The Rotary Club of Peoria-North brings fun to the spirit of giving.
A person’s image of what they thought Rotary was is shattered upon participating for the first time in Rotary Club of Peoria-North. It’s a large group of individuals of varying ages, including both men and women. At the meetings, you hear a lot of laughter and boisterous conversation and even friendly jibing. While the group has the traditional lunch meeting with an interesting speaker, it’s also extremely active with service projects in the surrounding communities and hosts numerous social gatherings. In fact, the tagline for Peoria-North Rotary is: “Our spirit of giving: having fun while helping others.”
The group is well known for impactful, “hands-on” involvement in the community through service projects and charitable giving, with a focus on literacy, education and community projects. Being a “reading buddy” in area schools, volunteering at local events, helping to clean and re-sod a park in Washington that was damaged by the tornado, and collecting more than 15,000 cans for food pantries are just a few examples from last year alone. About $30,000 in annual financial contributions help support numerous local organizations, while $17,000 in scholarship opportunities are provided to local students each year.
While the club is very active locally and regionally, it can also lend a hand to people around the world through its global network of 32,000 clubs. International projects include programs to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, foster economic and community development, and eradicate polio. Each year, the club collectively contributes about $20,000 to international projects.
Peoria-North Rotary is also committed to continually engaging youth and encouraging opportunities for youth service in our community. It does this by supporting the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, which brings together high school students throughout central Illinois for a weekend of leadership training and encouragement. It also supports the college and high school versions of Rotary—called Rotaract at colleges and Interact in the high schools—at Bradley University and Richwoods and Dunlap high schools.
With 175 engaged members, the Rotary Club of Peoria-North meets at Barrack’s Cater Inn on Pioneer Parkway every Thursday at 11:45am for an interesting lunch program. An active social committee plans business “after hours” events and other gatherings that allow members to not only network with each other, but have fun together. The only serious part of the Rotary Club of Peoria-North—which is very serious—is its dedication to “service above self,” exemplified through active service to the community and financial support for charities and education both locally and around the world. iBi
For more information on how to become a member, call (309) 683-3230, visit peorianorthrotary.org or find them on Facebook.
