2023 April

April 20th, 2023 Newsletter

“Today is a new day. Even if you were wrong yesterday, you can get it right today.” – Dwight Howard – Basketball Player

“You are far too smart to be the only thing standing in your way.” – Jennifer J. Freeman – Actress

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” – Marcel Proust – 1871-1922 – Novelist-Critic-Essayist

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

Ed thanked the 12 members who helped fold newspapers for the Humane Society.

President Scott attended the Parkland Scholarship Ceremony.

Rotary Leadership Institute will be held on April 29 at Richland Community College.

Nine members signed up for Books 2 Prisoners on April 24.

The Champaign Rotary Golf Outing and Corn Roast will be held in August 21.

PROGRAM

Mary introduced Lorrie Pearson, Executive Director of the Champaign County Forest Preserve District.

Lorrie explained the Champaign Forest Preserve District’s three part mission:

1) to conserve nature;
2) to educate about natural and cultural resources; and
3) to provide compatible recreation opportunities.

The Forest Preserve District manages 4,000 acres of natural areas with 45 miles of hiking trails, a golf course and museum at Lake of the Woods, and an interpretive center at Homer Lake.

To celebrate the Forest Preserve’s 75th anniversary, Mahomet artist Marla Beyer created vintage style posters depicting each of the six preserves.

Lake of the Woods, opened in 1948, is the oldest preserve in the District. The par 3 golf course is Audubon certified as wildlife friendly.

Middle Fork River is an International Dark Sky-designed park where you can view the night sky free of light pollution.

The Forest Preserve District offers rental facilities too. Lorrie’s favorite is the Salt Fork Center at Homer Lake. Near Homer Lake is Hidden Acres, a satellite site full of Bluebells right now.

Eventually, the Kickapoo Rail Trail will be completed from Urbana to Kickapoo State Park.

The CCFPD needs community volunteers to help with collections, clear invasive species and serve on committees. Please contact the Forest Preserve District if you would like to help.

Lorrie invited us all to explore the varied programs and awe-inspiring places the Champaign County Forest Preserves offer.

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	April 27th	May 4th	May 11th	May 18th
Introductions	Jerry Payonk	Allan Penwell	Ed Perry	Joe Rank
Reflection	Darrell Hoemann	Jacob Bilvin	Eddie Bridges	Paul Conforti
Greeters	Jerry Payonk	Allan Penwell	Ed Perry	Joe Rank
Greeters	Oktay Baran	Michelle Barbey	Jacob Bilvin	Eddie Bridges
Notetaker	Crane	Conforti	Perry	Hodson

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

April 27^th – TBD (Tom)

May 4^th – TBD

May 11^th @ 5:30PM – Janet Summers, will discuss the fall OLLI schedule (Bob)

May 18^th – TBD (Cary)

May 25^th – Joe Rank will discuss his Honor Flight

June 1^st – TBD

June 8^th @ 5:30PM – TBD (Charlie)

June 15^th – TBD (Lisa)

June 22^nd – Christopher Manson, VP for Government Relations at OSF, will discuss Ambulances for Urkaine (Lisa)

June 29^th – TBD

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

April 3 – Mary Hodson

April 15 – Michelle Barbey

April 23 – Ray Elliott

April 24 – Mary Kay Smith

C-U Sunrise Rotary Newsletter for 4.13.23

Your journey is not the same as mine, and my journey is not yours, but if we meet on a certain path, may we encourage each other. – Unknown

“In any given moment we have two options: to step forward into growth or step back into safety.” – Abraham Maslow – 1908-1970 – Psychologist

“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving another one.” – Dolly Parton – Singer – Actress – Author

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Bucket Bucks this month are going to CASA.

Ata announced that Stewart Messman and Carlo Skog have donated $1,000 to our club specifically for the Turkey-Syria earthquake relief ShelterBox USA.

The Rotary 6490 District Assembly will be Saturday, April 29 starting at 8:30 am with a continental breakfast at the Carle Forum, 611 W. Park, Urbana. See Scott for additional information.

Mahomet Rotary Club will be having a fundraiser Golf Outing on July 8. Those interested in being part of our club’s foursome should see Scott.

SERVICE PROJECTS

April 15 Champaign County Humane Society Newspaper folding

April 16 Chez Center’s Illini Veterans 11 Annual 5K Run/Walk

April 19 Champaign Rotary EIFB Repack

April 24 Books to Prisoners 5pm to 7pm. Larry will have a sign-up sheet at our next meeting.

PROGRAM

Our speaker at this evening’s meeting was Maura Stutzman, Program & Events Librarian for the Champaign Public Library. Maura noted that her main role is to ensure all people have access to the information and resources that the library provides.

Today’s library is a place to obtain so much more information than just books. The public library is becoming more and more a community space available to all patrons to come and connect with whatever way they need. Maura provided information on the many young and adult services the library provides.

Just last month the library hosted 154 programs, 58 of which were for adults. Furthermore, last month the library saw 49,173 visitors (or around 1,600 a day). Many of these programs are recorded and can be found on YouTube.

Here is a partial list of the adult services the library provides; Tax Help, Medicare help, voting information, technology, career, business, money matters, crafts, writers workshops, book clubs, author presentations to name just a few.

For additional information of what the Champaign library offers begin with the library’s website: champaign.org.

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	April 20th	April 27th	May 4th	May 11th
Introductions	Robb Patton	Jerry Payonk	Allan Penwell	Ed Perry
Reflection	Oktay Baran	Michelle Barbey	Jacob Bilvin	Eddie Bridges
Greeters	Robb Patton	Jerry Payonk	Allan Penwell	Ed Perry
Greeters	Cary Woolard	Oktay Baran	Michelle Barbey	Jacob Bilvin
Notetaker	Hodson	Crane	Conforti	Perry

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