“You cannot find peace by avoiding life.” – Virginia Woolf

“As a single footstep will not make a path on the earth, so a single thought will not make a pathway in the mind. To make a deep physical path, we walk again and again. To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.” ― Henry David Thoreau 

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

Dave Henry was welcomed into the club as newest member. David was born and raised in Danville and now lives in Champaign. He is the retail branch manager for PNC Bank in downtown Champaign and has served in many volunteer roles, including United Way. He is also chair of “Money Smart Week” which helps consumers manage their personal finances better.

Tod thanked the eight volunteers who helped Habitat’s “ReStore” organize their various displays of items for sale last Saturday. Darrell noted that everyone should check out our Facebook page to see our volunteers in action.

Tod also passed around a signup sheet for volunteer help with the local Men’s Emergency Shelter.  The shelter needs two volunteers to help clean up on Wednesda ymornings from 8am to 9am for the next six weeks, January 31 to March 7th.     

Mary Hodson is accepting books to be donated to “Books for Prisoners”. For more information see their web site at http://www.books2prisoners.org/.

PROGRAM

Michelle introduced the program by the Central High School Rotary Interact Club. The faculty sponsor is Sarah Tandet and the club’s student officers are: Dana Yun (president, senior), Nghi Nguyen (vice-president, junior), Sadie Kasten (officer, senior), and Grace Prom (officer, junior). The club has weekly half hour meetings on Friday at 7:30am, room 105 in Central High School. Usual attendance is 20 to 30 people with donuts, and they invited everyone from our club to attend.

The students presented information on what the Interact club has been doing with regards to fundraising and volunteering activities. Some of the Club’s volunteer and fundraising activities include their annual 5K Run in Crystal Lake Park, Central High School’s International Food Fair, Holiday Gift wrapping, Parade of Lights, and “Coin Wars”(where students donate and place their change from lunch into jars).

Their next fundraiser will be the 1st annual “Trivia Event” on Saturday, March 10th from 2 to 4pm. This fundraiser will take place in the lower library at Central High School. There are individual and team categories to enter. The team category include teams of five or six. They stated that 100% of the proceeds go to Austin’s Place, a local shelter for women who are homeless. Registration for this event is taking place right now. Sounds like a great opportunity for our club to have a team(s) challenge!

For more information check out these links to this great energetic young club (which we sponsor!) see:  

Instagram: @interact_central

Facebook: facebook.com/interactcentral

Website: interactcentral.weebly.com

and for registration and questions about the “Trivia Event” go to nhs.int.central@gmail.com. 

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

February 1st – Ed Perry will discuss his efforts in Vieques, Puerto Rico, after Hurricane Maria

February 8th – Captain Anthony Corapi, Commanding Officer of US Navy ROTC at UIUC (Bob)

February 15th – Dr. Kim Kidwell,  Robert A. Easter Chair as well as Dean of the College of ACES, UIUC

February 22nd – TBD

March 1st – Micah Putnam, Superintendent of Grounds at Allerton Park (Bob)

March 8th – TBD (Charlie)

March 15th – Kevin Erickson, Associate Professor of Architecture at UIUC (Bob)

March 22nd – Stacey LeFeber, Girl Scouts (Jen)

March 29th – TBD – Club Social

April 5th – TBD (Phyllis)

April 12th – TBD (Tod)

April 19th – Darrell Hoemann, Cruising the Rhine and Germany’s Holiday Markets (Mary)

April 26th – Dennis Hesch, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, The Carle Foundation, will discuss  Carle’s expansion/development at the Curtis/I-57 interchange (Phyllis)

May 3rd – TBD (Charlie)

May 10th – Zayd Jawad, Business Buddies (Mary)

May 17th – TBD (Phyllis)

May 24th – TBD (Tod)

May 31st – TBD – Club Social

June 7th – TBD (Tom)

June 14th – TBD (Bob)

June 21st – TBD (Charlie)

“Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.” ― Anais Nin 

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” ― John Bunyan 

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

ReStore: Tod needed 4 more volunteers for next Saturday’s ReStore project when they will reorganize the store selling area.

UC Books to Prisioners: Mary is asking for donations for the Books to Prisoners program for specific topics/authors. Most needed are books about the trades, chess, paperback dictionaries, Spanish/English dictionaries, and the following authors: Koontz, Patterson, and Grisham.

