“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.” – Ryunosuke Satoro – 1892-1927 – Japanese Writer

 

“Don’t look any further than your own reflection for a hero.” – Allyson Partridge – Public Speaker

 

“The purpose of life is a life of purpose.” –  Robert Byrne – 1930-2016 – American Author

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

If you would like to make a donation to Shelter Box to supplement our February Bucket Bucks, see the Pay Pal link from Darrell or send Lou an email to let him know that you will be sending a check to him (made out to CU Sunrise Rotary Foundation).

 

Contact Darrell if you are planning to read at Read Across America in March.

 

President Mary Kay announced that some local clubs are planning to begin in-person meetings.   The Monticello club will meet in-person beginning next week.  The Champaign Club will start sometime in the Spring.   

 

 

PROGRAM

 

Mary introduced Kellie Anderson, the new Director of RSVP and the Stevick Center.  

 

According to the federal government, a “senior” is anyone over the age of 55.   The Retired Senior Volunteer Program, sponsored by Family Services, serves as a link between seniors who want to volunteer and not-for-profits, called “station sites” that need volunteers.   Before Covid, the RSVP program office was in the Helen Mary Stevick Center.   The Stevick Center, under the umbrella of the News-Gazette, is a place for people to socialize and to take classes.   While the Stevick Center is closed, the office is housed in the Attorney Title Guarantee Building.

 

During 2019, 628 local senior volunteers gave over 100,000 hours of service to non-profit stations sites such as Habitat for Humanity, CU at Home, Carle, OSF, and others.   In 2020, despite Covid, 536 volunteers gave 71,117 hours of service to 89 non-profit stations.  Kellie said that they are always looking for more senior volunteers and station sites.  Funding for RSVP comes from the Illinois Department on Aging and AmeriCorp and depends on the number of volunteers and volunteer hours reported.

 

Programs that have continued during the pandemic include Food For Seniors, the Pen Pal Program and “Friendly Callers”.    The Tax Aide Program will not be held this year.

 

On the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month, volunteers meet at Grace Lutheran Church to pack and deliver groceries to vulnerable seniors who would otherwise experience food insecurity.  Seniors also volunteer with Project Read, CASA, Meals on Wheels and Crisis Nursery.   Right now, CASA is looking for volunteers to serve the 18-22 year old age group who need career and college advice.

 

Seniors who wish to volunteer fill out a short application and attend a brief orientation.   Contact Kellie Anderson at rsvpchampaign@gmail.com if you want to get involved.

 

 

—

 

  Feb 18th Feb 25th Mar 4th Mar 11th
         
Reflection Robb Patton Jerry Payonk Allan Penwell Ed Perry
Notetaker Conforti Perry Perry Hodson

—

 

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

*All meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted*

 

February 18th – Lindsey Kerr, Executive Director of LifeLine Pilots (Ondine)

February 25th – D’Chyna Deen, Champaign Housing Authority, will tell us about their Youth Build program (Mary)

March 4th – Julie Pryde, Public Health Administrator, C-U Public Health District will discuss COVID-19 (Bob)

March 11th – Robin Stapf, Training and Recruitment Coordinator, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) (Cary)

March 18th – TBD (Charlie)

March 25th – Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Professor of Law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Director of the Illinois Program in Constitutional Theory, History, and Law will discuss the First Amendment (Tom)

April 1st – TBD

April 8th – TBD

April 15th – TBD

April 22nd – TBD

April 29th – TBD