Rotary Accepting Scholarship Applications

The Freeport Noon Rotary Club is once again seeking applicants to apply for the annual Noon Rotary Club College Scholarships.
The Rotary Club will award three high school and community college students $1,000 college scholarships. To qualify, the student must attend either Freeport High School or Aquin Catholic High School, have earned a 3.50 or above cumulative grade point average over the past seven semesters, and complete the application including essay. Highland Community College students who have earned a 3.50 or above cumulative grade point average over the past two semesters or a 3.50 or above cumulative grade point average during high school are also eligible.
The awardees will be selected by the Rotary Scholarship Committee based on their application, essay, and letters of reference. Application deadline is April 1, 2023. To receive an application, students should email Dr. Brendan Dutmer at Brendan.Dutmer@highland.edu.
Freeport Rotary Club was established in 1919 to provide service to others and promote integrity through fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. The Club participates in local services projects targeting youth literacy, scholarly recognition, student international exchange, and purchasing shoes for disadvantaged youth. Meetings are held at noon on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau. For more information, contact Dr. Brendan Dutmer at 815-994-2827.
Rotary Accepting Scholarship Applications 2023-02-20 06:00:00Z 0

Janet Biljeskovic to speak on Feb 21st

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The Freeport Noon Rotary Club will meet at Stephenson County Farm Bureau at 12pm on Monday, February 21st, 2022. The guest speaker will be Janet Biljeskovic.
 
Janet Biljeskovic is the Refugee Resettlement Director of the Catholic Charities of the diocese of Rockford.  She, herself, arrived as a refugee in 1994 from war torn former Yugoslavia and experienced resettled with same agency for which she is now working. Her background is in science but experiencing refugee resettlement gave her a passion for the resettlement program. She volunteered for the first 3 years while working on her language skills. January 1998, she began to work in this program that she holds deeply in her heart.  She will be sharing about processing refugees to United States, demographics, backgrounds and services they provide. 
 
Janet Biljeskovic to speak on Feb 21st Kate Boyer 2022-02-01 06:00:00Z 0

New Stephenson County Fair Manager to speak at Freeport Rotary Club 
 

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The Freeport Noon Rotary Club will meet at Stephenson County Farm Bureau at 12pm on Monday, September 20th.  The guest speaker will be Kate Boyer.
Mrs. Boyer was recently named the new Executive Manager of the Stephenson County Fair Association.
Kate comes to the association with decades of experience organizing community festivals as well her own nationally attended event, Homer Soda Festival.  She has been an entrepreneur for 20+ years with two main street retail stores and a gourmet glass bottled soda distribution business with customers across almost all 50 states and Canada.  In addition to her own businesses, Kate spent 25 years as bookkeeper for her family’s factory, a tier one leather saddle bag and tank panel manufacturer for Harley-Davidson.  Kate is a passionate volunteer and enjoys giving back to her community.  She is currently on the board for Noon Freeport Rotary, Northern Illinois Christian Home Educators and Creative Dramatics Workshop (Opera House).  She also enjoys volunteering with Freeport events and the Madonna Renewal Center.  Kate Boyer, along with her family, became recent transplants to Freeport from Champaign County when her husband, Rob, accepted a position with the City of Freeport.  She and Rob have been married for 20+ years have 6 children ranging in ages 2-20.  
Before moving to Freeport, she and her family enjoyed life on a 2- acre hobby farm outside of champaign where she and her daughter milked 2 Jersey cows, raised a few hogs every year, tended to about 60 chickens, and grew a huge vegetable and herb garden.  
Kate enjoys spending time with her family, cooking & baking (especially rustic breads, sour dough, mozzarella cheese, butter & homemade pasta), participating in living history with her girls, genealogy, exploring nature and just being outdoors.
She is now excited to start this new adventure in Stephenson County and combine her love of events with her love of livestock and community!
 
Freeport Rotary Club was established in 1919 to provide service to others and promote integrity through fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. The Club participates in local services projects targeting youth literacy, scholarly recognition, student international exchange, and purchasing shoes for disadvantaged youth. Meetings are held at noon on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau. 
New Stephenson County Fair Manager to speak at Freeport Rotary Club   Kate Boyer 2021-09-14 05:00:00Z 0

Jeff Reinke to Speak

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Please join us at our next club meeting on September 7th at noon to hear from Jeff Reinke.
Jeff has over 40 years of not-for-profit experience and has served as the Executive Director of the Highland Community College Foundation for the past four years.  Prior to that role he served as Assistant Vice President of Major Gifts for the Alexian Brothers Foundation and AMITA Health in Chicago where he oversaw the Major Gifts program for a $28 million Behavioral Health Campaign.
 
