| Posted by David Nelson on May 22, 2012
Sara Noori arts education director and teacher at the Art Box store in Geneva gave an interesting power point presentation to Geneva Rotary about an upcoming service trip she will be making to Peru, South America to help disadvantaged children. Geneva Rotary is making a grant to help support Sara's service trip. Mark Allen Geneva Rotary and Esther Allen manager of Grahams 318 in Geneva introduced Sara.
Sara's service trip website http://www.trekkingforkids.org/trekker_resources.php?id=202 Here are some notes from Sara: |
| Posted by David Nelson on May 15, 2012
Tom Shaw publisher and Kathy Gresey editor of the Kane County Chronicle presented a program to Rotary Club of Geneva May 15 2012. They told about developments in the newspaper, on-line news, promotional services and video services. There is now a Monday online version of the paper in addition to the regular print version Tuesday to Saturday. The Chronicle took part in and supported the recent Rotary fundraiser 60 Men Who Cook. Kathy is part of our local Rotoract group. photo Tom Shaw and Kathy Gresey. |
| Posted by David Nelson
Geneva Rotary along St Charles and Batavia Rotary hosted the 2012 Group Study Exchange (GSE) team from Taipei Taiwan Rotary District 3480. The Taiwanese team made a presentation about Taipei to a well attended special Tri-City Rotary meeting on May 8 2012 in Geneva. Many more pictures at our club Facebook page.
A GSE Rotarian team leader heads a group of non-Rotarian young executives and professionals on a 4 week cultural and vocational exchange trip. Vocational visits to local businesses and government are part of the GSE experience. The GSE team is hosted by several clubs in District 6440 (north and west Chicago suburbs). The GSE team spent 4 nights in the Tri-City area. A team from Rotary District 6440 visited Taiwan in March and April 2012. Photo - GSE team leader Uen Hua Chen and Team member Spencer Chen with Sandy Wegman Kane County recorder. Visit the Geneva IL USA Rotary Facebook page for more. |
| Posted by David Nelson on May 01, 2012
Geneva Rotary joined Geneva Lions, Geneva History Center and Geneva Chamber of Commerce at this 4th annual special event where guests sample offerings from 60 volunteer cooks. Check out the 2012 video on You Tube. 2012 Geneva Rotary chefs and special helpers included -- Dr. Arun Mani; Don Cummings; Mike Deagle; Gordon Hard; Joe McMahon with Mark Weaver; Mark Allen; Kathy Melone with her son --- thanks also to all friends, family and Rotarian volunteers -- this important club fundraiser helps the club fund worthy charities, scholarships, service projects
youtube video of the event http://youtu.be/Jw7dLt4ZThQ
|
| Posted by David Nelson on Apr 25, 2012
Geneva Rotary joined 200 other exhibitors at the April 25, 2012 Business to Business Expo at Pheasant Run Resort St Charles. Our club passed out brochures about our activities, invited interested persons to attend one of our future meetings and spread the word about Rotary. Thanks to all club members who worked our booth or attended the Expo. Photo Dave Nelson at the booth -- more pictures at our club Facebook page |
| Posted by David Nelson
Club president elect Chris Reiss recently attended the annual district conference held this year in Milwaukee WI. Chris reported that there were many good programs and speakers at the conference. He asked the club to especially support the annual service trips to Guatemala which are organized by District 6440. Our club has participated in this trip 4 years in a row. Chris Reiss with Joe McMahon |
| Posted by David Nelson on Apr 24, 2012
Loy and Linda Williams spoke to Geneva Rotary April 24 2012. They related many events from their days at college and early in their careers in the 1960's. Loy and Linda were very involved and led student activities that helped bring an end to racial segregationist policies at their university in Texas. They also helped with actions for political and civil rights for all Americans. They participated in the Freedom Rides to help end segregation on public transit in the USA. They worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Loy met with Dr. King. Loy and Linda's presentation was very effective and inspiring. photo Linda and Loy Williams and Gordon Hard |
| Posted by David Nelson on Apr 23, 2012
