Nelda "Nel" R. Pitelka, Governor
District 6420

2000-2001

        Nel became a member of the Sandwich Rotary Club in 1990, and has maintained a perfect attendance record ever since.  Nel served as Sandwich Club president in 1992-93.  In addition, she served her club as Secretary 1990-91 & 1995-97.  President-elect 1991-92, she has been chairperson in her club for Youth Exchange, Public Relations, Rotarian of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Teacher of the Year, Group Study Exchange coordinator, the Clubs three annual High School Scholarships, Ambassador Scholar, and in 1998, at the request of Rotarian Ray Larsen, she wrote the criteria and terms of the Ray Larsen Scholarship, that the Sandwich Club is administrating.  In the District, Nel was on the Membership Committee since 1994, being chairperson 1996-1999 and served as an Assistant to the District Governor for 1998-2000.  July 1, 1999 Nel became District Governor Elect.

        Born in Berwyn, Nel grew up in Hillside & Maywood, IL.  During her teen-age years she was very active in Junior & Senior Walther League (church youth groups) holding different offices, being elected Editor of the Sunday School Newspaper (published monthly), Nel was Emcee for the Sunday School recognition Dinners, Emcee for the annual Christmas Sing, directed the Sunday School choir, and sang in a girls trio.  Through out her life she has taken college courses that relate to her job, mainly accounting, insurance and real estate.  While working at Prudential Insurance Co. in Chicago, Nel became a charter member of the Plaza Toastmistress Club and had the opportunity to be in a contest with the Toastmasters Club from Prudential.

        Nel has been in Real Estate for twenty-two years and served the Tri-County Real Estate Board as Pres.-elect, President (1989), Board member for three years and chair of the By-Laws committee for several years.

         Nel met her husband, George, when she worked for him as a cost accountant at the Richardson Co. in Melrose Park.  They were married April 11, 1964.  George and Nel have three children - Lynn (Kent Brown), Frank (Marianne) & Joy (John Clady).  They have five grand-children - Nicholas and Davis Brown, Mallory Pitelka, and Jake and Mark Clady.

        Whenever George's job transferred him to another town, Nel became involved with the community & their church.  Nel has taught Religion classes for a total of 36 years, has sung in a choir since she was eight.  When they lived in Bloomingdale area, Nel was President of the Ladies Guild, Alter Guild, and Lutheran Women's Missionary League at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Glendale Heights, IL for two years - all three, the same two years.  She has been secretary of the Church Council & Voters Assembly, on the Worship Committee, Evangelism Committee, "lay" reader for liturgy on Sunday mornings, chairperson for news releases for her church (1998 and part of 1999).  Nel and her husband George were on the planning in 1996 & 1997 of the Endowment Committee for their church, and Nel continues on this committee as Secretary (since 1998).

         Nel was instrumental in getting Project Challenge/Gifted Child Program started in Sandwich School District, member of the Comprehensive Testing Committee for Sandwich School District (in the 1980's), served as a volunteer teachers aide in 1980's for first grade reading and 8th grade math working with students having difficulty and needing special help to bring them uo to par with the rest of their class, Trustee of the Sandwich School Education Foundation - in on the planning and writing of By-laws, etc. 1994-1996.

        Nel and George both serve as Election Judges for DeKalb County. Nel and her husband, who passed away in May 2005, are Paul Harris Fellows.