The Spoke -- February 14, 2017 (Feb 14, 2017)

2017 Club Assembly

Club President Sue Emberson presided over the annual Club Assembly at the February 8th meeting, and laid out goals which the Rotary Club set forth during its visioning process last September.

She outlined five goals that the Club should strive to reach by 2020:

- Become the premium service club in Sycamore, with a membership of 100

- Become actively engaged in meaningful leadership projects

- Have $50,000 in funds available annually to support special projects

- Have 100% of the members be Paul Harris Fellows

- Hold an annual community service project

Membership is of concern for our Rotary Club; just a few years after being recognized by District 6420 for increasing our membership to 90, we have since suffered the second-highest drop in membership…as our roster has fallen to just 70 members.

Rotarians are being asked to actively seek out new members, and sponsors should work to find ways to get them immediately involved…as well as working on a cause they care about. The Club will strive to have new members work with their sponsor in identifying a project they would to work on; the Board would authorize up to $300 towards the project, and a description of that project should be part of the new member’s classification speech.

One project brought to us by a new member involves the construction of a playground, specifically for children with physical and developmental challenges. Marijo Schwartz is the early childhood coordinator for Sycamore District 427; she is currently working on development of an 80’ x 80’ enclosed playground, to be installed at South Prairie Elementary. She is reaching out to multiple community partners, including service clubs and community donors; she hopes to complete the initial phase during the 2017/2018 school year.

Funds from the weekly water project raffle could be redirected towards this effort; the Sycamore Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Chimoio are finishing up their commitment to the water project, and a new use for those funds is being sought.

And Rotarians indicated that they want to see a renewed effort to publicize our events and projects; while these get thorough coverage on our various club platforms, more public information will be released via the Daily Chronicle and other public sources.

Upcoming events scheduled for Sycamore Rotary

- An open house for our departing delegation of exchange students will be held on Thursday, March 2nd at Taxco Restaurant; it will be from 6:00 to about 8:00 p.m. Come say farewell to our friends, as they prepare to return to Argentina.

- Hula-for-Loota will be held on Thursday, April 20th at Chapel in the Pines, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

- Our Rotary Club will be helping out with the Bike MS: Tour de Farms on June 10th and 11th; we will be asked to man a water station along the route. Times and assignments will be determined later.

- The Installation Luncheon for District 6420 Governor Steve Kuhn will be held on Sunday, June 25th at Faranda's Banquet Center in downtown DeKalb; it will be from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. This will be the formal induction for DG Steve, as well as for incoming President Eric Jones and our other officers for the coming Rotary year.

- With our officers' installation moved to that date, the annual Golf Outing on Wednesday, June 28th will conclude with a post-event dinner; no formal ceremonies will be held that evening.

Registration open for District 6420 Conference, April 28-30 at Starved Rock

Early registration is now open for this year's District 6420 Conference, to be held from April 28th-30th at Starved Rock State Park.

The weekend will feature a number of Rotary-related presentations, District awards and business, and a variety of events for Rotarians and their families.

Go to this link for more information about the Conference, or go here to register. (Sign up early, and save $50 to $100!)

Attendance Report -- February 8, 2017

Attendance: 59.42%

Guests: Chase Goodeill (Eric Jones; prospective member), Marcela Silva, Victoria Besi, Sebastian Swimmen and Manuela Jubete (exchange students); Candela Bueno (exchange teacher)

Feb 22, 2017

Brian Gregory w/Mayor Ken Mundy

City of Sycamore

Mar 01, 2017

Jane Lux, DCHD

Public Health Referendum

Mar 08, 2017

Rose Treml

Sycamore Chamber Young Professionals

Mar 15, 2017

Mark Borowicz

Classification Speech

Mar 22, 2017

Tara Russo

Elder Care Services

Mar 29, 2017

Jessie Butz

Director, Sycamore Public Library

View entire list

Exchange Student Farewell Open House

Taxco Restaurant

Mar 02, 2017
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Club Information

Welcome to our Club!

Service Above Self

We meet Wednesdays at 11:45 AM

Blumen Gardens Banquet Facility

403 Edward Street
Sycamore, IL 60178
United States

District Site

Venue Map

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2016-2017

President -- Sue Emberson

President-Elect -- Eric Jones

Past President -- Russell Bishop

Secretary -- Sally Bruch

Treasurer -- Michele Jurkovic

Director -- Ray Dembinski

Director -- Pat Shafer

Assistant Treasurer -- Lavarre Uhlken

Sergeant-at-Arms -- Brian Adams

Monthly Committees

July -- Curt Lang, Gary Evans, Jim Moris, Chip Houdek, Sally Bruch, Fred Peltz

August -- Barry Schrader, Ben Swedberg, Lloyd Larson, Jim Buck, Julenne Davey, Dave McCann

September -- Mario Fontana, Paul Michel, Bert Gray, Jeff Jacobson, Tim Carlson, Brandon Diviak