Merrit Walker , Merrit Jr., Mark Allen and Joe McMahon cleaned up our 'knuckle' and planted spring flowers --
thank you for your community service gentlemen -- photo Merrit Walker , Merrit Jr.,; more photos on our face book page |
| Posted by David Nelson on Apr 17, 2012
Fox Valley Special Recreation Association provides recreational services for disabled children and adults in the Fox Valley area - this organization is a co-op of local park districts in Kane, Dupage and Kendall counties. www.fvsra.org
Mike Selep assistant director presented a program to Geneva Rotary on April 17 2012. Geneva Rotary will be a sponsor for an upcoming Fox Valley Special Recreation Association project. photo Chip Barber and Mike Selep l to r |
| Posted by David Nelson on Apr 10, 2012
John G. VanThournout, of Geneva, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, banker, golfer, philanthropist and lifelong Cubs fan, died Friday April 6, 2012. He was a founder of Fabyan Foundation, board member of TriCity Family Services, an alderman for Geneva, as well as a longtime member of United Methodist Church, Geneva Rotary, the American Legion, St. Charles Country Club and Geneva Golf Club. The club sends its condolences to John's family.
|
| Posted by David Nelson on Apr 10, 2012
The Rotary Club of Geneva will have a commemorative stone installed at its corner in downtown Geneva at 3rd Street and Campbell Street. The stone will reflect the club's founding year of 1965 and will also show the Rotary Gear prominently. Thanks to Joe McMahon for arranging for the purchase and installation of the stone. Photo shows the actual installation on April 17 2012 -- Ed Bankmann, Joe McMahon, Mark Allen, Jim Discher and Loy Williams did our installation work |
| Posted by David Nelson on Apr 05, 2012
Several club members at Front Street Cantina met to discuss upcoming projects, build club spirit and wear a funny hat too. Thanks to Loy for bringing his chicken hat and all who attended. More pictures at Geneva Rotarys facebook page |
| Posted by David Nelson on Apr 03, 2012
Robb Cleave volunteer coordinator of Kane County Forest Preserve District http://www.kaneforest.com/
talked to the club about volunteering with the district. Volunteers help with protection and restoration of natural areas; cultural and historical preservation; stewardship programs at specific preserves such as Fabyan and Dick Young; education and public safety including horse patrol. Robb stated - "With over 20,000 acres in the Forest Preserve System volunteers are of vital importance to the preservation, maintenance and beautification of our Forest Preserve properties in Kane County." Robb also specially thanked Rotarian volunteers Jim Discher (Fabyan windmill) and Mark Allen (Glenwood and Fabyan natural areas). |
| Posted by David Nelson on Mar 17, 2012
Geneva Rotary finished in2nd place at the Fox Valley Literacy Volunteers http://www.lvfv.org/ annual Trivia Bee held at the Q Center in St Charles IL. This event raises funds for FVLV to help area men and women wishing to improve their English language skills. Joe McMahon and Loy Williams skillfully coached team members Dave Nelson, Linda Williams and Kelsey McMahon to this highest finish ever at the event. The Geneva Rotary team even survived a stressful 3 round tiebreaker playoff to get second place at the event. The team thanks Geneva Rotary club for supporting this worthy local charity. St Charles Rotary and Batavia Rotary also participated in the 2012 Trivia Bee helping inspire the Geneva team to its 2nd place finish. Photo - Joe, Dave, Loy l to r back and Kelsey and Linda front. More pictures in our photo album and on the club facebook page |
| Posted by David Nelson on Mar 13, 2012
Details and registration at the District Website -- http://www.clubrunner.ca/portal/home.aspx?did=6440
The 2012 Conference will take place at the beautiful Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee - close to all major attractions. Learn more about Rotary, network with other clubs and more. Special discounts only through March 15 - Attend some or all the conference events |
| Posted by David Nelson on Mar 11, 2012
