Events

Prairie View Hobbies is a club/organization dedicated to expanding chess across Illinois by offering club organization, chess instruction, and coordinating both rated and unrated tournaments and events statewide.

Erik is the Owner of Prairie View Hobbies, an organization committed to spreading chess across Illinois through club development, instruction, and statewide tournament organization. He is a certified tournament director with the US Chess Federation (USCF) and holds the designation of Senior Tournament Director (as of October 2022). In addition to running Prairie View Hobbies, Erik joined the national chess organization US Chess in 2025 as an Assistant Director of Events, where he helps plan and execute large scale national chess events.

Host: KeunAe Choe

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Host: Erin Lenart

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Jesse Rodriguez is an Administrator at The Salvation Army Waukegan Corps Community Center, alongside Amanda Rodriguez, where they lead community outreach and services.

Host: Mark Dewart

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that brings volunteers together to help build affordable housing.  This presentation will describe ways to get involved and support this critical work, and outline the ever increasing need for housing.

Joel Williams is the CEO of Lake-McHenry Habitat for Humanity.  He has been with Habitat for about 4-1/2 years and has served in the nonprofit sector for over 20 years.

Host: Art Lewis

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Spearkers:  Kevin Bishop – Board President, Laura Harper – (New) Executive Director, Vickie Marasco - Founder

In 2014, our founder (an artist and Lake County resident) created our organization after witnessing firsthand how art-making could help adolescents in drug and alcohol treatment. Inspiration came while supporting a family member through recovery and participating in family group sessions. She noticed that despite access to specialized services, words alone were not enough to support adolescents in treatment. After approaching a local intensive outpatient program with the idea of leading an art project to assist existing programming, she witnessed something remarkable: during that first session, many teens who had been quiet for months became their most verbal and expressive while making and discussing their art. In that moment of connection, care, and creativity, Art Impact Project was born.

Art Impact Project enhances emotional wellness through creative expression. We believe that art-making is one of the most powerful untapped sources of intervention available, especially at a time when access to mental health care is extremely limited and the need has never been higher.

Our programming is specifically curated for each population we serve, from middle school students to senior citizens. We offer over 100 specifically designed projects with clear objectives such as increasing positive self-awareness, building confidence, and promoting empathy for others.

Host:  John (JJ) Johnson

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

The Lake Forest Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) educates residents on disaster preparedness for potential hazards that could affect our community.

Members receive training in essential skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, and traffic control through a combination of online courses, classroom instruction, and live exercises. With this knowledge, CERT members are prepared to assist neighbors or coworkers during emergencies when professional responders may not be immediately available.

Host: Carl Marcyan

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Beacon Place helps children and families create a future in which they are prepared to achieve and pursue an elevated life by providing the support, guidance, and exposure to life experiences that will allow children and their families to envision a path to a brighter tomorrow.

Beacon Place achieves this by ensuring that children/families join our community and stay in programs that deliver a long continuum of comprehensive support, which compounds the investment of impact over many years through a focus on: growing healthy bodies, discovering strong minds and envisioning bright futures.

Maha, a dedicated advocate for children and families, brings extensive experience in youth advocacy, direct service, and program leadership to Beacon Place. Most recently, she served as Chief Program Officer at the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, overseeing prevention, intervention, and trauma initiatives.  Previously, Worden worked at CASA Kane County, supporting volunteers advocating for children in the foster system. She began her career at Mooseheart Child City and School, mentoring at-risk youth and leading quality improvement efforts.  Maha holds a B.S. from Judson University and a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University. She resides in Batavia, IL, where she enjoys spending time with her family, running, cooking, and tackling DIY projects.

Host: Sunny Lu

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

From a LFC Press Release July 7, 2025:

The Lake Forest College Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Michael “Mike” Sosulski as the College’s 15th president, effective August 11, 2025, following a national search. An Illinois native, Dr. Sosulski most recently served as president of Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, where he led significant advancements in academics, enrollment, and campus life.

An accomplished scholar and experienced administrator, Dr. Sosulski brings to Lake Forest a strong record of leadership in academic affairs, fundraising, and institutional innovation. At Washington College, he oversaw a 120 percent increase in applications, launched a $5 million campus innovation hub, completed a $20 million first-year housing renovation, and led the institution through its 10-year reaccreditation in 2024. He also helped secure $125 million in fundraising in advance of the college’s next capital campaign, including a transformative $15 million gift to create the Warehime School of Global Business, Economics and Social Impact.

Before his presidency, Dr. Sosulski served as Provost and Professor of German at Wofford College, where he led major investments in academic infrastructure, diversity, and governance. He has also held faculty and leadership roles at Kalamazoo College.

Dr. Sosulski expressed deep enthusiasm for joining the Lake Forest College community.

