At the rear in his red End Polio hat, Sycamore Rotarian and Foundation Chair Dr. Paul Stromborg met with officers and members of our Oak Crest satellite club this week to share some of our sponsoring Club’s activities including Rotaract, Interact, Rotary Reader program, and our upcoming Pancake Breakfast during the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival. Along with his “sidekick” Bob Brown, Paul underlined the key responsibilities of being a Rotarian including their financial support of the RI Foundation as well as the eradication of Polio. We committed to trying to improve communication and local Rotary event participation and to better improve financial reporting.
Paul also mentioned District Governor David Bills’ visit to our Club and his expressed interest in also visiting Oak Crest.
Brendan Wilson, Ph.D (Lt. Col. US Army - Retired), a local resident with a storied career in the military and diplomacy (as well as many other interests), shared some of his perspectives on NATO during his presentation to the Rotary Club of Sycamore this week.
Following 25 years of military service as a US Army ranger and paratrooper, Brendan Wilson retired as a lieutenant colonel and then joined NATO where he served as a defense planner and diplomat for the next 15 years. During the course of his 40 years of work as a soldier and diplomat, he saw service in war-torn Libya, Ukraine, Kosovo, Bosnia, and Iraq.
A former coach and team captain for a military martial arts competition team, he holds master ranking (8th Dan) in three different martial arts. He won the silver medal for taekwondo at the 2009 US Open. Wilson was co-founder of a martial arts style, Aristos, which currently has practitioners in ten countries.
In retirement, Wilson turned his efforts to filmmaking. He wrote and produce two award-winning short films: Doug's Christmas and A Child Lies Here; and he served as executive producer for ten episodes of the award-winning web series, Greetings! From Prison.
His science fiction novel, The Achilles Battle Fleet, will be released in October, published by Literate Ape Press. It is available in print, Kindle, and audio editions. During Wednesday's Rotary Club meeting, Wilson announced that club members would have discounted access to the book, and 100% of profits from all purchases using the discount would be given to the Club as a charitable donation. How very generous!
Wilson has a BS in Economics, an MBA, and a Ph.D. in International Relations. He is a graduate of the US Army Airborne, Ranger, and Air Assault schools. His professional publications include topics of military tactics, counter-terrorism, and NATO defense issues.
Moved by seeing human lives upended in war-torn areas, Wilson is earning his law degree and is in his final year. Once qualified as an attorney, he plans to volunteer to help refugees.
Wilson lives a quiet life in Sycamore. He spends his days writing, hiking, studying law, and practicing his martial arts.
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.
Posted by David Bills, District 6420 Governor on Sep 13, 2021
Dear Rotary Club Presidents, Club Secretaries, and All District 6420 Rotarians,
It is time for our clubs to consider nominating a Rotarian to serve as Governor for Rotary District 6420 for the 2024-25 Rotary year.
The qualifications to become Governor include being a member in good standing of a club in good standing, serving at least one full term as a club president, and being available in person to meet with the Nominating Committee on the date set by that committee. That interview date is tentatively set for Saturday, December 4, 2021.
The successful candidate will join the Governor Line, serving as the District Governor Nominee Designate in the second half of the 2021-22 Rotary year, District Governor Nominee in 2022-23, District Governor Elect in 2023-24, and District Governor in 2024-25.
There is an expectation that a Past District Governor will continue to serve the District in some leadership position for at least two years following the Governor year. A high-quality Governor training program is provided by Zone, Region, and Rotary International personnel.
A prospective candidate should contact me or any past Governor with any questions.
Each club is eligible to nominate one candidate, and the club must sign off on their full support for their candidate. Official nomination forms are available by contacting me. Also, the nomination forms need to be returned to me by the deadline for nominations which is Monday, November 15, 2021. Candidates will be contacted to set up interviews following the deadline.
PLEASE MAKE THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO ALL YOUR MEMBERS.
Feel free to contact me with any questions, or for more information.
September 20, 1934 – International film star and Italy’s most renowned and honored actress, Sophia Loren is born in Rome, Italy.
September 22, 1791 – British scientist Michael Faraday is born in Surrey, England. His discovery of electromagnetic induction results in the development of electric generators.
September 24, 1896 – Writer F. Scott Fitzgerald (“This Side of Paradise”, “The Great Gatsby”) is born in St. Paul, Minnesota.
September 24, 1936 – Puppeteer Jim Henon is born in Greenville, Mississippi.
September 20, 1973 – The much-hyped “Battle of the Sexes” took place in the Houston Astrodome as tennis great Billie Jean King defeated women’s tennis critic and former men’s champion Bobby Riggs in three straight sets.
September 21, 1949 - Following a civil war, the People’s Republic of China is proclaimed by its Communist Leaders as the Nationalist Chinese government retreats to the island of Taiwan.
September 23, 1862 – President Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation changing from slave to free the federal legal status of more than 3.5 million African Americans enslaved in the Confederate States.
September 24, 1957 – President Dwight Eisenhower ordered the National Guard to enforce racial integration of schools in Little Rock, Arkansas.