The Egyptian Theatre welcome Rotary Movie Night attendees with open arms on Thursday evening. See more photos below (following the News/Updates section).
During the Q&A portion of his presentation, Deputy Sheriff Sean Conlon was asked to detail the equipment he wears as part of his uniform. He shared that the belt includes a tourniquet, a firearm, a radio, two sets of handcuffs, a double-shot taser, and several sets of keys. Fully loaded with equipment, the belt weighs approximately 16 pounds. Deputy Sheriff Conlon also wears a bulletproof vest (4-5 pounds) with a bodycam with a self-sealed recording system which is always activated when handling criminal justice matters.
Deputy Sheriff Sean Conlon of the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office visited the club this week to share information about the Citizen's Academy and other aspects of his department's work.
The Sheriff's Office has hosted its Citizen's Academy for a number of years, with Deputy Conlon serving as its current coordinator. Interested citizens can apply for participation starting in October (look for posts on the department's Facebook page), with 10 Thursday gatherings taking place from January to March (when "graduation ceremonies" are held). To participate in the free program, individuals must be 21 or older and residents of DeKalb County. Academy cohorts are typically limited to no more than 35 participants, but the Sheriff's Office does maintain a waiting list for those interested.
The Citizen's Academy involves different topics or activities each week to better understand the work of the Sheriff's Department, such as:
Presentation by Sheriff Andy Sullivan
Explanation of the department's auxiliary members
Tour of the DeKalb County Courthouse
Tour of the DeKalb County Jail (built in 2018)
Review of roadway crash data and procedures
Review of DUI enforcement
Tour of the communications division
Mock traffic stops
The Sheriff's Office currently has 16 staff members, but also has several individuals completing their training. Fully staffed, the department would have 20 employees, including detectives as well as deputies assigned to the courthouse. As patience is a valuable skill for a deputy, many deputies previously worked in the jail where their patience was tested regularly by inmates wishing to argue. Deputies also partner with mental health professionals who often work with local police departments as well.
As with Happy Dollars and fines, 50/50 raffle proceeds have long been earmarked for the scholarship fund for Sycamore High School seniors. In an effort to "spread the wealth" and support more causes, the members of your Rotary Board have determined that 50/50 raffle proceeds collected each month will benefit a different cause.
For the month of June, 50/50 raffle proceeds will help support CASA DeKalb County, Inc. to advocate for and serve as the voice for children who have experienced abuse or neglect in DeKalb County. The Board has committed that the total amount given to this cause will be no less than $250.
Thank you for your support of this important cause...and best of luck with the raffle!
The Rotary Club of Sycamore is committed to supporting many great causes. Following are the causes we have support since July 2022:
$372.50 to Sycamore District 427 for School Supplies (50/50 raffle cause for August)
$300.00 to Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County (50/50 raffle cause for September)
$465.50 to Safe Passage (50/50 raffle cause for October)
$1,350.00 for Polio Plus (funds raised through Chicken Salad Tasting with Suter Company)
$2,761.00 for Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County’s 2022 Home Build (w/ Dist. 6420 Matching Grant)
$400.00 to Usborne Books (during District conference) to provide reading materials to Ukrainian refugees attending two schools in Chicago's Ukrainian Village
$896.00 for Adopt-a-Family
$1,000.00 to Coats for Kids
$1,000.00 to Feed My Starving Children/Make a Difference DKC
$352.50 to Spartan Food Pantry (50/50 raffle cause for November)
$1,000.00 to Sycamore Public Library to fulfill District 6420 Governor's "Nothing Reads Like a Book" initiative
$292.50 to Sycamore Food Pantry (50/50 raffle cause for December)
$500.00 to Pay-It-Forward House (50/50 raffle cause for January)
$400.00 to Navajo Water Project (50/50 raffle cause for February)
$365.00 to DeKalb County Community Gardens (50/50 raffle cause for March)
$297.50 to Tails Humane Society (50/50 raffle cause for April)
$500.00 to South Prairie Elementary School (Rotary Reader)
Posted by Etelka Lehoczky, Rotary International on Mar 08, 2023
The first recipient of Rotary International's Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award, Chin Mei Lu of the Rotary Club of Taipei Taimei, Taiwan, has spent more than 30 years working for women, girls, and others around the world. She has helped educate girls in Nepal, immunized children in India, supported girls in Uganda who have learned to sew menstrual belts, and helped people in Taiwan who are blind.
"We as Rotarians are like lantern-carrying people in the dark corners of society, bringing light to others and helping make the world a brighter place," Lu says.
The Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award honors one Rotary member each year who has actively worked to advance women in Rotary. It is named for the first female Rotary club president, who went on to lead change for women around the world through Rotary. The award was originally established by a group of Rotarians before the Board of Directors voted to make it an official RI award.
