This week the club donated $2,500 to the Sycamore Food Pantry, located at the Sycamore United Methodist Church. Club members Alicia Cosky, Tim Neubert, Brandon Diviak, Joyce Klein, Steve Kuhn, Paul Callighan, and Bob Wildenradt gathered with the food pantry's co-directors Gerry Olson and Joel Maurer to deliver the check and take a quick photo.
Rotary Student of the Month Ethan Bode gave credit to his Sycamore Spartan education from grade school through high school that let him explore his various passions and be prepared for life after graduation. Bode was recognized for achievements in academics, athletics, and the arts. He is an AP Scholar, an Illinois State Scholar, English and History honors student, and member of student organizations such as Key Club. He played football, baseball, and participated in track and field competitions. He has even volunteered as an umpire for high school baseball games. Learning to play the cello in the fourth grade, Bode went on to earn recognition at state level competitions in high school. He also took part in school plays. Bode said he was thankful for the many learning opportunities he was given while going through school. He plans to attend the University of Wisconsin at Platteville in the fall in their pre-Veterinary medicine program (he has already served as a Vet technical assistant while in high school). He also plans on playing football at college. He will be donating his Rotary check to the TAILS Humane Society.
Sycamore Mayor Steve Braser sums up the successes and challenges after serving 12 years as an alderperson. He urged people to become engaged in city government by running for office and not just going to a council meeting when some specific issue concerns them.
Steve Braser says he grew up instilled with a desire to help the City of Sycamore grow and prosper as he helped out at his parent’s downtown shoe store., Later, raising his family in the city, he got involved in city government, serving 12 years on the City Council and then the past two years as Mayor. Braser made a pitch for people to seek elective office. He noted that there are often lines of people ready to complain about a particular issue but many times a lack of candidates to fill various board seats where solutions get decided. He said he has been surprised at the large number of Freedom of Information Act requests placed on the city, nearly 1,000 a year, which adds administrative burden to staff. Braser also made a pitch for consolidating units of government that overlap in responsibility or where merged territories would bring greater efficiency.
Braser said he wants to make sure the City is on sound financial footing and future generations are not saddled with significant debt. He noted that the City is up to date on its pension obligations unlike many other government entities. He clarified the recent lawsuit settlement over lead levels in water. He said independent tests verified Sycamore was far below lead action levels and a commitment for annual water infrastructure spends of $1.2 million through 2027 was at or below traditional water department spending levels. He said the benefit of the settlement is an end to ongoing litigation fees. Braser said providing safe, clean water remains a priority for the city.
Several differing economic development projects were highlighted by Braser. These include the rehabilitation and expansion by Innovative Growers Equipment Company of the former Anaconda wire and cable property. Owner Chris Mayer has added a trade school on the property in association with the Kishwaukee Educational Consortium. Although controversial, Braser said he favored a plan to allow a marijuana growing operation on the site (noting this was not a dispensary). The plan failed to win council approval. Braser said there remains strong interest in downtown buildings. He is also trying to find buyers for vacant commercial and industrial sites but says working with out-of-town owners has been a challenge.
Overall, Braser believes many positive things are happening in Sycamore and he hopes it continues to be an attractive place for people to live and for businesses to expand and locate.
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)
May 24, 1844 – Samuel FB Morse taps out “What hath God wrought” in the first message from an official telegraph office located in the basement of the U. S. Capital building which was then received at a Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Station in Baltimore.
May 25, 1787 – The Colonial Constitutional Convention began in Philadelphia with delegates from seven states forming a quorum.
May 26, 1940 – The Dunkirk evacuation began on the northern coast of France to save Allied forces trapped by the German Army. Vessels of all shapes and sizes ferried over 340,000 soldiers across the English Channel concluding on June 2.
May 27, 1937 – More than 200,000 people celebrate the grand opening of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
Birthdays & Club Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Jim Walter
November 6
David Hamilton
November 14
Dorothy Stoddard
November 14
Bob Hammon
November 25
Join Date
Michele Jurkovic
November 2, 1998
25 years
Donald W. Clayberg
November 28, 1984
39 years
Jeff Keicher
November 30, 2005
18 years
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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, Heidi Wright
December: Paul Barnaby, Larry Berke, Riley Oncken
January: Ray Dembinski, Joyce Klein, Rob Mondi, Tim Neubert
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, Jeff Keicher, Joyce Klein, Tasha Sims
Fellowship: Paulette Renault, Pat Shafer, Sally Bruch, Sue Emberson, Dave Hamilton, Paul Barnaby, Larry Berke
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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