Louise Clark and Kathy Schmidt from our club attended the District 6420 Conference in Galena this weekend. A great venue, location and the speakers were inspiring
Rotary Club of Morrison
Service Above Self
We meet Wednesdays at 12:10 PM
Windsor Manor
Windsor Manor
403 Scenic Street
Morrison, IL 61270-2036
United States
Morrison, IL 61270-2036
United States
District Site
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Venue Map
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Thanks to this group of Morrison Rotarians highway 30 is much cleaner this morning. Thank you Mike Gunderson, Kristi Wambeke, Mark Schuler (our fearless leader), Stan Steines, Dan Vandermyde, Ted Volckmann, and Kevin Schisler. Don Jevne assisted in the cleanup earlier in the day. And we can't forget our transportation coordinator- Merle Reisenbigler!
On May 15th the Morrison Rotary Club hosted all of the students that the club sponsored and sent to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp May 3-5th. The students gave the club a brief description of the activities they were involved with and what their favorite things were. The students were from Prophetstown and Morrison high schools. This is the largest group of students the club has ever sent.
Morrison Rotary presents 2019 scholarships
Morrison Rotarian Kevin Schisler presented scholarships to the following seniors at Morrison High School at their Award Ceremony on May 14, 2019:
(Left to right)
Rotary All Around Male- Steven Kramoski- $1,250
Rotary All Around Female- Molly Neumann- $1,250
Agricultural- Hannah Linder- $500
Vocational Tech- Tiffani Merema- $500
Sauk Valley Community College- Jacob Brown- $500
Good Citizen- Jacob Brown- $1,000
MIT Scholarship- Cooper Finley- $500 (Not present)
Congratulations to all of these students
Morrison Rotary Club Sends Seventeen Students to Rotary Leadership Camp
This year the Morrison Rotary Club, in partnership with the Erie Rotary Club, is sending 13 Morrison High School and 4 Prophetstown High School students to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp (RYLA). The camp will take place this past weekend May 3-5 at the Lorado Taft campus of NIU at Lowden State Park.
The purpose of RYLA is for students to improve their leadership skills as they work together in teams. They meet students from all over northwestern Illinois as well as exchange students from all parts of the world. Lasting friendships are built during this time. The camp is staffed by Rotarians from around the District who volunteer their time to provide a safe, positive atmosphere for the students. Approximately 120 students attend the camp each year.
The camp has an amazing impact on students’ lives. Several past Morrison High School campers have gone on to become student Counselors/helpers at the RYLA camp; one student went on to find the nearest RYLA camp in the Rotary district where they were going to college and helped them run their camp for two years.
This is the second year in a row the Morrison Rotary Club has sponsored students from both Morrison and Prophetstown. Because of the large number of applicants, and because the club did not want to turn anyone down, the Erie Rotary Club stepped up and assisted with the funds to send them. Another club, Kishwaukee Sunrise Rotary, also helped to contribute to the cause.
The Morrison Rotary Club organizes the Harvest Hammer 5K Race and Duathlon each Fall. It is their only fundraiser. Proceeds from the Harvest Hammer are used each year to provide scholarships to Morrison High School Seniors, send students to RYLA and fund community and international projects.
The Morrison Rotary club welcomed new members Kristi Wambeke and Chelsey Ferguson. These ladies work for Rock Valley Physical Therapy. Their company was accepted as a Corporate Member meaning that either Kristi or Chelsey can attend the meetings. Pictured here (l-r) are their sponsor, Kathy Schmidt, Chelsey, Kristi and President Ron Coplan. Welcome aboard ladies!
Today Morrison Rotary welcomed Kate Vos (left) and Cassie Osborn as our April Students of the Month from Morrison High School.
Cassie is a Senior, has been involved in musicals, Band, Choir, Jazz Band and Drama Club. She has also been a dancer at Leanne's Dance Connection for 15 years. Her plans are to attend Illinois Wesleyan University and major in Music Education. Cassie's parents are Roger and Sheila Osborn
Kate is a Senior. She has been involved in Softball, Volleyball and basketball. She has been a Student Council member for 4 years. Her plans are to attend Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL. Her parents are Dale & Polly Vos.
