The Rotary January Student of the Month is Devin Karda. Devin is an academic achiever receiving an AP Scholar Award (scoring high in Physics, Language, Composition, and World History), and placing on the high honor role. He enjoys participating in Cross Country and Track and Field and was part of the award-winning 4 x 400 school relay team. Karda and his teammates placed first in the Conference, first in Sectionals, won the State Championship, and qualified for the “New Balance” national competition placing 25th in the nation. He is part of the school’s Senior Business Leadership, a member of the Orchesis dance group, the Sci Fi Club, and the Art Club. He was drawn to activities at Sycamore’s First Baptist Church while gathering with family during his Sophomore year when his great aunt passed away. He now leads a church Bible study Thursday mornings and, through the church, volunteered to serve food for the NIU Network of Nations organization. He also has worked at the Pizza, Beer, Whiskey restaurant in Sycamore, Harbecke Farms, and the Sycamore Park District. Upon graduation, Karda plans to pursue accounting and finance studies at college. Karda said he will be donating his $100 check from Rotary to Safe Passage.
South Prairie Elementary School Principal Tom Rucker promotes the revised Rotary Reads program for local elementary students. The program is going to include more public-school elementary students and the St. Mary’s Grade School.
South Prairie Elementary School Principal Tom Rucker gave an update on the Rotary Reader Program at this week’s meeting. Rucker is passionate about the impact out loud reading has on children, saying it is a key factor in language use development. He pointed out that reading to a child just 20 minutes a day can expose them to 1.8 million words a year. Under the revised program, reading will be expanded to more classrooms in the Sycamore Public Schools and also include St. Mary’s Grade School.
Rucker reviewed the three-part reading program. He highlighted the three basic parts of reading, sharing details about one’s vocation, and the way to best handle the ending question and answer period. His main tips were using expressions to match the story reading, taking time to show pictures from book, adding dialogue while reading to keep the audience engaged, and being patient. He said another part of the program is to pair male and female Rotarians for the reading sessions.
Reading sign-up sheets will be posted at upcoming meetings.
January 6, 1412 – Joan of Arc is born in France. After a series of mystic visions, she inspires French troops to break the British siege at Orleans and win several important battles during the Hundred Years War.
January 8, 1935 – The American King of Rock and Roll (with such hits as “Hound Dog”, “Love Me Tender”, “Heartbreak Hotel”, and “Suspicious Minds”), movie actor, and Las Vegas performer Elvis Presley is born in Tupelo, Mississippi.
January 9, 1913 – 37th President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, is born in Yorba Linda, California. Nixon served in the U.S. Senate, was Vice President under Dwight Eisenhower, and staged a political comeback after losing to John F. Kennedy in the 1960 Presidential election, winning the Presidency in 1968. His early successes ending U.S. military involvement in the Viet Nam war and a landmark visit to China in 1972 were diminished by his direct involvement in the Watergate scandal.
January 11, 1755 – Alexander Hamilton is born in the British West Indies. He was chosen by George Washington to be the first Secretary of the Treasury. He died from a gunshot wound in a duel with Aaron Burr.
January 5, 1925 – Nellie Taylor Ross of Wyoming becomes the first woman governor inaugurated in the U.S.
January 9, 1972 – The longest winning streak for a major professional sports team is snapped at 33 games when the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 120 – 104. A 39-point performance by the Buck’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (later traded to the Lakers in 1975) hands the Lakers their first loss since October 31.
January 10, 1776 – Thomas Paine published his 50-page pamphlet on American independence, “Common Sense”, influencing among others the authors of the Declaration of Independence.
January 11, 1964 – The U. S. Surgeon General declared cigarettes may be hazardous to one’s health, the first such official government report.
________________________________________
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
.png)
