Welcome to these New Rotarians

Belita Farr (Northbrook); John Albee (Glenview Sunrise); and Helen Oloroso (Evanston Lighthouse).

Race to the Finish June 14th

Our district's Rotary Foundation Alumni group will be involved with the Race to the Finish in Evanston. Alumni wishing to participate should contact Jim Runnfeldt at jswede@aol.com.

The event along the lakefront raises funds for polio eradication.

Group Study Exchange Team to New Zealand Blog

You can follow our district team's adventures at their blog.

Governor's Message

As we begin the final push towards the end of this Rotary year and the beginning of the 2009-2010 year I would like the membership of District 6440 to think about the incredible impact we have made on others. I celebrate your projects (both locally and internationally). Thank you for all that you continue to do for Rotary!

I look forward to the District Chain of Lakes Waterway Clean Up and I am reenergized every time I am asked about our District Service Trip to Guatemala and YES we are planning to return again to Ak'Tenamit.

If I can ask each of you to do just two things before the end of this Rotary year it would be to eat a small package of M & Ms . . . . Why? It is an easy way to remember that the core or Rotary can only continue if we have MONEY & MEMBERSHIP. Soooo, what I am actually asking you to do is to first, work actively to bring in a new member, NOW. And second, write your check to The Rotary Foundation, NOW. Your legacy in Rotary is through your actions and they will be magnified when you share Rotary membership with your friends/family. Sharing your funds will allow our Foundation to continue to make their amazing matching grants and scholarships.

There are few organization that are continuing to make the "interest" payments in human development and advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace like Rotary.

Guatemala Service Trip

You can view photos of the district's service trip to Guatemala by clicking Guatemala.

Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center

The opening of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center earlier in April drew dignitaries from around the world. The chair of the museum's board and one of its founders is Northbrook Rotarian Sam Harris, himself a Holocaust survivor. To read more about the museum and about Sam's involvement, as well as Rotary's influence on Sam, visit museum opening and Sam Harris.

Great Quotes from Great Leaders

Here's a short (three minute) movie focusing on great quotes from great leaders. It's an inspiration to anyone and especially well-suited to Rotarians. Visit Great Quotes.

Rotary District 6440 Awards Vocational Scholarships to 20 deserving High School Students

The scholarship program is for study in the vocational and technical areas. The purpose is to give post-secondary school vocational educational opportunities to those deserving and to encourage careers in vocational and technical skills. The winners must plan on enrolling in a course leading to a NON-baccalaureate degree.

Interviews were conducted on April 18th in three locations around the District (Lincolnshire, West Chicago, and Northbrook). Forty-one students were interviewed by 14 Rotarians. The 41 applicants represented 25 clubs. The 14 Rotarians represent 11 clubs. In total, 26 different clubs participated in the Vocational Scholarship program.

Winners will study in diverse fields such as collision repair, diagnostic sonography, baking and pastry, nursing and manufacturing technology.

GSE Alumni Social Event

Districts 6440 and 6450 are co-sponsoring an evening to welcome District 6450's inbound Group Study Exchange team from Norway. It will be held April 28th from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. at CANS Bar at 1640 North Damen in Chicago. Appetizers and a cash bar will be available. Please RSVP to Jim Runnfeldt at jswede@aol.com.

Celebrating 20 Years of Women in Rotary

District 6450's District Conference will feature a banquet celebrating 20 years of women in Rotary on Thursday, April 30th. Carolyn Jones, the first woman Trustee of The Rotary Foundation and a member of the Rotary Club of Anchorage, Alaska, will be the keynote speaker at The Abbey in Fontana, Wisconsin. Past District Governor Emma Sue Smallwood of District 6450 will give some history of women in Rotary.

All Rotarians are welcome. Cost is $50 per person, and a night at the hotel is $125. Please register with Kathy Kobak at kathy_kobak@hotmail.com by April 27th.

Two Polio Eradication Films Worth Watching

You can watch the 38-minute film, The Final Inch on a computer. The entire Oscar-nominated documentary about Polio eradication is featured on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWVkefEw0-ZM. The video is also available for viewing on HBO.com at Final Inch.