Morrison High School March Students of the Month
Bailey Smith
Bailey is the daughter of Mike and Dara Smith. She is a senior who has been an active volunteer with Paint the Town, Harvest Hammer, and Key Club where she serves as president. She also helps with the annual Christ Walk. In addition Bailey loves to act in school plays. Her plans are to attend college next year and study Pre-law. Best wishes Bailey!
Hannah Linder
Hannah is the daughter of Kurt and Lori Linder. She has been active in sports particularly basketball and softball. He has participated in Key Club for the past 4 years. She loves agriculture and she services as secretary of the FFA and she is a 4H member. Her plans are to attend Highland Community College and study Ag Business and then come home and eventually take over the family farm. Congratulations Hannah!
Morrison Rotarian Dr. David Yeager presented a program entitled " Common Foot and Ankle problems and how to correct them" to the Clinton Rotary Club on Monday, March 4. Many of the Rotarians were very impressed with his details and his photos and his ability to explain some of the abnormalities in a way they can understand. We want to thank Clinton Rotarians Mary Swanson and Cheryl Frey for the invitation.
Morrison High School January Students of the Month
Our January students of the month are MacKenzie Ryder and Ethan Medenblik.
MacKenzie is active in Student Council where she serves as President. She coordinates Spirit events for the sports teams. She loves to dance. MacKenzie is very active in her church and she just finished a 5 week mission trip to China this summer where she taught English and other classes. Her future plans are to attend either Moody Bible Institute or a school that will allow her to blend her love for people and cultural studies.
Ethan is the son of Kevin and Jennifer Medenblik. He loves sports and he has played baseball and basketball at MHS. He also helps umpire Little League games at the sports complex. Ethan plans to attend MIT this fall majoring in Network Administration.
Morrison Rotary Club Literacy Committee Chair Ellen Smith submitted these photos of one class which is receiving free books throughout the 2018-2019 school year. Parent donations supported the program, Smith noted.
Northside School children received their October installment of free, monthly books, provided by Morrison Rotary Club. Increasing literacy is an important goal of the organization. Below are children in Karen Mayberry's class.
Kolten Conklen was our speaker today. Kolten traveled to South Korea through the Rotary Long Term Youth Exchange program. He spent the 2016-2017 school year there and was sponsored by the
Sterling Noon Rotary club. While in South Korea he stayed with three host families and learned a lot about their culture.In the photo Kolten’s jacket is covered in all sorts of pins and memorabilia that he collected throughout his visit. This is a tradition with all of the exchange students (inbound and outbound).
Kolten is currently attending the University of Illinois studying International Studies and Business. He will return to South Korea next Spring on a study abroad.
Today Donald Jevne received his Paul Harris Fellow (pin and certificate) from President Ron Coplan. Kevin 
Schisler received his Paul Harris +1 recognition pin. A Rotarian receives the Paul Harris Fellow after donating at certain levels to the Rotary Foundation.
Congratulations Don and Kevin!
The Morrison Rotary club members lost a wonderful member. Don Miller passed away on January 4th at the young age of 90. Don joined the Morrison Rotary club on September 13, 1967 making him a 52 year veteran! Don served his country in the armed forces and he was a long time school teacher in the Morrison Schools. I am proud to say that I was a teammate of Don's trivia team for several years which benefited the Friends of the Park. He was our song leader whenever we had a Rotarian birthday. He loved a good joke and he would laugh whenever he was fined for some trivial offense at our noon luncheons. He will be missed!
December 2018 Students of the Month
At the December 12 meeting the Morrison Rotary Club announced the Students of the Month. The honorees are Michelle Edwards and Jacob Schlegel.
Michelle is the daughter of Tom and Nancy Edwards. She was co-president of Key Club which provided her with numerous projects to serve her community by doing projects. She is a lifelong member of Morrison (18 years to be exact). She plans to attend Sauk Valley College to take classes that will steer her to a future of happiness.
Jacob is the son of Todd and Christine Schlegel. He was captain of the football team (until an ACL injury ended his career) and he also participated in basketball and track. He has served on Student Council and has volunteered in a few food drives. He works for Green and Clean. His future plans will take him to Upper Iowa, or Monmouth or Loras College to study business and to play football.
