Richard Sebastian (center) receives his New Member Packet and Rotary pin from Jim Dolan and Alan Nerad.
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What’s distinctive about the Lincolnshire Morning Star Rotary Club is the level of giving for the
size of the club. Robert Gremley described it as "a handful of people who have:
- Sent tons of medical equipment to Russia.
- Brought disadvantaged kids from Poland here for surgery through the Gift from the Heart program
- Bought a thermal imaging device worth $22,000 for the Vernon Area (now the Lincolnshire/Riverwoods Fire Department), so they can detect life in a burning building
- Assisted local families through Vernon Township, providing transportation, holiday gifts, and other emergencies
- Donated thousands of dollars worth of books to the Vernon Area Public Library."
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"They’ve given in energy and dollars way out of proportion to the number of members," says John Lamb.
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Stan Roelker names the annual Herb Didier Memorial Golf Outing as "Lincolnshire Morning Star’s biggest
fundraiser." From 12 golfers in 1993 netting $200, it has grown to over 100 players netting close
to $20,000 each year. From the beginning, the golf outing has made a difference, making it possible
to give $6,000 to two agencies each year for the past four years. Recipients have included:
- A Safe Place
- The Riverside Foundation
- Shore Community Services
- CASA
- Big Brothers / Big Sisters in Waukegan
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Club members can't quantify the enormous amount of labor donated by Rotarians and friends to make a golf
outing successful, whether it is our own outing or hosting the District golf outing, as Lincolnshire
Morning Star Rotary did in 1995.
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Families get involved, too. Dan Friedlander, Shirley’s husband, is the photographer and manages public
relations. John Staub’s wife, Chris, manages the gift lists for Lincolnshire Morning Star’s "adopted"
families at Catholic Charities. Family members also get in on the fun. Every 4th of
July, Lincolnshire Rotary had a float in the parade. “The kids would be in it, and afterwards we would
all go to a party at Jim Dolan's or Augie’s," said Bob Tepper.
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Social events help involve family members. They enjoy brunchs at some of Lincolnshire’s finest
restuarants, Valentine’s Day and Holiday parties, and serenades from Stevenson High School musical groups.
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Youth Exchange students to Lincolnshire Morning Star Rotary have greatly enriched our lives: Lorelei Heylinger
2004-05 from Italy and Knot Likitkumchorn 2005-06 from Thailand. From Lorelei and her family, we learned
about violin making and saw how the arts curriculum at Stevenson High School could inspire a young photographer
to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps. With Knot, we have all become involved in the development of an
athlete, and learned a great deal about tennis competition.
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"The Lincolnshire Rotary Club is a chance to meet wonderful people, have fun, try – no, not try, do – some good,
and have fun while doing it," says John Lamb.
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Lincolnshire Morning Star Rotary Club, proud to be the home club of 2005-06 District Governor Tadashi Enami , continues to make history.
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Gaylord Fill, Tadashi Enami, and Victor Fernitz
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