Samir Romero joined Rockford Rotary on October 4, 2024. Since he will be giving a "Vocational Talk", we won't give you any more details about his life so you will just have to show up on the 23rd and find out for yourself.
These talks are always interesting, informative, and entertaining. We would encourage you to invite a guest or prospective member to join us in person at Memorial Hall or via Zoom (836 8113 5120 and no password required).
Elise Cadigan will introduce our presenter and act as Rotary host.
Alex Kirchner has been the Chief Meteorologist at 13 WREX since August of 2014.
He produces and delivers the weather forecast on-air for the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. broadcasts (and develops new graphics on a nightly basis to help tell the story), in addition to recording short radio forecasts for our radio partners.
He also updates their website with a daily forecast article and writes longer-form web articles about weather/science as topics arise. He posts on the station's Facebook and Twitter accounts multiple times per shift about the forecast, weather topics and science topics, and delivers a Facebook Live forecast on a nightly basis (or as needed during severe weather or winter coverage).
Outside of the broadcast, Alex mentors the other meteorologists on staff. He writes, produces and delivers a sponsored weekly one-minute weather and science report called "Weather Wise". He also coordinates and leads an annual outreach project called "Project: Tornado". WREX meteorologists visit area elementary schools to teach the students about severe weather safety. This includes an assembly with a video we produce, interactive examples, and question/answer session.
In 2020, he helped put together a digital version of "Project: Tornado" for the station’s website as well as a 30-minute special report on tornado education and safety.
Alex loves tracking the weather, running, cooking, and eating (and repeat!). He also loves hiking, reading, and corgis.
This will be an interesting and informative program and one to invite a guest or prospective member to join us in person at Memorial Hall or via Zoom.
We are still looking for a suitable member to act as Rotary host.
The Service Above Self Awards will be awarded on Thursday, March 13th. I am already receiving nominations, but if you have someone or an organization that you would like to nominate, please get it in to me by February 13th. We need time to review the nominations and to plan the ceremony.
Do you know someone who either has shown great volunteer leadership or who has given generously of their time to many organizations? Maybe they deserve to be recognized for their extraordinary volunteer contributions. The Service Above Self Award is designed to recognize individuals in the Rockford community who have gone "above and beyond" in serving Rockford in a volunteer capacity, people who are making a difference in our community.
We also recognize a nonprofit organization who has made an expecially great contribution to Rockford in the past year. Are you proud to associated with a special organization? You may want to shine a light on their achievements by nominating that organization for an award.
Nomination forms are available on the Rockford Rotary website, under the Membership tab. I am happy to help you with your nomination if you so desire. You can contact me at david.byrnes941@gmail.com, or you can call me at 815/670-1737.
Many members and guests gathered on January 16th at the U Club for fellowship and in most cases, dinner. As you can see from the pictures below, a good time was had by all.
A gentle reminder that you please pay for your lunch, $150 for December, January, and February. You can pay by credit card or send a check to our treasurer, Monica Glenny. If you bring your own lunch, you can opt out by not paying the $150.00. If you have any questions, or if you only want the lunches for a specific month, please tell Bob Canfield, 815-968-7200 or canfilaw@sbcglobal.net .
Our Club has a number of volunteer opportunities, but some very specific needs that have been identified are listed below, along with the contact information for the person leading the effort. Please let them know if you would be willing to help in any of these areas.
The Service Above Self Awards – Program Date, March 13, 2025
There are a number of parts of the whole. This may involve a few meetings to be determined by those who want to be involved.
First, we need a good pool of candidates. According to program rules, candidates must be nominated by a member of the Club. Only a few may be Rotarians themselves. The rest must be from the Rockford community. If you want to help, please talk to the nonprofit organizations with which you are familiar. Who are the outstanding volunteers in their organizations? Let’s see how wide we can cast this net. Try to include both large organizations along with smaller ones.
When we have compiled a good number of applications, there needs to be a committee to review the applications and select the winners. For those who nominate a successful candidate, they will do the introduction at the awards ceremony.
The applications for both individual candidates and the Mary Stuart Carruthers award are available on our website. Look under the Membership tool bar near the top of the home page.
Second, we need to involve the media, not only in covering the event, but also in announcing that the awards are available.
Third, we need volunteers to plan and run the lunch and program on March 13, 2025 which includes many individual elements such as:
Determining & Executing Program Elements. Like last year for the ceremony, Mayor McNamara was invited to attend, say a few words, and hand out the awards.
Getting flowers for each of the award recipients.
Order, proof, and ensure plaques for each recipient are on site the day of the event.
Track of reservations so we have enough food.
Ordering Food and arranging pick up or deliver on March 13, 2025.
Clean-up at the end of the program on March 13, 2025
CONTACT for more info or to take on one of these pieces of this event – Dave Byrnes, david.byrnes941@gmail.com
Each week we will be publishing a message from the Rotary International Foundation. This week's message is:
WHAT ARE THE ARCH KLUMPH SOCIETY AND THE LEGACY SOCIETY?
Donors whose cumulative gifts total US$250,000 or more are recognized as members of the Arch Klumph Society. As a member, you’re honored at an induction ceremony and have your picture and biography in the Leaders in Philanthropy interactive display at Rotary International World Headquarters. You’ll receive invitations to special events, along with membership pins and crystals that commemorate your giving level. Since 2004, more than 700 people have joined the Arch Klumph Society.
Donors who promise a gift of $1 million or more to the Endowment are invited to join the Legacy Society. As a member, you’ll receive special tokens of appreciation, and all the benefits provided to Bequest Society members. Legacy Society members are listed in Rotary’s annual report and are also invited to special events.
Are you interested in becoming a member of the Arch Klumph Society or the Legacy Society?
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