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Stories
Pick Russ' Pocket
 
The six Rotary Clubs (Rockford, Rockford East, Loves Park, North Winnebago County, Pecatonica, 815) are banding together with Assistant Governor John Hurley to hold a joint membership drive and to raise awareness of Rotary in the Rockford area.   Each club is donating $300 to the effort.
 
This event will be held on Wednesday, November 14th from 5pm to7pm at Prairie Street Brewhouse. Last spring we tried a similar event at a daycare center (free), but it wasn’t much of an attraction, so we are trying to up our game.
 
So, Prairie Street is a great location, but we are spending more on food, etc., so I asked  Russ Johansson if he could help us with a grubstake so we have funds to promote the event to the public. Russ said he would match Rotarian contributions dollar for dollar up to $500. I am happy to report that after just my first request for donations, we already have $241 towards Russ’ match.
 
Hopefully, this week we can pick a little more of Russ’ pocket!
Read more...
September 20th Program
 
Elaine Breck, Rockford Promise
The title of my presentation is Rockford Promise - Change a life, Change a family, Change a neighborhood, Change a city.

 I don't have a resume since I haven't been in the job market for some time, but here are some bio highlights.

 2015 - Present    President, Board of Directors of Rockford Promise
 2006 - 2015         Board member, Rockford Promise
 2000 - Present    Byron Public Library District Trustee
 2010 - Present    United Church of Byron, Chair, Missions Committee
 1997 - 2002         Hunger Connection Food Bank, Executive Director
 1992 - 1997         Moms Health Consortium, Executive Director
 1987 - 1992         SwedishAmerican Health System, Oncology Center of Excellence, Director

 I have theoretically been on sabbatical since leaving the Hunger Connection in 2002.
 
Read more...
September 27th Program
 
Jennifer Hall, Mercyhealth.

Jennifer Hall is the Vice President of Government Relations & Community Advocacy for Mercyhealth. 

 

Ms. Hall serves as the liaison at the federal, state, and local level to build and strengthen Mercyhealth’s relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders, policymakers, business and community leaders, and neighborhood residents within the 2 states, 15 counties, and 50 communities in which Mercyhealth’s 8,000 employees at 85 primary and specialty care locations offer services to over 2.1 million patients. 

 

For over a decade prior, Ms. Hall’s consulting firm, Catalyst Business Solutions provided economic, community and business development services to start up and existing business, non-profit organizations and government agencies.

 

Jennifer will give an update on Mercyhealth's new campus on Riverside and other plans for the organization. 

Read more...
Rotary Scholarships

 

WHAT: Rockford-area candidates are being sought for two Rotary college scholarships.  Applicants must be college freshmen who plan to study abroad their junior year or upperclassmen/college graduates who want to complete a year abroad.  The deadline for applications is September 30, 2018.

District Grant Scholarships are for undergraduates who seek to spend their 2019-2020 academic year abroad.  This scholarship provides funding for round-trip transportation, tuition and fees, room & board, some, educational supplies and brush-up language training, if necessary, to a maximum of $25,000. The applicant should plan to study in a vocational area that is consistent with the mission of the Rotary Foundation, “Doing Good in the World."  Part of the experience will include participating in service work with their host Rotary Club.

Global Grant Scholarships are available to students who will pursue a graduate degree abroad during the academic year 2019-2020.

It is a minimum $30,000 award for one academic year. Applicants must closely align their curriculum and future career plans with an Area of Focus of The Rotary Foundation:

Peace and Conflict Resolution; 

Disease Prevention & Treatment; 

Water & Sanitation;

Maternal & Child Health; 

Basic Education & Literacy; 

Economic & Community Development.    

      The awardees will also be responsible for performing a service project abroad consistent with their area of study. 

Both scholarships, which are designed to further international understanding and good will, provide for study abroad in more than 200 countries where Rotary Clubs are located. 

​​During their studies abroad Rotary scholarship recipients will be​“Ambassadors of Goodwill” through appearances before Rotary Clubs & Districts, schools & civic organizations.

Scholars will represent Rotary International, the United States, and their community and their sponsoring Rotary Club as they work to further international understanding. 

HOW:  ​For more information on applications, please contact:

             Elise Cadigan, jhwks77@yahoo.com or 815-985-8300

WHEN:  ​The deadline for submitted applications is September 30,2018.

ABOUT ROTARY AND ITS INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM 

The Rotary International Scholarships program is the world’s largest privately sponsored university scholarship program of its kind. Focused on humanitarian service, personal diplomacy, and academic excellence, the program has sponsored over 40,000 Rotary Scholars to study abroad since it began in 1947. 

Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Rockford Rotary was chartered in 1916, is the oldest service club in Rockford, and has 121 members. 

Weekly New Member Presentation
     President Dave Byrnes is asking some of our newer members (at least new to him), to come up each week and say a few words about themselves and say a little bit about how the 4-Way Test and Service Above Self impact their work life.  Here is a list of the members who have agreed to speak.
 
