“The soul is stronger than its surroundings.” – William James – 1842-1910 – Psychologist

 

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” – Cynthia Ozick – Writer

 

“In order to move others deeply we must deliberately allow ourselves to be carried away beyond the bounds of our normal sensibility.” – Joseph Conrad – 1857-1924 – Author

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by Lisa Crane)

 

July 29 – Rotary at the Park

July 30, 4 PM – Celebration of Lou at the Rose Bowl.  Bring chips and salsa.

August 21 – Tom Costello Golf Outing and Corn Roast

August 26 – Rotary Leadership Institute

September 9 – District Conference

November 9 – CU Sunrise Anniversary and Veteran’s Day Dinner

 

Bucket Bucks for July – Feeding Our Kids

Bucket Bucks for August – CU at Home

 

Shelter Box Stock the Box Fundraiser – See http://www.shelterboxusa.org

 

Phyllis’ reflection was on the origin of the fortune cookie by a Japanese chef in 1914. We each received a cookie to share the fortunes during bucket bucks

  

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

August 8, 5:30 – 7:30pm – Assemble School Kits at United Way

August 21 – 26 – CU Sunrise Diaper Drive

September 2, 9-11am – SALT & LIGHT in Urbana

September 9 – Feeding our Kids

October 14 – Rotary booth at Urbana Farmer’s Market

 

 

PROGRAM

The speakers this week were Tom Mitchell and Joy Hoffsommer who presented The Midwestern Roots of Tennessee Williams (1911-1983).  Joy is retired from Parkland College, and Tom is retired from the UIUC Theater department.

Tennessee Williams was the most productive playwright from 1944-6, including writing eight plays which became movies.  These movies included The Glass Menagerie, Street Car Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Night of the Iguana.

Tom and Joy read from The Caterpillar Dogs which is a collection of previously unpublished stories that came out in 2023.  Tom is the editor of this collection.

There are annual Tennessee William festivals in St Louis and New Orleans.  The next Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival will be Sept 7-17 in University City, MO.

We were entertained with a poem from Middle West. Tom and Joy also performed a series of anecdotes, jokes, newspaper, clippings, and advertising jingles. 

One short story was written after his bus station stop in Champaign, IL called Ten Minute Stop short story after trip to Chicago 1936

Another one of Tennessee Williams’s short stories was based in Springfield, IL – Entrances to Heaven or the Dream of Springfield IL.

They read the poem and discussed connections they have to Illinois and the Midwest.

Williams was buried in St Louis by his brother, but he wanted to be buried at sea.

The name Tennessee perhaps came from fraternity brothers who called him that due to his southern accent.

 

Next week’s speaker will be RI President Gordon McInally.

 

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  July 27th Aug 3rd Aug 10th Aug 17th
Introductions Eddie Bridges Paul Conforti Lisa Crane Diana Dummitt
Reflection Scott Paceley Robb Patton Jerry Payonk Allan Penwell
Greeters Eddie Bridges Paul Conforti Lisa Crane Diana Dummitt
Scott Paceley Robb Patton Jerry Payonk Allan Penwell
Notetaker Conforti Perry Hodson Crane

—

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

 

July 27th – RI President Gordon McInally’s speech announcing this year’s theme (pre-recorded)

August 3rd – Jarod from Boy Scouts of America prairie land council (Cary)

August 10th – Kelly Russell from the Champaign County Home Visiting Consortium (Michael)

August 17th – District Governor

August 24th – Joe Rank, Taste of Northern Italy

August 31st – TBD

September 7th – TBD

September 14th – TBD

September 21st – Poets Corey Van Landingham and Chris Kempf (Thom)  

September 28th – Jarrod Scheunemann will discuss his mission trip and park development project in Bilisht, Albania

October 5th – TBD

October 12th – Brittany Millington, Director, Champaign Public Library (Thom)

October 19th – TBD

October 26th – TBD

November 2nd – Dr. Dan Simons, Professor, Psychology, UIUC, co-author of “The Invisible Gorilla” and “Nobody’s Fool”

November 9th – no morning meeting – Anniversary Dinner at CityView

 

 

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

 

July 28 – Cary Woolard

 

August 24 – Allan Penwell

August 30 – Darrell Hoemann

August 30 – Ed Perry