ANNOUNCEMENTS
(courtesy of the venerable Neal Chamberlain)
President Jeff called the meeting with a welcome to members and guests, especially the return of Donna – we all missed you Donna and your movie reviews.
President Jeff presented membership certificate and pin to new member Eric Batsie. Eric holds the position of Community Partnership Manager of Champaign County Big Brothers Big Sisters. Eric comes to us from Russia where he was the National Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters. He is a native of Champaign County. He has 15 years of experience in the child welfare field. We welcome you Eric, to CU Sunrise Rotary Club.
President Jeff the Paul Harris Fellow Award, certificate and pin, to Benny Lapid. Congratulations Benny – you make us proud.
Jeff high lighted “One Hundred Years of History” in which the January, 1947 Chicago Tribune high lighted accomplishments of Paul Harris as he was a charter member of the original Rotary Club. In the Tribune article it was noted that the number of Rotary clubs had grown to 5000. Jeff commented that the number of clubs (world wide) has grown to approximately 30,000 clubs with approximately 2 million members. Editorial note – Just because Rotary originated in Chicago does not mean you have to be a Cub fan to be a member in good standing!
Bucket Money Comments:
In a review that will surely turn heads around the nation, Donna Giertz expressed her dislike for the movie Les Miserables. As the star reviewer put it, “The acting was good, but the singing was just terrible. Did Anne Hathaway swallow a frog as a warm-up ritual?”
Ata thanked the club for expressions of sympathy in the death of his wife’s mother.
Jim noted that his wife, Tanya and son Peter, will be sleeping in a box tomorrow night, February 1st, in downtown Champaign. They are doing this in support of “C.U. at Home” which is an organization providing shelter for the homeless of our community.
PROGRAM
Mary introduced our speaker Debby Rehn, Executive Director, Champaign County Farm Bureau Foundation. Debby was a member of a Rotary Group Study Exchange trip to Germany in May/June of 2012.
Debby Rehn told of their group’s trip to 10 German cities. She emphasized that the thrust of their trips was visiting small communities and farms of various types. She explained that German farm families (usually) live in small communities – not on the farm that they own or rent – they commute the short distance to their farm.
Debby noted their trip’s points of interest:
*The crops raised are Potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, barley, rapeseed.
*Many farmers have biomass plants where they produce electrical energy.
*The biomass plants cost approximately one million dollars – the plants have a breakeven pay back of approximately 15 years.
*Germany is very interested in renewable energy and energy conservation (many wind generators).
*Dairy farms tend to stay in the family – generation to generation – but are only passed down to a single child.
*The hog farm they visited was very clean – very modern – owned by a young couple.
*The German Farm Progress Show was similar to the show in U.S.
*Churches are beautiful but not well attended – many of their contacts said they attend 4 or 5 times per year.
*Food tended to be sit down meals – not so much fast on the go fast food.
*Went to the Border Museum which illustrated how the “iron curtain” wall would often go through a small village.
*Visited Buchenwald concentration camp where thousands of Jews were killed.
*The fellowship of each visit was frequently a barbeque.
The Rotary Group Study Exchange trip was great opportunity for fellowship and learning. The next trip is to Italy – Debby encouraged us to encourage anyone we know that might have an interest to go.
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| Feb 7th | Feb 14th | Feb 21st | Feb 28th | |
| Introductions | Patrice Grant | Bruce Hatfield | Mary Hodson | Andrew Kerins |
| Invocation | Allan Penwell | Ed Perry | Marsha Reardon | Chuck Reifsteck |
| Greeters | Patrice Grant | Bruce Hatfield | Mary Hodson | Andrew Kerins |
| Scott Paceley | Robb Patton | Allan Penwell | Ed Perry | |
| Song Leader | BJ Lytle | Ben Mast | John McDaniel | Penn Nelson |
| Notetaker | Perry | Penwell | Hodson | Lintner |
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Upcoming Schedule
Feb 7 – Carly McRory and/or Mallory Davidson, Jamaica Dental Mission
Feb 14 – Ms. Jan Simon, Director of Community Education, Parkland College
Feb 21 – No regular meeting this day – instead, there will be a joint meeting at noon on Weds, 2/20/13, at Round Barn
Feb 28 – Rev. James B. Ellison
