Welcome to Rock Falls Rotary !

Welcome to our Club!

Rock Falls

Service Above Self

We meet Mondays at 6:00 PM
Harvest Time Church
1802 Dixon Ave.
Rock Falls, IL  61071
United States of America
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Rock Falls Rotary Celebrates Rotary Students of the Month
   
 
Rock Falls Rotary celebrated the students of Rock Falls High School who had been selected by RFHS staff each month as Rotary Student of the Month based on the 4 Way Test of things that Rotarians think, say and do: 1.  is it the truth?  2.  Is it fair to all concerned?  3.  Will it build goodwill and better friendships?  4.  Will it be beneficial to all concerned?  From left to right are Javier De La Torre, Matt Laws, Debra Ratliff, Morgan Mandrell, Emily Buikema, Payton Johnson, Tiana Green, and Bob Sondgeroth, Chair of Youth Committee.  Absent when photo taken are Gracie Young, Xheneta Bqiri, Abigail Jones, and Jenna Valdivia.
 Rock Falls Rotary Earns Public Image District Award
Karen Voss (left) and Pam Erby (center) accept the Rotary District Public Image Award for clubs of membership of less than 40 members recently presented at District 6420 Conference held in Galena.  Presenting the award to the Public Image Co-Chairs is Mike Albert, President of Rock Falls Rotary.
Rock Falls Rotary Accepts Literacy District 6420 Awards
Dave Chavira (left), Chair of Rock Falls Rotary Literacy Committee,  has just accepted one of the two awards being extended to Rock Falls Rotary from the Chair of the District Literacy Committee, Andy Axup of the Quad Cities (right), for their efforts to promote literacy in their community.  The Club Achievement Award is for four areas of literacy:  1.  A program to share literacy with its members:  Rock Falls heard from Diane Verhulst about the books of L.I.F.E.  being distributed to children through age 5 in Whiteside County  2.  Financial support of a literacy program in the area, which was L.I.F.E of Whiteside County  3.  A hands-on program in which Rotary members provide literacy skills or work with individuals in need of improvement : Rotarians read weekly in East Coloma -Nelson School to children in grades K through fourth  grade   4.  An awareness community event:  Hometown Holiday Photo Booth at US Bank promotes children's story book  characters and distributes information about community literacy.  The second award from Andy Axup is for the longevity of a literacy program of a Rotary Club called the Sustained Excellence Literacy Award.  Rock Falls Rotary earned this award for 19 years of reading to students at East Coloma Elementary School which started with one class and now is extended to all students in every class of Kindergarten through fourth grade weekly. 
 
Rock Falls Rotary Collects Food for St, Vincent DePaul Society in Sterling
During the month of May members of the Rock Falls Rotary gathered donations to the Food Bank at St. Vincent DePaul in Sterling. Katherine Sheets presented a program on St. Vincent DePaul and accepted the donation form members. 
Front row (left to right) Pam Erby, Sarah Willey, Deb Gonzalez, Betty Clementz. Karen Voss,
Back row: Pat Novak, Tom Myers, Jeff Gray, Keith Zoeller, Mike Albert, Flavien Dupont, Rotary Exchange student; Mark Young, and Cheryl Faber. 
 
Rock Falls Rotary Supports Salvation Army
Darla Ewing, Rock Falls Rotary Community Service Committee member, presents to Captain David Amick, Commander of Salvation Army, a check for $100 in support of the Salvation Army community service and programs. Captain Dave shared his plans with the Rock Falls Rotary Club for the Sterling Salvation Army Headquarters since his assignment in January 2019 to this post.
 
B.L.I.N.D. Program
Jeff Gray, Rock Falls Rotarian, presents to Melissa Landes, teacher at Morrison High School, a Rotary thank you gift for the program on B.L.I.N.D  presented (left to right)  by herself, Jennifer Pepper, teacher at Fulton High School, and Kris Noble of Sauk Valley Chamber. The program summarized how Morrison and Fulton High Schools have used the program of B.L.I.N.D to tear down walls between youth and build  positive lasting relationships with other students within their district, as well as with other communities. 
 