Geneva Rotary's annual benefit dinner raised $5698 for the club's philanthropic efforts. The club thanks all who attended the March 11 2012 event, those who donated silent auction items, bought raffle tickets or otherwise supported our event. Pietro Verone of Villa Verone Restaurant was made an honorary Paul Harris Fellow - Villa Verone generously donates dinner for our annual event. Scott Piner put on a wonderful Magic show too. See our club photo album on this website or our Geneva Rotary facebook page for more pictures. -- This Picture -- Kathy Melone club president with Pietro Verone. Thanks to event chair Kathy Melone and all Geneva Rotarians for their work in organizing our 2012 dinner. |
| Posted by David Nelson on Mar 06, 2012
JIm Discher talked to the club March 6 2012 about the importance of increasing membership and promoting Rotary. Jim is Geneva Rotary's membership chair. Geneva Rotary offers opportunities for service, fellowship, networking and education. Geneva Rotary has been an active part of the City of Geneva for over 45 years. Guests and potential new club members are always welcome at our meetings. Geneva Rotarians Mark Allen and Jim Discher at March 6 2012 meeting. |
| Posted by David Nelson on Mar 01, 2012
Group Study Exchange (GSE) Team from Rotary District 3480 in Taiwan will be hosted by Geneva, Batavia and
St Charles clubs May 5 to May 9 2012. The GSE team will be in other parts of our Rotary District 6440 for about 1 month. Geneva Rotary's Mark Allen is co-chair host for our sector. Events for the GSE team include two meet and greet dinners; field trip to Starved Rock; vocational day and a special Tri-City meeting May 8. Participation by Geneva Rotarians is invited. Special thanks to Mark and all our host families. To learn more or to participate in any of the GSE events please contact Mark Allen or Chris Reiss. |
| Posted by David Nelson on Feb 28, 2012
|
| Posted by David Nelson on Feb 23, 2012
Geneva Rotary Club is sponsoring 3 local high school students to attend this camp organized and presented by Rotary District 6440. The camp will be held in spring 2012. Teens develop leadership skills through a variety of fun activities, mini-classes and special guest speakers at this 3 day camp. The students representing Geneva Rotary at RYLA for 2012 are Brynn Cummings (Geneva High), Makenzie Hard (Newark High) and Mary Grace Martens (St. Edward's High Elgin). More information on RYLA see the downloads on this website or visit the Rotary District 6440 website. |
| Posted by David Nelson on Feb 21, 2012
Rotarian Tony Serpico of Strategem Group Marketing http://www.strategemgroupmarketing.com/ and Rotarian Chris Reiss of Visitec http://visitec.com/ discussed a recent marketing campaign that Strategem has developed for Visitec. Visitec which specializes in video conferencing has recently become a specialty distributor for Cisco and Visitec needed to present its services to a wide new group of customers. Strategem helped with a new and improved website for Visitec, unique direct mail promotions and other new marketing ideas including a super hero theme. Photo Tony and Chris l to r. |
| Posted by David Nelson on Feb 21, 2012
Geneva Rotary club will send a team to Fox Valley Literacy Volunteers (FVLV) annual trivia bee to be held March 17 2012 at the Q Center in St Charles. This important fundraiser for FVLV will have a 'B' movie theme this year. The club's Chris Reiss presented FVLV's Peg Coker with our $400 entry fee donation at our February 21 meeting.
http://lvfv.org/events/triviabee
The Geneva Rotary team will be captained by Loy Williams. Batavia Rotary and St. Charles Rotary clubs will also join in the competition that day.
|
| Posted by David Nelson on Feb 14, 2012
Geneva Rotary's president for 2011-2012 Kathy Melone took part in a Rotary service trip to Ak Tenamit Guatemala in February 2012. Annual trips are sponsored by Rotary District 6440 (north, northwest and west suburbs of Chicago). Kathy reported "Our group of District 6440 Rotarians helped build and furnish a large day room for the girl students at Ak' Tenamit. This room gives the students a place to study and socialize outside of their crowded dormitory areas. It was a much needed and appreciated Rotary project. The Rotarians on this trip were very enthusiastic and enjoyed their volunteer work, along with some sightseeing and learning more about Guatemala. I much appreciated the support of Geneva Rotary in allowing me to take part on this very special adventure." Melone is the fourth Geneva Rotarian to take part in the District 6440 international service trips to Ak' Tenamit.
