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Stories
September 12th Program
 
 
Just Breathe 815
 
     Kevin Ware says Just Breathe 815 started with a conversation in the living room of his home last year.  “My 20-year-old daughter asked me how homeless children get clean clothes,” Ware said.
     The conversation inspired Ware to establish a nonprofit whose mission is to foster social, academic and independent healthy lifestyles for homeless teens and young adults in the Rockford area.
     “These kids are hurting. They have a lot of anger about their situation. These kids have experienced so much trauma in their lives. They need to know that there are people in this community that care about their health and well-being,” Ware said. “   “How do you expect a kid to learn in a classroom when they haven’t slept and they don’t have clean clothes?”
     Just Breathe 815 partners with businesses, churches, schools and social service organizations to distribute clothing, meals and hygiene products to needy children and young adults. Second Congregational UCC/First Presbyterian Church, 318 N. Church St., is providing Just Breathe 815 with operating space, free-of-charge. Ware said the organization has approximately 75 volunteers and operates from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays.
     Ware said the establishment of Just Breathe 815 has been both eye-opening and a blessing.
     “Every life is different. We have to acknowledge that and provide these kids space to be themselves,” he said. “It’s a community issue. It’s bigger than just homelessness.”
     Ware said he’s inspired by the spirit of volunteerism in the community, especially among young people.     “We have students from all over the area collecting clothing to donate,” he said. “So many people want to help.”
     This will be an interesting and inspiring program and will be an excellent opportunity to bring a guest or prospective member.
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September 19th Program
 
Crusader Clinic - Meredith Stoll
 
Meredith Stoll is the Planned Giving Specialist at Crusader Community Health Network.
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New Member - Amy Ekstrom
 
 
New Member - Amy Ekstrom
 
     Amy Ekstrom is the Family and Community Engagement Liaison for the Rockford Public Schools.  Amy assists with training student ambassadors in all the elementary and middle schools.  She also works closely with parents, parent organizations, and placing community partnerships in schools district-wide.  She will be celebrating her 14th year anniversary with RPS 205 in September.
     Amy is married to her husband Jim and they have two children, James 22 and Janelle 18.  James is a senior at Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville (SIUE) and Janelle is attending Rock Valley College.  When she is not working, she enjoys hiking at Devil's Lake, swimming, attending Cub games, biking, visiting wineries, and hanging out with friends around a bonfire on a cool summer night or at a local restaurant.
     Amy was recognized as a member of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Rockford Class of 2017, and served as Project Chair, and sat on the board as Recording Secretary and Community VP with the Junior League of Rockford.
     Amy was sponsored by Kathy Kwiat-Hess and we would encourage all of our members to meet Amy and welcome her to Rockford Rotary.
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New Member Lori Poppen
 
 
New Member - Lori Poppen
 
     Lori Poppen has nearly 30 years of experience in child and family services at Children's Home & Aid.  As the current site director for Children's Home & Aid's Northern Region, Lori supervises program supervisors and administrative staff, explores funding opportunities, and represents the agency's programs and region with provider groups and government entities.
     Prior to directing the Northern Region, Lori worked in a wide range of roles for Children's Home & Aid including as a behavioral health director, clinical services and school-based services program manager and family centered counseling services supervisor.
     Lori has a bachelor's degree om psychology from Millikin University and a master's degree om applied family and child studies from Northern Illinois University.  She is a licensed clinical professional counselor and also currently on several task force committees.
     On the personal side, Lori has been married for over 30 years to her husband Arlyn.  They live in Loves Park and are currently in the middle of a kitchen remolding project.  They have two sons.  Alex and his wife Emily live in Chicago and chandler lives in St. Louis.  Lori was born and raised on a farm outside Arthur, Illinois which is about 40 miles south of Champaign.
     Lori was sponsored by Warren Heinke and we would encourage all of our members to meet Lori and welcome her to Rockford Rotary.
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Paul Harris Fellows
 
Paul Harris Presentations
 
     President Alan Gibby made two Paul Harris Plus presentations at the August 22nd meeting.  Julie Thomas was presented with a Paul Harris +1 pin and Jim Nelson was presented Paul Harris +8 pin.  Becoming a Paul Harris Fellow is not a destination but the start of a journey.  We congratulate Julie and Jim for their continuing support of the Rotary International Foundation.  
     In order to become a Paul Harris Fellow, a person must contribute $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation.  The next $1,000 means a PH+1, the next $1,000 = PH+2, etc.  So simple logic tells us that Julie has contributed at least $2,000 to the Foundation and Jim has contributed at least $9,000 to the Rotary International Foundation. 
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Sep 12, 2019
Just Breathe 815
Sep 19, 2019
Crusader Health Systems
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Upcoming Events
Board Meetings
Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
Sep 17, 2019
 
Board Meetings
Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
Oct 15, 2019
 
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Brian De Benedetto
September 4
 
Fred Kapala
September 5
 
Ben Buchanan
September 7
 
John Whitehead
September 10
 
Earl Dotson
September 17
 
Martha Byrnes
September 17
 
Saman Butt-Hanif
September 17
 
Denise Noe
September 19
 
Terry Anderson
September 21
 
Phil Dierstein
September 27
 
Brian Kobischka
September 28
 
Erna Colborn
September 30
 
Join Date
John Anderson
September 6, 2001
18 years
 
Dick Leighton
September 7, 1967
52 years
 
Taylor Carlin
September 9, 2004
15 years
 
Zach Buchanan
September 11, 2014
5 years
 
Elise Cadigan
September 15, 1988
31 years
 
Hannah Warren
September 15, 2016
3 years
 
John Whitehead
September 20, 1956
63 years
 
Casey Brauns
September 25, 1986
33 years
 
Jennifer Stark
September 28, 2017
2 years
 
Rudy Valdez
September 28, 2017
2 years
 
Roger Maggio
September 30, 1982
37 years
 
Meeting Responsibilities
New Member Orientation
 
July 2019
Kwiat-Hess, Kathy
 
August 2019
Kwiat-Hess, Kathy
 
Meeting Greeters
 
September 5, 2019
Byrnes, Martha
 
September 12, 2019
Johnson, Linda
 
September 19, 2019
Scoville, Tom
 
September 26, 2019
Buchanan, Ben
 
October 3, 2019
Poppen, Lori
 
October 10, 2019
Thacker, Beth
 
October 17, 2019
Nelson, Jim
 
October 24, 2019
Broyles, Bev
 
Ocgtober 31, 2019
Rundquist, Pete
 
November 7, 2019
Kwiat-Hess, Kathy
 
November 14, 2019
Norwood, Mary Ann
 
November 21, 2019
 
Meeting Invocators
 
September 5, 2019
Kwiat-Hess, Kathy
 
September 12, 2019
Rundquist, Becky
 
September 19, 2019
Johnson, Linda
 
September 26, 2019
 
October 3, 2019
Cadigan, Elise
 
Octoberr 10, 2019
 
October 17, 2019
 
October 24, 2019
 
October 31, 2019
Thacker, Beth
 
November 7, 2019
 
November 14, 2019
 
November 21, 2019
 
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