“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid.” ― Albert Einstein
ANNOUCNEMENTS
(notes provided by the unconventional and unorthodox Paul Conforti)
Our newest C-U Sunrisee, Julie Allen, was in attendance!
Robb reminded that Bowling For Kids Sake was Friday March 18 and he is still accepting donations.
Rod introduced us a new and easy way for any Rotarian to raise money in the fight to eradicate polio through the Rotary International Annual Fund: the Rotary VISA card. Benefits include:
-For every Rotary VISA activated, Bank of America donates $100 to the RI Annual Fun
-You can use the credit card to make recurring gifts with Rotary Direct
-Cardholders receive 1% cash back on every purchase, 2% at grocery stores and 3% on gas
-There is no annual fee
–www.rotary.org/rotarycreditcard
Rotary Days Baseball, feature Chicago Cubs @ St. Louis Cardinals, will be on Monday 5/23/16 (7:15pm) and Tuesday 5/24/16 (6:00pm). Tickets are $38 each for right field box seats. Ticket reservations are due by 4/30/16. Make checks out to Rotary District 6460, and mail them too: Baseball, 2001 Barberry Drive, Springfield IL 62704. Don’t forget to include your name, phone number and email address.
Paul has organized a 2016 edition of the CU Sunrise March Madness Basketball Bracket pool with half the proceeds going to our Foundation. May the best loser win!
PROGRAM
Laura introduced Steven Bentz, Director of the Virginia Theatre at the Champaign Park District. Steve initially spoke of the renovation. If you have not been, it is a fantastic venue and a treasure for our community.
In December 1999, the Champaign Park District received a $900,000 grant from the State of Illinois to restore the theatre. Extensive work was done to bring the building up to current code, most of it not visible to the general public. In 2000, the curved movie screen that had been in place for decades was replaced with a smaller screen (50-foot wide viewable image) which can be removed offstage. Additional restrooms were completed in 2001. Box office renovation, dressing room remodeling, and carpet replacement took place in 2002-2003.
The east lobby/storefront was remodeled during 2007, and the main lobbies and concession stand were renovated and redecorated in 2010, thanks to a considerable donation from Michael Carragher. The decaying 1930’s-era neon marquee was removed from the theater on November 16, 2010, and it was replaced with a newly designed marquee in September 2011. Nearly $10 million has been spent on restoration since 2000.
Theater tours are held every Wednesday @ 10am.
The Virginia tries to fill its calendar with on average 3 events per week.
In addition to using its Panavision sized screen for classic movies, such as The Hustler (Tuesday 3/22) and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Tuesday 3/29), The Virginia is used for a variety of both locally based as well as national stage show productions. Upcoming events include:
Mavis Staples – April 1
Ebertfest – April 13-17
A Midsummer Nights Dream with Irish and Contemporary Dance- April 23
Jack Hannah’s Into the Wild Live – April 29
Melissa Etheridge – April 30
Chicago – August 24
steven.bentz@champaignparks.com
217-819-3902
http://thevirginia.org/events/list/
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| Mar 24th | Mar 31st | April 7th | April 14th | |
| Introductions | BJ Lytle | Ben Mast | John McDaniel | Phyllis Mischo |
| Invocation | Jen Shelby | Billy Stull | Jeff Van Buren | Cary Woolard |
| Greeters | BJ Lytle | Ben Mast | John McDaniel | Phyllis Mischo |
| Allan Penwell | Ed Perry | Rod Roberts | Tod Satterthwaite | |
| Song Leader | Scott Paceley | Robb Patton | Allan Penwell | Ed Perry |
| Notetaker | Perry | Penwell | Hodson | Lintner |
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE
March 24th – Molly Delaney, Executive Director, C-U Schools Foundation, will discuss their first cross-district, collaborative grant
March 31st – Dee Brown, Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics, UIUC – Meeting will be held in the Savoy Room
April 7th – Laura Weis, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
April 14th – TBD
April 21st – Megan McKisson, vice president of Illinois 2015-2016 Vis International Commercial Arbitration Team
April 28th – TBD
May 5th – TBD
May 12 – Prof. Christopher Barkan, Executive Director of the Rail Transportation and Engineering Center, UIUC, will discuss high speed rail travel and RailTec
May 19th – TBD
May 26th – TBD
June 2nd – TBD
June 9th – Megan Casey, Frances Nelson and SmileHealthy
