April, 2006 My Fellow Rotarians - Rotary's Global History Fellowship

District 6440 Histories 2005
holiday parties and in sponsorship of a new outreach Cub Scout Pack and Boy Scout Troop. Working in
conjunction with the local Youth Services organization we sponsored a Girls Club that gave teen girls a
place to go for after school fun. One of our prides (as the older club) was in defeating the Glenview
Sunrise Rotary Club in Volleyball two years running. Sadly, the 90s also saw the passing of our last
Charter Member as Ralph Synnesvedt, a club member since the club’s founding, joined Paul Harris in
Service in another realm.
The last few years, years of the new Millennium have seen the club shrink significantly but with no less
interest in service to the community. Our club presidents have recycled a bit with Dr. Joseph Pribyl
notably serving for three consecutive terms, and several others serving at least two (though not
necessarily consecutive). New members have joined however, our new Executive Librarian, a local
Scout District Executive, and a local signage businessperson, interestingly, all women of prominence,
including at least one (and perhaps more) future club presidents. Our club continues its commitment to
Boy Scouting, to Student Recognition Day, and assistance to Mexican concerns. For the past few years
we have held a Cinco de Mayo celebration raising money for an orphanage in several Latin American
countries. We have paid to rehabilitate their soccer field, buy ovens for the orphanage and support other
works. Club members have journeyed to the local facilities, helping out and enjoying the warmth of the
children. This Centennial Year our club has joined with our sister Glenview Rotary Clubs: Glenview
Sunrise and the new in 2000 evening club: Glenview Sunset, together with the Glenview State Bank to
erect a Rotary Centennial Memorial Clock at the new town center: The Glen on the old Glenview Naval
Air Station.
No matter how large or small our club has been, it has had two focuses: Outward in service to Glenview
and the world and inward in fellowship among its members. Our current membership averages many
years of Rotary Service, sort of proof positive of the proposition that we serve and enjoy in a marvelous
community: Glenview, Illinois.
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Rotary Club of Glenview-Sunrise Chartered Oct. 12, 1988
1988-89 - First year of formation won District Public Relations Award and sponsored an RYLA
youth. Responded to South African students who needed overnight accommodations coming through
Chicago. Started the development of a Junior Act Club with the junior high students (food and clothing
drive). Sponsored a Glenview youth baseball team.
1989-90 - This was a year of consolidation and growth. Many of the projects started in our first
year were enhanced and continued. Of prime importance was our expanded fundraising and community
outreach activities. We participated with the Glenview Rotary Club in its highly successful “Fifties”
party fundraiser and in a “New Traditions” barbershop harmony concert. We became involved with
support for the DCFS children at Old Orchard Hospital and with a sharing program jointly sponsored
with the children of Springman Junior High School wherein books were delivered on one occasion and a
Christmas party was provided to children of Einstein School in the inner city of Chicago. An
outstanding installation banquet was held with Mimi Altman the principle speaker.
1990-94 - International: Participated with three other Rotary Clubs and matching grant from Rotary
Int. donated school bus to an orphanage in Mexico. Created the International Fellowship of Rotarian
Gardeners. Donated 480 lbs. of assorted vegetable seed to the marginal farmers in the Philippines who
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