Geneseo Rotarians shared a lot of laughs together on Tuesday, September 16. From left, Clarke Barnes, Brian Gernant, and Molly Hamer laugh while following the instructions of Rick Davis (not pictured). Rick is a business coach for professionals, focusing on including play in the workplace. Learn more about his business at www.rickdaviscoaching.com.  

PO Box 203

Geneseo, IL 61254

1. Friendship

A basic human need: One of the two reasons Paul Harris began Rotary in 1905.

2. Business Development

The second original reason for Rotary's beginning.  Everyone needs to network.

3. Personal Growth

Membership in Rotary continues one's growth and education in human relations and personal development.

4. Leadership Development

Serving in Rotary positions is like a college education in Leadership.

Interested yet?  Click on the full article for the remaining 16 reasons....

Geneseo Rotary Club President Clarke Barnes, right, presents a donation of $300 to Traci Maynard at the club's meeting on September 10.  Mrs. Maynard started the Erika Kate Hope Alliance in memory of her daughter, striving to help other families who have children with heart conditions. Read more about the alliance at www.erikakate.org.

Geneseo Rotary Club members will host a food drive for the Geneseo Food Pantry during the month of July.  Rotarians meet each Tuesday from noon to 1PM at the Geneseo Community Center.  Members have been bringing items to the meetings each week to kick off the food drive.  On July 27th, Fareway in Geneseo will host a collection day.  Community Members are asked to purchase items for the Food Pantry as part of their regular shopping.  Current Food Pantry needs include: pancake mix, syrup, spaghetti, frosting, elbow macaroni, cereal, pudding, Jell-O, oatmeal, peanut butter, Ramen noodles, sugar-free snacks, bar soap, dish soap, sunscreen and diapers in sizes 3, 4 and 5.  Preparing for the collection drive are Geneseo Rotary president Molly Hamer and Rotarian and Fareway manager Bill Lanphere.

Representatives from the Geneseo Robotics Club were the guest presenters at our March 25th meeting.  GHS students and team members Jonathan Moore and Carl Flynn introduced the group to competitive robotics, outlining everything from the construction of the robot itself, to how a competition is scored.

Three students from Geneseo High School received $400 each as winners of Geneseo Rotary Club’s Constitution Project.   

   Geneseo High School juniors and seniors were invited to write an essay on the subject, “What the Constitution Means to Me and My Family.” Twenty-five students submitted essays. Winners were Rachel Ganson, Jenna Reddig, and Emilee Livesay.

   Rotary Club member Bill Neuleib spearheaded the project. The 47-year club member said he got the idea while reading an article in a spring issue of the Rotarian magazine. A club in Milan, Ohio was doing the Constitution project. “I thought it was an ideal project for our club,” Neuleib said. “I contacted the man who chaired their project and received good information in order to proceed with our project.”

   Neuleib and club members agree, they were very happy with having so many students participate the first year the project was offered in Geneseo. Neuleib said, “I attribute this many entries to the great cooperation we were given by the high school. Along with the excellent content of the essays, I am confident our club will do this project again.”

  Ganson, Reddig, Livesay, and their families were guests at Geneseo Rotary Club’s lunch meeting on Tuesday, November 13. The students each read their essay for the club members and were presented with a check for their accomplishments. Each essay is included below.