“The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.” ― Neil Gaiman – English author

 

“Great art picks up where nature ends.” – Marc Chagall (Russian-French artist – 1887-1985)

 

“The self-confidence one builds from achieving difficult things and accomplishing goals is the most beautiful thing of all.” – Madonna – American Singer-Songwriter-Actress

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

March Bucket Bucks will go to Books 2 Prisoners.  If you wish to contribute extra, send your donation to Lou Simpson.

 

District 6490 is currently $160,000 short of the Foundation Giving goal for 2020-2021.   If you are able to help, please make an additional donation to the Rotary Foundation by the end of May.

 

March 20, 10 AM to 12 Noon – Food as Medicine repack

 

March 25 – electronic vote on updated club by-laws.

 

April 8 – election for 2021-2022 officers

 

April 29 – Club evening social – no morning meeting

 

May 1 – District Assembly on-line – see District 6490 website for more information

 

 

PROGRAM

 

Cary introduced Robin Stapf, Training and Recruitment Director for Champaign County CASA.   CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. 

 

Robin is currently recruiting advocates for the next training which will begin on March 22.    Champaign County CASA  is currently  serving 463 children with 121 advocates.   Since the start of the pandemic, they have had 121 new cases and there is a dire need for new advocates.  

 

Advocates make a two year commitment to make a weekly contact with a child.  They write reports for the court and serve as a guardian ad litem.   A criminal background check, thirty hours of initial training, and 12 CEU’s per year are required.  

 

Funding comes from the federal Victims of Crime Act, the State Attorney General, the City of Urbana, Champaign County United Way and individual donors.   Advocates donate their time and mileage to meet with children.  However, advocates do not transport children.

 

An online application can be found at www.CASA4Kids.org.    For more information or to make a donation, see the website or contact Robin at rstapf@CASA4Kids.org.

 

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  Mar 18th Mar 25th Apr 1st Apr 8th
         
Reflection Rod Roberts Tod Satterthwaite Jarrod Scheunemann Jen Shelby
Notetaker Conforti Perry Hodson Conforti

 

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

*All meetings via Zoom unless otherwise noted*

 

March 18th – Lisa Wilson, Executive Director, CU Refugee Center (Charlie)

March 25th – Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Professor of Law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Director of the Illinois Program in Constitutional Theory, History, and Law will discuss the First Amendment (Tom)

April 1st – TBD (Diana)

April 8th – TBD (Bob)

April 15th – TBD (Cary)

April 22nd – TBD (Charlie)

April 29th – Club Social – no morning meeting

May 6th – Winnie Stortzum will discuss her trip to Portugal (Mary)

May 13th – TBD (Tom)

May 20th – TBD (Bob)

May 27th – TBD (Cary)

June 3rd – TBD (Charlie)

June 10th – TBD (Mary)

June 17th – TBD (Ondine)

June 24th – Pass the Gavel ceremony