Announcements
(notes courteous of the venerable Neal Chamberlain)

Attendance was down, but the spirit of Christmas was high at the Thursday morning meeting of CUSR.

Ed thanked all those helped  “set-up” for the Wesley Evening Food Pantry.  According to Wesley’s website (wesleypantry.org), this food pantry provided food to a record number of low income clients (1437) in October.

Robb thanked all who participated in the fruit sales – $9000 income and counting.

Ata announced a new member orientation for Thursday, January 17.  More details to come.

Jeff announced that our club will be making plans for CUSR’S 25^th anniversary in the January club assembly.

Jeff announced that the Centennial Interact club is selling sweatshirts ($15).  His comments about the beauty of these sweatshirts (resembling certain elderly club members) are omitted from this writing.

Tom Hodson (visiting Rotarian) announced that 5 women were killed while working to implement Rotary International’s objective of completing 100%  world polio immunization.  He stated that the polio eradication effort is more than 99%, but achieving total eradication has become very difficult.

CUSR was very pleased to induct two new members:

Phyllis Mischo, (Assistant to the Chancellor, UIUC, -Assistant to the Chancellor, UIUC, Graduate of EIU, husband, Bill, is a professor of library administration, two grown children – Kelvin and Justin, hobbies include reading, gardening, movies, theatre and sports, owned and managed a publishing business, worked as a textbook indexer, sang in choral groups in high school).

Jason VanAntwerp -Vice President & Branch Manager with Busey Bank, (Graduate of ISU, Traveled to China two times, one of two boys to be hired as cashiers at Mahomet IGA at age 15, spent one year as the Assistant General Manager of the Peoria Kings – a professional ABA basketball team, announced high school football games on ESPN Radio, hobbies include attending UI football and basketball games and travel.)

CUSR will be meeting at the usual scheduled time next week – Thursday, December 27.

Program

Larry Johnson introduced our speaker Kerri Spear.  In her professional life, Kerri is Neighborhood Programs Manager for City ofChampaign.  Subject of her presentation today is “Austin’s Place – An Emergency Overnight Shelter for the Homeless”.

Kerri explained, Austin’s Place was named in memory of Austin Cloyd, who was killed in the Virginia Tech (April 16, 2007) shooting massacre. Austin had been very active in youth activities at Champaign First United Methodist Church, including mission trips and service projects.  Soon after Austin’s death, Steve Gritton, who was active in a men’s emergency shelter at the Presbyterian Church was encouraging “someone” to provide an emergency shelter for women.   A few Methodist church volunteers approached pastors Terry Harter and Mary Brady about the possibility of providing an emergency shelter for women.  Pastor Harter’s response was “this has got to happen”.

The shelter opened for the January, February and March months of 2008 in the basement of First United Methodist Church with the name “Austin’s Place”. Austin’s Place coordinates with the “Women In Transition Shelter” which provides more long-term housing.  The Women in Transition Shelter typically has no available shelter for emergency needs of women who have no place to sleep “tonight”. Austin’s Place has operated almost entirely with volunteers, therefore it has a very small budget.  In the past yearAustin’s Place provided 291 units (a unit is a one person – one night) of housing, with the help of 2064 direct service volunteer hours.

Keri discussed future plans which include expanding emergency shelter to include women, men and families.  United Way is now very supportive in this effort.  As plans evolve, the shelter will move to another location which is currently being renovated to provide the facilities and staff required to provide for men, women and families.

Keri told of experiences that she and others have had in providing emergency (key word) shelter for women who otherwise would be desperate to find a warm place to sleep during the cold winter nights of Champaign/Urbana.  She also told of women who were provided shelter inAustin’s Place and have successfully “moved on” to get jobs and become self supporting.

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Upcoming Schedule

Dec 27 – Eric Batsie, Partnership Manager of Big Brothers, Big Sisters

Jan 3 – Tiffany DeSpain, District 6490 RYLA Coordinator

The C-U Sunrise Rotary Holiday Party was a great success, especially when this guy in the red jacket showed up.

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Upcoming Schedule

Dec 20 – Kerri Spear, Austin’s Place – Emergency Shelter

Dec 27 – Eric Batsie, Partnership Manager of Big Brothers, Big Sisters

Jan 3 – Tiffany DeSpain, District 6490 RYLA Coordinator

Announcements
(notes courteous of the crafty and courageous Barb Lintner)

Gary Olsen announced a Global Fundraiser Initiative for Shelter Box.  Gifts in $25 increments may be made to Shelter Box in the name of the recipient.  If you are looking for a gift for the holidays this would be a great time to donate.

If you are coming and/or bringing guests to our Holiday Party this Thursday, December 6, please RSVP to Patrice.

Contact Ed if you can work at the Wesley Foundation Food Pantry on December 19.

We will be Ringing Bells for Salvation Army on December 15.  We have people for all 8 1 hour shifts but if you are able to help let Jeff know.