Club Social will b e February 22, Krannert Uncorked @ 5pm (There will be no regular meeting that day).

Diana passed around a proof of a proposed Club contact card to be used to thank our speakers and to gather contact information from them.

PROGRAM

We had a club assembly. Club committee leaders recapped activities from there groups at the half way point of our fiscal year.

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

January 25th – Central Interact (Michelle)

February 1st – Ed Perry will discuss his efforts in Vieques, Puerto Rico, after Hurricane Maria

February 8th – Captain Anthony Corapi, Commanding Officer of US Navy ROTC at UIUC (Bob)

February 15th – Dr. Kim Kidwell,  Robert A. Easter Chair as well as Dean of the College of ACES, UIUC

February 22nd – TBD

March 1st – Micah Putnam, Superintendent of Grounds at Allerton Park (Bob)

March 8th – TBD (Charlie)

March 15th – Kevin Erickson, Associate Professor of Architecture at UIUC (Bob)

March 22nd – Stacey LeFeber, Girl Scouts (Jen)

March 29th – TBD – Club Social

April 5th – TBD (Phyllis)

April 12th – TBD (Tod)

April 19th – Darrell Hoemann, Cruising the Rhine and Germany’s Holiday Markets (Mary)

April 26th – Dennis Hesch, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, The Carle Foundation, will discuss  Carle’s expansion/development at the Curtis/I-57 interchange (Phyllis)

May 3rd – TBD (Charlie)

May 10th – Zayd Jawad, Business Buddies (Mary)

May 17th – TBD (Phyllis)

May 24th – TBD (Tod)

May 31st – TBD – Club Social

June 7th – TBD (Tom)

June 14th – TBD (Bob)

June 21st – TBD (Charlie)

 “Empathy is really the opposite of spiritual meanness. It’s the capacity to understand that every war is both won and lost. And that someone else’s pain is as meaningful as your own.” ― Barbara Kingsolver 

“Confidence… thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

Tod announced that we will be helping at the Habitat Restore from 10 AM to 1 PM on January 20. Contact Tod if you wish to volunteer, too.

Mike Hirschi came to tell us about Champaign West’s Feb. 3rd event, “CU’s Got Talent”.  Tickets are $75 per person. Proceeds go to Frances Nelson, Family Services, Daily Bread Soup Kitchen and other charities.  

Mike also reminded us about the matching points available through January for RI Foundation donations.  To get the matching points, send the check to Mike or donate on line and send the receipt to him at 2402 High Meadow Lane, Champaign, 61822.

The next Rotary Leadership Institute will be from 8:00am to 3:00pm at Richland Community College in Decatur. Ask Bob for further details

There will be no morning meeting on Thursday, 2/22/18.  Instead we will have an evening social at Krannert Uncorked.  See you there at 5pm!

Read Across America will take place from 9:00am to 1:00pm on March 3 at Lincoln Square. Talk to Michelle for further details or to sign up to read.

Cary – the annual PETS conference (primarily for Presidents-Elect) will be on 3/17-3/18.  Go get ‘em tiger!

This month’s bucket money will go to support snacks and supplies for the men’s homeless shelter in Champaign.

PROGRAM

Phyllis introduced Micah Canfield, the Sustainability Coordinator at the University of Illinois.

U of I students vote on the Sustainability Program every four years.   The student fees generate financial support for sustainability programs around the campus.

Twelve students serve with faculty and staff advisors on the Executive Board.  Micah’s department handles fiscal administration. There are subcommittees on buildings, waste, storm water, transportation, etc.

The University also offers a Sustainability minor.  The coursework includes the Capstone Class, a living lab class where students work with a community partner on a local sustainability project.

The Illinois Sustainable Food Project is a sustainable six-acre student run farm.    Produce is sold on the farm stand on the Quad.   They also have a pilot food processing plant on campus.   The plant has a mill, sauce fermentation vat and other food production equipment.   Tomatoes grown in the summer are used to make 90% of the tomato sauce used on campus.  They even have a fresh press that makes designer paper from cellulose plant matter.

The Sustainability program has established a campus revolving loan fund, often matched by Facilities and Services, to support sustainable building upgrades.   

A twenty acre solar farm on the south side of campus generates 2% of the campus electricity needs.  

Over a dozen buildings on campus are LEED certified or pursuing certification.    Many buildings have rooftop solar panels. 