Prior to working for Alexian Brothers Foundation, Jeff served as the Fox River Valley Regional Foundation Director for Presence Health where he managed all fundraising efforts for Presence St. Joseph Hospital (Elgin) and Presence Mercy Medical Center (Aurora). He also managed fundraising efforts for the Rockford Region ministries including Presence Saint Joseph’s in Freeport 
 
Jeff also served as the Director of Development at Keith Country Day School in Rockford where he was responsible for coordinating the school’s Annual Fund Campaign and the Annual Classics & Chrome Car Show, 
 
Prior to arriving at Keith, he worked for the YMCA of Rock River Valley for seven years where he served as both the Executive Director of the I.D. Pennock Branch and Vice President of Development. While with the YMCA, he coordinated the annual Strong Kids Campaign and the Northeast Branch Capital Campaign which generated over $5 million to build a new facility on the northeast side of Rockford. He also organized and coordinated the first-ever Gus Macker Youth Basketball tournament, raising over $100,000 over a four-year period

Reinke began his not-for-profit career with the Muscular Dystrophy Association where he eventually assumed the role of District Director and was responsible for coordinating the Annual Labor Day Telethon.
 
He left MDA to accept the position of Executive Director for the Rockford Area Office of the American Cancer Society. There he introduced Hoops For Life, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament that generated over $30,000 locally and eventually grew into a state-wide event and was held in 22 different communities, including Freeport. He also was responsible for coordinating the inaugural Relay For LIfe in Winnebago County and Stephenson Counties and served on the Executive Vice President Advisory Council for the Illinois Division of the American Cancer Society.
 
Jeff graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with a B.S in Journalism and Marketing. He then accepted a position as the Sports Editor of the Dixon Evening Telegraph in Dixon, Illinois where he worked for three years covering all high school sports through northern Illinois. 

Jeff resides in Winnebago with his wife Chris who is a 2nd Grade Teacher for the Winnebago School District.  They have five children, ranging in ages from 36 to 26 and four granddaughters.  His interests include his family, biking, travel and a love for the game of basketball where he has coached, played and watched (his children) for over 25 years.
 
We look forward to seeing you there!
 
Jeff Reinke to Speak Kate Boyer 2021-08-31 05:00:00Z 0

Club Member Dr. George Walker to Present

Club to Meet on Tuesday, July 6th!
 
Friendly reminder that our meeting next week is on Tuesday, July 6th at noon. Our very own Dr. George Walker will be presenting!
 
You may also join via the zoom link:
Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 968 5576 1922
Password: 006181
Dial by your location:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago); +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown); +1 929 205 6099 US (New York); +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma); +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston); +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
 
 
Club Member Dr. George Walker to Present Sally Noble 2021-07-06 05:00:00Z 0

Stephenson Co. Probation Director to Speak

Please join the Freeport Noon club at our meeting on Monday, June 21st @ noon!  We will be meeting in-person at the Farm Bureau, and Tom Cunningham, Stephenson County Probation Director will be our in person guest! We will not be serving lunch until July. 
 
If you prefer not to or are unable to join us in person you can zoom in. Remember, you can join with video, audio only, or both:
 
Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 968 5576 1922
Password: 006181
Dial by your location:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago); +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown); +1 929 205 6099 US (New York); +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma); +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston); +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

 
Stephenson Co. Probation Director to Speak Sally Noble 2021-06-21 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club Meeting on 6/7/21

Club to Meet IN-PERSON on Monday, June 7th!
 
We are excited to return to in-person club meetings on Monday, June 7th!  This is our first in-person meeting of 2021, and masks will be required.  We will meet at the Farm Bureau from noon to 1pm on June 7th. We will not be having lunch and will attempt our first hybrid (in person/zoom) meeting. Win Toerber will be sharing work of the Rotary Foundation for the program. 
 
