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WE HAVE A WINNER!
Rotarian Becky Springer is the winner of the 50/50 scholarship raffle, drawing the Ace of Spades from among 15 remaining cards in the deck.  Her winnings will be half of the $3,645 accumulated during the long drought since the last time the Ace of Spades was drawn.  Becky will share the winnings with her six other tablemates who had pooled their raffle tickets.  Rumors of Becky saying she was feeling lucky just prior to the drawing were certainly true.  Congratulations! 
Alzheimer's Association Program Manager Aileen Zei from Rockford  made a return trip to Sycamore Rotary to elaborate on the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease.  Zei’s message included the importance of early detection and how advances in treatment can moderate the impact of the disease.
News/Updates
Early Detection Plays a Big Role in Treating Alzheimer's Disease
One in three families are affected by Alzheimer's Disease according to Association Program Manager Aileen Zei of Rockford who followed up on her earlier visit in January to go into more detail on early warning signs of the disease.  Zei went through ten specific items to watch for:
  1. Memory changes that disrupt daily life such as repeatedly asking for the same information or forgetting important dates and events.
  2. Challenges in planning and solving problems which can translate into trouble following a familiar recipe or keeping track of monthly bills.
  3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks such as driving to a familiar location or remembering the rules to a favorite game.
  4. Confusion with time or place; maybe even forgetting where they are at or how they got there.
  5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships, including not recognizing themselves in a mirror.
  6. Problems with correct use of words in speaking or writing.
  7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.
  8. Decreased or poor judgement such as spending large amounts of money on-line or with telemarketers.
  9. Withdrawal from work or social activities.
  10. Changes in mood and personality including being confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful, or anxious.
 
Zei said awareness of these symptoms should be addressed early on in order to open the door to new treatment options.  She admitted that a conversation  about Alzheimer’s Disease can be challenging for all parties involved, but taking the next step for evaluation by a health professional is essential if there is going to be hope for treatment.  The Alzheimer’s Association staffs a 24-hour a day, 7-day-a week help line:  800-272-3900.  They also have web site with  information at www.alz.org/illinois.
Famous Birthdays This Week
January 6, 1412 – Joan of Arc is born in France.  After a series of mystic visions, she inspires French troops to break the British siege at Orleans and win several important battles during the Hundred Years War.
 
January 8, 1935 – The American King of Rock and Roll (with such hits as “Hound Dog”, “Love Me Tender”, “Heartbreak Hotel”, and “Suspicious Minds”), movie actor, and Las Vegas performer Elvis Presley is born in Tupelo, Mississippi.
 
January 9, 1913 – 37th President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, is born in Yorba Linda, California.  Nixon served in the U.S. Senate, was Vice President under Dwight Eisenhower, and staged a political comeback after losing to John F. Kennedy in the 1960 Presidential election, winning the Presidency in 1968.  His early successes ending U.S. military involvement in the Viet Nam war and a landmark visit to China in 1972 were diminished by his direct involvement in the Watergate scandal.
 
January 11, 1755 – Alexander Hamilton is born in the British West Indies.  He was chosen by George Washington to be the first Secretary of the Treasury.  He died from a gunshot wound in a duel with Aaron Burr.
This Week in History
January 5, 1925 – Nellie Taylor Ross of Wyoming becomes the first woman governor inaugurated in the U.S.
 
January 9, 1972 – The longest winning streak for a major professional sports team is snapped at 33 games when the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Los Angeles Lakers, 120 – 104.  A 39-point performance by the Buck’s Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (later traded to the Lakers in 1975) hands the Lakers their first loss since October 31.
 
January 10, 1776 – Thomas Paine published his 50-page pamphlet on American independence, “Common Sense”, influencing among others the authors of the Declaration of Independence.
 
January 11, 1964 – The U. S. Surgeon General declared cigarettes may be hazardous to one’s health, the first such official government report.
________________________________________
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, 2024-2025
 
President – Steve Wilder
President Elect – Jonelle Bailey
Director (President Nominee) – Becky Springer
Director (President Designee) - Matt Nelson
Past President – Brandon Diviak
Treasurer – Dr. Michele Jurkovic
Secretary – Pat Shafer
Sergeant at Arms – Paulette Renault
 
 
Monthly Committees
July: Board of Directors
August: Brandon Diviak, Jeff Keicher, Pat Shafer
September: Dave Hamilton, Jeff Jacobson, Jim Stoddard
October: Paul Callighan, Matt Nelson, Paul Stromborg
November: Sue Emberson, Jeff Frank, Phil Meyer
December: Larry Berke, Ray Dembinski, Riley Oncken
January: Joyce Klein, Rob Mondi, Tim Neubert
February: Jonelle Bailey, Becky Springer, Tasha Sims
March: Jim Buck, Chip Houdek, Brendan Wilson
April: Alicia Cosky, Bob Hammon, Jeff Petersen
May: Bob Brown, Steve Kuhn, Heather Tomlinson
June: Paulette Renault, Steve Wilder
 

Standing Committees

Fellowship: Paulette Renault, Larry Berke, Sue Emberson, Dave Hamilton, Pat Shafer

Foundations: Paul Stromborg, Jim Buck, Sue Emberson, Matt Nelson, Jim Stoddard

Membership: Jonelle Bailey, Ray Dembinski, Brandon Diviak, Bob Hammon, Jeff Jacobson, Steve Kuhn, Phil Meyer, Matt Nelson, Riley Oncken, Jeff Petersen, Bob Wildendradt

New Generations: Chip Houdek, Julie Sgarlata, Becky Springer, Steve Wilder

Public Image: Bob Brown, Paul Callighan, Jeff Keicher, Joyce Klein, Tasha Sims

Scholarships: Tim Neubert, Don Clayberg, Ray Dembinski, Michele Jurkovic, Steve Kuhn, Julie Sgarlata

Service: Brandon Diviak, Alicia Cosky, Jeff Frank, Michele Jurkovic, Rob Mondi, Tim Neubert, Brendan Wilson

Upcoming Events
Sycamore Rotary Club: Program/Speaker TBA
St. Mary's Parish Activity Center
Feb. 19, 2025
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
 
Sycamore Rotary Club: Program/Speaker TBA
St. Mary's Parish Activity Center
Feb. 26, 2025
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
 
Sycamore Rotary Club: Program/Speaker TBA
St. Mary's Parish Activity Center
Mar. 05, 2025
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
 
Sycamore Rotary Club: Program/Speaker TBA
St. Mary's Parish Activity Center
Mar. 12, 2025
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
 
Sycamore Rotary Club: Program/Speaker TBA
St. Mary's Parish Activity Center
Mar. 19, 2025
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
 
Sycamore Rotary Club: Program/Speaker TBA
St. Mary's Parish Activity Center
Mar. 26, 2025
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
 
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To provide feedback or contribute content for this newsletter, please contact Tim Neubert at timneubert90@gmail.com.