Stories

The World Series was held during the month of June with all five division winners in hot pursuit of each other.  The winning club, Pecatonica Rotary, was celebrated at Rotary Night At The Ballpark held on August 3 at the Rockford Rivets game in Rockford, IL.  At the beginning of the game, we presented to the club members assembled the inaugural World Series of Giving traveling trophy.  While small in size, the Pecatonica Rotary demonstrated a true winning Rotary spirit by their outstanding commitment to the Rotary Foundation.

District 6420 had a record-setting year in giving to the Foundation in 2021-22 with giving to the Annual Fund at 198% of our goal and PolioPlus giving at 171% of goal.  In accomplishing this achievement, total giving to the Annual Fund and PolioPlus grew by over 40% on a total-giving basis, and by over 50% in terms of per capita giving on a year-over-year basis; also a record-setting accomplishment.  We attribute this was due in major part by our implementation of this friendly competition among all district clubs and how it kept supporting the Rotary Foundation front and center in each member’s mind throughout the year.

Pictured above are several members of the District Foundation Committee and Pecatonica Rotary members during an award presentation on August 3 at the Rockford Rivets game.

On October 14^th, 2020 the Belvidere Rotary Club and the Belvidere Park District held a dedication of the newly renovated playground at Bloom Playground in Belvidere Park.  The new playground has a new soft rubber base especially beneficial to the participants of the Districts Northlands Association for Special Recreation (NASR). 

The NASR program is a cooperative partnership between the Belvidere, Freeport, and Rockford Park Districts. Through the Belvidere Special Recreation Department of the Belvidere Park District, services are provided for high quality recreation programs and services to individuals, ages 3 through adulthood, with various mental and physical disabilities who reside within Belvidere and Boone County, Illinois.  Included in the Bloom Playground is a Rotary International marble plaque in the ground by a tree and a bench by the zip line, also donated by the Belvidere Club.

The Belvidere Club contributed $19,530 toward the purchase of the new playground equipment, which included $2,300 from their District Grant. 

During January, Rotarians are encouraged to focus on this important avenue of Rotary service. Discussions on vocational service can lead to projects that not only develop the ethical consciousness and vocational skills of Rotarians but also the talents within their communities. Vocational Service Month is an opportunity to begin year-long vocational service activities, ranging from Rotary discussions to awards to community projects. Following are some suggested activities to undertake during Vocational Service Month:

• Devote a meeting in January to examine the second Avenue of Service, including The Four-Way Test and The Declaration of Rotarians in Business and Professions. After expanding members' awareness, solicit their input in planning projects for the remainder of the year.
• Introduce a "mini-classifications talk" series in which each member gives a five-minute talk on his or her vocation. Schedule one speaker for the beginning of each meeting until everyone has made a presentation. The purpose of these talks is to promote vocational awareness among Rotarians and help them recognize the worthiness of all useful occupations.
• Present a vocational award to someone in the community who has exemplified outstanding professional achievement while maintaining very high ethical standards. Promote the presentation within the community, and consider making it an annual October event.
• Invite experts to give a presentation on the vocational needs of the community and develop a project in response to those needs. Possible projects could focus on developing character, providing career information to youth, mentoring small businesses, or organizing workshops that provide employees with new skills.
• Encourage club members to put their vocational skills to work as a Rotary Volunteer. Volunteer opportunities are available on ProjectLINK, a valuable resource that lists many vocational projects that clubs and districts can also choose to support financially or with donated goods. ProjectLINK also includes examples of successful vocational service projects that Rotary clubs can model as they plan their own activities.

For more information, visit www.rotary.org * or contact RI staff at vocationalservice@rotary.org

A historic announcement was given on October 24th, World Polio Day:

The World Health Organization’s declaration of the eradication of WPVtype3.

Now on to eradicating WPVtype1 which means we would eradicate polio world wide!

Do you have what it takes to make a difference?

The District 6420 Vocational Training Team Committee is looking for a few good Rotarians who can lend their time, experiences and skill sets in the development and implementation of a family- and health-related project in Combarbalá, Chile.

What is the project? The purpose of this project is to help professionals in Combarbalá develop stronger skill sets in the development and implementation of programs surrounding the health and development of young people in the community. Combarbalá educational and health professionals are experiencing challenges with young people in the community as it relates to sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS; alcohol and drug abuses; and healthy relationships. A point of fact: Chile is the only Latin American Country where the rate of AIDS infection is increasing. In addition, professionals in Combarbalá are having difficulty getting the attention from students and parents.

We are emerging from a long winter into spring at last.  Spring always makes me think of new beginnings.  So it seems appropriate that April is Maternal and Child Health Month on the Rotary calendar.  This is such an important area of focus for us as Rotarians.  We are so blessed to have the resources we have to obtain good healthcare for mothers and children.  There are so many areas in our world where this is not the case.  When we give to The Rotary Foundation, we are helping to fund projects around this important cause.  Please consider making your annual donation to the Foundation soon if you haven’t yet done so.  

