Sycamore Rotary Club members took part in a mid-year club assembly this week. A highlight was the appearance of Theresa Tevsh of the Sycamore Park District who was “live” from the District’s tree display to show-off the “People’s Choice Award” won by the Rotary tree. Ornaments placed on the tree represented a $30 donation for a coat for the club’s “Coats for Kids” initiative. The ornaments were made by Interact Club members, Rotaract members decorated the tree. Over $2,000 was raised for the coat project.
Club President Michael DeVito recapped highlights from the first six months of the Rotary year. These included the multiple variations of holding meetings during the COVID-19 19 pandemic, helping launch a revitalized Rotaract chapter, the special tree planting at Oak Crest in honor of member Barry Schrader, a unique Club Gala fundraiser, and the Fall Harvest Raffle in place of the Pumpkinfest pancake breakfast.
Officers and committee chairs also gave updates. Treasurer Dr. Michele Jurkovic reported that club finances are stable although with no in-person meetings being held, voluntary fines to help support scholarships need to be reported. Secretary Sally Bruch reported total active club membership stands at 53, and when adding in Rotaract and Oak Crest satellite clubs, membership totals 105. As always, Rotarians are urged to seek out new members even during the pandemic. Publicity chair Bob Brown reported on the great success achieved in placing articles in the Daily Chronicle and Midweek and showed various examples via a PowerPoint slide. Foundation Chair Paul Stromborg reported on progress towards the end of year goal of $10,000 and how Polio plus giving has already met goal. However, he noted annual giving trends have been declining since 2016 and will need to be addressed. Scholarship Chair Tim Neubert gave an open invitation for interested Rotarians to join the committee.
President-elect Paulette Renault helped wrap-up the meeting by giving credit to Michael DeVito for the excitement created during this current year and also pledging to build on the philanthropic efforts of the club. President DeVito concluded by looking ahead at a calendar of events for the remaining months of the Rotary year especially pointing out plans to apply for a District grant and the scholarship presentations to be held in May.
In spite of challenging rainy and snowy weather, this past Saturday, December 12th, members of the Rotary Club of Sycamore supported our local Salvation Army Bell Ringing efforts at the Sycamore Jewel Store. In addition to sharing "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holidays", and "Happy Hanukah" greetings with store shoppers, Rotarians shared the warmth of the season with their friendly wishes and even some Christmas song singing helping folks get into the holiday spirit in this very tough year.
This year's effort was coordinated by Stephen Hansen, Captain of the Salvation Army, Steve Wilder, Superintendent of Sycamore School District #427 along with Club President Michael DeVito. Participating members included: Michael DeVito, The Wilders, Renae Wilkinson, Steve Kuhn, Fred Peltz, Stephen Hansen, Heidi Wright, Michele Jurkovic & Family, Madeline DeVito, Jim Buck, Bob Brown, Sally Bruch, Jeff Jacobson, Paul Stromberg, and Jeff Peterson.
"Service Above Self" is the Rotary Club's motto that all members try to live up to...whether it's delivering "Meals on Wheels", our annual grammar school "Coats for Kids" drive, or financially supporting the two area Food Pantries, the Sycamore Rotary is an active club that is comprised of community members who are dedicated to helping make our town a better place to live, work, and raise our families.
The Rotary Club of Sycamore is one of over 34,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide of the world's largest international service organization. Our local club is very active, helping international, regional, and local efforts focused on our motto of "Service Above Self".
Our speaker this week will be Justine Whitehouse from RAMP with update on the organization's activities.
Following is our schedule of upcoming speakers/presentations:
Wednesday, June 2 (Hybrid meeting: In-person at Blumen Gardens and online via Zoom): RAMP (Justine Whitehouse)
Wednesday, June 9 (Hybrid meeting: In-person at Blumen Gardens and online via Zoom): Interact (Madeline DeVito) & Rotary Foundation (Paul Stromborg)
Wednesday, June 16 (Hybrid meeting: In-person at Blumen Gardens and online via Zoom): District Governor Nominee (Laura Kann) & Springfield Update (Jeff Keicher)
Wednesday, June 23 (Hybrid meeting: In-person at Blumen Gardens and online via Zoom): Year in Review (Michael DeVito)
Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
December 16, 1773 – The Boston Tea Party occurred as colonials dumped 342 containers of expensive tea into the harbor.
December 17, 1903 – After three years of experimentation, Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first powered and controlled airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
December 14, 1911 – Norwegian explorer Ronald Amundsen becomes the first person to reach the South Pole.
December 15, 1939 – The epic movie “Gone With the Wind” had its world premier in Atlanta, Georgia.
December 16, 1770 – Ludwig von Beethoven, considered the greatest orchestral performer who ever lived, is born in Bonn, Germany.
December 16, 1775 – British romance novelist Jane Austen is born in Hampshire, England.
December 15, 1832 – French engineer Alexandre Eiffel is born in Dijon, France. Besides designing the Eiffel Tower, he also helped design the Statue of Liberty.
December 14, 1896 – World War II General James “Jimmy” Doolittle is born in Alameda, California. In 1942, he led a squadron of B-25 bombers launched from the aircraft carrier Hornet to conduct the first American air raid of the war against Japan.
Rotarian Sycamore School District Superintendent Steve Wilder is joined by two of his children Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army outside the Jewel-Osco store in Sycamore.
