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

District 6440 Histories 2005
community banquet and silent auction honoring the retiring coach of the State Champion Maine South
Football team. Provided scholarship for outstanding athlete/scholar at Maine South.
2001-02 - Bob McBride – President. Rotary web site established. 40th anniversary year of Club
celebrated with a club group photograph taken and December Anniversary and Holiday Party
commemorating our 40 years plus a special newspaper supplement about the club and its initiatives.
Two representatives of our Club, John Vanden Brink and Jim Schaefer, traveled to Bulawayo,
Zimbabwe to determine the feasibility of the site for the pilot WHIS-RAD X-ray equipment. Rotary
International grant approved in the amount of $20,627 for establishing a WHIS-RAD X-ray machine in
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. New constitution and by-laws drafted for our Club. Annual blood drive held.
Hosted a Cultural Ambassadorial Scholar from South Korea. The Club held a fundraiser - "Is There a
Treasure in Your Attic" based on the Antique Road Show. Donations to organizations serving our
community including gifts to Wings and The Harbor. Ethiopian hunger relief donation of $12,500 was
made.
2002-03 - Bill Parker – President. Moved from Country Club to Crystal Palace. Installed $45,000
WHIS-RAD x-ray system in MaterDei Hospital in Zimbabwe through fundraisers and a matching grant
from Rotary International. Pledged and paid $21,000 to Rotary International for polio eradication. Park
Ridge Rotary and Park Ridge Library collaborated to sponsor a Book Worm Angels Book Drive. More
than 4,000 books were collected to create lending libraries for Chicago public elementary schools.
Sponsored a vocational day for Rotary’s 2001-02 Group Study Exchange from India. Sponsored
successful application of Ambassadorial Scholar who received a $21,000 grant from Rotary
International to study in Brazil. Provided a District Vocational Scholarship of $1,500 to Maine
Township High School senior to pursue a career in culinary arts.
2003-04 - John Vanden Brink – President. Initiated first BB-QUE and Family Picnic for the community
of Park Ridge. Used the funds raised for two $2,500 “make a difference” college scholarships for
students in need. Started a mentoring program at Maine East. Funded a grant for L’Opera Piccolo, an
opera participation experience for underprivileged children. Provided a grant to Maine East clinic with
help of the Blane Immunization grant for translations. Sponsored successful application of
Ambassadorial Scholarship for a student to attend school in Mexico. Hosted a multi-service luncheon
for local service clubs and Rotary clubs in the area. Sponsored four students to Rotary Youth Leadership
program (RYLA) plus multiple vocational scholarships with District funding. Started the Youth
Exchange program and helped host an Ambassadorial Scholar from Taiwan. Hosted GSE team from
Australia. Supported Tony Tolbert as District Governor to carry on after Bob Friedman, the Governorelect.
This was first time an individual held this position twice in the District’s history.
2004-05 - Jim Schaefer – President. For the second year, the club sponsored Annual Back-to-School
BB-QUE and Family Picnic open to the entire community, the proceeds of which are used to help fund
scholarships for graduating high school students. We welcomed our first Youth Exchange Student in
more than 20 years, a girl from Germany who is living with one of our members for the entire year. Our
sixth Annual Citrus Sale turned out to be our most successful one to date. The disastrous tsunami that
struck Southeastern Asia mobilized the Club into donating over $4,000 for relief supplies to the stricken
region. Funded a health literacy partnership with Advocate Lutheran Hospital supported in part by
District simplified grant funds. Plan to celebrate the 100 th anniversary of Rotary International in
Chicago by hosting a group of 40 to 48 R.I. conventioneers at various members' homes in Park Ridge
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