DISTRICT GOVERNOR’S LETTER MAY 2018

May is Rotary Foundation Youth Services Month and it was celebrated by 120 district youth who attended RYLA on Saturday May 4^th at Larado Taft Campus just outside of Oregon, Illinois.  The weather was the best and the kids there were out going, friendly, and full of ideas and energy.   See Louise Clark’s writeup this newsletter

My District Conference was held at Faranda’s in DeKalb on Saturday April 28^th.  Lots of Rotarians coming and going but it is estimated that over 140 individuals attended the meeting for some length of time.  People came after breakfast and left after lunch, came to lunch but left before dinner, and people who just came to the evening dinner.  The speakers were outstanding.  Bethany Lerch, a former Rotary Ambassadorial & Fullbright Scholar definitely left an impression on those who heard her talk.  She meet with the exchange students and they were in awe over her.   Other speakers including Kevin Stephens, Teressa Wasonga, Toni Lucas, PDG Shannon Sheffel certainly held everyones attention.  DGND Tom Brooks had the exchange students talk about their experiences.  PDG Ruth Lee moderated over ongoing projects in our district ranging from Rock Island’s African water project to Rochelle’s school project in India.  All this with stops along the way with projects in Morocco and Uganda.  

Jim MacMurdo supervised a very impressive silent auction that brought in over $4000 to the Rotary Foundation with that money going to the individuals Foundation accounts.  See his report.   We gave out 8000 Foundation points to lucky drawing winners.  Let’s see matching funds and more Paul Harris Fellows.  

On the day before the conference, 25 hardly and dedicated Rotarians tackled the task of going over the District’s Strategic Plan that was established in 2013 at Bob Hammon’s district conference.  Key items were reviewed and requalified.  New action plans were written up.  These will be reviewed by the DG line & District Corporate Board and prepared for an awesome  set of goals for DG Kathy Kwiat-Hess’s governor year starting July 1, 2018.  

Special notice:   Chad Anderson, our Global Scholar in South Africa, has been published in the Malaria Journal for the work he has been doing.  If interested in reading about it; the link is https://malariajournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12936-018-2320-7.

The Northern Illinois Rotary’s iron lung was on display at the district conference.  It is currently housed in Spring Grove, Illinois.  You can rent it for $100 a day of usage.  Travel day before and after are not charged.  Go to:  Rotary6440.org/page/rilee for registration and information.  

Remember the RI Presidential Peace Conference meeting June 2 in Chicago.  Go to My Rotary for registration information.              

Update on Chile projects

Having spent two weeks in Chile this past November, I want to share with you the impact of our–the members and clubs of District 6420–work in this country and the reputation we are gaining as an engaged, thoughtful group of people.

The work of District 6420 has been made possible by the generosity of Rotarians of this district. It started with the Rotary Club of Galena establishing a Twin Club arrangement with the Rotary Club of Combarbalá, Chile. With the help of some fundraising and a Rotary grant, public restrooms were built in the town square, Plaza de Armas, en Combarbalá.. There have been many other small and large projects through the years.

QUAD CITIES, USA – Rotary District 6420 Inbound Exchange Students had a blast during the 2017 Quad Cities Youth Exchange Weekend, held Saturday November 18, 2017. Hosted each November by the Moline, Rock Island, and River Cities Rotary Clubs the QCYE Weekend aims to provide our inbound students with a weekend of cultural experiences, fun, and an opportunity to share their exchange experiences.  

Students arrived Saturday morning in Moline and attended the Quad City Arts Festival Holiday Parade in Davenport, IA., the annual kick off of the holiday season in the Quad Cities.  After the parade students visited the Davenport Skybridge, a suspended pedestrian enclosed walkway overlooking the Mississippi River, where they learned about the Mississippi, Lock & Dam 14, and nearby U.S. Army base The Rock Island Arsenal. 

Students then attended the annual Quad City Arts Council Festival of Trees, a holiday exposition of custom designed holiday trees, crafts, and goodies, held at the Davenport RiverCenter. 

Students moved on to Moline for  a tour of the John Deere Pavilion Museum at  John Deere Commons, where students enjoyed a guided tour and learned about the importance of American agriculture and the role of John Deere Company in world business and agriculture.  Students shopped the John Deere Store where everything John Deere, including clothing, toys, and collectables is available.  The John Deere experience was capped with a short visit to John Deere World Headquarters in Moline.

Students were then treated to hours of fun and food at the Quad Cities Family Entertainment Center, Moline, where they competed in an “international bowling tournament”, enjoyed pizza & pop, fought a vigorous laser tag battle, and played arcade games.

