“When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves and our own self-preservation, we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.” ― Joseph Campbell 

 “I have become my own version of an optimist. If I can’t make it through one door, I’ll go through another door – or I’ll make a door. Something terrific will come no matter how dark the present.” ― Rabindranath Tagore 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Notes provided by Allan Penwell).

There is no morning meeting on March 30th.  We are having a social at Krannert Uncorked on the same day at 5:30 p.m.  Come and join the fun – Ed Perry may even dance!

The All Rotary area meeting is set for 11:30am on April 26 at the Round Barn Center.  We will cancel our meeting that week (4/27) so please plan on attending the All Rotary meeting.

May 6-7 is the annual District 6490 Conference and this year it is conveniently held in Champaign.  Mark your calendars, and think about at least attending the lunch which is a great experience.

We have received a district grant of $1,200 for flowers at the Champaign County Nursing Home.  Expected completion is by Mother’s Day.  Phyllis and Lou will solicit volunteers in the near future.

Michelle noted that April 1st is a workday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Sola Gratia.  See Tod for further details.

PROGRAM

Our club assembly was held to review progress of our Visioning Plan.

Club Service:  We have a defined membership drive and thus far there are three new members and two more prospects.  The goal is to finish the year at 43 members. There is oversight for new members to be engaged.  Rod needs help with our website. The Family of Sunrise Committee is in touch with our members

Community Service:  Our Facebook page has been active with video snippets to promote our club in the community.  .  We are looking at partnering with other clubs for service projects. We have a monthly community service project.

Awards Committee:  Under control with Oktay’s leadership.

Youth:  We participated in the 5K run by the Central Interact Club.  Communication is good.

International Service:  Ata is coordinating with Eric Robeson of Champaign West for an overseas project.

Fundraising:  Fruit sale is on track as usual.  John is actively looking into a balloon festival for 2018.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)

March 30th – No am meeting; CUSR Social at 5:30pm at Krannert Uncorked

April 6th – Lex Tate, adjunct lecturer in journalism and advertising at UIUC, will discuss her book An Illini Place—Building the University of Illinois Campus (Phyllis)

April 13th – Morgan Johnston, Director of Sustainability, Facilities and Services, UIUC

April 20th – Cynthia Bruno, Agrible (Tom)

April 27th – TBD (Bob)

May 4th – Speaker from the Trinity Horsemanship Foundation (Ata)

May 11th – TBD (Mary)

May 18th – Alicia Schneider, Champaign County Humane Society (Phyllis)

May 25th – TBD

June 1st – TBD (Mary)

June 8th – TBD (Bob)

June 15th – TBD (Laura)

June 22nd – TBD (Tom)

“There are two kinds of pride, both good and bad. ‘Good pride’ represents our dignity and self-respect. ‘Bad pride’ is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance.” ― John C. Maxwell 

“May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you.” ― Unknown 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Sir Edward Perry)

Rod reminded everyone that this week’s meeting (3/23) will be a club assembly with emphasis on reviewing our strategic plan and club goals.

Our March 30th our normal morning is canceled in favor of an evening social gathering  at the “Uncorked” event at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

Laura noted that the Champaign Park District Foundation is having a benefit concert on April 1 at The City Center. The evening starts at 7:30pm with comedian Chris Schlicting and then is followed by the band Mike & Joe. Tickets are available for $10 or $20 dollars. For more information check the Champaign Park District Foundation web site.   

Andrew announced that the annual RYLA Conference is coming up on April 22 at the 4-H Camp at Allerton Park, and volunteers are needed to serve as resume and job interview mentors. Phillis noted that she has served in this role in the past and enjoyed it. See Andrew for further information.

Please make plans to attend the all area Rotary Club luncheon Wednesday, April 26 at the Round Barn Center. This meeting will take the place of our Thursday, April 27th meeting.

It is never too early to sign up for the Rotary District Conference for the weekend of May 6th and 7th at the Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign.

PROGRAM

Laura introduced our speaker for the morning, John McDaniel. John has been a long-time member of our club having moved to our area from Casey, Illinois. He presented information and a preliminary plan for a possible fundraiser for our club. The plan is for our club to be the leading partner in a Champaign County Hot Air Balloon meet.

John has been active in Hot Air Balloon meets dating back to his days in the 1980s in Casey, Illinois. He has always had an interest in hot air balloons and the opportunity of such an event to raise money for our club.