Harold announced the Rotary Foundation Bowl.  See his email about guessing for the 25 Bowl Games.  He needs your picks and money ($20 per sheet) by noon December 15^th.

Robb asked us to get our money in for the Fruit Sale ASAP so that we can distribute it to our charities. We sold 800+ cases this year.

The deadline for the Group Study Exchange Leader application is December 19.

Jen Shelby recently was honored for her philanthropy by the American Fundraising Group for her support for Shop with a Cop and Kendall Gill Tournament among and numerous other worthwhile endeavors.  Congratulations Jen.

Speaker

Our speakers were the Winners of the Essay Contest from Edison School.  The contest is jointly sponsored by Champaign Rotary Clubs.  Members of the clubs visited classes in Champaign Middle Schools and asked the students what it would it take to change the world.  The presentation included a four minute video on Rotary International followed by discussion.  The topic for the voluntary essay written by 197 students was “What is Rotary Doing to Change the World and What Can I Do?”

Students Panayiota Laros, Maggie Akinleye and Nidhi Dholaria read their essays to us.  Panayota talked about Rotary’s efforts for polio immunization, reducing maternal death in Nigeria and water supplies. She also told us about working on dolls for girls in Africa, recycling ,  a workathon she participated in at Empty Tomb, and getting involved in Breast Cancer awareness.

Maggie began her essay with the Rotary motto: Service Above Self and focused on R I initiatives but also  included some CU Sunrise projects such as Read Across America and local charities.  She highlighted Gary’s efforts for Shelterbox.  Maggie has served as a volunteer at Salt and Light and has tutored a 3d grader.  She believes that small things make a difference and hopes that someday maybe she will be a Rotarian.

Nidhi Spoke about Rotary initiatives for eliminating malnutrition, and projects in Nigeria and Uganda as well as Polio eradication.  She highlighted our water project in Uganda and CU Sunrise volunteer hours at Eastern Illinois Foodbank.  She has volunteered at Provena and Carle hospitals.  Nidhi ended her essay with the question, “How can you help a neighbor?”

Although there were only three points difference in the scores on these three essays, Nidhi was the first place winner and her essay will go on to compete with the winners of the other Champaign Middle Schools.

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Ed Perry poses with his favorite toy smuggler, Santa Claus, in downtown Champaign.  Perry along with several other Rotarians gathered on Friday, December 7th, to help with the Caroling for a Cause fundraiser.  The event was held to raise money and awareness for the TIMES Center, and was organized by our very own Marsha Reardon.  Thanks to all who came out to support this worthy cause.
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Upcoming Schedule

Dec 13 – Holiday party

Dec 20 – Kerri Spear, Austin’s Place – Emergency Shelter

Dec 27 – Eric Batsie, Partnership Manager of Big Brothers, Big Sisters

Announcements
(notes courtesy of the striped-tie-wearing Allan Penwell)

Rob announced that we sold 795 cases of fruit which is slightly down from last year.

There wasn’t a lot of enthusiasm for football this year (I wonder why?), but Harold is running a bowl game pool again this year.  Twenty bucks makes you a player.  More later.

December 13^th is our holiday party so be sure to let Patrice know if you are coming.  Sorry.  No gift exchange this year.  Boo-hoo, Jen.

President Jeff announced that DG Bidner is looking for a GSE team leader to go to Italy.  If we can’t find a team leader, then the Italian team can’t come here.  Diana?

Betsy Barringer was our honored guest, and we celebrated the life of her Rotarian husband, Larry, with a donation to Shelterbox, USA.  It was good to see Betsy again.

Marsha reminded everyone about the Caroling for a Cause event on Fri, Dec 7th in downtown Champaign.  The event is a fundraiser for the TIMES Center, one of our selected charities for the year.  The event will run from 6pm to midnight and will take place in front of Big Grove Tavern.  Several Rotarians have already signed up to sing, hand out coffee, and collect donations.  Contact Marsha if you are interested in participating.

Program

Our guest speaker last week was Jim Angel, climatologist, with the Illinois State Water Survey who discussed the 2012 drought.

Illinois is really a water rich state compared to the states west of the Mississippi, but last year was a relatively dry year.  A drought year is characterized obviously by below normal precipitation, but it also must have an economic impact.

Last year had a dry spring which was good for planting, but by July there was very little soil moisture left.  There was some rain in August, and Hurricane Isaac helped in October which brought in four inches of steady rain.  This was good for soil, but there was almost no run off to refill ponds, lakes, and rivers.

We have records going back to the 1800’s, and 2012 was the 7^th driest on record.  July 1936 was the hottest, but last year was in third place with ten 100 degree days.

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In the above photo Laura Auteberry and Phillip Holthaus are welcomed into the C-U Sunrise Rotary club.  Laura was sponsored by Penn Nelson and Phillip was sponsored by Jeff Van Buren.

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Upcoming Schedule

Dec 6 – Essay winners

Dec 13 – Holiday party

Dec 20 – Kerri Spear, Austin’s Place – Emergency Shelter

Dec 27 – TBD