Finally the students retired to the beautiful 100 year old Italian Renaissance style home of Rock Island Rotarians John and Sandy Daly, where they enjoyed snacks, games, and all night fellowship. Students concluded the weekend with Sunday morning breakfast before departing back to their host cities until the next district event. View memories of the weekend on our district youth exchange Facebook page – Rotary District 6420 Youth Exchange 2017-18. 

Thanks to Rotarians Gary Francque, Jeff Dismer, Molly Shattuck, and Mary Beth Eggers, and Rebound students Abby Quinn and Sarah Mason for hosting and driving the exchange students, and to Rotarian John and Sandy Daly for hosting the students overnight in their home. 

MOLINE – Moline Rotarians had a great time participating in the 2017 Inaugural Holiday Hop on Friday November 17, 2017 in downtown Moline! 

Sponsored by the Moline Centre business group and Midwest National Bank the Holiday Hop featured 40 businesses, restaurants, and other organizations celebrating the start of the holiday season with shopper specials, arts, crafts, food and refreshments, and fun activities for kids. Trolley buses helped folks “hop” around downtown. 

In support of the downtown business community Rotary Club of Moline hosted a Holiday Hop stop at Rotary Plaza, Moline Rotary’s community park located in the 1600 block of 6^th Avenue. Rotarians in full elf costume helped Mrs. Claus provide hot cocoa, cookies and candy canes to downtown shoppers while the Moline High School chorus sang holiday carols. The Holiday Hop provided a great opportunity for Moline Rotarians to support the community and talk to folks about Rotary. 

View photos of the Rotary Holiday Hop event on Moline Rotary Club’s Clubrunner web site page, www.molinerotary.org  under Photo Albums / 2017 Holiday Hop. 

MoRo Santa Elves

November Governor’s Newsletter

Wow, 47 clubs + 1 satellite club visits completed since July 1^st.   I will be making my official visit to my home club soon.   I can certainly stand by the Four Way Test and say that all the clubs make sure that they are having fun.  That and the motto Service Above Self have motivated Rotarians across the district to be active in their clubs and communities.  Rotarians Making a Difference.

November is Rotary Foundation month.  I encourage all to consider their donations to the Foundation for the many programs that are covered and most especially for the Polio Plus campaign.  Remember to get your donations in before the end of the year so that you will be able to take a deduction on your taxes. 

As District Governor I get to make announcements and take bows for the many things the district does.  This month I am honored to announce the 2016-2017 Foundation awards.

Top Three Highest in Per Capita Annual Giving in the district:

1.      Rock Island Rotary Club with $284.84 AF Per Capita

2.      Sycamore Rotary Club with    $239.80 AF Per Capita

3.      Loves Park Rotary Club with   $237.83 AF Per Capita

One of only 5,034 clubs worldwide to attain status as Every Rotarian, Every Year and one of only 4,136 clubs worldwide to become a 100% Foundation Giving Club goes to Savanna Rotary Club.  The only such honored club in District 6420.

Eight clubs contributed $1500 or more to the End Polio Now campaign.  The following clubs are so honored:  Galena, Granville/Putnam County, Kishwaukee Sunrise, Rock Falls, Rockford, Rock Island, Sycamore, and Toluca.

The District Governor Nominating Committee meets December 2^nd in Sterling.  If any qualified Rotarian has the desire and wants to learn what it takes to meet the committee then please contact me soon.  The deadline for applications is November 15^th. 

The Rotary Clubs of Savanna and Mt. Carroll join together to provide each third grader from the West Carroll Primary School with a dictionary for their own personal use that they will be able to use for a lifetime.  Rotarians across the word have given over 14 million dictionaries since 2002.  Literacy and children have always been a priority for Rotary.  Giving dictionaries to students is one way for Rotary to enhance literacy skills at an early age. A dictionary is an essential tool and investment in learning.

Pictured:  Rotarians pictured with the third graders:  Bob North, Gary Panetta, Ed Bochniak.

STERLING, IL – Rotary District 6420 is fortunate to have had numerous outstanding high school students who were interested in being chosen as 2018-19 Outbound Youth Exchange Students. On Saturday November 4^th eleven student candidates and their parents were interviewed by District Youth Exchange Team members at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Sterling.  

The D6420 interview teams, consisting Rotarians, Rebound students, and host parents, was led by District Youth Exchange Chair Tom Brooks and Outbound Coordinator Dave Smith. The teams were impressed with the accomplished students and the support of their parents. All eleven candidates were approved as District 6420’s 2018-19 class of Outbound Exchange Students.  Congratulations students, and thank you to all of the Rotarians from our district clubs who have worked so hard to make Youth Exchange successful!

Pictured with Service Above Self Recipient Ed Bochniak are Left to Right:  Daughter Emily, Daughter Christine, his wife Annie and Administrative Assistant at the Carroll County Housing Authority Patty Acree.