Annual Christmas Dinner Carterville Rotary Style

We had another fun filled Christmas Dinner at John A. Logan this year. This was my first dinner so I wasn't sure what to expect. It was nice getting together with the rest of the club members and their spouses. Good conversations with good folks; you just can't beat it.

What made the night really fun was the auctioning off of the member donated wrapped gifts. The contents only known by the donor but with a clever riddle attached to leave us wondering what was beneath the Christmas wrapping. Bids were out in full force, since the proceeds all went back to Club. As Rich Davis exclaimed, "It's for the kids!". All in all we raised over $2000 for the night. That was a good night "for the kids". Good job Carterville Rotary Club members!

Pioneers Cabin Has Sold!

Attention Rotary Members. If you havent' heard, the Rotary Club's meeting place, Pioneer's Cabin out of Crainville has been sold. Currently, we are trying to find a new meeting location to accomdate our group for future meetings. If you know of a place, be sure to let us know.





Also, please join us at the Annual Christmas Party this evening at John A. Logan. Here is some info on the festivities:

Our annual Christmas Dinner will be held on Wednesday, December 10th at 6:00pm. This will be a substitute meeting for our morning meeting. Dinner will be served at 6:30pm. This is an event to bring your spouse and enjoy the fellowship. We ask each member to provide a wrapped gift with a short verse as to the description of the item enclosed without giving away the full details. The gift does not have to be a purchased item. Some of our most popular gifts in the past have been dinners provided by the Rotarian, home made wine, hand made items, and even some re-gifting has been known to occur. The gifts are then auctioned for cash. The cash goes into our Community Donation fund. Last year we raised $2000, with funds going to the Pat's Kids program, Lighthouse Shelter, and Ministerial Alliance. Some funds are held over to make donations to worthy causes throughout the year. We hope that everyone will come and enjoy the fellowship.

Hope to see you there!

Busy Week In Carterville Rotary

In addition to announcing two new members of the group, Carterville Rotary had more going on. This week, thanks to the diligent work by former president John Streuter, the new Carterville Rotary Website was launched. With the new website and blog, members as well as the community can keep up to date on the clubs continuous activities. Thank you John for all your hard work!






Also on Wednesday, Margie Kemp and Beth Laird from the Carterville Lioness club stopped by to share information on their latest project. The project called "Military Salute" will look to honor veterans and active military personnel with ties to the Tri-C area. Flags with a plaque will be displayed in Carterville's Cannon Park to honor our local veteran's. Please contact the Carterville Lioness Club for more details.

Vicky Gentry, president 618-457-0215
Sandra Congiardo, 2nd V.P., 618-985-4866

Carterville Rotary Welcomes Two New Members

This past Wednesday, Carterville Rotary welcomed two new members to our group. Both Butch Wagner and David Kirk were accepted into the group. We all want to give a warm welcome to the two and look forward to working with them on future Rotary projects.

Paul Harris 1933 Rotary International Speech

Carterville Rotary at Pumkin Path and SIU Tailgate

Carterville Rotary was at at again over the weekend. Friday Night we were out supporting the annual Carterville Pumpkin Path. This was the first year for our son to be able to trick or treat, and it was a blast. I have never seen so many kids dressed in costume in one place. Even if you don't live in Carterville, this is the place to be on Halloween. If you were lucky enough, Bill and John would have given you a sucker at the Rotary stop. (They said I was too old). My son had a good time and enjoyed the live music:

The next morning, Rotary made another showing at the SIU tailgate. The weather was perfect for some pre-game celebration. And for those that stuck around, they saw a good game as SIU beat North Dakota 40-21. Go SIU!

10 Questions With Richard Davis

• Where do you work and what do you do?
Along with my wife Janie, I own and operate CENTURY 21 House of Realty, Inc.; a 5 office real estate corporation purchased in 2006.

• How long have you been a member of the Carterville Rotary?
I am a charter member of our club.

• What’s your fondest moment of Rotary?
When I was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow and when recognized as Rotarian of the Year.

• Where were you born?
Davenport, Iowa on November 7, 1956

• Top 3 Reasons to live in Carterville?
Family oriented community, smack-dab in the middle of my real estate marketplace, core of friends and associates we've been blessed to know and work with.

• What one word best describes you?
I was going to say caring, devoted...a real Clark Griswold but my family says bombastic, theatrical, and dramatic! Go figure!!!

• What’s the first thing you do when you get home from work?
Work

• Last book you read?
Bug Russ & Me

• Last movie you saw?
Dark Knight (Batman)

• Favorite place to eat?
Janie's home cooking - hands down!!!

• Something that many people may not know about you?
I would like to get a pilot's license.

Carterville Rotary and TLC

Rotary Carterville teamed up and partcipated in the TLC nature walk project on Monday, October 20, from 9:00AM to 3:00PM . The Carterville Rotary is contributed $3000.00 and our labor to this project. Above, we have Jason Phillips, President of Carterville Rotary, giving to check to TLC at the morning meeting. Click on the picture below to see a slide show of Rotarians hard at work.

