Home Page | Rotary Club of Wheaton A.M.

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 North H.S. Chamber Choir

Today was our favorite meeting of the year! Why? Because we continued our long time tradition of having the Wheaton North H.S. Chamber Choir join us for breakfast and present selections from the upcoming Holiday Concert in the Edman Chapel of Wheaton College.

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.

Journey of a Lifetime

11/26/25

Today, our guest speaker was David Onion. His topic: the 10,000 mile motorcycle round trip to Fairbanks, Alaska.

A dedicated long distance rider, David has the goal to visit all 50 States. This adventure involved traveling through South Dakota, Montana, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon Territory. David shared photos of the many sights and wildlife along the trip as well as of the many other motorcyclists he met along the way. Of course, no ultra-long distance motorcycle trip can be without mechanical problems, but the Harley Davidson dealers in Alaska cam to the rescue!

DuPage County Historical Museum

11/12/25

Today, our guest speaker was Michelle Podkowa, Museum Manager and Educator.

A very brief history: Located at the SE corner of Main and Wesley streets, the museum dates from 1891. Originally the Adams Memorial Library, it housed Wheaton's library until the fall of 1965 when the library moved to its current facility, and the Adams Memorial Library building became the home of the DuPage County Historical Museum. The DuPage County Historical Museum currently exists as a facility of Wheaton Park District, offering exhibits, research assistance, programs, and other educational services for the benefit of the community. The 1st floor contains exhibit spaces, gift shop, and the adminisrrative office The 2nd floor contains the auditorium, and in the basement is the ever popular HO Scale Model Railroad compliments of the DuPage Society of Model Engineers. The detailed layout covers over 2,000 feet of track and highlights some of DuPage County’s railroads and landmarks in a landscape blending fact and fantasy. Trains run from 1:30-3:30P on the third and fifth Saturday of each month.

See: https://dupagemuseum.org/architectural-cultural-history/
See: https://dupagemuseum.org/parties-rentals/

Financial Scams Targeting the Elderly

10/8/25

Today, our guest speaker was Detective Kayte Witten - Elderly Services Officer with the Wheaton Police Department.

The elderly are particularly susceptible to financial fraud, and in DuPage County crime trends involving the elderly include:

Identity theft and telephone scams
Burglary to motor vehicles and motor vehicle thefts
Ruse burglaries and home repair fraud

Identity Theft

It can take many forms including theft of your wallet or purse
What should you NOT carry in your wallet or purse:
- Social Security card
- Medicare card
- Personal checks
- Numerous credit cards
- Birth certificate
- Bank account numbers
- Large amounts of cash
- Spare keys

Telephone scams are common because they are successful at tricking you into providing information such as Social Security Number, Charge/Debit card details. Examples:

Posing as an attorney or as a police officer, the scammer calls and identifies some one you know as being in trouble, or being hurt, or otherwise needing help requiring immediate financial payment from you.
Posing as a representative of the IRS, the scammer advises that you owe money to the IRS and must pay immediately via charge card or wire transfer.
Posing as a representative of the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Service to sell you bogus insurance or claim that you are owed a sizeable refund. To process anything, you are to provide your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier or Social Security Number. With this information the scammers will pretend to be health care providers and submit fraudulent claims to Medicare or to obtain opioid drugs.
Posing as a security expert from Microsoft, the scammer advises that you computer/laptop is infected with a malware virus and that you need to grant them remote access to your device to remove the malware. This requires immediate payment. By granting access, they then install malware and access your personal data.
Foreign Lottery / Prizes / Free Gifts scams: You receive a letter, call or email claiming you won something. To receive it, you need to pay for taxes or a processing fee. You never receive a prize or gift.
What can you do:
- Hang up the phone
- Do NOT give out your personal identifying information.
- Resist the urge to act immediately, no mater how dramatic the story.
- Call a family member at a phone number you know is genuine.
- Check out the story with family or friends even if you have been told to keep it secret.
- Do NOT wire money send a check, or buy a gift card of any kind.

Ruse Burglaries-In Person

Criminals will pose as employees of the city or utility companies and give an excuse to get inside your house. They work in pairs with one stealing your money or valuable items while you are being distracted by the other.
What you can do:
- Never let anyone inside your home without prior notification and identification.
- If anyone claims to need access to your property, tell them to wait outside while you verify with the company they work for. Do NOT use a phone number they provide.
- Keep all your doors and windows locked

Home Repair Fraud-in Person

Common Types of Repair: seal coating, chimney work, car repair, roofing and siding
Always say they are doing work in the neighborhood.
Try to sell you on a cheap price with work to be quickly completed

You are always welcome as our guest for breakfast!

We meet In Person

Wednesdays at 7:00 a.m.

Egg'lectic Cafe

145 N. Hale Street
Wheaton, IL 60187
United States of America

New location effective January, 2024.

BINGO Night at DuPage Care Center
DuPage Care Center

Dec. 17, 2025
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
ESSE Bread Run - Wheaton
Dec. 18, 2025 7:00 a.m.
Feed My Starving Children Aurora, IL location
Feed My Starving Children - Aurora, IL location

Dec. 20, 2025
9:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
ESSE Bread Run - Glen Ellyn
Dec. 24, 2025 7:00 a.m.
Feed My Starving Children - Aurora, IL location
Feed My Starving Children -Aurora, IL location

Jan. 31, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.