Events

Jeffrey P. O'Kelley is a partner at Lesser Lutrey Pasquesi & Howe, LLP specializing in estate and trust litigation. He is also the lead chair of the Lake County Bar Association Trusts and Estates Committee, a role he has served in for several years. Mr. O'Kelley specializes in estate and trust disputes such as will and trust contests, claims for financial exploitation of the elderly and disabled, will and trust construction cases, complex fiduciary litigation and contested guardianship proceedings. In addition, Mr. O'Kelley has extensive appellate litigation experience, including the published decisions of In re Estate of Walsh (2012 IL App (2d) 110938) and In re Estate of LaPlume (2014 IL App (2d) 130945). Mr. O'Kelley also practices in the fields of estate planning and commercial litigation, as well as estate and trust administration. He has lectured at Loyola University School of Law, and he has written for the Illinois Bar Journal, the Illinois State Bar Association Trusts & Estates Newsletter, and the Lake County Bar Association Docket. He is an active member of both the Illinois State Bar Association and the Lake County Bar Association. Mr. O'Kelley graduated with honors from the Chicago-Kent College of Law, and he has been licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois since 2009.

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

Mark Pickett, Rotary Club Communications Chair will explain the use of ClubRunner and how to use it to engage with our Club and fellow Rotarians.

Host:  Mark Pickett

• 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

Steve will be presenting on the career pathways at LFHS, their current state, plans, and future needs.

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

WASH Rotary Action Group supports and ensures sustainable long-lasting clean water, sanitation, and hygiene programs to communities in need.

Marianna is a member of the Lincolnshire Morning Star Rotary Club, Member of the WASH-RAG Operations Team Subcommittee and Rotary District 6440 WASH Ambassator.

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

Traditionally, American Higher Education has enjoyed the relative luxury of being immune to the consequences of public opinion.  In the past, the American public believed in the basic worth of a college degree, in the research contributions of college intellectuals, and the value of a traditional college experience to prepare its young people for our economy, to contribute to our communities, and to act responsibly in a civil/democratic society.  Recent data and evidence show that public confidence in higher education is changing.  According to recent polls such as one done by New America, less than half of Americans believe that colleges are having a positive effect on the country.  In this talk, I will discuss the impact that this change in public opinion is having on higher education and present possible solutions for consideration.

Lake Forest College offers an MLS (Master of Liberal Studies) degree, which includes eight interdisciplinary courses at the graduate level. Dr. Abt-Perkins will be teaching the spring 2025 evening seminar MLS572, "Higher Education in the U.S.:  Goals and Outcomes, Current Challenges, and Sustainability". For more information, see: https://www.lakeforest.edu/academics/majors-and-minors/master-of-liberal-studies

In her roles at Lake Forest College,  Special Assistant to the Dean of Faculty for Student Success and Associate Dean of the Faculty for Student Success, Professor of Education Dr. Dawn Abt-Perkins has been in the center of current issues challenging higher education—investments in changes in technology, belief systems about the value proposition of higher education, and the growing public concern about the increasing costs of the higher education experience. Dawn's recent book project,  Professors Matter, is about the role that professors play in these important conversations about higher education reform.

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

Thor Davidson has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Wheaton (Noon Club) since 2015 and a Rotarian since 2001. He has previously been a member of the Hunt Valley Rotary Club (Hunt Valley, MD) where he served as Treasurer, as well as the Rotary Club of Springdale (Springdale, AR).  He served the Rotary Club of Wheaton as President, Membership Co-Chair, Foundation Chair, and currently as Public Image Coordinator. In addition to his club roles, he has served as Assistant Governor the past three years in District 6440.
 
A graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, Thor has a BA in Accounting and Economics. After a successful 17 year career in finance, logistics and operations, Thor retired from Tyson Foods, Inc. in Springdale, AR. A servant leader, he has been a lifelong member of Boy Scouts of America, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, then serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster in both Arkansas and Maryland.
 
Thor is an active member of St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Naperville, IL, where he is serving his second term on Church Council and holds the position of Stewardship Chair. He and his wife, Wendy, have been active members of the ELCA Bishop’s Advisory Council since 2017. For the past two years, he has volunteered on the parent board for Benet Academy Girls Lacrosse.
 
Thor lives in Wheaton, IL with his wife and two children: Anders, a recent college graduate, and Brenna, a high school senior.

Host: Peter Elmer

• 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: 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

• 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

Ishwar will share highlights of the library’s history over the past 125 years and an exciting preview of things to come. 

