Announcements
(notes provided by the venerable Neal Chamberlain)
Meeting opened with Invocation by Gary Olsen.
The club celebrated Allan Penwell’s 70th birthday (in absentia). According to sources, Allan had a golf outing with his special lady friend. Full report to come in next week’s Newsletter.
Mary Hodson presented the Rotary Minute (it really was just 60 seconds):
-Mary is retired from various state and local government responsibilities.
-She is married to Thomas Hodson (a successful experimental endeavor).
-They have one son who is involved in some interesting research projects in various parts of the world.
-Mary has been a CUSR member since 1992, served as club president in 2003 – 2004.
-Mary is involved in numerous committees and endeavors at the District level.
Jeff announced that our CUSR exchange student, Antonia Rivera has arrived. She has settled into her host family’s home and is now attendingCentralHigh School.
Special Note
Rotarians, it’s time once again for the Ultimate Challenge. This week starts the 2014 version of Football Guessing for local service clubs. If you can’t be at the meeting this week but want to get in at the beginning, please complete and send the attached pick sheet to Lou by Friday Aug 29. Once again, you can elect to participate without using any brainpower by selecting that the swami or the betting line will make your choice for you. Please note that this year will be limited to 10 weeks. For a good bookie, talk to Krchak.
Program
Ed introduced our program speaker, Bruce Knight, Director, Planning and Development, City of Champaign. Bruce Knight has 37 years experience in planning, 25 years in his current position forChampaign.
Bruce began his presentation by emphasizing that his department’s goal is to “develop Champaign as an inclusive community that will welcome all.” Bruce explained that we have experienced some peaks and valleys in recent years in multi-family versus single family construction. More growth recently has been in multi-family apartment buildings.
Increasingly our community has citizens who want to live and “hang out” in downtown environment. Therefore, Champaign has an increasing demand in urban residential development. Champaign has been promoting in-fill construction (renovation and/or replacing outdated urban buildings). He explained that this type of construction is generally more expensive; however it helps to revitalize the urban/downtown area.
Bruce shared numerous examples of urban developments in Champaign, including: One Main, Hyatt Place Hotel, Eden Supportive Services, Illinois Central Unit, and The Quarters. There are also major projects in the University District (Green Street area) which includes Technology Plaza and several others which are in the construction or planning phase.
Bruce mentioned the importance of verifying the demographics of an area to prevent a situation, such as Country Fair Plaza. Bruce assured us that although he graduated from Iowa State, he was quick to join our community of anti-Hawkeye fans and that he is now a committed Illini.
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| Aug 28th | Sept 4th | Sept 11th | Sept 18th | |
| Introductions | Mary Hodson | Phillip Holthaus | Lou Simpson | Dave Krchak |
| Invocation | Scott Paceley | Robb Patton | Allan Penwell | Ed Perry |
| Greeters | Mary Hodson | Phillip Holthaus | Lou Simpson | Dave Krchak |
| Gary Olsen | Scott Paceley | Robb Patton | Allan Penwell | |
| Song Leader | John McDaniel | Jan Merchen | Phyllis Mischo | Penn Nelson |
| Notetaker | Chamberlain | Perry | Penwell | Hodson |
| Rotary Minute | Phillip Holthaus | Larry Johnson | Andrew Kerins | Bob La Charite |
| Decker Weeding | Perry | |||
| Next Weekend | McDaniel | |||
| Decker Garden | Perry | |||
| Watering |
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE
August 28th – Celeste Choate, Director, Urbana Free Library
September 4th – David Thiel, Director of Content for WILL TV
September 11th – Dr. Judy Wiegand, Superintendent of Unit 4 Schools
September 18th – Todd Gleason, Farm Broadcaster, UIUC, will discuss the commodities markets
September 25th – Club Assembly
October 2nd – Kevin Hambly, Head Women’s Volleyball Coach, University of Illinois
October 9th – TBD
October 16th – TBD
October 23rd – Dr. Paul Diehl, Henning Larsen Professor of Political Science, UIUC, will discuss international relations
