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Great start to a great day the Rotary Club of Wheaton A.M. way!

https://www.facebook.com/Rotary-Club-of-Wheaton-AM-108924821423905

1. E-mail: click any of the Executives & Directors listed on the right side of this home screen

2. Mail: P.O. Box 91, Wheaton, IL 60187-0091

Our Club was chartered November 16, 1990, and we currently have two dozen friendly, active members. Our Club is all about fellowship in community service, and members are expected to be involved beyond attending our weekly meetings.

Our club in action: In addition to supporting community service not-for-profit organizations, including those listed in the Community Links, we award collegiate and vocational scholarships to graduates of the Wheaton high schools. Our philanthropy is funded by our annual Poinsettia Sale, the Fun Run (co-sponsored with the Wheaton Park District), and contributions by club members.

Meetings: Our Wednesday morning meetings are an hour's duration and typically feature a guest speaker addressing matters of community interest. See the schedule of upcoming speakers on the right side of this Home Page. Guests are always welcome!

For additional information, please contact any member of the Club Leadership listed on this Home Page simply by clicking one of the names.

Wheaton Fire Dept/ Changes

2/4/26

Today, our guest speaker was Robert ("Rob") Brill, Wheaton's Fire Chief.

Fire Dept. website: https://www.wheaton.il.us/170/Fire-Department
Rob has been Chief since January, 2023 and previously spent more than 20 years with the Wilmette Fire Dept. He addressed some of the changes his hiring:
- Staffing: The Department includes 35 full time firefighters plus paramedics and support staff. Due to retirements and transfers there has been a dozen new firefighter hires.
- Equipment: Fire truck manufacturing has undergone significant consolidation from dozens of manufacturers to three dominant ones: REV Group, Oshkosh Corp., and Rosenbauer International. Our Fire Dept. has traditionally purchased from Pierce (Oshkosh Corp.). New aerial (ladder) trucks are very expensive and the lead time is four years for acquiring a new one. The Dept. very recently took delivery of a new truck and is presently fitting it out. The story behind this acquisition is interesting and involved. See: https://chicagoareafire.com/blog/2025/12/wheaton-fd-buys-new-tower-ladder/

New fire station: planning is underway to replace the 50 year old, obsolete station at 1590 S President Street.
Electric vehicle fires: At present there is no effective means of extinguishing an EV fire. Add toxicity and pollution exposure, standard practice is to let the vehicle burn while minimizing human and property exposure. Indoor EV charging stations are especially of concern.

Rotary Fellowships & Rotary Means Business

1/28/27

Today , our guest speaker was Andre Adams, Co-President of the Rotary Club of Carol Stream.

At its core Rotary is about fellowship in community and world service. Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our more than 45,000 clubs work together to: Promote peace, Fight disease, Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, Improve maternal and child health, Support education, Grow local economies, and Protect the environment.

Members develop lasting friendships and share diverse interests. Rotary has long recognized that formally sharing those diverse interests (hobbies, profession, etc.) enhances our members Rotary experience. There are some 120 Rotary Fellowships (https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/more-fellowships).

Recognizing that business and service can coexist and amplify each other, The Rotary Means Business (RMB) initiative began informally within Rotary clubs around the world, where members saw the opportunity to combine Rotary's mission of service with professional networking. In 2010, this idea gained formal recognition with the creation of the Rotary Means Business Fellowship, which allowed Rotarians to connect more deeply in their professional lives while still upholding the principles of Rotary service. RMB is grounded in the belief that business success is not just about individual achievement but about building a strong community of professionals. This community is dedicated to ethical business practices, service, and the well-being of others. By promoting collaboration over competition, RMB has grown into a global network of Rotarians who support each other’s professional endeavors while remaining committed to the values of service, fellowship, and integrity.

RMB Midwest (https://www.rmbmidwest.com/) was recently established to develop this locally and throughout the midwest. There are several chapters in the Chicago area, each having monthly evening meetings. Locally, RMB Chicagoland - Western Suburbs meets on the 2nd Monday of the month at Chrissy's Bar & Grill, 552 N. Gary Ave., Carol Stream. Anyone is welcome, Rotarian and non-Rotarian alike, to attend the meetings to network, learn, and grow business relationships. Register to attend through the website.

Wheaton Board of Fire & Police Commissioners

1/21/26

Today, our guest speaker was Kevin Illia, Chair of the Board of Fire & Police Commisioners.

Miracle on 12th Street

12/3/25: Today, our guest speaker was Matthew Milliner, Ph.D., Professor of Art History at Wheaton College.

His incredibly enthusiastic and engaging two part presentation addressed:

The existence of divine miracles and the historical debates surrounding their veracity, including Our Lady of Cicero at the St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Cicero. See: https://www.stgeorgechi.org/about/our-lady-of-cicero/
The history of Roosevelt Road from the Field Museum on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago's South Loop to the suburbs with a focus on the architecture of the churches and mausoleums on or near Roosevelt Road. Originally 12th Street, the road was named after TeddyRoosevelt in 1919. There are dozens of churches ranging from storefronts to magnificent buildings. Notable or well known among the latter are: Old Saint Patrick's Catholic Church, Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Church of the Holy Family, and the Queen of Heaven Catholic Mausoleum.