banner
The SMILE for Monday, December 11, 2027 | Vol. 111 | No. 19
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
 
― Oscar Wilde
 
 
Monday's Speaker
Monday's speaker will be Nancy Renkes from Riverbend Food Bank.

 
 
Last Week's Speaker
Green Current Solutions (GCS) is a Certified Women-Owned and Managed Business.
 
 l-r:  Heather Wagner, Tammy Becker CEO, Robin Jorgenson COO, Green Currents Solutions.
 
After living on a barge and cleaning up America’s rivers together for nearly 20 years, our speaker Tammy Becker, Green Current Solutions Chief Executive Officer, and husband, Chad Pregracke—2013 CNN Hero of the Year and founder of Living Lands & Waters--were appalled by the millions of pounds of plastics they pulled from the river. It was easy to recycle the PET bottles they collected, but they struggled to find a place to process the large, bulky rigid plastics. For years, they were forced to send the materials to the landfill, which was not only bad for the environment but also costly. 

Chad and Tammy love the river, but they also love our forests—especially hardwoods. Through Living Lands & Waters’ MillionTrees Project, they worked together to plant 1.9 million oaks, hickories, pecans and more throughout the United States. When they learned that 43% of all slow-growing hardwood trees were cut down for single use wood pallets, they knew there had to be a better solution.

That’s when the idea to start GCS was born.

GCS is a culmination of Chad and Tammy’s passion for the natural environment and their drive to make change. By switching from wood to 100% recycled plastic pallets, you’re not only saving millions of pounds of plastics from our oceans, rivers, landfills and incinerators, but you’re also saving millions of trees from being cut down—allowing them to flex their carbon sequestering muscle!

And, not only is it good for the planet, but it’s also great for your bottom line. GCS makes it easy to go green but, by making this one swap to our pallets, you can also become a hero!

OUR FACILITY

Our 100,000 sq ft. manufacturing facility and warehouse sits on 16 acres and is centrally located in East Moline, Illinois.

Pallets with a Purpose

Green Current Solutions is committed to the sustainable future of our planet. Our goal is to reduce waste, save trees and help curb the global ocean plastic problem… ONE PALLET AT A TIME!

 

News You Can Use

Guests
  • Nicole Mann, Every Child, Rock Island; guest of Paul Plagenz
  • Amy Trimble, Twin Rivers Rotary Club; guest of Eric Trimble
 

President's Report
Mark Carlson reported on his participation in the Fall Moline High School Recognition Awards on Tuesday November 28th at the Bartlett Center for Performing Arts. Sponsored by Moline Rotary Club, Student Recognition seeks to recognize students for everyday kindness, good deeds, and good citizenship in the classroom after being nomination by their teachers. About 100 students were recognized. (Photos already posted in last SMILE)
 

Student Rotarians / Interact Club
Student Rotarian and Interact Club member Emily Finley reported that the annual Share Joys campaign was in full swing at Moline High School. Sponsored by the National Honor Society, students are finding ways to raise funds for the needy. MHS Assistant Principal Scott Ehlers reported the the recent Chare Joys Donut Eating contest held at MHS raised about $9000.00.  Emily, dressed as a Share Joys Elf, brought a basket of home made goodies to Rotary to pass around in exchange for donations to Share Joys. Rotarians enthusiastically chose a goodie and contributed to the cause.   
 

Exchange Student Report
Joao Miguel reported that he continues to seek new experiences and recently joined the MHS swim team. Joao competed at this first swim meet in Macomb on Saturday December 2nd and took First Place in the 100m breast stroke, Second Place in another event and Third Place in other events. Congratulations Joao!
 
 

Announcements
 
District Governor Food Drive: 
Vicky Miller reminded Rotarians to consider donating 25 lbs of food to any local food pantry, or make an equivalent monetary donation in support of D6420 Governor Dave Emerick's food pantry project. Donators are eligible to win a beautiful holiday wreath and lantern arrangement donated by Vicki.     
 

Twin Rivers Rotary Club Project: 
Amy Trimble, Past President of Twin Rivers Rotary Club reported on a club event that they are seeking help with.  

The Twin Rivers Rotary After Hours Club is having our annual blanket tying event that benefits QC Closet2Closet and we need a lot of hands to help! Because of a generous grant, we're purchasing more no-sew fleece blanket kits this year than ever before (we're talking HUNDREDS!). The blankets will be given to foster children in care packages from Closet2Closet.

For more information, or if you are unable to attend, but would like to help make blankets, please contact Tiffany Hogan, Club President - tnstott23@gmail.com or cell 309.752.3339. 
 

Genesis Shootout: 
Bill Horrell announced the 2023 Genesis Shootout, a local high school holiday tournament held at the Carver Center at Augustana College.  This year's all day tournament is Saturday December 16th, with games starting at 10:00am and running through 7:00pm, and features 14 local teams.
 

Happy Bucks:
Kent Crippen celebrated the 60th anniversary of his marriage to wife Bonnie on November 20th! Congratulations Kent & Bonnie!
 

Student Rotarians
Our latest group of Student Rotarians will join us again today. Get to know these wonderful human beings!
 
l-r: Caleb Stansbury, Aubree Ill, Owen Gault, Alexis Havercamp, Emily Finley, and Noah Suman

 

 
You can't win if you don't play! Contact our esteemed Sergeant at Arms, Eric VanWinkle, for your entry tickets before each meeting!
 
 
 
Zoom Invite for Monday, December 11, 2023
Join Zoom Meeting: 
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84869242309?pwd=MHoyZGQ3MjNmN0JWTUcvUjgrZTV1UT09

Meeting ID: 848 6924 2309
Passcode: 941739


 
Upcoming Speakers
Dec 11, 2023
Riverbend Food Bank
Dec 18, 2023
Quad City Business Journal
Dec 25, 2023
Merry Christmas to all!
Jan 01, 2024
Happy New Year!!
View entire list
Executives & Directors
President
 
Vice President/President-elect
 
Sergeant at Arms
 
Past President
 
Secretary
 
Treasurer
 
RI Foundation Chair
 
Director Administrative Services
 
Director Community Services
 
Director Membership Services
 
Director Youth Services
 
Public Image Chair
 
SMILE / Website
 
Youth Exchange Officer
 
Moline Rotary Foundation Chair
 
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for ClubRunner
Advertisement for ClubRunner Mobile
The Four-Way Test: Of the things we think, say, or do: Is it the Truth? Is it Fair to all concerned? Will it build Good Will and Better Friendships? Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?

If you no longer wish to receive Moline Rotary's Weekly Newsletter, please click the unsubscribe link below