Home Page | Rotary Club of Kishwaukee Sunrise (DeKalb)

Community Grant Announced!

The Kishwaukee Sunrise Rotary Club is proud to announce that they will once again be offering up to $10,000 in a community grant this year. The grant is open to non-profit and governmental organizations with projects aimed at improving the lives of children, youth and/or families in DeKalb County. This is their sixth year providing the grant and local non-profits are encouraged to apply. The funds may be awarded as one large grant or divided among multiple applicants, as decided by the selection committee. The application is available on the club's website at www.kishwaukeerotary.com and by emailing kishwaukeesunriserotary@gmail.com. The application window is open from November 1, 2022 to November 30, 2022 and awards will be made in December. Please help spread the word to your favorite non-profit organization!

Taste of DeKalb Success!!!

The 6th Annual Taste of DeKalb occurred on Sunday, September 25 in downtown DeKalb. The event coincided with the finish line of the Corn Classic 5k/10k race and served as a post-race recovery option for many runners and their family members. The Taste of DeKalb ran from 9am to 3pm and featured a number of local bands, to include the DeKalb High School Jazz Band and Tim Gleason, and a number of DeKalb County-based food and drink vendors. The event was sponsored by a number of people and organizations and included major sponsors Meta through Opportunity Unbound and Shaw Media. The event raised over $10,000 for the Kishwaukee Sunrise Rotary's community grant, which will be accepting applications from non-profits in the area beginning November 1. The club has contributed over $45,000 in the past five years to community non-profits with projects aimed at improving the lives of children, youth and families in DeKalb County. Thanks to everyone who supported the event by coming out and enjoying the afternoon with us.

Interested in contributing to your community? That's our specialty!! The Kishwaukee Sunrise Rotary club welcomes visitors and potential members to check us out. We promise you'll have fun and make a difference in your local and global community - it's what we (Rotary) do. Email kishwaukeesunriserotary@gmail.com for more information or check our Facebook site.

Trivia Winner Comes From The Kish!!

Rotary District 6420 hosted the "World Series of Giving" this year in support of the Rotary Foundation. Over 45 clubs were divided into regional divisions for the competition. While our club did not win our division (congrats to Pecatonica!), there was a baseball trivia component to the competition and our very own club member, Becky Beck Ryan, won! She was the first to respond in 5 of the 9 months of the competition and the on the final trivia question - and these questions were HARD (thanks to Kevin Buick). Becky Beck Ryan was awarded a custom Louisville Slugger bat for her achievement. In the picture with her is Jim "Mac" MacMurdo, our club Foundation Chair, and the trivia master himself, Kevin Buick. Congratulations, Becky! We're proud you're on our team!

Why Join Rotary?

You may be checking out this website because you're considering Rotary - GREAT! You've come to the right place. Below are 10 good reasons you should consider joining us.

Service Opportunities
Club members have many opportunities for humanitarian service, both locally and internationally. Service programs address such concerns as health care, hunger, poverty, illiteracy, and the environment. Rotarians experience the fulfillment that comes from giving back to the community. At Kishwaukee Sunrise, we endeavor to provide a $10,000 community grant EVERY YEAR. This money goes directly towards helping children, youth and families in DeKalb County. Internationally, we support the Jane Adeny Memorial School for girls in Kenya. We raised and donate funds for this because we know that educating young women is one way to bring prosperity and advancement to any community, region and country (and the world!).

Professional Networking
A founding principle of Rotary was to meet periodically to enjoy camaraderie and enlarge one’s circle of business, community and professional acquaintances. As the oldest service club in the world, Rotary club members represent a cross-section of the community’s owners, executives, managers, political leaders, and professionals – People who make decisions and influence policy. Our club members are invested in the community and are the type of people who can "get things done."

International Awareness
With more than 34,000 clubs in over 200 countries & geographical areas, Rotarians gain an understanding of humanitarian issues through international service projects and exchange programs. One of Rotary’s highest objectives is to build goodwill and peace throughout the world.

Friendship
Rotary was founded on fellowship, an ideal that remains a major attraction of membership today. Club members enjoy the camaraderie with like-minded professionals, and club projects offer additional opportunities to develop enduring friendships. Rotary club members who travel have friendly contacts in almost every city in the world. Have you ever met Diane Hammon? Join us for one meeting and you'll know what we mean by friendship.

Good Citizenship
Weekly Rotary club programs keep members informed about what is taking place in the community, nation, and world and motivated to make a difference. Each week we have a presenter, many of whom share news about relevant events and activities going on in our own back yard.

Supporting the Development of Youth
Rotary sponsors one of the world’s largest youth exchange programs in the world. We also help run a leadership camp for high schoolers in our region every May. At our club, we additionally fund three scholarships for AMAZING students from DeKalb and Sycamore high schools and the Kishwaukee Education Consortium who have overcome incredible challenges and strive to build a new life for themselves through higher education.

Entertainment
Social activities give Rotarians a chance to let loose and have fun. Every Rotary club and district hosts parties and social activities that offer diversions from today’s demanding professional and personal schedules. Conferences, conventions, assemblies, and social events provide entertainment as well as Rotary information, education, and service.

Ethical Environment
Encouraging high ethical standards in one’s profession and respect for all worthy vocations has been a hallmark of Rotary from its earliest days. In their business and professional lives, Rotarians abide by The Four-Way Test:

Of the things we think, say or do:
1) Is it the TRUTH?
2) Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3) Will it BUILD GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Leadership Development
Rotary is an organization of successful professionals. Team building, fundraising, public speaking, planning, organization, and communication are just a sampling of the leadership skills that club members can exercise and enhance. Being a Rotary leader provides further experience in learning how to motivate, inspire, and guide others. Members can participate in the three day Rotary Leadership Institute courses offered at various times during the year.

Want to be a part of something like this? Join us any Tuesday morning at 7:00 am at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital in conference room 4. Or, if you're not a morning person, the DeKalb club meets on Monday nights at 6:00 pm at the Ellwood House Museum and the Sycamore club meets every Wednesday for lunch (12:00 noon) at Blumen Gardens.

Serve to Change Lives