banner
Stories
Meeting Responsibilities
November 14, 2024
Greeter - Laura Eakman
Invocator - Jeff Fahrenwald
 
November 21, 2024
Greeter - Jim Coffey
Invocator - Bob Presman
 
December 5, 2024
Greeter - John Fridh
Invocator - Helen Hill
 
December 12, 2024
Greeter - Jennifer Furst
Invocator - Monica Glenny
 
December 19, 2024
Greeter - John Goddard
Invocator - Lori Gummow
October 31st Meeting
 
Annual Governor's Visit
 
     One of the traditions of each Rotary District is for the District Governor to visit each club in the district and discuss the goals of not only Rotary International but also the goals that District 6420 has in mind for Rockford Rotary.
     District Governor John Hurley is no stranger to our club having visited us on many occasions as a member of the Loves Park Rotary Club.
     John most recently served as Assistant Governor for Area 1 for three years (2-17-18 thru 2019-20), and as District Trainer in 2020-21.  He has also served on the District Literacy Committee, and the District Nominating Committee.
     John joined Rotary in 1992 as a member of the Machesney Park club, servicing two terms as club President (1995-96 and 2001-02).  He later joined the Loves Park club, again serving as President for two terms (2011-12 and 2014-15).  John is a member of the Paul Harris Society.  He has attended five Rotary International Conventions (New Orleans, Atlanta, Toronto, Hamburg, and Singapore).  He and his wife Marta hosted a Rotary International exchange student from Belgium.
     John and Marta live in Rockford.  Most of John's professional experience was as an educator in the Harlem School District in Machesney Park.  He served as principal in two different schools and later as the Superintendent of the Harlem School District.
     John will discuss the various goals of Rotary International for this Rotary year and also what District 6420 has in mind for Rockford Rotary to achieve this year.
     In the past our club has been a little lax when it comes to attending the District Governor's visits so we would encourage our members to mark October 31st on your calendar and make an effort to attend and support the District Governor.
     This will be an opportunity to bring a guest or prospective member to attend in person at Memorial hall or via Zoom so they can learn more about Rotary.
     President Mike will introduce the District Governor and act as Rotary Host.
Read more...
November 7th Program
 
Youth Exchange Program
 
     Timéo Gijbels, is a Rotary Youth Exchange student sponsored by Rockford Rotary this year. He is from a small village, Liberchies, in Belgium, in the northern suburbs of Charleroi and an hour south of Brussels. He has a younger sister, and his parents are both teachers specializing in science and geography.
     Timeo is a responsible, mature, adaptable and ambitious person who enjoys acquiring new knowledge and is always seeking new challenges. In high school he chose the math/science option because he has always been passionate about science and the animal world. He plans to study veterinary medicine after his exchange year.
     His hobbies are sports and music. He plays basketball and is a runner. He completed a half marathon this year and is currently on the Harlem High School cross country team. He also plays the piano and drums.
     He decided to become an exchange student to improve his English since it is crucial in scientific literature. He is also using this opportunity to learn a different culture and see more of the world.
     Leandro Tarragona and Maricel Colman are doing a great job at being Timéo’s host parents while their daughter, Mili, is an exchange student in Italy this year.
     This will also be an excellent opportunity to get to know Timéo. 
     Paul VonDriska, our YEO, will introduce Timéo and act as Rotary Host.
Read more...
Trick or Treat at River Bluff
 
 
* Trick or Treat at River Bluff
 
THANK YOU FOR HELPING RIVER BLUFF HAVE A FUN HALLOWEEN!
 
Lynn Momberger dropped of 10 candy buckets and 10 bags of candy (several huge ones) on Thursday! JOB WELL DONE

Read more...
Service Opportunities Update
 
Service Opportunities Update
 
* Salvation Army Bell Ringing
 
Saturday, November 30th at Woodman’s and Saturday, December 14th from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Watch for the signup at the meetings or contact me (Becky Rundquist, runkymom@comcast.net).
 
