It’s hard to believe that the Rotary year is more than half over! Kudos to the clubs that have started or enlarged pollinator plots in their communities. I’m very gratified with the response we have had to this initiative. Toward the end of the year, in May and June, I will be asking clubs to send me the approximate square footage of their plots so that we can tabulate a District 6420 total
It is with great pleasure that we declare Dr. Kris Tumilowicz of the Loves Park Club the District Governor for the 2027-28 Rotary year! Congratulations, Dr. T (as he is known). Kris has been a Rotarian for over 40 years, active in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program and the Club Foundation Chair for many years.
Calling all President-elects, President-nominees, and Club Secretaries – it's time to register for the 2025 Midwest PETS (President-Elect Training Seminar)!
Dates: February 28 – March 1, 2025
Location: The Westin, Itasca, IL
This is a can’t-miss opportunity to prepare for your leadership role, connect with fellow Rotarians, and gain valuable insights to lead your club successfully. Register today at www.midwestpets.org to secure your spot!
2025 is here and that means it's time to plan ahead for your club's District Grant request. It's not too early to begin thinking about an impactful project to benefit your community - and to plan to meet the requirements necessary to put your club in a position to apply.
As we continue our mission of service to the community, it's crucial that we grow our clubs by welcoming new members who share our commitment to making a positive impact. Expanding our membership not only strengthens our community efforts, but also brings fresh ideas and perspectives.
In 2022, The Rotary Foundation approved the creation of the Polio Plus Society to be managed at the District and Club level to encourage sustained giving to Polio Plus until Polio is eradicated.
Our local newspaper published information on January 7 about the two recipients of Dixon’s District Grant, with information about Rotary’s mission locally and in the world. Grant recipients were Buddy Bags of Dixon, a nonprofit local organization that sends weekend meals home to needy school children, and the local Food Pantry, to whom we donated a new freezer.
Here’s your chance to make a real impact! Serving as a President-elect is more than just a title – it’s an opportunity to grow as a leader, shape the future of your club, and amplify Rotary’s impact in your community.
The Rock Island Rotary Club will award grants totaling $10,000 to seven nonprofit organizations that serve Rock Island residents. Grant recipients are:
This year, as part of our grant application, the Dixon Rotary Club focused on supporting initiatives that addressed food insecurity in our community. One of these investments was to a local organization called Buddy Bags. Buddy Bags is a non-profit organization that provides weekend meals for Dixon district students whose families may need assistance. This program is locally run, and the need has grown significantly, now serving up to 200 plus children each week.
On March 1st, Riverdale High School's Interact Club will be hosting a Kids Against Hunger packaging event. The Interact Club, which is sponsored by River Cities Rotary, will package food that will be sent around the world to impoverished children and families. RHS Interact will be raising funds during their school day to purchase the supplies for the event.
The Rock Island Rotary proudly awarded $10,000 in grant funds to seven dedicated community nonprofits serving the Rock Island community. These grants support programs that provide vital resources within areas of focus that include Children at Risk, Literacy, Poverty and Hunger, Environment, Education/School events, Violence/Community, Safety, Individuals with Disabilities.
Mark your calendars!! The Dixon Rotary Club is hosting our annual Shrimp Boil/Chili Bowl fundraiser event on Saturday, March 8th at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Doors open at 5pm and food will be served from 5:00pm-7:30pm (with carryout available).
The Rotary Club of Walnut will host its’ Annual Spaghetti Supper on Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 4:30 – 7 p.m. at The Rock, located next to the Walnut Community Bible Church at 125 Jackson Street, Walnut. Seating will be available, as will delivery and take-out. Free-will donations will be accepted.
Twin Cities Sunrise Rotary Club was able to provide 49 families, meals for women and children for Christmas with only 72 hours notice. Dinner consisted of all the fixings for each family to prepare their own Christmas dinner. Being able to make their own dinner enabled families to build tradition of their own, free of abuse and neglect.
Princeton Rotary Club hosted a Scholarship Fair on January 22, and representatives from 13 organizations shared information with area high school seniors and their parents. Princeton Rotary plans to give a total of $15,000 in scholarships again this year. Pictured are Steve Bouslog (President-Elect) and Joanne Sheldon (Chairperson, Scholarship Committee).
The Rotary Club of Toluca will host their biennial auction on March 15, 2025 at St. Ann's event hall in Toluca. A catered dinner and happy hour will begin at 5:30 PM with included beer and wine.
Rock Island Rotary, the first Rotary club in the Illinois Quad Cities, was chartered May 1, 1914, under the leadership of the first president Bernard D. Connelly. Since that time, the club has been dedicated to making a difference locally and globally through impactful projects and partnerships. From supporting education and literacy initiatives to championing healthcare and clean water efforts, Rock Island Rotary continues to live by the motto “Service Above Self.”
Dear members of Rotary Club of Galena: It has been a long time since I have been here. My name is Jun Koyama and I spent one year as a Rotary exchange student here in Galena 31 years ago. It was a very valuable experience and I am still grateful for it.
Winter is the worst! The lawn and garden seem dead and everything is dull and dreary. At least that is what it looks like, right? Fortunately the perennials and pollinators are tucked safely away resting and waiting for the temperatures to consistently be in the 60s again. Isn’t nature amazing?
In the past 12 months, the Club and its’ members donated over $10,000 to local schools, area charities and individuals in need, as well as those affected by human and natural disaster around the country and across the world. Club members gave over 1,500 hours of their time to local groups and held fundraising activities to help provide for those in need and support worthy causes.