ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)
A visiting Rotarian from Texas, Mary Nelson, introduced her sister, Judy Vasey, who is interested in joining a Rotary Club in this area.
Jack reminded us that “Dues are due!”
PROGRAM
Mary introduced Susan Warsaw, retired from the University of Illinois, and her husband Ronny, who is retired from the USDA. A native of Queens, NY, Susan volunteered five times at Ground Zero. One of her jobs was to help the United Way by calling donors to make sure that the decimals of their on-line donations were in the right place. She also volunteered in the Medical Examiners tent and served food at the food tent.
Susan and her husband Ronny returned to the site in May. She and Ronny, along with other volunteers and the families of victims had one-on-one private tours of the new Liberty Museum, where some of Susan’s mementoes are on display.
Susan described the beautiful gardens surrounding Tower One, unofficially known as the “Freedom Tower”. The people of Holland donated 2 million tulip and daffodil bulbs, planted to bloom in the Spring following the tragedy.
Families of the victims were allowed to select the location of their loved ones names on the ledge of the water feature. You can put flowers in the holes created by the names and they will be watered by the water flowing into the falls. Susan suggested that visitors place flowers in the names of those victims whose families live far from the Memorial.
Upon entering the Liberty Museum, you see the huge Americans 9-11 Memorial Victims Quilt. In the Remembrance Room, the walls are lined with 8×10 pictures of each of the victims. In the center of the room are kiosks, where you can type in the name of a victim, see his or her family pictures and hear his or her life story.
A crushed fire engine and beams from the Twin Towers are on display. Another room is dedicated to Flight 93. Visitors sit on long benches and watch a time line of the trajectory of the plane’s path. Simultaneously, you hear recordings of the voices of the air craft controllers speaking with the pilots. Then they play recordings of cell phone calls between passengers and their families.
The last column is signed by all who volunteered at the site.
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| July 10th | July 17th | July 24th | July 31st | |
| Introductions | Alan Chalifoux | Neal Chamberlain | Reuben Chambers | Paul Conforti |
| Invocation | BJ Lytle | Ben Mast | John McDaniel | Jan Merchen |
| Greeters | Alan Chalifoux | Neal Chamberlain | Reuben Chambers | Paul Conforti |
| Bob La Charite | BJ Lytle | Ben Mast | John McDaniel | |
| Song Leader | Phillip Holthaus | TBD | Nick Jungels | Dave Krchak |
| Notetaker | Lintner | Conforti | Chamberlain | Perry |
| Rotary Minute | Keith Brandau | Neal Chamberlain | Reuben Chambers | Paul Conforti |
| Decker Weeding | LaCharite | Kerins | Chamberlain | Hatfield |
| Next Weekend | McDaniel | Simpson | Duo | Shelby |
| Decker Garden | Reifsteck | Reifsteck | Adams | Adams |
| Watering |
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE
July 10th – Lacey Rains-Lowe, City of Champaign Planner, will discuss the city’s Environmental Sustainability Plan
July 17th – Linda Tammen, UIUC College of Education, will discuss the upcoming Youth Literature Festival (Oct 16-18, 2014)
July 24th – Isak Griffiths, Executive Director, and Mary Wallace, Director of Development, will discuss Courage Connection (formerly Center for Women in Transition)
July 31st – TBD
August 7th – Visit from the Governor
August 14th – TBD
August 21st – Bruce Knight, Planning and Development Director, City of Champaign
August 28th – TBD
September 4th – Molly Delaney will discuss the CU Schools Foundation
Date TBD – Chuck Reifsteck will discuss the trials and tribulations of his life while in office, including all the controversial votes, vetoes, and videos
