Sarah Oliver Selected District Governor Candidate for 2014-15
PDG Bruce Baumberger informed me that the District Nominating Committee met last night, September 15, 2011, and select Sarah Oliver, from the Rotary Club of Wilmette Harbor, to be the candidate for District Governor 2014-2015. I wish to congratulate Sarah, our District Treasurer, for her achievement. I have worked with her many times and I am delighted she was chosen because she is an excellent Rotarian dedicated to the advancement of our District and the causes of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.Sarah joined the Rotary Club of Wilmette Harbor in 1997 and has served as Club President (2001-2002), Secretary, Community Service Chair, TRF Chair and Chair of the Board of the Wilmette Harbor Rotary Foundation. Since 2009 she is again a member of that club foundation board.
At the district level, Sarah was Secretary in 2006-2007 and Chair for ABCs of Rotary in 2007. Currently she is Treasurer for 2011-2012. She recently completed three years, 2008-2011, as Assistant Governor for the Arlington Heights Sunrise, Highland Park-Highwood and Palatine clubs. During those same years also, she served as District Trainer and was instrumental in the design, development and execution of Northern Illinois P.E.T.S. as well as the initiation of the first District 6440 Fall Seminar Day.
As a member of the International Fellowship of Rotarian Convention Goers, Sarah continually encourages local Rotarians to travel to RI Conventions and often staffs the Convention Goers booth at those Houses of Friendship. To date she has enjoyed and benefited from the inspiration and fellowship of eleven Conventions on four continents. Husband Wally and she love to travel and to get together with local Rotarians while they are overseas. At home they have hosted visiting Rotarians, inbound GSE team members, and Rotary Youth Exchange students. When they are "up north" at the summer home of her family, Sarah is involved in service projects and fundraising activities with the Rotary Club of Boyne City, MI.
Wally and Sarah are Level Three Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation, and she is a Charter Member of the Paul Harris Society and a Major Donor to TRF.
With degrees in chemistry from Goucher College (A.B.) and Northwestern University (M.S.), Sarah retired from the laboratory in the 1970's to a career of volunteerism. She was honored in 2004 as Wilmette Citizen of the Year for her extensive community service. Local public service included the Wilmette Plan Commission, the Board of Trustees, and the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, each of the two latter commitments for the statutory maximum time. As a member of the League of Woman Voters of Wilmette for 35 years, she served in a number of leadership positions and continues to register voters and assist in community education relating to public issues. In the broader Chicago area, Sarah was, among other things, active in the Junior League of Chicago with member education and training, community service projects, and fundraising and has been involved in fundraising events with the Chicago Symphony Women's Association.
Sarah and Wally have been married since 1971 and have two daughters, Helen (Taylor Boas) and Susan, and a grandson, Julian Oliver Boas, who delights them all.
Congratulations to Sarah, and thank you for your commitment and service to Rotary.