John presented a variety of examples of activities and ideas from recent hot air balloon events in Lincoln, Centrailia, and Danville, Illinois. Included in the presentation was information he has gathered over the years starting from events he organized in Casey, along with what he has observed at many recent hot air balloon events. 

John talked about the importance of selecting an optimum time of year for the event and the various types of sponsorships.  He covered a variety of things such as radio and TV coverage, vendors, insurance, food services, family activities, live entertainment and location selection. He also described the many hot air balloon activities, such as gondola rides and photographs, tethered lifts, balloon glows and Hare and Hound races. He also covered anticipated costs and possible fundraising amounts.  

John offered to be our club’s leader for such an event and handed out a preliminary plan for our club to review and consider (see John for copies).

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)

March 23rd – Club Assembly (Mary)

March 30th – No am meeting; CUSR Social at 5:30pm at Krannert Uncorked

April 6th – Lex Tate, adjunct lecturer in journalism and advertising at UIUC, will discuss her book An Illini Place—Building the University of Illinois Campus (Phyllis)

April 13th – TBD

April 20th – TBD (Tom)

April 27th – TBD (Bob)

May 4th – Speaker from the Trinity Horsemanship Foundation (Ata)

May 11th – TBD (Mary)

May 18th – Alicia Schneider, Champaign County Humane Society (Phyllis)

May 25th – TBD

June 1st – TBD (Mary)

June 8th – TBD (Bob)

June 15th – TBD (Laura)

June 22nd – TBD (Tom)

“The basic difference between being assertive and being aggressive is how our words and behavior affect the rights and well being of others.” ― Sharon Anthony Bower 

 “If you limit your choice only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise.” ― Robert Fritz 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the unconventional and unorthodox Paul Conforti)

Joe McDaniel from Champaign West announced an area wide Rotary NCAA Tournament challenge. Rotary will use a Yahoo hosted web site, the entry fee will be $10 (you can use BidPal to pay, or pay President Rod next meeting). One half of each entry will be returned to each member’s club and there will be 3 winners receiving 60%, 30% and 10% of the remaining pot based on the final standings.

Instructions at: https://tournament.fantasysports.yahoo.com/t1/group/29657

March 23rd (Thursday) meeting will be a club assembly with a focus on Visioneering and Goals. There will also be a short new member orientation.

March 30th (Thursday): CU Sunrise at Krannert Uncorked (5pm) and our regular Thursday morning meeting will not be happening that day. Krannert Uncorked Stage 5 is the crossroads to gather, make connections, and try a new wine. Garrett Ryan and Ryan Byfield will each perform a 55-minute set. Wine samples selected and served by Big Grove Tavern.

New Rotarian Orientation: President Rod would like to schedule a formal new member orientation at a date to be named sometime in April.

April 26th (Wednesday) will be the all area Rotary meeting. We will not have our Thursday meeting that week.

PROGRAM

Keith introduced Ann-Perry Witmer from the University of Illinois Department of Engineering

Ann holds a Civil Engineering degree from the University of Illinois. Ann also holds degrees in journalism and art history magna cum laude from Boston University. Currently Ann is pursuing a graduate degree in engineering investigating the relationship between technical design and non-engineering considerations like politics, culture and economics.

Her presentation focused on the Honduras Water Project, an engineering course providing students the opportunity to see how learning can have real life applications. The two-semester long course includes a 10-day research trip to Cerro Verde, Honduras. Students were grouped into 4 teams– social, political, water, and structures – and carried out various tasks during the trip to collect needed information for the water distribution system, and to conduct health education workshops in the community.

This project teaches engineers to recognize the needs of people they are serving into the projects they are designing; called Client-Centered Engineering:

-Focus on client needs, not on personal expertise

-Determine client expectations of what the project will mean to them

-Propose engineering solutions interactively with the population

-Consider the non-technical and cultural influences of the population being served.

There is an upcoming course that builds on the Honduras Water Project by researching the impact that engineering design has on communities. Ann would like to see it continue to grow on an understanding that any discipline involved in international development can benefit both the engineer and the population served. Interdisciplinary approaches to international development needs to be more widespread. And it will only make engineers stronger.

