“Go as far as you can see. When you get there you will see how you can go farther.” – Thomas Carlyle – 1795-1881 – British Historian-Essayist-Philosopher-Mathematician-Teacher

 

“Wonder is the desire for knowledge.” – Thomas Aquinas – 1225-1274 – Philosopher-Priest

 

“Kindness and consideration of somebody besides yourself keeps you feeling young.” – Betty White – 1922-2021 – American actress-comedian

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the unconventional and unorthodox Paul Conforti)

This meeting was a club assembly and conducted via Zoom.

America the Beautiful was performed by the United States Navy Band. Joe Rank noted that the current band conductor, Captain Kenneth C. Collins, received his Master of Music degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

President Darrell announced that meetings will be held via Zoom for at least the next few weeks as we monitor the current Covid-19 surge. Darrell noted how the positivity rate has steadily increased, from around 2% in mid-December to over 20% today.

We discussed membership. We would like to be in the mid-30’s in total club members. “We’re all in this together, so each one, bring one.”

If you live and work in this community would you like:
*to connect to your community in ways you wouldn’t think possible
*attend weekly programs featuring fascinating people involved in everything from bee pollinator gardens to astrophysics and the age of the universe
*social “meetings” at places such as Riggs Brewery and Pour Brothers
*to have fun while adding meaning to your social community

Our fruit sale netted $2,500 more profit than last year. The sale at Sola Gratia was a near sell out. The fruit is pretty good too!

While we are in Zoom hiatus please send your bucket money donations to Lou.

Mary Kay announced our next service opportunity will be Saturday January 15 from 10 to noon at the Vineyard Church in Urbana. It’s called Feeding our Kids and involves filling bags for 1000+ students that may need extra food.

 

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  Jan 13th Jan 20th Jan 27th Feb 3rd
Introductions Paul Conforti Diana Dummitt Ata Durukan Ondine Gross
Reflection Michelle Barbey Eddie Bridges Paul Conforti Diana Dummitt
Greeters Paul Conforti Diana Dummitt Ata Durukan Mary Hodson
Allan Penwell Ed Perry Joe Rank Rod Roberts
Notetaker Conforti Perry Hodson Conforti

—

 

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

 

January 13th – Dr. Kristin Hoganson, the Stanley S. Stroup Professor of United States History at UIUC will discuss her book, “The Heartland: An American History” (Tom)

January 20th – Jeremy Greer will discuss his epic 212 mile hike of the John Muir Trail (Ondine)

January 27th – Brant Houston, Professor and Knight Chair in Investigative & Enterprise Reporting, UIUC (Bob)

February 3rd – TBD 

February 10th – TBD (Cary)

February 17th – TBD

February 24th – Tom Teper will discuss the new home for special collections at the undergraduate library at UIUC (Joe)

March 3rd – TBD 

March 10th – Ginger Mills and Marlin Livingston, Cunningham Children’s Home, will discuss housing refugee children from the border (Mary)

March 17th – AG Michael Harris will discuss visiting Rotary Clubs around the world (Mary)

March 24th – TBD (Tom)

March 31st – TBD

April 7th – TBD

April 14th – TBD (Bob)

April 21st – TBD (Cary)

April 28th – Jordan Dziura, the Executive Director at Illini Media Co., will discuss the Daily Illini’s 110th anniversary, upcoming reunion for IMC alums, and the future of college media (Charlie)

May 5th – TBD

May 12th – TBD (Joe)