Stories

THANK YOU to our sponsors, volunteers, members, friends, and all those who attended Oktoberfest. A good time was had by all, and we could not have done it with you!

 

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On April 24, 2020 -

On April 3, 2020 - Rotary Club of Elgin helped sponsor and volunteer so 70 Seniors would have doorstep delivery of home goods (yes, even TP!), and an abundant supply of fresh and non-perishable groceries. We worked with The Salvation Army and Senior Services as well as volunteers from the Breakfast Rotary Club, Elgin Kiwanis Club, and Senior Services.  Thanks everyone!

A special shout out to Captain Heather (the one with the clipboard) who was the glue that held it all together and made it run so smoothly!

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Elgin Noon Rotary has welcomed Mr. Greg Weider, Executive Director of Fox Valley Volunteer Hospice.  

Craig Lamp presents a Paul Harris Fellow to John Meschewswki, an extraordinary coach and school supporter.  A well deserved recognition for John who exemplifies the ideals of Rotary. (Pictured from left;  Craig Stokely, RI Foundation Chair; Rotarian & Past President Craig Lamp; John and his wife Debbie; and  President David Considine.)

Michelle Borkowicz receives her Honorary Paul Harris Fellow Award.

Pictured are South Elgin H.S. Principal Jim Edwards and the Interact Club Coordinator Samatha Nickolaou, with Club President Dave Considine.

William and Taffy Hoffer Honored with Paul Harris awards

At this weeks meeting we were pleased to present Honorary Paul Harris awards to William and Taffy Hoffer on Monday. 

Guest Program Speaker Theodore Roosevelt spoke to the Elgin Rotary Club on 04 November 2013.  Chief Jeff Swoboda, President Dave Considine, Past President Dave Mengler, and President Theodore Roosevelt pose for a group phot shot.   Joe Wiegand, regarded as the best living history reprisor of Theodore Roosevelt, bringing him to life in a full blown version that entertains, informs and inspires. 

The Rotary Club of Elgin installed their officers for 2013-2014 in a ceremony held at Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation on Thursday, June 27, 2013.  Officers for new term are: President, David Considine; President Elect, Wendy Romero, Past President, Brian Borkowicz; Treasurer, Maureen Chovancek; and Secretary, Tim Moore.

For more photos, click on following link: 2013 Installation Dinner Photos

 

The Rotary Club of Elgin's annual fundraiser was a huge success.  Everyone had a great time raising money for Elgin's local charities. 

Visit our Facebook page at Rotary Club of Elgin Facebook Page or our Photo Albums on our website main page for more fun photos.

Posted 10/1/12 Philanthropy News Digest

Supporters of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative have announced new commitments to bolster global efforts to eliminate the disease, including a $75 million commitment from Rotary International.

At a side event during the United Nations General Assembly last week, the heads of state of Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan — countries where polio remains endemic — were joined by officials from donor governments and public- and private-sector donors in calling for a long-term commitment of resources to polio eradication. Spearheaded by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Rotary International and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, GPEI launched an emergency action plan earlier this year. Implementation of the plan is contingent on closing a funding gap of nearly $1 billion by the end of 2013, however.

To that end, Rotary International and other donors are stepping up their commitments to the initiative. The Islamic Development Bank, a new donor, announced a three-year, $227 million financing package to Pakistan to cover the majority of its polio vaccination campaign costs, as well as a $3 million grant for polio eradication activities in Afghanistan. The United Kingdom announced a commitment of an additional £25 million (about $40.3 million) to GPEI in 2012. And the government of Canada announced an initiative that will engage civil society organization in matching contributions to GPEI, while Football Club Barcelona and its FCB Foundation announced the club's engagement in the effort in collaboration with the Gates Foundation and telecom operator Etisalat.

"Governments need to step up and honor their commitments to polio eradication if we are to achieve a polio-free world," said Wilfrid Wilkinson, chair of the Rotary Foundation, which already had contributed $1.2 billion to polio eradication efforts. "We must seize the advantage by acting immediately, or risk breaking our pledge to the world's children."

"The evidence is clear: if we all do our part, we can and will end this disease. But we must act quickly and give ourselves the very best chance to succeed," said Gates Foundation co-chair Bill Gates. "When we defeat polio, it will motivate us to aim for other great health and development milestones." 

In spite of the snow, we had a great turnout for our Rotary Community Challenge on March 2.  It helped us raise funds for the Rotary Foundation.  The Foundation supports many needs in the community:  Needs-Based Scholarships, Youth Leadership, Food Pantry Support, Literacy Programs, and many, many more. 

