“Appreciation is the purest vibration that exists on the planet today.” – Esther Hicks – Inspirational Speaker-Author

 

“A pandemic of joy is the only cure for a more peaceful, just, sustainable, healthier, and joyful world.”  – Deepak Chopra – Indian-American Author-Alternative Medicine Advocate

 

“It’s okay to think of yourself when working on your dream. Do it for you, not anyone else.”  – Unknown

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

 

Lisa announced that our April 25th speaker will be Jenette Jurczyk from the Family Room.   The Family Room raises funds and awareness to bring comfort and joy to youth and families in the foster care system in Champaign County.  Their April 18th fundraiser, Minute to Win It Team Challenge, will be held at City View.   For more information see http://www.thefamilyroomcu.org.

 

March 19 – Books 2 Prisoners

 

March 21 – Central Interact International Festival

 

April 6 – Feeding Our Kids

 

May 4 – District Assembly

 

May 4 – Folding newspapers for the Humane Society at GSLC

 

May 18 – Rotary Leadership Institute 

 

 

PROGRAM

 

District Governor Janet Ellis-Nelson introduced Larry Kenemore, North American Task Force Leader for the Rotary Action Group for Addiction Prevention.  Their Project SMART is the first team and multi-disciplinary approach to combating the drug crisis and they need boots on the ground in every community.  Larry said that 79% of addicts in this country started on a prescription drug. 

 

Currently, 21 pharmaceuticals can be found in our drinking water because people dispose of unused drugs by flushing them or putting them in the trash and there is no known process of removing pharmaceuticals from the water.   The number one drug found in our drinking water is blood pressure medication.  

 

Larry believes that addiction prevention will be the next global project that Rotary will take on following the conclusion of Polio Plus in June 2025.  Rotary Action Group Addiction Prevention North America provides local Rotary clubs with all of the necessary tools and programs to save lives and eradicate addiction through a sustainable project.   They are asking every Rotary club to put together a committee to help implement Project SMART.   Committees can include non-Rotarians as well as Rotarians.

 

Project SMART is an acronym for all of the work communities will be doing. The S stands for their age-based 1st through 12th grade education program. The M stands for providing safe in-home and community medication disposal. A is for awareness and training. R stands for recover data base, and T for access to free tele-health treatment 24/7.  

 

The Rotary Club of Tallahassee, Florida implemented the program.  They train doctors, nurses, teachers and bus drivers.  Theirs is the only community in the United States that lowered its drug deaths last year.

 

—

  Mar 21st Mar 28th Apr 4th Apr 11th
Introductions Garrett Colbert Joe Rank JP Thompson Rod Roberts
Reflection Phyllis Mischo Scott Paceley Robb Patton Jerry Payonk
Greeters Garrett Colbert Joe Rank JP Thompson Rod Roberts
Phyllis Mischo Scott Paceley Robb Patton Jerry Payonk
Notetaker Crane Conforti Perry Hodson

—

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

 

March 21st – Amy Hegemeyer from Mom’s Demand Action who will talk about the Be Smart Program

March 28th –Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Kent Redfield. (Tom)

April 4th – Rabbi David Tiechtel (Joe)

April 11th –Al Nudo who will speak about Willard Airport (Tom)

April 18th – TBD

April 25th – Jenette Jurczyk of The Family Room (Lisa)

May 2nd – TBD

May 9th – TBD

May 16th – TBD

May 23 – Cooper, the Child Advocacy Center Comfort Dog (Joe)

 

 

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

 

March 14 – Michael Hogue