“The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”― Marcel Proust 

“Did you know there’s a difference between being busy and being fruitful? Did you ever stop to think that just being busy – running around in circles all day but not accomplishing anything – is the same as wasting your time? It’s frustrating to expend so much energy and time and not have any fruit from your effort!” ― Joyce Meyer 

“Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation. I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure. Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins.” ― Charles Stanley 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

No meeting on May 31.    Meetings on June 7 and 14 will be held at Good Shepard Lutheran Church at the corner of Prospect and Devonshire.

David Henry invited everyone to attend an event to be held on June 1-2 at Clinton Lake for Rotary Youth Exchange.

Dues of $240 are due on July 1.

Pass the Gavel will be on June 28 and installation of District Officers will be on July 8.

PROGRAM

Mary introduced Rachel Rasmussen, Volunteer Coordinator for Books2Prisioners.  Books2Prisoners was started 14 years ago by a group of teachers and retired librarians.   They are currently housed in the basement of the IMC building in Urbana, where volunteers respond to an average of 250 book requests per month.  To date, they have sent over 20,000 books to people incarcerated in Illinois prisons.   Books2Prisoners also runs lending libraries in the two local jails.   They collaborate with Reading Reduces Recidivism, an organization that puts books in libraries in correctional facilities.   

Books2Prisioners accepts donated books in good condition.  Donation bins are located in Lincoln Square outside of Common Ground and in the Post Office at the IMC.   They do not accept encyclopedias, large volume sets of books, journals, textbooks over five years old, CDs, DVDs or tapes.  Volunteers shelve the books that are appropriate to be sent and the rest are sold at one of two semi-annual sales held at the IMC building.   Proceeds from those sales are used to cover operating expenses such as mailing costs.   

The book most requested by prisoners is the dictionary.   Books2Prisoners purchases boxes of softcover dictionaries to meet the requests.  Other books in high demand are GED preparation books, urban fiction, Spanish books, books about addiction and recovery, the trades, how to write, Norse mythology, American sign language and thrillers by Patterson, Grisham and Koontz.   

Volunteer sessions are held on Tuesday evenings, Thursday afternoons and two Saturdays per month.   See the Books2Prisoners website for more details.

Education is the most effective intervention in breaking the high rate of recidivism among prisoners.   Part of the Books2Prisoners mission is also to provide a quality experience that gives volunteers an opportunity to connect with incarcerated people.

Rachel read several moving letters from incarcerated people who expressed their gratitude for the books they had received and described how reading had changed their lives.

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

May 31st – No morning meeting – Club Social instead

June 7th – Alternate Location – Dr Pauketat, U of I professor of Anthropology and Archaeologist at Cahokia World Heritage Site

June 14th – Alternate Location – Micah Putnam, Allerton Park and Retreat Center (Mary)

June 21st – TBD (Charlie)

June 28th – Annual Awards and Pass the Gavel Ceremony

July 5th – Mary and Darrell will discuss the Rotary International Convention

July 12th – TBD (Mary)

July 19th – TBD (Phyllis)

July 26th – Dr. Darren Pascavage, Founding Head of School, Academy High (Tom)

August 2nd – TBD (Bob)

August 9th – District Governor Pennie’s visit

August 16th – TBD (Charlie)

August 23rd – TBD (Mary)

August 30th – No regular meeting

September 6th – TBD (David)

September 13th – TBD (Phyllis)

September 20th – TBD (Tom)

September 27th – TBD (Bob)

October 4th – TBD (Charlie)

“If you don’t think your anxiety, depression, sadness and stress impact your physical health, think again. All of these emotions trigger chemical reactions in your body, which can lead to inflammation and a weakened immune system. Learn how to cope, sweet friend. There will always be dark days.” ― Kris Carr

“Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.” ― Samuel Johnson 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Tod passed around the sign-up list for the gardening and seed sale volunteer project on Saturday May 19th at the Sola Gratia farm in Urbana. 

Oktay reminded everyone to send him club awards nominations by May 21st. See Oktay’s recent email for more information. 

Keith asked everyone to let him know if they plan on attending the club’s party on his and Kim’s house boat on May 27th, from 1pm to 4 pm. He will also be providing rides on his vintage runabout. Those wishing a closer look at Lake Shelbyville may take tube rides. See his recent email for further information and please let him know if you are attending so they can have enough refreshments. This social gathering takes the place of our May 31st meeting. 

