Come and celebrate the holiday season by coming to our annual Holiday Party! Bring your friends and family. Our festive event will be at the Sheridan Shores Yacht Club in Gillson Park. Parking is available in the Yacht Club parking lot adjacent to the building, and anywhere along the inner drive and Michigan Avenue.
Beginning at 6 pm, you will enjoy a dinner of Italian specialties (not pizza) catered by Napolita in Wilmette. Wine, beer and soft drinks will be provided. At 7 pm, the New TrierSwing Choir will be coming to perform traditional holiday songs along with some original arrangements. Following their performance, we will have a Raffle drawing and then continue to mingle and have dessert. Tickets are $40 per person and can be purchased by clicking PARTY. Please RSVP by Monday morning, December 16.
**Members who would like to help with set up, clean-up or bring a dessert, should sign up HERE. Hope to see you there!
Winter Warmth event, hosted by Connections for the Homeless, was well- attended by Rotarian volunteers: our club was joined by members of the Evanston Lighthouse Rotary. Volunteers distributed coats, boots and other necessities for the frigid Illinois weather to community members in need. Every year, Winter Warmth distributes winter gear to anyone who needs it, without having to turn away recipients. Connections anticipated approximately 500 participants to attend. Pictured are Frank Candioto, Brian Bradley, Mike Cavalier, Mary White and Laurie Cavalier.
Following the annual Veteran's Day Ceremony, on Monday, November 11, the Village dedicated the beautiful new mural in Veteran's Park. The Mural is entitled "Thank You". The event was well attended and very inspirational with fourth grade children singing patriotic songs, veterans' recognized for their service, and the dedication of the mural. Comments were also made by Senta Plunkett, Village President and Luis Ramirez, the mural artist.
The mural project was partially funded by our Rotary Club which is acknowledged and displayed on this plaque by the mural.
Reminder: Gillson Park is under construction, so for the Wednesday, November 13, Noon club meeting, and the Wednesday, November 27, 7:30am club meeting, you need to enter through Washington Avenue and follow the driveway to the right toward the Yacht Club and park along the drive. This will be the way to exit on to Sheridan as well.
The December 11th Noon meeting will be back at St. John's Church, and be preceded by a Board meeting at 10:30am.
Every year on Thanksgiving day, I, Jim Pockross, conduct a Ceremony of Gratitude. This year will be its 49th year. The ceremony is simple. A group of people get together and simply say what they are grateful for in their lives when their turn comes. I have done this many times with the morning group, and participants feel the event is meaningful for them given that the day is Thanksgiving. For many of us the Thanksgiving holiday is one of family, food, fun and football. The Ceremony of Gratitude connects us to being thankful on the special day.
All members and Spoke readers are welcome to join in. This will be done over ZOOM on Thursday, November 28 at 10:00 a.m., so it doesn’t interfere with the day or watching all the football games. A ZOOM link can be obtained by contacting me mpockross@comcast.net . I hope you can join in.
Our largest fundraiser of the year is in full swing and should be on all members' To Do lists. Our Holiday Gift Fundraiser deadline for ordering products is December 7, and December 18 for Raffle Tickets. Monies raised will fund local and international projects and become part of the 2025-2026 budget process. Rotary members will also be at Panera in Wilmette on Saturday morning (December 7) from 9 - 10 a.m. to collect last minute orders.
Order pick up will be on Saturday morning from 9 - 10:30 a.m., December 14 at Carol Wells home (same as last year), located at 822 Chestnut in Wilmette. Please make arrangements for someone to pick up your orders if you are unable to do so.
The gift items this year include wines, chocolates, cheese, smoked salmon, olive oils, and more. Members are expected to purchase, sell, or donate to this fundraiser. It will be easy to attract friends and relatives to purchase holiday gift items, as the the list is extensive and tempting, AND they will be supporting a good cause. Wines were taste-tested by members who are wine lovers, and they are especially excited by the wine choices this year.
Great Raffle Prizes this year include $500 cash, Goodman theater tickets for "The Color Purple", Lake Geneva Private Boat Tour, and Cubs tickets.
Click on www.rotarygifts.com to order gift items, purchase raffle tickets and/or donate. Or use the QR code for easy access to our Holiday Fundraiser options.
