“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” – John Steinbeck
 
“The winter solstice has always been special to me as a barren darkness that gives birth to a verdant future beyond imagination, a time of pain and withdrawal that produces something joyfully inconceivable, like a monarch butterfly masterfully extracting itself from the confines of its cocoon, bursting forth into unexpected glory.” – Gary Zukav
 
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Edwardini Perry)
 
Cary noted that next week’s meeting (December 27th) will be our last at Hawthorne Suites. On January 3, 2019, we will meet at our new location, Lodgic Everyday Community. We will meet in their restaurant area. Meeting times are the same with the doors unlocked at 6:30am. 
 
Billy announced that costs for the breakfast will be $10 at our new location. This pays for the food and room set up. Billy distributed information for the additional costs for those who have signed up for quarterly, semi-annual or annual food plans.
 
Cary and Billy also noted that our annual membership dues will be increasing next year to get in line with Rotary International and our actual expenses/costs. They handed out a Member Dues Analysis showing the July 2018 through June 2019 income and expenses. Both regular and senior member dues will be increased.  
 
Robb noted that the fruit sale was successful with approximately 400 cases sold. Everyone needs to get their money in to Billy by January 10th. 
 
Darrell noted that he, Scott and Paul have put together and issued our updated Club’s rack/information card showing our new club location. These can be picked up at club meetings.
 
Bob announced that Saturday, January 19th is the date for our club’s next community project. We will be helping with a Habitat for Humanity home build project. The work will be indoor work.
 
PROGRAM
 
Mary introduced Maarten de Witte as our speaker. Maarten is an Gemologist specializing in diamonds and diamond cutting. He grew up in Urbana and as a young man traveled in Europe. During these travels he saw the Crown Jewels in London and realized he wanted to be part of the diamond business.
 
Maarten entered a diamond cutting school in Nevada and has spent the last 40+ years in California as a diamond worker. He and his wife recently moved back to Urbana. His topics this morning touched on the brief history of diamonds, diamond cutting, marketing of diamonds and the current synthetic diamond. 
 
From the 13th to the 19th century diamonds were only affordable by royalty. As additional diamonds were found in the world and advancements in cutting methods took place the diamond’s unique visual properties began to be fully appreciated. In the 20th century, mass production of diamonds began to fill the growing market. Improved cutting methods and technology made diamonds more affordable by reducing the size of the stone and enhancing their brilliance.
 
Maarten explained the different shapes and cuts for diamonds and their effect on how light passes through the stone for its brilliance. Rose Cuts, Round Brilliant, Star Brilliant and Bullseye Cuts were several cuts explained by Maarten. While learning the cutting trade, he also learned about the marketing and branding used in the diamond business. He noted how diamonds have a strong emotional attachment to buyers. Natural diamonds “last forever” and retain their value.
 
Maarten’s interests continue to grow, and he also commented on laboratory-made diamonds. Originally used in industry for cutting tools, they are also being successfully produced for jewelry and are at prices available to everyone. 
 
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)
December 27th – Tom Hodson, District Scholarship Chair, will talk about our Rotary Global Scholars (Mary)
January 3rd -Jori Orsini, the Executive Director of Lodgic, will talk about the Lodgic Every Day Community, our new meeting place (Charlie)
January 10th – Kim Gollings from Habitat for Humanity (Bob)
January 17th – PDG Larry Howell will discuss the Heart to Heart Zone trip to Mexico (Mary)
January 24th – Viktor Gruev, Associate Professor, UI Electrical and Computer Engineering, will speak about his research applications

 
“You will never able to escape from your heart. So it is better to listen to what it has to say.” – Paul Coelho
 
“Every day is a new day, and you’ll never able to find happiness if you don’t move on.” – Carrie Underwood
 
“Your heart is the size of an ocean. Go find yourself in its hidden depths.” – Rumi
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND PROGRAM
Last week’s meeting featured the annual CUSR Holiday Party Extravaganza.  Thanks to all who attended!
 
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)
December 20th –  Maarten DeWitte will discuss diamonds and diamond cutting (Tom)
December 27th – TBD (Bob)
January 3rd -Jori Orsini, the Executive Director of Lodgic, will talk about the Lodgic Every Day Community, our new meeting place (Charlie)
January 10th – Kim Gooling from Habitat for Humanity (Bob)
January 17th – PDG Larry Howell will discuss the Heart to Heart Zone trip to Mexico (Mary)
January 24th – Viktor Gruev, Associate Professor, UI Electrical and Computer Engineering, will speak about his research applications

 
“World, they have taken the small children like butterflies and thrown them, beating their wings, into the fire–” ― Nelly Sachs
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the unconventional and unorthodox Paul Conforti)
 
Our annual holiday party is Thursday, December 13th in the Savoy Room in the hotel formerly known as Hawthorne Suites. Please let Diana know if you have guest, especially children, accompanying you. Please refer to President Cary’s 12/7 email for complete details.
 
