As we enter the holiday season, I’m reminded once again of the power of connection—one of the themes that has guided my journey this year. The holidays invite us to pause, reflect, and appreciate the people in our lives. They call us to gather around tables, share stories, celebrate traditions, and embrace the joy that comes from being part of something larger than ourselves.
With the holidays approaching quickly, we’re moving our next District 6420 Town Hall into the new year. Please save the date for our second Town Hall on Tuesday, January 13th from 5:30–6:30 p.m. I hope this adjustment helps more of you join us after the holiday rush.
Save the Date: District 6420 Conference Celebrating Leadership & Legacy
Mark your calendars! Our District 6420 Conference is coming soon, and this year we’re gathering to celebrate the heart of Rotary—leadership, legacy, and the impact we create together.
District Foundation Grant Training session options (1 hour via zoom) have been set for Saturday, January 17 at 9am, Saturday, March 14 at 9am, and Wednesday, March 19 at 6pm. Registration is open via the District website. Keep in mind all 2026-27 Club Presidents and Grant/Foundation Chairs must meet this requirement.
Our Clubs have the absolutely unique ability to offer high school students the opportunity to participate in Rotary's Short Term (SUMMER) Youth Exchange! Students are paired with a student overseas to spend 8 weeks together, four weeks together here and four weeks together hosted by the other student's family.
The Rotary Club of Rock Island and Rotary District 6420 are supporting and partnering with Nika Loves Charities to promote youth literacy opportunities for elementary students in Rock Island County. Through a series of engaging literacy events held at local schools, clubs and youth organizations, Nika Loves Charities (NikaLovesCharities.org) will provide more than 340 students with free books, activity sets, stickers and a stuffed animal from a “stuffie station.” Each event features a dramatic group read along of a selected children’s book, followed by themed activities that encourage students to connect more deeply with the story.
I’m pleased to share that the District Nominating Committee has completed its work and has selected our district’s representatives for the upcoming Council of Legislation. The committee has appointed Kathy Kwiat-Hess to serve as the Council of Legislation Representative, with Laura Kann selected as the Alternate Representative.
We had a great turnout for our final highway cleanup of 2025. Helping to keep highway 30 clean were Morrison Rotarians: (l-r) J.D. Benko, Paul Van Kampen, John Prange, Don Jevne, John Tomasino, Michael Gunderson, Stan Steines, Mick Welding, Brad Yaklich and Kevin Schisler (kneeling). Thanks again for a job well done gents!
On November 14th, Sterling Noon Rotary Club members had the pleasure of serving at the Whiteside County Senior Center's Veterans Breakfast, celebrating Veterans Day. Hundreds of veterans gathered in one room to be honored and enjoy a hearty breakfast.
The Rotary Club of Princeton recently donated $2,000 to the Bureau County Food Pantry in an effort to help address food insecurity within the county. With the announcement in November that SNAP benefits would be suspended, the Club knew the reality would be additional families seeking support through the pantry.
Mount Carroll Rotary was able to purchase a fire hydrant for the City of Mount Carroll with their District grant and matching funds. This is only one of twelve fire hydrants that are needed. We sold soft pretzels every 4th Saturday of the month and had some generous donations that helped us match our grant. We are proud to do whatever we can to keep our community safe. We worked with the City's water department to get it ordered and delivered. It was delivered on October 20th.
The Rotary Club of Toluca recently had a very successful Trivia Night Fundraiser. We were honored to have District Governor, Melissa McCormick, and her husband in attendance. There were 9 teams that participated, 3 donated baskets that were raffled, and many tickets were sold for the liquor pull.
On November 15th, the Rotary Club of Toluca had the privilege of honoring our local veterans at a banquet, at the Toluca American Legion. The veterans and their guests enjoyed a delicious buffet style dinner, catered by Bernardi's.
The Sauk Valley area Rotary Clubs joined in the effort of Rotary worldwide to eradicate polio since the 1980s. The Tenth Annual End Polio Now Walk was held Saturday, October 11, at Centennial Park along the Hennepin Canal to create an awareness of how close the eradication is for only the second disease ever being eradicated worldwide- small pox being the first.
For the past 10+ years the Rotary Club of Toluca has handed out books for the Pre-K and Fieldcrest Intermediate School students on Halloween. As the children parade downtown Toluca in costume, seeking candy from the local business, members of the Toluca Rotary give them each their very own book.
Mount Carroll Rotary has been busy this year helping our Davis Center Food Bank every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. This is a unique Food Bank, it's open 24 hours and to anyone. Mount Carroll is blessed to have such a wonderful resource.
On December 13th at 11am, River Cities Rotary will be participating in Wreaths Across America by placing 250 wreaths on veteran's graves in Cordova Township Cemetery in Cordova, IL and 50 wreaths on veteran's graves in Pleasant Point Cemetery in Port Byron, IL. Through generous donations from the club and community, all 300 wreaths are funded this year!
On October 29th, 2025 Peru Rotary Club, along with partner clubs Illinois Valley Sunrise and LaSalle, in association with the Dictionary Project, conducted its 17th annual dictionary delivery. Around a dozen Rotarians distributed 456 dictionaries to third graders at 15 local schools.
Tracy Grimmer and Pam Pratt Marsh were honored as Rotarians of the Year at Rotary Club of Princeton’s annual auction held November 15th. This award is presented to a Rotarian who exhibits service above self in their daily activities and who promotes Rotary by their action and involvement.
Recently, some members of Kishwaukee Sunrise participated at the "Feed my starving children" event in Sycamore. Alongside members from the Rotary clubs of DeKalb and Sycamore and many volunteers from Sycamore organizations we filled 4.000 soup bags in 2 hours to be distributed to children in Africa. Each bag contains 1 scoop each of vitamin powder, dried vegetable, soy and rice.
The Rotary Club of Toluca has initiated a Rotary Student of the Month program, for Fieldcrest Middle School. Gavin Dikeman was selected, by his teachers, as the October Student of the Month.
