This month's Member Profile highlights perhaps our most "outdoor" club member--Matt Deverman. Born and raised in Pekin, Matt graduated from PCHS in 1991 heading on to Southern Illinois University, Carbondale where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and Advertising. It was the draw of the SIU campus in the middle of the Shawnee Forest that began his love affair with a variety of "outdoor activities." "I did a lot of walking and hiking," Matt confessed. This would eventually lead to other passions and aspirations.
College graduation brought him back home to a position with Deverman Advertising where he would embark on a "jack-of-all-trades" professional career. "I've been an Account Executive," he told me, "but I've also done buying, layout design, photography, basically every aspect of our industry. It certainly makes everyday different."
Of course, one day that certainly was "different" for Matt was June 13, 1998, a day that would change his life and outlook of it. Around 11:30 that night, Matt and three other friends were returning home in a closed bow boat on the Illinois River. Visibility was extremely difficult. The driver of the boat did not see an empty barge that had floated away from its mooring and swung out into the river channel. Moving at a brisk pace, the boat hit the barge square-on. Matt, who was seated next to the driver, was thrown with him up against the bow. "We basically opened up the bow of the boat with our stomachs," he recalled. They all ended up in the water. Weaving in and out of consciousness, Matt recalls feeling no pain. "I was in shock," he said. "All I remember is looking up at the stars and thinking--wow! it's a beautiful night."
A fisherman and his wife heard cries for help and eventually brought them all to the East Peoria shore. Matt remembers waking up to paramedics, then in the hospital ER, and then just before surgery. He suffered significant internal damage. His right kidney and spleen were removed; he lost half of his pancreas, plus suffered broken ribs, a broken left arm near his wrist, and broken toes. He spent 32 days in the hospital. Most amazing of all, he lost 32 lbs. over that period. Matt explained, "With the pancreas problem, I could take nothing through my mouth, not even water. I was fed exclusively through a feeding tube. I distinctly remember watching the Food Network and the nurses asking why I was torturing myself. I told them that if I couldn't eat it, I might as well watch it."
That accident changed the way Matt looked at the world. "It pushed me to love life," he confessed. That's when he renewed his love of the outdoors taking up kayaking and whitewater rafting. He has even sky dived twice--I'm sure much to his parents regret. He also loves camping and hiking with a goal to someday hike the Appalachian Trail.
Matt joined Rotary in April of 2012. Many people had mentioned Rotary to him and he was drawn to Rotary's history of helping others, especially on a global basis. "I found it all to be a good fit for me," he added.
He now sits on our board; has been indispensable in development of our website and in the role of Club Service Chairman. He will become our President Elect on July 1, and is scheduled to become club president, mid-year 2017.
Besides Rotary, Matt is involved with the Salvation Army, chairing their Advisory Board. He also has been Chairman of the Board of Youth Ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church and a Sunday School teacher for 18 years.
Most people are aware that Matt has a twin brother, Chris. He's clean shaven and that's the only way you can differentiate between them. I remember seeing the "twins" every Sunday for years, always dressed alike. When I teased Matt about it, he said that his folks "stopped doing that last week."
We're glad that Matt chose Pekin Rotary. His impact has been felt in just four short years. He brings energy and enthusiasm and a special outlook that yields an optimistic spirit: he's a survivor and it's that attitude loving life that will benefit our club for years to come.
Gary Gillis