We are excited to welcome our newest member! Captain Shehan is currently Executive Director for No Salt Sailing, which is a non-profit organization that creates a learning environment for wounded, disabled, and transitioning Veterans and their families to learn to sail; thereby promoting physical and mental well-being through Sailing Adventure Therapy. William's background includes the US Army and is a USCG Maritime Captain. He is an advocate for veterans' rights, ADA compliance, PTSD treatment. William lives in Evanston with his wife, Laura. He was inducted at the November 13 meeting by Co-President Debora Morris.
2024 Annual Virtual Benefit, "An Evening to Experience ShelterBox" November 14th , 7-8pm .Register HERE . This promises to be an unforgettable evening filled with inspiration, stories of resilience, and the power to make a profound difference in the lives of those in need. ShelterBox USA President Kerri Murray will be your host for our highly anticipated annual virtual benefit, streamed live from ShelterBox USA headquarters. You'll also gain invaluable insights into our ongoing humanitarian responses in Gaza, the Caribbeans, and beyond.
Monthly Lunch-packing on April 1 - Our monthly service project of preparing lunch bags for Connections for the Homeless is at St. Joseph's Church, Lake and Ridge, Wilmette at 6pm. Enter through the east lower entrance. A Rotary Club meeting follows immediately after the sandwiches are made. 175 lunches were made on March 4. A good turnout included guests Kara and David Kosloskus, and Julie Treumann.
Connections for the Homeless
Our Club partners with Connections for the Homeless in a variety of ways including the monthly sandwich packing, the Hope Walk for the Homeless and some of their summer activities. There are several volunteer opportunities available to help Connections in their important work.
Some examples include: hosting a drive for winter clothing, hosting holiday celebrations, planting vegetables and herbs in community garden, cook and service meals, sort and stock donations. For further information contact Ashli Wade, Associate Director for Development at awade@connect2home.org
Trinity Wilmette 2025 Community Conversations— Welcoming the Stranger - a multi-week series that will explore the complex dynamics of immigration through diverse perspectives. Trinity United Methodist Church at 1024 Lake Avenue in Wilmette. 3:30 p.m. with presentations at 4 p.m. For more information and to register https://trinitywilmette.com/immigration/
Local Elections Now through April 1 - Vote for open positions on the Wilmette Village Board, Avoca School District 37 School Board, and Wilmette Park Board - Early voting has begun and election day is April 1. click here for the Wilmette Voter Guide from the League of Women Voters,
Blood Drives - The Wilmette Fire Department and the Winnetka Fire Department are sponsoring several upcoming blood drives with the goal of collecting 600 units of blood that can help to save 1,800 lives. Vitalant Bloodmobiles will be at various locations. Call 877-258-4825 or visit Vitalant.org for appointment. Use Code ORD0132D
May 2, July 16, November 12 - Wilmette - 1304 lake Avenue
Sept 12 - Winnetka - 428 Green Bay Rd
John Thomson Blood Drive and Memorial - John Thomson was best known as the New Trier HS Band Director for 25 years. He passed away recently and his family has set up a Blood Drive in his memory for March 28 from 9am-3pm at New Trier High School Northfield, Bldg C. For more information visit RedCrossBlood.org Memorial service will be March 29 in Kenilworth.
Wilmette Mental Health Fair - Saturday, April 5 at First Presbyterian Church, 600 9th St., Wilmette; 3pm-4pm. Topic "Navigating the Anxious Generation: How We Can Empower Our Kids". Listen to an expert panel of physicians and educators. Mingle with local mental help agencies and neighbors.
Club Information
Welcome!
Our Motto: Service Above Self
Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m.
Sheridan Shores Yacht Club
20 Harbor Drive
Wilmette, IL 60091 United States of America
In 2025, our Rotary Club meets monthly on the 1st Tuesday at 6pm at St Joseph Church, the 2nd and 4th Wednesday at Noon and the 3rd Wednesday at 7:30am at the Sheridan Shores Yacht Club in Gillson Park. Mailing address: PO Box 111, Wilmette, IL 60091
New member, Willam Shehan will tell us about No Salt Sailing: Sailing Adventure Therapy. They create a learning environment for wounded, disabled, andfor wounded, disabled, and transitioning Veterans and their families to learn to sail, explore the Great Lakes around Chicago, and develop maritime skills, all while promoting veteran well-being, both physical and mental.
Connections for the Homeless
