Announcements  (notes courteous of the stylish, striped-tie-wearing Allan Penwell)

Jeff is looking for a replacement for Andrew on the New Generations committee for next year.  It’s a great gig, ask Andrew for details.

Program

Our speaker last week was Brian Nudelman, associate professor of humanities at Parkland College.  Brian coordinates campus-wide service learning and volunteerism. These efforts include co-creating the Garden Hills Homework Club with Champaign Schools; leading Parkland’s Service-Learning Advisory Council; and working to get students, faculty, and staff out in the community working alongside other non-profit partners and area schools.  Brian also helped enable dental hygiene program trips to Tennessee and India.

Brian has organized and guided some 120 students through nearly 2,500 service learning hours at 11 agencies and non-profits in Champaign-Urbana.  Community engagement not only integrates Parkland with those needing help, but it is a life-skill for students as they move into their careers.  To learn more about the Service Learning Program, go to their website:

http://www.parkland.edu/academics/servicelearning.aspx

Group Study Exchange (GSE) team from Germany

CU Sunrise Rotary and Champaign Interact Club volunteer at Foodbank

Announcements (notes courteous of the unconventional and unorthodox Paul Conforti)

Jeff Van Buren: New board member needed for the New Generations seat as Andrew needed to withdraw due to job commitments.  Resident wiseguy Neil Chamberlain joked that it was about time Andrew finished school and found a job.

Tom Hodson – Champaign West

5/11/2012: Party Bus / Scavenger Hunt @ 5pm

5/19/2012: Orpheum Children’s Science Museum Building Fair 10am – 2pm

Speaker: Carl Burkybile – Director: Caring for Kenya (CFK)

www.caringforkenya.org

Carl is a Casey native, grew up on a grain and livestock farm, has a Masters degree in agricultural education from the University of Illinois and an advanced certification in vocational education. Carl taught high school for 26 of 32 teaching years at Rantoul H.S. In 2000 he was named outstanding agriculture teacher in Illinois.

In 2009 Caring for Kenya was awarded the Champaign-Urbana International Humanitarian Award for their work helping people with food production, education, health care and water.

Carl is preparing for his 9^th trip to Kenya this June. He maintains a close relationship with the Rantoul Rotary Club. In the early 90’s Carl and his family hosted two Rotary exchange students (Moyses from Brazil and Kepa from France).

According to the World Water Organization over 80% of Kenya’s 40 million people have no access to clean water.

CFK has provided 145 water filters for families in Kenya who get their water from streams or shallow wells. In December 2011 CFK ordered another 100 filters which will be distributed by Carl in June. In addition to removing solids, these filters remove 99.9% of the bacteria as well as parasites from the water.

The $50 filter will filter 1 million gallons of water before it wears out.

CFK also works closely with the people providing education and training to help people improve their “food security” including teaching simple, affordable and sustainable farming techniques such as composting, use of raised beds, drip irrigation, minimum tillage, mulching and crop rotation.

Carl’s presentation was accompanied by an informative and engaging slip show including work that is in progress digging deep water wells.

Carl is accepting donations for these worthwhile projects that he personally administers.

The Caring for Kenya website is well done and worth a visit. www.caringforkenya.org

Carl Burkybile

Burkybile@aol.com

Home: 217-365-0215

Cell: 217-898-0425