“I thrive on obstacles. If I’m told that it can’t be done, then I push harder.” – Issa Rae – Actress-Writer-Producer

 

“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” – Eleanor Roosevelt – 1884-1962 – Former First Lady of the United States

 

“I can’t think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself.”  – Emma Stone – Actress

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

 

There are still three open slots for the July 24 Feeding Our Kids repack.

 

There will be no morning meeting on July 29.   Information about an evening social to follow.

 

Would you like to learn how to respond to prisoner requests for books?   Sign up for the training at Books2Prisoners, 2-4 PM on August 7.

 

The Board has decided that the club will plant a tree in memory of any deceased member.   Member donations will be accepted for commemorative plaques.   If you would like to donate toward a plaque, please send a donation to Lou Simpson.

 

 

PROGRAM

 

Jennifer Shelby spoke about her association with Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL.   She has been a trustee on their board for 11 years and says Blackburn is one of the best kept secrets in higher education.

 

Blackburn was founded by Reverend Gideon Blackburn as a Presbyterian liberal arts college in 1837.  Their work program began in 1913.

 

There are 11 “work” colleges in the country.  The mission is to link a rigorous and affordable liberal arts education with a unique work experience.   Blackburn is the only one in Illinois and the only one that is student managed.  USA Today called it one of the “top ten affordable colleges” in the nation.

 

With the exception of some commuters, all students work 10 hours per week in exchange for tuition waivers.  Each of 12 departments is managed by a student.  They hire employees, make personnel decisions and complete reports.   One of the 12 departments is community services.   Those students work for local businesses, schools, libraries, etc.   They come out with real job experience and a resume to go with the diploma.

 

Over a third of the students are the first in their family to attend college.  Their families cannot afford to help them.   Blackburn is the most reasonably priced private college in Illinois. Full tuition, room and board is about $15,000 per year.   Alumni donate to funds established to help kids who can’t afford supplies or need to pay for transportation to go home for family emergencies.   Students graduate with very little debt.

 

Blackburn offers 40 majors and minors.   Currently, enrollment is at 490 students.   They have a 10:1 student to faculty ratio, and they offer NCAA Division III athletics.

 

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  July 15th July 22nd July 29th Aug 5th
Introductions Mary Hodson Larry Johnson Joe Rank Bob La Charite
Reflection Scott Paceley Robb Patton Jerry Payonk Allan Penwell
Greeters Mary Hodson Larry Johnson Joe Rank Bob La Charite
Ed Perry Rod Roberts Tod Satterthwaite Jarrod Scheunemann
Song Leader        
Notetaker Hodson Conforti Perry Hodson
Decker Weeding Patton & Baran Johnson Johnson Perry

 

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

 

July 15th – Dr. Marianne Alleyne, Assistant Professor of Entomology, UIUC, will discuss the emergence of cicadas (Bob)

July 22nd – TBD (Cary)

July 29th – No AM meeting – Club Social

August 5th – District Governor Heather Stoa

August 12th – TBD (Charlie)

August 19th – Normal Rotarian Drake Zimmerman, co-founder and chair of the Rotary Action Group Against Malaria, will speak about Global Grants of Scale (Mary)

August 26th – TBD (Ondine)

September 2nd – Club Assembly

September 9th – TBD (Tom)

September 16th – TBD (Bob)

September 23rd – TBD (Cary)

September 30th – Club Social

October 7th – Club Assembly

October 14th – TBD