Second Paul Harris to Rotary Foundation
Mike Albert, President of Rock Falls Rotary, presents to Pam Erby her second Paul Harris Foundation pin with two sapphires, representing the  two contributions of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Foundation donations support the many worldwide projects of service in our world, with special attention being given to the eradication of polio.
 
Rotary Social Evening
The Rock Falls Rotarians and guests recently enjoyed a social evening at Triple P BBQ in Rock Falls.
 
Rock Falls Rotary Welcomes February and March Rotary Students of the Month
Two Rock Falls High students have been chosen as Rotary Students of the Month:  Payton Johnson, daughter of Cory and Jamie Johnson, (left)  for March and Emily Buikema, daughter of Chris and Candace Buikema, (right) for February. Staff at Rock Falls High School select the students based on the Rotary Four Way Test of how one lives one's life: 1.  Is it the truth?  2.  Is it fair to all concerned?  3.  Will it build goodwill and better friendships?  4.  Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
 
Rock Falls Rotary Program of Friendship Exchange Trip to India
Posted on Mar 24, 2019
Larry Farley of Dixon Rotary was one of the Friendship Exchange team to travel to India for an exchange. He presented a program of his trip to Rock Falls Rotarians. Visits included Rotary clubs and their projects, the industries of the area such as spinning cotton thread, and the  tourist sights of the area, such as the Unity Statue, largest in the world and the home of Gandhi. Living in homes of Rotarians, team members experienced the culture of India in its food, customs, and activities. In addition, the team also participated in a National Immunization Day of administering 2 drops of polio vaccine to hundreds of children in one day.
 
Pizza for Pep Band
Posted on Mar 22, 2019
Rock Falls Rotarian Bob Sondgeroth, middle center, delivered pizzas to Mike McCoy, left, and the SHS Band members in appreciation for those who volunteered to perform at our annual Farmer's Night Dinner. Their program was great and was enjoyed by all in attendance. Thank you for stepping up and entertaining our guests.
 
Rock Falls Rotary Supports Outbound Rotary Exchange Student Kimsey Spreeman
Posted on Mar 24, 2019
Kimsey Spreeman, a sophomore at Sterling High School, will be spending her 2019 - 2020 school year in Indonesia, thanks to the Rotary Exchange program and the support of Rock Falls Rotary Club. Rotary Exchange students traditionally spend the middle of August to July in a country of their choice within three host families during that year. Kimsey is the daughter of Chad and Brandi Spreeman.
 
71st Annual Farmer's Night
Rock Falls Rotary hosted it's 71st Annual Farmer's Night at Deer Valley Banquets, an evening honoring those in our local agricultural community. During the evening, Ryan Anderson, Ag Instructor at Sauk Valley Community College, gave on update on the status of the program and student progress on ag projects. Sterling High School Pep Band and Mike McCoy, the Director, entertained the crowd with several arrangements and history of each being played. Thanks to all those who attended and our local sponsors, The Cornerstone Agency, Vern's Farm Supply, Alton Irrigation, Compeer Financial, Sauk Valley Bank, Sterling Federal Bank and Zoeller Ag Services.
 
Membership Open House
Posted on Mar 04, 2019
Rock Falls Rotary recently held an Open House for prospective members. On display for viewing were the Rotary Avenues of Services showing how the Rock Falls Rotary supports each one. Membership Chair, Tom Myers gave an overview of Rotary and what it means to be a Rock Falls Rotarian. DG Kathy Kwiat-Hess was also in attendance and spoke about being a Rotarian and the lifelong friendships and benefits of being a member of Rotary. #RotaryDay
 
Julie Logan Receives Paul Haris Fellow +1 Award
President Mike Albert of Rock Falls Rotary presents to Julie Logan, Rock Falls Rotarian, the pin commemorating her donations to the Rotary International Foundation of an additional $1,000 after her original donation to become a Paul Harris Fellow. The Foundation donations are the means of support worldwide to do good in the world, and members of Rotary are urged to make annual contributions in support of these service projects around the world. At each sum of $1,000 an award is made with a pin with a gemstone added to denote that level of contribution.
 
