“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”― J. K. Rowling 

 

 

“Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars… Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” ― Martin Luther King, Jr. 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

The All Rotary area meeting is set for 11:30am on April 26 at the Round Barn Center.  We will cancel our meeting that week (4/27) so please plan on attending the All Rotary meeting. Rod asked that we all try and attend this important meeting.

 

There will be a club social starting at 5pm on Thursday, March 2nd at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. 

 

District Governor Kevin Yonce was on hand for several important items.  First, Robin Ferguson was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.  Second, DG Yonce described the amazing Matching Foundation Points Campaign that ends March 14th. It works like this: Write a personal check for a minimum of $100. The Rotary Foundation matches it AND the district matches it; meaning your $100 becomes $300 in total Foundation recognition points. You, or the recipient you designate, gets to their Paul Harris Fellow recognition (or the next level) quicker. Your Annual Fund contribution gets invested by the Rotary Foundation for 3 years with over half returning to our District for local as well as global grants. There is a printable form attached to the February District 6490 newsletter (http://rotarydistrict6490.org) 

 

Tod reminded everyone that our volunteer project this month will be the Eastern Illinois Food bank’s Pop up Food Pantry from 3:00-6:00pm on 2/22/17 at the County Market on Kirby.  Please contact Tod if you are interested in helping.

 

Michelle reminded everyone that Read Across America will be from 10:00am – 1:00pm on March 4 at Lincoln Square in Urbana. A sign up sheet was passed around at our meeting.  Readers are needed for 30 minutes each to cover our reading time slots.

 

Saturday, May 13th is Rotary Family Day at the Ballpark. This year the event will be at Busch Stadium where, for the first time since April 19, 1909, the Cardinals will host the reigning World Champion Chicago Cubs. Game time is 3:05pm. Tickets are $60 from which a portion will be distributed to district clubs to support literacy projects. Rotary will have 2,000 tickets available in the left field loge area. There is a printable form at District 6460 website. Make checks payable to Rotary District 6460. You can also email your reservation request to rotaryrod@comcast.net. mail your check to:

Baseball
2001 Barberry Dr
Springfield IL 62704

 

PROGRAM

 

Bob LaCharite introduced Pamela Dempsey, Executive Director of the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting.  Pam is also an adjunct professor at UIUC’s School of Journalism.
The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting (MCIR) is an independent, nonprofit newsroom devoted to educating the public about crucial issues in the Midwest with a special focus on agribusiness and related topics such as government programs, environment and energy. The purpose of MCIR is consistent with all journalistic endeavors, to shine a light on issues for the public to know about and better understand.

 

Current stories at the MCIR website include a climate change guide to new presidential cabinet appointees; concerns of agribusiness on new trade relationships with Asia; and new USDA regulations for livestock and poultry.

 

Pam talked extensively how local investigative reporting exposed and eventually brought to an end the intolerable treatment of migrant workers living in Rantoul’s Cherry Orchard apartments in 2011. This was an exceptional local area case, but everyday the center is involved in highlighting how local, state, national and global happenings impact Midwestern communities and its economy.
For further details, to sign up for their newsletter, or to donate go to: http://investigatemidwest.org/

 

 

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  Feb 16th Feb 23rd Mar 2nd Mar 9th
Introductions Billy Stull Jeff Van Buren Cary Woolard Adam Wright
Invocation Darrell Hoemann? Andrew Kerins Bob La Charite Barb Lintner
Greeters Billy Stull Jeff Van Buren Cary Woolard Adam Wright
Angie Schoonover Angie Schoonover Mary Hodson Darrell Hoemann
Song Leader Adam Wright Laura Auteberry Oktay Baran Michelle Barbey
Notetaker Penwell Hodson Lintner Conforti

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

February 16th- Garrett Anderson, 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)

March 2nd – Miranda Ming, Ambassadorial Scholar (Mary)

March 9th – Ann Witmer, UIUC, will discuss her involvement in a  water project in Honduras through the U of I (Keith)

Marcy 16th – TBD (Laura)

March 23rd – TBD (Mary)

March 30th – No am meeting; CUSR Social

April 6th – Lex Tate, adjunct lecturer in journalism and advertising at UIUC, will discuss her book An Illini Place—Building the University of Illinois Campus (Phyllis)

April 13th – TBD

April 20th – TBD (Tom)

April 27th – TBD (Bob)

May 4th – TBD (Laura)

May 11th – TBD (Mary)

May 18th – TBD (Phyllis)

May 25th – TBD

June 1st – TBD (Tom)

June 8th – TBD (Bob)

June 15th – TBD (Laura)