last year. Here is an example of his research.
Slang: Glad Eye (a leering glance); Chevere (cool or awesome), and White Lightning (homemade whiskey).
Modern Jargon: Eight (something done well); Sigma (self-sufficient and independent – super cool); and No Cap (not lying, for real).
Pet Peeves: Overuse of “You Know” and “Hopefully”; embellished advertising of mass produced goods as “Artisan” (which is supposed to mean “handmade”) citing a McDonalds ad as an example; and the frequent use of the Australian-originated “No Worries” in response to an apology.
A word of warning, be alert not to provoke our guardian of vocabulary or you might just be facing a Rotary fine.
Posted by District Governor John Hurley on Mar. 06, 2025
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Past District Governor David Bills, a dedicated Rotarian, valued member of the River Cities Rotary Club, and dear friend.
David’s leadership, service, and unwavering commitment to Rotary left a lasting impact on our district, the communities he served, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fellow Rotarians during this difficult time. We will miss him dearly.
For obituary details and service information, please visit the following link: Service Details
March 2, 1793 – American born first President of the Republic of Texas, who then helped bring Texas into the United States, Sam Houston, is born in Rockbridge County, Virginia.
March 3, 1847 – Telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell is born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Bell’s invention borrowed techniques from his vocation of teaching deaf people to speak.
March 4, 1888 – American football legend Knute Rockne is born in Voss, Norway. He coached Notre Dame football for 13 seasons, amassing a record of 105 wins, 12 losses, and five ties.
March 6, 1475 – Italian sculptor, painter, architect, and poet Michelangelo (famous for such works as a statue of David and the paintings adorning the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel) is born in Caprese, Tuscany.
March 4, 1789 – The first meeting of the new Congress under the U. S. Constitution took place in New York City.
March 5, 1946 – Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, popularizes this post World War II phrase and draws world attention to the division of Europe by the Soviet Union.
March 7, 1965 – A 600-person civil rights demonstration in Selma, Alabama, ends in violence when marchers are attacked and beaten by white state troopers and sheriff’s deputies. The day’s events became known as “Bloody Sunday” and spurred President Lyndon Johnson to sign into law the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
March 8, 1971 – Billed as “The Fight of the Century,” undefeated heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier fought undefeated champion Muhammad Ali in Ali’s comeback bid following a government-imposed exile. Frazier wins in 15 rounds although Ali won two subsequent rematches.
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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: Larry Berke, Ray Dembinski, Riley Oncken
Fellowship: Paulette Renault, 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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