Great food, great prizes, tropical music, great time!  Thank you Holiday Inn Elgin for your hospitality.  And, Mahalo Nui Loa

 

Club President Randy Brittain with Sue Erikson of Feeding Greater Elgin

Front: Alexandra Lopez, Shaina Smith, Bre Johnson, Paola Gomez, Ralph Helm
Back: Jay Curtis, Mike Hiller, President Randy Brittain, Robert Gearhart

Our club has sponsored  many Mobile Food Pantry through Feeding Greater Elgin.  June 27, we had 10 club members and several Interact Club members  helping out.   We also presented a check to sponsor a future food pantry to Sue Ericson of Feed Greater Elgin. 

Today 369 outstanding students from 7 local high schools were honored at a luncheon at Judson University.  This marks the 83rd year of honoring high schoolers.   With parents, guests, and students, there were about 550 in attendance.  Michael Angelo Caruso, an international speaker and author, was the keynote speaker. 

Members of the Elgin Junior Service Board were honored today for their community involvement with a Paul Harris Fellow. 

EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP - How to Get People to Take Action

Was held May 2, at Judson University.  We had over 115 attend this professional development seminar by international author and speaker Michael Angelo Caruso. Topics included: how to motivate your work team, increase revenue, and have more fun on the job. Sharpen your presentation, improve meetings, and, of course, learn how to get people to do stuff.    

April 28 was cold, rainy and windy, but that didn't stop our club members and  South Elgin High School Interact members!   The club sponsored this mobile food pantry as well as 3 additional truckloads for Feeding Greater Elgin.  Over 125 grateful families benefited from this event.

Thank you District Gov. Bruce Baumberger for installing our new club officers along with the Breakfast Rotary Club's new officers.  Terrific time, great food, great friends, wonderful weather!

Kiwanis' President Karen Maki and Rotarian President Mike Warren take time for a photo opportunity.  Thank you Kiwanis for your support of our club's successful Shelter Box program for Haiti earthquake relief.

Thank you all for making this such a Hula of an Event!   It was a night of fun, auctions, and we had a $5000 winner!  It is our Annual Fundraiser to support need-based scholarships and support community hunger relief.  Website:  ww.rotary5000.org  Join us on Facebook - pictures of the event have been posted.

The Club is stepping forward to help local food pantries by donating $1,000 each to: All People's Interfaith Food Pantry, The Salvation Army, and Centro de Informacion.

On April 25, 2008, the Rotary Club of Elgin was recognized as a 100% Paul Harris Club at the Paul Harris luncheon of the 6440 District Conference. Qualifying Rotary clubs receive a recognition banner, shown here, and the club's name will be engraved on a plaque in the Arch C. Klumph Gallery at RI World Headquarters.

For Members --- click "More" below....

Help support relief efforts thru Rotary! Help those affected get back on their feet. All funds will be used toward ShelterBox funding.  ShelterBox contains a 10-person ten, bedding, utensils, cooking equipment, water purification assistance, tools, books, radios, etc. Rotarian assistance is already in Japan and  New Zealand,awaiting additional shipments of these much needed supplies. 

 http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/17/cnnheroes.henderson.japan/index.html?hpt=T2#

 Use following Link to Donate: 

http://www.Rotary5000.org/donation

The Officers and Directors of the Interact Club of South Elgin.  The inaugaration and club member induction took place 2/22/2011.  Congratualtions to this enthusicastic energetic group!  They have over 25 members who have promised to make us proud!

BEACH PARTY 

Was held  Friday, March 4 - 2011   It was a hula-of-a good time!  It will be providing funding for needs-based scholarships, food pantries, literacy programs and youth leadership programs.   Grass Skirts and Hawaiian Shirts Optional, but Encouraged.   www.Rotary5000.org    

The Foundation funds:

Need-based scholarships to Elgin Community College for local students and community projects, particularly food pantries, literacy programs, and youth and leadership programs.

Click the following Link to Donate: 

http://www.rotary5000.org/donation 

Mumtaz Siddique, DDS has joined our ranks.  A warm welcome!  His dental office is on McLean Blvd, in Elgin.  His sponsors are Dr. Jerry Cain and David Perlman. 

Today we welcomed Bob Spellmeyer as a member.  Bob is a CPA with Borhart, Spellmeyer & Company LLC.  Bob was member of the club in the past, and we are glad to have him back.