Salvation Army Bell Ringing is Saturday, December 15th, Walmart on N. Prospect from 10am to 7pm. President Cary has the sign-up sheet. Please email if you can make it.
 
CU Sunrise is moving its meet venue to Lodgic beginning with our Thursday, January 3rd meeting. Lodgic is in the Illini Plaza which is on south Neil Street at Fox Dr. Details to come.
 
CU Sunrise is mentioned on page 3 of the Rotary District 6490 newsletter. The district newsletter can be found linked on the front page of the district’s web site: www.rotarydistrict6490.org
 
PROGRAM
 
Mary introduced Glenn Harbin, membership director of Rotary District 6490. Glenn’s program was about Kiva.
 
Kiva is an international nonprofit, founded in 2005 and based in San Francisco, with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. By lending as little as $25 on Kiva, anyone can help a borrower start or grow a business, go to school, access clean energy or realize their potential. For some, it’s a matter of survival, for others it’s the fuel for a life-long ambition.100% of every dollar you lend on Kiva goes to funding loans. Kiva covers costs primarily through optional donations, as well as through support from grants and sponsors.
 
Kiva works by having a borrower apply for a loan, the loan goes through an underwriting and approval process. Upon approval the loan is posted on the Kiva website for lenders to support. The borrower repays the loan and lenders use repayments to fund new loans, donate or withdraw the money. 
 
Your account can be accessed anytime online to view updates on your loans.
 
This is something individuals can do, or entire clubs. Glenn’s home club in Bloomington has funded a variety of projects. Loan updates are presented to member Rotarians at their meetings.
 
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)
December 13th – CUSR Holiday Party EXTRAVAGANZA!
December Maarten DeWitte will discuss diamonds and diamond cutting (Tom)
December 27th – TBD (Bob)
January 3rd – TBD (Charlie)
January 10th – TBD (David)
January 17th – PDG Larry Howell will discuss the Heart to Heart Zone trip to Mexico (Mary)
January 24th – Viktor Gruev, Associate Professor, UI Electrical and Computer Engineering, will speak about his research applications

 
“Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is, not a preparation for life; education is life itself.” – John Dewey
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)
 
Our family holiday party will be on December 13.  Please RSVP to Diana.  She needs to know the number coming and the ages and sexes of any children, including teens.   Please also let her know if you have any suggestions for musical entertainment.
 
Salvation Army bell ringing is scheduled for December 15.
 
We will move our meetings to LODGIC on January 1.   
 
President Cary welcomed Ondine Gross to the club.    Ondine is originally from California.  Her dad was a film editor and she was an extra in shows like “The Adams Family” and “Mr. Ed”.    She and her husband came to Champaign in 1994.   They have 29 year old twin daughters.  One lives in NY and the other lives in Chicago.   Ondine was a school psychologist at Centennial and has written a book about mediation and conflict resolution in schools and workplaces.
 
PROGRAM
 
David introduced Sue Grey, president of the United Way of Champaign County.   Sue formerly worked for the Girl Scouts and for the Park District.   She is a member of the Unit 4 School Board and the Champaign Rotary Club.
 
Sue said that the United Way had a good offer to sell their old building.   They used the profits from the sale to buy a newer building at 5 Dunlap Ct in Savoy.  
 
Our United Way wants to be a problem solver.  Sue talked about the many ways that the United Way has helped our community, including opening up a dental clinic at France Nelson, funding the “Mother Goose on the Loose” program, helping to provide shelter to homeless men over the winter months and distributing “Getting Ready for Kindergarten” calendars.
 
The school district allows United Way to farm their property on Olympian Drive.   The labor is also donated.   Over the past five years, they have provided $125,000 to food programs including Peace Meals and Meals on Wheels.  
 
United Way’s future goals include efforts towards work force development, financial education and  health.
 
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)
December 6th – Glenn Harbin, District 6490 Membership Chair, is going to tell us about a micro loan organization, Kiva (Mary)
December 13th – CUSR Holiday Party EXTRAVAGANZA!
December Maarten DeWitte will discuss diamonds and diamond cutting (Tom)
December 27th – TBD (Bob)
January 3rd – TBD (Charlie)
January 10th – TBD (David)
January 17th – PDG Larry Howell will discuss the Heart to Heart Zone trip to Mexico (Mary)
January 24th – TBD (Phyllis)
January 31st – TBD (Tom)