“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Edwards Perry)
 
Cary reminded that any one that has not yet turned in their money from the fruit sale to do so immediately. This year’s fruit sale was a success, netting over $7,000.
 
Mary noted that our club’s “Books for Prisoners” book drive is still going on. Any book donations can be brought to our Thursday meetings.  
 
 
PROGRAM
 
Mary introduced Past District Governor Larry Howell who talked about the Rotary “Heart 2 Heart” projects in Mexico. PDG Larry continues to serve on various Rotary committees and explained that the “Heart 2 Heart” project in a cooperative Rotary project in which many districts in Rotary Zones 30 and 31 are active in these projects and has partnered with The Rotary Foundation.
 
Heart 2 Heart started in 2005 with a Rotary Group Study Project trip to central Mexico and seeing the need to help the local area. Over the last 14 years the projects have grown, and Larry has visited the area. Here’s a list of some of the projects. 
 
Rotary Foundation Matching Funds Grant money($2.5 Million so far) projects:
Water projects: providing 10,000 gallon water storage tanks for elementary schools
Up dating restroom facilities, drinking fountains and washing facilities
Sun Screens for school play grounds
Building additions to schools and building renovation projects   
Medical assistance projects for Kidney Transplants, Pacemakers, and Midwife Training
 
Non Grant Projects
Building low cost shelters for homes damaged by recent earthquakes
Providing computer labs, computer training, school equipment and science classrooms
Teaching advanced Spanish and math
Providing water pumps, solar panels and firewood ovens
Rebuilding wheel chairs and donating to those in need
Neurological Center
Cleft lip & palate surgery
Cancer medical equipment
 
With the support of Rotary International Global Grants, Rotaract and Interact, these projects have helped many people in need and additional projects are being planned. Mexico Rotary clubs are also active and do all the grant money paper work, but these projects need our help in raising money. We can help by starting a project using District Designated Funds, donate money from a club fundraiser and support The Rotary Foundation.
 
There is another planned trip to visit these projects in November 2019 and you can make the trip. The estimated “pilgrimage” cost is approximately $1,800.00.  Additional information can be found at www.heart2heartprojects.org.  
 
 
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  Jan 24th Jan 31st Feb 7th Feb 14th
Introductions Angie Schoonover Jen Shelby Lou Simpson Charlie Smith
Reflection Allan Penwell Ed Perry Rod Roberts Tod Satterthwaite
Greeters Angie Schoonover Jen Shelby Lou Simpson Charlie Smith
Diana Dummitt Ata Durukan David Henry Mary Hodson
Song Leader Keith Brandau Ethan Chew Paul Conforti Diana Dummitt
Notetaker Penwell Hodson Conforti Perry

 
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)
January 24th – Viktor Gruev, Associate Professor, UI Electrical and Computer Engineering, will speak about his research applications

[self-driving cars, cancer detection, ocean exploration]  of a bio-inspired camera (Phyllis)
January 31st – Club Social – 5:30PM at Pour Brothers in downtown Champaign
Rescheduled – William D O’Brien, Professor Emeritus, Electrical and Computer Engineering, UIUC, will tell us about his current research in ultrasonic bioengineering (Mary)
February 7th – Tiffani Henry will discuss Rotary Youth Exchange (David)
February 14th – TBD (Charlie)
February 21st – TBD (Tom)
February 28th – TBD (Ondine)
March 7th – TBD (Phyllis)
March 14th – TBD (Tom)
March 21st – TBD (Bob)
March 28th – TBD (Charlie)
April 4th – TBD (David)
April 11th – TBD (Mary)
April 18th – TBD (Ondine)
April 25th – TBD (Phyllis)
May 2nd – TBD