October -- Jeff Frank, Marcy Buick, Dave Andrews, Jim Schwartzbach, Dave Miller, Don Clayberg

November -- Pete Johnson, Dave Galica, Julie Sgarlata, Kathy Countryman, Tami Armstrong, Troy Oates

December -- Steve Balster, Bob Wildendradt, Brad Waller, Eric Jones, Dan Gibble, Kathleen Merner

January -- Pat Shafer, Michele Jurkovic, Keven Dahl, Paul Barnaby, Heidi Wright

February -- Brian Gregory, Nicole Stuckert, Riley Oncken, Ahmed Kamel, Larry Berke

March -- Jeff Petersen, Paulette Renault, Russell Bishop, Ray Dembinski, Dave Hamilton, Steve Kuhn

April -- Paul Borek, Shelley Hendricks, Jim Bowers, Bob Hammon, Paul Callighan, Sajel Patel

May -- Mark Spiegelhoff, Cliff Bottigliero, Rose Henton, Mark Hilde, Darion Page, Rose Treml

June -- Paul Stromborg, Brian Adams, Lavarre Uhlken, Jeff Keicher, Jim Stoddard, Marijo Schwartz

New Generations

Chair—Julie Sgarlata

At-Large Committee Members – Kathy Countryman, Eric Jones, Don Clayberg, Julenne Davey, Nicole Stuckert

Sycamore H.S. Interact – Ben Swedberg

Sycamore M.S. Interact – Nicole Stuckert

South Prairie EarlyAct – Julie Sgarlata

North Grove EarlyAct – Mark Hilde

Long/Short Term Youth Exchange – Chip Houdek, Tim Carlson, Jeff Jacobson, Jeff Keicher

Group Study Exchange – Troy Oates, Fred Peltz

RYLA -- Ben Swedberg

Student of the Month – Steve Balster

Foundation & Grants

Chair – Paul Stromborg

At-Large Committee Members – Don Clayberg, Bob Hammon, Rose Henton
Polio Plus – Paul Stromborg, Curtis Lang, Bert Gray
Annual Giving/Foundation – Jim Stoddard, Jim Buck, Jim Bowers, Riley Oncken
Scholarships – Pete Johnson, Jeff Keicher, Ray Dembinski, Michele Jurkovic, Don Clayberg

Service Above Self and Service Projects

Chair – Ray Dembinski

Multiple Club Project Coordination – Bob Hammon, Dave Miller, Paul Stromborg, Keven Dahl

Water Project – Heidi Wright, Riley Oncken, Julenne Davey

Meals on Wheels (August) – Brian Adams, Curt Lang, Sejal Patel, Darion Page, Mark Spiegelhoff

Dictionary Distribution (September) – Lavarre Uhlken, Brian Adams, Shelley Hendricks

Pancake Breakfast (October) – Dave McCann, Marcy Buick, Marijo Schwartz, Brad Waller, Michele Jurkovic, Fred Peltz, Jeff Petersen, Paulette Renault

Feed My Starving Children (November) – Heidi Wright, Jeff Frank, Eric Jones, Paul Stromborg, Marijo Schwartz

Salvation Army Bell-Ringing (December) – Dave Andrews, Jim Moris, Kathy Countryman, Rose Treml, Paul Borek

Adopt a Family (December) – Heidi Wright, Dave Miller, Brad Waller, Julenne Davey

Rotarians at Work Day (May) – Brian Adams, Pat Shafer, Bert Gray, Brandon Diviak, Sejal Patel

Public Image and Awareness

Chair – Brian Adams

Website – Eric Jones, Fred Peltz, Paul Barnaby

The Spoke – Barry Schrader, Paul Barnaby, Brian Adams, Shelley Hendricks

Public Image Campaign and Social Media – Brian Adams, Marijo Schwartz, Mark Hilde

Sergeant at Arms – Brian Adams, Lavarre Uhlken, Barry Schrader, Curt Lang

IT/Audio-Visual – Eric Jones, Brian Adams, Dave Galica

Club Fellowship

Fines – Jeff Keicher, Riley Oncken, Paul Callighan, Marijo Schwartz, Jeff Jacobson, Jim Bowers

100% Attendance Lunch (August) – Sally Bruch

Holiday Party (December) – Jeff Petersen, Gary Evans, Dave Hamilton, Tami Armstrong, Paulette Renault, Julie Sgarlata

Rural-Urban Day (February) – Bob Wildenradt, Troy Oates, Larry Berke

Hula-for-Loota (April) – Paul Michel, Rose Henton, Julie Sgarlata, Tami Armstrong, Jim Bowers

Golf Outing (June) – Dan Gibble, Brian Gregory, Steve Balster, Brad Waller

Membership

Chair – Sally Bruch
Recruitment – All members are expected to bring at least one prospective member as a guest
New Member Orientation – Bob Hammon, Ray Dembinski, Brandon Diviak, Russell Bishop
Member Retention – Jim Stoddard, Bob Wildenradt, Larry Berke, Nicole Stuckert