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Noteworthy
December
Anniversaries

Andy Sparks
29 years
Service Above Self
December  2016
Presidents Message
We are in the midst of the Holiday season.  As Gary's program on November 23 showed us, we all have so much to be thankful for.   We are thankful for all that God has given us, for family and friends, for the best Rotary organization that we could be a part of.

In December, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the gift God gave to us to redeem us from our sins, Pekin Rotary has a chance to give back to the community it serves.

On December 10, we will be ringing the bells for the Salvation Army at both entrances at Wal-Mart.  Through situations out of their control, the Salvation Army found itself in a more challenging spot as it tries to reach its financial goal for helping serve the community and those in need.  Pekin Rotary, as always, stepped up and expanded its volunteer service to better help the Salvation Army.

For the second year, we changed how we are giving to Schramm School, an organization that Pekin Rotary has been serving for many years.   We modified our Christmas program with them to better suit the needs of all students at Schramm.  This year we will help Schramm in purchasing a Wheelchair bicycle that will enable students at the school to take a bicycle ride that they may not otherwise be able to enjoy.  Last year you exceeded our financial goal when we helped Schramm purchase an overhead projector for one of its classrooms, and I know that this year you will do the same with our $2,000 goal for the wheelchair bicycle project.

You are a giving club, through your passion, volunteer time and effort, and your financial donations to help the community we serve.  You do this year-round, not just in this season of giving. 

Gary said this in last December's newsletter, and I don't think I could say it any better, so will borrow it and repeat it here.  All of our talents, when brought together for a common good, can impact people and improve lives.  Remember, you were asked to join Rotary because someone felt you'd make a great Rotarian.  They knew you could make a difference.  They knew you had a gift. 

I am thankful for all of you.
 
Gregg

Service Project 
 The greatest gift you can give someone is your time.  Because when you give your time, you are giving a portion of your life that you will never get back. 
 
Before:










After:






Thank you for giving your time!

Speakers Chair
December 7 - Gary Gillis will present "Pearl Harbor-75 Years Ago- Almost to the Minute"

December 14 - Heather Fitzanko invites Phillip Belcher - Ye Dulcimer Maker to enlimaking and playing the dulcimer.

December 21 - Jim McClarey will speak on  "The Evolution of the Tradition of Giving Presents at Christmas"

December 28 - Club Assembly
Rotarian in the Spotlight

  Paul is a local product, born and raised in Pekin.  His family moved to Royal Colony when Paul was four years of age.  The Scherer residence to the east of Pekin was in teh Tremont School District which is where Paul attended school.  After graduating from Tremont High School he attended ICC.  From there he went to Illinois State where he received his bachelors degree in Economics in 1996.
  
  Upon graduation Paul started his chosen career in finance working with collections for First of America Bank in Bloomington.  He admits that it was a "depressing" experience and after 6 months went to Commercial Credit Finance Company which later became CitiFinancial.  He took on a position in lending having been told that was the experience he needed if he wanted to get into banking. In 1999 he opened an office for them in Bloomington.
  
  In 2000 he moved over to Associated Bank in Pekin.  2008 saw Paul transitioning to Heartland Bank and then back to Associated in 2011.  But 7 months later he was back at Heartland.  When he joined Rotary, Heartland had him spending time in Pekin and Peoria branches, commuting accordingly.  The bank's preference increasingly had him spending more time in the Peoria market. Paul recalls that "Pekin was my niche.  That is where I had built my relationships with realtors and had developed a good referral base".  For a long time, fellow Rotarian Andy Sparks had seen the value in Paul's experience and his many professional relationships.  In October of last year, Andy convinced Paul to join Pekin Community Bank.  It has proven to be the perfect fit allowing him to focus on his Pekin and Tremont clients.
  
  On June 8, 2011 Paul became a Pekin Rotarian.  He recalls a colleague at  Heartland Bank having joined Kiwanis, so he chose Rotary- in his words-"to class things up".  He is now a member of our board.  Heading up Vocational Service he has already made his mark with the recent success of the "Vocational Service Poker Run".
  
  When asked what he enjoys about Rotary, Paul shares that he enjoys the fellowship and networking of the group.  "We get along so well and I enjoy our many open conversations a lot", he says. "If you're having a rough day , Rotary is something to look forward to.  If you're having a good day, it's a nice reward."  He also appreciates how Rotary gives back to the community.  "You can really see the material effect we have", Paul adds.  "I really like that."
  
  It has been pointed out that close to a quarter of our club have become members in the last six years.  Most of them comprise our current board like Paul.  The energy, ideas and enthusiasm they bring are proof that the future of Pekin Rotary is very bright.  Thank you Paul,  for choosing us, and making us a better club. 
 
Gary Gillis 


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