The Rotary of Macomb meets Tuesdays at noon at the First Presbyterian Church.
November 18, 2025 The 19th meeting of the Rotary year was formally initiated by President Elect Nick Knowles, who called the session to order by ringing the Rotary bell. The invocation was delivered by Todd Rodeffer, followed Wayne Laramie who led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Attendance was reported by Bob Baumanni: 26 members attended in person representing 50% of the club’s membership. Four guests were also present—Dan Swanson (our guest speaker), November’s Junior Rotarians Lauren Schmalshof and Tobias Royer, and Rotary Exchange Student Thea Granheim from Norway—bringing total attendance to 29.
Ten Rotarians contributed “Happy Money” in recognition of recent significant events. The 50/50 drawing took place next, with Kelly Lucas holding the winning ticket; however, she drew the 7 of Diamonds instead of the 6 of Hearts required to claim the $29 prize.
President Elect Nick then called on Lauren Schmalschof to talk about her activities at MHS, and her future plans after graduation from school. Lauren is a senior at MHS and is involved in FFA and Student Council. She was a member of the softball team. She plans to go to college and study medicine to become a pediatric oncologist.
President Elect Nick reminded members that the meeting on December 2, 2025, will be held at the Western Illinois Museum and will include a program and tour.
Also, There will be no meeting on December 23, 2025. Dennis Danowski announced the two days for the Salvation Army bell ringing. The two dates are Thursday 12/11/25 and Saturday 12/13/25. He is working on setting the times for those dates and will have a signup sheet next week. Lastly, The Rotary Annual Scholastic Bowl is scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2026; further information will be provided.
Jerry Brookhart introduced the speaker for the meeting, Dan Swanson, who is our 71st State Representative for the State of Illinois. Dan is a six-generation family farmer and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Army after 27 years of service. He was awarded the Bronze Star. He attended Black Hawk East College and graduated from WIU. He held the position of Superintendent of Henry County Veterans Assistance Commission. Dan is married to his wife Tammy and has two married children and two grandchildren.
Dan then talked about his farming and the caring on with a business that has been in his family for many years. From a recent Combine breakdown to building hog confinement buildings his family has kept the tradition of farming ongoing and made what is important to them to continue.
He graduated from high school in May of 1977 and enlisted in the Illinois National Guard in August of 1977 with the unit in Kewanee IL. He began a full-time career with the National Guard in March of 1980. This started 20 years of active duty and he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May of 1986. He retired from the National Guard in January of 2001 after commanding the Field Artillery Battalion in Milan, IL. One of the batteries with the Milan Battalion was stationed here in Macomb. He made frequent trips to Macomb and became familiar with the area.
The 9/11 attacks in September 2001 ended his retirement when he was called go to Iraq for a year and recruit, train, and equip the Iraqi forces. There were elements that restricted some of those training issues. He built many friendships and memories from that tour. His retirement was shortened again in April of 2010 when he was called again and spent 3 years at the Rock Island Arsenal leading a team of military personnel and civilians from the Pentagon who came to the Arsenal. This group issued equipment to major Army units around the world. The equipment would be facilitated under their guidance and moved where and when needed to save money and time.
After his last tour in 2013 he went through the Army Transition Assistance Program to learn how to return successfully to civilian life. This program teaches you what your benefits are, what medical benefits you have, how to interview for a job, all to help getting you incorporated back into society. This program was not available to veterans of earlier wars and this started him thinking of running for office to make sure veterans get the help they deserve.
In 2013 he became to Superintendent of the Henry County Veteran Assistance Commission which is there to help veterans. The commission helps veterans pay rent, buy groceries, pay utility bills, and organized travel assistance to health care, mainly to Iowa City.
Dan followed his dream and was sworn in as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives in January 2017. He currently serves as chairman of the Illinois House Veterans Committee and is the only Republican in the House serving as chair among its 50 committees.
He remains deeply appreciative of having an office in the Capital. The legacy of previous officeholders is significant to him, and he values his role within the state government that he serves. Representing a district of 102,000 residents, he addresses the needs of many constituents. Whether managing budget increases or advocating for reduced road taxes in downstate Illinois, he consistently monitors and safeguards the interests of his region.
There were several questions and discussions with Dan giving answers and the members thanked him for an informative presentation.
The meeting concluded with the recitation of the “Four Way Test” and the sounding of the Rotary bell, encouraging all members to make Rotary Part Of Their Life – and to “Unite For Good”.
Interested in speaking at Rotary or becoming a member, contact Tom Stites at [email protected].
Junior Rotarian: Lauren Schmalsof