Librarian Pays Us A Visit

Jane Robertson from the Carterville Public Library was the guest speaker for our group this morning. Jane came by to update on the progress of the new library that just received the funds from the estate of Anne West Lindsey. Lindsey who passed away in 2005, left $1.5 million and 5 acres towards the new project.

The new building will be located about a half mile north of the new building and couldn't come anytime sooner.

The library district especially needs the new building because on July 1 it went from serving Carterville to include the entire Tri-C district of Carterville, Crainville and Cambria. Robertson said especially since being bumped up to a district library, they've outgrown the building.

"We've been in the present location for 25 years and we're pretty well cramped," Robertson said.

Please visit the Carterville Public Library's website for more info.

Woman's Life and Carterville Rotary Team Up

This is Carterville Rotary's first year working with Woman's Life and it has been very successful. We now have 3 woman's life clubs working with Carterville Rotary Club. They are the people at Koonce Insurance Office, Carterville Rotary Group 1 and Carterville Rotary Group 2.

Woman's Life has written checks this year of $31,800 which has helped fund many different community projects and scholarships.

A few of these projects are:

• Rotary Foundation for mobile dental lab
• Carterville Rotary for exchange student
• Poshard Foundation for Pat's kids
• Christmas gifts to children
• Lighthouse Homeless Shelter
• American Red Cross
• American Cancer
• American Arthritis Walk
• American Heart Association
• Eagle Missions
• Hillview Nursing Home
• and many others!

This is our first year with Woman's Life and we look forward with deep anticipation to what 2009 has in store. Thanks to the Woman's Life local officers: Jim Koonce, Carl Cottingham, and Bill Slider for the dedication and hard work.


About Women's Life:

Woman's Life is an organization founded by women for women that connects women for fun, mutual support and outreach. Woman's Life is all about the connections we make as woman, connections we make with each other and with our community. Woman's Life gives women an opportunity to make a difference together, to make a significant impact on causes important to them.

God's Man In Texas

One of our very own, Tim Robinson, will be peforming live at O'Neil Auditorium of John A. Logan in the theater play "God's Man In Texas". The play will be at 7 pm for both evenings of October 10th and 11th. Please come out and support Tim.

10 Questions With John Streuter

The first victim, I mean, candidate for "10 Questions With" is no other than John Streuter. John was Carterville Rotary's president last year and took some time to shed some insight to his life.

1. Where do you work and what do you do? Peoples National Bank - Mortgage & Consumer Loan Officer


2. How long have you been a member of the Carterville Rotary? 11 years, Charter Member and Charter President
   


3. What’s your fondest moment of Rotary? Dedicating a Paul Harris Fellowship in my father's name this past year
   


4. Hometown? Murphysboro
   


5. How long have you lived in Carterville? 18 years
   


6. What one word best describes you? Dedicated
   


7. Hobbies? Golf
   


8. Last book you read? not sure. I'm not a reader other than reading children's books to the boys. I usually spend my downtime watching the History & Discovery channels or Fox News.
   


9. Last movie you saw? CARS movie with my son. I haven't seen a feature film since Austin was born.
   


10. Favorite food? PIZZA
    


11. Something that many people may not about you? Probably best to continue to keep that a secret!
    

Woops. That makes 11, but whose counting? Thanks to John for taking his time to partcipate. Stay tuned to see whose next month candidate will be.

10 Questions with a Rotarian

Each month we will be featuring a spotlight on a Carterville Rotary member. It will be called "10 Questions with......." Look for the first one to pop up soon. Who will be the first? Stay tuned........

Southern Illinois Leaders Breakfast

The CEO of Holiday World was the headline speaker for the breakfast.














Rotary Members were in full force and even got special recognition for our attendance














The whole auditorium was packed with area local representatives.

More Photos From the Free Fair

Carterville Free Fair Parade

Carterville Rotarians were out in full force for the Annual Carterville Free Fair Parade. Here a few pics of the members in action and prepping the float for big day.







We need more balloons......

Final Preparation before the parade begins.

These are two determined Rotarians on a mission!




The Carterville Rotary float in action.

Give me some candy!


Who needs a Rotary sticker?

Hey! I those those two ladies.

I've been a victim of a Rotary sticker drive by. And they

got my kid, too!

Carterville Free Fair

The Carterville Free Fair is coming up. Look for your Carterville Rotarians taking part in the morning parade. The parade begins at the Carterville High School and will end at Cannon Park.

CARTERVILLE 2008 FREE FAIR
95th Annual-Sponsored by:
CARTERVILLE ILLINOIS LIONS CLUB
DATES FOR FREE FAIR..SEPT 5-6 2008

Carterville Rotary First Post

Carterville Rotary has joined the blogging community. Also check out our website for further info www.cartervillerotaryclub.com.