Be sure to review "Posting of Proposed Club Bylaw Revisions Prior to Voting" within the News/Updates section below
See message (with website link) from Bob Brown in "News/Updates" below.
Sycamore City Engineer, Mark Bushnell, pictured here at an October 2024 City Council meeting, shared an overview of his office and the City's latest projects with Rotarians during this week's meeting.
Dear fellow members of the Rotary Club of Sycamore:
Fellow club member Brendan Wilson has successfully written and published 2 Science Fiction books as part of a trilogy. The most recent is titled: "Warrior Goddess". They are fast-paced, wonderful, engaging reads that I believe all readers would really enjoy! (Of course, available on Amazon, etc.)
Brendan has woven some of his amazing background as a former U.S. Army Ranger, NATO Advisor, and Martial Arts Master into these beautifully crafted action stories.
Anyhow...the favor that I'm asking is for you to take a minute and vote for him as "International Impact Author of the Year". See below for the easy process to vote for Brendan.
Our speaker this week was Mark Bushnell, City Engineer for Sycamore. Mark provided an overview of his department and its projects, both recently completed and upcoming.
The City's Engineering department has three main tasks:
Infrastructure Design and Implementation - Create and implement 5-year programs for roads, water and sewer; then determine funding and make adjustments.
Development and Utility Permit Reviews - Determine how development will impact existing infrastructure of City and surrounding area; review and process commercial utility permits.
Regulatory Requirements - Responsible for completing annual environmental reporting to the IEPA for stormwater; provide floodplain information and assistance.
The City has 110 miles of streets to maintain, as well as an agreement with the State of Illinois to complete minor repairs on Routes 23 and 64. Repairs and maintenance are funded by Motor Fuel Tax ($0.47/gallon), City Fuel Tax ($0.02/gallon), sales tax, video gaming, and outside funding. In 2023, Sycamore coordinated with DeKalb, Cortland, and DeKalb County to use federal funding to establish a PASER heat map for the City. The Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating (PASER) details the state of City streets and "hot spots" in need of attention. Mark's goal is to fix all roads in "poor" condition" within the 5-year program.
During 2024, the City installed new pavement on the following streets:
Mediterranean Drive
Brickville Road/Freed Road
Perry Court
Meadow Lane
Bill Johnson Boulevard
Somonauk Street (completed using state transportation funds)
For 2025, the City plans to install new pavement at these locations:
Home Street
Heron Creek Drive
Governor Street
Walnut Street (Alley)
Maplewood Drive (if sufficient funding is available)
Walnut Street (if sufficient funding is available)
Midlands Court (if sufficient funding is available)
Sycamore Creek/Camden Crossings subdivisions (if sufficient funding is available)
In January 2020, the City applied for funding to better address the sanitary sewer system. Funding was finally secured in early 2022 and over 253,000 of pipe was inspected in 2022 and 2023. Mark's team completed 471 lead water services at a cost of over $4.9M. Their next project will involve taking a new main from Upstaging north on Park, heading east on Chauncey, and then north on Locust and Main. This project will connect larger diameter watermains with the intention of improving circulation in the system.
The main system currently involves 115 miles of pipe, nearly 1,500 hydrants, five wells, and two elevated storage tanks.
Section 1 - The annual election of officers and directors to serve for the ensuing year shall be held not later than May March 31. The term of service begins 1 July of the ensuing year. In June of each year, the annual installation of officers meeting will be held to facilitate the induction of all officers and directors who will serve in the new fiscal year.
Section 2 - The regular weekly meetings of this club shall be held on Wednesdays beginning at 11:45 a.m. Due notice of any changes in or cancelling of the regular meeting shall be given to all members of the club. All members excepting an honorary member (or member excused pursuant to the standard Rotary club constitution) in good standing in this club, on the day of the regular meeting, must be counted as present or absent, and attendance must be evidenced by the member's being present for at least 60% of the time devoted to the regular meeting, either at this club or at any other Rotary club, or as otherwise provided in the standard Rotary club constitution, Article 9, Sections 1 and 2.
Section 3 - One-third of the membership shall constitute a quorum at the annual and regular meetings of this club.
Section 4 - Regular meetings of the board shall be held on the day of the first regular club meeting of each month. Special meetings of the board shall be called by the president, whenever deemed necessary, or upon the request of two directors, due notice having been given. In the event the board is unable to physically meet, a meeting may be conducted via email as long as minutes are recorded.
Article 6 - Fees, Dues, Leave of Absence
Section 1 - The admission fee shall be $25.00 to be paid before the applicant can qualify as a member, except as provided for in the standard Rotary club constitution, Article 11.
