Elgin Breakfast Rotary reinvents the Rotary Wheel
Elgin Breakfast Rotary Club is mixing things up and introducing some innovation into their club.
Founded over 22 years ago, the Elgin Breakfast Rotary Club was born out of the Elgin Noon Rotary Club. Noticing that membership has been decreasing for Rotary as a whole, Rotary International has challenged local groups to add some new and fresh ideas into clubs.
“We wanted to appeal to a larger demographic, as well as refocus on our motto “Service Above Self” and serve more within our community,” said Rose Reinert, club president.
The Elgin Breakfast Rotary Club has introduced these new meeting format changes, along with a change in location to the Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St. in Elgin.
1st Thursday: “Mix it Up” Fellowship: 4:30-5:30 p.m. Elgin Public House
2nd Thursday: Breakfast Meeting: 7:15 a.m. Elgin Public House
3rd Thursday: “Service Above Self”: Rotarians in the Community Serving
4th Thursday: Breakfast Meeting: 7:15 a.m. Elgin Public House
5th Thursday (When applicable): Breakfast Meeting at 7:15 a.m. Elgin Public House
Since changing their format July 1, the Elgin Breakfast Rotary Club has joined forces with the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin's Interact Club to hand out food to families in need through the Northern Illinois Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry.
Interact Club is the teenage program through Rotary International which inspires teens to also adopt the "Service Above Self" approach. The Interact Club is made up of Boys & Girls Club members and completes projects locally, internationally and within the club.
Some upcoming service events include delivering meals to homebound clients through Golden Diners, another highly popular Mobile Food Pantry, and additional projects with organizations throughout the community.
The Elgin Breakfast Rotary Club has also donated money back into the community. Through two main fundraisers, they raise approximately $10,000 that is granted into nonprofits in the community, international projects and for the Polio Plus initiative that Rotary International has spearheaded. This year, the club is also hosting a Rotary Youth Exchange student from Mexico that will be attending Elgin High School this year.
The Elgin Breakfast Rotary Club welcomes people interested in learning more about Rotary, and what Elgin Breakfast has to offer. For more information, call Rose Reinert, (847) 608-5017. For any organizations with special projects or initiatives, please contact Rose Reinert, (847) 608-017.
What is Rotary?
What would it take to change the world? Rotary's 1.2 million members believe it starts with a commitment to "Service Above Self." In more than 34,000 clubs worldwide, you'll find members volunteering in communities at home and abroad to support education and job training, provide clean water, combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, and eradicate polio. For more information visit www.rotary.org.