“I could not, at any age, be content to take my place by the fireside and simply look on. Life was meant to be lived. Curiosity must be kept alive. One must never, for whatever reason, turn his back on life.”– Eleanor Roosevelt

 

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” ― Desmond Tutu 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

President Rod inducted new member Michelle Barbey and welcomed prospective member Angie Schoonover, Principal at Edison Middle School.

There will be no morning meeting on December 29.   Please bring a guest to a social at Destihl between 5:30 and 7:30 PM.   It will be a great opportunity to introduce and meet prospective members.

Please also invite guests to the January 26 meeting, when AD Josh Whitman will be our speaker.

Get your Foundation Bowl picks to Paul Conforti.

 

 

PROGRAM

Laura introduced Isak Griffiths, Executive Director of The Courage Connection.  She is a U of I graduate and a former Oracle data base coordinator with the US Air Force.

The mission of The Courage Connection is to empower women to make decisions that will have lasting impact on their lives.  They run transitional housing for homeless women, 6 units of affordable housing and the resale shop at Lincoln Square.

Domestic violence is the single biggest reason for women’s homelessness.   Many are homeless following release from prison.    Most women incarcerated for violent crimes are there for retaliation for abuse.

Illinois was the first state in the nation that made domestic violence a crime and ours is the oldest battered women’s shelter in the US.

Isak said that CU wages are lower but rents are higher than in Chicago.   So people getting out of prison and going into minimum wage jobs can’t afford to live.   Oftentimes they end up back in prison.

The shop at Lincoln Square provides work opportunities as well as professional clothing for the clients.  You can drop off clothing donations on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

 Monetary donations can be made on line at www.courageconnection.org.

 

 

  Dec 22nd Dec 29th Jan 5th Jan 12th
Introductions Scott Paceley No AM Robb Patton Allan Penwell
Invocation Reuben Chambers meeting Paul Conforti Diana Dummitt
Greeters Scott Paceley Instead  Robb Patton Allan Penwell
Adam Wright go to Adam Wright Adam Wright
Song Leader Lou Simpson Destihl Billy Stull Jeff Van Buren
Notetaker Lintner at 5:30PM Conforti Penwell

 

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

December 22nd – Mitch Davis, Executive Director, Muscular Dystrophy Association (Mary)

December 29th – No AM meeting; instead, we will gather starting at 5:30pm at Destihl in downtown Champaign (drinks on Keith?)

January 5th – CUSR family meeting – no speaker this week

January 12th – Chris Alix, Champaign County Board member from District. 10, will talk about County facility needs and the County Executive (Tod)

January 19th – TBD (Tom)

January 26th – Josh Whitman, Athletic Director, UIUC (Jeff?)

February 2nd – TBD (Laura)

February 9th – TBD (Mary)

February 16th- Nick Osborne, Director, Center for Wounded Veterans in Higher Education, UIUC (Phyllis)

February 23rd – Dr. King Li, Dean and Chief Academic Officer, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, will speak about the new Carle Illinois College of Medicine (Tod)