Tony Franklin, Zach Meyers, Trent Zwicker, Jon Schroeder, Frank Lambert

The Rock Island Rotary Club honored the 41st Anniversary of the Bert Blood Rural-Urban scholarships on Tuesday, April 9. The event honors Rotarian Albert “Bert” M. Blood, a Rock Island businessman and former educator who served as the superintendent of two school districts. He passed away in 1973 at the age of 101 years old. Blood had a great interest in the welfare of young people and had served as chairman of the Rock Island Rotary Club’s Rural-Urban Day committee from which the scholarship was born. This year’s committee chair, John Wetzel, thanked Andrew Guzzo, John Neary, Ardo Holmgrain and Tom Showalter for helping this year. Tony Franklin, Director of the University of Illinois Extension office, thanked Rotary for making this one of the best collaborations in the area and give opportunities to young people. “It’s an honor to know that someone’s legacy is kept alive through this program.”

The Bert Blood Scholarship recipients:

• Trent Zwicker (Orion High School), $1,500 award Trent’s first word as a toddler was “Tractor,” and that plowed the way for him to a life and career in Farming Operations. From machine maintenance to animals to genetically modified seeds, he covered all of the farming bases in his presentation.
• Jon Schroeder (Orion High School), $1,000 winner Jon said that 4H has given him many opportunities to expand his knowledge in cultivation which led him to do his project on Companion Gardening. Now everyone in Rock Island Rotary is going to plant a row of Marigolds in their respective gardens to keep out the bugs and other critters.
• Zach Meyers (Sherrard High School), $750 winner Zach put his carpentry skills to use in 4H, and credits his grandfather as his inspiration to learn the trade. He also credits 4H for teaching him many life skills that he will be able to use beyond the program such as Public Speaking.

Rock Island Rotary & District 6420 Governor
Installation Dinner
Friday, May 17

Bob Hammon (right) will pass the DG torch to Ruth Lee (left). Don't miss the fun!

Please plan on joining the Rock Island club for an entertaining evening to install District Governor 2013- 2014 Ruth Lee and Rock Island Rotary Club President Anne McGlynn and other District & Club officers.

The event will be held at the Quad City Botanical Center. Social Hour begins at 5:00 p.m. The cost for Rock Island Rotarians is $12 (weekly meal fee applied to cost) and other Rotarians and guests are $20.

Registration Options:
• Mail Forms and checks (Download PDF of form) to Rock Island Rotary, PO Box 4514, Rock Island, IL 61201
• On-line registration at the District 6420 Web site >>
• With questions, please contact Tricia Barron at triciabarron56@gmail.com or 309-781-5114

There will be NO weekly Tuesday meeting on May 14 due to the event.

Rotarians can sign up for a slot – times begin at 10:30 a.m. and end in the afternoon. Feb. 5 is also a meeting day.

The public is also invited to donate.

For more information, contact Blood Drive Chair Chris Lemon, cjlemon@choosethechief.com.

The memorial service will take place on January 14, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. in Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa. Directions http://goo.gl/maps/NH5Ky

A short memorial service will be conducted by a Quad City pastor, and attendees will be able to sign a large banner that will be sent to Newtown following the event.

Monetary donations will be accepted and all funds will be forwarded to the The Newtown Rotary Club, which has been working within its own community to assist with long- and short-term needs for families, children, and first responders that were impacted.  Newtown Rotary has established a 501(c)3 fund that will go directly to those impacted and will also lead to scholarships named for each of the victims.

http://www.newtownctrotary.org/SandyHookSchoolFund.cfm

“As Peace through Service is our Rotary theme for this year, we want to reach out in that effort and let the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary know that they are being thought of and remembered,” said Rock Island Rotary President Frank Lambert.

Essay winner Lynzee Quade (center).

Pictured: Rotary 1st Vice President Frank Lambert, Karen Motley (parent), Lynzee Quade, Michael Motley (parent), Beth Narske (Adopt-A-School Partner Chair) and Earl Hanson Principal Deb Taber.

Mike Locander and District Governor Leo Patterson

Rock Island Rotarian member Mike Locander was recognized as the District 6420 Rotarian of the Year at the Annual District 6420 conference held in Dixon, IL.

He was featured in the Dispatch/Argus! http://bit.ly/JtEleT

2012 Rotary Award Honorees:

Academic Achievement: Augustana College, Mohammed Hussain & Emily Petersen
Academic Achievement: Alleman High School, Emily Becker & Mary Dodson
Academic Achievement: Rock Island High School, Devin Radloff & Simone Collins
Community Service: Annie Robinson & Bob Ontiveros
Excellence Award: Vic Boblett & Bob Swanson
A.T. Peara Service Above Self Award: Holly Sparkman

2012 Rock Island Rotary Award winners

The award winners this year:

• Top Award of $1,500: Ben Engebrecht, a home-schooled senior, for his computer science project
• Runner Up Award of $1,000: Tyson Schulte, a senior at Sherrard High School, for his hog project and cattle project
• Third Place Award of $750: Chris Zelnio, a senior at Orion High School, for his horse project

This year marks the 40th year of the scholarship awards, named in honor of Albert “Bert” Blood, a Rock Island businessman, Rotarian and former educator who served as superintendent of two school districts. He passed away in 1973 at the age of 101 years old. Blood had a great interest in the welfare of young people and had served as chairman of the Rock Island Rotary Club’s Rural-Urban Day committee.

Pictured L to R: John Wetzel (Rotarian and Chair of the Bert Blood Scholarship Committee), Lori Tharp (University of Illinois Extension Office), Ben Engebrecht, Tyson Schulte, Chris Zelnio and Tony Franklin (University of Illinois Extension Office).