Our Rotary Club had great visibility at this community event.  Salvation Army, Community Crisis Center, Centro de Informacion,  and All Peoples Interfaith Food Pantries stopped by to pick up some of the over 180 birthday bags our club put together.  There will be many happy families able to celebrate their child's birthday.  The Rotary Club of Elgin has the word out there - we support the food pantries!  Pictures are under "Journals" to the left on the website.  Hope to rename that "Photo Albums" when the clubrunner system is able to cooperate.    

Welcome Cheryl Wendt of Boys and Girls Club of Elgin and Vicki Wright of the Girl Scouts of America.   Sorry for not having a camera.  The picture is the logo for  "More Women in Rotary"

Stu Howes, on behalf of Rotary International Foundation, presents Harry Blizzard, Jon Hutchison and Mike Warren with their next level Paul Harris Pins.  Though it looks like everyone has their heads bowed in prayer, they are just counting the sapphires in their new pins.

Susan Angell-Case of Baird & Warner Real Estate is inducted into membership. Pictured with Pres. Laurie and Susan's mentor,  Karen Beyer.

 

Chief of Police, Jeff Swoboda, has joined our club.  Welcome! 

Congratulations to our scholarship recipients!  The club awarded $21,000 in Scholarships.  Thank you to all the members and EFS Foundation for making this possible.  Additionally, the donations were made to four local food pantries and to the Boys and Girls Club for afterschool programs. 

Over 400 Straight A Students from the area high schools were honored on May 3.  Mayor Edward Schock was presented with an Honorary Paul Harris Fellow Award for his service to the community.  In attendance were many proud parents and grandparents as well as the Rotary District Governor Bill Ferreira.  The keynote speaker was Bob Muzikowski, founder of Chicago Hope Acadamy and subject of the movie Hard Ball.

Coming to us from the Rotary Club of Las Vegas:  Our members Rick & Sharon Jakle with the Las Vegas Rotary Club's featured speaker - our own District Governor Bill Ferreira.  It truly is a small world.

On March 10, 2008 at the Club meeting, a $50,000 check was presented to Rotary International President, Wilfrid J. Wilkinson, in support of the campaign to eradicate polio.

AS REPORTED IN THE COURIER NEWS BY MIKE SULLIVAN
Rotary Club International President Wilfrid J. Wilkinson heaped praise on the Rotary Club of Elgin this week during his first-ever visit to the local chapter.

Would you like to volunteer to help us out  on one of our projects?  Or maybe become a member?

You can E-mail or phone:    President Brian Borkowicz or one of our Membership Chairs.  You can e-mail by "rolling over" their names on this webpage.  Or send an email to elginrotary@gmail.com

Or, Come join us for lunch and see how much fun we have.    We hope to see you soon!

Want to see what we do?  Take a look  at  "Stories" tab as well as the membership link at the top right of this page under "Downloads"

Rotary Club of Elgin P.O. Box 604, Elgin, IL 60121-0604

Click on any name on the left for their e-mail address. Or use ElginRotary@gmail.com

Tuesday, June 17, 2014 marked the first night of leadership for Wendy Romero as President of Elgin Noon Rotary.  She's been great at each of her other roles supporting the club in various ways, most recently as helping secure speakers for the meetings.  We're looking forward to helping her continue to keep the club one of the Gems of the District!

If this doesn't work for you, you may want to try a different browser.  PayPal allows you to use a credit card or your own PayPay account.  

 

 

Come help welcome our new club leadership.  July 11, 5:30 pm at Max McGraw's Wildlife Center.  $30/person.  Please email Brian or Wendy Romero with your reservation.  (you can just "mouse over" their name and the email will pop up from there).   Congratulations, President Brian Borkowicz!

Monday, April 30, 2012 will mark the 84th year that the Rotary Club has honored the Straight A High School Students of the area.  Judson University will help us host about 400 students from Central, Elgin Academy, Elgin, Larkin, South Elgin, St. Edward and Westminister Catholic High Schools.   The Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Jerry Cain of Judson University.   Paul Harris Fellow Awards will also be presented to Ruth Munson, Mayor David Kaptain, and Megan Buttermore.

The 81st annual luncheon to honor Straight A Students was held at Judson University. There were over 300 students along with more than 200 proud parents and grandparents attending. Mark Siegel, local business leader, was an inspirational keynote speaker.

The Website: honorflightchicago.org The club sponsored 3 Vets for the June 17 Flight. Club members were among about 1000 people greeting and thanking this group of WWII Veterans as they arrive back home. A very moving experience.