“There is nothing stronger in the world than gentleness.” – Han Suyin – 1916-2012 – Physician

 

“There is nothing like a dream to create the future.” – Victor Hugo – 1802-1885 – French Poet

 

“No passion so effectually robs the mind of its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” – Edmund Burke – 1729-1797 – Irish Statesman

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the unconventional and unorthodox Paul Conforti)

 

February Bucket Bucks totaled $655 which will benefit ShelterBox USA

 

Darrell emailed a link to our YouTube channel featuring 6 CU Sunrisers reading children’s books for Read Across America 2021. It is wonderfully produced and well worth a visit.

 

PROGRAM

 

Ondine introduced Lindsey Kerr, Executive Director of LifeLine Pilots.  Lifeline Pilots’ tagline is “the shortest distance between home and hope”.  Their mission statement is to facilitate free air transportation through volunteer pilots for financially distressed passengers with medical and humanitarian needs.

 

LifeLine Pilots began in 1981 by Champaign resident and flying enthusiast Wanda Whitsett. Wanda continues to serve on the LifeLine Board of Directors.

 

Forty years later, LifeLine Pilots have donated over 9,000 flights, flying over 9.2 million nautical miles, and averaging 6 “missions” per week throughout 10 central US states.

 

Currently there are 250 volunteer pilots. Pilots are not reimbursed for any part of the flight.

 

There is not an income threshold to use LifeLine Pilots. Qualifications are based solely on an individual need. Free medical and compassion flights are just that, free. In addition, there is no out of pocket or insurance reimbursement from individuals using the service. The simple requirements are a preferred 5–7-day lead time and filling out an online form (or by phone). Insurance is the largest expense for LifeLine Pilots.  It is important to note that LifeLine Pilots is not an emergency service and no medical care is provided for those using the service.

 

How can you help? The biggest obstacle for LifeLine Pilots is getting the word out about their service. Sharing their Facebook and Instagram pages gets their message out to more people. LifeLine Pilots has a social platform mascot, Miles the Moose. Liking Miles the Moose helps gets their message out.

 

Along with getting their message out to the public, LifeLine Pilots also has a need to educate local airport managers as well as medical facilities about who they are and what they do. Even the smallest medical facility needs to know about LifeLine Pilots so they can advise and refer their patients.

 

Donations can be securely made at the LifelIne Pilots website: lifelinepilots.org

 

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

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

*All meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted*

 

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 – Lisa Wilson, Executive Director, CU Refugee Center (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 (Diana)

April 8th – TBD (Bob)

April 15th – TBD (Cary)

April 22nd – TBD (Charlie)

April 29th – Club Social – details TBD

May 6th – TBD (Ondine)

May 13th – TBD (Tom)

May 20th – TBD (Bob)

May 27th – TBD (Cary)

June 3rd – TBD (Charlie)

June 10th – TBD (Mary)

June 17th – TBD (Ondine)

June 24th – Pass the Gavel ceremony