September Rotary Student of the Month
Bob Sondgeroth (right), Youth Chair of Rock Falls Rotary, congratulates Xheneta Beqiri (left), daughter of Vaidin and Luljeta Beqiri, of her selection by Rock Falls High School staff as Rock Falls Rotary Student of the month for September. Xhenta hopes to attend Monmouth College in the fall. Rotary students are selected on the basis of the Rotary Four Way Test of the things that Rotarians say, think, and do: 1) Is it the truth? 2) Is it fair to all concerned? 3) Will it build goodwill and friendships? 4) Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
 
70 Combined Years of Rock Falls Rotary Membership for Art Johnson and Pam Erby

Two Rock Falls Rotary members reached milestones in Rotary membership: Art Johnson with 40 years of Rotary membership on December 1, 2018 and Pam Erby with 30 years of Rotary membership on January 1, 2019. Both were celebrated by the Rock Falls Rotary members and remembered for their years of service. Pam Erby was the first female invited into Rock Falls Rotary membership after membership was opened to females in 1988 by Rotary International. District Governor, Kathy Kwiat-Hess, had issued a certificate commemorating the achievement of both for their commitment of longevity to Rotary service.
 
 
Cheryl Faber, Rock Falls Rotarian, presents to Art Johnson the 40 Year membership certificate from Rotary District 6420 Governor, Kathy Kwiat-Hess at his home. 
 
 
 
Rock Falls Rotary President Mike Albert presents to Pam Erby the certificate of 30 years of longevity of membership in Rock Falls Rotary issued by District Governor Kathy Kwiat-Hess.
Rotary Students of the Month
Posted on Jan 16, 2019
 
Tiana Green (left), daughter of Misty Cushing and Jenna Valdivia (right), daughter of Heather Hagemann, were both selected by staff at Rock Falls High to be Rotary Students of the Month of January and December, respectively. Both are seniors at Rock Falls High School and were selected based on the Four-Way Test of what Rotarians think, say, and do: 1.) Is it the truth? 2.) is it fair to all concerned? 3.) Will it build good will and better friendships? 4.) Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Rotary Decorates Tree for Hospice
Sauk Valley Community College Rotaracters assisted the Rock Falls Rotarians in decorating the tree for the Festival of Trees for Rock River Hospice & Home at Northland Mall. Those pictured from left to right: Karyn Baldwin, Lillian Maxfield, Deb Gonzalez, Paul Sedig, Cheryl Faber, Betty Clementz and Pam Erby.
 

Rock Falls Rotary Obtains Grant for L.I.F.E.
Rock Falls Rotary wrote a grant to obtain matching Rotary District 6420 funds to support the Whiteside County Literacy Is Fun(damental) for Everyone (L.I.F.E ) program which provides a book per month to children in Whiteside County from birth through age 5. The Rock Falls Rotary Club provided $1500 to support L.I.F.E which was doubled by Rotary District 6420 to provide $3000 for the program.  Presenting the check is Rock Falls Grant Chair Cheryl Faber (center) to Diana Verhulst (left), CEO of Whiteside County United Way, and Pam Martinez (right) Director of Programs and Services of United Way of Whiteside County. This grant was made possible through the charitable giving of Rock Falls Rotarians to the Rotary Foundation.
 

Rock Falls Rotary Honors Rotary Students of the Month
Gracie Young (left), daughter of Brent and Denise Young, was chosen by Rock Falls High School staff as August Rotary Student of the Month, and Abbigail Jones (right), daughter of Dave and Sue Jones, was selected as November Rotary Student of the Month. Both were selected based on the Four Way Test of what Rotarians think, say and do: 1) Is it the truth? 2) Is it fair to all concerned? 3) Will it build good will and better friendships? 4) Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
 
Javier DeLaTorre Selected as October Rotary Student of the Month
Posted on Oct 30, 2018
 Javier DeLaTorre, son of Javier and Maria DeLaTorre and  a Senior at Rock Falls High School, was selected as the Rock Falls Rotary October Student of the Month by staff based on the Four Way Test of what Rotarians say, think, and do: 1) Is it the truth? 2) Is it fair to all concerned? 3) Will it build good will and better friendships? 4)  Is it beneficial to all concerned?  President Mike Albert presents to Javier the Rock Falls Rotary lapel pin.
 