If you prefer not to or are unable to join us in person you can zoom in. Remember, you can join with video, audio only, or both:
 
Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 968 5576 1922
Password: 006181
Dial by your location:
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago); +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown); +1 929 205 6099 US (New York); +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma); +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston); +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
 
I look forward to seeing you all there!
Rotary Club Meeting on 6/7/21 Sally Noble 2021-06-07 05:00:00Z 0

Author to Speak to Freeport Rotary Club

Posted by Georgia Newcomer on Jan 18, 2021
News Release
 
Contact:         
Georgia Newcomer
Freeport Rotary Club
Communication Chair
815-235-8311
 
Author to Speak to Freeport Rotary Club 
 
FREEPORT, Ill., January 18, 2021 — The Freeport Noon Rotary Club will meet using Zoom technology at noon on Monday, January 18th. The local club meets on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at noon through Zoom technology. The speaker will be Roger Schulz. Mr. Schulz is a local author who has published three novels about the character Fran Rupert, top-notch CIA operative. 
Roger Schulz was born and raised in the northern suburbs of Chicago. A Creative Writing course in high school was the start of his writing. After graduating from college, he was hired by an agency of the federal government and worked for several years in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Throughout his working career, he penned numerous articles for technical journals. When he finally retired, he was encouraged to write about his experiences and the many interesting people he had become acquainted with over the years. Roger and his wife, Joan, live in Freeport and have two adult children and two grandchildren.
Freeport Rotary Club was established in 1919 to provide service to others and promote integrity through fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. The Club participates in local services projects targeting youth literacy, scholarly recognition, student international exchange, and purchasing shoes for disadvantaged youth. Meetings are held at noon on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month through Zoom until they can return to the Stephenson County Farm Bureau. For more information, contact Georgia Newcomer at 815-238-8311.
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Author to Speak to Freeport Rotary Club Georgia Newcomer 2021-01-18 06:00:00Z 0

Chesney to speak at Freeport Rotary Club

FREEPORT, Ill., July 1, 2020 — The Freeport Noon Rotary Club will meet using Zoom technology at noon on Monday, July 6th. The local club will continue to meet the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at noon.
     The speaker will be Representative Andrew Chesney, who will be providing an update on both the 89th District and the current impact of COVID in our State. Rep. Andrew Chesney was sworn into office on December 5, 2018, following his election as State Representative of the 89th District in November 2018. Prior to his service in the Illinois House, Chesney was an elected member of the Freeport City Council, where he built a reputation as a strong advocate for more funding for public infrastructure, blight reduction, and law enforcement.
     His fiscally conservative record as well as a reputation as a taxpayer watchdog was well earned in local government. He was active in pushing for streamlining and improving city services and changing city policies that promote healthy economic and community development and property improvements.
Chesney is a division sales manager with Seaga Manufacturing—a worldwide vending machine manufacturer in Freeport. He is a past board member of Regional Access Mobilization Project (RAMP)—an organization that provides support services and advocacy for people with disabilities and is former mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
     Freeport is his home, although Chesney was raised in Shannon, and is a proud graduate of Eastland High School. In 2004, he graduated Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a degree in Communication. In 2013, he was blessed to marry his wife Kelly. They live in Freeport with their two dogs, Hector and Paley.
Chesney to speak at Freeport Rotary Club 2020-06-30 05:00:00Z 0

Freeport Rotary Club Awards Annual Scholarships

The Freeport Rotary Club is once again honoring those students who excelled at Freeport and Aquin High Schools. This year, thirty-five students qualified to apply by earning a 3.75 or above cumulative grade point average during their high school years.  The 2020 winners are Carter Shockey and Ellie Kurtz of Freeport High School and Zeita Gastel of Aquin High School.
 
Carter Shockey was president of the National Honor Society, executive president of Student Council, vice-president of Key Club, and was selected to participate on the Illinois State School Board’s Student Advisory Committee.  He will attend the University of Iowa in the fall and plans to study Political Science.
 
Ellie Kurtz was president of Key Club, president and vice-president of Student Council, and vice-president of the National Honor Society.  She will attend the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in the fall and plans to study both Political Science and Urban Studies.
 
Zeita Gastel was a member of the Interact Service club, the Highland Community College High School Servant Leadership program, and the National Honor Society.  She will attend the University of Iowa in the fall and plans to study biomedical engineering.
Freeport Rotary Club Awards Annual Scholarships 2015-11-19 06:00:00Z 0