PROGRAM
(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

Phyllis introduced Dr. Stephen Boppart.  Professor Boppart grew up in Harvard, Illinois, and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1990 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and an option in Bioengineering. Continuing at UIUC, he completed his M.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1991.  From 1991 to 1993, at the Air Force Laser Laboratory in San Antonio, Texas, he conducted research on laser-tissue interactions in the eye, helping establish national laser safety standards. Prof. Boppart then went on to MIT, receiving his Ph.D. in 1998 in Medical and Electrical Engineering.  As part of a joint program between MIT and Harvard, Prof. Boppart completed his M.D. from Harvard Medical School in June 2000.

Currently, Prof. Boppart is a full professor with appointments in the Departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Bioengineering, and Medicine at UIUC. He is Head of the Biophotonics Imaging Laboratory at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology and along with a team of 25 researchers, is investigating novel optical diagnostic imaging technologies. From 2006-2008, he served as Founding Director of the Mills Breast Cancer Institute, and holds a joint position with Carle Foundation Hospital and Carle Clinic Association in Urbana, Illinois. His efforts included constructing a new building and developing new infrastructure to support translational research and technology development in breast cancer research between UIUC and Carle Foundation Hospital. Currently he is initiating efforts to direct a campus-wide Illinois Imaging Initiative intended to leverage the strengths and diversity of over 100 faculty working in all aspects of imaging science, technology, and application.

Biophotonics is an exciting field that researches and develops optical technology for the interaction of light or photons with biological organisms, tissues, cells and molecules.  One application uses light to produce  three dimensional images of cancer tumors.   Dr. Boppart explained that during surgery, OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) can be used to image the perimeter of a tumor to help the surgeon decide how much adjacent tissue should be removed.

For more information about the Biophotonics Imagine Laboratory, see www.biophotonics.illinois.edu.

—

—

Upcoming Schedule

May 1st – Samual Byndom, Director of Urbana Adult Education

May 8th – Joe Murphy, board member for the Champaign Urbana Theatre Company

May 15th – Pat Titus, Titus Farms, representing the Illinois Pork Board

May 22nd – Tom Ulen will discuss Issues in College Athletics

May 29th – Marva Nelson, Associate Professor of English at Parkland College

June 5th – TBD

June 12th – Daniel Bronson Lowe, PhD, Senior Infection Specialist at Carle

Announcements

(Notes provided by Allan Penwell).

Brief Bio Time with Chuck Reifsteck:  Chuck is married to Lisa Courtney, and they have two daughters.  Elsa is in the UIUC graduate school of architecture, and Jhane is a producer of Channel 3 News.  Chuck has his own architecture firm, Gorski Reifsteck, which employs 15 people.

Ata read a touching eulogy to Ray Lytle prepared by Gary Olsen.  Ray and Gary had their own architecture firm for 20 years, and Gary described Ray as an outstanding talent.  Ray was the father of current C-U Sunrise Rotarian, B.J. Lytle.  Ray was also a member of Champaign West Rotary and its long-time sergeant-of-arms.

Chuck reminded everyone that the Rotary District Conference will be held May 3 & 4, 2014 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign. Sign up forms can be found on our web page.

Paul Conforti was really absent from this week’s meeting even though Tod was wearing his name badge.  That Paul, always playing pranks even when he’s not present.

Program

Gary Olsen introduced his neighbor, Varkki (George) Pallathucheril who has a PhD in city and regional planning from Ohio State.  He is currently teaching in the UIUC Department of Urban & Regional Planning, but he is also on the faculty at the American University of Sharjah.  His program was about the University of Sharjah, which was founded in 1997, as well as the geography, culture, and politics of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) region.

The University of Sharjah has 5,500 students, and it uses the American model of education.  Twenty percent of the students are from the UAE, and eighty percent are from other countries.  Classes are taught in English, and offerings are in professional degrees such as architecture, engineering, and business as well as the arts and sciences.  Degrees are accredited to international standards.

Sharjah is one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  George lives in Dubai which is part of the UAE, and it is near Sharjah where he teaches.  UAE is on the Persian Gulf and has controversial neighbors such as Yemen, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.  George described Arabic tendencies regarding privacy, the encroachment on the desert due to urban sprawl, and the dramatic economic expansion of Dubai.

