“Treat others as you wish to be treated. Don’t just be nice, but be kind to other people. That can be so rewarding.” ― Mary Lambert 

 

“Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed.” ― Cavett Robert 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Notes provided by Allan Penwell)

Angie Schoonover joined our club.  Angie is the principal at Edison Middle School, and Larry Johnson was her sponsor.  She is working on her doctorate, is in a women’s golf league, and is a runner.  Welcome to our club, Angie!

There is no morning meeting on February 2nd.  We are having a social at Riggs Beer Company on the same day at 5:30 p.m.  Evening meetings with this crowd are fun!

May 6-7 is the annual District 6490 conference which, this year, is conveniently held in Champaign.  Mark your calendars, and think about at least attending the lunch which is a great experience.

On January 21st we will meet in the Hawthorne Suites parking lot, and at 8:00 a.m. there will be a carpool to Bement to distribute food from the Eastern Illinois Food Bank.  Bement is about a 45 minute drive, and we will be back at noon.  Thanks to our volunteers for doing this.

Here is something to think about—visit other Rotary clubs in town.  It’s a good way to make business contacts and see how other clubs are run.

Don’t forget to check our CUSR web page.  You can upload a current picture and put in a few extra things on your bio.  Some have never logged in and would be amazed at all of the things that are already set up for you (including the clown picture for Ed Perry).

 

PROGRAM

This week’s speaker was Chris Alix.  Chris Alix is a Champaign businessman who owns Prairie City Computing, but he is very involved in public service in Urbana and the County.  He currently is on the Champaign County board and serves as chair of the finance committee.  There are 22 members on the county board, and many of the projects are always in progress.  Chris said that he is a moderate Democrat with leanings toward Barry Goldwater.

The County budget is $125 million, and funds are administered for a number of different areas such as roads, social services, judges and courts, the nursing home, animal control, and land use.  In addition, the County is a landlord for many buildings such as the court house and Brookens.

The County faces many challenges, and expenses are growing faster than income.  The county work force has been reduced by 10% in the last few years. The cost of crime is up.  Over $3 million is needed in deferred property maintenance repairs.  The nursing home is running a deficit.  There are many unfunded mandates such as criminal justice reform.  All of these challenges are further complicated due to property tax caps and a state budget crisis that does not seem close to going away.

   

 

 

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  Jan 19th Jan 26th Feb 2nd Feb 9th
Introductions Ed Perry Tod Satterthwaite Jen Shelby Lou Simpson
Invocation Ata Durukan Robin Ferguson Mary Hodson Darrell Hoemann
Greeters Ed Perry Tod Satterthwaite Jen Shelby Lou Simpson
Adam Wright Adam Wright Angie Schoonover Angie Schoonover
Song Leader Cary Woolard Billy Stull Jeff Van Buren Cary Woolard
Notetaker Hodson Lintner Conforti Perry

 

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

January 19th – Katherine Pickard, Daily Bread Soup Kitchen, will discuss their new facility on 1st Street (Bob)

January 26th – Josh Whitman, Athletic Director, UIUC (Jeff?)

February 2nd – AM meeting canceled; Instead, meet at 5:30PM at Riggs Brewery in Urbana (Laura)

February 9th – Pam Dempsey, Executive Director, Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting (Mary)

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 – TBD (Bob)

Marcy 16th – TBD (Laura)

March 23rd – TBD (Mary)

March 30th – No am meeting; CUSR Social

April 6th – TBD (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)

June 22nd – TBD (Mary)