Rotary Meeting: Paul Harris Fellows Awards Presented, New Board Sworn In: Presentation Made by Birth to Five Illinois, 2 New Rotarians Sworn
August 9, 2024
Original coverage in the Rochelle News-Leader by Jeff Helfrich.
At its weekly meeting Tuesday, Aug. 6 at Luna, the Rochelle Rotary Club saw Paul Harris Fellows awards given.
A Paul Harris Fellow is a person who has been recognized as having done something significant for others. The foundation recognizes them with a contribution of $1,000, which will be spent on humanitarian efforts around the world. A club recognizes awardees for service to the club and or the community.
Awardees included Tonja Greenfield, Tom Price, Wallace Brooks, Phil May, Emily Whitaker, Sarah Flanagan, Xavier Valdivieso, Pricilla Rice, Teri Schaefer, Phil Hasz, Ray Schwartz, Pat Burch, Karen Hayden, John Bearrows, Dan Lundquist, Prem Sud, Todd Prusator, Chris Haas, Greg Folmar, Kwami Gati, Michelle Pease, Nancy Tracy, Alison Vrana and Jeff Fiegenschuh.
Harris founded Rotary with three business associates in Chicago in 1905. The fellowship was established in his honor in 1957 to express appreciation and increase humanitarian efforts.
The meeting also saw the club's 2024-2025 board members sworn in. Board members include Michelle Pease (foundation), Jeff Fiegenschuh (service), Jeni Hardin (public relations), Justina Merritt (member at large), Sarah Flanagan (secretary), Lance Charnock (president), Greg Folmar (member at large), Josh Carney (member at large), Adam Heal (member at large), Chuck Watkins (treasurer) and Tim Bowerman (administration).
During the meeting, two new Rochelle Rotary Club members were sworn in: Jim Withers and Jodie Hart.
The weekly presentation at the meeting was made by Abby Hoskins, regional council manager of Birth to Five Illinois.
Birth to Five Illinois organizes 39 Action Councils and 39 Family Councils statewide with the goals of: Providing a statewide mechanism to engage local stakeholders, gathering family opinion, creating an action plan that clearly identifies the need for expansion of quality early learning in every region, and enabling local stakeholders to come together and address the early childhood needs within their own communities.
Hoskins said her past, current and future tasks include work on needs and an action plan, addressing mental and behavioral health needs, and recruiting community members for the council.
"Our ultimate goal is to keep informing the community of what's going on with early childhood education and care," Hoskins said. "We know that early childhood has big impacts as children move through various age groups through school and that it's impacting parents as employees. We want to have this conversation going and we're excited to be here and get people involved."