“Growing up in suburban Chicago, I saw Lake Forest as the ideal liberal arts college—personal, rigorous, and full of opportunity. The chance to return home—personally and professionally—felt like a perfect fit,” Dr. Sosulski said. “From the start, I was drawn to this community’s spirit: smart, curious, creative, and deeply caring. That’s a mission I deeply believe in, and I’m honored and excited to be part of it.”

The Board of Trustees unanimously approved Dr. Sosulski’s appointment.

Host: John (JJ) Johnson

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

In 1987, a group of retired Blackhawk players got together to discuss their future in the Chicago community. Their main objective was to "give something back" to Chicago and to the sport of hockey. In that meeting they developed a three-fold mission statement for the non-profit Chicago Blackhawk Alumni Association.

1. To provide a scholarship fund for the "most deserving" high school hockey players in Illinois.
2. To become involved in community affairs and charitable causes.​
3. To protect and take care of their fellow alumni: "Players helping Players."

Host: Kevin Magnuson

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Matt and Tom will explain muncipal bonds, what are they are and why they are of value to local communities

Bernardi Securities, Inc. is a leading municipal bond boutique, specializing in active municipal bond portfolio management and innovative public finance services. Their mission is to specialize in the municipal bond market to deliver superior performance for clients.  They do this by providing:

1. Active municipal bond portfolio management
2. Innovative public finance services
3. Municipal credit analysis

Host: Tighe Magnuson

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

The Lake Forest High School (District 115) Portrait of a Learner is a strategic framework aiming to define essential 21st-century competencies for student success in college, career, and life. Key pillars for students include developing adaptability, citizenship, communication, confidence, critical thinking, and empathy. 

Key Components of the Portrait of a Learner:

• Visionary Goals: The framework serves as a "North Star" for the district, focusing on developing students who are adaptable, communicative, and empathetic leaders.
• Skill Development: The initiative aims to move beyond traditional test scores to foster skills like critical thinking and civic engagement.
• Action Plan: Districts 67 and 115 are collaborating to align this vision with classroom practices, ensuring it is integrated into the educational experience.
• Community Partnership: The process involves input from stakeholders across Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Knollwood to create a shared vision for student growth. 
• This initiative is part of the broader "One LFHS" strategic plan, which emphasizes nurturing character alongside academic excellence.

Host: Erin Lenart

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Host: Paul Lemieux

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Host: Tom Marks

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Dr. Matthew Montgomery is the Superintendent of Lake Forest Community High School District 115 and Lake Forest Elementary School District 67.  Dr. Montgomery will be providing an update on the Lake Forest High School District 115, finances and referendum construction.

Host: Matt Montgomery

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Jennifer M. McGregor is the Executive Director, Lake Forest Preservation Foundation

What began as a grassroots effort to safeguard Lake Forest’s treasured buildings and landscapes has grown into five decades of advocacy, education, restoration, and stewardship for the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation. 
2026 is a milestone year offering an opportunity to honor the preservation impact of the past 50 years while building momentum to sustain the next 50. 
Our presentation will provide an overview of the Foundation’s work in our community while defining future initiatives impacting Lake Forest in the years ahead. 
About LFPF

The Lake Forest Preservation Foundation is dedicated to protecting the architectural and landscape legacy that defines our community’s character. Through education, advocacy, and preservation efforts, we work to ensure Lake Forest’s historic visual identity endures for generations. We believe in fostering awareness, promoting sensitive development, and upholding the integrity and excellence of our built environment.

Jennifer M. McGregor, NCIDQ, LEED AP 

With a career spanning over 30 years, Jennifer McGregor has touched nearly every aspect of the design world. From her roots as a commercial interior designer, she rose through the ranks as a project manager for replacement hospitals for HCA, transitioning to business development, marketing & public relations for global interior design and architectural firms, managing staff in the Americas, Asia & the Middle East. Currently as Executive Director of the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation, Jennifer has leveraged her knowledge in the global architecture and design industry in this next chapter back in her home town.

She has served locally as a member of the Lake Forest Caucus Committee, Trustee for LFHS Foundation, LFHS Wall of Fame, District 67 & 115 APT, Citadel Theatre, Friends of Gorton & the Economic Club of Chicago and on numerous national boards for City of Hope, Melanoma Research Foundation, The Benjamin Marshall Society & Board Chair for the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS.  

As an Everett Elementary, Deerpath Middle and Lake Forest High School alumnus, Jennifer prides herself in her deep roots in the community having spent all but ten years of her life and ultimately raised her three children here in Lake Forest. 

Prior to her role with LFPF, Jennifer earned a Preservation Award for her sensitive renovation of a David Adler stable in the historic Lasker Estate neighborhood. 

Host: Doris Lim

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Cindy Collier is a member of the Lake Forest High School faculty and is the sponsor of the LFHS Interact Club.  Cindy will provide a brief overview of the LFHS Interact Club service activities that have taken place this year.