2017-2018 Presidential Citation Presentation
 
Past District Governor Steve Kuhn (left) awards the 2017-2018 Presidential Citation to Rock Falls Rotary Club members at the Oct. 13 End Polio Now Walk at Centennial Park in Rock Falls. Rock Falls was one of the 12 of 47 clubs in the district to achieve goals in five categories during the year. Betty Clementz, 2017-2018 past president and President Mike Albert accept the award.
 
Rock Falls Annual Greenery Sales
It is time for the Rock Falls Rotary Club Annual Greenery Sale. You can send a wreath, garland or table piece directly to your friend's or relative's doorstep in time for the holidays. These are GREAT gifts for those who live elsewhere in the continental USA. It appears at their door as a great, fresh surprise of the holiday season. Plus, you are supporting Rotary projects through this gift. Contact Pat Novak at 815-441-0528 or any Rock Falls Rotarian.
 
Rotary Students Visit and Arrive
 
Rock Falls Rotary welcomed several exchange students to its recent meeting. Attending were (l to r) Sterling Rotary Inbound student Fritio Fagergren from Sweden; Sterling's Outbound student Brice Taylor leaving for France; Rock Falls Rotary Inbound student Flavien DuPont from France; Gabby Galindo Rock Falls Rotary Outbound to Taiwan; and Rock Falls Rotary Rebound student Tommi Myers who returned from a year in Sardinia, Italy. Also pictured is RF Rotarian Bob Sondgeroth, Youth Exchange Officer.

Third Annual Polio Walk

 

The Third Annual End Polio Now Walk, sponsored by the Rock Falls, Sterling Noon, Twin Cities Sunrise, and Dixon Rotary Clubs will be held on Saturday, October 13 at Centennial Park in Rock Falls. Registration will begin at 8:15 a.m. There is no fee to participate. Donations will be accepted and with a $20 donation you can get an End Polio Now Tshirt, while supplies last. The walk will step off around 9 a.m. and will proceed along the Hennepin Canal bike path to the walking bridge which will cross the Rock River. Upon crossing the river and reaching Sterling, the water station will be set up at the gazebo, which will also be the turn around point (route is approx. 2.5 miles)

 

The public is invited to attend, will all donations collected and given to the End Polio Foundation at Rotary International. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation then triples that amount donated. We encourage and invite all to attend to help us eradicate Polio.

 

Also on display from 8 a.m. to Noon will be the Iron Lung.

 

 For more information, contact any participating Rotarian.

 

 

Rock Falls Rotary Donates to LIFE Program
Posted on Aug 06, 2018
 
 
Rock Falls Rotary President Mike Albert presents a check to Pam Martinez of the United Way of Whiteside County in support of the L.I.F.E (Literacy is Fun for Everyone) program. The program supplies books to children in Whiteside County.
 

Rotary Youth Exchange - Past and Present
Posted on Jul 19, 2018

Mike Albert, (right) President of Rock Falls Rotary, welcomed back to Rock Falls our RFHS student Tommi Myers (center right), daughter of Tom and Johnna Myers, who had spent the last year in Sardinia and presented to the Rock Falls Rotary Club the banner of her hosting club. Looking on is Amy (Harms) McFarlane (center left) and her husband Ross (far left) who live in Scotland. Amy had been the Rock Falls Rotary exchange student to Denmark in 1987 and then went to Scotland on an Ambassadorial scholarship four years later where she met her husband-to-be. They were back in the area visiting family and friends. Rotary Exchange students develop real friendships with their host clubs and families.

 

 

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Club Executives & Directors
President
Michael Albert
President Elect
David Chavira
Treasurer
Sarah Willey
Secretary
Patricia Novak
Rotary Foundation
Michael Albert
Membership Chair
Thomas Myers
Public Image Chair
Karen Voss
Community Service Chair
Pamela Erby
Bulletin Editor
Patricia Novak
Website Coordinator
Karen Voss
Vocational Service Chair
Keith Zoeller
Literacy Chair
David Chavira
Youth Exchange Officer
Robert Sondgeroth
 
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Speakers
Mark Young
Jul 01, 2019
Karen Voss
Jul 08, 2019
Sterling American Legion
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