Decatur Rotary Club #180

🌎 Rotary Connects the World! 🌎

Today, the Decatur Rotary Club #180 was honored to welcome the Rotary Group Study Exchange (GSE) Team from India! 🇮🇳🇺🇸

What a wonderful opportunity to learn about different cultures, share experiences, and celebrate the international friendships that make Rotary so special.

Our guests also had the opportunity to experience our community through visits with several of our community partners, highlighting the relationships and opportunities that make Decatur such a special place.

Thank you to our visiting Rotarians for sharing your stories and reminding us that Rotary’s impact reaches far beyond our local communities.

Service Above Self — Around the World! 🌍

Please consider applying!

Rotary #180 Community Grant Applications Are Open 10/1-11/30!

Decatur Rotary Club #180 is proud to support organizations and projects making a positive difference throughout our community.

Local nonprofits, schools, and community organizations are encouraged to apply for funding to help bring meaningful projects and initiatives to life.

We’re looking for opportunities that:

• Address an identified community need
• Strengthen our community
• Support education and youth
• Build partnerships and collaboration
• Create meaningful, lasting impact

Have a project that could benefit from Rotary support? We want to hear from you!

Apply today:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/NetworkSolutionsUnlimited/Rotary180GrantApplication

Service Above Self. People of Action.

🎉 Celebrating Education, Leadership & Service Above Self! 🌟

The Rotary Club of Decatur #180 proudly recognized our October 2026 Teachers and Student Leaders of the Month!

🍎 County Teacher of the Month
Jane Turner – Sangamon Valley Primary
Celebrating 26 years of dedication to education!

📚 DPS 61 Teacher of the Month
Michelle Brown – Hope Academy
Inspiring and advocating for students every day!

🎓 DPS 61 Student Leaders of the Month

⭐ Kaylee Sommer – Eisenhower High School
Outstanding student musician and leader with 85+ community service hours!

⭐ Alex Stinnet – Eisenhower High School
Positive role model involved in cheerleading and drama, with 40+ community service hours!

💙💛 A Special Rotary Thank You!

We were honored to welcome Rotary District 6490 Governor Deb West to today’s meeting! Thank you for your visit, leadership, and commitment to Rotary.

👏 A special congratulations to Rotarian Bruce Nims, who was recognized with the Rotary Foundation Major Donor Award! This recognition celebrates Bruce’s generosity and commitment to supporting Rotary’s mission and making a lasting difference.

Congratulations to all our honorees for demonstrating what Service Above Self is all about!

Thank you so much to our presenter this week, Assistant ECD Director at the City of Decatur, Miranda Lambert! Miranda shared details about the City’s upcoming comprehensive planning initiative. The first step is a survey which residents can take now, followed by a visioning session next Tuesday from 4 - 7 PM at the Decatur Public Library.

Help plan Decatur's future.

Help us with our Comprehensive Plan for the future of Decatur!

Please consider attending the Community Visioning Session on Tuesday, October 20, between 4:00 and 7:00 p.m. at the Decatur Public Library Madden Auditorium, 130 N Franklin Street. We want to hear from you so that we all experience a better future!

- What is/isn't working well?
- What kinds of things do we need in town?
- What is hard to do that should be easier?
- What should Decatur look like in 10 years?

Visit https://re-envisiondecatur.participate.app/info to learn more about this event and the comprehensive planning process.

Great to have Sanitary District of Decatur, IL present at Mondays meeting.

Decatur, IL is the 550th largest city in the United States, but with our expansive grain processing industry, we require the 50th largest wastewater treatment facility. Our Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director Kent Newton, CPFO, presented at the Rotary Club of Decatur's weekly luncheon today, giving members an understanding of what we do, and why we do it.

Roadside cleanup on this beautiful day on West Pershing Road.

Rotary #180 Community Grant Applications Are Open 10/1-11/30!

Decatur Rotary Club #180 is proud to support organizations and projects making a positive difference throughout our community.

Local nonprofits, schools, and community organizations are encouraged to apply for funding to help bring meaningful projects and initiatives to life.

We’re looking for opportunities that:

• Address an identified community need
• Strengthen our community
• Support education and youth
• Build partnerships and collaboration
• Create meaningful, lasting impact

Have a project that could benefit from Rotary support? We want to hear from you!

Apply today:
https://www.cognitoforms.com/NetworkSolutionsUnlimited/Rotary180GrantApplication

Service Above Self. People of Action.

💙 Service Above Self in Action!

Decatur Rotary Club #180 is proud to support the NowDecatur.com WSOY Community Food Drive with a $1,000 donation to help fight hunger right here in our community. Thank you Brian Beyers for being our speaker today.

For Rotarians, service means showing up and investing in the organizations and efforts making a difference for our neighbors. We’re grateful to be part of a community that comes together to make sure local families have the food and resources they need.

🎉 Rotary + a little friendly competition!

We had a great time at today’s Rotary meeting playing Minute to Win It games as part of our Membership Drive! Lots of laughs, competition, and a great reminder that Rotary is about connection, service, and having fun along the way.

Interested in being part of Rotary? Message us—we’d love to have you join us! 💙💛

Next meeting Monday 9/14!