Have you ever just sat at one of our regular Thursday meetings and looked around the room and wondered how all this came about?  Well, wonder no more.  This week our own Scott Lewandowski will discuss the "History of Memorial Hall".  Scott has been the Director of Memorial Hall since May of 2007.  He has been an honorary member of Rockford Rotary Club since February of 2012.

     This will be an interesting and informative program about the building that we have called home for many years.  It will be an opportunity to bring a guest or prospective member to join us in person at Memorial Hall or via Zoom.  Dave Byrnes will introduce our presenter and act as Rotary host.

 

 

     Jim Coffey will deviate a bit from a "Vocational Presentation" because 36 years of computer programming is not as exciting as his personal life.  He will talk about being taken away from his birth mother and adopted at 4 1/2, his childhood travels, not being a great student, joining the Navy and finally "growing up".  There is also his introduction to community service, travels, and keeping busy in retirement.  I hope that this will be an interesting and informative program and it will be an opportunity to bring a guest or prospective member.  Suzanne Berger will be giving a special Mother's Day Invocation which will be worth the price of admission.  

 

 

Rotarian Liz Dickinson is pictured with Paris Powell and

Richard Hart from Roosevelt.

 

 

Rotarian Nellie Miller is pictured with Courtney Park and Tyler Nally 

from Rockford Christian.

 

 

Rotarian Becky Rundquist is pictured with Shanell Jackson and George Roby

from Rockford Lutheran. 

 

 

Rotarian Paul Von Driska is pictured with Kaylyn Albert from Keith.  Not pictured

is Chris Albert who had a conflicting obligation.

 

 

Rotarian Mary Ann Norwood is pictured with Jimmy Sivonngxay and 

Makenzie McClintock from Jefferson.

 

 

Rotarian Janine Idstein is pictured with Rita Zhu and Jack Erickson from Harlem.

 

 

Rotarian Jeff Smithj is pictured with Christopher Caruana from Guilford.  Not pictured is

Joselyn Kuntz, a scholarship winner.

 

 

Rotarian Linda Johnson is with Christian Hernandez and Anna Gray from East.

 

 

Rotarian Mike Foreman with Aryn Managbanag and Joshua Burkett from Christian Life.

 

 

Rotarian Roger Maggio with Estevan Medina and Molly Ryan from Boylan.

 

 

Rotarian Jeff Fahrenwald is with Jessica Perez-Ferman from Auburn.  Not pictured is

Kyan Muhammad who was a scholarship winner.

 

 

    Many thanks to all the Rotarians who pitched in to help make the 2023 Rotary High School Recognition/Scholarship event a success! Jeff Fahrenwald, Roger Maggio, Mike Foreman, Linda Johnson, Jeff Smith, Janine Idstein, Mary Ann Norwood, Paul Von Driska, Becky Rundquist, Nellie Miller and Liz Dickinson who hosted the 11 high schools.

     Thanks also to the scholarship essay group: Mary Ann Norwood, Deb Johns, Jeff Fahrenwald, Nellie Miller, Linda Oshita and Susan Vetrono. Additional helpers were Suzanne Shelain, Linda Niemiec, Monica Glenny, Tom Clabough and Scott Lewandowski.

     We appreciate the many Rotarians who donated an additional amount so our many guests could enjoy the delicious lunch!

 

     At our April 13th meeting, President Eric welcomed two new members to Rockford Rotary.  Steve Malliet, President and General Manager of the Rockford Rivets baseball team was sponsored by Linda Niemiec.  Mustafa Abdall from Solutions Business Center and a Rockford Township Trustee was sponsored by Elise Cadigan.  

     We would encourage our members to make an effort to meet our new members and welcome them to Rockford Rotary.

 

 

Steve Malliet, Linda Niemiec, Mustafa Abdall, Elise Cadigan and President Eric.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 p.m. – Womanspace Labyrinth, 3333 Maria Linden Drive at the Anjali Pavillion. Elaine Hirschenberger will give us a presentation about the development of the labyrinth. Then we will proceed to the site and walk the labyrinth.

 

6:15 – Dinner at Lucha Cantina, 1641 N. Alpine Road.

 

This event is open to members and guests. If you cannot join us for the meal and event, please feel free to come to whichever is convenient for you.