New Sign Dedicated at Morgan County Fairgrounds

Jacksonville Rotary Club and Morgan County Fair Board members dedicate new lighted sign

Jacksonville Rotary Club and Morgan County Fair Board members dedicate new lighted sign Jacksonville, IL.  – May 9th, 2017:  Members of the Jacksonville Rotary Club and the Morgan County Fair Board met at the fairgrounds on Tuesday evening to dedicate the new Morgan County Fair Sign. The new sign is located at the intersection of Lafayette and Westgate. The sign sits in the northwest corner of the fairgrounds and features two lighted, programmable LED message boards. One of the boards is visible from Lafayette, the other from Westgate.

The sign is Phase One of the Jacksonville Rotary Club’s “Centennial Project” benefitting the Morgan County Fairgrounds. The Jacksonville Rotary Club is celebrating their 100th Anniversary in 2018. Traditionally, Rotary Clubs celebrating the 100-year milestone will take on a larger, one-time service project for their community. Several projects were considered by the Jacksonville Rotary Club. The Morgan County Fair project was selected as a “thank you” to the Fair for their on-going support of the Jacksonville Rotary Club, especially the club’s Oktoberfest fundraiser which is held at the fairgrounds each Fall.

Phase Two of the project, scheduled for completion in March of 2018, will be a Courtyard and performance space to be located at the northeast end of the grandstands. Funding for Phase Two is being secured through sponsored, engraved bricks that will be a lasting part of the Courtyard floor. Funding for the project is more than 70% completed. The Jacksonville Rotary Club recently opened sponsorship of the bricks to the general public. If you would like to sponsor a brick in the Jacksonville Rotary Club’s Centennial Courtyard, please visit jacksonvillerotary.org for details and a sponsorship form.

Rotary is an international organization based in Evanston, IL. Rotary is comprised of more than 1.2 million members with clubs in 200 countries. The mission of Rotary is “service above self.” Rotarians are dedicated to providing service to their community and their world through monetary support and hands on volunteer efforts. The Jacksonville Rotary Club was founded in March of 1918 and has been serving Jacksonville and the Morgan County area since that time. The Jacksonville Rotary Club provides funding and volunteer support to area schools, food kitchens, warming centers and charities. The Jacksonville Rotary Club is also a major financial donor to area charitable organizations. Annual fundraising programs like the Valentine’s Dance, Bass Tournament, Bratwagon and Oktoberfest make these funds available. The Jacksonville Rotary Club also supports the programs of Rotary International like the eradication of polio in the world and the Clean Water Initiative. If you would like to be a Rotarian, visit our website at jacksonvillerotary.org or ask any Rotarian about visiting a meeting.

Photo Caption: (Back Row, L to R) Mark Fromme, Justin Becker, Seth Hetelle, Tim Degroot, Jay Harris, Cheri Orris, Larry Robinson, Andy White, Bryan Richardson and Mark Stiltz. (Middle Row, L to R) Jr. Miss Morgan County Fair Queen Kaylee Ford, Miss Morgan County Fair Queen Taylor Zoerner, Todd Cody, Steven Varble, Lisa Kluge, Brittany Henry, Cameron Jones, Nancy Thorsen (President, Jacksonville Rotary Club), Jon Valuck, Susan King, Daphne Spradlin, Tammy Middleton, Ginny Fanning, Phyllis Lape, Keith Lape (Front Row, L to R) the Rear End of Dudley Cody the Dog, Little Miss Morgan County Olivia Haverfield, Linda Grojean, Sandy Sanders, Lori Hartz, Craig Albers, Todd Evans, Lynne Sheaff.