Ishwar joined the Lake Forest Library as its Executive Director in May 2023. Born in India, he earned undergraduate degrees in business and library science from the University of Calcutta (now Kolkata). His career in India included progressively responsible roles with the libraries of the United States Information Agency in Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai. After moving to the United States in 1997, Ishwar first worked for the Warren Newport Public Library in Gurnee, Illinois, and then served at the Norfolk Public Library in Virginia and the OCLC Online Computer Library Center based in Ohio. For more than twelve years, he served as director of the Jackson District Library and William P. Faust Public Library of Westland, both in Michigan. Prior to joining the Lake Forest Library, Ishwar was a Library Consultant with The Ivy Group that assists libraries in strategic planning, community engagement, and marketing. Ishwar has a master's degree in librarianship from Emory University.

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

• 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: Peter Elmer

• 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 County Children’s Advocacy Center conducts forensic interviews when there has been an allegation of sexual abuse, physical abuse, or a child has been a witness to a major crime. The LCCAC is child-focused and coordinates the investigation and prosecution of these cases.

The Lake County Children's Advocacy Center's mission is to provide a safe environment for child victims of sexual and physical abuse. The goal of the center is to investigate and help successfully prosecute these offenders without further trauma to the child. Together we share the Mission of The Lake County State’s Attorneys Office.

Carrie Flanigan, is the Executive Director of Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center and

Carrie Wings is the Director of Outreach & Engagement for Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center 

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

Join Caucus Committee Vice President Regina Etherton, for an inside look at the Lake Forest Caucus—who we are, what we do, and how we serve the community. She’ll cover our recruitment process for city boards and commissions, this year’s key initiatives, including new communication tools and a bylaws update, and how you can get involved in our fully volunteer-driven, community-supported organization.

Host: Mark Pickett

• 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

Pioneer Press article by Dan Dorfman
UPDATED: September 23, 2024 at 3:54 p.m.

John Burke now finds himself in an interesting position. He is a new face at the Lake Forest Police Department, but he is also the new leader.

“It’s a fresh start and new challenge to come in and get to know everybody and figure out the inner workings of the city and how to collaborate with different partners,” he said. “The job is the same but it has been a new challenge.”

Burke was sworn in as Lake Forest’s police chief at the September 3 City Council meeting, marking a new chapter in a law enforcement career stretching back nearly three decades.

Burke was hired in Barrington in August 1997 and then joined what is now the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Department after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He moved out to San Diego to work on 9/11-related cases but returned to Barrington in 2004 for family reasons.

He rose through Barrington Police ranks culminating with being named chief in April, but that turned out to be a short run as he made the move to Lake Forest in September.

Now less than a month into his new job, Burke speaks of a mutually introductory phase with his Lake Forest officers.

“It’s different when you come in and you are the chief of police and you are also the new guy,” he said. “I’m meeting with all of my co-workers one on one. It is more of a conversation so I can get to know them and they can get to me. I can talk about my expectations and they can talk about their specialties and what they are looking for from the chief of police.”

Those introductions are not just within the corridors of the Deerpath Road headquarters. Burke said he had already met with Matthew Montgomery, the superintendent of both the city’s elementary schools as well as Lake Forest High School.

Then in terms of saying hello to the general public, the City set up a series of “Chat with the Chief”  engagement sessions at different city locations.

In terms of taking over police operations, Burke said he is now reviewing scheduling for officers and may make changes to the existing shift layout.

He is excited over the City Council’s recent $3.5 million purchase of the vacant 1925 Field Court building in Conway Park, to convert it into the city’s new police headquarters.

“To have larger classroom facilities where we can host classes in the future I think would be very important,” he said. “The building is located right off the (Tri-State Tollway) so we can be a training hub for other agencies to come in if we have an instructor to be a host site.”

Regarding new officer recruitment, Burke acknowledges it has been a rocky period for police throughout the nation.

“In the past five to eight years the profession has taken a beating through media and other high profile events that were wrong but by and large officers are really talented, caring hard working people,” Burke said. “It is a great job if you are willing to take a step and go down that path.”

He said finding officers for Lake Forest presents some unique challenges given its low crime rate.

“You have to find the right candidate. They have to know coming in here we are not the City of Chicago. We are not drowning in call volume but there are still expectations as far as service and how we treat people.”

