Announcements
(announcements courteous of the unorthodox and unconventional Paul Conforti)
Rotarian Guest Cathy Rector (Champaign West) announced that she is the district Leadership Chair. This past Saturday’s Rotary Leadership Institute at Richland Community College in Decatur features a newly designed curriculum. Cathy suggests all Rotarian’s, and especially new Rotarian’s, avail themselves to upcoming RLI events. For info: HOA-RLI.org
Ed Perry announced he was taking a crew to Sullivan Illinois this past Saturday to help the Eastern Illinois Food Bank’s Food Mobile distribute food.
Allan Chalifoux was excited to meet a plane at Willard Airport this past Friday afternoon which was traveling all the way from Finland. On board is our newest CU Sunrise exchange student who will be a guest at the Chalifoux’s house for part of her stay.
Our own Sargent of Mirth Dave Krchak recalled the time the Rotary District Governor was visiting a club in his district. Not knowing the exact time of the meeting he happened by a barber shop to ask if anyone there could help him. The barber said the Rotarian’s met at noon – but warned that he might not wish to go today because the District Governor would be speaking.
Program
Our assistant District Governor Jon Rector (Champaign West) announced our distinguished guest and speaker; District Governor J. Gordon Bidner along with his wife Sandra. DG Bidner is an agronomist and a teacher. He also owns Prairiecrest Farms in McClean, IL. DG Bidner is a Hall of Fame member of the Normal IL club.
DG Bidner brought the Polio Truck and asked our club to make individual donations to further Rotary’s “this close” mission to eradicate polio from all nations.
Governor Bidner spoke a theme of peace as the central theme of Rotary Internationals theme. Governor Bidner quoted Dr. William Channing (an English Unitarian preacher in the early 19th century), ““We look forward to the time when the power to love will replace the love of power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace.”
Governor Bidner then recited in part the opening remarks from Rotary International’s President Sakuji Tanaka at RI’s 2012 Plenary Session (which is a training event for all District Governors):
“Peace, in all of the ways that we can understand it, is a real goal and a realistic goal for Rotary,” he said. “Peace is not something that can only be achieved through treaties, by governments, or through heroic struggles. It is something that we can find and that we can achieve, every day and in many simple ways.”
Peace has different meanings for different people, no definition is right, and no definition is wrong. However we use the word, this is what peace means for us. And however we understand peace, Rotary can help us to achieve it.”
DG Bidner asked that we focus this year on our club’s legacy, and on our own legacy, our legacy that we endeavored to make a difference.
DG Bidner reminded us that it only takes 27¢ per day to become a sustaining Paul Harris member.
Our district last year raised $191,000 for the RI Foundation & Future Vision. This year our goal is $250,000.
DG Bidner wants our club to become a Star Club in which we average annually $100/member donation to the foundation.
Our focus should also be on membership, New Generations – the future of Rotary, the future of our country. Embrace Rotary Youth Exchange initiatives, and be involved with the Rotaract and Interact clubs in our area. “Today’s generation of young people want to do something positive. As Rotarian’s we can direct this need.”
DG Bidner finished his excellent presentation with several quotes:
-From 20th century academic Claude Thomas Bissell “Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible.”
-From Michael Jordan, “Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try.”
-And finally, Charles Schultz, ” Be yourself, everyone else is taken.
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| Aug 16th | Aug 23rd | Aug 30th | Sept 6th | |
| Introductions | BJ Lytle | Ben Mast | John McDaniel | Penn Nelson |
| Invocation | Harold Adams | Curt Anderson | Oktay Baran | Alan Chalifoux |
| Greeters | BJ Lytle | Ben Mast | John McDaniel | Penn Nelson |
| Cary Woolard | Kris Young | Coletta Ackermann | Harold Adams | |
| Song Leader | Chuck Reifsteck | Rod Roberts | Mitch Schluter | Jen Shelby |
| Notetaker | Perry | Penwell | Hodson | Lintner |
| Decker Weeding | Kerins | Schluter | Chalifoux | |
| Next Weekend | Simpson | Schluter | Chalifoux | |
| Decker Garden | Krchak | Simpson | Simpson | |
| Watering |
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Upcoming Schedule
8/16 – Tom Hodson, Rotary International convention