The final day of road cleanup was accomplished by this team of Rotarians! Great Job!
Students of the Month
Our October Students of the Month were Megan Muur and Steven Kramoski, both seniors at Morrison High School.
Megan Muur
Megan is the daughter of Todd and Pam Muur. She is currently captain of the cheer squad. She is also Vice President of Student Council. Next year she plans to attend Central College in Pella IA and major in Elementary Education.
Steven Kramoski
Steven is the son of Randy and Laura Kramoski. Steven is captain of the basketball team and he is also on the MHS baseball team. He is active in the B.L.I.N.D program. His plans next year are to attend St. Ambrose University and major in Exercise Science and then go on to attain a degree in Physical Therapy.
On October 17, Dr. Steve Nunez, Vice President of Academics and Student Services at Sauk Valley Community College and Lilian Maxfield, SVCC student and Morrison resident, enlightened our Rotary club with a presentation on Rotaract. Rotaract is a student club that is affiliated with Rotary Club International and local Rotary Clubs found in Dixon, Rock Falls, and Sterling. Rotaract is focused on: (1) "Service Above Self" and will conduct local service projects and at least one international fundraising event each year, (2) providing opportunities for students to grow their leadership skills, and (3) interacting with local Rotary Club members to develop a professional network with local business, government, and educational leaders from across our community. Lilian reported that donations through Rotary that were used to supply books to students at Northside School. Rotaract students went to the school and read those books to the children. She said it was very fulfilling.
Don Miller celebrated his 90th Birthday with his Rotary family. We are honored to have Don in our club. He is a retired teacher and a military veteran. Thank you Louise Clark for arranging to have a birthday cake in Don's honor.
Today our club welcomed Kathy Kwiat -Hess, our District Governor for 2018-2019. She gave us a brief biography, why she’s a Rotarian and explained our Rotary theme this year, “Be the Inspiration”. Thank you Kathy!
The Morrison Rotary Club celebrated the transition of our outgoing president Dr. Brad Yaklich and the incoming president Mr. Ron Coplan. Dr. Yaklich presented Mr. Coplan a plaque to thank him for the decades he has served as our weekly newsletter publisher. Later, Ron presented Dr. Yaklich with a president pin to thank him for his year of service where we met the following goals:
- A tree was planted in Morrison for each of our 40+ Rotarians.
- Rotarians met our goal to donate $1,000 to Polio Plus to efforts to eradicate Polio worldwide.
- Our goal to increase membership was met.
- $5,000 was donated to area students in scholarships to attend area colleges and technical schools.
Rotarians and their spouses celebrated a successful year with a dinner at Happy Joes. If anyone would like information to join this wonderful organization you can go to our website www.morrisonrotary.org or contact any of our Rotary club members.
President Dr. Brad Yaklich welcomed new member, Dr. David Yeager, to the Morrison Rotary Club. Dr. Yeager is a new Surgical Foot and Ankle Doctor/Podiatrist at Morrison Community Hospital. He requested a transfer from the Dixon Rotary Club to the Morrison Club. Dr. Yeager is pictured here receiving a Rotary pin from his sponsor, Mick Welding. Congratulations Dr. Yeager and welcome aboard!
Dr. Brad Yaklich presented a plaque to Phil Renkes to honor him for the 30 plus years he served as our Foundation Director. Phil noted that the Morrison Rotary Club members have donated in excess of $550,000 to the Paul Harris Foundation. The funds raised in this foundation provides;
- Vocational training for teachers establishing an early childhood education center in South Africa
- Water filters, toilets, and hygiene training to prevent fluorosis, diarrhea, and other diseases in India
- A scholarship for a medical professional in Italy to research treatments that minimize mortality rates among premature babies
- Peace-building seminars for 200 teachers and 1,300 students in Uganda
- Treated mosquito nets and medical services that prevent malaria in Mali
Thank you again Phil for your dedication to our club.
Morrison Rotarians, spouses and guests were treated to a night with perfect weather, great food, enlightening company and a great come-from-behind 10th inning win by the Lumberkings. Pictured here are Rotarians Tanner and Suellen Girard and Rotarian Gary Steinert and wife Betty. Thank you to John Prange (JP) who coordinated a wonderful social evening.
