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Welcome to the Rotary Club of Glen Ellyn

DID YOU KNOW?

Rotary is an international membership organization made up of people who share a passion for and commitment to enhancing communities and improving lives across the world.

The Glen Ellyn Rotary Club was established in 1943 and currently has over 40 active members.
We support our community by providing scholarships to high schools students and community grants as well as opportunities to give back through community service projects.
The Glen Ellyn Rotary Club also supports projects and provides help when needed internationally. There are over 35,000 Rotary clubs in more than 220 countries around the world.
We have a lot of fun while we raise funds and serve our community. The friendships made in our club are lifelong!

BE OUR GUEST

We would like you to get to know us! All are welcome to attend one of our weekly lunch programs to meet members and learn more about us. Do you want to give back to your community and beyond? Are you service minded? Join us for lunch and learn more! Contact Liz Mager at gle@stamchocolate.com to express your interest and rsvp for lunch as our guest!

Thank you to our Lunch Host Barone's of Glen Ellyn

"The Friendliest Club in Rotary"

We meet In Person

Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.

Barones

475 Pennsylavnia Avenue
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
United States of America

Phone:

(331) 303-0653

Email:

glenellynrotary@gmail.com

District Site

Venue Map

Doodlebug and Support Over Stigma - service project

From November 1^st to the 11^th two of our members, John Helledy and Ed Jacob, went to five spots in Glen Ellyn and Wheaton to pick up donations for “Doodlebug Workshop” which equips the special needs community with vocational skills, and “Support Above Stigma” which is dedicated to saving the lives of military service members, veterans, first responders, and their families by providing essential tools and resources to overcome mental health challenges.

Then on Thursday of this week 19 of us dug in and sorted the donations collected and fulfilled other tasks to support special needs people of our community and active duty military overseas. The team had two members of the Rotary Club of West Chicago and one of our newest members, Debera Thomas, brought three friends to help out.

Annual Mentor Day with Glenbard High Schools

Yesterday was the Glen Ellyn Rotary Club's annual Mentor Day.

This is when the Rotary Club of Glen Ellyn gathers up dozens of professionals to take time, for one morning, to introduce their specialty to students who have selected that specialty as one option for their future profession. Close to 50 students participated with their mentors. The students attend Glenbard West and South High Schools.

Then we gather for lunch and hear a few stories from the mentees about their morning with their mentor. Next we take the opportunity to present a few awards, such as honoring the club for 100% given to the Rotary International Foundation by every members of our club and a second award because every member gave at least $100 in the last year.

We also awarded a very special award to a person who I will not mention because he was not able to be present to receive the award but was presented in absentia. This award is for a person who has given $10,000 plus another $5,000 to the Rotary foundation which is called a Major Donor Award.

The student moments that were shared were inspiring to us members and mentors because they tell the value of the day and we see that the future of our village, county, and country are in OK hands for the future.

Our keynote speaker and sponsor was Georgia Koch. She is the Founder and Director of Career Vision and a good friend of our club. Her organization specializes in developing students for their future plans.

Last but not least, we must thank our returning Master of Ceremonies for over 20 years Mr. Jim Kelly, Principal of St. James the Apostle Catholic School has done the honors for our mentees.

District 6440 Governor Marlene Frisbie

Last week we were privileged to have our 6440 District Governor Marlene Frisbie as our speaker.

Not only as our speaker but she inducted three new members; Sean, Debra and Jim.

Welcome to the the Rotary Club of Glen Ellyn!

It is always a special day when we welcome new members.

It means we will have more volunteers that can help us provide more services, scholarships and grants.

2025 Citrus

Native American Cultural and Environmental Center

Kirk Burger from the McKee House Foundation revealed the future plans for the house.

The McKee House structures are one of the most important historic sites in DuPage County. Proponents of restoring and re-adapting them had fought a decade-long, uphill battle to avoid the threat of demolition. In their favor, two extensive studies of the main building performed by the Forest Preserve showed it to be structurally sound and historically significant.

There is an ongoing effort and agreement to remodel and restore the McKee House for a Native American Center. The aim of the Native American Cultural and Environmental Center will be to share Native American artifacts and historical information with the public. Plans include adding a garden with indigenous plants and hosting an annual event with the hopes of drawing in thousands of attendees from across the U.S.

Abundant Children & Family Services Agency Service Project

The members of the Rotary Club of Glen Ellyn sorted school materials and packed hundreds of school backpacks. it was a perfect day to serve the students of lower income homes and to cooperate with a local organization.

President and board installation!

Big night yesterday!

The Rotary Club of Glen Ellyn not only saw District Governor Marlene Frisbie Install the new President Erica Nelson, and her board, the governor inducted two Rotary members, Ed Jacob and Todd Rollins, who transferred from other clubs of districts.

Then two of our members Received the coveted Paul Harris Award: Sue Martin and George Bradshaw. This is Rotary in Glen Ellyn moving forward!

The Paul Harris Fellows are awarded to individuals who have donated $1,000 to Polio or the general foundation. In our club over 75% have been awarded this honor and many multiple Paul Harris individuals.

Past President, John Hughes, awarded special recognition awards to three deserving individuals:

Mark Franz - Rotarian of the Year, Erika Krehbiel - Spirit of Service Award, and Paul Keenon - Above and Beyond Award

About 40 of us packed into the dining room at Marinella's Italian Restaurant in Glen Ellyn.

East Branch DuPage River Trail

Steve Johnson and Beth Gorz represent the Friends of the EBDRT.

The EBDRT is part of a long-range plan which envisions a network of continuous greenway and trail corridors,

linked across jurisdictions, providing scenic beauty, natural habitat, and recreational and transportation opportunities.

About the Trail:

Trail will run North/South just west of I-355
Between villages of Glen Ellyn & Lombard
Connects Great Western Trail, Illinois Prairie Path Path & Morton Arboretum

Scholarship Awards

Scholarship Awards - 2024/25

While the Rotary Club of Glen Ellyn takes part in many worthwhile endeavors,

we are especially interested in the youth of our area.

Every year we award scholarships to deserving students about to enter college from Glenbard West and Glenbard South.

This year we awarded 13 scholarships worth $18,000.

Added to that number, three of these students will receive total scholarships all expenses for two years for vocational studies at the College of DuPage.

In total the awards are approximately $30,000 this year.

These are two of the students and their Principal Mr. Peterselli

Vintage Car Fest - helping the community

Glen Ellyn Historical Society

A couple of days after our meeting at the society, we volunteered to help at the car fest.

Mainly we were check in and guarding the museum from mischievous people. Of course we didn't find andy mischievous people so our job was mainly socializing with the fest goers. It was a beautiful day and there were many gorgeous cars from the past.

Glen Ellyn Historical Society Review

Glen Ellyn Historical Society, Executive Director, Jeffrey Anderson spoke to the club about the longevity and programs provided by the society. We had lunch at their facility. He spoke of future plans and the renovation of their museum, Stacy's Tavern.

Rotary International Learning Center

Amy Hopkins, Curriculum Development Supervisor showed great enthusiasm for her department and the courses that they develop to help clubs and members navigate the larger picture of Rotary International and it's wide reach into the land of helping and giving.