“If you have an opportunity to make things better and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on earth.” ― Roberto Clemente 

“Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness.” ― Anne Frank 

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ― Epicurus 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The CU Sunrise Officers election was conducted. With some precincts are still not counted stay tuned for results.

President Rod presented a check in the amount of $175 to the Chez Center for Wounded Veterans.

President Rod reminded to “share” the CU Sunrise Facebook posts onto your own Facebook pages.

PROGRAM

Tod Satterthwaite introduced Diane Marlin the newly elected Mayor of Urbana as of May 1st this year.

Diane with her husband John Marlin are longtime residents of Urbana. In addition to being mayor Diane is Vice Chair of the Champaign County Economic Development Council.

The city budget is the main focus of Diane’s agenda. Not being able to count on property tax contributions from Carle Hospital ($5 million disputed), and with the State of Illinois projected to under fund city tax contributions by as much as 50%, Urbana must now address a projected General Operating Fund (GOF) deficit for this fiscal year.

Diane wants to initiate infrastructure development such as improving streets, sidewalks and street lights for the betterment of the community and to attract business development and increase tourism. Lincoln Avenue, Springfield Avenue and Vine Street are tops on her preference list.

Diane will soon initiate a nationwide search for a City Administrator who will be responsible for the day to day management of the city.

The Urbana Lincoln Hotel and Lincoln Square itself is also a priority, although both are private businesses. The hotel/shopping complex is in the center of the city and with the right plan can be the key to a downtown renaissance and an economic city engine. The challenge is the proposed $9.5 million city contribution (which after interest on a 20-year bond is actually $17 million). With the GOF on the hook if funding doesn’t meet projected economic benefits the overall plan is a critical detail that remains to be worked out.

Diane has made budget transparency a key to her overall plan, which includes city employee meetings, raise freezes for non-union employees, and creating of a voluntary job separation program.

Diane is planning a city e-newsletter and a Welcome to Urbana video to be placed on the city website. The video will feature the “stories” of Urbana, because as Diane put it “we have a great story to tell.”

NEW CLUB OFFICERS

At last week’s meeting the club elected our new slate of officers for the coming year:

President:  Bob LaCharite

President-Elect: Scott Paceley

Treasurer: Billy Stull

Secretary: Allan Penwell

Club Service Director: Keith Brandau

Community Service Director: Robb Patton

International Service Director: Ata Durukan

New Generations Director: Michelle Barbey

Vocational Service Director: Angie Schoonover

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

June 1st – David Grogan, Associate Director of University Compliance, UIUC (Mary)

June 8th – Cari Rinker, attorney, will discuss Mediation: An alternative to litigation (Bob)

June 15th – Sally Carter, CEO and Founder of Tap In Leadership Academy (Laura)

June 22nd – TBD (Tom)

June 29th – Pass the Gavel and Annual Club Awards Presentation

July 6th – Joe Rank, U of I Foundation, will discuss Illinois at 150 (Mary)

July 13th – Professor Leslie Looney, Director, Laboratory for Astronomical Imaging, UIUC will discuss the total solar eclipse on 8/21/17 (Phyllis)

July 20th – TBD

July 27th – TBD

August 3rd – TBD

August 10th – TBD

“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” ― Helen Keller 

“Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend – or a meaningful day.” ― Dalai Lama 

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

The Cliff Rocks! Foundation Benefit which provides scholarships for deserving ISU and Centennial youth with cancer, will be Memorial Day Weekend.  Find information on our website, cusunrise.org.

President Rod and the board are exploring international projects which will include the opportunity to volunteer in another country.  Please let him know if you would be interested.

Mary Hodson is looking for a program committee member.   You would be responsible for a CU Sunrise program once every 4 to 6 weeks.  Let her know if you would like to serve on the committee.

SPEAKER

Alicia Schneider of the Champaign County Humane Society gave an energetic talk on the independent organization which is supported solely by donation.  On Memorial Day weekend, they will hold their annual Garage Sale at the old County Market near Kirby and Neil.  Check the website at cuhumane.org for information on where to drop off donations for the sale.  The Fur Ball is their other fundraiser which will take place this year in October.

The mission of the not-for-profit society is to instill respect, kindness, and compassion for animals as community values and focuses on care for companion animals.   It is an open-door shelter which accepts companion animals including small birds, lizards, chinchillas, rabbits, etc. in addition to dogs and cats; who are well, sick, or in any condition if they come from an owner.  No farm or wild animals are accepted.  Stray animals are taken care of by Animal Control which keeps them for 10 days.  The society has no time limit and animals are kept until adopted.  Animals are euthanized only for terminal illness or extreme aggression.  The average number of animals at the shelter is 100 but varies a great deal.

Its primary purpose is to provide shelter, medicine and adoption services for the animals. The facility has large cages with shelves for cats, sky lights, and holding portals.  Surgery and heartworm and burn treatments are done on site.  The rate of adoption is high and there are special programs to encourage the adoption of older animals.

A further purpose is to educate.  Visits are made to Unit 4 first grades on the topic of bite safety, to university vet classes on topics like shelter management, and to adult care facilities with animals serving as memory triggers.   In addition, the society sponsors a Pet Pals Club for those 10 to 15 years old and an Adventure Camp.

Another purpose is to promote animal welfare by conducting investigations where workers at the facility visit people with pet challenges to try to help them cope rather than to take animals from them.  Education for prevention of cruelty to animals is important for many do not realize that it is a felony or major offense. 

