Spoke for January 17, 2024 * (Jan. 17, 2024)

100th Anniversary Planning

Posted by Mariana Alfar

2024 is the 100th anniversary for both our club and the Winnetka/Northfield Rotary Club. We plan to celebrate together. The Winnetka/Northfield Club has set June 20 in the beautiful Garden Room at the Winnetka Community Center for the combined celebration. We will also include the Installastion of Co-presidents for both club for the 2024-2025 Rotary year.. Several of our club members have volunteered to assist in the planning, Yvonne Sito, John Held, Mariana Alfar, Debora Morris, Terry Porter, Nick Dallas, Maurice Sullivan, Heidi Voorhees.

Rotary memoribilia is being collected by Jackie Grant and Joe Goldstein. Please contact Jackie (granatj@comcast.net) if you have any Rotary items that can be added to the collection or want to assit with collection and display at the June 20 event.

New Board Members Elected

The following members have been elected by unanimous member vote to serve on the Wilmette Rotary (and Foundation) Board for a three-year term starting in Rotary year 2024-2025: Nick Dallas, Frank Cheswick, Irene Paterno.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Task Force

Members Martha Sheridan and Suki Fisher have volunteered to serve on our District 6440 Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. This Task Force will implement a Strategic Plan Focus Area on DEI. This group will be the lead to establish a sustained District presence advocating DEI. Our members are also looking into integrating DEI in our club.

Polar Plunge Anyone?

Brent Hendricks is looking for others to join him in the Polar Plunge on March 3. Hale and hardy individuals should contact Brent for date and coordination. bwh987@gmail.com

Lunch-Packing Feb 6

Posted by Brian Bradley

Our continuing program of Lunch-packing for the Homeless took place on February 6 at St. Joseph Church. Volunteers from all the Wilmette Rotary groups and guests made 160 luncn bags. This is a well-organized event that has been providing monthly lunches since 2021. The lunches are given to Connections for the Homeless for distribution to those in need. The lunches include a sandwich, fruit, chips, condiments, napkins and dessert. All component items are purchased in advance by Brian Bradley and brought to the lower level room at St. Joseph Church. Volunteers put the items in individual lunch bags and make fresh sandwiches for delivery the next day. Members and the public are invited to join this project the frist Tuesday of every month.. The next date is March 5.

Eyeglass Collection

Member John Kessler has restarted a long-standing project to collect eyeglasses. The former Wilmette Harbor Rotary had been doing this project for many years. Collection stations have been placed in the post offices in Wilmette, Kenilworth and Winnetka. In association with the Lion's Club, the eyeglasses collected are recycled and distributed to those who need them, locally and abroad.

Rotary Images from 2023

A collection of images that have appeared in the Spoke for all of 2023 are featured on our website at wilmetterotary.org I hope you enjoy reveiwing them. There were a number of events for which I did not have photos. Let's try to remember to take photos as events occur in 2024.

Community Service Opportunities

Posted by Brian Bradley

Hands-On Service Sub-Committee: John Held has agreed to help form a sub-committee that will focus on finding hands-on service opportunities for our members who want to be more involved and work directly with organizations and clients. Please reach out to John if that is something you want to become more involved with. johnjheld@gmail.com

Diaper Distribution: Had some follow up from Tina Kalil from Bundled Blessings, a diaper bank on the north shore. If anyone is interested in volunteering with them to load and unload diapers or coordinate a diaper drive for Wilmette, contact her at here

Building Peaceful Bridges: If anyone wants to volunteer to help build a team or assist a refugee family with the folks from Building Peaceful Bridges, please let me know and I will put you in contact with Lori or visit their website here

Local Events of Interest

Bienvenidos Gala Event - April 6 at 5pm at Sketchbook Brewing Co. in Skokie for traditional Venezuelan dinner from Evanston restaurant La Cocinita, live music from a teen rock band of newcomer students (as seen on WBEZ!), plus unique raffle prizes and silent auction items as we raise money to support migrant families in easing their transition to our area. LAST DAY TO PURCHASE TICKETS IS SUNDAY, 3/31/24

Register soon because space is limited! Need to tune in from afar? Join us virtually for a reduced ticket price that still makes a difference - and allows you access to the live show and silent auction, plus one raffle ticket!