The goal of their Illinois Climate Action Plan is for a carbon neutral campus by 2050.

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

January 18th – Club Assembly

January 25th – Central Interact (Michelle)

February 1st – Ed Perry will discuss his efforts in Vieques, Puerto Rico, after Hurricane Maria

February 8th – Captain Anthony Corapi, Commanding Officer of US Navy ROTC at UIUC (Bob)

February 15th – Dr. Kim Kidwell,  Robert A. Easter Chair as well as Dean of the College of ACES, UIUC

February 22nd – TBD

March 1st – Micah Putnam, Superintendent of Grounds at Allerton Park (Bob)

March 8th – TBD (Charlie)

March 15th – Kevin Erickson, Associate Professor of Architecture at UIUC (Bob)

March 22nd – Stacey LeFeber, Girl Scouts (Jen)

March 29th – TBD – Club Social

April 5th – TBD (Phyllis)

April 12th – TBD (Tod)

April 19th – Darrell Hoemann, Cruising the Rhine and Germany’s Holiday Markets (Mary)

April 26th – Dennis Hesch, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, The Carle Foundation, will discuss  Carle’s expansion/development at the Curtis/I-57 interchange (Phyllis)

May 3rd – TBD (Charlie)

May 10th – TBD (Mary)

May 17th – TBD (Phyllis)

May 24th – TBD (Tod)

May 31st – TBD – Club Social

June 7th – TBD (Tom)

June 14th – TBD (Bob)

June 21st – TBD (Charlie)

   “Parents and schools should place great emphasis on the idea that it is all right to be different. Racism and all the other ‘isms’ grow from primitive tribalism, the instinctive hostility against those of another tribe, race, religion, nationality, class or whatever. You are a lucky child if your parents taught you to accept diversity.”
― Roger Ebert 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Notes provided by Allan Penwell)

Our challenge is to become a Star Club. A Star Club is one in which all members give $100 annually to The Rotary Foundation. Remember the Foundation is the engine that drives Rotary, and one of the reasons we are Rotarians. Now is the perfect time to donate because District 6490 and our club will match your cash with recognition points. The match program ends this month so time is limited. Donate now. Logon to My Rotary, and get out your credit card and meet the challenge.

If you still have fruit sale money it is time to turn it in.

PROGRAM

Steve Adams is the executive director of Prairielands Council which is the Boy Scout headquarters for seven area counties plus parts of two Indiana counties. Steve is also a member of the Champaign Rotary Club. Steve was born in Kentucky but has served in Scouting administration in Texas, California, and Chicago. He took over leadership of Prairielands Council in August 2016.

Next month, Boy Scouts of America will celebrate its 108th Anniversary. Prairielands Council serves 3,000 youth, 1,000 volunteers, and has five full-time employees. The annual budget is $900,000 and is funded by dues, corporate and individual donors, and United Way. In the Council, there are over 100 schools, churches, and other organizations that sponsor Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturing.

Camp Robert Drake is a year-around camp near Fairmount which was attended by 1,000 Scouts last summer. Forty local Scouts attended the 2017 Jamboree in New Jersey. Philmont Scout Ranch, Region 7 Canoe Base, and the Florida Sea Base offer high adventure sites for boys to learn outdoor skills.

Girls are being integrated into Cub and Boy Scouts this year although they have been part of the Venturing program for several years. Steve took questions, and our club has at least two Eagle Scouts, and several of us are parents of Eagle Scouts.

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

January 11th – Micah Kenfield, Sustainability Programs Coordinator, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Phyllis)

January 18th – Club Assembly

January 25th – TBD (Tod)

February 1st – Ed Perry will discuss his efforts in Vieques, Puerto Rico, after Hurricane Maria

February 8th – Captain Anthony Corapi, Commanding Officer of US Navy ROTC at UIUC (Bob)

February 15th – Dr. Kim Kidwell,  Robert A. Easter Chair as well as Dean of the College of ACES, UIUC

February 22nd – Dennis Hesch, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, The Carle Foundation, will discuss  Carle’s expansion/development at the Curtis/I-57 interchange (Phyllis)

March 1st – Micah Putnam, Superintendent of Grounds at Allerton Park (Bob)

March 8th – TBD (Charlie)

March 15th – Kevin Erickson, Associate Professor of Architecture at UIUC (Bob)

March 22nd – TBD (Mary)

