Our next meeting is a Noon Meeting on October 28 at St. John's. Starting in November, all club meetings (Morning and Noon) will be held at the Wilmette Harbor Club.November begins with Lunch-Packing on November 3, 6pm at St. Joseph Church. Club meetings are November 11 at Noon, November 18 at 7:30am and November 25 at Noon
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Wilmette Rotary member and Fire Chief Brian Lambel was the featured speaker at the May 27 noon meeting.He updated the club on the many critical activities of the Fire Department.In addition to providing fire suppression and emergency medical services to Wilmette residents, the Fire Department also now has a boat docked at the Coast Guard station that provides lifesaving operations on Lake Michigan.The boat is shared with neighboring communities.He noted that the department responds to clost to 4000 calls for service each year with more than 70% paramedic related.They also work closely with Vitalant (formerly LifeSource) on blood drives.Vitalant Executive Director Melissa Halcomb joined Chief Lambel at the meeting.Vitalant makes donations each year to the Firefighters Foundation in recognition of the support they receive from regional fire departments.
At our May 27 club meeting, George Pearce presented a scholarship award to Kelly Jacques, a Loyola Academy senior.Kelly is a remarkable young woman who during her high school years volunteered at Our Place working with developmentally disabled individuals.In her own words, Kelly believes this experience taught her to better understand “how important kindness, acceptance, and patience really are, and made me more aware of how important it is to create an environment that is inclusive for everyone.”She also worked at a pizza restaurant part-time gaining job experience while still in high school. Kelly will be studying psychology at Marquette University.
Our Installation/Transition Dinner was last Wednesday, June 17; forty-nine members and guests attended. Mariana Alfar, District Governor Nominee, installed Co-presidents Frank Hussey and Frank Candioto as our next top leaders for Rotary year 2026-2027. New Board members, Tom Ryan and Bob Taylor, and Co-presidents Elect, Sarah Homan and Kurt Zoller, were also sworn in. Attendees dined on a variety of Asian specialties and enjoyed socializing with other members and guests. Debora Morris was named Rotarian of the Year. New member Olimpia Savarino was inducted. The program included recognition of 2025-2026 Paul Harris Fellows and Major Donors, five new members, and a recap of the year from outgoing President, Brian Bradley.
Our most fun fundraising event, Trivia Night, was again a wonderful evening and a successful fundraiser! All members are invited to an in-person meeting to discuss what we did right and how to improve the event. We will meet on July 20 at 11am at 1616 Sheridan Rd, Wilmette. All feedback is welcome. Let Debora Morris know if you will be attending debora@pftl.net .
Our board unanimously approved the Membership Application from Olimpia Savarino as our newest member. Sponsored by Debora Morris, Olimpia is Assistant Branch Manager, AVP at North Shore Community Bank, Wilmette, where she assists clients with their banking needs. Olimpia is a Chicago native and lives in the Edison Park area. We are very pleased to welcome Olimpia to our club!
Members of our club, with some family members as well, marched to represent our club in Wilmette's 2026 Memorial Day parade. We walked the 1.1 miles from St. Joe's to Village Center, carrying signs and banner and handing out little flags along the way. Many thanks to Brian B., Ben Ivory, Valerie Hector, Keith Dronen (with daughter Anastasia), Mary and Gene Rinaldi, Lee Brodne, and Cathy Pratt (with husband Bob and grandkids).
The District’s Mental Health series continues on June 1 with Elizabeth Rutha, PsyD, Director of Behavioral Health Operations at Advocate Health Care. This is a presentation that could be called: Mental Health 101: what are the basics of mental health and how do you care for yourself and others if you need extra support.
Last chance to donate this Rotary Year to The Rotary Foundation (TRF). It would be great if every member is able to contribute $100 this Rotary year. If you can contribute $100, that equates to only 27 cents per day or $1.92 per week. But any contribution is welcomed. Ray Z. or Terry P. will be able to tell each member how far away they are from their next Paul Harris Fellow award (PHF). Rememberpart of your contribution comes back toourClub tohelpfund our service programs. Ray Zeiss has indicated that there are several members who are very close to becoming a Paul Harris Fellow, or adding to their PHF status, with credits from our past EREY contributions. Donations will be matched for those within $500 of reaching the next PHF.
Members : It's very easy! Click HERE for a direct link to donate.
Big Book Drive started October 1 and will run until November 13 at all Wilmette public and private elementary schools and Loyola Academy, Regina DominicanHS, and New Trier HS.Start saving books for our Big Book Drive. We will partner again with Bernie's Book Bank to collect books for under-resourced schools in Chicago, kindergarten through high school. Contact Maurice Sullivan for more information mauricewsullivan@aol.com
Monthly Lunch-packing on November 3, 6pm - The 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. This is now a collaborative project with members joining us from the Winnetka-Northfield and Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Clubs. Sign -up LUNCHES November is Wilmette's month.
Go Green Wilmette/Wilmette Park District - Beach Clean Ups - Join Go Green Wilmette for a beach clean-up! April through October at Gillson Beach, Gate 3 (Gillson Beach House during the off-season dates), 9am-11am.Bring reusable gloves (not single-use plastic) and a bucket or container. Click Information
TEDxWilmette Salon - Burning Questions: What Are Yours? Join a panel of three TEDxWilmette speakers to discuss the most burning questions on their minds right now. What are your burning questions?Sunday, November 8.1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Baker Demonstration School, 201 Sheridan Road, Wilmette.Purchase tickets ($20 each)
Convito Cafe & market - Thirsty Thursdays, now through November 19, after 5pm in the cafe, $2-5$ off wine and cocktails. https://www.convitocafeandmarket.com/
Club Information
Welcome!
Our Motto: Service Above Self
Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m.
St. John's Lutheran Church
1235 Wilmette Ave
Wilmette, IL 60091 United States of America
Dick Farkas, Political Science professaro at DePaul University, has presented to us many times. He always has interesting topics. Dick will talk about where sand comes from and its importance to our lives.
Sheridan Shore Yacht Club