“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.” ― Wilma Rudolph

 

“The love of family and the admiration of friends is much more important than wealth and privilege.” ― Charles Kuralt

 

Announcements

(notes provided by the crafty and courageous Barb Lintner)

 

Dave Krchak introduced Allegra Lubaga, our 2016 scholarship recipient.  She is a senior  and will be going to Parkland next fall in nursing.  The scholarship is for $1500.

The Champaign Rotary Action Auction will take place on May 21 at Krannert Center.  The club’s goal is for $200, 000 to be distributed to projects over the next three years.  Raffle tickets for a BMW and other prizes are $50.  See a Champaign member for details.

Scott will send out an email about volunteering for the Illinois Marathon on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30.   To sign up as an individual go to illinoismarathon.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer

Rod announced that the new website is not up yet (UPDATE: It’ live!).  When it is, we will need new passwords.

Gary Olsen’s mother in law passed away in Florida.  There will be a memorial service here in May or June.

 

Speaker

 

Our program today was presented by the Romania GSE Team which included Paul Corbeanu, Rotarian and software engineer; Alexandre Bulacu, Rotarian and member of WWF; Corina Blaj, economist; Mircea Nitu, engineer; and Iasmina Pertovici, Roteract member and dancer.  Paul showed us an entertaining video presentation titled “24 Facts about Romania”.  Of course we knew that Romania was the home of Dracula and Nadia Comaneci but not that it was also the home of the inventors of insulin and the first fountain pen and a rich country in gold resources.  In a second video “What the World Would Look like without Romania”, we learned that it would lack pens, insulin, jet planes, vampires, and excellent beer.

Paul talked about the history of Rotary in his country.  The first club was founded in 1929, but all clubs were abolished in 1939 and not re-established until 1989.  The Lugoj club, of which he is a member, supports many projects, among them providing furniture and medical equip for their local hospital, helping an orphanage and a care home, providing summer camps for 11-14 year olds and glasses for children and backpacks for 50 children entering school each year.

Alexandre spoke about the Hateg Rotary Club which was founded in 2009.  Among other projects, the club has participated in a matching grant to provide a Laparoscope Tower for the local hospital and hosted a Rotary Youth Exchange Program in their national park which is filled with glacial lakes and beautiful vistas.  Alexandre works for the WWF Worldwide Fund for Nature which is reintroducing European Bison.

The program ended with a video of a concert which featured traditional Romanian music and dance accompanied by pan pipes and violins.

 

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  April 21st April 28th May 5th May 12th
Introductions Scott Paceley Robb Patton Allan Penwell Ed Perry
Invocation Harold Adams Julie Allen Laura Auteberry Oktay Baran
Greeters Scott Paceley Robb Patton Allan Penwell Ed Perry
Jen Shelby Lou Simpson Billy Stull Jeff Van Buren
Song Leader Rod Roberts Tod Satterthwaite Jen Shelby Lou Simpson
Notetaker Conforti Perry Penwell Hodson

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE

April 21st – Maghan Fettes and Nick Meredith, Leadership, Education, and Development (LEAD)

April 28th – Megan Holland, Director of Volunteer Services, Carle Hospital, will discuss the significance of volunteerism in our community

May 5th – Prof. Christopher Barkan, Executive Director of the Rail Transportation and Engineering Center, UIUC, will discuss high speed rail travel and RailTec

May 12 – Darrell Hoemann, CU Sunrise Rotarian and Photographer Extraordinaire, will discuss his trip to India

May 19th – TBD

May 26th – TBD

June 2nd – Geri Wirth, representing Avicenna Community Health Center

June 9th – Megan Casey, Frances Nelson and SmileHealthy

June 16th – TBD