Section 2 -There shall be four (4) three (3)categories of membership: Active Members, Corporate Members, R-85 Members, and Honorary Members. Active Member dues shall be $165 $125 per quarter, payable quarterly on the first day of the first quarter of the fiscal year or when billed (generally 1 July, 1 October, 1 January, and 1 April). This fee shall include the member's meals at regular, weekly meetings for the quarter and RI assessments. RI assessments include, but are not limited to District 6420 dues, Rotary International dues, and RI official magazine dues. Corporate Member dues shall be the same as Active Member dues and shall include the same expenses as Active Member dues. Corporate Membership shall be open to business, industry, non-profit, or other similar organization as determined by the Board. Corporate Members shall identify a single individual to serve as the point of contact for the Corporate Member. The point of contact may identify other individuals within the organization to attend meetings and Rotary events. R-85 Member dues shall not be required to pay for all meals during the quarter, but shall pay that sum necessary to cover District 6420 dues, international dues, and RI official magazine dues. Honorary members shall be billed only for the meals consumed during those meetings attended by the R-85 member. Honorary Members shall be identified and voted upon by the board. Honorary members shall not be billed any dues, except for meals consumed during those meetings attended by the Honorary Member.
Section 3 - Upon written application to the board, setting forth good and sufficient cause, leave of absence may be granted excusing an active member from attending the meetings of the club for no longer than 12 months. To be eligible, the member must have all dues paid in full, and must pay the equivalent of current District and RI fees that will be incurred by the club for that member during the leave period. Members who wish to resign may be re-admitted to the club as part of the regular application and induction process. Such leave of absence does not operate to prevent a forfeiture of membership; it does not operate to give the club credit for the member's attendance. Unless the member attends a regular meeting of some other club, the excused member must be recorded as absent except that absence authorized under the provisions of the Standard Rotary Club Constitution is not computed in the attendance record of the club.
Section 4 - Any member with an outstanding balance owed to the club of $500 - $1,000, will be placed for automatic review of their account by the board at the next stated board meeting in order to determine any action. Any member with an outstanding balance owed to the club that exceeds $1,000 must respond in kind and in good faith with a payment plan upon the board or treasurer’s written request.
Article 11 - Finances
Section 1 - Prior to July 1 of each year, the board shall prepare a budget of estimated income and expenditures for the corning fiscal year, which shall stand as the limit of expenditures for these purposes, unless otherwise ordered by action of the board.
Section 2 - The treasurer shall deposit all club funds in a FDIC insured bank named by the board in a timely manner, upon receipt. The club funds shall be divided into not less than three separate accounts: club operations, scholarship, and service projects.
Section 3 - All bills shall be paid by the treasurer or other authorized officer. Expenditures exceeding $100 requires board pre-approval. If the expenditure is over $500, two signatures are required on the check. All expenditures over $1,000 must be approved by vote of the club. The only exceptions to the above authorization requirement are the payment of the weekly meals which are charged per person and will be paid weekly without additional board authorization and payments made to Rotary International or the Rotary Foundation.
Section 4 - A thorough review of all financial transactions by a qualified person, who is not a member of the board, shall be made once each year and a report presented to the board by September 30 of each year.
Section 5 - Officers having charge or control of the club funds shall give bond as required by the board for the safe custody of the funds of the club with the cost of the bond to be borne by the club.
Section 6 - The fiscal year of the club shall extend from 1 July to 30 June, and for the collection of members' dues shall be divided into four quarterly periods. Members may also be billed for the Rotary Foundation donations, club events, and other financial obligations which may be incurred.
Section 7 - No board may commit the club to any expense or contract which exceeds the fiscal year of the board, unless by approval of 2/3 of members present at a meeting, provided that notice of such meeting and proposed vote has been published in the Spoke and via e-mail to members at least fourteen (14) days prior to such meeting.
March 18, 1837 - The 22nd and 24th President, Grover Cleveland, is born in Caldwell, New Jersey. He was first President to serve two non-consecutive terms in office.
March 19, 1869 – Flamboyant showman and theater producer, Florence Ziegfeld, is born in Chicago. His Ziegfeld Follies revue ran on Broadway from 1907 through 1931.
March 21, 1685 – Organist and prolific composer Johann Sebastian Bach is born in Eisenach, Germany.
March 22, 1948 – Composer and theatrical producer Andrew Lloyd Weber is born in Kensington, London, England.
March 17, 461– Ireland, and eventually anywhere in the world where the Irish gather, pays homage to the death of St. Patrick of Ireland, the fifth century missionary and later bishop who brought Christianity to Ireland’s masses.
March 18, 1965 – Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov leaves his spacecraft for 12 minutes and become the first person to conduct a spacewalk.
March 18, 1974 – The five-month-old Arab oil embargo against the U.S is lifted. The embargo was in retaliation for the American support of Israel during the Yom Kipper War of 1973 in which Egypt and Syria suffered a crushing defeat. The embargo caused U.S. gas prices to soar 300%.
March 19, 2003 – The U.S launched an attack to topple Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Troops made rapid progress and conquered the capital, Baghdad, in just 21 days ending Hussein’s rule.
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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
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