* Northern Illinois Food Bank
 
Friday, December 6th. Watch for a signup sheet.
 
* River Bluff Gift Collection
 
Further information to follow.
Read more...
President's Message
 
President's Message
 
Hello Rockford Rotarians,
 
     Thank You to all Rockford Rotarians for continuing to do your best to make the world a better place.
 
     Keep up the good work, the World needs people like YOU.
 

Smile, you are important.

 
 
Thank you
 
Mike Forman
President - 2024-2025
Mike.Forman@outlook.com 
 
        
Read more...
Rockford Rotary Needs &
and Volunteer Opportunities
Club Needs & Volunteer Opportunities
 
     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.
 
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.  
 
CONTACT for more info or to take on coordination of one of these projects – Becky Rundquist, becky.rundquist@gmail.com
 
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
 
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. 
 
     CONTACT – Mike Foreman Mike.Foreman@outlook.com
Read more...
Future Programs
Future Programs
           
11-14-24 - Post Election - What Happens Now
                  Dr. Ron Lee
                  Host- Mary Ann Norwood
 
11-21-24 - Committee Meetings 
                  Thanksgiving Meal
 
11-28-24 - Thanksgiving - No Meeting
 
12-05-24 - A Country of Traumatized Children
                   The Children of Kosova
                    PDG Elise Cadigan
                   Host - TBD
 
12-12-24 - "Midwest Preparedness:
                    We are not Ready"
                    Diane Logsdon IPEM, CHEC
 
12-19-24 - Multi-Cultural Holiday Celebration
                  Rockford University Choir
                  Tim Adams, Choral Director
 
12-26-24 - Holidays - No Meeting
 
01-02-24 - New Years Travel - No Meeting 
Read more...
Weekly RI Foundation Message
 
Each week we will be publishing a message from the Rotary International Foundation.  This week's message is:
 
WHAT IS A ROTARY FOUNDATION SUSTAINING MEMBER?
 
A Sustaining Member is someone who contributes US$100 or more each year to the Annual Fund. These contributions count toward several different kinds of individual recognition and club recognition banners.
 
For about US$10 a month, you can be a Sustaining Member and help provide life changing opportunities for people on a yearly basis! 
Read more...
Rotary Links
Rotary International
RI President Home
Rotary Global Rewards
Joining Rotary
Rotary History
Rotary Foundation
For New Members
Speakers
Nov 21, 2024
Committee Meetings and Thanksgiving Meal
Nov 28, 2024
No Meeting
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Board Meetings
Nov. 19, 2024
 
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Lisa Capriotti-Angileri
November 10
 
Elizabeth Dickinson
November 11
 
Mary Maxted
November 16
 
Rosemary Collins
November 16
 
Suzanne Berger
November 18
 
Kathy Kwiat-Hess
November 20
 
Paul Logli
November 20
 
Tom Scoville
November 21
 
Join Date
Linda Niemiec
November 6, 1997
27 years
 
Michael Foreman
November 11, 2021
3 years
 
Tom Clabough
November 21, 2002
22 years
 
Frances Salinas
November 30, 2022
2 years
 
Maureen Crowe
November 30, 2022
2 years
 
Meeting Responsibilities
Meeting Greeters
 
November 14, 2024
Eakman, Laura
 
November 21, 2024
Coffey, Jim
 
December 5, 2024
Fridh, John
 
December 12, 2024
Furst, Jennifer
 
December 19, 2024
Goddard, John
 
Meeting Invocators
 
November 14, 2024
Fahrenwald, Jeff
 
November 21, 2024
Presman, Bob
 
December 5, 2024
Hill, Helen
 
December 12, 2024
Glenny, Monica
 
December 19, 2024
Gummow, Lori
 
Subscribe to Bulletin
Subscribe to our eBulletin and stay up to date on the latest news and events.
Advertisement for Russell Hampton
Advertisement for ClubRunner
Advertisement for ClubRunner Mobile
Rockford Rotary - Our 109th Year - www.rockfordrotary.org