Andy Newgren is Assistant Vice President of Academic Affairs and an Associate Professor at Rockford University, where he teaches information literacy and concentrates on information-seeking behavior, critical-information literacy, and theological librarianship. He has presented and published on the intersection of theology and critical librarianship, with his most recent book chapter titled “Revelatory Reading: Understanding, Critiquing, and Unveiling Religious News Stories.”
     A converted east coaster, Andy received his M.L.I.S. at Rutgers: The State University of New Jersey and his M.Div. at Princeton Theological Seminary where he was the Director of Academic Technology before returning to the Midwest. Andy also teaches in the education, religion, and first-year seminar programs.

     As the program title implies, Andy will talk about Artificial Intelligence and its effect on our daily lives.  This will be an informative program about something that has invaded most aspects of our lives.  This will be an excellent opportunity to bring a guest ore prospective member to join us in person at Memorial Hall or via zoom.

     Elise Cadigan will introduce our presenter and act as Rotary host.    

 

     Our November 6th program will be a Veteran's Day Program featuring Officer Katie Beck, the Loves Park Honor Guard, and the National Anthem led by Eric Moe.  More information will be available at a later time.

 

     Our October 23rd meeting was a presentation on Diveheart, an organization that helps children, veterans and others with disabilities through adaptive scuba opportunities and scuba therapy.  In addition to our presenters from Diveheart, Jim Elliott and Tinamarie Hernandez, Amber Rangel from Rockford also spoke.  Amber has quadriplegia from a spinal cord injury she suffered while water skiing.  Diveheart gave her the opportunity to focus on her future.  She had dropped out of high school to become a semiprofessional barefoot waterskiing athlete, tearing along the water in slalom and tricks competition.  Thanks to Diveheart, she completed her GED, enrolled in college and in 2024, at the age of 30, graduated with honors from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.  Now she is in the process of applying to Law School and is a part-time substitute teacher in the Rockford School System.

     It was a truly inspiring presentation and we thank Jim, Tinamarie, and Amber for taking the time to educate us on overcoming challenges in our lives.

 

Tinamarie Hernandez, Jim Elliott, Amber Rangel, and President Paul.

  

 

     On Tuesday, 10/21/25, 7 Rockford Rotary members and guests worked the Northern Illinois Food Bank market.  The market served 783 households and 2009 individuals that day between 1-6 PM.  They said there has been an increase in demand with the government shutdown.

     Thank you to all who helped out that day.

 

 

     Students, teachers and volunteers gathered in the library of Constance Lane Elementary School to participate in the kickoff of the 24th year of Rockford Reads, a volunteer reading program initiated by the Rockford Rotary Club "Rockford Reads" program launched in 2001, when the Rockford Rotary Club partnered with the Rockford Public Library and Rockford Public Schools to create a volunteer reading program that matched adults with second and third grade students.

     “We really emphasize that with the students we work with,” Kathy Kwiat-Hess, Rockford Rotary liaison for Rockford Reads, said. “We encourage them to go home and maybe read to their parents, read with their parents, read with their siblings.”

     According to Kwiat-Hess, the volunteer group works with teachers, librarians, and students to select books that pique students’ interests or resonate with them. Some of the books include “Where Are You From?” by Yamile Saied Méndez, a picture book that explores different children’s ancestry and culture.

     “Reading is huge. It’s a part of our daily lives as adults,” Kwiat-Hess said. “We all know that it’s how we succeed, one of the most important components to success in life.”

     For more info about the program and volunteering, please visit rockfordrotary.org.

 

 

Rotary Lunches 

 

     We will continue to serve lunches for $12 each week.  We currently are having food from the Beef-A-Roo, 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. 

 

Jim Coffey, Secretary