March 29th – TBD – Club Social

April 5th – TBD (Phyllis)

April 12th – TBD (Tod)

April 19th – Darrell Hoemann, Cruising the Rhine and Germany’s Holiday Markets (Mary)

April 26th – TBD (Bob)

May 3rd – TBD (Charlie)

May 10th – TBD (Mary)

May 17th – TBD (Phyllis)

May 24th – TBD (Tod)

May 31st – TBD – Club Social

June 7th – TBD (Tom)

June 14th – TBD (Bob)

June 21st – TBD (Charlie)

“If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.” ― Albert Einstein 

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” ― Martin Luther King, Jr. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

President-elect Cary welcomed and thanked everyone for their making the extra effort to attend this morning’s meeting despite the bitterly cold temperatures. 

Chief Fruitcake Robb kindly requests that everyone get their money in, including those who are donating instead of selling.

PROGRAM

Mary introduced Royal P. Mortenson, Director of the Illinois Fire Service Institute at the University of Illinois. Prior to becoming director of IFSI, Royal served over 29 years with the United States Marine Corp in which he attained the rank of Colonel. His military career included various levels of leadership raising from infantry platoon commander to working with the Joint Chiefs, Secretary of Defense, White House, the Department of State, and Congress. In his final year of military service, he was the Director of the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Marine Corps University in Quantico, Va.

In September 2012, Royal became director of Illinois Fire Institute and his presentation this morning focused on the services that IFSI provides. IFSI began in 1925 and is the oldest continuous fire training institution in the United States. Its mission is “Helping Firefighters do their work through training, education, information and research”. The IFSI campus is a 28-acrea training ground with classroom space, library, live fire and technical rescue props and training equipment. The training courses are available on campus, at regional training centers located throughout the state, can be delivered to the local fire departments and internationally.

The IFSI has a full-time staff of 20 and a part-time staff of over 500 hands on top professionals from fire departments around the state. Royal gave examples on several courses taught which included dealing with fires in homes, commercial buildings and high-rise apartments. He also discussed the handling of emergency situations of first responders, rail road accidents, wild land fires, grain elevators, propane tanks and the extracting of people from collapsed buildings and autos.   

Since 1980, IFSI has served as the statutory fire training institution for the State of Illinois. Funding for IFSI comes from the State of Illinois Fire Marshall funds and grants. This past year the IFSI has delivered training to over 60,000 students, offered over 1,300 courses, and trained nearly 1,200 Illinois Fire Departments. Over 80% of all IFSI courses are taught off site. Education and information is learned in classrooms, on site and is also available on line.

The IFSI also houses state of the art facilities for life safety studies. With adjacent facilities to the live fire training, the researchers have immediate access to the firefighters, equipment and testing materials for laboratory analysis. On-site fire and heat chambers are also used for studies on the heat stress to the fire fighter. IFSI research has partnered up with the Underwriters Institute (UL), the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).     

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

January 4th – Steve Adams, Prairielands Council, Boy Scouts of America (Mary)

January 11th – Micah Kenfield, Sustainability Programs Coordinator, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Phyllis)

January 18th – Club Assembly

January 25th – TBD (Tod)

February 1st – Ed Perry will discuss his efforts in Vieques, Puerto Rico, after Hurricane Maria

February 8th – Captain Anthony Corapi, Commanding Officer of US Navy ROTC at UIUC (Bob)

February 15th – Dr. Kim Kidwell,  Robert A. Easter Chair as well as Dean of the College of ACES, UIUC

February 22nd – Dennis Hesch, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, The Carle Foundation, will discuss  Carle’s expansion/development at the Curtis/I-57 interchange (Phyllis)

March 1st – Micah Putnam, Superintendent of Grounds at Allerton Park (Bob)

March 8th – TBD (Charlie)

March 15th – Kevin Erickson, Associate Professor of Architecture at UIUC (Bob)

March 22nd – TBD (Mary)

March 29th – TBD 

April 5th – TBD (Phyllis)

April 12th – TBD (Tod)

April 19th – TBD (Tom)

April 26th – TBD (Bob)

May 3rd – TBD (Charlie)

May 10th – TBD (Mary)

May 17th – TBD (Phyllis)

May 24th – TBD (Tod)

May 31st – TBD

June 7th – TBD (Tom)

June 14th – TBD (Bob)

June 21st – TBD (Charlie)