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

District 6440 Histories 2005
Adopt-A-Resident at Winchester House Christmas program, and gathered Christmas gifts for 60
residents. Co-hosted the 16th Annual District 6440 Ski Outing for visiting Youth Study Exchange
students with the Libertyville Rotary (Noon) Club. Continued participation in highway clean-ups,
staffing an aid station for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica, bell ringing at Salvation Army kettles,
collecting for Misericordia Candy Days, and bingo at Liberty Towers. With the retirement of Bulletin
Editor Ralph Laedtke, electronic distribution of the weekly newsletter was started. Club members
provided sweat equity for a Habitat for Humanity project. Contributed to a Rotary Foundation project to
fund a PolioPlus surveillance station in West Africa. Purchased and donated three “dorm” refrigerators
to be used as door prizes at the Libertyville High School after-prom party for seniors. Outgoing
President Jim Naylor selected Tucker Olson as Rotarian of the Year.
2000 – 01 - President Melanie VanHeirseele – The club began the year with 71 members. Some of the
significant accomplishments during the year included: The annual Fall Fundraiser dinner and silent
auction was held at the Harrison Conference Center in Lake Bluff, netting in excess of $42,000 for
charitable giving purposes. The second annual Charitable Giving dinner was held in March. Big screen
TV and VCR video center purchased for Lambs Farm banquet room, a combined project with the Noon
Club. Club Internet website designed by member Gary Dowty. Co-hosted the 17 th Annual District 6440
Ski Outing for visiting Youth Study Exchange students with the Libertyville Rotary (Noon) Club. The
club hosted the District 6440 bowling tournament at Hawthorn Lanes in Vernon Hills. Club participation
continued for highway clean-ups, ringing the bells at Salvation Army kettles, collecting for Misericordia
Candy Days, purchasing Christmas gifts for residents at Winchester House, and bingo at Liberty
Towers. Club members supported MainStreet Libertyville by working at the Harvest Fest pumpkin patch
and the Octoberfest food tent. Club members supported the Libertyville Civic Center Foundation by
working at the beer tent during Libertyville Days. Four members walked 6.2 miles in Walk America to
help raise funds for the March of Dimes. Provided sweat equity for projects at The Haven and Habitat
for Humanity. Four outbound Youth Study Exchange students were selected for placement in Brazil,
Costa Rica, Denmark and Russia. Completed a matching grants project with Rotary International and a
club in Dolmabache, Turkey, to provide funding for the development of a ceramics workshop that
provides occupational training for developmentally disabled students. The club’s vocational scholarship
program was redesigned as “The Sunrise Rotary Award” for graduating seniors at Libertyville High
School who qualify. Organized the “One Strike You’re Out” campaign to raise funds for an early
warning lightening protection system to be installed in all parks and playing fields in Libertyville.
Inducted five new Paul Harris fellows. Purchased and donated three “dorm” refrigerators to be used as
door prizes at the Libertyville High School after-prom party for seniors. Outgoing President Melanie
VanHeirseele selected Ned Larson as Rotarian of the Year.
2001-02 – President Michael Thompson – The club began the year with 69 members. Some of the
significant accomplishments during the year included: The annual Fall Fundraiser dinner and silent
auction was held at the Harrison Conference Center in Lake Bluff and netted over $37,000 to be used for
the club’s charitable giving projects. The third annual Charitable Giving Reception was held on April 3,
2002. Completion of the “One Strike You’re Out” fundraising campaign, collecting over $20,000
through raffle ticket sales and solicitation of private and public donations. Installation of the system, in
cooperation with the Village of Libertyville, began in Spring 2002. Club members collected and donated
over $7,000 to Rotary Districts 7230 and 7250 to aid in their efforts to provide relief for the victims of
the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C. Co-hosted the 18 th Annual
District 6440 Ski Outing for visiting Youth Study Exchange students with the Libertyville Rotary
(Noon) Club. Hosted an inbound Youth Study Exchange student from Brazil, Wilian Silva. Two
outbound Youth Study Exchange students were selected for placement in Brazil and France. Continued
the club’s involvement in highway clean-ups, Harvest Fest, Octoberfest, bell ringing at Salvation Army
Page 203 of 283