Conor Brown is the CEO of NorthWest Illinois Alliance of REALTORS®, a 1,000+ Realtor and affiliate member regional association whose mission is “To be a Proactive Force for Real Estate. 

     He was hired in October of 2018 and immediately set out to accomplish many strategic initiatives set by the Board of Directors.  Recently, he successfully completed a merger between the Belvidere Board of REALTORS® and six months later with the REALTORS® Association of Northwestern Illinois. 

     Conor has almost 20 years’ experience in association management and government affairs. He was recently elected Treasurer of the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce, and he serves on Growth Dimensions Board of Directors. 

     Conor moved to Rockford in 1995 and graduated from Boylan Catholic High School.  He received his Bachelor of Arts from Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, MI. Conor resides in Rockford with his family.

     Conor will discuss the current real estate market in the Rockford area and what he thinks the future will hold.

     This will be an interesting and informative meeting and one to bring a guest or prospective member to join us in person at Memorial Hall or via Zoom.

     Terri Watts will introduce our presenter and act as Rotary host.

 

     Area high schools have nominated their service-oriented seniors for this special event. And two seniors will win the coveted Burdette Anderson Scholarship of $4,000 each. Please attend and help honor students for their service to our community.

 

 

     We will enjoy a delicious lunch buffet catered by the University Club of Rockford. Many Rotarians like to donate $25 or more so that the students, parents, and principals can be our guests. Thank you very much.

     You may give your donations to Treasurer Monica Glenny, President Paul VonDriska, Lunch Committee Pete and Becky Rundquist or Scholarship Chair Helen Hill. If you write a check, please make it to the Rockford Rotary Charitable Association.

 

 

     Please feel free to sit at any table and get to know these impressive students. See you there!

 

     The Rockford Rotary Academy students are scheduled to attend Camp Winnebago in April.  One of the highlights is do the High Ropes Course.  The students will be at the camp from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM each day.  We would encourage ur members to try to attend at least part of pone of these dates and encourage the students as they overcome any fear of heights that they have.

 

     April 14 - Eisenhower

     April 15 - RESA

     April 16 - Flinn

     April 20 - West

     April 21 - Marshall

     April 22- Lincoln

 

 

     Ashay Patel told us about his family's journey from a downtown pharmacy to the current City Center Market on the corner of State and Church Street.  It all began when his father Rajesh waited on a customer at their pharmacy who asked if they sold cat food.  Rajesh found out that the man did not have a cat but couldn't afford "people" food.  Ashay, Rajesh, and Ann began researching the grocery business and a few years later opened the City Center Market.  The Market includes a grocery store, coffee bar and a UPS station to serve the needs of those living and working in downtown Rockford.  Of course they still have the pharmacy toward the back of the Market.

 

 

Ashay Patel

 

Ashay and Rajesh Patel

 

Rajesh, Ashay and Ann Patel

 

Instead of the usual Rotary coffee mug President Paul presented Asha and Rajesh with shopping bags.

 

 

     Our April Social will be held at Chavez Restaurant at 5494 E. State Street from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.  We will be celebrating Isa's (our exchange student) 17th birthday.  Isa loves the food at Chavez which is why we are going back there again.  We would encourage our members to bring guests and help us celebrate with Isa 

     Our 2025-26 goal for the Rotary International Foundation Annual Fund is $13,000.  So far, members have contributed $8,505.  In addition, members have contributed an additional $4,101 to the other six funds including Polio Plus.

     Our other goal is to have 100% participation.  To date, 33 members have contributed to the Foundation out of our total membership of 84 which is 39.2%.

     Congratulations to Jim Powers and Lois Seijo our newest contributors to the Foundation.  Congratulations and thank you to the following members who have contributed to this year's campaign.

 

 

 

 

     Rockford Rotary will be helping out at the Northern Illinois Food Bank at the following time:

 

      

     If you have any questions contact Mary Maxted - marymaxted1@gmail.com or 815-985-5538

Rotary Lunches 

 

     We will continue to serve lunches for $12 each week.  We currently are having food from the Sandwich Shop, but we will alternate each month between Beef-A-Roo and the Sandwich Shop.  Monica will be more than happy to take your money for lunch. 

 

Jim Coffey, Secretary