The end of the calendar year often times causes us to reflect on the past 12 months and what we hope the next 12 will be like.
While our Rotary club is a little different in the fact at that we are half way through our fiscal year, it is still a good time to do the same, and particularly look at how your generosity and volunteer efforts benefitted our community.
Pekin Rotary partnered with the Pekin Library for the Read for a Ride Program. This started in the spring, and culminated with two bikes and helmets being given away to contest winners in August. Through your generosity we as a club were able to raise over $800 for the purchase of the bikes and helmets. The library said there was an increase in participation in the program, so we foresee this being a 2017 project as well.
The second half of 2016 also saw the club take on several projects, some recurring some new. We (with assistance from Betty Kelly from the East Peoria Club and assistant DG) helped students in need with a
school supply drive at Pekin High School.
Rotary Grill was another huge success in spite of weather challenges. This will help us in making grant money available for our community grant project in the spring.
Speaking of that, you have had the chance to meet nine of the
10 Rotary Grant winners for 2016 (the tenth will be January 4), and to hear how the money you raised and given out by grants benefitted these many organizations. The 2017 process for Grants will begin in March.
We also had a
Poker run in October to recognize Vocational Month (as well as raise money toward our fourth quarter project for Schramm School)
In November, volunteers from the club along with some from the community completed a
painting project at the Pekin Township building, and in December we again
rang the bell at Walmart to benefit the Salvation Army. This time ringing at both doors.
2016 also saw the finalization of
Rotary Charities to benefit the giving of our club members.
In 2017, we will have the opportunity to present to Schramm School our donation to their
Wheelchair Bicycle project. The board set an aggressive goal for our portion of the project, but we knew the club and its members would step up as always, and you did in a big way in exceeding our goal again. Thank you for this and all you give to the club and the organizations we benefit.
2017 will also see the continuation of current programs, such as our quarterly socials, the Read for a Ride Program, and the upkeep of Rotary Park.
I am particularly excited about what will go on at the Park in the spring. There will be three trees planted at the park in honor of three of our members and their dedication and longtime service to the club, Mike Caringello, Gary Gillis and Don Meinen. Ivy will also be planted at the club for Mike and his love of the Cubbies, and the Vocational Center at PCHS will be creating a new sign for the pavilion at the Park.
We also need to remember the loss of long-time member Jim Jones, who passed away October.
In December we gave Don Meinen a proper sendoff as he retired from our club after over 54 years of service, including as club president and a Paul Harris Fellow.
The second half of 2016 also gave us the chance to welcome Hank Anderson, Joel Catlin and Jason Hester to the club.
Your membership committee of Mary Burress, Drew Eilts and Greg Ranney have been meeting to look at opportunities to add members to the club, particularly in employment categories that we don't have members in now, and organizations and companies in the area that don't have representation with us. I expect you will see some positive activity from this committee in 2017.
Finally, I would like to recognize our board and say thank you to them for all they do for the club. Their drive and passion for Rotary is encouraging and will contribute to the success of our club for many years to come.
You are the greatest club I could ask to be a part of, and I thank all of you for a wonderful 2016.
Happy 2017! I hope it is a prosperous year for all of you.
Gregg Ratliff
