The Spoke -- January 19, 2017 (Jan 19, 2017)

Guest Speaker: Gene Ege

The biggest piece of the Sycamore Fire Department's history is close to being fully restored; now, the volunteers who are helping to preserve a historic 1923 Stutz fire engine, want to finish the job by getting it running...and finding a suitable place to put it on display.

Retired Sycamore Fire Chief Gene Ege is one of the many current and former SFD members who have worked to restore the truck; it was in use until the mid-1950's, and kept by the department until it was auctioned off in 1966. It passed through several owners, including a fire truck collector in Wisconsin who refused to sell it back when Ege discovered it there around 1986. He died soon after, and it was acquired by another collector in Indiana; he offered to sell it back for $16,000 -- no less -- and Ege was joined by others in the community in raising the funds to bring the Stutz home.

That was in August 2001; 9/11, and Hurricane Katrina a few years later, caused fundraising efforts to languish, and the truck sat in storage. But in 2013, the effort to put it back in its former state was renewed; Jerry Didio at Marty & Sons Bodyshop offered to do the work, and the newly-formed Sycamore Fire Preservation Co. Ltd. raised the monies needed to put it back into pristine conditon.

Ege says they are now concentrating on getting the engine running; it worked 15 years ago, so he believes it can be fixed. They are also looking to find storage and display space at the Sycamore History Museum; the truck is currently put on display at public events two or three times a year.

Open house to launch Answers 4 SUDC campaign on January 26th

All Rotarians are invited to an Open House to mark the launch of the Answers 4 SUDC campaign for 2017; Drs. Jeff and Kristy Frank invite you to attend the event on Thursday, January 26th.

It will be held at the home of Shawn and Kelly Tilstra, located at 348 Merry Oaks Drive in Sycamore from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. A brief presentation will be given at 7 p.m.

This event, and this year's campaign, will be held to raise funds for research into Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood; the website at www.answers4sudc.com will go live, and there will be more information on how to support the campaign, including:

-- Philanthropic Support

-- Social Media Campaign: #Cartwheels4SUDC

-- Memorial Chinese Lantern Launch

-- Special Concert Event on May 20th, 2017

Other Meeting Notes from January 18, 2017

Mark Borowicz has become the newest member of the Sycamore Rotary Club, as he was sworn in during the January 18th meeting. He and his wife Laurie are both in the education field -- he at NIU, and she as President of Kishwaukee College.

Mark becomes the first new member to be issued the new version of The Spoon; as is customary, he will have to carry it at all times until another member joins...and he can pass it on to them.

-- Jeffrey Frank has qualified as a Paul Harris Fellow; he was presented with his pin and certificate during the meeting.

-- The Rotarians at Work Day committee held its initial meeting of the year; this year's event will be held on Saturday, May 6th. Full details will be given at an upcoming Rotary Club meeting.

Attendance Report -- January 11, 2017

Attendance: 46.38%

Attendance Report -- January 18, 2017

Attendance: 52.17%

Guests of Members: Laurie Borowicz (Mark Borowicz), Kelly Wolf (sister of Jeff Keicher), Dan Bryden (friend of Eric Jones), Chad Jewett (prospective member)

Feb 01, 2017

Bob Shipman

Opportunity House

Feb 08, 2017

Sue Emberson

Club Assembly

Feb 15, 2017

Brian Gregory

City of Sycamore

View entire list

Board Meeting

Feb 01, 2017
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Club Assembly

Feb 08, 2017
11:45 AM – 1:00 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