Our February 26th meeting will focus on our signature project, the Rotary Academy. We will be featuring students from the various schools to share their experiences as Academy students. More information may be available in our next issue.
Elise Cadigan will be handling the introductions and act as Rotary host.
As Rockford Rotary continues to struggle with a Post COVID decline in member attendance and participation, the Board of Directors has given its approval for a "Club Assessment". The first step in this assessment is to send out a Rotary Satisfaction survey for the members to fill out.
The surveys were due on February 20th to give President Paul a chance to review them and present the results at our March 5th meeting.
We would encourage our members, especially those who are not attending our meetings to show up and talk about where you think this club should be heading in the future.
L-R - Denise Noe, Sarah Mattson, Holli Connell, and President Paul
Our February 19th program featured Sarah Mattson and Holli Connell talking about how long-term relationships, local creativity, and reuse can quietly create sustainable change. Sarah is an "Uncycled Textile Artist and Maker" and Holli is the owner of Winnie Nutter Vintage which is located next door to the Norwegian Restaurant in the North Main and Auburn street area. The ladies met in Middle School in Stillman Valley and have been friends ever since.
As many of you know by now, Tyler Smith's son Cameron competed in the Ski Mountaineering (SkiMo) Mixed Relay event in Italy. He was paired with Anna Gibson in an event that features 12 teams of two athletes — one man and one woman. The female member of each duo lines up in two rows at the start, with specific positions determined by the Olympic Mixed Relay Ranking List, which factors in recent SkiMo World Cup and World Championship results.
Each athlete completes the course loop twice in alternating fashion — women-man-woman-man — and each loop contains an ascent and descent, as well as two transitions. These "pit-stop" transitions involve skin removal and skin re-application. The skins serve as adhesives that enable the athletes to grip the snow and ski uphill. Their removal allows for a smooth downhill ski back to the bottom of the course. After the descent and second transition occurs, a competitor tags in their teammate in the “handover zone,” and that teammate will then complete the same course loop.
The cycle is repeated, and the squad with the fastest time wins. The relay will take roughly 30 minutes.
Cam and Anna placed a surprise 4th place and were ecstatic. Congratulations to Cam and Anna and to Tyler whose sage advice to his son about skiing, "Don't fall down so much".
Below is a portion of an on-line article about them.
Anna Gibson, and Cameron Smith celebrate at the finish area of a ski mountaineering mixed relay, at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
This wasn't the typical mood of a pair of Olympic fourth-place finishers: Happy and upbeat. Anna Gibson and Cameron Smith were weaving around Saturday, from interview-to-interview, with grins on their faces and matching pink cowboy hats on their heads.
Sure, the Americans finished just off the medal stand as they combined forces in ski mountaineering's mixed relay. But given their road to the Milan Cortina Games — they didn't even have a spot about two months ago — they're relishing just being here, in Bormio, as the sport referred as “skimo” made its Olympic debut.
Cameron Smith strips off his skins during a ski mountaineering mixed relay, at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“If we finished 12th there would have been so much to celebrate,” said Smith, who's from Crested Butte, Colorado. “We said no matter what, we’d be happy. Here we are skiing better than we could have imagined. We are thrilled with fourth.”
United States' Anna Gibson, left, and Cameron Smith celebrate at the finish area of a ski mountaineering mixed relay.
Our February social was held on February 19th at the G.O.A.T at the North End as us old Rockfordians used to call it. It's a good thing we reserved a table because the place was packed and we even let a couple pf interlopers sit with us until another table opened up.
Mike Foreman, Dave Byrnes, and Cam's Dad probably talking about the Winter Olympics
Connie, Paul, Bob, Kathy, Tom, Tom, Tom's wife, and Becky in deep discussion. Not shown - Jim and Pete
Our 2025-26 goal for the Rotary International Foundation Annual Fund is $13,000. So far, members have contributed $7,191. In addition, members have contributed an additional $3,520 to the other six funds including Polio Plus.
Our other goal is to have 100% participation. To date, 26 members have contributed to the Foundation out of our total membership of 81which is 32.1%.
Congratulations to Linda Niemiec who is our newest contributor to the Foundation. Congratulations and thank you to the following members who have contributed to this year's campaign.
Dave Byrnes Elise Cadigan
Bob Canfield Jim Coffey
Maureen Crowe Mike Foreman
Monica Glenny Helen Hill
Wray Howard Russ Johansson
Linda Johnson Don Kinney
Kathy Kwiat-Hess Dick Leighton
Brian Martin Mary Maxted
Eric Moe Lynn Momberger
MaryAnn Norwood Bob Presman
Becky Rundquist Pete Rundquist
Jeff Smith Beth Thacker
Paul Von Driska
The information is from Rotary International as of February 21, 2026. If you have any questions, contact Jim Coffey (jimc6659@aol.com or 815-222-9168).
On February 15th, Pete and Becky Rundquist took our Youth Exchange student Isabella (Isa) de Melo Reis to the Rockford Ice Hogs game along with their granddaughter Reagan. They obviously had a great time. We would encourage to follow Pete and Becky's example and include Isa if you are planning an outing.
The Service Above Self Award recognizes outstanding volunteer service by individuals and organizations. Do you know someone or an organization that you admire for their volunteer service in Rockford? Please nominate them for a Service Above Self Award. You can find the nomination forms on our club’s website under the membership toolbar. Nominations are due by March 5th.
Awards will be given out on March 26th. Please note you will need at least one letter of support. Awards will be given to one Rotarian, one non-Rotarian, and one organization. Community volunteer service is needed now more than ever, so let’s get out and recognize outstanding volunteers!
Any questions, please call Dave Byrnes at (815) 670-1737.
We will continue to serve lunches for $12 each week. We currently are having food from the Sandwich Shop, but we will alternate each month between Beef-A-Roo and the Sandwich Shop. Monica will be more than happy to take your money for lunch.
Becky, Isa and Reagan