Lu, who has been a Rotary member for three decades, traveled to Nepal and India in 2006-07 to assist with a project that enabled girls who didn't have housing to attend school. She cooperated with local agencies to obtain supplies, food, uniforms, and sponsorship funds for the girls, many of whom were at risk of being trafficked into sex work or child labor.
"Three years later, there were girls who were once helped by Rotary going back to assist other girls in need," says 2014-15 RI President Gary C.K. Huang, who nominated Lu for the award.
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 9, 1451 – Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci is born in Florence, Italy. He explored South America and the Amazon River. Believing Vespucci discovered a new continent, a German mapmaker makes the first notation of the land as “America.”
March 10, 1903 – Politician, journalist, and playwright Clare Boothe Luce is born in New York City. She serves in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1943-1947 and becomes the first woman appointed as ambassador to a major country (Italy).
March 11, 1952 – English author, screenwriter, and humorist Douglas Adams is born in Cambridge. His work “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” was originally broadcast as a radio comedy over the BBC in 1978 and was later adapted into novels, comic books, a television show, video game, stage shows, and a 2005 feature film.
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.
March 10, 1862 – The first issue of U. S. Government paper money occurs as $5, $10, and $20 bills begin circulation.
March 11, 1918 – The so-called “Spanish Influenza” first reaches America as 107 soldiers become ill at Fort Riley, Kansas. The worldwide death toll from the flu virus approaches 20 million by the end of the epidemic in 1920.
Club members and guests gathered in the Egyptian Theatre's beautiful lobby for some fellowship and refreshments.
Seeing his table was being photographed, Bob Wildendradt had a little fun at Steve Kuhn's expense. Meanwhile, Chris Boyce is enthusiastic in his storytelling.
Ray Dembinski and his tablemates speculate on what movie will be shown (speculates the author of this caption).
Paulette had sourced quite a banquet of food options for us. Thank you, Paulette!
Movie Night attendees chose their favorite seats and awaited the "mystery" movie.
Surprise! The movie was Young Frankenstein (1974). Pictured here are cast members Teri Garr, Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, and Peter Boyle...as well as director Mel Brooks. Notable cast members absent from this photo include Madeline Kahn and Cloris Leachman.
Birthdays & Club Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Alicia Cosky
September 1
Riley Oncken
September 1
Steven Kuhn
September 3
Larry Sill
September 10
Ray Dembinski
September 13
Join Date
Sejal Patel
September 2, 2015
8 years
Paul Barnaby
September 8, 1979
44 years
Ahmed Kamel
September 11, 2005
18 years
Robert Daniel
September 27, 2018
5 years
Brendan Wilson
September 29, 2021
2 years
________________________________________
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2023-2024
President – Brandon Diviak
President Elect – Steve Wilder
Director (President Nominee) – Jonelle Bailey
Director (President Designee) - Becky Springer
Past President – Tim Neubert
Treasurer – Dr. Michele Jurkovic
Secretary – Sally Bruch
Sergeant at Arms – Paulette Renault
Monthly Committees
July: Board of Directors
August: Jeff Keicher, Brandon Diviak, Pat Shafer
September: Dave Hamilton, Jeff Jacobson, Jim Stoddard
October: Paul Callighan, Matt Nelson, Paul Stromborg
November: Sue Emberson, Jeff Frank, Mark Spiegelhoff, Heidi Wright
December: Paul Barnaby, Larry Berke, Riley Oncken
January: Ray Dembinski, Joyce Klein, Rob Mondi, Tim Neubert
June: Stephen Hansen, Steve Wilder, Paulette Renault
Standing Committees
Membership: Jonelle Bailey, Ray Dembinski, Bob Hammon, Steve Kuhn, Jeff Petersen, Bob Wildendradt, Jeff Jacobson, Brandon Diviak, Matt Nelson, Riley Oncken
Public Image: Bob Brown, Paul Callighan, Stephen Hansen, Jeff Keicher, Joyce Klein, Tasha Sims
Fellowship: Paulette Renault, Pat Shafer, Mark Spiegelhoff, Sally Bruch, Sue Emberson Dave Hamilton, Paul Barnaby, Larry Berke, Paul Loner
Service: Brandon Diviak, Jeff Frank, Michele Jurkovic, Rob Mondi, Brendan Wilson, Heidi Wright, Alicia Cosky, Tim Neubert
Foundations: Jim Buck, Sue Emberson, Matt Nelson, Jim Stoddard, Paul Stromborg
New Generations: Chip Houdek, Julie Sgarlata, Becky Springer, Steve Wilder
Scholarships: Tim Neubert, Julie Sgarlata, Ray Dembinski, Steve Kuhn, Michele Jurkovic, Don Clayberg
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