April meetings begin with Lunch-packing on Tuesday, April 7 at St. Joseph Church. Club meetingsfollow witha Noon Meeting on Wednesday, April 8, a Morning Meeting at 7:30am on Wednesday, April 15, a Noon Meeting on Wednesday, April 22and Happy Hour on Wednesday, April 29 at 6pm. All April club meetings are at the Sheridan Shore Yacht Club. Beginning in May the Noon Meetings will be at St. John's Church and continue through October.
TIP: Be sure to click on "View entire message" at the bottom of the page to see the whole issue.
Club members got an overview of how the Community Service & Environmental Committee (CS&E) is currently organized and operating. Under the direction of Co-chairs, Sarah Homan and Ben Ivory, this committee has prioritized the grant process and is establishing criteria for future grants. In close collaboration with Gabe Doyle, Public Image chair, activities of the CS&E are being posted on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Although numbers are increasing, more views are desired on these social media platforms. For those who missed the presentation and are interested in seeing the presentation slides download HERE
Current grant recipients are: Meals on Wheels Northeast Illinois; Lawrence Hall; Our Place; Lemons of Love; ICNA Relief; Madonna Mission; The Volunteer Center; Youth Job Center; Noggins Builders Foundation; Housing Opportunity Development Corporation. (Family Promise and Ouilmette Foundation are budgeted/awaiting applications.)
Additional fund allocations were budgeted for Connections for the Homeless (lunches), Operation Warm (coats), St Thomas (coats) and the Village Block Party. Upcoming budgeted expenses include Earth Day and Pollinator Projects.
Our club presented Our Place with a check last month. At Our Place, teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities develop meaningful relationships, engage in productive activities, and grow through life experiences. https://www.ourplaceofnewtrier.org/
We also presented a check to the Trade Collective which provides opportunities for young people to learn marketable skills in the trade professions by connecting them to businesses and training programs. https://www.thetradecollective.org/
Rotarians who purchased Holiday Fundraiser gifts and/or had their friends purchase gifts, came on Saturday Dec. 13 to pick up the gifts. The gifts were then to be delivered to the buyers. Jim Bowman and Debora Morris braved the cold to help organize and assist the pickups. Final numbers for the Holiday Fundraiser are being determined and will be communicated soon.
Our Amazon Homeless Project for unhoused clients of The Sisters of Fraternite Notre Dame is underway and the need is great this year, especially with the early cold and snow we have received. Basic needs for socks, hats, gloves and toiletries are all available to easily purchase on line and they will be delivered directly to the convent. Please select Sister Valerie Marie as the recipient when you check out. It is hoped to have the gifts delivered by Christmas. There are still some items left on our Amazon wishlist. Here is the link: HOMELESS
A message from Rotary International Past President Mark Daniel Maloney: You are warmly invited to register for the upcoming PEACE BEGINS AT HOME – International Online Mega Meeting (The Rotary Mega Meeting). This global gathering will feature inspiring messages from distinguished leaders, dedicated peace advocates and Rotary leaders from across the world. The meeting seeks to reinforce a vital truth: sustainable global peace is built through daily actions, shared values, and strong relationships—beginning at home. Peace cannot be taken for granted. Register here:https://forms.gle/TnJL4LsGd98gMmWx9 Or simply scan the QR code to sign up. Once registered, you will receive updates on the confirmed date, time, and meeting link.
Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Time: 9:30 PM (AEST) Registration: Click HERE to register.
Co-president Elect Frank Candioto presented three nominated candidates for next year's Board of Directors, Bob Taylor, Mike Harper and Tom Ryan. With no other nominations from the floor, the membership present voted unanimously in favor of the board nominees. The new board members will serve for a three year term ending in 2029. Additionally, the members voted unanimously for next year's Nominating Committee to be Alice Chow, Maurice Sullivan and Tim Frenzer.
Our health is everything. Yet 400 million people in the world can’t afford or don’t have access to basic health care. As the year winds down, December serves as a time to reflect on one of Rotary’s core causes: Disease Prevention and Treatment. From eradicating polio to supporting mental health initiatives, Rotarians worldwide work tirelessly to improve health outcomes and build resilient communities. Disease prevention is about more than healthcare—it's about education, access, and empowerment. Whether it’s funding vaccines, providing clean water to prevent disease, or offering medical training in underserved areas, our collective efforts save lives and restore dignity.
Monthly Lunch-packing on April 7, 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
Connections for the Homeless/Hilda's Place - Volunteers needed to sort clothing and other donations. Monday, March 30, 1458 Chicago Ave. Evanston. 4:30pm-6:00pm Sign-up
New Trier Township Food Pantry -- The following items are needed at the New Trier Township Food Pantry: pancake mix and flour, spices and condiments, SPAM/canned tuna in oil, beef ravioli, and shampoo and conditioner. They currently have a surplus of other items.
Dine Local During North Shore Restaurant Month. March is the perfect time to dine local and discover (or rediscover) the amazing restaurants right here in Wilmette. As part of North Shore Restaurant Month (March 1–31), several of our local favorites are offering special promotions and menus throughout the month. Be sure to support these participating Wilmette restaurants and enjoy their Restaurant Month specials! View full details and additional offers here.
Our Place –“Better Together”: Annual Benefit, April 18- 5:30- 9:30pm: Takiff Center, 999 Green Bay Rd, Glencoe. Dancing, Dinner, Raffle, Silent Auction. Supporting programs that help intellectually and developmentally disabled participants lead full, engaged lives. Tickets $85 pp. Click for Tickets
Club Information
Welcome!
Our Motto: Service Above Self
Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m.
Sheridan Shore Yacht Club
20 Harbor Drive
Wilmette, IL 60091 United States of America
We meet 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 both at the Sheridan Shore Yacht Club in Gillson Park. Mailing address: PO Box 111, Wilmette, IL 60091
Mary Beth Schaye is a zero waste consultant and worked for Collective Resource Compost Cooperative, food scrap hauling cooperative based in Evanston, Illinois for 14 years. She continues this work after their recent merger with The Urban Canopy. Their Compost Club is one branch of this unique, Chicago-based business, which has 7 branches, all related to keeping food production and food waste management local and sustainable.
Mary Beth will give an overview about how diverting food scraps from landfills helps to mitigate climate change and explains how the container-swap commercial composting service her company provides helps both residential and commercial customers to be a part of the solution. Other related services of facilitating zero waste events and recycling of hard-to-recycle items are also covered.
St Joseph Church