“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall – English Primatologist

 

“Whatever you want in life, other people are going to want it too. Believe in yourself enough to accept the idea that you have an equal right to it.” – Diane Sawyer – American Broadcast Journalist

 

“The secret of success is constancy of purpose.” – Benjamin Disraeli – 1804-1881 – Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

 

Mary Kay announced that we have a service opportunity with Feeding Our Kids on August 28.   We have available volunteer slots so family and friends are encouraged to participate.   Bring a friend and show them what we do!

 

Bucket Bucks for August will go to Books2Prisoners.

 

Nestor Ramirez announced that a Rotary blood drive will be held from August 9-14 at the Urbana blood bank.   You can make an appointment at 217-307-2202.

 

Phyllis announced that CU Sunrise has submitted a District Grant proposal to provide 450 hygiene kits for CU at Home.

 

After hearing our Rotary program on the Illinois Shakespeare company, Jerry, Mary Kay and Charlie all attended “Measure for Measure” at Ewing Manor.

 

Ed reminded us to bring our newspapers in every week.   Bagging them in the Harvest Market bags with handles would be especially helpful.

 

 

PROGRAM

 

Darrell introduced our Assistant Governor Michael Harris, a retired pharmacist from Monticello.   Mike then introduced this year’s District Governor Heather Stoa.

 

District Governor Heather, a member of the Decatur Rotary Club, is a retired educator and author.  Besides serving the Decatur club and community in a variety of positions, she has chaired both the District Grants and the District Global Grants Committees.   She says her greatest joy in Rotary has been working on international grants and projects for Amor y Vida Orphanage in Merida, Mexico, the Bihar Eye Hospital in Ranchi, India, water wells in eastern Kenya and a rural crafts economic development project in Duradahalli, India.  

 

DG Heather serves as an advisory committee member of the RI Zones 30-31 Heart 2 Heart Committee and is the District Chair for the 100 in 100 Club to Club initiative.  She is a member of several Rotary Action Groups.  Heather and her husband Terry are Master Gardeners and were recognized by the Decatur Historic and Architectural Sites Commission for their restoration of their 1840 home.

 

Heather’s theme as Governor is friendship.  She quoted Rotary founder Paul Harris in his belief that Rotary harnesses the great power of friendship to do the world’s work.  Through Rotary service, we interact with people outside of our usual everyday circle.   People on the periphery of our lives introduce us to new ideas and experiences.   Heather encouraged us to reach out and look for deeper friendships with people that we may not know well.   Tell them about Rotary and why you are a Rotarian.

 

The governor reminded us that each grant and service project begins with one Rotarian’s idea.  She gave the example of Normal Rotarian Alan Chapman who has a grandson that is disabled and dreamed of a playground for kids who are disabled.   His club took up Alan’s dream and created Harmony Park.  CU Sunrise’s projects and grants have impacted our community and increased Rotary’s visibility locally.

 

Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta has a special goal of working to empower girls.   Heather is currently working with the Girl Scouts to develop a Rotary Badge.

 

Heather talked about the Heart to Heart collaboration between Zones 30 and 31 and Rotary zones in Mexico.   She has gone on several Heart to Heart trips to visit clubs and projects in the Mexico City area.   This year’s Heart to Heart trip is scheduled for November 2-10 and costs around $2,000.   If interested, sign up by August 15 at the District 6490 website.  

 

The Casey, Decatur and Champaign Clubs have all adopted Heart to Heart projects.   Heather will link us with other small clubs if we would like to collaborate on a Heart to Heart grant project.  

  

DG Heather invited us to this year’s District Conference.   A one-day event, it will be held on September 25 at Richland College.  After a day of speakers, breakout sessions and fun, there will be a desert bar provided by the Beer Lovers Rotary Fellowship and the Wine Lovers Rotary Fellowship.   Sign up at the District 6490 website.

 

In conclusion Heather said, “In 23 years of Rotary, my life has been enriched.  Through Rotary, you can go anywhere in the world and connect with people with similar values.   Friendship has happened for me in Rotary and I hope it happens for you.”

 

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  Aug 12th Aug 19th Aug 26th Sept 2nd
Introductions Bob La Charite Phyllis Mischo Scott Paceley Robb Patton
Reflection Allan Penwell Ed Perry Rod Roberts Tod Satterthwaite
Greeters Bob La Charite Phyllis Mischo Scott Paceley Robb Patton
Jarrod Scheunemann Jen Shelby Lou Simpson Charlie Smith
Song Leader        
Notetaker Conforti Perry Hodson Conforti
Decker Weeding Perry Shelby Shelby Hodson

 

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

 

August 12th – Mark Hanson, Curator for the Museum of the Grand Prairie, CCFPD will discuss the upcoming year, post-pandemic (Charlie)

August 19th – Rotarian Joe Rank will give a presentation about the Richmond Family Welcome Gallery at UIUC

August 26th – Gabe Lewis, Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (Ondine)

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 – TBD (Cary)

September 30th – Club Social

October 7th – Club Assembly

October 14th – TBD

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