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.
Rotary Academy Liaisons for Lincoln and RESA Middle Schools
Basic Responsibilities - Liaisons try to attend monthly Academy events with their school. These are held at the schools, Camp Winnebago, Rock Valley College, and Rockford University. The amount of time they give to these events is completely flexible and not mandatory. They are not responsible for anything while at these events. Obviously interactions are encouraged, as is sharing the 4 Way Test with the students when possible. They may get involved with their school’s service project. Beginning in September-May All Liaisons, Y staff, and middle school advisors meet with Linda Johnson the first Friday of every month, typically at Katie’s Cup, from 9-10 am. Word has is there is a very nice Christmas lunch involved for these volunteers too!
CONTACT for more info or to sign up – Linda Johnson,
elleellej@comcast.net
Northern Illinois Food Bank Service Project Coordinator
Basic Responsibilities – Choose the dates for club members to volunteer together at the Northern Illinois Food Bank, publicize the dates to get interested members to sign up, and reserve the dates on the NIFB website (very easy to do). The names and emails need to be on the website about 2 weeks prior. Then the volunteers receive emails from NIFB directly. Our club has volunteered approximately every 8 weeks in the past.
Other Service Projects Coordination
Basic Responsibilities – Serve as project organizer/coordinator for other club service projects such as the following: providing a meal for guests at Carpenters Place or the Veterans Drop In Center, including determining date(s) to provide a meal, buying the food, publicizing the volunteer opportunity and getting club members to sign up to help with serving the food.
Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful in conjunction with the Environmental and Sustainability committee - coordinate and get volunteers for a collection event (could be done on a continuing basis).
Rockford Family Peace Center flower planting.
Other Events such as July 4th, City Market, etc. as they come up.
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
PRESIDENT ELECT
Yes, this volunteer position is in preparation for becoming Club President next year. There ia a conference you would attend to train for the President’s position, learning about Rotary International and Rotary Districts and how our Club works within that structure.
If you’ve ever even thought about this as a possibility please talk to Mike Foreman, Pete Rundquist, Eric Moe, Linda Johnson, or any of our other previous Club Presidents and they can give you insight into what would be involved. This is a great opportunity for anyone looking to serve the community and further your leadership skills at the same time.
.png)
