June 30th marks the official end of the Rotary year, and we will be finishing it with a bang...as the Sycamore Rotary stages two major celebrations.
On Sunday, June 25th, we will hold our official Installation Brunch at Faranda's; not only will Eric Jones be sworn in as our new Club President, but Steve Kuhn officially takes the oath as our new District Governor. The day will also see the presentation of the John W. Ovitz, Jr. Rotarian of the Year Award.
Then on Wednesday, June 28th, the annual Sycamore Rotary Golf Outing will be held at the Sycamore Golf Club; the day begins with a Make-up Session at 12:00 p.m. in the clubhouse...then the four-man scramble golf event, beginning at 1 o'clock...and the day finishes with a post-outing dinner at 5:30 p.m.
The June 21st meeting marked the last one of the Rotary year, and the final one of Sue Emberson's term as Club President; all of us want to thank Sue for her service to our Club for this year, and to Rotary in the past and future.
Rotary is indeed an international organization -- something Ahmed Kamel has apparently taken to heart, as he has spent nearly the last year and a half ranging far and wide in his efforts to develop a new business venture.
Ahmed has branched out from DNA Communications, his internet service company, into a completely different business; he is running Cashew Cows, a company which specializes in making an ice cream-like confection...using cashew milk, instead of cow's milk. He says this product is not only healthier than regular ice cream, but it looks and tastes so much like the real thing that even professionals representing a major ice cream company couldn't tell the difference between his product and theirs.
To promote and expand production of his product, he's traveled all over the United States and into the Middle East; and so far, demand is outstripping supply -- so he hopes to be able to expand the production sites, and enlarge the company's footprint in those two key areas.
Ahmed was kind enough to step in as our guest speaker, after our previously-scheduled guest was unable to attend; Amanda Runge from Shelter Box USA has re-scheduled her visit for Wednesday, July 26th.
Rotary International has completed another convention, holding its annual gathering in Atlanta; for those who have never attended, these events are eye-opening...as they give Rotarians a chance to meet their fellows from around the world, learn about the many projects and initiatives Rotary is involved in, and see how Rotary is helping to bring change to the world.
Incoming DG Steve Kuhn, and PDGs Bob Hammon and Don Clayberg, were among the attendees this year. Highlights included the Rotary Foundation's 100th anniversary celebration, and contributions by the Rotarians on hand and from Bill Gates to the End Polio Now campaign...as well as a presentation by actor and activist Ashton Kutcher, who expounded on the problem of slavery around the world -- much of it involving the exploitation of laborers, and the abduction of children and young adults into sex slavery.
Along with the serious work that Rotary undertakes, all three noted the companionship they felt with other Rotarians from around the world; this included some from Mozambique, where we have been working with the local Rotary Club to help provide fresh water wells. And the common bond of Rotary enabled everyone on hand to make fast friends...which helps to spread the unity of Rotary around the world.
Due to the Independence Day weekend, the Club Assembly originally scheduled for Wednesday, July 5th and the Committee Meetings Day set for Wednesday, July 12th have each been pushed back one week.
Indications are that few Rotarians will be available for the Club Assembly on July 5th; so that event will instead be held the following week on Wednesday, July 12th. Rotary International requires each club to hold an assembly at least once a year, for planning purposes; others will be scheduled throughout the coming year.
The July 5th meeting is still scheduled to go on as planned.
Consequently, the Committee Meetings Day will be pushed back a week to Wednesday, July 19th. Committees will be encouraged to meet at that time to begin planning their various projects; similar opportunities will be offered at meetings throughout the year, so that committees can meet without having to take time outside of Rotary meetings.
Musician Andy Grammer will be the headline performer at the inaugural Answers4SUDC fundraising concert, to be held on Saturday, September 9th at RiverEdge Park in Aurora.
This is the continuation of "Answers for Emmett" launched by Rotarian Jeff Frank in honor of his son; for information on tickets to this concert, go to www.ANSWERS4SUDC.com or contact info@ANSWERS4SUDC.com
Attendance Report -- June 21, 2017
Attendance: 54.41%
Guests of Rotarians: Renae Wilkinson (Ahmed Kamel)
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