District Recognitions! Rotary District 6420 Board Member and Past District Governor Steve Kuhn gave good news to club members in announcing district project award winners. Of the five awards given, three are going to groups affiliated with the Rotary Club of Sycamore. $100 checks will be going to the local Rotaract, Interact, and EarlyAct clubs in recognition of their outstanding project work.
Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County was the featured group at this week’s meeting. Executive Director Roy Smith, retired school superintendent and the son of long-time Rotarian leaders the late Bob and Betsy Smith, talked about the mission, homebuilding, and family impact of the organization.
The local Habitat chapter is preparing to start its 16th project to help a family in Malta achieve home ownership. A photo board with past construction projects was on display so meeting attendees could see the quality product made possible through sweat equity and donations.
The 2022 Habitat for Humanity recipient Michelle Ramey conveyed how meaningful having a home of their own will be for her and her family. The Rameys have two children and have been living in cramped rental quarters.
Our Wednesday meetings are now being held at St. Mary's Parish Activity Center (312 Waterman Street in Sycamore). We are no longer meeting at Blumen Gardens.
The Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, Roy Smith, explained during this week’s meeting how the organization is more than just being about putting up walls for a house. As they get ready to begin their 16th home since being founded in 1976, Smith said it is a full interaction with the recipient family to build stability and self-reliance. This ranges from the family’s sweat equity during construction to help with managing finances. He pointed out that homes are not given outright to family recipients, but they do come with no-interest mortgages and many of the typical construction costs are covered by donations from contractors who want to help make an impact in the community through the pride of home ownership. Smith showed a video about the organization which included a segment featuring former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, who are Habitat supporters.
As construction begins this year, Smith said for him personally this will be the 29th Habitat home on which he has helped. This will be the 16th home for the local Habitat chapter. Michelle Ramey, whose family will be moving into the home being built in Malta, gave a heartfelt thanks for the home ownership opportunity Habitat is giving. Smith said in the future the local chapter hopes to increase its capacity to build homes by opening a restore shop to sell donated furniture. He said the organization is always looking for volunteers to help with construction, cleanup, meals for workers, and fundraising. Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County is a registered non-profit organization. Their website is www.hfhdcillinois.org.
The following Rotarians (in alphabetical order) have so far signed up to work shifts during the Drive Thru Dinner fundraiser in the St. Mary's Parish Activity Center parking lot on Thursday, June 23.
7 June 2022 - HOUSTON, Texas -- Rotary International and the disaster relief charity, ShelterBox, today announced a three-year partnership renewal that will help the organization support more people, in more places, in more ways.
ShelterBox was founded by the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard in 2000, forming a special humanitarian alliance has made a tangible difference to the lives of people around the world. Based in the U.K. and with offices around the world, ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and other essential items to people who have lost their homes to conflict and disaster.
With growing collaboration with Rotary members and clubs across the globe, ShelterBox became Rotary’s official project partner in disaster relief in 2012. The partnership has helped transform ShelterBox into an internationally recognized disaster relief charity, together supporting more families when they need it most.
“Rotary has been beside us on our journey from day one and we are reminded of the significance of the partnership each time we mobilize,” said ShelterBox Chief Executive Sanj Srikanthan. “What began as a local connection with one Cornish Rotary Club has led to an extraordinary international movement that has provided emergency shelter to millions of people around the world.”
The official partnership has been renewed for another three years. The agreement will be announced at the annual Rotary International Convention, this year hosted in the USA, where ShelterBox chief executive Sanj Srikanthan will give a keynote speech to more than 10,000 Rotary members.
“Rotary members are involved in ShelterBox as volunteers, staff or response team members. Our responses can stretch us logistically and often it’s the Rotary network that help us navigate the import challenges that delay our lifesaving aid or provide us with warehousing space while we wait to distribute shelter kits,” Srikanthan added. “Rotary members also help ShelterBox response teams make vital community contacts and reach disaster-affected families in remote areas who might otherwise go without.”
Most recently, in addition to their own significant response to the Ukraine crisis, Rotary members have supported ShelterBox’s relief effort. Using their networks in Poland, Moldova and Ukraine, Rotary members have provided invaluable situational awareness and connections enabling ShelterBox to provide aid to those in need.
The charity is providing mattresses to people in collective centres; tarpaulins, rope, tools, and other essentials to help people living in damaged buildings; in addition to supporting women and children fleeing into Moldova.
The Rotary partnership often gives ShelterBox the flexibility and scale to respond in fast changing emergencies, including in the Philippines after Typhoon Rai made landfall in December 2021.
Donations are currently being requested for the Sycamore Food Pantry. Bring a bottle of laundry detergent...or $10 for Julie Sgarlata to purchase one. Money is easier to handle.
Personal hygiene items (bar soap, shampoo, etc.) are also being sought.
June 5, 1783 – The first sustained flight occurred as a hot air balloon was launched at Annonay, France, by brothers Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier.
June 6, 1944 – The largest seaborne invasion in history began as Allied troops undertook the D-Day invasion of Normandy during World War II. The operation began the liberation of France from Nazi control and laid the foundations of the Allied victory in Europe.
June 9, 1898 – The British signed a 99-year lease for Hong Kong; on July 1,1997, its sovereignty reverted to the People’s Republic of China.
June 11, 1994 – After 49 years, the Soviet military occupation of East Germany ended.
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