“Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw – 1856-1950 – Playwright

“Never too old to start an empire. Never too old to chase a dream.” – Jeremy Mcgilvrey – Digital Marketing Consultant

“Trust because you are willing to accept the risk, not because it’s safe or certain.” – Unknown

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Darrell reminded everyone to keep selling fruit as the selling for this year’s fundraiser ends November 22.

Phyllis announced that we received a $2,000 Rotary District grant to help the Francis Nelson Health Organization with a program to provide healthy food to those in need. 

Several club volunteer projects were noted:

-Saturday November 16, Central High School Interact’s 5K fundraiser at Crystal Lake School. Volunteers were asked to arrive by 8:15am.

-Crisis Nursery Holiday Gift giving is December 12th, additional volunteers are needed. See Michelle for more information.

-Salvation Bell Ringing will take place at the Champaign Walmart on north Prospect on December 14th.

-Daily Soup Kitchen volunteering opportunity over the Holidays is being finalized. 

Keith noted our annual Holiday party will take place at Lodgic on December 19th with holiday activities for children and grandchildren and the addition of egg omelets!  Please let Keith know if you will be bringing additional guests and if you want to share in a special gift giving activity during the meeting. Please plan to arrive a little earlier that morning for the additional activities. 

Darrell is helping to organize a club karaoke party in February with a possible competition among local rotary clubs. 

Scott announced that he and Paul have made special CU Sunrise Rotary information cards for member’s use with possible new members. You can pick up several cards at our regular club meetings.

PROGRAM

Rotary District Governor Julie Dobski was our speaker as this was her yearly official visit to our club. Julie presented not only district information, but her thoughts on Rotary as well. Julie joined Rotary 17 years ago, is a past president of the Bloomington-Normal Breakfast Club, and she and her husband operate 10 McDonald restaurants in the Bloomington-Normal area. Julie has visited all 44 Rotary Clubs in the district and enjoys making new friends, hearing about the various club projects, and being with those committed to service.

Membership was a focus on this morning’s program. Julie joined Rotary “because she was asked.” Membership has been down throughout Rotary, and our district is no exception. Our district lost 70 members last year and lost 3 clubs. We must ask ourselves -We are Rotary, why are we here? What difference are we making in our community and our world?

We need our club membership to reflect the diversity of the community in which we live. We must continue to be active in our club and district volunteer projects and events, along with working hard at these activities and providing the leadership to get things done.

This being Rotary Foundation Month she noted that our district gave out 29 district grants this year which are made available through our individual giving to The Rotary Foundation. 

DG Dobski asks all clubs to review their goals, become even more tech aware with the club, district, and International Rotary websites, and be even more creative in getting and keeping members. Julie challenged all of us to ask “Why are you here?”     

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

November 21st – “A geneticist’s perspective on how the brain works” – Dr. Stephanie Ceman, Associate Professor, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, UIUC, and the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. (Ondine)

November 28th – No meeting

December 5th – John Paul Buzard from Buzard Pipe Organ Builders will speak to our club about building organs (Bob)

December 12th – Molly Delaney, Vice President of Development, Eastern Central Illinois Foodbank (ECIFB) (Mary)

December 19th – CUSR Holiday Party

December 26th – No meeting

January 2nd – TBD (David)

January 9th – Club Assembly

January 16th – Rush Record, Executive Director, CASA (Mary)

January 23rd – TBD (Bob)

January 30th – TBD

February 6th – TBD (Cary)

February 13th – TBD

February 20th – TBD (Charlie)

February 27th – TBD (David)

March 5th – TBD (Mary)

March 12th – TBD

March 19th – TBD (Ondine)

March 26th – TBD (Tom)

Let your unique awesomeness and positive energy inspire confidence in others. – Unknown

“Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.” – Anthony J. D’Angelo – Author

A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery while on a detour. – Unknown

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Robb noted that our annual club’s fundraising Fruit Sale is gaining momentum and encouraged everyone to get out there and sell fruit! If you prefer to donate money instead of selling fruit a donation in the amount of $200 is expected. Recipients of the money raised will be CU @ Home and our CU Sunrise Rotary Club Foundation. This year the pick-up of Fruit will once again be at CDC Paper’s warehouse on North Elm in Champaign.

Michelle announced that Central Interact’s 5K Turkey Trot fundraiser will be Saturday, November 16th at Crystal Lake Park in Urbana. Volunteers are needed to help direct the runners throughout the course. 

Crisis Nursery annual Holiday shopping will take place December 12th and volunteers are needed to help the youngsters shop for gifts. 

A sign-up sheet was passed around for volunteers for this year’s Salvation Army bell ringing on December 14th at the Champaign Walmart on North Prospect. 

Darrell presented a chart showing the results of our membership drive and encouraged all to invite more possible new members. 

Keith noted that this year’s holiday party in December is in the planning stages.

Eddie announced that our club has solidified its position as the club to watch in this year’s Rotary/Service Club’s football guessing contest. 

PROGRAM

Mary introduced Shannon O’Rouke Kasali as our speaker this morning. Mary noted that Shannon is an excellent example of how our donations to The International Rotary Foundation can help young people achieve their dreams of international peace and goodwill. Shannon is a Rotary Cultural Ambassadorial Scholar and a Rotary Global Peace Fellow. Her awards and service were initiated through our Rotary District.

Shannon’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Illinois Wesleyan University, a Masters in International Development from The George Washington University, and she is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Library and Information sciences. 

Shannon worked in Senegal, Mali, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo for international organizations and the United Nations as a Rotary Cultural Ambassador. As a 2016 Rotary Global Peace fellow she concentrated on Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution in Bangkok, Thailand. 

She has made Rotary Connections throughout the world visiting Rotary leaders in Hiroshima, Japan, and in Bangkok, Thailand and traveled to Nepal. Helping to build cultures of peace through education.   

She is the Founder and Executive director of Books For Congo a non-profit organization that creates libraries and promotes reading in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Books are very difficult to get and are extremely valued by the people. Through her organization she has brought over 70,000 books to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Shannon is also involved in the building of libraries and organizing their staff. Her current emphasis is to bring books by African authors to these new libraries. Education, basic literacy and peace remain Shannon’s focus. 

Shannon acknowledges that her accomplishments could not have been possible without the help of Rotary. She will continue to help educate all people with books as without education, there is no peace.  

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

November 14th – District Governor Julie Dobski

November 21st – “A geneticist’s perspective on how the brain works” – Dr. Stephanie Ceman, Associate Professor, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, UIUC, and the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. (Ondine)

November 28th – TBD 

December 5th – John Paul Buzard from Buzard Pipe Organ Builders will speak to our club about building organs (Bob)

December 12th – Molly Delaney, Vice President of Development, Eastern Central Illinois Foodbank (ECIFB) (Mary)

December 19th – CUSR Holiday Party

December 26th – No meeting

January 2nd – TBD (David)

January 9th – Club Assembly

January 16th – Rush Record, Executive Director, CASA (Mary)

January 23rd – TBD (Bob)

January 30th – TBD

February 6th – TBD (Cary)

February 13th – TBD

February 20th – TBD (Charlie)

February 27th – TBD (David)

March 5th – TBD (Mary)

March 12th – TBD

March 19th – TBD (Ondine)

March 26th – TBD (Tom)