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July Speakers for The New Normal Series

Join us for our club meetings in July to learn more about The New Normal.

The Rotary Club of Springfield continues to host “The New Normal” virtual program series as part of their weekly club meetings on Monday nights in July. This series of free, virtual meetings is open to the public and features a stellar lineup of experts who will discuss “The New Normal.” The series will envision the post pandemic world from the perspectives of leaders representing various segments of our economy and society including international government relations, technology, and investment markets. All program sessions will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. Advance registration for each virtual session is required for nonmembers. The links for the registration forms are provided below for each speaker. Click on "Read More" below to listen to recordings of the June programs for “The New Normal” series on the Illinois economy, health care delivery, agriculture, and higher education. Please join us from the comfort of your own home to contemplate the future.

Here is the schedule for the July speakers:

Monday, July 13:

Kathy A. Johnson, Senior Foreign Service (ret.): What Will be the New Normal for The United States and the International Community?

In the best of times international relations are dynamic and evolving. How will the U.S. and other countries react to the challenges they will face as we enter a period of adjustment in the post Covid-19 months and years? Ms. Johnson will use the broad experience she gained as a long-time U.S. diplomat to provide us with insights as to how our country and others might see the future of international relations.

Kathy A. Johnson is a 31-year career member of the Senior Foreign Service (ret.). She was the Director of the United States Diplomacy Center (2014-2017), the first museum and education center in the United States dedicated to telling the story of American diplomacy. She led the Center team from ground-breaking to opening of this award-winning new museum, including the design and launch of an innovative nation-wide education program on diplomacy.

As Management Counselor, Ms. Johnson managed operations for U.S. Mission Australia (2011-2014), which includes the U.S. Embassy and three Consulates General. She served as Diplomat in Residence in Chicago (2010-2011) and as Foreign Policy Advisor to the Commanding General of USTRANSCOM (2007-2010). In the latter role, she advised the Commander and worked with U.S. embassies in Europe and Central Asia to successfully negotiate air, land, and sea transit agreements. This work enabled the U.S. Department of Defense to bring supplies to our troops in Afghanistan via intermodal routes saving U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars in transportation fees.

Ms. Johnson was selected for a prestigious corporate fellowship to serve as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the Exxon Chad Pipeline Project in Houston, Texas. She led team-building and organizational development for team members from seven multinational corporations and advised on interactions with host governments, tribes, and villagers. Her other overseas assignments with the Department of State included Syria, Mexico, Austria, and Poland, as well as assignments in Washington, D.C.

Ms. Johnson is currently working as an independent consultant and the CEO of the Veterans Memorial Foundation. Ms. Johnson is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Aurora College, with a B.A. degree in History, a M.A. degree in National Security Strategy from the Air War College, and an M.B.A. from Texas A&M University.

July 13: Session #5: Kathy A. Johnson

Click here to register.

Monday, July 20:

Bruce Sommer, UIS Director of Economic Development and Innovation: The Role of Technology in the New Normal

Bruce Sommer joined the UIS Department of Management in the College of Business and Management as an executive-in-residence in Spring 2012. In 2018, he was appointed as the Director of Economic Development and Innovation. He is currently working to expand the economic impact of UIS and drive business and social incubation in Springfield and in the greater state of Illinois.

Bruce teaches graduate courses in Entrepreneurship and Family Business Management. He has been teaching a variety of graduate courses in Entrepreneurship, Private Equity/Venture Capital and Quantitative Methods over the past 10 years at the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics. His research, published in academic journals and popular press, primarily focuses on emerging business start-ups and early-stage venture investing. He began his research career in 2001 at the Center for Venture Research, the nation’s leader in business angel research, and he continues to advise various state and local economic development organizations.

Bruce has founded three of his own businesses and has been a founding advisor to a multitude of others. He sits on boards of both mature and early-stage companies. He is co-founder and managing director of NextGen Ventures, an investment firm focused on IT, green-tech, energy, and agriculture and leads business angel groups in the Midwest and East Coast. Bruce is also founder of the Kindle Fund, a socially responsible investment fund that promotes social community development through investments in dynamic social entrepreneurs.

July 20: Session #6: Bruce Sommer

Click here to register.

Monday, July 27:

Joe Cella, Regional Vice President for American Funds: Investing in a Post-Pandemic Environment

The onset of the Covid-19 virus has had many economic impacts. The investment markets have reacted with volatility in almost all sectors. Mr. Cella will speak to the how the market has reacted in recent weeks. He will discuss the market in terms of sectors, which may experience continuing discord and difficulty and those that may present opportunities. He will also touch on several factors, which could have outcomes that are difficult to predict and which could influence the markets to react in different ways.

Joe Cella is a Regional Vice President at American Funds, part of Capital Group, covering Illinois, Missouri and Iowa. He has eight years of industry experience and has been with Capital Group for four years. Prior to joining Capital, Joe worked as a wholesaler at ALPS Portfolio Solutions. He holds a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Colorado. He also holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst® certification. Joe is based in St Louis, Mo.

July 27: Session #7: Joe Cella

Click here to register.