A nine-minute program featuring polio eradication efforts in Nigeria was shown on PBS Newshour on Monday, April 13, 2009. The video graphically shows the difficulties faced in Nigeria and the combine efforts to make eradication a reality in the future. The program also contains an interview with Past RI President Jonathan Majiyagbe. To view this interesting video go to: Newshour.

Ambassadorial Scholars

District 6440 selected the following scholars in August 2008 to represent the district as Ambassadorial Scholars. These scholars will begin their studies during the 2009 – 2010 Rotary year.

Jonathan Aram, 2009 Cultural Ambassador to Ecuador (Wheaton Club): Leaves September 13 for Quito, Ecuador. Jonathan will take intensive Spanish language courses to try to obtain an international Medical Spanish Language certification. He is studying Public Health and is interning at the AIDS Prevention Section of the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

Nicole Bruskwitz (Elgin Noon): Nicole is enrolled in an alternative teacher certification program that will end in June of 2010. Nicole plans to continue to study education in Bogota, Colombia beginning in the summer of 2010.

Anand Sandesara (Glenview Sunrise, Donald Fergusson Endowed Academic Scholar): Anand, a pre-med graduate, will be studying in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania for an academic year at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. He will be obtaining a master’s degree in Public Health.

Leslie Collins (Antioch): Leslie will be leaving for Cuernavaca, Mexico in January of 2010. She is pursuing a career in Spanish language teaching.

Katherine Hamilton (Central DuPage AM): Katie will be leaving in September 2009 for the University College of Cork, at the National University of Ireland. She will be hosted by District 1160.

Zeninjor Enwemeka (Evanston Noon): Zeninjor is completing plans to study the Igbo language of Nigeria; she is interested in developing a more comprehensive language program for Rotary language scholars.

Applications for Ambassadorial Scholarships for 2010 - 2011 are due by July 1. They should be sent to Linda Lutz, 23686 North Elm Road, Lincolnshire, IL 60069.

Rotary Event at Great Lakes Naval Station

The Rotary Clubs of North Chicago, Gurnee, Illinois Beach, Lake Forest/Lake Bluff, Lake in the Hills, Libertyville Noon, Libertyville Sunrise and Wilmette Harbor are hosting a Celebrating Service event at Great Lakes on Saturday, June 13th. There will be a tour from 10:15 - 11:45 a.m., lunch at noon, and an awards ceremony from 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. Lunch is $8.00 or $10.00 at the door.

Naval Station Great Lakes, the largest military installation in Illinois and the largest training center in the Navy, hosts the Navy’s only Recruit Training Command. Each year approximately 40,000 men and women complete the requirements to become enlisted Navy Sailors at the Navy’s only boot camp. Naval Station Great Lakes is also home to Naval Hospital Corps School and the Navy’s technical training schools for surface warfare excellence at Training Support Center Great Lakes.

Because base access is restricted, it is imperative that you RSVP by June 1st. Please contact John Bair at john.bair@comcast.net or 847-302-3110.

St. Charles Meeting Place

The Rotary Club of St. Charles is now meeting at Odyssey Restaurant at 3755 East Main Street in St. Charles.

Publicity for RYLA

The Lake Zurich Courier recently ran an article entitled "Camp Edwards Inspiring and Encouraging" about Lake Zurich teens' experience at RYLA. It was outstanding publicity for the program and for Rotary in general. To read the article, visit RYLA.

White Sox vs. Oakland As June 2nd

Rotary District 6450 is Make Dreams Real Night at U. S. Cellular Field. For just $30 per person, you and your guests can parade around the warning track before the game and watch the Sox take on the As at 7:11 p.m. A portion of the ticket price will support a school and center for autism research. Please visit White Sox for more information.

Farewell Reception for Group Study Exchange Team

The Rotary Club of Waukegan will host a farewell reception for our GSE team to New Zealand on Monday, April 13, 2009 from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. It will be at Buckley's at Willow Glen Golf Course in Great Lakes. Team leader Alicia Mentell and members Jeff Akin, Emily Buckler, Jon Mariano and Dayna Niemi will be introduced and give a short presentation.

Registration forms (available at www.rotary6440.org) and checks must be received by April 6, 2009. Everyone is welcome. The $15 per person charge will include an appetizer buffet.