Darrell noted that due to the kitchen remodeling at the Hawthorn Suites, our regular CUSR morning meetings of June 7th and June 14th will be at the Good Shepard Lutheran Church, 2101 S. Prospect, Champaign. Times with be the same and a light breakfast will be catered in.

CU Sunrise Rotary Charter Member, Jack Kamerer is back in town and stopped by to say hello to all.

PROGRAM

Phyllis introduced Laura Weisskopf Bleill as today’s speaker. Laura is the associate director of the University of Illinois Research Park. Her role includes directing the Research Park’s community building efforts, managing communications and branding, and facilitating resources for early-stage technology entrepreneurs. In 2017, she was honored by the Champaign County Innovation Celebration with the Entrepreneurial Excellence in Management Award.

Laura gave a brief history and the mission of the Research Park, it’s successful and continued growth, the various sponsors and contributors, and she touched on the future plans. The research park serves as a Tech Hub for startup companies, opportunities for national and international companies to do hands on research and development with talented University of Illinois students in a multi-discipline environment.

Starting as a joint public and private relationship between the University of Illinois and the local Fox/Atkins Development Group, the U of I Research Park is one of the top 20 research parks in the United States. Two hundred acres of land between South Oak and 4th Streets have been dedicated to the Research Park, and currently 100 acres have been developed.

The companies that have moved into the research park are among the leaders in the world. These companies are working with talented and skilled students from interdisciplinary backgrounds with superior skills that may include math, languages, chemistry, physics, engineering, arts, and communications. The opportunity for the companies to work with these students as interns enhances their recruitment opportunities. The current buildings in the park are near capacity with additional buildings currently being built and planned.   

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

May 24th – Barbara Kessel, Books to Prisoners (Mary)

May 31st – No morning meeting – Club Social instead

June 7th – Alternate Location – Dr Pauketat, U of I professor of Anthropology and Archaeologist at Cahokia World Heritage Site

June 14th – Alternate Location – Micah Putnam, Allerton Park and Retreat Center (Mary)

June 21st – TBD (Charlie)

June 28th – Annual Awards and Pass the Gavel Ceremony

July 5th – Mary and Darrell will discuss the Rotary International Convention

July 12th – TBD (Mary)

July 19th – TBD (Phyllis)

July 26th – Dr. Darren Pascavage, Founding Head of School, Academy High (Tom)

August 2nd – TBD (Bob)

August 9th – District Governor Pennie’s visit

August 16th – TBD (Charlie)

August 23rd – TBD (Mary)

August 30th – No regular meeting

September 6th – TBD (David)

September 13th – TBD (Phyllis)

September 20th – TBD (Tom)

September 27th – TBD (Bob)

October 4th – TBD (Charlie)

“Out of the fires of desperation burn hope and solidarity.” ― Sharan Burrow 

“To keep your character intact you cannot stoop to filthy acts. It makes it easier to stoop the next time.” ― Katharine Hepburn 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the unconventional and unorthodox Paul Conforti)

Elections were held for next year’s club leadership positions. Check your email for results.

Keith has reserved a boat for a club excursion on Lake Shelbyville for May 27th.

There will be no meeting on May 31st.

Tod passed around a signup sheet for a volunteer activity at Sola Gratia Farm on Saturday May 19.

Help is needed for a plant sale as well as field work such as mulching and weeding.

PROGRAM

Mary introduced the speaker, Claudia Lennoff, who is the Executive Director of Champaign County Health Care Consumers (CCHCC).

CCHCC believes that health care is a basic human right, and is dedicated to the mission of working for quality affordable health care for all. CCHCC organizes individuals and communities to have a voice in the health care system and to affect social change. CCHCC carries out its mission through consumer education, advocacy, and community organizing.

CCHCC provides free services to about 500 area residents who for a variety of reasons find health care resources challenging to access. It is part of the mission of CCHCC to eliminate barriers to health care. CCHCC workers (aka Community Health Workers) provide a front line, hands on approach to helping people with health care options including help with insurance, especially AHCA, and Medicare. Assistance is also provided to make calls to health care providers as well as financial support for co-pays. CCHCC also has on staff a prison advocate working with the uninsured on issues such as mental health and substance abuse.