He takes on the issues related to his new role, but there is a still personal side. Burke is married to his wife, Erica and the couple has two children. He likes to run with cooking, particularly grilling, one of his favorite activities.

“I just love cooking,” he said. “It’s a good distraction.”

As he starts this latest phase of his career, Burke reflected on why he wanted to work in law enforcement in the first place.

“I loved helping people,” he remembered. “It is about service for me. I liked the excitement when I was younger that every day was a little different. When you got to work you were not doing the same thing over and over again. You didn’t know what you were going to get.”

Host: Jason Wicha

• 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

Mark Wienbarg – National Inside Sales Director at Uline

Presentation:  An overview of Uline and my journey over the last 16 years with the company
• The History – How Uline began and where we are today.
• Our Mission – What makes Uline unique and our secret to success.
• My Journey – Brief overview of my journey from starting as an individual contributor to running a department.

Bio:
• Started with Uline in 2009 in Atlanta as an outside Sales Rep.
• Promoted to my first management position in 2013 (Inside Sales Manager).
• Promoted and relocated to Florida in 2015 as an outside Sales Manager.Opened up a new Sales Office in Orlando, FL.
• Promoted to Sales Director in 2018.
o Opened a second Sales Office in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
• Promoted to National Inside Sales Director and relocated to Corporate in WI in 2022.

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

OUR MISSION: Furever Home Dog Sanctuary rescues and rehabilitates dogs to prepare them to be adopted into their forever home.

OUR VISION: Bettering lives and offering second chances to those most in need through dedication, hope, and compassion.

BACK STORY: In 2022, David and Erin Kerpel started a nonprofit called Furever Home Dog Sanctuary.  Our mission is to rescue and rehabilitate dogs to improve their quality of life by preparing them to be fostered and adopted into their furever home.  After searching for land for over a year, we now have 6 acres in Richmond, Illinois.  We will be working with dogs who have been in shelters for extremely long periods of time or have found themselves on a euthanasia list.  While in our care, whether it’s months or the rest of their lives dogs will have more space, increased time for socialization with people and other dogs, time dedicated to work with trainers/behaviorists and 6 acres of land to enjoy exploring. 

QUALITY OF LIFE: Our organization is set up to work with local not-for-profits in the animal welfare industry to care for dogs whose stays at standard animal shelters have been lengthy through no fault of their own. FHDS will provide all canine residents with personalized, elevated care to include spacious accommodations, excellent nutrition, exercise, grooming, medical attention when needed, professional behavior training, and positive human interaction. FHDS’s goal is to ensure that dogs in our care thrive and are ultimately fostered or adopted into loving homes.

Host: Zhuming Smith

• 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

Press Release from the City of Lake Forest / April 25, 2024

After a competitive nation-wide search, the City of Lake Forest is pleased to announce that Michael Wick has been selected as the new Director of Parks and Recreation.

Wick brings over eighteen years of experience in parks and recreation, serving in a variety of roles including Director of Recreation for the Gurnee Park District, Executive Director of the Wauwatosa Recreation Department, Athletics Coordinator at the Elk Grove Park District, and Recreation Specialist at the Waukegan Park District.

“A record number of new families have moved into Lake Forest in recent years, making it an exciting time for Lake Forest Parks and Recreation,” said City Manager Jason Wicha. “Mike’s background makes him uniquely qualified to lead the Department in shaping the future of recreational experiences for our exceptional community.”

At the Elk Grove Park District, he oversaw operations of 23-acre outdoor multi-use athletic field facility, experience that’s directly applicable to ensuring maximum utilization of the City’s new 9.5-acre athletic complex at Deerpath Community Park. In his most recent role as the Director of Recreation at the Gurnee Park District, Wick oversaw a $9.6 million dollar budget and provided oversight for sixteen full time staff and a part time staff that grew to over 350 during the summer months. He managed four community facilities including two fitness centers, a seasonal outdoor aquatic center, and community center. He also provided oversight for comprehensive community recreation programs.

As the Director of Parks and Recreation, Wick will oversee all City parks, trails, facilities, recreation programs, and partnerships. He will work closely with staff to program the new Deerpath Community Park and develop new and innovative programs and activities for Lake Forest residents. He will also serve as a staff liaison to the Parks and Recreation Board.

“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to serve as the next Director of Parks and Recreation Director at the City of Lake Forest,” said Wick. “I’m incredibly excited to begin working with the community and staff to build upon the department’s strong foundation.”

Wick has his bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse and is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional from the National Recreation and Park Association.

Wick succeeds former Director of Parks and Recreation Sally Swarthout, who retired in January after a 30-year career with the City.

Host: Susan Simms

• 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 1925, residents in Lake Bluff and the surrounding areas voted to form the Park District and it has served residents for the past 100 years.

John joined the Lake Bluff Park District Team in September of 2020 several months after the pandemic had begun.  Previously he worked as the Director of Parks and Recreation in Schiller Park, IL for 27 years. And prior to that he worked as a Director of Parks and Recreation in the State of Washington for four years.

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

April 30, 1975, marked a significant turning point in Vietnamese history. With the fall of Saigon and the unification of North and South Vietnam under Communist rule, countless South Vietnamese who opposed the new regime sought freedom beyond their homeland. The journey to America was often perilous, beginning with dramatic helicopter evacuations, perilous boat escapes, and years of hardship in re-education camps before eventual resettlement.  Despite these challenges, Vietnamese refugees arrived in the United States with resilience, determination, and a desire to rebuild their lives.  Fifty years later, the Vietnamese American community has not only survived but thrived, becoming an integral part of American society. From politics and the military to arts, entertainment, and finance, Vietnamese Americans have made remarkable contributions to the country that welcomed them.

Ann will discuss:

1. The timeline of the Journey to America.
2. Contribution to American Society: politics and government, military service, Business and Finance, Art and Entertainment. 

As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Vietnamese Americans in the U.S., we reflect on the journey from hardship to triumph. The resilience, hard work, and contributions of this community have enriched America in countless ways. Looking ahead, the next generations will continue to shape the American Dream while preserving their cultural heritage.

Ann has a Bachelors and a Masters degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT- Illinois Tech and 14 years of corporate engineering experience at Motorola. Her second career is in real estate.  She spent her first three years in residential real estate but found her passion in commercial real estate lease, sale and investment to help Asian American communities. Ann is the owner of Trandai Realty in Chicago, a commercial brokerage firm. With over 20 years of experience in real estate, she represents clients that are opening franchise restaurants, and nail salons and investing in strip shopping centers, hotels, and multifamily housing buildings, in 15 states. She is happily married to her husband of 33 years, and has three grown children.  In addition to her career in real estate, Ann is the Secretary of the Vietnamese National Association Real Estate Professional (VNARP), on the  Illinois Tech Alumni Board of Directors and is a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) – National Board of Directors.

Host: Ann Trandai

• 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

Carol Summerfield is the executive director of the History Center of Lake Forest Lake Bluff. Her background is in museum design and audience engagement. The History Center is a small midwestern institution with a staff of five. The museum produces two large special exhibitions each year that provide our audience with original narratives that help connect visitors with aspects of American history that are illuminated through local stories.

Host:  Thea Colwell

• 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

Summary:  I am a Polio Survivor having contracted the disease during the early 50’s epidemic. I was blessed to have survived having had a tracheotomy, spending time in an Iron Lung and having to learn how to walk again. This is my experience and although I joined Rotary in the mid 1970’s, I was never been more proud than when Rotary launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in 1985. My focus will be not only my journey but that of Rotary in this battle against this insidious disease.
 
Bio: 25 Years in Broadcast Management, 20 Years in Senior Care Administration, Alzheimer’s Care Specialist, Master Trainer of Alzheimer’s Care, 40 years of service in Rotary. Member of three clubs in two States. Past President of The Mystc Connecticut Club, Three time President of the Westerly Rhode Island Club, Three time Paul Harris Fellow. Member of my District Polio Plus Committee, Polio Survivor….U.S. Navy / Viet Nam Veteran serving on the USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) from October 1967 to March 1971. 

Host:  Peter Elmer

• 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

Sue and Ann will talk about growing native habitat  and obtainiing a National Wildlife Federation Certification for Lake Bluff.

Host:  Peter Elmer filling in for 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: Brad Andersen

• 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

Chair Hart represents District 13, which includes Lake Bluff and Knollwood, as well as portions of Great Lakes, Gurnee, North Chicago and Waukegan. She was elected to the board in 2012. 

Sandy was elected by her peers to serve as Lake County Board Chair in December 2018. Her main priorities are good governance; environmental protection; economic development; mental health services, and criminal justice. 

Sandy has a B.A. from Indiana University’s School of Business and an MBA from DePaul University. She is married, has three children, and has lived in Lake Bluff with her family since 2000.

Host: Gail Anderson

• 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