Welcome to our club web site. I'm Rodney Durr, Club President for the 2023-24 Rotary year. Our club was created on January 1, 2021 when the former Wood River and East Alton clubs merged to become the Riverbend East Rotary club. Feel free to browse our newsletters, photo albums and other content you may find of interest. The club also sponsors a Facebook page. You may link to those sites below and to the right. Our club is located on the Illinois side of the St. Louis, Missouri metropolitan area. When you are in the area, please feel free to attend one of our meetings.
Member Birthdays:
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Paul GuccioneApril 10
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Lori PalmerApril 17
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Tommie MyersApril 23
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Paul HooverApril 28
Join Date:
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Rick HooksApril 4, 199133 years
We meet In Person
Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.
JULIA'S BANQUET CENTER
101 Eastgate Shopping Center
East Alton, IL 62024
United States of America
East Alton, IL 62024
United States of America
Our Mailing address:
POB 56
East Alton,IL 62024-0056
The first run of the new Soapbox Race car down Berkshire Hill
Rev. Julie Gvillo joined us to talk about the great things her "A Place of Grace" group is doing to make our community a better place. Link here for more info http://aplaceofgrace-juliegvillo.net
Nourished Revival owner Abigail Parker encouraged us to take control of our health by eating better. She spoke to the evils of "added sugar" in all of our diets. Want to know more? Link here http://nourishedrevival.com
Mark your calendars and save the date! The Riverbend East Rotary Club 5K Color Run is back, baby!” It's scheduled for June 1 at Belk Park in Wood River (IL). Registration is $30 for ages 19+, $15 for ages 12-18, and free for those 11 and under.
Retired Methodist minister Mike Smith joined us to talk about his recently published book "Teaching the Preacher to Curse". It contains 47 of Mike's mostly humorous life stories and can be purchased on Amazon. 
Club president Rodney Durr talks about our potential international project in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Africa.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Southern Illinois Executive Director Brianna Andersen spoke to us about the program that pairs children between the ages of 6 and 14 with an adult mentor. There is always a need for adult mentors. If you have an interest or need additional info you may call 618.398.3162 or visit http://bbbsil.org
Today's program was a double header, RobLeMarsh talked about the Wood River Heritage Council and Wood River Museum and club member Paul G spoke about his post-retirement masters history degree thesis, the Wood River neighborhood of Little Italy.
We were joined by Vince, Carol and Diane, members of the Curtain's Up Theater Company, to talk about their next production, Steel Magnolias, which will be performed on March1,2 and 3. Here's a link for more information and ticket purchase https://www.curtainsuptheater.com/index.html
Oasis Women's Center Director of Client Services Tara Holland joined us to tell us about the shelter and support services offered to women who are victims of domestic violence.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources agent Randy Holbrook spoke to us about Pere Marquette State Park.
Wood River Fire Chief Wade Stahlhut was on hand to share his thoughts about the fire department.
Wood River Chief of Police Brad Wells was on hand to brief us on recent Wood River happenings.
Riverbend Family Ministries Fund Development Director Rachael Craddick talks about their new facility and the nine organizations based there that provide free services to Madison County families in need.
For more info http://my-rfm.org
For more info http://my-rfm.org
East Alton Parks and Recreation Director Tyler Lafferty joined us to talk about youth activities, including sports.
The East Alton-Wood River High School E-Sports team paid us a visit to talk about their successful program and share some gaming secrets.
Lindsey Timmins joined us to talk about the Tyler Timmins Memorial Foundation, named after her husband who was a police officer killed in the line of duty in October 2021.
Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. Peyton Douglas joined us to talk about the ASVAB (Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery) testing program for potential recruits. 135 questions are spread over nine different test segments.
Riverbend Head Start and Family Services Executive Director Gene Howell joined us to talk about the services his organization provides via six service centers located in Madison County.
American Cancer Society representatives Patty and Sherri joined us to talk about some of the accomplishments of the organization that was founded in1916 and share some of the upcoming fund raising events.
Playwright Eugene Baldwin was on hand to talk about the book he co-edited "A Black Soldier's Letters From Home" and share some troubling history about segregation within our military.
Machinist Union District 9 Business Representative Roy Collins was in the house to give us an overview of the Machinist Union history and share some of the union benifits that are afforded their 700,000 members.
Dream Home program founder Sherry Gilleland joined us to tell us how the program has grown and prospered as it begins its 14th year of bringing joy to the less fortunate in our area. Sherry can be reached at gilleland@sbcglobal.com.
United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Rachelle Crowe, joined us to share some criminal prosecution success stories.
Roxana school district employees Ryan Peters and Bethany Martin tell us about the new Family Outreach Center and the services it makes available for students district wide.
Comedy Sportz St. Louis representative Mike McGuire took us through a series of fun improv exercises to help our listening skills. Learn more about the business by linking here http://cszstlouis.com
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Mark Allison
Patti Anderson
David Ayers
Leonard Berg
Pat Boyle
Rod Croxford
Rodney Durr
Cory Gallivan
Paul Guccione
Allen Hale
Chris Herzog
Rick Hooks
Paul Hoover
Jean Kainz
Donna Karpan
Michael Kelly
Brad Lavite
Scott Levan
George Moore
Virgil Moore
Tommie Myers
Lori Palmer
John Pearson
Erin Phillips
Brad Pulaski
Bill Pyatt
Wendell Ross
Joe Silkwood
Mark Speciale
Henry Studnicki
George Tyler
Mark Vaughn
Alana Yount