Announcements
(notes courteous of the venerable Neal Chamberlain)

Attendance was down, but the spirit of Christmas was high at the Thursday morning meeting of CUSR.

Ed thanked all those helped  “set-up” for the Wesley Evening Food Pantry.  According to Wesley’s website (wesleypantry.org), this food pantry provided food to a record number of low income clients (1437) in October.

Robb thanked all who participated in the fruit sales – $9000 income and counting.

Ata announced a new member orientation for Thursday, January 17.  More details to come.

Jeff announced that our club will be making plans for CUSR’S 25th anniversary in the January club assembly.

Jeff announced that the Centennial Interact club is selling sweatshirts ($15).  His comments about the beauty of these sweatshirts (resembling certain elderly club members) are omitted from this writing.

Tom Hodson (visiting Rotarian) announced that 5 women were killed while working to implement Rotary International’s objective of completing 100%  world polio immunization.  He stated that the polio eradication effort is more than 99%, but achieving total eradication has become very difficult.

CUSR was very pleased to induct two new members:

Phyllis Mischo, (Assistant to the Chancellor, UIUC, -Assistant to the Chancellor, UIUC, Graduate of EIU, husband, Bill, is a professor of library administration, two grown children – Kelvin and Justin, hobbies include reading, gardening, movies, theatre and sports, owned and managed a publishing business, worked as a textbook indexer, sang in choral groups in high school).

Jason VanAntwerp -Vice President & Branch Manager with Busey Bank, (Graduate of ISU, Traveled to China two times, one of two boys to be hired as cashiers at Mahomet IGA at age 15, spent one year as the Assistant General Manager of the Peoria Kings – a professional ABA basketball team, announced high school football games on ESPN Radio, hobbies include attending UI football and basketball games and travel.)

CUSR will be meeting at the usual scheduled time next week – Thursday, December 27.

 

Program

Larry Johnson introduced our speaker Kerri Spear.  In her professional life, Kerri is Neighborhood Programs Manager for City ofChampaign.  Subject of her presentation today is “Austin’s Place – An Emergency Overnight Shelter for the Homeless”.

Kerri explained, Austin’s Place was named in memory of Austin Cloyd, who was killed in the Virginia Tech (April 16, 2007) shooting massacre. Austin had been very active in youth activities at Champaign First United Methodist Church, including mission trips and service projects.  Soon after Austin’s death, Steve Gritton, who was active in a men’s emergency shelter at the Presbyterian Church was encouraging “someone” to provide an emergency shelter for women.   A few Methodist church volunteers approached pastors Terry Harter and Mary Brady about the possibility of providing an emergency shelter for women.  Pastor Harter’s response was “this has got to happen”.

The shelter opened for the January, February and March months of 2008 in the basement of First United Methodist Church with the name “Austin’s Place”. Austin’s Place coordinates with the “Women In Transition Shelter” which provides more long-term housing.  The Women in Transition Shelter typically has no available shelter for emergency needs of women who have no place to sleep “tonight”. Austin’s Place has operated almost entirely with volunteers, therefore it has a very small budget.  In the past yearAustin’s Place provided 291 units (a unit is a one person – one night) of housing, with the help of 2064 direct service volunteer hours.

Keri discussed future plans which include expanding emergency shelter to include women, men and families.  United Way is now very supportive in this effort.  As plans evolve, the shelter will move to another location which is currently being renovated to provide the facilities and staff required to provide for men, women and families.

Keri told of experiences that she and others have had in providing emergency (key word) shelter for women who otherwise would be desperate to find a warm place to sleep during the cold winter nights of Champaign/Urbana.  She also told of women who were provided shelter inAustin’s Place and have successfully “moved on” to get jobs and become self supporting.

—

Dec 27th Jan 3rd Jan 10th
Introductions Alan Chalifoux Neal Chamberlain Reuben Chambers
Invocation Ben Mast John McDaniel Penn Nelson
Greeters Alan Chalifoux Neal Chamberlain Reuben Chambers
Barb Lintner BJ Lytle Ben Mast
Song Leader Larry Johnson Andrew Kerins Dave Krchak
Notetaker Perry Penwell Hodson

—

Upcoming Schedule

Dec 27 – Eric Batsie, Partnership Manager of Big Brothers, Big Sisters

Jan 3 – Tiffany DeSpain, District 6490 RYLA Coordinator