Foundation Awards 2020 Grants to Local Non-profits

The Springfield Rotary Foundation awards grants to nonprofits for projects that combat hunger, promote literacy, and otherwise serve our communities each year. We reaffirmed needs related to hunger and literacy as high priorities for our communities during our club’s most recent visioning process and in ensuing years. Our Club’s fund raising efforts through the Flag Service Program, Citrus Sales, and John Montgomery Memorial Fishing Tournament raised $35,300 during the 2019-2020 Rotary year. These funds allowed us to award $27,759 in grants at the end of May to help support 14 high-impact projects. Ten of the projects help combat hunger, which is extremely important given food insecurity during the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, our grant to the Central Illinois Foodbank will help support the purchase of 12,000 pounds of nutritious dairy projects including milk (image above) for distribution to central Illinois counties. Four grants will promote literacy in our community. Our grant to Ridgely Elementary School will support the development of an at-home resource kit (image above) for every student at the school. The need for these at-home resources was reinforced during the pandemic when students had to shelter at home.

The monies we raised also allow us to set aside support for annual funding commitments for:

Scholarships for LLCC and UIS students (partially paid for from brag-a-bucks),
International service projects,
Land of Lincoln Honor Flights, and
Reserve funds to provide match for Rotary District grants.

The majority of our funds support local organizations that work every day to help people in our community in numerous ways. Our grants are especially important this year given the hardships associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. When we are able to meet in person, we will invite the grant recipients to be our guests for dinner at a club meeting so we can thank these organizations for their work in the community and celebrate their grant projects. Click on "Read More" to see the descriptions for all these wonderful projects.

Flags Installed Early to Honor the Military and Essential Employees

Perhaps you have noticed increased numbers of American flags flying in front of homes and businesses in the Springfield area. Since 2016, the Rotary Club of Springfield has been installing flags for patriotic holidays and days of remembrance. This Flag Service project honors those who serve or have served in the military.

Rotary’s motto is Service Above Self and the Rotary Club of Springfield accelerated the deployment of flags this year to also honor all the people working very hard to care for our health and well-being during the Covid-19 pandemic. From nurses, doctors and everyone that supports the medical profession including first responders to stock personnel, cashiers and all the others that work in stores that supply our basic needs to truck drivers, people operating truck and fuel stops and mechanics that keep the trucks operating to people working in restaurants so we have a choice of what we eat while sheltering in place, all these people are heroes and are living Rotary’s motto every day putting their service first.

To show these heroes that we truly appreciate the sacrifices they are making, all 2019 and new 2020 Rotary Flag Service customers received the flag and light for this year starting May 11. We had permission from city officials and followed social distancing and other safety precautions to safely install the flags. Flags will be in place for Memorial Day, Flag Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Patriot's Day (September 11).

We thank our over 400 customers for helping make our city red, white, and blue. If you are interested in participating this year or in the future, for $60, the Rotary Club of Springfield will place a 3 foot x 5 foot American flag on your property along with a solar light for the patriotic holidays.To sign up, visit www.rotaryflagservice.com. Proceeds from the Flag Service project support Honor Flights and grants to nonprofit organizations that combat hunger, increase literacy, and accomplish other worthwhile projects in our communities.

Rotary Scholarships Benefit Local College Students

Time for College Students to Apply for Rotary Scholarships!

We created a new poster to promote Rotary scholarship opportunities for the 2020-2021 academic year. Download a copy from the Download Files section of our website Home Page and share it with interested college students. It provides information on Rotary scholarship requirements and how to apply. It also celebrates four Springfield students who received scholarships for the 2019-2020 academic year. Our Club's John Giavaras Scholarship for a Lincoln Land Community College student provided support for Dayton Emery (image on left above). He is pursuing a two-year Associates degree and then plans to transfer to another college or university to pursue a Bachelor's degree in cinematography. Our Club's Francis W. Wenzel Scholarship for a University of Illinois student was awarded to Divinity Rhodes (not pictured). She is a sophomore and is pursuing a degree in biology with a pre-med concentration. She plans to attend medical school and become a surgeon to achieve her long-term goal to help other people.

Seven students from west-central Illinois received Rotary District 6460 scholarships for the 2019-2021 school year, including Elizabeth Gilmore of Springfield (image in center above). She is an elementary education major at Illinois State University. The scholarship helps advance her goal to become an elementary education teacher who makes a positive impact on student lives. Elizabeth is the daughter of Ken Gilmore, the Principal of our adopted school (Ridgely Elementary). Applications for District 6460 Scholarships are due on May 31, and applicants are encouraged to speak with a local Rotary Club. Check out the poster form more information.

Rotary District 6460 awarded a prestigious William J. Menghini International Ambassadorial Scholarship to Nicole Knoles of Springfield (image on right above, second from right). She graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 2018. She applied for the scholarship in 2019 so she could pursue World Heritage Studies at Brandenburg University of Technology in Brandenburg, Germany. Members of the Rotary Club of Springfield and District 6460 interviewed her at the Rotary International meeting in Germany and nominated her for the award. With support from the scholarship, she is pursuing a dual degree program in World Heritage Studies at Brandenburg University and Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. The International Master's Degree Program in World Heritage Studies is the first to design its curriculum around the UNESCO Convention Concerning the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage.