Effingham Illinois Sunrise Rotary

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Effingham, IL
Effingham Illinois Sunrise Rotary

Where community leaders meet at sunrise
to serve, connect, and make a difference. Join us every Tuesday at 7 AM at the
First Baptist Church in Effingham.

Effingham Sunrise Rotary Club
PO Box 1152
Effingham, IL 62401

The club meets Tuesdays at 7 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, 213 W. Fayette Avenue, Effingham, IL 62401

08/27/2026

40 years of advocacy, education and support! 💙

We recently heard from Melissa Kelly and Regina McKinney with SAFE, which is celebrating 40 years of serving communities throughout our region.

Today, SAFE serves 11 counties with five offices, 16 employees and a 24-hour hotline, providing advocacy, counseling for ages 3+ and prevention education. They also work with colleges throughout their service area and provide professional training for businesses.

Thank you, Melissa and Regina, for sharing more about SAFE’s history and the important work your team continues to do in our communities!

Pictured Below: Patty Hood, Program Chair; Melissa Kelly; Regina McKinney; Bill Totten, Sunrise Rotary President

08/22/2026

Sunrise Rotary President Bill Totten made a special contribution to The Rotary Foundation in honor of his wife, Nancy, officially making her a Paul Harris Fellow!

What a meaningful way to recognize someone special while supporting the work of Rotary around the world. Congratulations, Nancy—and way to go, Bill!

Pictured below: Bill Totten, Sunrise Rotary President; Nancy Totten; Ryan Wyckoff, Sunrise Rotary Past-President

08/21/2026

We loved hearing from owner Mary Dust about how a passion for growing flowers with her mom has blossomed into a family business—now including her daughter, Emily!

Located on their working Centennial Farm, The Flower Patch grows 95% of its annuals and 75% of its perennials and offers everything from hanging baskets and custom planters to classes, parties, tours and more.

Mary also shared about their special partnership with Community Support Systems, in honor of her sister, Sara. ❤️

Thanks, Mary, for sharing your story and your passion for growing beautiful things in our community!

Pictured Below: Josh Mathis, Program Chair; Mary Dust; Bill Totten, Sunrise Rotary President

08/20/2026

Congratulations to Michael Wall and Jay Wallace, this year’s recipients of our Service Above Self Award!

Michael and Jay continually demonstrate what Rotary is all about — giving their time, stepping up when needed, and putting service to others at the forefront.

We’re grateful for the difference they make within our club and throughout our community, and proud to recognize them for living out the values of Rotary.

Congratulations, Michael and Jay, on this well-deserved honor!

08/19/2026

Congratulations to Mel Stock and Gary Rodgers, recipients of this year’s Community Service Award!

Rotary is all about making a difference, and Mel and Gary continue to show what it means to serve others and give back to the community we call home.

Their dedication, generosity, and willingness to step up are wonderful examples of Service Above Self — and exactly what this award represents.

Congratulations, Mel and Gary, and thank you for all you do for our community!

08/18/2026

Congratulations to Josh Mathis and Jeanine Heuerman, this year’s recipients of our Club Service Award!

A strong Rotary club doesn’t happen without members who are willing to jump in, lend a hand, and help make things happen — and Josh and Jeanine do just that.

08/15/2026

Congratulations to our Rotarian of the Year — Alan Davis!

Each year, Effingham Sunrise Rotary recognizes a member who truly represents what it means to put Service Above Self — and this year, that honor goes to Alan Davis!

Alan’s commitment to Rotary, willingness to step up, and dedication to serving others make him incredibly deserving of this recognition.

We’re lucky to have Alan as part of our Sunrise Rotary family and grateful for all he does for our club and our community.

Please join us in congratulating Alan Davis, our 2026 Rotarian of the Year! 👏

08/14/2026

We recently heard from Britt Odemba, who has served as an LCMS missionary in Kenya since 2013. What began as work as an educational consultant has grown into an incredible mission supporting children and their education across East Africa.

Today, Britt works with Project 24/Christ’s Care for Children: Kenya, which includes nine boarding facilities and serves nearly 650 elementary, secondary and university students — with 352 individually sponsored! The program has even expanded into Tanzania, where a children’s home serves children with albinism.

It was incredible to hear how this mission has grown over the years and the difference it continues to make for hundreds of children.

Thank you, Britt, for sharing your story and your work with us! 🌍❤️

Pictured Below: Kevin Miller, Program Chair; Britt Odemba; Bill Totten, Sunrise Rotary President

08/13/2026

Celebrating Service Above Self!

Effingham Sunrise Rotary was proud to recognize several members with Paul Harris Fellow awards, honoring their continued commitment to the mission and work of Rotary.

Congratulations to:

Bill Totten — Paul Harris Fellow +3
Deb West — Paul Harris Fellow
Mel Stock — Paul Harris Fellow, given in honor of Justin Stock
Josh Mathis — Paul Harris Fellow +1
Adam Butts — Paul Harris Fellow +6
Katie Koester — Paul Harris Fellow +1 (not pictured)

These recognitions represent more than an award — they reflect a commitment to making a difference through Rotary, both in our own community and around the world.

Congratulations to each of our honorees, and thank you for continuing to put Service Above Self into action!

08/12/2026

Now THIS is commitment! 👏

We recently recognized our Effingham Sunrise Rotarians who achieved Perfect Attendance this year — with streaks ranging from 1 year all the way to an incredible 24 years!

24 years: Brian Sehy*
23 years: Jim Hecht
13 years: Becky Brown & Michael Wall
10 years: Alan Davis
9 years: Gary Rodgers
7 years: Jeanine Heuerman, Josh Mathis & Katie Koester*
6 years: Bill Totten & Becky McGee*
4 years: Jay Wallace
3 years: Jeff Mihlbacher
1 year: Ryan Wycoff

That’s a lot of early mornings and an even bigger commitment to Rotary and Service Above Self. Congratulations to all of our Perfect Attendance recipients!

*Not pictured

Address

Effingham, IL
62401

Website

http://www.effinghamsunriserotary.org/

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