“The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.”  ― Louisa May Alcott
 
“True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation.” ― George Washington 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Notes provided by Allan Penwell)
If you don’t see Tod Satterthwaite at club meetings for the next six months, it is for a good reason. He will be doing Peace Corps volunteer work in the Philippines. His work will be related to eco-tourism to create jobs. This isn’t his first time doing Peace Corps work. Tod was a volunteer in the West Indies in 2010, and did a two-year stint in 1990-1992. Safe travels!
 
Michelle thanked everyone who donated to the Interact car wash on September 15^th. The Interact 5K is on November 3^rd, and we will need to have some volunteers.
 
PROGRAM
Our speaker last week was Deb Feinen, Mayor of the City of Champaign. There are many projects going on with city planning:  the Neil Street Corridor Plan, the Curtis Road interchange, and the ice hockey rink called The Yard. Deb talked to us about a lesser known project simply called The Plaza.
The Plaza is the football-size triangle that is the big parking lot next to the Orpheum Children’s Museum and Meyer Drapery. It is presently in the conceptual stages as a gathering place for entertainment and community events where people don’t have to spend money. There are seven different areas of focus.
The Neil Street Esplanade (1) will be a walking area and entrance way into The Plaza. Washington Street (2) will have additional parking to make up for the loss of spaces in the new area. The Hickory Promenade (3) is the north-south Hickory Street which now dead ends into Washington Street. This will be an area for emergency vehicles and a spill-out space for businesses.
The north-east corner (4) will be adjacent to Hickory Street and another entrance way. The Great Lawn (5) will be entertainment space with a permanent stage space. It is located on the corner of Neil and Washington. The Plaza at Hill (6) is where Hill Street dead-ends into Neil Street and located next to The Great Lawn. There will be a water feature and possibly a skating rink. The Performance Perch (7) is a small entertainment area adjacent to Neil Street.
The price tag for The Plaza ranges from $7 to $15 million, and features would probably be phased in. It’s important to finish up on the concept plan as grants are available.
 
 
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)
September 27th – Benjamin Lapid, Traditions in Jewish weddings (Bob)
October 4th – Todd Gleason, Media Communications Specialist, News & Public Affairs (Radio), University of Illinois Extension (Charlie)
October 11th – Nancy Fahey, Head Coach, UIUC Women’s Basketball (Mary/Jen)
October 18th – Kate Williams, Associate Professor, UIUC, and Abdul Alkalima, Professor Emeritus, African American Studies, UIUC, will discuss New Philadelphia, the early settlement in western Illinois  (Ed)
October 25th – Chris Gleason, Executive Director, Rosecrance Central Illinois, will speak about the heroin/opioid crisis in central Illinois (Phyllis)
November 1st – TBD (Tom)
November 8th – Dr. Angela Williams, Associate Director, Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, UIUC (Bob)
November 15th – Bryan Medlin, Illinois Wrestling’s Regional Training Center (Charlie)
November 22nd – No Meeting – Thanksgiving
November 29th – TBD (David)

 
“May we not succumb to thoughts of violence and revenge today, but rather to thoughts of mercy and compassion. We are to love our enemies that they might be returned to their right minds.” ― Marianne Williamson 
 
“ The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.” ― Oscar Wilde 
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Notes provided by the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Eddie Perry)
 
Cary noted that we need a new Projects committee chair. Past chair, Tod Satterthwaite, will be absent from club meetings starting in October as he and his wife, Beth, head to the Philippines with the Peace Corp.
 
David noted that his daughter, Lauryn, has started school in Leon, France, as our Outbound Rotary Youth Exchange Student. 
 
This month’s Bucket Money is going to Dr. Howard’s PTA to help with their transition to temporary quarters during the school’s building project.
 
Cary reminded everyone to help support Central’s Rotary Interact Club this Saturday at their annual car wash.
 
PROGRAM
 
Phyllis introduced Becky Ames as this morning’s speaker. Becky is the coordinator for the Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network for our area. 
 
Gift of Hope is a not-for-profit organ and tissue procurement organization. They work with 180 hospitals and serve 12 million people in Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Since 1986, they have helped save the lives of over 26,000 organ transplant recipients. Currently there are 4,300 people in Illinois on the organ donor waiting list. Kidneys, lungs, hearts, liver, pancreas, and small bowel make up the majority of organ transplants. The cornea, heart valve, bone, vein, skin and cartilage make up the majority of tissue donations. 
 
Becky’s work begins when a hospital notifies the Gift of Hope that they have a certified donor in critical condition and on a ventilator. Using the patient’s medical records, the Gift of Hope evaluates the patient, talks with the family, looks for a recipient that will match, and coordinates/schedules organ pick-ups. Time is critical as four hours is the maximum time that an organ can survive outside the body. 
 
Becky also touched on the respectful discussions that are typically part of the process, including with the donor’s family members, funeral arrangements, possible future communications between recipients and donor family, and insurance coverage.  She kindly answered many questions from the club after her presentation.
 
Additional information can be found at www.giftofhope.org and how to sign up as an organ donor with the State of Illinois at www.lifegoeson.com.
 
