“There is nothing stronger in the world than gentleness.” – Han Suyin – 1916-2012 – Physician

“There is nothing like a dream to create the future.” – Victor Hugo – 1802-1885 – French Poet

“No passion so effectually robs the mind of its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” – Edmund Burke – 1729-1797 – Irish Statesman

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

February Bucket Bucks totaled $655 which will benefit ShelterBox USA

Darrell emailed a link to our YouTube channel featuring 6 CU Sunrisers reading children’s books for Read Across America 2021. It is wonderfully produced and well worth a visit.

PROGRAM

Ondine introduced Lindsey Kerr, Executive Director of LifeLine Pilots.  Lifeline Pilots’ tagline is “the shortest distance between home and hope”.  Their mission statement is to facilitate free air transportation through volunteer pilots for financially distressed passengers with medical and humanitarian needs.

LifeLine Pilots began in 1981 by Champaign resident and flying enthusiast Wanda Whitsett. Wanda continues to serve on the LifeLine Board of Directors.

Forty years later, LifeLine Pilots have donated over 9,000 flights, flying over 9.2 million nautical miles, and averaging 6 “missions” per week throughout 10 central US states.

Currently there are 250 volunteer pilots. Pilots are not reimbursed for any part of the flight.

There is not an income threshold to use LifeLine Pilots. Qualifications are based solely on an individual need. Free medical and compassion flights are just that, free. In addition, there is no out of pocket or insurance reimbursement from individuals using the service. The simple requirements are a preferred 5–7-day lead time and filling out an online form (or by phone). Insurance is the largest expense for LifeLine Pilots.  It is important to note that LifeLine Pilots is not an emergency service and no medical care is provided for those using the service.

How can you help? The biggest obstacle for LifeLine Pilots is getting the word out about their service. Sharing their Facebook and Instagram pages gets their message out to more people. LifeLine Pilots has a social platform mascot, Miles the Moose. Liking Miles the Moose helps gets their message out.

Along with getting their message out to the public, LifeLine Pilots also has a need to educate local airport managers as well as medical facilities about who they are and what they do. Even the smallest medical facility needs to know about LifeLine Pilots so they can advise and refer their patients.

Donations can be securely made at the LifelIne Pilots website: lifelinepilots.org

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

*All meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted*

February 25th – D’Chyna Deen, Champaign Housing Authority, will tell us about their Youth Build program (Mary)

March 4th – Julie Pryde, Public Health Administrator, C-U Public Health District will discuss COVID-19 (Bob)

March 11th – Robin Stapf, Training and Recruitment Coordinator, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) (Cary)

March 18th – Lisa Wilson, Executive Director, CU Refugee Center (Charlie)

March 25th – Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Professor of Law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Director of the Illinois Program in Constitutional Theory, History, and Law will discuss the First Amendment (Tom)

April 1st – TBD (Diana)

April 8th – TBD (Bob)

April 15th – TBD (Cary)

April 22nd – TBD (Charlie)

April 29th – Club Social – details TBD

May 6th – TBD (Ondine)

May 13th – TBD (Tom)

May 20th – TBD (Bob)

May 27th – TBD (Cary)

June 3rd – TBD (Charlie)

June 10th – TBD (Mary)

June 17th – TBD (Ondine)

June 24th – Pass the Gavel ceremony

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” – Ryunosuke Satoro – 1892-1927 – Japanese Writer

“Don’t look any further than your own reflection for a hero.” – Allyson Partridge – Public Speaker

“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” –  Robert Byrne – 1930-2016 – American Author

ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you would like to make a donation to Shelter Box to supplement our February Bucket Bucks, see the Pay Pal link from Darrell or send Lou an email to let him know that you will be sending a check to him (made out to CU Sunrise Rotary Foundation).

Contact Darrell if you are planning to read at Read Across America in March.

President Mary Kay announced that some local clubs are planning to begin in-person meetings.   The Monticello club will meet in-person beginning next week.  The Champaign Club will start sometime in the Spring.   

PROGRAM

Mary introduced Kellie Anderson, the new Director of RSVP and the Stevick Center.  

According to the federal government, a “senior” is anyone over the age of 55.   The Retired Senior Volunteer Program, sponsored by Family Services, serves as a link between seniors who want to volunteer and not-for-profits, called “station sites” that need volunteers.   Before Covid, the RSVP program office was in the Helen Mary Stevick Center.   The Stevick Center, under the umbrella of the News-Gazette, is a place for people to socialize and to take classes.   While the Stevick Center is closed, the office is housed in the Attorney Title Guarantee Building.