Ak'Tenamit http://www.aktenamit.org/ is a school near Livingston Guatemala and was established for local Mayan children who come from 126 villages in the area nearby. Most students live in dormitories at the school. Primary access to Livingston and Ak'Tenamit is by boat.. Each year Rotarians help with a variety of construction, maintenance and educational projects at Ak'Tenamit
|
| Posted by David Nelson on Feb 14, 2012
Rotarian Kyle Hempel gave a classification talk to Geneva Rotary Feb 14 2012. He told the club about his personal and business life. Kyle operates Apple Graphics Printing in Batavia Illinois http://applegraphics.net/ Kyle is on the Geneva Rotary board and has actively participated in many service projects. Picture Jim Discher and Kyle Hempel at Feb 14 meeting. |
| Posted by David Nelson on Feb 07, 2012
Rotarian Dave Nelson gave a short talk Feb. 7 2012 about Lincoln as Lawyer. Much of his information came from a recent Kane County Bar Assn 'Bar Briefs' article by Judge Robert T. Morrow. Some notes about Abraham Lincoln from Dave's talk below. Photo from Feb. 7 meeting - Dave Nelson with Ed Bankmann |
| Posted by David Nelson on Feb 06, 2012
Magician Scott Piner (photo from his website) will entertain, also enjoy a great Villa Verone buffet dinner, silent auction and cash bar. Get your tickets now - only $25 - from any Geneva Rotarian. 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Villa Verone in Geneva IL 60134. Silent auction items include: European Travel Stay at Luxury Castle - Hotel in Poland; Technology Basket, Wine Basket, Sports Basket, Gift certificates to local businesses and more |
| Posted by David Nelson on Jan 31, 2012
Gordon Hard of Valley Insurance in Geneva gave a classification talk January 31 2012 on the casualty insurance business. Gordon is a two time past president of Geneva Rotary club and also chairs its annual AID Holiday party for disabled adults event in December each year. photo Geneva Rotary's Kathy Coffey and Gordon Hard |
| Posted by David Nelson on Jan 30, 2012
Story below from |
| Posted by David Nelson on Jan 24, 2012
Geneva Rotary's Joe McMahon and Chris Reiss received Paul Harris Fellows awards at the January 24 2012 club meeting from club presiden Kathy Melone. Both McMahon and Reiss are long time Geneva Rotarians and Chris will be club president in 2012-2013. This award is given to persons who are credited with $1000 in gifts to the Rotary Foundation. The Foundation funds Ambassadorial scholarships, Polio vaccination,, Group Study Exchange, international and local service projects. Visit the www.rotary.org website for more information. |
| Posted by David Nelson on Jan 23, 2012
Geneva Rotary Club had a special community service project January 23, 2011 for Herbie's Friends, a bereavement group for families with children from 5 to 18 years old. Rotarians provided food and helped serve a meal for a group of 25 adults and 25 children. The dinner was served at Monday, January 23rd at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church in Geneva. Rotarians also made a trip to Lazarus House that evening to donate unused trays of pasta and salad and other supplies. |
| Posted by David Nelson on Jan 17, 2012
Senator Lauzen talked to the club about state obligations and debt. His proposals include further pension reforms that would put a maximum cap on pensions, extend the start date to age 62, allow for single pension only from the state. He also talked about the importance of improving the business climate in the state to help boost employment here. Rotarians Chip Barber and Frank Mares meet State Senator Chris Lauzen (left to right in photo) |
| Posted by David Nelson on Jan 10, 2012
Walter Reed of Wilmette Rotary Club spoke to the club January 10 2012. Walter is a long time volunteer for the Rotary Foundation and talked to the club about the Foundation and its relation to local Rotary clubs. Some highlights of his talk: |
| Posted by David Nelson on Jan 05, 2012