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)
September 20th – Deb Feinen, Mayor, City of Champaign (Tom)
September 27th – Benjamin Lapid, Traditions in Jewish weddings (Bob)
October 4th – Todd Gleason, Media Communications Specialist, News & Public Affairs (Radio), University of Illinois Extension (Charlie)
October 11th – TBD (Mary)
October 18th – Kate Williams, Associate Professor, UIUC, and Abdul Alkalima, Professor Emeritus, African American Studies, UIUC, will discuss New Philadelphia, the early settlement in western Illinois  (Ed)
October 25th – Chris Gleason, Executive Director, Rosecrance Central Illinois, will speak about the heroin/opioid crisis in central Illinois (Phyllis)
November 1st – TBD (Tom)
November 8th – TBD (Bob)
November 15th – TBD (Charlie)
November 22nd – No Meeting – Thanksgiving
November 29th – TBD (David)

 
 
 “Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, and riches take wings. Only one thing endures and that is character.” ― Horace Greeley 
 
“Never regret anything you have done with a sincere affection; nothing is lost that is born of the heart.” ― Basil Rathbone 
 
“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” ― Sophia Loren 
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Ed Perry)
 
David Henry’s daughter, Lauryn, has now settled in France and is ready to start her year as our Outbound Rotary Youth Exchange student.
 
Janis with DSC announced the annual C-U Oktoberfest on October 6th in Downtown Champaign. Activities run from 3pm to midnight with a $5 charge at the gate. This is DSC’s big fundraiser. They also need volunteers to help with the festivities. Check their web site for more information 
www.dsc-illinois.org.
 
Lou announced we are in second place +/- in the annual Rotary Club Football Guessing contest. David gave the point spread for this week’s games.
 
Volunteers are still needed for the Rotary District’s High School Writing Contest. Please contact Michelle for more information.
 
Sign-up sheets are available for this year’s Rotary District Conference. See the District’s newsletter for more information and the registration form.
 
Andrew received a heartfelt applause and song from the club for his birthday and his 10th anniversary of joining out club. At an old 37 years of age he is no longer the youngest member in our club.
 
PROGRAM
 
David introduced Emily Reichman of Hope Lives Rescue Ranch as today’s speaker. Hope Lives Rescue Ranch is a non-profit organization that aims to help at-risk youth and families recover from trauma, build resistance and find purpose through equine assisted learning and mentoring.
 
From early May to the end of September the ranch provides one-on-one, 90 minute sessions with kids from ages 8 to 18. With the use of horses and miniature donkey’s, the kids learn healthy relationships, self-esteem, and an understanding of healthy boundaries. Each 7 week session begins with 10 to 15 minutes of chores with the remaining time spent exercising and riding the horses/donkeys. Games are also played on horseback with all activities tailored to each individual’s abilities and needs.
 
They currently have 3 horses available for 5 sessions a day with plans to expand that number and build an indoor arena for winter sessions.  Sessions are free with operating costs received through donations and fundraising.
 
More information can be found on Facebook or at their website www.hopelivesrescue.org. The weekend of September 14 and 15th will be a fundraising yard sale for the ranch at Catalyst Creative Studio, 818 S. Market Street in Monticello, Il. 
 
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)
September 13th – Lola Lewis, Donation Liaison, Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network (Phyllis)
September 20th – Deb Feinen, Mayor, City of Champaign (Tom)
September 27th – Benjamin Lapid, Traditions in Jewish weddings (Bob)
October 4th – Todd Gleason, Media Communications Specialist, News & Public Affairs (Radio), University of Illinois Extension (Charlie)
October 11th – TBD (Mary)
October 18th – Kate Williams, Associate Professor, UIUC, and Abdul Alkalima, Professor Emeritus, African American Studies, UIUC, will discuss New Philadelphia, the early settlement in western Illinois  (Ed)
October 25th – Chris Gleason, Executive Director, Rosecrance Central Illinois, will speak about the heroin/opioid crisis in central Illinois (Phyllis)
November 1st – TBD (Tom)
November 8th – TBD (Bob)
November 15th – TBD (Charlie)
November 22nd – No Meeting – Thanksgiving
November 29th – TBD (David)

 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
There was no regular meeting last week.
 
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)
September 6th – Emily Reichman, Hope Lives Rescue Ranch (David)
September 13th – Lola Lewis, Donation Liaison, Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network (Phyllis)
September 20th – Deb Feinen, Mayor, City of Champaign (Tom)
September 27th – Benjamin Lapid, Traditions in Jewish weddings (Bob)
October 4th – TBD (David)
October 11th – TBD (Charlie)
October 18th – Kate Williams, Associate Professor, UIUC, and Abdul Alkalima, Professor Emeritus, African American Studies, UIUC, will discuss New Philadelphia, the early settlement in western Illinois  (Ed)
October 25th – Chris Gleason, Executive Director, Rosecrance Central Illinois, will speak about the heroin/opioid crisis in central Illinois (Phyllis)
November 1st – TBD (Tom)
November 8th – TBD (Bob)
November 15th – TBD (Charlie)
November 22nd – No Meeting – Thanksgiving
November 29th – TBD (David)