The Humane Society works to increase public awareness of companion animal overpopulation; there are over 6 million animals in shelters in the US.  They also try to find solutions by providing low-cost spay and neuter programs in which they partner with the university vet med school students and their mobile van.  They also sponsor a trap and return program for feral cats.

Volunteers, 18 years old and up, are welcome and are used primarily for animal socialization, especially taking them out for walks.  In addition, help is needed for fund raisers and in the medical lab.  An orientation session for volunteers is held at The Urbana Free Library and an additional tour of the shelter is provided.  Contact Alicia at cuhumane.org or 217-344-7297 if you would like to volunteer or want more information.

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

May 25th – Diane Marlin, Mayor, City of Urbana (Tod)

June 1st – David Grogan, Associate Director of University Compliance, UIUC (Mary)

June 8th – Cari Rinker, attorney, will discuss Mediation: An alternative to litigation (Bob)

June 15th – Sally Carter, CEO and Founder of Tap In Leadership Academy (Laura)

June 22nd – TBD (Tom)

June 29th – Pass the Gavel and Annual Club Awards Presentation

July 6th – Joe Rank, U of I Foundation, will discuss Illinois at 150 (Mary)

July 13th – TBD

July 20th – TBD

July 27th – TBD

August 3rd – TBD

August 10th – TBD

“Anger is the enemy of non-violence and pride is a monster that swallows it up.” ― Mahatma Gandhi 

“Each day holds a surprise. But only if we expect it can we see, hear, or feel it when it comes to us. Let’s not be afraid to receive each day’s surprise, whether it comes to us as sorrow or as joy. It will open a new place in our hearts, a place where we can welcome new friends and celebrate more fully our shared humanity.” ― Henri Nouwen 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

President Rod presented a Bucket Money check to Joe Gamez from St. Elmo Brady Stem Academy.

The Program Committee has two vacancies.   Please contact Mary at maryfhodson@aol.com if you would like to serve on the committee.  

On November 8-15, 2017, there will be a Rotary Zone trip to explore our projects in Mexico.  Contact Mary or the tour leader, Ron Appuhn at rappuhn53@yahoo.com, for more information.

Rod recognized Adam Wright for achieving the Paul Harris Foundation giving level.

Jack announced that dues are due by June 14.   Regular dues will be $230 and Senior dues will be $170 this year.  Please notify Allan or Jack by email if you do not plan to continue.

Ed announced that there will be a service opportunity helping Sonya Darter set up museum displays at 9 AM on May 20 at Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana.  No special experience needed.

PROGRAM

Mary introduced Brian Adams, Assistant Director of Statewide Surveys with the Illinois State Archaeological Survey of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois. Brian serves on the PACA Board and has recently written a biography of Urbana architect Joseph Royer.

The Arts and Crafts Movement originated in England as a response to the harshness of 19th century industrialization.   John Ruskin was an Oxfordian polymath who began the movement to bring back the arts and crafts of earlier eras.   His ideas spread to the rest of Europe and the U.S. in the late 19th and early 20th century.   

Joseph Royer was born in 1873.   He married Adelaide Danely, daughter of Alfred and Ella Danely, in a double wedding with her sister Nell and Sydney Brooks.  It was the highlight of the social season in Urbana.  Sadly, Nell’s husband died a year later.

There are over 200 known Royer projects in a variety of architectural styles.  His wife Adelaide was an accomplished interior decorator.  Her sister Nell was an artist.  Joseph incorporated their work in his home designs.

Most of us know that Royer was the architect for the Champaign County Court House, but we may not be aware of all of the other Urbana landmarks that he designed.

Joseph Royer designed the Urbana Lincoln Hotel with a “Butterfly” plan.  Two wings were bent toward each other to symbolize a welcoming.   The Eastern Illinois Memorial Sanitarium, now Carle Hospital, was designed with three wings in a “Y” shape, allowing each patient room to have sunlight during some part of the day.

The Alpha Rho Chi Fraternity House was designed with a crude, medieval look, characteristic of the Craftsman style.  He designed the First Christian Church of Urbana, now Canaan Baptist, in the Prairie Style.  The D.L. Christopher House on Florida Avenue was built in a Spanish mission style.

Royer’s home on Oregon St. in Urbana was inspired by Gustav Stickley’s mission style.  Craftsman techniques were used in both the interior and exterior design. Nell painted the murals in the dining room of the home.   In 1923, Royer built an English Revival cottage around the corner on Busey Ave. for his mother-in-law.   

Nell invented a technique for reproducing etchings in a variety of colors. She became well known for her California mission color etchings and exhibited these at the U of I in 1933.   After the death of Nell Brooks – Mayhew, her granddaughter – donated her original sketches to the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the University of Illinois.

In 1925, Adelaide wrote “The Fairy Book”, illustrated by Nell.  The story was about fairies who lived by day in the Brownfield Woods and came out by night to help build the cottage on Busey Ave.

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

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

May 25th – Diane Marlin, Mayor, City of Urbana (Tod)

June 1st – David Grogan, Associate Director of University Compliance, UIUC (Mary)

June 8th – Cari Rinker, attorney, will discuss Mediation: An alternative to litigation (Bob)

June 15th – Sally Carter, CEO and Founder of Tap In Leadership Academy (Laura)

June 22nd – TBD (Tom)

June 29th – TBD

July 6th – Joe Rank, U of I Foundation, will discuss Illinois at 150 (Mary)

July 13th – TBD

July 20th – TBD

July 27th – TBD