Batavia Illinois Rotary Club

Batavia Illinois Rotary Club We, the members of the Batavia Rotary Club, are united in pursuit of the betterment of our community and our world for current and future generations.

THE WAIT IS OVER — TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE!The 38th Annual Batavia Rotary Charity Raffle is officially underway, and wit...
09/01/2026

THE WAIT IS OVER — TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE!

The 38th Annual Batavia Rotary Charity Raffle is officially underway, and with only 1,200 tickets available, you don't want to wait too long to get yours.

One $100 ticket gives you multiple chances to win:

🐦 September 22 — $1,000 Early Bird Drawing
And yes—the winner stays in the Grand Prize Drawing!

🐦 October 21 — $2,000 Early Bird Drawing
That winner stays in, too!

🏆 November 21 — $50,000 GRAND PRIZE
Plus three $1,000 Runner-Up prizes.

And every ticket does more than give you a chance to win.

Proceeds from the raffle help the Rotary Club of Batavia support local nonprofits addressing mental health, food insecurity, housing and other critical community needs—as well as scholarships for students pursuing Career and Technical Education.

Your ticket could change your life. Your support helps change lives in our community.

· Tickets: $100 each
· Only 1,200 will be sold
· Purchase yours at BataviaRotaryCharities.com

A special thank you to Gerald Hyundai of North Aurora for partnering with us again this year.Get your ticket. Take your chance. Make an impact.

Stories of Impact: When Your Gifts Become ServiceWhat happens when the work you’re good at becomes a way to change someo...
08/25/2026

Stories of Impact: When Your Gifts Become Service

What happens when the work you’re good at becomes a way to change someone else’s life?

Last week, the Rotary Club of Batavia welcomed Dr. Tracy Williams, whose remarkable career as a low-vision specialist has included more than 40,000 patient visits, work with thousands of students, and decades of service helping people with vision loss discover what is still possible.

His career has also taken him places his younger self could hardly have imagined—including serving as an eye doctor for the Chicago White Sox and Bulls. But perhaps the most powerful part of his message had little to do with professional accomplishments.

“Everybody has a gift.”

For Dr. Williams, the real impact comes from using those gifts to help others. His philosophy is simple: people should never be defined by vision loss. With the right tools, technology, coaching, and encouragement, possibilities can reopen.

Rotary is built on that same idea—that our talents, professions, connections, and experiences can become instruments of service.

Dr. Williams also shared that Rotary runs deep in his family. His father was a devoted Rotarian and district governor who traveled to Africa to help distribute polio vaccines—another reminder of what can happen when people decide to put service into action.

Thank you, Dr. Williams, for sharing your story and reminding us that impact often begins by asking how the gifts we already have might serve someone else.

History came alive at this week's Rotary Club of Batavia meeting!Our members enjoyed an engaging presentation by Paul Ne...
07/10/2026

History came alive at this week's Rotary Club of Batavia meeting!

Our members enjoyed an engaging presentation by Paul Nelson, portraying Major Joseph Bowman of the Illinois Regiment, as he shared the remarkable story of George Rogers Clark's 1778–1779 Illinois Campaign.

Through firsthand storytelling and historical reenactment, we learned how a determined group of just 150 soldiers captured key British outposts in the Northwest Territory, helping shape the future boundaries of the United States during the American Revolution.

One of the best parts of Rotary is that every week brings a chance to learn something new while connecting with neighbors who share a passion for service and community. Thank you to our program chair Teri Dykhuis for bringing us such great speakers week after week!

A heartfelt thank you to Paul for an outstanding presentation and for bringing this fascinating chapter of American history to life!

A little paint. A little laughter. A lasting piece of Batavia.Members of the Rotary Club of Batavia recently had the opp...
07/09/2026

A little paint. A little laughter. A lasting piece of Batavia.

Members of the Rotary Club of Batavia recently had the opportunity to roll up our sleeves and participate in the Batavia Park District ’s community mural painting project — a collaborative art installation that will become part of the new mural near the “Peace on Earth” pedestrian bridge.

The best part? No artistic experience required. Just a willingness to show up, connect, and add your small piece to something much bigger. In many ways, this project represents what Rotary is all about — individuals coming together, each contributing their part, and creating something beautiful that none of us could create alone.

Thank you to the Batavia Park District for inviting community organizations to be part of this lasting visual landmark. We can’t wait to see all these individual panels come together!

