State Rep. Jeff Keicher speaks to the Rotary Club of Sycamore, of which he is a member.
President Michael DeVito II shares his Year in Review message with fellow club members.
Mike Villalta (left) was inducted into the club this week (congratulations, Mike!), with 2020-2021 Club President Michael DeVito performing the ceremony and Eric Jones, Mike's club sponsor, looking on.
Bring your containers of loose change to “Rotary Fundraising Change Day” July 14
State Representative and Sycamore Rotarian Jeff Keicher gave an update on the recently completed legislative session during this week’s meeting. He highlighted issues related to legislative district remapping, state budget revenues, and pending energy legislation.
Legislative District remapping happens every ten years to adjust boundaries based on the latest census numbers. However, Keicher said the delay in detailed census data caused by the Covid-19 pandemic led to a remap plan by the Democratic controlled legislature using an alternative data base. As a Republican, Keicher says he and other members of his party question the accuracy of the alternate data and have filed a Federal lawsuit against the remap. Other groups and organizations have also filed lawsuits or indicated they plan to do so. Additionally, Keicher expressed disappointment with the remap in the way it splits DeKalb County into several different legislative districts saying it favors a specific Democratic legislator.
Despite the pandemic, Keicher said revenue to support the state budget is ahead of projections by $938 million. Keicher said this is due to positive economic development like the Facebook data center in DeKalb. Keicher was a backer of legislation that encourages data center investment in Illinois. Keicher also noted other types of investment, such as a major Amazon distribution center in Huntley, brought on by the location of key highway and rail linkages and robust airport systems in the state plus a world class workforce.
Yet to be resolved, according to Keicher, is legislation to preserve continued operation of the state’s nuclear plants like the Byron Generating Station and subsidize wind and solar construction to achieve the Governor’s goal of 100% carbon-free energy by 2050. A sticking point is setting a date requiring all coal plants in the state to shut down, since several municipally-owned power systems have specific bond commitments for a power plant that went on line in 2012.
Sycamore Rotarians donated $328.22 in change (as well as some paper money) during Wednesday's meeting, which is fantastic...but we can do better! So bring your loose change to the July 21st meeting to support the Sycamore Rotary's EarlyAct and Interact Clubs! Thanks so much!
At the beginning of this year [as the COVID pandemic raged on], I spoke about Rotarians innate ability to coordinate and execute their combined treasure, talent, and time to do good in the community. In the midst of uncertainty and despair, this club rose to the occasion. I asked this club on July 1, 2020, to not back down but instead to trudge forward --- to open opportunities --- to help one another--- to exemplify Service above Self. I stand before you today-- reporting a job well done.
Taking a look back at the year in review, here is a brief overview of what our club and board was up to:
The board of directors exchanged 305 email threads, over 1,250 emails and participated in over 100 hours of in-person, over-the-phone and Zoom board coordination within the realm of a Rotary Board meeting. Outside of these Rotary board meetings the board spent over 2,000 hours preparing, planning, and executing the operation of the Rotary Club of Sycamore in the midst of the COVID pandemic. A challenge not many clubs were able to face. The board exchanged over 120 emails with the DeKalb County board of health and received over 30 COVID guidance updates and/or changes that required adjustment to the Rotary Calendar and/or meetings and events. Food, labor and venue shortages, closures, and price fluctuations were just some of the hurdles faced as the year progressed. Board members and club members pitched in to follow COVID capacity constraints and allowance for continued Rotary Club meetings without service interruptions. Multiple reservation systems were established and utilized for meeting RSVPs to keep in line with COVID capacity constraints along with redesigned meeting room floor plans, administered state mandated health and safety protocols, sanitation measures, public postings, temperature checks and social distancing practices. Regular contact was made with the membership via email, phone and at times of state mandated lockdown, Zoom with flexible hybrid programs and program speakers along with a voucher food system was offered to allow for meals and presentation remotely as needed.
