ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)
District Conference is on May 2-3. You can sign up for one or all meals on the District website.
We really need volunteers to sign up for the EI Food Bank food repack on Thursday, April 30, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Contact Rod if you can help.
Allan Penwell gave a great explanation of Rotary Foundation giving. The Rotary Foundation is the engine that drives Rotary projects. Our Foundation has a four star rating from Charity Navigator. Your donations go to fund District and Global grants and scholarships. All Rotarians are asked to give a basic gift of $100 per year as sustaining members. Sustaining members accumulate donations until they reach $1,000, Paul Harris status. 80% of our club are Paul Harris donors and six are multiple Paul Harris donors. Our club goal this year is to donate $4,500 to the Rotary International Foundation. You can make a donation at the RI website or by giving a check to Jennifer Shelby.
Tod announced that Sola Gratia Farm, 2200 S. Philo Rd, Urbana, will be having a spring plant sale from May 2 – 10.
Larry announced that Neal is home from the hospital.
PROGRAM
Reuben introduced Dr. Jerrod A. Henderson, U of I Professor of Chemical Engineering, who spoke about the St. Elmo Brady STEM Academy. Dr. Henderson recently received the Campus Excellence in Public Engagement Award for his work with the Academy.
Dr. Henderson is a co-founder of the Academy. He explained that it is named after the first African American to earn a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Illinois. In 2013, he was asked to provide a science enrichment program to 4th – 6th graders at the Don Moyers Boys and Girls Club. This project has now expanded to Booker T. Washington and Garden Hills. The Academy is currently held on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school and on Saturdays from 10 AM to Noon.
The program targets low income boys. Fathers or other male role models are asked to participate with the boys. If a boy does not have a family member, he is paired with a University of Illinois student. The learning activities foster father – son and mentor – mentee relationships.
Dr. Henderson said that they would love to be able to expand to other schools in the future. He also coordinates a games camp for girls in 9th -12th grades.
One of Reuben’s sons is currently participating in the Academy and Reuben shared how excited he is to attend. Reuben and Tod presented Dr. Henderson with a check from CU Sunrise’s bucket money.
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| Apr 23rd | Apr 30th | May 7th | May 14th | |
| Introductions | Paul Conforti | Molly Delaney | Ata Durukan | Bruce Hatfield |
| Invocation | Ben Mast | John McDaniel | Jan Merchen | Phyllis Mischo |
| Greeters | Paul Conforti | Molly Delaney | Ata Durukan | Bruce Hatfield |
| Bob La Charite | BJ Lytle | Ben Mast | John McDaniel | |
| Song Leader | Larry Johnson | Andrew Kerins | Dave Krchak | Bob La Charite |
| Notetaker | Conforti | Perry | Penwell | Hodson |
| Rotary Minute | Ata Durukan | Bruce Hatfield | Mary Hodson | Phillip Holthaus |
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE
April 23rd – Dr. Richard Fredrickson, Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, UIUC, will discuss services and research in veterinary medicine
April 30th – C-U Sunrise Rotary’s Citizen of the Year Award presentation
May 7th – Winnie Crowder, Executive Director of the Reading Group, and former CU Sunrise Rotarian
May 14th – George Vargas, Champaign County Public Defender’s Office
May 21st – Sam Banks, Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club
May 28th – Antonia Rivera, Rotary Youth Exchange
June 4th – Maria Bohri, Learning in Community (LINC), Engineering Education projects, UIUC
June 11th – Kathie Spegal, Coordinator, Illinois Radio Reader, and former CU Sunrise Rotarian
June 18th – Andy Leipold will discuss grand juries and Ferguson, MO
June 25 – TBD
July 2 – TBD
July 9 – TBD
July 16 – Jen Shelby will discuss the Cannes Film Festival