Honduras Water Project: http://publish.illinois.edu/iaslibrary/tag/ann-perry-witmer/

Ann-Perry Witmer

University of Illinois College of Engineering

217-244-7805

awitmer@illinois.edu

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)

March 16th – John McDaniel, CUSR Rotarian, will discuss a major fundraising idea for the club (Laura)

March 23rd – Club Assembly (Mary)

March 30th – No am meeting; CUSR Social at 5:30pm at Krannert Uncorked

April 6th – Lex Tate, adjunct lecturer in journalism and advertising at UIUC, will discuss her book An Illini Place—Building the University of Illinois Campus (Phyllis)

April 13th – TBD

April 20th – TBD (Tom)

April 27th – TBD (Bob)

May 4th – Speaker from the Trinity Horsemanship Foundation (Ata)

May 11th – TBD (Mary)

May 18th – TBD (Phyllis)

May 25th – TBD

June 1st – TBD (Mary)

June 8th – TBD (Bob)

June 15th – TBD (Laura)

June 22nd – TBD (Tom)

“Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.” ― Albert Schweitzer 

“A hero is somebody who voluntarily walks into the unknown.” ― Tom Hanks 

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

Rod Roberts presented Darrell Homan with his first Paul Harris Fellow award this morning.

The Savoy Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast will be Saturday, March 11 at the First Baptist Church.  Tickets can be purchased at the door for this annual fund raiser.

The Champaign Rotary Club will celebrate a 100th Birthday party on April 1 at the I-Hotel.  Festivities start at 5:30 with a cocktail hour.  Registration is available on line at bidpal.net/cpnrotary100 . The deadline is Tuesday March 21st.

CU Sunrise will participate in Read Across America this Saturday at Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana.

The All Rotary Meeting at the Round Barn will be April 28.

On March 30, there will be no morning CU Sunrise meeting; instead we will have a Club Social at 5:30 at Krannert Uncorked.

Bucket money for March goes to Courage Connection.

PROGRAM

Global Rotary Scholar Grant recipient, Miranda Meng presented an Introduction to the Rotary Clubs in Taiwan.  Miranda is from Taipei and is working on a master’s degree in Human Resource Development at the UIUC College of Education. 

The indigenous people of beautiful Taiwan are the same as those who traveled over the Bering Strait to the Americas.  Taiwan was colonized by China in the 17th century and occupied by Japan from 1895 to 1945.  Today it is a multi-party democracy with universal suffrage.

There are 764 Rotary Clubs in seven districts with 34,726 members.  Donations from these clubs to RI currently amount to $5,250,000. 

District 3480 promotes English education in remote areas by matching high school students with elementary students in a 3- year project to mentor them in English.  They also sponsor an employment fair for workers, 45 and over, resulting in job offers and career training for 1,800 people.  In addition, funds are raised for library reconstruction in remote areas for children of indigenous people. 

The Rotary Club of Taipei was founded in 1948 as the first Rotary Club in Taiwan.  Miranda got involved in Rotaract through an English language speech competition sponsored by the Taipei club.  The club is currently working to establish more Rotary clubs in China. Global service projects include transforming lives through music in Malaysian prisons and fundraising projects in Myanmar and Indonesia. 

Miranda, a former president of her Rotaract Club, described it as a community-based club for 18 to 30-year-old members, with a focus on students.  The world- wide Rotaract meeting, Interota, will take place in Taipei, Taiwan this year.  Miranda has participated in Round Trips abroad and her club initiated projects with participants in six countries in 2016.  The club’s 20-30 members have participated in service projects such as cleaning the beaches as well as sponsoring the national English speech contest.

At UIUC Miranda is working on an educational website in learning technology to help students from other countries prepare to visit or work in American classrooms.  She is also involved in a Human Relations Development Consulting Services coaching program which offers on-the-job training.  If you are interested contact her at miranda.meng@gmail.com

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)

March 9th – Ann Witmer, UIUC, will discuss her involvement in a  water project in Honduras through the U of I (Keith)

Marcy 16th – John McDaniel, CUSR Rotarian, will discuss a major fundraising idea for the club (Laura)

March 23rd – Club Assembly (Mary)

March 30th – No am meeting; CUSR Social at 5:30pm at Krannert Uncorked

April 6th – Lex Tate, adjunct lecturer in journalism and advertising at UIUC, will discuss her book An Illini Place—Building the University of Illinois Campus (Phyllis)

April 13th – TBD

April 20th – TBD (Tom)

April 27th – TBD (Bob)

May 4th – Speaker from the Trinity Horsemanship Foundation (Ata)

May 11th – TBD (Mary)

May 18th – TBD (Phyllis)

May 25th – TBD

June 1st – TBD (Mary)

June 8th – TBD (Bob)

June 15th – TBD (Laura)

June 22nd – TBD (Tom)