During 2019, 628 local senior volunteers gave over 100,000 hours of service to non-profit stations sites such as Habitat for Humanity, CU at Home, Carle, OSF, and others.   In 2020, despite Covid, 536 volunteers gave 71,117 hours of service to 89 non-profit stations.  Kellie said that they are always looking for more senior volunteers and station sites.  Funding for RSVP comes from the Illinois Department on Aging and AmeriCorp and depends on the number of volunteers and volunteer hours reported.

Programs that have continued during the pandemic include Food For Seniors, the Pen Pal Program and “Friendly Callers”.    The Tax Aide Program will not be held this year.

On the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month, volunteers meet at Grace Lutheran Church to pack and deliver groceries to vulnerable seniors who would otherwise experience food insecurity.  Seniors also volunteer with Project Read, CASA, Meals on Wheels and Crisis Nursery.   Right now, CASA is looking for volunteers to serve the 18-22 year old age group who need career and college advice.

Seniors who wish to volunteer fill out a short application and attend a brief orientation.   Contact Kellie Anderson at rsvpchampaign@gmail.com if you want to get involved.

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

*All meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted*

February 18th – Lindsey Kerr, Executive Director of LifeLine Pilots (Ondine)

February 25th – D’Chyna Deen, Champaign Housing Authority, will tell us about their Youth Build program (Mary)

March 4th – Julie Pryde, Public Health Administrator, C-U Public Health District will discuss COVID-19 (Bob)

March 11th – Robin Stapf, Training and Recruitment Coordinator, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) (Cary)

March 18th – TBD (Charlie)

March 25th – Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Professor of Law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Director of the Illinois Program in Constitutional Theory, History, and Law will discuss the First Amendment (Tom)

April 1st – TBD

April 8th – TBD

April 15th – TBD

April 22nd – TBD

April 29th – TBD

“Fear is not your enemy. It is a compass pointing you to the areas where you need to grow.” – Steve Pavlina – Author

“Never mistake motion for action.” – Ernest Hemingway – 1899-1961 – American Novelist

“There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” – Amanda Gorman – American poet, activist

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Current President-Elect Ed Bridges is currently looking for a member to become our President-Elect for Rotary year 2022/2023. Contact Eddy for more information. 

Michelle announced that this year’s Read Across America will be done online.  Since its launch in March 1998, our club has participated with in-person reading of books to children and we wish to continue it remotely this year. With Darrell’s help our club will video club members reading and forward it to Read Across America to be shown on March 2, 2021. Contact Michelle for more information and to volunteer. 

February Bucket Bucks are going to ShelterBox. 

Champaign Rotary Club is holding a large Zoom meeting on Monday, February 22nd with new University of Illinois football coach Bret Bielema. It is open to the public with a capacity of 500 with advanced registration required.  Advance registration will be required through DACdb. Please use this link:

https://www.dacdb.com/Register4/Index.cfm?EventID=77519077&UserID=800637025

PROGRAM

Charlie introduced our speaker this morning, Tom Hodson a Champaign West Rotary Club member since 1986, Past President of Champaign West and husband of Mary Hodson. Tom is also our Rotary District’s 6490 representative for ShelterBox USA and Disaster Relief.  

Tom’s video presentation portion of his presentation showed examples and explained the global impact ShelterBox has had in the 20+ years since it was founded.  ShelterBox provides humanitarian relief and aid in the form of materials, equipment, and tools that provide shelter and comfort for displaced people and families.  Here is the link to the ShelterBox 20 Years Video:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PdENQIlvo5DMTfH1tdRrPBCkQbynvRDE/view

Tom also noted how ShelterBox has adapted to further help and focus on the current needs brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeing the need for the families who would rather not be relocated from their destroyed homes to large groups/camps, ShelterBox is now also sending Kits.  These Kits not only enable the family to maintain the proper social distancing, each Kit can be tailored to include materials and equipment for a specific disaster and the local home site. Kits can include shelter materials, personal aid materials, water containers and filtering, solar lighting and lanterns, wash basins and soap. They are packaged to be more easily delivered and carried to remote areas and at an overall lower cost. 

Among the many natural disasters, climate disasters, civil wars and humanitarian conflicts around the world, Tom gave examples of the places that ShelterBox served in 2020. These include Vanuatu, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Philippines, India, Pakistan, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Somaliland and Syria.  

ShelterBox serves more people today than ever before and the need continues to grow. 

