The newest member of Sycamore Rotary is DeKalb County Treasurer Becky Springer. Springer was inducted during this week’s meeting and also gave her classification talk. The Sycamore native and Northern Illinois University (NIU) graduate said she was honored to be chosen to succeed long-time Treasurer Christine Johnson who retired at the end of last year. Springer said she sought out the appointment because of a desire to do public service. She had previously been elected to the Sycamore City Council but had to give up her seat when she and her family moved out of her ward. She currently serves on the board of the Sycamore Education Foundation. Springer said she is excited about being part of Rotary as a way to “give back” to the community.
Springer went through the Sycamore public school system growing up and began studies at NIU to become an accountant. However, she decided the accountant career was not for her and took some time off to reconsider her options. She was working at Farm and Fleet to earn money for school when she was introduced to her future husband, Tim, who was a co-worker’s brother. Springer went back to NIU and got her degree in economics. She then started a 20-year career with a credit union. She and her husband are parents to two children, one a junior in college and the other a junior in high school. Because her predecessor was a Republican, Springer was picked by county Republican party leaders as the nominee for the office. She will face her first election next year.
Springer was recruited to Rotary by member Jeff Jacobson. Welcome to Sycamore Rotary, Becky Springer!
As a reminder, the club begins delivering the Sycamore West route for Meals On Wheels starting Monday, August 23.
10:45 AM pick up at Volunteer Action Center complex, 1606 Bethany Road in Sycamore. Masks are appreciated, but not required.
The members delivering August 23-27: Jim Stoddard, Ray Dembinski, Pat Shafer, Eric Jones, Jonelle Bailey, Michelle Jurkovic, Sue Emberson, Curt Lang, and Karen Lang.
Join us as we ride the scenic Fox River and sample local, fresh brew. Ticket price includes the river cruise, 6 different beer sample from three St. Charles breweries (Riverlands, Alter, and Pollyanna). Fundraiser supports local non-profits benefitting children and students.
Below is a list of art fairs in the northern Illinois area that I found for the next few months. There are probably more, but this is a start. If you are looking for a good time, art fairs are usually a lot of fun. If you go, please collect business cards from vendors and any literature about the event. Get them to me and we can create a data base of vendors for our future event. Remember, no database, no event. Let's all get behind this and have some fun. Pick a fair and a couple of other Rotarians and make a fun day of it.
August 4, 1901 – Jazz trumpeter Louis Armstrong is born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
August 4, 1961 – 44th U. S. President Barack Obama is born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He wins the Presidential election of November 4, 2008 to become the first President of African American origin.
August 6, 1809 – British poet Alfred Lord Tennyson (who authored “The Charge of the Light Brigade” among other works) is born in Somersby, Lincolnshire, England.
August 7, 1876 – International spy Mata Hari is born in the Netherlands. She was arrested by the French in 1917, tried as a German spy, and executed by a firing squad.
August 2, 1923 – President Warren G. Harding dies suddenly in San Francisco while on a Western speaking tour. The following day Calvin Coolidge is sworn into office. Harding’s legacy is tainted by the Teapot Dome oil lease scandal that comes to light following his death.
August 4, 1964 – “Freedom Summer” Civil Rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner are found murdered and buried in an earthen dam outside Philadelphia, Mississippi. They were participating in efforts to increase Black voter registration. Seven avowed members of the Ku Klux Klan are convicted on federal conspiracy charges in connection with the deaths.
August 6, 1945 – The first atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima, Japan killing over 105,000 people. Another 100,000 die later from radiation affects.
August 6, 1965 – President Lyndon Johnson signs the federal Voting Rights Act ending voter limitation practices such as poll taxes, literacy tests, and character tests.
In recognition of his incredible performance while joining "Elvis" on stage during Hula-for-Loota, Mark Spiegelhoff was awarded a fine pair of gold Elvis glasses (complete with integrated sideburns) by Club President Paulette Renault.
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