Announcements

(Notes provided by Allan Penwell)

Many thanks to Jen Shelby for opening up her house for our social last week.  She was glad to have us, and we’ll do it again!

Molly has organized a Sunrise team for the CUSF Spelling Bee, and we are now known as the Sunrise Rotar-Bees.  Spellers are Barb Lintner, Larry Johnson, and Jeff Van Buren.  The event takes place on Saturday, November 8^th from 6:00 to 10:00 pm at the Illinois Terminal.  We raised almost $400 so give all of us a pat on the back.  There are nine spectator passes available so let Molly know if you want one.

The Rotary Minute was delivered by Phyllis Mischo.  Phyllis works in the Swanlund Building at the U of I, and her husband, Bill, is the librarian at the College of Engineering. Phyllis and Bill, who were high school sweethearts, have two married sons but no grandchildren.  Phyllis grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm, is the youngest of three girls, and can drive a tractor.  Phyllis’ two favorite vacation spots are Vancouver and Switzerland.  She appreciates the collegiality of Rotary and its mission to make every day a better day for everyone.

Program

Paul Diehl works as an independent scholar of global affairs at UIUC.  He was formerly Henning Larsen Professor of Political Science where he remains Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and teaches courses for the Campus Honors Program and the Global Studies major.

Paul’s topic was the Power of One, albeit the negative power of one.   Simple acts of individuals can have incredible world-wide ramifications.  Examples include:

*The assassination of the Archduke of Ferdinand which led to World War I.

*The reverend Terry Jones threated to burn the Koran which started threats against the United States.

*Ebola is a crisis that demands national attention, but we have no surgeon general because a single senator, Rand Paul, blocked the nominee for the position.

*A soldier was killed at the Canadian Parliament by a suspected terrorist which will mean there will be more security and less access to public buildings in Canada.

These negative acts get more attention today because of social media and the capability of cell phones to take pictures and videos.  In an instant, events can be transmitted around the world and are available for pronounced exploitation.  Broader meanings are developed and conspiracy theories may abound.  According to Dr. Diehl, research has shown that people’s brains are reacting more to emotion than to rational thinking.  More and more, Paul sees that people are only watching television programs or listening to radio where they are predisposed and which reinforce their opinions.

An interesting discussion followed, and Paul urged us to read Profiles in Courage which was written in 1955 about eight U.S. senators who defied opinions of their party and constituents to do what they felt was right.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE

October 30th – Joe Hooker, Assistant City Attorney for the City of Champaign, will discuss the Mahomet Aquifer

November 6th –  Anne Sautman, Director of Education at Krannert Art Museum, will talk about KAM’s current exhibits of Goya prints and French WW I posters

November 13th – Carl Burkybile, Champaign Rotary World Community Service Co-chair, Caring for Kenya Director, Healing Hands International Director of Agriculture

November 20th – Terry McLennand, Director, External Affairs, Prairie Research Institute (PRI), will discuss the breadth and depth of the organization he works for.  The Prairie Research Institute is home to more than 1,000 researchers and staff and $80+ million in external research funding; the Institute provides objective research, expertise, and data on the state’s natural and cultural resources.  The units of the PRI are the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois Archaeological Survey, Illinois Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, and the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.

November 27th – Thanksgiving, no meeting

December 4th – TBD

December 11th – Sam Reese will discuss the history of Jazz and Chicago

December 18th – C-U Sunrise Rotary Holiday Party – don’t forget your fancy clothes!

 Announcements
(notes provided by the crafty and courageous Barb Lintner)

Diana will chair the Christmas Party which will be December 18^th.  She is looking for volunteers to shop for presents and wrap them, or work on the program.

Molly is recruiting teams for the Adult Spelling Bee on November 8 at 6pm at the Illinois Terminal.  Proceeds will benefit the CU Schools Foundation.  Barb volunteered to spell for the CU Sunrise team.  We need two more spellers for the team and others to donate to come up with the $150 fee to enter.  We also need costume ideas and a clever name for the team.  Come join the fun too and be a spectator that evening for $25.

The social at Jen’s house this Wednesday will be at 5 pm.  Send her an email if you plan to attend and tell her what delicious dish you will bring.

