Financial information is probably not what most people would describe as something that keeps us interested and awake.  However, Monica Glenny has promised to make the "Financial State of Our Rotary Club Interesting".  For those of us who have been around for a few years, you have seen Monica's "interesting" sense of humor displayed at various meetings.  Whether it was her "interesting" hats or her "interesting" costumes, she has always been a source of "interesting" presentations.  We should expect nothing less than an "interesting" program on Rockford Rotary's financial state. 

     Monica joined Rockford Rotary on June 8, 2000, and has been active from the beginning.  She served on the Board of Directors and was program chair prior to serving as President during the 2005-06 Rotary Year.  She currently serves as the Club Treasurer.  She has been a business owner (Datacraft), a beauty supply salesperson and a few other things that we don't know about.  She is also active in a number of organizations around town.

     This will be an "interesting" and "informative" program and one that you should bring a guest or prospective member whether you join us in person at Memorial Hall or via zoom.  As of press time we were looking for a suitable host. 

 

     Our 2023-24 Youth Exchange Student, Surisa Chaithammachok, or Chama as she likes to be called was introduced at our September 14th Meeting by President Pete.

     Chama is from Thailand and will be living in Pecatonica and attending Pecatonica High School.  Her first host family are Peter and Kelli Kang.

     The following information was taken from Chama's Youth Exchange Application which was approximately 25 pages long and was very interesting to read.

 

     Chama's mother is Patchananp Yanthitiworakorn, who is a financial advisor, and her father is Chanothai Chaithammachok, who is a mechanical engineer.  She lives with her mother and grandmother in Udonthani province.   

     Her typical day at home is up at 6:00 AM to have breakfast and her mother drives her to school at 6:45 AM.  At her Donbosco High School, she has 7 subjects a day and covers 20 subjects in a year.  These include Mathematics, Thai language, Chinese language, Math in English, English listening reading and writing, social study, basketball, science, physics, biology, chemistry, psychology, computer science, history, girl guide, art, Thai dance, music, home economics, and science in English.  Each glass is about 50 minutes, and her last class is finished by 4:00 PM.  Her mother picks her up and she is home by 5:00 PM.  After dinner, Chama looks after her pet hamster, takes a shower, does homework and goes to bed.  She has been studying English and Chinese for 9 years.

     During her free time, she likes to watch movies in order to practice her English, clean and tidy her room, and cooking and spending time with her family.  On holidays, she likes to travel to Bangkok by herself to visit her cousin for a couple of weeks.  She traveled to Hong Kong with her mother and grandmother (before COVID) to visit her aunt and uncle.  She went to Hong Kong Disneyland and other Hong Kong attractions.  They also took a ferry to Macau Venetian in Asia.

     When asked what she hoped to accomplish as an exchange student, Chama said "I best wish to gain more experiences in oversea especially culture, art, new expat friends, western lifestyle and new classroom including classmate too.  Moreover, this is a chance for me to improve my English language skills in both of formal and informal styles".

     If you get a chance to meet Chama during this year, make an effort to greet her and welcome her to Rockford Rotary.  As is our custom, Chama will be presenting at least one program during the year where she will tell us about herself and her adventures as our Youth Exchange Student.

 

I have a big family.

 

I always cook food in my free time.

 

This is my pet.  It is a hamster.

 

This is my house.

 

 

 

 

     At our September 1st meeting, Laura Kann, Past District 6420 Governor, presented Past President Eric Moe with an award for the Best Membership Growth of all the clubs in the district.  Our club welcomed 11 new members during the 2022-2023 Rotary Year.  

     Congratulations to Membership Committee chairperson Linda Niemiec and the entire committee for a wonderful job this past year.

     We are off to a great start for the 2023-24 Rotary year with two new members, Michelle Ryan for Habitat for Humanity and Maggie Kasicki from Rockford University, who will be inducted into the club at our September 8th meeting.

 

     - The Rock River Valley Pantry will have a collection barrel at Memorial Hall until Tuesday, October 3.  Please bring cereal for this collection.

     There is also a QR Code if you would prefer to donate money.

 

     - Kids Around the World is sponsoring a Million Meal Pack on Saturday, September 23rd and September 24th.  The flyer has a QR code, or you can sign up individually at katw,org/Rockford1M.  Bring your children and grandchildren - it is great fun!  There are five different tine slots so everyone should be able to find a time to help with this worthy cause.  The meals will be sent to children in Zambia, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic.

     

     Thank you, Rotarians, for your Service Above Self!

     Each week we will be publishing a message from the Rotary International Foundation.  This week's message is:

 

 

     District Designated Funds (DDF) are generated based on contributions to the Annual Fund.

 

     Every year, each district’s contributions to the Annual Fund-SHARE are divided up. First, 5% is deducted for operational costs. The rest is split equally, 47.5% each, between the World Fund and funding for the district. The Rotary Foundation Weekly Messages (August 2022)

 

     As we’ve mentioned, the money is invested for three years before it becomes available to districts. Your district can ask for up to half of its DDF in a district grant each year, then use the funds for the grants and programs that matter most in your area.

 

 

     Starting with our September 7th meeting, we will be having lunches at our noon meetings.  We will be starting with a package from Beef-A-Roo.  It will consist of a Wrap, salad, chips, cookie, and a soda or water.  There will bea variety of meats in the wraps.  This is a work in progress and things may change.  Lunches will start on September 7, 2023 and will be available at 11:45 AM the day of the meeting.

     PLEASE.  If you plan to bring a guest, PLEASE let us know 3 days in advance so we can make arrangements for food.  It will be your responsibility to cover the cost at $12.50 per meal.

 

     Thanks

     Pete Rundquist - runky907@comcast.net

     President, Rockford Rotary

     

 

09/28/23 -   Committee Meetings

 

10/05/23 - "Tropical Diseases & Their World-Wide Impact"

                  Speaker - Gordon Eggers

                  Host - TBD

 

10/12/23 - "2023-2024 - A Rotary Year of Hope & Peace"

                  Speaker - District Governor David Emerick

                  The Annual Visit by the District Governor

                  Host - TBD

 

10/19/23 - "Why We Must Keep 'Eradicate Polio Now' As Our #1 Priority

                  Speaker - Bob Presman

                  Host - TBD

 

10/26/23 - "Service Above Self Awards"

                  Host - David Byrnes

 

11/02/23 - "Child Abuse and Human Trafficking - Doing Nothing is not an Option"

                  Host - TBD

 

11/09/23 - "Annual Tribute to our Veterans"

                  Host - Janine Idsrein

 

11/16/23 - Yaniv Attar and Julie Thomas - "Rockford Symphony's 5th Music Director"

                  Host - TBD

 

11/23/23 - Thanksgiving - No Meeting

 

11/30/23 - "Holiday Social" Hosted by President Pete

 

12/07/23 - Dr. Alex Stagnaro=Green and Dr. Jeff Smith

                  "The Changing Face of Medical Care and the Education of Doctors"

 

12/14/23 - Jay Sandine - "Our Park District Expanding Our Economy"

                  Host - TBD

 

12/21/23 - "Multi-Cultural Holiday Festival Music

                  Host - TBD

 

12/28/23 - Happy Holidays - No Meeting