The annual Green Raffle fundraiser is now underway! Tickets cost $25 each or 4 for $100, and winners will be announced at our Mardi Gras event on April 25. Funds raised will support the club’s programs.
Party with a Purpose! Join us for a fun-filled evening of trivia, Cajun-inspired bites, music, and prizes — all supporting Rotary’s community service initiatives. Trivia | Food | Raffle. April 25, 2026 7 - 10 pm. St. Mary’s PAC, 312 Waterman Street Sycamore IL 60178. Scan the QR Code to purchase tickets and more information about the event. For sponsorship information, contact Brandon at BDiviak@ResourceBank.com
Party with a Purpose! Join community leaders, businesses, and friends for a festive evening of trivia, Cajun-inspired bites, music, and celebration — all in support of Rotary’s service initiatives. Let the good times roll — for a great cause. An Evening of Fun and Community Impact The Rotary Club of Sycamore invites you to partner with us for Mardi Gras Mind Games, a lively trivia night celebrating community while supporting Rotary’s mission of Service Above Self. Guests will enjoy: • Three rounds of lively trivia • Cajun-inspired appetizers and desserts • Green Raffle with prizes up to $1000 • Bottle pulls • Networking with community leaders This exciting event will bring together local businesses, community partners, and residents for an unforgettable evening while raising funds for programs that strengthen our community. The Impact of Your Sponsorship Your sponsorship helps support: • Youth leadership and scholarship programs • Local service projects and community initiatives • Rotary’s international humanitarian efforts • Global polio eradication efforts • Volunteer programs serving our region When you sponsor Mardi Gras Mind Games, you are investing in programs that create meaningful and lasting impact. Scan the QR Code to purchase tickets and more information about the event. For sponsorship information, contact Brandon at BDiviak@ResourceBank.com
Northern Illinois University (NIU) Athletics Director Sean Frazier elaborates for Sycamore Rotarians on how athletics in the community has changed rapidly over the last couple of years. Frazier referred to the open transfer portal, payfor athletes on top of scholarships, and conference realignments including NIU’s switch to the Mountain West Conference for football and the Horizon league for other sports (with wrestling and gymnastics staying in the Mid-American Conference since those sports are not offered in the Horizon League).
NIU Athletics Director Sean Frazier admits there are many challenges to the recent way college athletics have evolved but says he remains committed to keeping sports and pursuit of a degree in balance for their students. Frazier referred to the pay allowed for college athletes as the biggest change followed by the open transfer portal and conference realignments. This includes NIU’s switch to the Mountain West Conference for football and the Horizon League for 14 other sports (while wrestling and gymnastics remain with the Mid-American Conference because they are not offered in the Horizon League).
Frazier says he has a good feel for the checks and balances needed under the new rules for college sports since he serves as president of the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Association. He admits that the traditional four-year development of an athlete is just not happening because of the financial gain the pay and portal options permit. Frazier suggested that future regulation is needed in the student athlete agent system along with limits on number of portal transfers allowed.
Frazier gave some specific examples on how the new rules for college athlete pay and transfer work. He said payments to star athletes beyond scholarships can go up to the millions of dollars. This results in frequent use of the transfer portal to get the best deal according to Frazier, but not necessarily the best sports opportunity or education. Frazier noted the return of football star player Cam Thompson to NIU after originally leaving for Mississippi State but finding a lack of playing time at his new school was not to his liking.
Frazier says his own job now reflects the more commercial aspects of college sports. He explained that this is reflected in NIU’s move to the Mountain West Conference for football where television revenue sharing is greatly enhanced over their previous alliance with the Mid-American Conference (MAC), easily making up for any difference in travel costs. At the same time, Frazier says he still holds goals of high scholastic standing and community volunteerism as key parts of the culture of NIU athletics.
April 15, 1452 – Italian painter, sculptor, scientist, and visionary Leonardo da Vinci is born in Florence, Italy.
April 16, 1867 – Aviation pioneer Wilbur Wright is born in Millville, Indiana.
April 16, 1889 – Film legend Charlie Chaplin is born in Walworth, England.
April 17, 1918 – American actor William Holden (The Blue Knight, Sunset Boulevard, Sabrina, The Bridge on the River Kwai) is born in O’Fallon, Illinois.
April 14, 1865 – President Abraham Lincoln is shot and mortally wounded while watching a play at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C.
April 15, 1947 – 28-year-old Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American player in Major League Baseball when he steps onto Ebbets Field to compete for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
April 15, 1912 – The supposedly unsinkable luxury ocean liner Titanic strikes an iceberg while crossing the Atlantic on its maiden voyage and tragically sinks with a loss of more than 1,500 lives.
April 18, 1906 – An early morning earthquake rocks San Francisco causing the deaths of over 4,000 people and destruction of 10,000 acres of property.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2025-2026
President – Jonelle Bailey
President Elect – Becky Springer
Director (President Nominee) – Matt Nelson
Director (President Designee) -
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 Meyers
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 Meyers, Matt Nelson, Riley Oncken, Jeff Petersen, Bob Wildendradt
New Generations: Chip Houdek, Julie Sgarlata, Becky Springer
Public Image: Bob Brown, Paul Callighan, Jeff Keicher, Joyce Klein, Tasha Sims
Scholarships:Tim Neubert, Ray Dembinski, Phil Meyers, Michele Jurkovic, Steve Kuhn
Service: Brandon Diviak, Jeff Frank, Michele Jurkovic, Rob Mondi, Tim Neubert, Brendan Wilson
