Mayor Tom McNamara took office as the 41st mayor of Rockford on May 1, 2017. He was re-elected on April 6, 2021 and sworn in to a second term on May 3, 2021.
Prior to becoming Mayor, Tom served the community for four years as 3rd Ward Alderman, representing constituents on Rockford’s east and west sides, as well as downtown. As Mayor, Tom has focused on developing and implementing plans to reduce crime, increasing police technology and training, strengthening neighborhoods and schools and encouraging economic development. He has worked to reduce the city’s property taxes and has appointed members to commissions and board who are fiscally responsible and share a likeminded responsibility to use taxpayer funding efficiently and effectively.
Among the general accomplishments of Mayor McNamara and his team:
Led a team that saw an overall 16 percent reduction in violent crime rates.
Formed the Mayor’s Office on Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking Prevention
Opened the state’s only Family Peace Center to support DV/HT survivors
Implemented the largest Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) in the City’s history to improve Rockford’s streets, bridges and infrastructure.
Aggressively worked to reduce the impact of blighted commercial and residential properties.
Recapitalized the Northern Illinois Community Development Corporation (RLDC) partnership of 10 banks to provide $4 million to support small business owners.
Obtained a casino license for Rockford, welcoming the Hard Rock Casino to the community, pending Illinois Gaming Board approval.
Supported the Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) and its role as an economic engine for the region. More than 8,500 employees now work on RFD’s 3,000+ acre property, which is now the 19th largest cargo airport in the US and the fastest-growing cargo airport in the world.
Restructured Head Start to increase the number of young children who can access the program
Increased the profile and impact of Rockford Promise, to make college more accessible and affordable for RPS 205 students, including forming the Rockford Promise/Northern Illinois University Scholarship Program, which allows RPS 205 students to attend NIU tuition-free.
Retired the last of the City’s long-term road debt.
Reduced the City’s property tax levy each year since taking office. The tax rate is now under 2.9 percent, a 3.3 percent decrease from 2019.
Maintained an overall City workforce with one-third fewer non-public safety staff than our peer communities.
Established the Community Relations Commission to advise the City on social justice, law enforcement, and discrimination and equality/equity issues.
Led Rockford in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including establishing a joint City/County Emergency Operations Center, launching the Rebounding Rockford working group, develop a loan program to aid small and medium-sized businesses and secured state and federal funding to support businesses impacted by the pandemic.
Led the community conversation and action on issues of social justice, equity and equality, including reforms to law enforcement procedures and policies and the passage of a body-worn camera program that will take effect in 2021.
Mayor McNamara serves on many boards across the community, including the Alignment Rockford Governing Board, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, Illinois Community Revitalization Task Force, Illinois Municipal League Board of Directors, JB Pritzker’s Budget and Innovation Team, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, Rockford Area Economic Development Council Board of Directors, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Workforce Connection Board.
The mayor is a graduate of Rockford’s Boylan Catholic High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in sociology and criminology and a master’s degree in non-profit administration, both from John Carroll University in Cleveland. He and his wife Sarah live with their two children in the Churchill’s Grove neighborhood.
The mayor will discuss some of what has happened recently and lay out his plans for another term if he is re-elected this spring.
This is always a fun and informative program and also a chance to ask the mayor that question that you always wanted to ask. This will be an excellent opportunity to bring a guest or prospective member to join us in person at Memorial Hall or via Zoom. President Mike will introduce the mayor and act as Rotary host.
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 .
The January 16th meeting is set aside for Committee meetings. Committee chairs will contact their members to remind them of the meeting. If you are not assigned to a specific committee, feel freee to join usfor lunch and sit in on a committee meeting.
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:
INVESTING IN ACTION
The Rotary Foundation plans for the future, not just for today, and helps members put ideas into action. In the words of Arch Klumph:
“Rotary has assumed a great obligation to the world … . Its opportunities are limitless, but its income today and of tomorrow will never permit it to do the many things which it could and should do. Let me remind you of these three facts: (1) money alone does little good, (2) individual service is helpless without money, (3) the two together can be a godsend to civilization.”
Thank you for the time, energy, and financial support you give to Rotary’s mission.
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