On a cloudy, cold Tuesday morning, 11 Rotarians, one baby honorary Rotarian and one visiting Rotarian gathered in the Holiday Inn Express meeting room.
Those in attendance were President Linda Meece, Don Pigg, Jane Becker, Brittany Nickel with son Adler, Pat Pennell, Sarah Edmiston, Sonie Smith, Ella Scaggs, Cindy Boehlke, Sarah Robinson and Gordon Jumper, with visiting Rotarian Ryan Byers from the Jacksonville Rotary Club (a.k.a. Noon Club). Led Gaming Chair
Arriving members learned of Jay and Sonie’s adventures in furniture moving (the first to arrive adjusts the table and chairs) and caught up on news while letting the coffee and tea work its magic. President Linda rang the Dec. 6 meeting to order at 6:57 a.m., followed by Sarah Robinson leading the Pledge of Allegiance, Sarah Edmiston leading the reciting of the Four-Way Test and Pat Pennell giving an appropriate invocation.
Rotations were made by Jay, Jane, Sarah Robinson and Gordon. Brittany, under the contented gaze of a sleepy Adler, did an excellent job including everyone in donation opportunities to the scholarship fund with Recognitions.
Next, Linda asked Jane about pork bundle ticket sales. After Jane filled in members on selling opportunities (including at Saturday’s Christkindlmarket), Gordon made a motion to reimburse Jane for securing one of the pork bundles. Sarah Robinson seconded the motion. It passed. Tickets are still available from all Sunrise Rotary members. $10 gets you two chances at $100+ of delicious pork products from Jones Meat Locker. The drawing is only two weeks away.
Pat presented our speaker and former district governor, attorney Ryan Byers, with a gift. Ryan unwrapped a mug declaring him The world’s OK-ist lawyer.
Linda opened the floor for officers in 2023. Pat nominated Cindy as president-elect. She tepidly accepted. Jay eagerly made a motion to accept Cindy’s nomination. Ella seconded the motion. It passed. Sonie then suggested having a snowman party in January. The date is TBA. With this talk of social events, club members were invited to attend the Noon Club’s social on Dec. 8 at Hamilton’s.
Sarah Robinson told the club that the first lasagna delivery through Lasagna Love was a success. She received an email thanking the club for the tasty lasagna. Sarah reviewed the steps one needs to take to receive one of these fresh-made lasagnas to cook and enjoy.
Ryan Byers took the podium. He congratulated the club on its per-capita giving during his term as district governor. He presented Past President Jane Becker with three banners while Don took pictures. One banner acknowledged the club’s status as second-highest per-capita giving in the district, beat only by the Bushnel club. The second banner proclaimed that the club was a 100% giving club. The third, and largest, banner declared that every member had donated $25 or more to Every Rotarian Every Year. We have Jane to thank for encouraging these donations during her tenure. These presentations brought an appreciate round of applause.
Sarah Robinson announced that Lions Club fruit sales produce is available for pick up from the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired garage through Friday. Perhaps surprisingly, pears outsold oranges and grapefruit for the first time. Sarah reminded members that the Lions Club is accepting old, worn-out American flags for retirement.
Wreaths Across America was discussed next. The club purchased three wreaths. The wreath-laying ceremony will be Dec. 17. All Rotarians are encouraged to attend.
Linda rang the meeting to a close at 7:29 a.m. The next Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary meeting will be at 7 a.m. Dec. 13 in the Holiday Inn Express meeting room. Our Christmas program, led by Pat and Sonie, will take place during the meeting time.
President-elect Jenna Tucker called to order the Dec. 9 meeting of Jacksonville Rotary Club at noon at Hamilton’s.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and "America" was sung.
Volunteers were thanked, including: greeter and 50-50, Karen Walker, Jan Ryan, Stanley Wahl and Joan McQuillan; sergeants-at-arms, Craig Albers and Kaylob Tang; Reflections, Kim Brogdon; Rotations and Recognitions, Joey Henry; note taker, Anne Jackson; song leader, Ed Wainscott; tech guru, Sandy Sanders; and food delivery, April Clarke.
• The Polio Plus Jars are on the tables!
• Clipboards are being circulated. Please help where you can!
• We need someone to step up to fill the youth exchange officer position by Friday!
• April gave an update on our Red Kettle donations.
• Karen Walker reminded members to pay their Paul Harris circle obligations.
• We will not have a noon meeting on Dec. 23 or 30.
Anna was in the house! Steve Symonds was a guest of the club.
Steve Symonds gave an interesting program on the current Prairieland United Way drive. The Rotary Club presented a $2,500 check to Steve and United Way Executive Director Karen Walker.
On behalf of Sandy Sanders, Anna drew unsuccessfully for the 50-50 drawing.
The Four-Way Test was recited and the meeting was adjourned at 12:45 p.m.
On a rainy, windy, winter morning, 11 Rotarians and a baby gathered in the Holiday Inn Express meeting room.
The unbreakable Polio Plus Jar was passed while Christmas cards with homemade cookies were handed around by Sarah Edmiston. Those in attendance were President Linda Meece, Don Pigg, Cindy Boehlke, Ella Scaggs, Sonie Smith, Jane Becker, Brittany Nickel with son Adler, Gordon Jumper, Pat Pennell, Sarah Robinson and Sarah Edmiston. President Linda briskly rang the Dec. 13 meeting to order precisely at 7 a.m., followed by Cindy leading the Pledge of Allegiance (to an American flag peeping over the wheely white board today), Sarah Robinson leading the recitation of the Four-Way Test and Pat giving a short but appropriate invocation.
Rotations were made by Jane, Cindy, Don, Ella, Sarah Edmiston and Gordon. Brittany found Recognitions for everyone in the room (including Adler, in a photo with Jane). She also had Christmas gifts, giving every member a bookmarker with adorable pictures of the little guy to ease the scholarship donations. Sarah Robinson offered extra oranges or grapefruits from the Lions fruit sale to take home. Jane reminded members to bring in Pork Bundle tickets to the next meeting. The drawing is Dec. 20! Tickets still are available. See any Sunrise Rotarian for a $10 ticket for two chances at $100 in pork products from Jones Meat Locker.
Sonie and Pat took the podium to give their annual Christmas program. Pat had everyone select a small wrapped package from her basket. Each was an ornament. After opening their package, each member described their ornament. Then Pat and Sonie took turns reading aloud the significance behind each item. Aside from the traditional star and mistletoe, some members unwrapped a pig, a spider and a dream catcher. We even learned the significance of the gingerbread bags wrapping the ornament. Pat also passed out iced gingerbread cookies (case of the Stauffer brothers). Then Pat read a Christmas poem about the true meaning of Christmas.
After our enjoyable holiday education, President Linda asked for announcements, then rang the meeting to a close at 7:30 a.m. The next event, a business meeting and the two drawings for the Pork Bundle, will be at 7 a.m. Dec. 20 in the Holiday Inn Express meeting room. All visiting Rotarians and guests are welcome.
Gaming Chair Angela Bauer has been a copy editor and lifestyles editor for the Jacksonville Journal-Courier since July 2012. The Evansville, Indiana, native grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, and interned with the Paducah Sun, as well as being a reporter, lifestyles editor and copy editor for papers in Kentucky and Florida. She spends her (limited) free time baking, quilting and reading; and enjoys the AP Stylebook more than (she's told) one should. She's always on the lookout for a quality mug of hot chocolate.