Highlights from the meeting:
We have several position openings for the upcoming year, including membership committee, foundation committee, president elect, grants committee and treasurer.
Julie Zilmer has agreed to be president for the 2026-2027 Rotary year. PETS Training is in Itasca Illinois March 6 through 8.
50-50 raffle - Rita was the winner this month. Yay Rita!
District Grants are based on giving to the Rotary Foundation. We are all encouraged to participate in the very Rotarian, Every Year program of donating $100 to the Rotary Foundation each year. Go to myrotary.org to make a payment or set up ongoing contributions.
We are looking for new members, invite people to come to our meetings. On social media, use hashtags #servicebeforeself, #peopleofaction and #rotary to get more attention.
The next executive board meeting will be January 13th at 5:00 pm All members are welcome. Find the meeting link on the website.
Join us for the service committee meetings, normally the fourth Tuesday of the month at 5:00 pm. Find the meeting link on the website. Find your passion and enhance your rotary experience.
Our application for a Rotary Peace Pole for Elmwood Elementary's Peace Pollinator Garden in Zion Illinois has been approved. Our Julie Zilmer is a 3rd grade teacher at this school. Elmwood Elementary School is planning a ceremony to dedicate and celebrate the pole, and to create an annual tradition to reaffirm their collective commitment to peace, empathy, and belonging.
Other ongoing projects we are following include the Ukrainian Refugee School Viktoria Vita Griessmuller, the refugee school project coordinator, has been recognized as a 40 under 40 Business Elite Europe awardee. Congratulations to Viktoria. Operation Pollination is taking a seasonal break.
We are still looking for a speaker for the February 6th meeting. If you have any ideas, let Sharon or Val know.
Our March 6th speaker will be Ben Stanger, CEO and Founder of Green Box Compost. This matches the Rotary focus of protecting the environment.
Sydney Widell from the Coon Creek Community Watershed Council was our January speaker. Their mission is to continue the historic legacy of conservation through improving and restoring our soil, water, and air as stewards of the Coon Creek Watershed. They focus on strategies and practices that individuals can implement.
https://cooncreekwatershed.org/ This coincides with Rotary International causes of providing clean water and protecting the environment.
Watch the meeting recording for the full presentation. Ideas - Learn about your own watershed. Consider conservation on the land where you live. Have a conversation with your neighbors about collaboration for conservation. Learn what conservation resources are available through your county. Become a member of a watershed organization where you live. If your area doesn't have a watershed group, start one. Advocate for conservation funding. Support the farmers at the forefront of soil conservation. CCCWC membership is free and open to all.
My fellow Changemakers, we are starting the second half of the 2025-2026 Rotary Year. Now is the time to step up and get involved in our club! I am pleased to announce that Julie Zillmer is our President-Elect, who will be president in 2026-27. We are still looking for a Treasurer, a co-chair of the service committee, a President Nominee who will be president in 2027-2028, and those interested in forming new committees. We always welcome your suggestions for our monthly guest speakers. 
Happy New Year Volunteers,