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Meeting Responsibilities
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
November 14th Program
 
Election Analysis
 
     We learned from the 2020 election to wait a week before we invite Ron Lee to give us his analysis of the 2024 election.  The election was called about 12 hours after the polls closed so after a week of news stories Ron will give us his analysis of what happened and why.
     Ron Lee is Asociate professor of Political Science at Rockford University, where he chairs the Department of Political Science, Sociology, and Criminal Justice.
     Dr. Lee is also serving as the Faculty Chair and the Director of the First-Year Seminar program.
     He has taught at Rockford University for more than 15 years and at Keith Country Day School for over 20 years.
     He received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of Chicago, and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from Boston College.
     This has always been an interesting and informative program and would be an excellent time to bring a guest or prospective member to join us in person at Memorial Hall or via Zoon.
     Mary Ann Norwood will introduce our presenter and act as Rotary host. 
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New Member - Samir Romero
 
President Mike with new member Samir Romero and his sponsor Linda Niemiec.
 
New Member - Samir Romero
 
     At our November 7th meeting, President Mike introduced the newest member of Rockford Rotary, Samir Romero.  Samir is an Account Executive for Behr Iron and Metals/An Alter Company.  Samir was sponsored by Linda Niemiec.
     We would encourage our members to introduce themselves to Samir and welcome him to Rockford Rotary.
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November 7th Meeting Recap
 
 
Timeo Gijbels - Youth Exchange Student
 
     Our November 7th program featured Timeo Gijbels who is our inbound Youth Exchange student from Belgium.  Timeo talked about his home and family in Belgium and why he decided to be an Exchange Student.  Timeo goes to Harlem High School and ran cross country and will play basketball.  One interesting comment he made was that the subjects at Harlem are easier that the ones in Belgium.
     Paul Von Driska introduced Timeo and his host parents Leandro Tarragona and Mariel Coleman whose daughter, Mili, is an outbound student in Italy. 
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November 21st Meeting
Committee Meetings
 
     The November 21st 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 free to join us for lunch and sit in on a committee meeting.  
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Reminder to Pay for Lunch
 
Reminder to Pay for Lunch
 
     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 .
 
Thank you!
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Service Opportunities Update
 
Service Opportunities Update
 
 
There is no Thanksgiving meal planned for Thursday. Helen is placing an order with Beef-A-Roo as usual. 
 
* Salvation Army Bell Ringing
 
A BELLRINGER IS NEEDED TO JOIN MIKE DONNELLY FROM 10-12 AND MARY MAXTED FROM 2-4 ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH AT WOODMANS.
 
The shifts at Farm and Fleet on December 14th have been filled. 
 
The shift at Northern Illinois Food Bank has been filled.
 
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE ABOVE SELF.
 
Please contact Becky at runkymom@comcast.net or Lynn Momberger at lynn@familycounselingrockford.org to participate in the HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE FOR RIVER BLUFF. 
 
Please consider joining the Service Committee on 11/21! We would love to have new members with great ideas!
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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 
 
        
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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.
 
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
 
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Future Programs
Future Programs
 
11-21-24 - Committee Meetings 
 
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 - Holiday Sing-A-Long With
                  Rockford Music Academy
                  Laura Eakman, Director
 
12-26-24 - Holidays - No Meeting
 
01-02-24 - New Years Travel - No Meeting 
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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 PAUL HARRIS FELLOW?
 
Paul Harris Fellow recognition is given to anyone who contributes at least US$1,000 to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved global grant. This recognition, which consists of a certificate and pin, can also be given on behalf of someone else.
 
More than 1.6 million people have become Paul Harris Fellows since 1957, including notable figures such as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, and polio vaccine developer Dr. Jonas Salk.
 
Are you ready to become a Paul Harris Fellow and support The Rotary Foundation at this level?
 
Read more...
Rotary Links
Rotary International
RI President Home
Rotary Global Rewards
Joining Rotary
Rotary History
Rotary Foundation
For New Members
Speakers
Dec 05, 2024
A Country of Traumatized Children - The Children of Kosovo
Dec 12, 2024
Midwest Preparedness: We are not Ready
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Board Meetings
Dec. 17, 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
 
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
 
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Rockford Rotary - Our 109th Year - www.rockfordrotary.org