—

—

Upcoming Schedule

April 24th – Dr. Stephen Boppart , Bliss Professor of Engineering at UIUC, will discuss biophotonics

May 1st – Samual Byndom, Director of Urbana Adult Education

May 8th – Joe Murphy, board member for the Champaign Urbana Theatre Company

May 15th – Pat Titus, Titus Farms, representing the Illinois Pork Board

May 22nd – Tom Ulen will discuss Issues in College Athletics

May 29th – TBD

June 5th – TBD

June 12th – Daniel Bronson Lowe, PhD, Senior Infection Specialist at Carle

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

The District Conference is May 3-4 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign.   There will be a band and dancing Saturday night.   Registration is due by April 25.   Our website has a link to the District website which has the registration form.

Reuben is selling $5 tickets to a breakfast benefiting CASA.   It will be at Applebees on May 31.

Sydney Richmond, from Calgary, Canada and La Penita, Mexico, introduced herself.   She will be attending our club while visiting her daughter’s family here for five weeks.

PROGRAM

Mary introduced Janet Kane, who spoke about her trips with a group from Trinity Lutheran Church in Urbana to Jacmel, Haiti.

The first trip was in 2010.   They flew into Port au Prince and then traveled to Jacmel on the Southern coast.  Sponsored by Lutheran World Charities, the group built houses.   They saw many Shelter Box tents.

In the succeeding three years, without the funding from Lutheran World Charities, they had to seek new ways to try to help.   Jan read the book, “When Helping Hurts, How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor or Yourself”, by Corbett and Fikkert.   The answer is to build relationships.

They went back with the intention of finding out the needs from the people themselves.   The members of Trinity Lutheran have helped construct a small church. They have taught English in small groups and have helped women establish small businesses.   Jacmel is the center of Carnival in Haiti so together, the ladies crocheted bags from grocery bags and made jewelry and cupcakes that could be sold at the Carnival.

Janet and her group from Urbana helped an orphanage near Jacmel that housed children who were sold into bondage.  Many children in Haiti are placed in bondage because it is the only way that their parents can feed them.   Only 50% of the children are able to go to school because there is no free public education.   You can sponsor a child in school for $240 a year   .

They also help sponsor a feeding program at $200 per day, at a tent city at Beaudouin.

Donations for Haiti can be made via Trinity Lutheran Church, 701 E. Florida, Urbana, 61801.   See HoldingHandswithHaiti@yahoo.com for more information.

—

—

Upcoming Schedule

April 17th – Varkki George, an urban planner who lived and worked for seven years in Dubai

April 24th – Dr. Stephen Boppart , Bliss Professor of Engineering at UIUC, will discuss biophotonics

May 1st – Samual Byndom, Director of Urbana Adult Education

May 8th – TBD

May 15th – Pat Titus, Titus Farms, representing the Illinois Pork Board

May 22nd – Tom Ulen will discuss Issues in College Athletics

May 29th – TBD

June 5th – TBD

Announcements
(notes provided the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Ed Perry)

Chuck reminded everyone that the Rotary District Conference will be held May 3 & 4, 2014 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign. Sign up forms can be found on our Web page.

Rod announced that “The Journey Into Dyslexia” film showing at 6:30pm on  March 31st at the Douglas Branch Public Library was a success and he thanked Molly for her help.

Tod announced that the Sola Gratia Farm has extended the cost savings discount to our club members to join in for fresh produce from this community supported agriculture program. See Tod for more information.

Program

Jim Gould introduced Janice McAteer, Director of Development, and Alison Hassen, Volunteer Coordinator, of the Developmental Services Center located in Champaign. Janice noted that the mission of DSC is to to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities by providing services and supports which enable them to live, work, learn and participate in their communities. She stated that the emphasis now is to provide “employment first” and finding work for the individuals in our communities.

DSC has a yearly budget of $12 million, employs 200 and provides service to 1100 individuals in all of Champaign County and parts of Piatt and Ford Counties. Following a short video about DSC and the people served Alison Hassen presented DSC volunteer opportunities available at the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon, C-U in the Prairibbean X, CarX Crazy K and C-U Oktoberfest events.

For more information about DSC visit www.dsc-illinois.org or for more volunteer opportunities contact Alison directly at ahassen@dsc-illinois.org.

—

—

Upcoming Schedule

April 10th – Jan Kane will discuss her mission trips to Haiti

April 17th – Varkki George, an urban planner who lived and worked for seven years in Dubai

April 24th – Dr. Stephen Boppart , Bliss Professor of Engineering at UIUC, will discuss biophotonics

May 1st – Samual Byndom, Director of Urbana Adult Education

May 8th – TBD

May 15th – Pat Titus, Titus Farms, representing the Illinois Pork Board

May 22nd – Tom Ulen will discuss Issues in College Athletics

May 29th – TBD