Mike is the founder of Game Plan Retirement, a financial planning, employee benefits, and wealth management firm affiliated with Lincoln Financial Advisors’ Chicago office. He has been in the investment business since 1988. He was hired as Regional Pension Manager by Lincoln Financial Advisors in 1995. Prior to that, he was the Regional Investment Specialist for Charles Schwab & Company in Chicago and was hired directly from college as a financial consultant at Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith in 1988.     

     Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Corporate Financial Management from Ball State University and an MBA from Northern Illinois University. He has attained the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) certification, the Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (C.E.B.S.) designation, and the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) designation. 

     Mike has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with his wife Kim, visited Machu Pichu via the Inca trail, kayaked Glacier Bay in Alaska, has run 3 Chicago marathons and one Rockford marathon.  Mike and Kim have two daughters, Gabrielle age 18, and Michaela age 16.
     Mike joined Rockford Rotary on November 11, 2021.  He is currently President-Elect and will assume the duties of President on July 1, 2024.  Mike will talk about his career and life in general or whatever he wants to talk about.

     These vocational presentations are always interesting, informative, and a lot of fun.  We would encourage every to make an effort to attend or join us via zoom.

      

 

     Our January 11th program will be a special one because not only will we get to know Chama, but it also her birthday so we have two reasons to attend the January 11th meeting.  

     This will be an interesting and informative program and one that you will want to attend in person at Memorial Hall or via zoom.  Eric Moe will introduce our presenter and act as Rotary Host.

     Chama is from Thailand and will be living in Pecatonica and attending Pecatonica High School.  Her first host family are Peter and Kelli Kang.

     The following information was taken from Chama's Youth Exchange Application which was approximately 25 pages long and was very interesting to read.

     Chama's mother is Patchananp Yanthitiworakorn, who is a financial advisor, and her father is Chanothai Chaithammachok, who is a mechanical engineer.  She lives with her mother and grandmother in Udonthani province.   

     Her typical day at home is up at 6:00 AM to have breakfast and her mother drives her to school at 6:45 AM.  At her Donbosco High School, she has 7 subjects a day and covers 20 subjects in a year.  These include Mathematics, Thai language, Chinese language, Math in English, English listening reading and writing, social study, basketball, science, physics, biology, chemistry, psychology, computer science, history, girl guide, art, Thai dance, music, home economics, and science in English.  Each glass is about 50 minutes, and her last class is finished by 4:00 PM.  Her mother picks her up and she is home by 5:00 PM.  After dinner, Chama looks after her pet hamster, takes a shower, does homework and goes to bed.  She has been studying English and Chinese for 9 years.

     During her free time, she likes to watch movies in order to practice her English, clean and tidy her room, and cooking and spending time with her family.  On holidays, she likes to travel to Bangkok by herself to visit her cousin for a couple of weeks.  She traveled to Hong Kong with her mother and grandmother (before COVID) to visit her aunt and uncle.  She went to Hong Kong Disneyland and other Hong Kong attractions.  They also took a ferry to Macau Venetian in Asia.

     When asked what she hoped to accomplish as an exchange student, Chama said "I best wish to gain more experiences in oversea especially culture, art, new expat friends, western lifestyle and new classroom including classmate too.  Moreover, this is a chance for me to improve my English language skills in both of formal and informal styles".

     If you get a chance to meet Chama during this year, make an effort to greet her and welcome her to Rockford Rotary.  As is our custom, Chama will be presenting at least one program during the year where she will tell us about herself and her adventures as our Youth Exchange Student.

 

I have a big family.

 

I always cook food in my free time.

 

This is my pet.  It is a hamster.

 

This is my house.

 

 

 

 

01/11/24 - Chama Chaithammachok

                  Happy Birthday and Presentation

                  Host - Eric Moe 

 

01/18/24 - Committee Meetings

               - Club Update

 

01/25/24 - Congressman Darin La Hood

               - Host - TBD

 

 

     Starting with our September 7th meeting, we will be having lunches at our noon meetings.  We will be starting with a package from Beef-A-Roo.  It will consist of a Wrap, salad, chips, cookie, and a soda or water.  There will bea variety of meats in the wraps.  This is a work in progress and things may change.  Lunches will start on September 7, 2023 and will be available at 11:45 AM the day of the meeting.

     PLEASE.  If you plan to bring a guest, PLEASE let us know 3 days in advance so we can make arrangements for food.  It will be your responsibility to cover the cost at $12.50 per meal.

 

     Thanks

     Pete Rundquist - runky907@comcast.net

     President, Rockford Rotary