President Todd presented an RI Paul Harris to Reuben Chambers.  Congratulations Mr. Chambers!

Speaker

Robin Christian Peters, CEO of Dreamscape, Award-Winning Movies and Interactive Media, spoke to us about his work which currently focuses on screen writing and movie production but was centered on advertising and TV commercial production in the 80’s.  He has written 45 screen plays and directs and produces his own movies.  He has offices in Illinois and in Hollywood and is able to secure talent through connections there.

Many of his movies are made in the CU area.  95% of movies 10 years ago were made in Hollywood but today only 10% are made there.  One of the reasons is that states like Illinois have up to 30% tax credits for movie production.  Another is that green screen technology allows high end effects in his studio.

Robin makes what the audience wants – genre movies – thrillers, action movies, and dog stories.  Some of his titles are Act Your Age, Sheeba, My Dog the Space Traveler, Disposable, and Lowlifes.  He showed us his Directors Reel, highlights of many of his films.

Robin uses the 10% formula for making films, spending no more than 10% of the expected income and financing then using backers, presales, and tax credits.  Since the industry is changing he will be focusing more on films released in movie theaters.  His formula for success is being efficient, crafting the right story with great scripts, finding stars, using local people for extras, and creating high end effects.

Robin can be contacted at:

robin_christian@hotmail.com

www.Dreamscape.LA

www.lmdb.com/name/nm1384445

CA: 310-499-8549, IL: 217-359-8484

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE

October 23rd – Dr. Paul Diehl, Henning Larsen Professor of Political Science, UIUC, will discuss international relations

October 30th – Joe Hooker, Assistant City Attorney for the City of Champaign, will discuss the Mahomet Aquifer

November 6th –  Anne Sautman, Director of Education at Krannert Art Museum, will talk about KAM’s current exhibits of Goya prints and French WW I posters

November 13th – Carl Burkybile, Champaign Rotary World Community Service Co-chair, Caring for Kenya Director, Healing Hands International Director of Agriculture

November 20th – TBD

November 27th – Thanksgiving, no meeting

December 4th – TBD

December 11th – Sam Reese will discuss the history of Jazz and Chicago

 Announcements
(notes provided by the venerable Neal Chamberlain)

Meeting Called to order by Todd, with the Invocation by Rod.

Sixty seconds of Fame, Review of Life by John McDaniel:

Native of Casey, Illinois – attended schools there – first job as disc jock on small town radio (75 cents/hour) – served in the Air Force – went to  Southern Illinois on the G.I. bill – he has moved 17 times (per his wife) – while in Casey he was responsible for beginning the community’s hot air balloon celebration (continuing in Casey yet today) –  worked many years at various levels in media – since 2006 employed at Twin City Reality.

Harold Adams is celebrating his anniversary word, and has it that he is also celebrating his younger brother’s three run homer to win Tuesday’s NLDS ball game for the St Louis Cardinals.

Congratulations to Andrew, he is getting married Saturday – his absence at the meeting was noted – perhaps he has other priorities.

CUSR’s club social is to be October 22 at Jen Shelby’s new home.

Diana has agreed to host/organize CUSR’s Christmas party which is to be December 18th.

November’s bucket money is to be donated to “Shop with a Cop” this Christmas season.

Congratulations to Paul Conforti – he is a new grandpa.  (Baby’s doing fine, not so sure about “ol” grandpa.)

Program

Our speaker for the day was Heidi Leuszler, Professor of Biology, Parkland College.  During her sabbatical from Parkland, Heidi and her husband and two children took a seven month trip toCosta Rica.

The trip was not the typical short tourist trip which often includes the busy tourist areas with plush hotels of the city. Heidi’s trip was planned and organized to be in a small rural community with only the “very basics” for accommodations and food.  She described how this allowed their family to live as the native Costa Ricans live and develop friendships with the rural community.

Their children attended the schools in the rural area and they shopped for food and supplies at the small markets in the small community.  They rented a car the first week they were there, the remaining months of their stay their only means of transportation was by walking.

Heidi mentioned the following interesting/educational aspects of their trip:

*Drinking water, from the mountains, is available to 99% of the citizens.