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

*All meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted*

February 11th – Kellie Anderson, Director, Family Service Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (Mary)

February 18th – Lindsey Kerr, Executive Director of LifeLine Pilots (Ondine)

February 25th – D’Chyna Deen, Champaign Housing Authority, will tell us about their Youth Build program (Mary)

March 4th – TBD (Bob)

March 11th – Robin Stapf, Training and Recruitment Coordinator, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) (Cary)

March 18th – TBD (Charlie)

March 25th – Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Professor of Law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Director of the Illinois Program in Constitutional Theory, History, and Law will discuss the First Amendment (Tom)

April 1st – TBD

April 8th – TBD

April 15th – TBD

April 22nd – TBD

April 29th – TBD

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.” – Aesop – Greek Fabulist-Storyteller

“If speaking is silver, then listening is gold.” – Turkish Proverb

“I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.” – Gerry Spence – Self-Help Author-Motivational Speaker-Entrepreneur

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the unconventional and unorthodox Paul Conforti)

Les Schulte from CU Illini After Five announced his club’s Wine for Words Wine Sale February 1-7 at Todd’s Wines at Art Mart. 30% of all sales go directly to the CU Illini After Five Rotary Club to help fund classroom grants and other literacy projects in Champaign-Urbana and surrounding schools.

Place your order now until February 7th. Email toddswine@gmail.com with your name and phone number.  In your message just say “I want the Rotary reds” or “I want the Rotary whites” or get both. Your wine will be ready for pick up starting Friday, February 12^th at Todd’s Wines at Art Mart, 1705 South Prospect Ave, Champaign.

Rotary White Sampler Pack $65: (1) 2018 Joseph Drouhin Bourgogne Blanc, (1) 2018 Hall Sauvignon Blanc, (1) 2019 Attems Friuli Pinot Grigio

Rotary Red Sampler Pack $50: (1) 2018 Renacer Punto Final Malbec, (1) 2015 Chateau d’Angles La Clape , (1) 2016 Chateau Saint Antoine Bordeaux Supérieur Reserve

Also, with your purchase your name will go into a drawing for an opportunity to win a magnum of 2016 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon wine, value $79.99.

PROGRAM

Our speaker this week was Rachel Rasmussen who is the UC Books to Prisoners Volunteer Coordinator

UC Books to Prisoners is an Urbana, Illinois based project providing books to incarcerated individuals in Illinois at no cost by mail as well as through two county jail libraries. It is a community-powered volunteer organization with several ways to get involved. No experience is required and whether an hour a month or would like to volunteer more often, you are invited.

 Volunteers interact with the incarcerated by reading their letters, selecting books from our collection of donated materials, and sending books in response to requests. Volunteers also work behind the scenes coordinating book donations and fundraising, as well as education, outreach and technical tasks.

UC Books to Prisoners focuses on book requests from 25+ prisons, all within the state of Illinois, and maintaining lending libraries in both Champaign county jails. Their operational yearly budget is approximately $24,000.

The books that are most in demand are: fiction by and about African-Americans, manga, mystery thrillers, sci-fi and fantasy. Non-fiction demand is paperback dictionaries, Kaplan GED guides, how to draw/paint, addiction/recovery, myth and mythology, and automotive repair.

There are several book drop-off locations, including:

1) Urbana Champaign Independent Media Center, 202 S Broadway, Urbana: book donation bin inside door at the Broadway entrance

2) Common Ground Food Co-op: book donation located in the main entryway

Financial donations are also accepted on their website (books2prisoners.org) as well as by check or money order (payable to: IMC Books to Prisoners).  Their mailing address is UC Books to Prisoners Donations, Box 515, Urbana IL 61803.

UC Books to Prisoners also accepts donations of current computer hardware for use by our volunteers in their sorting and packing facility as well as by volunteers doing outreach in our community. The need is for desktop computers, preferably PC’s (running on Windows), and not Macs, not older than 5 years. They can also take iPads that are not older than 5 years.

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

*All meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted*

February 4th – Tom Hodson, Shelter Box (Charlie)

February 11th – Kellie Anderson, Director, Family Service Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (Mary)

February 18th – Lindsey Kerr, Executive Director of LifeLine Pilots (Ondine)

February 25th – D’Chyna Deen, Champaign Housing Authority, will tell us about their Youth Build program (Mary)

March 4th – TBD (Bob)

March 11th – Robin Stapf, Training and Recruitment Coordinator, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) (Cary)

March 18th – TBD (Charlie)

March 25th – Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Professor of Law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Director of the Illinois Program in Constitutional Theory, History, and Law will discuss the First Amendment (Tom)

April 1st – TBD

April 8th – TBD

April 15th – TBD

April 22nd – TBD

April 29th – TBD