TEDxWilmette - On April 20, 2024 at Baker Demonstration School, TEDxWilmette will present six speakers with big ideas around the theme The Future Is Now. The pace of change in our world brings what once felt futuristic into the present. From climate to AI, media to healthcare, we face big technological, ethical and social questions, and the answers have implications not only for our shared future but also for our common present. Buy tickets HERE.

Welcome!

Our Motto: Service Above Self

Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m.

Eva Dean's Bakery & Cafe

1115 Central Avenue
Wilmette, IL 60091
United States of America

Phone:

(847) 722-2115

Send Email to Club

Our Rotary Clubs meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 7:30am at the Wilmette Harbor Club (inside Gillson Park) at Noon at St. John's Church, Wilmette and on 1st Tuesday at 6pm at St. Joseph Church. Mailing address: PO Box 111, Wilmette, IL 60091

District Site

Venue Map

Debora Morris and Heidi Voorhees

Aug 14, 2024 7:30 AM

Ben and Shale Wozney

The Driven Foundation

Ben Wozney, Executive Director and his daughter, Shale Wozney, Jr. Board President, will tell us about The Driven Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals and families with Special Needs and Disabilities. Their mission is to provide accessible vehicles to families with disabled children that grant independence, inclusion, and mobility in their communities." The meeting will be held in the Sheridan Shore Yacht Club located inside of Gillson Park.

This program will be repeated on September 25 at 12 p.m. at St. John's Church, 1235 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette

Aug 14, 2024 12:00 PM

Richard Koenig

Housing Opportunity Development Corporation.

Richard Koenig will speak to us about HODC, Housing Opportunity Development Corporation. HODC is a community-based nonprofit that makes an affordable home a reality for a diverse group of people who are unable to afford housing in their community. Affordable housing provides hope for individuals and families who are at risk of eviction, foreclosure, and homelessness.

Richard Koenig, PhD, has been Executive Director of Housing Opportunity Development Corporation since 1997. To date Richard has completed over 30 affordable housing developments valued over $150 million. He has a PhD in Community Economic Development and a Masters of Urban Planning from the UIC. Richard previously served as Chair of the Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County and now serves on the board of Collaborative Community Housing Initiative.

Location: St John's Church, 1235 Wilmette Ave, Wilmette

View entire list

Board Meeting

Aug. 13, 2024 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Morning Club Meeting
Wilmette Harbor Club
Aug. 14, 2024 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Noon Club Meeting
St. John's Church
Aug. 14, 2024 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Morning Club Meeting
Wilmette Harbor Club
Aug. 28, 2024 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

Noon Club Meeting
St. John's Church
Aug. 28, 2024 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Lunch-Packing
St Joseph Church
Sep. 03, 2024 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Happy Hour
Yacht Club
Sep. 04, 2024 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

View entire list

Member Birthdays

John Kessler

August 5

John Plante

August 5

Michael Harper

August 6

John Kilner

August 12

Heidi Voorhees

August 15

Sarah Oliver

August 19

Sarah Homan

August 27

Jackie McGuire

August 28

Richard Brill

August 29

Jim Bowman

August 31

Join Date

Jack Close

August 1, 1994

30 years

Terry Porter

August 1, 1987

37 years

Duncan Wardrop

August 8, 2023

1 year

J. Steve Santacruz

August 15, 2006

18 years

Brian Bradley

August 18, 2010

14 years

Nickolas Dallas

August 18, 2010

14 years

Puran Stevens

August 19, 2008

16 years

Marcia Srivastava

August 25, 2023

1 year

Arnold Klein

August 31, 2005

19 years