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Saturday, May 19, 2012
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| Upcoming Events - You MUST Login to RSVP! |
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| Rockford Cosmopolitan Club
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Click Here for Instructions on how to RSVP to an "Event"
Congrats to Rockford Cosmopolitans! As you are aware the club voted unanimously to create a permanent endowment fund. The account will be funded by setting aside 20% of all future fundraiser net income. In conjunction with the creation of the endowment, your executive board applied for the Carroll H. Starr Endowment Challenge with the Community Foundation. Parts of the Application Narrative are as follows:
"Cosmo's have decided to prioritize creating a mechanism to accelerate funding of a permanent endowment to perpetuate our goals and objectives beyond our individual involvement" "Our endowment goal is to not just raise money to grant to local charities and fund the Charles Uram Award, but to create a legacy. So that one day, while we may not be remembered individually, we may be remembered as a whole, as Rockford Cosmo's; that we may have an impact on the lives of those separated from us by generations."
The Rockford Cosmo's were selected as one of four finalist
organizations. Tom Grimes, Dayton Smith III, Dr. Kris Tumilowicz, and
Joe Goken then represented the COSMO club during a 45 minute
presentation process. We felt after the presentation that the award went from "its ours to lose" to "someone else will have to wow them,
to steal it from the COSMO's." Our very own James Patterson made the
announcement preceding the mayor's speech at lunch today...
"The Rockford Cosmo's have been selected to participate in the Carroll H Starr Endowment Challenge and upon satisfaction of the challenge will be recipients of $25,000 in matching funds from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois." What does this mean for the Rockford Cosmo's? It means that we will have to contribute about $8,000 more per year (above and beyond our estimate based on 20% of the projected fundraiser revenue) over the next three years towards the endowment. This will be done by considering new fundraisers, looking for matching funds, an increase of $2,000 per year from the existing endowment balance, completing of an existing pledge, and contributing more than the minimum of 20% of the fundraisers. However, at the end of the challenge, the endowment will stand at a balance of $150,000. This balance will comprise of $50,000 existing Founders Fifty fund, $75,000 contributed via the Rockford Cosmo's as part of this challenge, and $25,000 in matching funds from the foundation. This $150,000 will generate $6,000 per year which will help fund our donations to Rockford Area Charitable Organizations, including the Chuck Uram Award.
This $150,000 will be a jump start to an endowment we hope will grow into the millions. Thank you, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, we look forward to continuing what has become a great partnership. Congrats to all Cosmo's... Its a Great Day to be a Cosmo!!!
2011 Cosmopolitan International Club President of the Year  Mr.
Rick Swansbro was awarded 2010-2011 Cosmopolitan International Club
President of the Year. This is the third time in four years, the
international president of the year has come from the Rockford Club. As a club member since January 2007, Rick has proven to be a club leader who has earned the continued respect of our members. Rick is a devoted husband and father to his growing family. He and his wife Linda will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary this coming fall after raising three children, Alison age 34, Shannon age 27 and Kelly age 25. In addition, they have two granddaughters by daughter Alison and son-in law Dayton Smith (both Cosmopolitan Members), Kennedy age 21 months and Cassidy age 3 months. Rick and Linda are participating members at Heartland Community Church in Rockford, Illinois. Through Rick's Presidency, the Rockford Cosmopolitan club yielded 50 events comprising, 26 weekly lunches, 13 social events, 3 fund raising events, 1 membership event, 1 awards recipients luncheon and 4 executive board meetings. During the course of the 2010-2011 Cosmo calendar, fund raising revenues finished at $60,000, up $13,000 or 27% over the previous year. This does not include additional funds raised through the Rockford Reds program and the Founders 50 program. Over $37,000 was distributed among eleven local non-profit organizations including Crusader Community Health Foundation. Next Time you see Rick; shake his hand and congratulate him on a "JOB WELL DONE!!!"
2010-2011 Cosmopolitan Fund Raising Events Summary: Fund Raising Events: A total of three major fund raising events were held during the 2010-2011 calendar year. These include the 22nd annual Cosmopolitan Golf Play Day held August 19th, 2011, the annual Poinsettia drive held in December 2010 and the annual March Madness Draw Down held on St. Patrick’s Day in March 2011.
Cosmopolitan Golf Play Day Netted $24,000: The August 19th Cosmopolitan Golf Play day netted a record $24,000 for charity, up $4,000 or 20% over the previous year’s net. The event was held at the Aldeen Golf Facility and benefited from the strong support of Alpine Bank, Staff-On-Site, Clifton Gunderson, Swedish American, Saint Anthony, Rockford Memorial, and Dickerson Nieman. We must also recognize the leadership of the Cosmopolitan golf committee lead by Mark O’Donnell, Tom Martenson and Joe Goken.
Poinsettia Drive Netted $25,000: The annual November Poinsettia Drive also produced record fund raising results. The 2010 drive netted $25,354, up $3,974 or 18% over the previous year’s results. A total of 2,650 plants were sold during the 2010 drive versus 1,776 plants sold previously. All plant orders were sold and delivered by club members during Friday and Saturday December 3rd and 4th respectively. We must recognize the leadership of Poinsettia chairman Bill Gehlsen for a very successful and productive event.
March Madness Draw Down Netted $15,000: The 7th annual March Madness Draw Down was held March 17th. A sold-out gallery of 200 club members, spouses and friends experienced a St. Patrick’s Day dinner, NCAA basketball, social networking and over $10,600 in distributed raffle prizes. Here again, we must recognize the efforts of Chairman Brian Lindsay, 2011 Mid-States Federation Cosmo of the Year.
Rockford Cosmopolitan Club Supports "Rock The Air"
Campaign -
click here
By Jessica Geraci - ROCKFORD
(WREX) - The "Rock the Air" Scholarship Fund gets a big boost
from local donors.
The Rockford Cosmopolitan Club gave a $10,000 pledge to the
effort. The donation is part of a local push to bring an Embry Riddle
Aeronautical University campus to Rockford. Cosmopolitan Club President
Rick Swansbro hopes with this donation other local groups will pledge money
too. "We feel it's very good for the Rockford area. It's going to
help a number of businesses in this area so it was a very easy decision for our
club to make. "
If Embry Riddle picks Rockford, the scholarship fund would be a
permanent endowment. An additional $14,000 in pledges from its individual
members was also secured at the luncheon.
Please Join Us in Congratulating Barb Berman
2010 winner of the Charles G. Uram, Lifetime Service Award click here
  
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Come Join the club who fights diabetes! We have over 120 members who are committed to the fight against diabetes and helping our youth in the Greater Rockford Area. Join Rockford's Cosmo today!
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Rockford, IL - The Forest City
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Rockford is often referred to as "The Forest City" and is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2006 census estimate, it is said to have a population of 155,138; making it the third-largest city in Illinois after Chicago and Aurora. The metropolitan area has 339,178 residents as of the 2000 census. During the latter part of the 20th century Rockford was the second largest city in Illinois. The current mayor is Lawrence J. Morrissey, an independent elected to a four year term in April 2005.
Click here for a link to a map of the "RiverDistrict" establishments.
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