Don Cummings of Geneva Rotary Club is Geneva's newest alderman. He was appointed to serve as 2nd Ward alderman to replace Bob Piper, who resigned last month over residency requirements. Cummings is principal of Blue Haven Capital an investment firm which is a long time supporter of Geneva Rotary. For the past seven years he had served on the Geneva Library Board of Trustees but has resigned from the Library Board to devote his efforts to the city appointment. Don received unanimous approval of his appointment by the Geneva City Council and from Mayor Kevin Burns. Here is a link to a Trib Local news story on the appointment -- http://triblocal.com/geneva/2012/01/04/geneva-names-new-city-alderman/ |
| Posted by David Nelson on Jan 03, 2012
Terry Emma executive director of Geneva History Center gave a presentation about current and upcoming special events at our community supported museum in downtown Geneva. Geneva Rotary has been a long time supporter of the Geneva History Center and recently was major sponsor of the annual Creche Luncheon which supports the display, restoration and maintenance of the 18th Century Neopolitan Nativity scene originally obtained by Kate Raftery of the Little Traveler store. Their website is at www.genevahistorycenter.org General admission to the Geneva History Center 113 South Third Street Geneva IL 60134 is free to the public. Geneva Rotary's Loy Williams and Linda Williams will make a presentation on Feb 14 2012 noon to 1 pm at the History Center about the civil rights movement and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. see our club events or the history center website for more information to attend this special event which is open to the public for a small fee. photo - Geneva Rotary's Kathy Melone and Chris Reiss with Terry Emma |
| Posted by David Nelson on Dec 27, 2011
Geneva Rotary's president for 2011-2012 Kathy Melone will take part in a Rotary service trip to Ak Tenamit Guatemala in early 2012. Annual trips are sponsored by Rotary District 6440 (north, northwest and west suburbs of Chicago). Ak'Tenamit http://www.aktenamit.org/ is a school near Livingston Guatemala and was established for local Mayan children who come from 126 villages in the area nearby. Primary access to Livingston and Ak'Tenamit is by boat.. Rotarians help with a variety of construction, maintenance and educational projects at the school. Medical and public health service projects may also take place. In past years Geneva Rotarians Frank Mares, MIchele Kinzler and Chris Reiss have taken this trip to Guatemala. For more information on the trip see the District website page http://www.clubrunner.ca/portal/SitePages/SitePage.aspx?accountid=50032&pid=62390 photo from AkTenamit website |
| Posted by David Nelson on Dec 20, 2011
Lazaurs House shelter in St Charles is again benefitted by 2012 calendar sales by Rotarian Joe McMahon. Lazarus House is a charitable organization serving persons who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and connected to mid-Kane County. These calendars have 13 funny drawings and related funny words. Think 'New Yorker" cartoon and you may be pleasantly surprised. Contact Joe McMahon of McMahon Builders in Geneva for your 2012 JOMAN calendar available for a donation to Lazarus House http://www.lazarushouseonline.com/ Calendars are going fast especially this 'LEAP YEAR' edition - no charge for the extra day. Photo - Santa Claus and Helper endorse the JOMAN calendar |
| Posted by David Nelson on Dec 13, 2011
|
| Posted by David Nelson on Dec 12, 2011
Geneva Rotarians and family members and friends helped out the Salvation Army by staffing a kettle and enthusiatically ringing their bells. The club had a prime location outside the famous Little Traveler store on Third Street in Geneva. Thanks to all who helped out on this community service project, and thanks to Don Cummings for hosting a happy hour warm up event for the club that afternoon at Wildwood restaurant. Photo Ed Bankmann |