*Sanitation is available to 94% of the citizens.

*The country is 76% Catholic.

*Literacy rate is 96%.

*Small shops in the small town were busy during the day – deserted at night.

*Heidi’s children attended schools, two classes in each room, where Spanish was spoken/taught.

*The major agricultural commodity is coffee.  Some farmers are changing to sugar cane.

*Heidi’s children quickly learned that they could have fun playing very simple games with other children without the necessity of electronic games.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE

October 16th – Robin Christian Peters will discuss directing movies, interactive media, and video development

October 23rd – Dr. Paul Diehl, Henning Larsen Professor of Political Science, UIUC, will discuss international relations

October 30th – Joe Hooker, Assistant City Attorney for the City of Champaign, will discuss the Mahomet Aquifer

November 6th –  Anne Sautman, Director of Education at Krannert Art Museum, will talk about KAM’s current exhibits of Goya prints and French WW I posters

November 13th – Carl Burkybile, Champaign Rotary World Community Service Co-chair, Caring for Kenya Director, Healing Hands International Director of Agriculture

November 20th – TBD

November 27th – Thanksgiving, no meeting

Announcements
(notes provided by the unorthodox and unconventional Paul Conforti)

Les Schulte from the Illini After 5 Club is accepting donations for their clubs annual dictionary give-away to every 3rd grader in Champaign County. Les noted how appreciative IA5 is to our club for our generous donations through the years.

Molly Delaney announced that she is forming teams for the annual Adult Spelling Bee to be held at the Illinois Terminal on Saturday November 8th at 6pm. There will be 40 teams of 3 each with a $150 entry fee with proceeds benefiting Champaign Schools Foundation. Get yer team and see Molly. (Yer, Y-E-R, yer).

Program

Our speaker, Illinois Women’s Head Volleyball Coach Kevin Hambly, was introduced by Bob LaCharite.

In his 6th year as head coach Kevin Hambly has taken Illinois volleyball to new heights in his tenure in Champaign. In his five years as head coach, Illinois is 114-51 with four trips to the NCAA Sweet 16, including 2011’s historic run to the national championship match and a 32-5 overall season record. Coach Hambly was named NCAA coach of the year in 2011 and is currently president of the National Association of Volleyball Coaches.

Coach Hambly spoke about a number of topics, including how he teaches his players to challenge themselves, going from good to great, instilling trust in his system and developing courage. Not a day goes by when he doesn’t work with his team not only on volleyball skills but also life skills and how his players can and will use this experience as a foundation for life after playing volleyball. “Learn how to learn, learn how to work, and learn that to be successful you will have to first be unsuccessful”.

With prudent prodding by Jen Shelby, Coach Hambly talked about the benefits of joining the Illini Networkers. The Illini Networkers is a booster club for the University of Illinois Women’s Varsity Volleyball Team.  The club’s purpose is to promote fan interest and enthusiasm in the Women’s Varsity Volleyball Program at the University of Illinois and provide an organization which promotes the opportunity for socialization among fans, team personnel, and coaching staff.  It is a fun club providing members unique opportunities to understand and know the game better.  For more info, see www.facebook.com/illininetworkers/

Coach Hambly is married to Mary Coleman Hambly, who is both a former player (1995–98) and former assistant coach (2004–06) at Illinois. Kevin and Mary have two daughters, Quinn and Maura.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE

October 9th – Heidi Leuszler, Associate Professor of Biology, Parkland College, will discuss her time in Costa Rica

October 16th – Robin Christian Peters will discuss directing movies, interactive media, and video development

October 23rd – Dr. Paul Diehl, Henning Larsen Professor of Political Science, UIUC, will discuss international relations

October 30th – Joe Hooker, Assistant City Attorney for the City of Champaign, will discuss the Mahomet Aquifer

November 6th –  Anne Sautman, Director of Education at Krannert Art Museum, will talk about KAM’s current exhibits of Goya prints and French WW I posters

November 13th – Carl Burkybile, Champaign Rotary World Community Service Co-chair, Caring for Kenya Director, Healing Hands International Director of Agriculture

November 20th – TBD

November 27th – Thanksgiving, no meeting