Seperately, some of the students that the Rotary Club sponsored to attend the RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) program will share their experiences.

Host:  John (JJ) Johnson filling in for Phil Ehrhardt & Carol Buss

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Have you taken the right steps to protect your wealth and ensure it reaches the people who matter most? Attorney and CPA Robert Holland of Kelleher + Holland, LLC will walk through essential planning documents every family should have in place, along with advanced techniques for reducing estate and gift taxes, shielding assets from creditors, and transferring wealth to future generations as efficiently as possible. Information on the speaker’s organization (if

Kelleher + Holland, LLC is a full-service law firm headquartered in North Barrington, Illinois, with additional offices in Crystal Lake, Waukegan, Spring Grove, and Hinsdale, IL, as well as Naples, Florida. With over 80 team members, and attorneys licensed across 19 states, the firm serves clients nationwide in estate planning, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, tax and asset protection, commercial and residential real estate, litigation, personal injury, family law, elder law, and more. Recognized as a "Best Place to Work" and featured in numerous legal industry honors, the firm's guiding philosophy is: Comprehensive Capabilities + Tailored Solutions = Peace of Mind.

Robert (Bob) Holland is the co-founder of Kelleher + Holland, LLC. As both an attorney and a certified public accountant, Bob brings a distinctive blend of legal and financial knowledge to his practice, which concentrates on estate planning, estate and trust administration, tax and asset protection, corporate transactional work, business planning, and commercial real estate. He is admitted to the bar in California, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Tennessee. Bob has been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyers Honoree, an Illinois Leading Lawyer, and a Lawyer of Distinction, and regularly presents webinars and seminars on advanced estate planning techniques.

Host: Michael Morrison

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Phil LaScala is the head instructor for the Lake Forest High School Business Incubator Program

What is the Business Incubator? 

​The LFHS Foundation partnered with Lake Forest High School to create the Business Incubator in Fall 2014. This Junior level Honors course in the Business Department offers students a unique opportunity to become true entrepreneurs by creating and developing their own product or service. Students are coached and mentored by real entrepreneurs and business experts from our community and beyond. During the year-long course, student teams learn about ideation, marketing, accounting, human resources, as well as the legal and financial aspects of running a business. Principles and processes from the LEAN concept - a scientific approach to creating and managing startups - guide students as they test their thinking and vision. To further inspire creativity, a customized classroom has been designed to ignite brainstorming and foster collaboration as students develop products and services for the real world. The course culminates in Pitch Night, a “Shark-Tank” style presentation where student teams present their innovative ideas to a Board of Directors for the chance to earn funding for their businesses. Part of this process also includes the student teams working to create promotional materials, press releases, and to solicit potential investors to attend Pitch Night.

Teams that are funded during Pitch Night then have the option to continue on with the process of starting up their business during the second year program, the Business Accelerator – a Senior level honors business class.

Host: Mike Obiala

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Dave Johnston, a former Double World Champion, who has over 40 years of playing and teaching experience, manages Chicalba Bagpiping. Mr. Johnston began his musical career in Glasgow, Scotland, before transferring his expertise to Chicago in 2005. His bagpiping business provides professional musicians for both event performing as well as teaching.

Dave will discuss the bagpipe and perform.

Host: Tom Marks

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

The Lake Forest High School Business Incubator Team of Mia Morse, Kayla Lim, Raunak Wadhera, and Jackson Gustie will present their "Less Laundry" business plan.

Host: Kevin Looby

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Perry will present facts about Antarctica, the history of the South Pole Navy Station and the work and living conditions during the his 13 month tour of duty as the Officer in Charge.

Perry was a Naval officer in the Civil Engineer Corps.  He was commissioned in 1966 and retired in 1987.  After retiring from the Navy, he worked in Highland Park until 2005, serving in Public Works and for the last five years as their City Engineer.

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Host: Jeff Soprani

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Host: Bill Summers

• Breakfast and socializing
• Welcome: Pledge of Allegiance, Rotary's principles, reflections/blessing, announcements
• Sharing of joys with 'Happy Dollars' which help fund club activities
• Focus on a Member's career or life story
• Speaker on a topic of the week

Reading Power envisions a world where all children have a strong literacy foundation to support lifelong learning.  Their mission is to accelerate children’s literacy learning and to develop their love for reading and writing.

They do this by providing individualized, high-dosage, one-to-one tutoring in person during the school day for children in preschool through second grade and by partnering with schools needing supplemental literacy support, where needs exceed resources.

Beth Zender, MEd, is the Community Engagement and Volunteer Manager for Reading Power.

Host:  John (JJ) Johnson  (Thank you to Ann Trandai for providing her Program time for this update from Reading Power.)