What did COVID do to our budget? With a projected budget of $117,705 at the start of the year I am proud to present a more than $10,000 surplus as we end the year. This surplus is being used to offset the accounts receivable billing issues that have historically plagued the club from the time delay between national and district dues and collection of club dues. A problem solved. Over the last 14 years the Rotary Club of Sycamore has been plagued with looming IRS contentions and at times this year, proposed fines exceeding $30,000. Due to the hard work of our amazing board, this issue was finally resolved (at no cost to the club). This pandemic year we planned to keep the donations goal/budget at $25,000 - in line with prior years. I am proud to say we made charitable donations in excess of $42,000. We also funded ten High School Scholarships totaling $10,000, a $2,000 increase from prior years.
The Rotary Club of Sycamore led District 6420 in in-person meeting and event gatherings both in participation, quantity and safety with shareable advice and practices extended out from our board to clubs such as Rockford, Twin Cities, and Moline.
The Rotary Club of Sycamore saw a nearly monthly presence in the Midweek, Chronicle, and other news outlets, keeping the community in touch with the good that Rotary was doing even in the presence of calamity and kept the membership informed and entertained with an extremely well done weekly Spoke.
Last minute changes and pivoting were the theme of Rotary year 2020-2021. Rotary Club members stepped up, were flexible, were understanding, and when times were bleak, ideas were hatched. Never has been more true the idea that necessity breeds innovation.
Much to the tune of it's wartime origins, the Rotary Club of Sycamore created and grew a Rotaract Club beginning July 1, 2020. With the seed capital from the Rotary Club of Sycamore, this club has seen extreme growth and success in light of constant struggles from COVID, executing seven service projects, three fundraisers, and comprising over 15 members in its founding year. This club looks forward to growth and to serve as a feeder club to the Rotary Club of Sycamore as well as the once missing link between High School Interact and Rotary.
The High School Interact Club was at times the only high school club actively meeting and when allowable, meeting in person. The Interact Club had year over year membership growth exceeding 500% compared to prior years. The Interact Club participated in nine service projects and two fundraisers with membership reaching a new record for the High School Interact Club. This could not have happened without the generosity of the Interact Club's advisors willingness to hold meetings, encourage leadership, and donate their time, donate their talent, and donate their $2,000 Rotary-paid salary right back to the Interact Club for use by the students at Sycamore High School.
At the beginning of this year, I asked this club to not back down but instead to trudge forward. I can say with great pride, we did just that.
Congratulations Rotary Club of Sycamore for YOUR JOB WELL DONE.
Below is a list of art fairs in the northern Illinois area that I found for the next few months. There are probably more, but this is a start. If you are looking for a good time, art fairs are usually a lot of fun. If you go, please collect business cards from vendors and any literature about the event. Get them to me and we can create a data base of vendors for our future event. Remember, no database, no event. Let's all get behind this and have some fun. Pick a fair and a couple of other Rotarians and make a fun day of it.
June 20, 1924 – American military hero Audie Murphy is born in Kingston, Texas. He was the most decorated American soldier of World War II, awarded 37 medals including the Medal of honor. After the war he became an actor making 45 films.
June 21, 1982 – Britain’s Prince William is born in London to Princess Diana and Prince Charles becoming second in line for the British throne.
June 24, 1895 – Boxing champ Jack Dempsey is born in Manassa, Colorado, leading to his nickname “The Manassa Mauler.” He reigns as heavyweight champion from 1919 until 1926.
June 25, 1903 – British satirist George Orwell (known for “Animal Farm” and “1984”) is born in Monthari, Bengal.
June 24, 1948 – Soviet Russia began a blockade of Berlin. Two days later the U.S. and Great Britain began the famous Berlin Airlift. They ultimately deliver 2.3 million pounds of food, fuel, and medical supplies to 2 million isolated West Berliners.
June 25, 1876 – General George Armstrong Custer leading 250 men attacked an encampment of Sioux Indians near Little Big Horn River in Montana. Custer and his men were then counter-attacked by up to 4,000 Sioux Indians. Only one army scout and one horse survived “Custer’s Last Stand.”
June 25, 1950 – The Korean War began as North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel and launched a full-scale invasion of South Korea.
June 26, 1945 – The United Nations charter is signed by 50 nations (formal ratification occurs October 24, 1945).
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