“I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse.” – Florence Nightingale – 1820-1910 – Social Reformer-Founder of Modern Nursing-Organized Care for Wounded Soldiers at Constantinople

 

“Success isn’t about how your life looks to others. It’s about how it feels to you.” – Unknown

 

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt – 1884-1962 – Former First Lady of the United States

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

 

September 14, 7-9 PM, Books 2 Prisoners, 10 volunteer slots open.  Contact Larry to sign up.

 

October 16, Service project for the Humane Society.   Contact Ed to sign up.

 

 

PROGRAM

 

Mary Kay introduced Gabe Lewis, Transportation Planner from the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission.  Gabe explained that the Regional Planning Commission is a member service organization.  Current members include Champaign, Urbana, Mahomet, Rantoul, St. Joseph, Savoy and Champaign County.

 

The Regional Planning Commission is the area census clearinghouse.   The regional data portal can be accessed at their website, www.ccrpc.org.  From the 2020 census, we learned that Champaign County is one of nine Illinois Counties that gained population between 2010 and 2020 and Champaign is the second fastest growing community in Illinois.   Besides Champaign, Fisher, Mahomet, Rantoul, Savoy and Tolono have had population increases since 2010.   St. Joseph and Urbana census figures show a decrease, although Urbana’s count was affected by the COVID shutdown at the University.   The county’s median family income is up 17%, 7% higher than the national average of $77,263.

 

Besides being responsible for providing demographic information, Gabe does transportation planning.   He has coordinated the Bike Month for many years.   It is normally held in May but was postponed to September this year.  C-U “Bike to Work Day” will be held on September 14.  Breakfast and free t-shirts will be provided at 17 stations around Champaign County.   “Light the Night” will be held on campus from 4-7 PM.   Free bike lights will be distributed.   

 

The Regional Planning Commission produces the Champaign County Greenways and Trails report.    Between 2019 and 2020, they did an extension of their study of the Urbana Kickapoo Rail Trail.   It pointed out the lack of connectivity between Weaver Park and the end of the trail.   The study considered nine possible ways to connect the two. One of the three preferred routes is following the railroad line.  However, they learned that two Urbana companies are still using the railroad there.    A “rail with trail” connection might be feasible because the rail usage is infrequent.  The Friends of the Kickapoo Rail Trail meet regularly at Kennekuk County Park or in St. Joseph.

 

In 2020, Gabe also worked on the Urbana Pedestrian Master Plan.  He produces a “Safe Routes to School Map” for schools in Champaign, Urbana, Rantoul and Thomasboro.  Gabe said that volunteers are always needed to lead kids to school.

 

 

—

  Sept 2nd Sept 9th Sept 16th Sept 23rd
Introductions Robb Patton Jerry Payonk Allan Penwell Ed Perry
Reflection Jarrod Scheunemann Tod Satterthwaite Jen Shelby Lou Simpson
Greeters Robb Patton Jerry Payonk Allan Penwell Ed Perry
Charlie Smith Mary Kay Smith Cary Woolard  
Song Leader        
Notetaker Conforti Perry Hodson Conforti
Decker Weeding Hodson Hodson    

—

 

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

 

September 2nd – Club Assembly

September 9th – Dr. Ryan Burge, Professor of Political Science, EIU will join us via Zoom to discuss  (Tom)

September 16th – TBD (Bob)

September 23rd – Terri Reifsteck, Visit Champaign County, will discuss the Chambana Welcome Crew (Cary)

September 30th – Club Social

October 7th – Club Assembly

October 14th – TBD (Tom)

October 21st – Normal Rotarian Drake Zimmerman, co-founder and chair of the Rotary Action Group Against Malaria, will speak about Global Grants of Scale (Mary)

October 28th – TBD (Charlie)

November 4th – Club Assembly

November 11th – Veteran’s One to One (tentative)

November 18th – Derek Peterson, Director, Allerton Park & Retreat Center (Joe)

November 25th – No meeting – Thanksgiving

December 2nd – Club Assembly

December 9th – TBD (Ondine)

December 16th – TBD

December 23rd – TBD

December 30th – TBD