CCHCC also is involved in local health issues such as the 5th and Hill Neighborhood Rights Campaign. Started in 2007, this is an environmental justice campaign dedicated to protecting the health of the neighborhood residents and the rights of the community in relation to the former manufactured gas plant toxic site owned by Ameren, located at 5th and Hill Streets in Champaign. 

Learn more at www.healthcareconsumers.org or email Claudia Lennoff at claudia@shout.net

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

May 17th – Laura Bleill, Associate Director, Research Park, will provide an overview of Research Park and future development (Phyllis)

May 24th – Barbara Kessel, Books to Prisoners (Mary)

May 31st – TBD – Club Social

June 7th – Dr Pauketat, U of I professor of Anthropology and Archaeologist at Cahokia World Heritage Site

June 14th – Micah Putnam, Allerton Park and Retreat Center (Mary)

June 21st – TBD

June 28th – TBD

July 5th – Mary and Darrell will discuss the Rotary International Convention

July 12th – TBD (Mary)

July 19th – TBD (Phyllis)

July 26th – Dr. Darren Pascavage, Founding Head of School, Academy High (Tom)

August 2nd – TBD (Bob)

August 9th – District Governor Pennie’s visit

August 16th – TBD (Charlie)

August 23rd – TBD (Mary)

August 30th – No regular meeting

September 6th – TBD (David)

September 13th – TBD (Phyllis)

September 20th – TBD (Tom)

September 27th – TBD (Bob)

October 4th – TBD (Charlie)

“All things are subject to interpretation. Whichever interpretation prevails at a given time is a function of power and not truth.”― Friedrich Nietzsche

 “Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.”― Mahatma Gandhi 

“We are constituted so that simple acts of kindness, such as giving to charity or expressing gratitude, have a positive effect on our long-term moods. The key to the happy life, it seems, is the good life: a life with sustained relationships, challenging work, and connections to community.”― Paul Bloom 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

May Bucket Money will go to the Daily Bread Soup Kitchen.

May 10 – Election of Officers – The slate includes: 

               President – Cary

               VP – Darrell

               Treasurer – Billy

               Secretary – Allan

               Club Service Director- Robb

               International Director – Charlie

               New Generations Director – Michelle

               Vocational Director – Angie

May 19 – Volunteer opportunity at Sola Gratia Farm – contact Tod

May 31 – No AM meeting – Club Social on the Lake Shelbyville Party Barge, May 27

PROGRAM

Mary Kay introduced Dave Leake, Director of the William M. Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College which will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.   Dave is also the president of the CU Astronomical Society.   

There are 3,767 known planets in our solar system.   Dave encouraged us to look up at the night sky for the planet Venus, which is currently the brightest body in the sky after the sun and moon.  As Venus sets, Jupiter rises.   With binoculars, you can see Jupiter’s four moons.   Early in the morning, Mars arises.   Over the summer, it will gradually rise earlier.   By July 28, 2018, Mars will be at its closest orbit to the earth in the last 15 years.

Sydney, Homer and the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve are the darkest places for viewing the night sky in Champaign County.  Middle Fork will soon be the first dark sky park in Illinois, meaning that all electrical lights are directed downward.  There are also monthly open houses at the new observatory southwest of Willard Airport.

Staerkel Planetarium will be closed for 3-4 weeks in August for a software upgrade.

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

May 10th – Claudia Lennhoff, Executive Director, Champaign County Healthcare Consumers

May 17th – Laura Bleill, Associate Director, Research Park, will provide an overview of Research Park and future development (Phyllis)

May 24th – Barbara Kessel, Books to Prisoners (Mary)

May 31st – TBD – Club Social

June 7th – Dr Pauketat, U of I professor of Anthropology and Archaeologist at Cahokia World Heritage Site

June 14th – Micah Putnam, Allerton Park and Retreat Center (Mary)

June 21st – TBD

June 28th – TBD

July 5th – TBD (David)

July 12th – TBD (Mary)

July 19th – TBD (Phyllis)

July 26th – Dr. Darren Pascavage, Founding Head of School, Academy High (Tom)