Please join us in welcoming Mark Lucas as President of the Rotary Club of Batavia for the 2026-27 Rotary year! Mark's Ro...
07/07/2026

Please join us in welcoming Mark Lucas as President of the Rotary Club of Batavia for the 2026-27 Rotary year!

Mark's Rotary journey is a great example of what our club is all about — he joined four and a half years ago, chaired the Environment Committee, and turned his idea for pollinator gardens into a project that's grown to roughly 26 gardens across Batavia, each proudly wearing Rotary signage.

This year, Mark's theme centers on five ideas: Relationships, Opportunities, Resources, Collaboration, and Impact. He's planning monthly evening gatherings to welcome new faces, a "Rotarians in Action" storytelling push, an improved car raffle, the return of PolioPlus Trivia Night, and fresh conversations about how Batavia Rotary can partner with other local nonprofits.

In his words: "We are an exceptionally talented club. We have intelligence, creativity, generosity, and an unwavering commitment to Service Above Self."
Congratulations, Mark — looking forward to a remarkable year!

Congratulations to our 2025-26 award winners!Please join us in celebrating Greg Pierce, our Rotarian of the Year! In jus...
07/06/2026

Congratulations to our 2025-26 award winners!

Please join us in celebrating Greg Pierce, our Rotarian of the Year! In just 14 months as a member, Greg has made an incredible impact — leading a highly successful Polio Plus Trivia Night, stepping up as our Environmental Chair, volunteering for the Northern Illinois Food Drive, Food Pantry Drive, and Roadside Clean-Up, and even committing to serve as our Club President for 2027-28! Greg's energy and "Service Above Self" mindset embody everything Rotary stands for.

And congratulations to Teri Dykhuis, our Spirit of Batavia Award winner! Teri is the heart of our club — always the first to volunteer, a visionary who's constantly proposing new ways for us to serve, and our dedicated liaison to Mercy Housing, where residents know her by name. Her contagious smile, positive spirit, and genuine care for everyone around her make her a true embodiment of "Service Above Self."

Thank you both for everything you do for our club and our community. We're lucky to have you!

What a year! Please join us in thanking our incredible Board and Committee Chairs for their outstanding service to our R...
07/06/2026

What a year!

Please join us in thanking our incredible Board and Committee Chairs for their outstanding service to our Rotary Club this past year. Your leadership, dedication, and countless hours behind the scenes made this one of our best years yet — from the projects we tackled to the lives we touched in our community and beyond. Rotary runs on volunteers like you, and we couldn't be prouder to serve alongside you. Thank you for everything you poured into this club!

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to our weekly engagement list! 🎉Sonya Coleman Johnson, Mary Hodson
06/20/2026

Thanks for being a top engager and making it on to our weekly engagement list! 🎉

Sonya Coleman Johnson, Mary Hodson

Please join us in welcoming Sandy Kaczmarski back to Rotary as our newest member of the Rotary Club of Batavia!Sandy was...
06/18/2026

Please join us in welcoming Sandy Kaczmarski back to Rotary as our newest member of the Rotary Club of Batavia!

Sandy was officially inducted at Tuesday's meeting, and we couldn't be happier to have her as a member of our club. An Elburn resident for more than 20 years, Sandy has built a career in communications and conservation — most recently with the Prairie State Conservation Coalition, supporting land trusts across Illinois. Education and the environment are close to her heart, and she brings real Rotary experience with her, having previously served as president of the Geneva club.

Fun fact she shared: her dad was a magician and her mom sang on the radio — so you know she comes by storytelling honestly!

Welcome back to Rotary, Sandy. We're so glad you're here.

Summer kicked off with a whole lot of fun (and a whole lot of foam) at the Rock the Block party at Mercy Housing, Batavi...
06/08/2026

Summer kicked off with a whole lot of fun (and a whole lot of foam) at the Rock the Block party at Mercy Housing, Batavia Apartments!

What made the day so special was watching our community show up together. The Rotary Club of Batavia was proud to hand out fresh produce, share smiles, and watch kids disappear into a mountain of foam — but we were just one of many.

· The Batavia Woman's Club served up a wonderful lunch
· The Batavia Lions Club provided free kids' vision screenings
· Support Over Stigma and Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources were among the many local nonprofits and agencies on hand to share support and connect neighbors with resources

This is what community looks like — organizations coming together so families can have fun, find support, and feel welcomed. Thank you to every group, volunteer, and neighbor who made it happen. Here's to a great summer ahead!

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Batavia, IL
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