     09/13/18 - Haddon Anderson
     09/20/18 - Bif Buchan
     09/27/18 - Daniel Sommer
     10/04/18 - Rudy Valdez
     10/11/18 - Ehren Jarrett
     10/18/18 - Brandy Lavender
     11/01/18 - Nina Kuljanin-Thompson
Read more...
New Member Orientation Team - 2018-19
     The Membership Committee is pleased to announce that the past presidents who served last year are returning this year.  As in the past, each one will orient new members two months starting in July.  They are Suzanne Berger (July & Aug.); Elise Cadigan (Apr. & May); Bob Canfield (Dec. & Jan.); Mike Donnelly (Oct. & Feb.); Russ Johansson (Sept. & Jun.); and Linda Johnson (Nov. & Mar.).
    
     Each person brings his or her passion and expertise to the discussion of important information about what it means to be a part of Rotary International and Rockford Rotary.  The goal is to have new members believe they made a great choice in joining us and know how honored we are to be joining them. New member installation will occur the same day as orientation meetings.
 
     Special thanks go to Judy Cooper, club administrator; Lyn Alison, board secretary; and Dave Byrnes, club president, for their support throughout the year.
 
 
New Membership Dues Option for Spouses and Partners
The Rockford Rotary Board, on January 23rd, approved a new membership dues option for Spouses and Partners who want to join Rockford Rotary together.  With this new policy prospective new members have three ways to join Rotary: as an individual; in a Corporate group; or with their spouses or partners.  Potential members, regardless of which category, must still be sponsored by a current Rockford Rotary member, complete the club's application and be approved for membership.  All members are expected to support the goals and objects of Rotary through service at the club and district level, as well as, through annual giving to The Rotary Foundation and Polio Now fund.
 
The goal of these additional membership options is to attract new members, allowing Rockford Rotary to more in both our local and global communities. The more people to help, the more we can DO GOOD IN THE WORLD.
 
Both of these policies can be found at http://www.Rockfordrotary.org under the Members Only tab, but can be accessed without a password.
 
They can also be viewed here:
 
ClubRunner Help?
Do you need help getting into www.rockfordrotary.org? 
 
If you are new to Rockford Rotary or just haven't been able to sign on to the Rockford Rotary website, contact Jim Coffey  at jimc6659@aol.com or 815-222-9168.
 
 
NOTE: You must use the primary email indicated in your profile.  If you no longer have access to that email, contact the Judy or Lyn to up-date your information.
Rotary Links
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Sep 20, 2018
Rockford Promise - Change A Life, Change A Family, Change A Neighborhood, Change A City
Sep 27, 2018
Mercyhealth Update
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Upcoming Events
Board Meetings
Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
Sep 18, 2018
 
Board Meetings
Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
Oct 16, 2018
 
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Brian De Benedetto
September 4
 
Fred Kapala
September 5
 
John Whitehead
September 10
 
Earl Dotson
September 17
 
Martha Byrnes
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
17 years
 
Dick Leighton
September 7, 1967
51 years
 
Taylor Carlin
September 9, 2004
14 years
 
Zach Buchanan
September 11, 2014
4 years
 
Mary-Stuart Carruthers
September 14, 1995
23 years
 
Elise Cadigan
September 15, 1988
30 years
 
Hannah Warren
September 15, 2016
2 years
 
John Whitehead
September 20, 1956
62 years
 
Casey Brauns
September 25, 1986
32 years
 
Jennifer Stark
September 28, 2017
1 year
 
Rudy Valdez
September 28, 2017
1 year
 
Roger Maggio
September 30, 1982
36 years
 
Meeting Responsibilities
2018-19 Meeting Greeters
 
August 30, 201
Berger, Suzanne
 
September 6, 2018
Heinke, Warren
 
September 13, 2018
Thacker, Beth
 
September 20, 2018
Rundquist, Becky
 
September 27, 2018
Carlin, Taylor
 
October 4, 2018
Stark, Jennifer
 
October 11, 2018
 
October 18, 2018
 
October 25, 2018
Prorok, Chuck
 
November 1, 2018
Smith, Jeff
 
November 8, 2018
 
November 15, 2018
Broyles, Bev
 
November 29, 2018
 
December 6, 2018
 
December 13, 2018
Prorok, Chuck
 
New Member Orientation - Month of
 
July 2018
Berger, Suzanne
 
August 2018
Berger, Suzanne
 
September 2018
Johansson, Russ
 
October 2018
Donnelly, Mike
 
November 2018
Johnson, Linda
 
December 2018
Canfield, Bob
 
January 2019
Canfield, Bob
 
February 2019
Donnelly, Mike
 
March 2019
Johnson, Linda
 
April 2019
Cadigan, Elise
 
May 2019
Cadigan, Elise
 
June 2019
Johansson, Russ
 
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Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner
Rockford Rotary - Our 103rd Year - www.rockfordrotary.org