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    CLUB NEWS  June 10, 2026
Upcoming Rotary Meetings 
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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Installation Dinner - June 17
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.
 
                          
    
 
               
Trivia Night Recap Meeting
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 .
 
Mental Health Series- June 1

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.   

This presentations will be made on ZOOM,  from 12:00 - 12:30.  There is no registration required. Here is the link to the presentation. Meeting ID: 899 9424 5708, Passcode: 227480. You can also go to the District 6440 calendar for the link. Video recordings of each speaker are available at https://www.youtube.com/@RotaryDistrict6440 .

 Think About EREY 
 
 
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). Remember part of your contribution comes back to our Club to help fund 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 Is Underway! 

Big Book Drive started October 1 and will run until November 13 at all Wilmette public and private elementary schools and Loyola Academy, Regina Dominican  HS, 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 

Volunteer Opportunities
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

Connections for the Homeless -  Here are a few opportunities (there are many more) for individuals, families, and groups to get involved with Connections. Visit their website  https://www.connect2home.org/volunteer-opportunities  for more information. Saturday, November 7th: Winter Warmth from 9 AM to 12 PM at Lake Street Church.  Sign up to volunteer  Shop Winter Warmth wish list

Local Events of Interest

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!
Wilmette Rotary Club

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
Phone:
(847) 722-2115
Flexible meeting times, morning or noon (plus evening service project). No attendance requirements. Mailing address: PO Box 111, Wilmette, IL 60091
District Site Icon
District Site
Venue Map
Venue Map
Our
Co-Presidents
           
    Frank Candioto & Frank Hussey
Speakers
Oct 21, 2026 7:30 AM
Sand
Sand

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.

Oct 28, 2026 12:00 PM
End Polio Now Update
Nov 11, 2026 12:00 PM
What We Should Know About Medicare
Nov 18, 2026 7:30 AM
Grandma's Recipe for Foreign Policy
Dec 09, 2026 12:00 PM
Madonna Mission
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Big Book Drive
Oct. 01, 2026 – Nov. 13, 2026
Morning Meeting
Oct. 21, 2026
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Sheridan Shore Yacht Club
Community Service/Environmental Committee
Oct. 26, 2026
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Zoom
Noon Meeting
Oct. 28, 2026
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Wilmette
St. John's Church
Lunch-Packing
Nov. 03, 2026
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
St Joseph Church
Board Meeting
Nov. 10, 2026
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Noon Club Meeting
Nov. 11, 2026
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Wilmette
St. John's Church
Morning Meeting
Nov. 18, 2026
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Sheridan Shore Yacht Club
View entire list
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Mariana Alfar
October 1
 
Patricia Tsuru
October 16
 
Susan Fisher
October 16
 
Olimpia Savarino
October 22
 
Jack Close
October 24
 
Join Date
Godrej Billimoria
October 1, 1982
44 years
 
Thomas Ryan
October 10, 2012
14 years
 
Helen Friedman
October 12, 2022
4 years
 
Susan Fisher
October 22, 2008
18 years
 
Hank Hufnagel
October 25, 2000
26 years
 
Paul Waechtler
October 30, 2013
13 years
 
Rotary Links
Rotary International
Rotary Foundation
Joining Rotary
Club Finder
Learning Center
Brand Center
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CLUB OFFICERS
President:   Brian Bradley
PAST  CO-PRESIDENTS: Heidi Voorhees/Debora Morris
CO-PRESIDENTS ELECT: Frank Hussey/Frank Candioto
SECRETARY: John Kilner
TREASURERS: Kent Meyers 
FOUNDATION TREASURER: John Flanagin
 
DIRECTORS:
Jack Close-George Pearce -Terry Porter-Irene Paterno
Nick Dallas-Frank Cheswick-Ben Ivory-John Kay- Karl Behrend
 
PRESIDENT, ROTARY INTERNATIONAL: Francesco Arezzo 
GOVERNOR, DISTRICT 6440: Marlene Frisbie
ASSISTANT GOVERNOR: Jen Shulz
Meeting Responsibilities
Noon Meeting- October 28
 
Food
Candioto, Frank
 
Thought of the Day
Chow, Alice
 
Fun & Frolic
Doyle, Gabriell
 
Noon Meeting - November 11
 
Food
Bowman, Jim
 
Thought of the Day
Dallas, Nick
 
Fun & Frolic
Dronen, Keith