“I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.” – Serena Williams – Professional Tennis Player

 

“There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice.” – Michelle Obama – Former First Lady of the United States-Author-Attorney

 

“Self-belief and hard work will always earn you success.”  – Virat Kohli – International Cricketer

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Edward Perry)

 

This Month’s Club Social will take place this Thursday, 3/31, beginning at 6pm at the Chez Veterans Center, 908 W. Nevada, Urbana. Light snacks and soft drinks will be served. We will have the opportunity to meet the student veterans and center leaders and tour the state-of-the-art facility. Spouses and potential new members are invited.  Free parking is available after 5 pm in the UI faculty-staff parking lot located immediately west of the center. 

The following upcoming volunteer projects were announced:

April 3, 8 to 10 am for the Chez Veterans 5K. See Joe if you are interested in volunteering to monitor various locations along the 5k route.

April 9, 8:30 to 11am or 11 to 1pm at Scott Park for the Boneyard Creek clean up. See Phyllis if you are interested in helping.

May 9, 6pm to 8pm for Books to Prisoners. See Larry for additional information.

May 14 through the 21 will be the Diaper Drive. All area Rotary Clubs have been asked to contribute and bring diapers to Lodgic.  We will pack the donated diapers into a special container for shipping.

Tom Hodson announced that ShelterBox has sent boxes to Poland to help with the Ukrainian immigration. Additional Boxes are being planned for future shipments to Ukraine. Tom passed around a donation box among the members.

 

PROGRAM

Mary introduced Fred Christensen as our morning’s speaker. Fred is a retired professor, a retired Army Reserve officer and has been a highly respected local OLLIE presenter for the past 13 years. His OLLIE presentations have covered historical events and activities here in the United States and around the world. This morning’s presentation was titled “What History Tells Us about the Ukraine- Russian War”. 

Fred began with the history of Eastern Europe focusing on the Slavic speaking nations.  He discussed the rise and fall of the USSR and its effect on the surrounding republics during communist rule as well as the 1991 breakup of the USSR and the resulting independent states and their move to nationalism.

Today, Ukraine is a nation of 50 million people and has played an important role throughout history. In 1991 with the breakup of the Soviet Union, Ukraine, like other Soviet republics, became a nation state and formed a government of their own. Today’s current war centers on Russia’s attempt to bring Ukraine back under Russian rule.

Fred, using historical data, maps and information, covered many important historical facts and related issues about the region. With the limited time that our meetings allowed, Fred shared his outstanding presentation with us.

 

—

  Mar 31st April 7th April 14th April 21st
Introductions Evening Joe Rank Rod Roberts Tod Satterthwaite
Reflection social Allan Penwell Ed Perry Joe Rank
Greeters at Chez Joe Rank Rod Roberts Tod Satterthwaite
Veterans Eddie Bridges Paul Conforti Diana Dummitt
Notetaker Center Hodson Conforti Perry

—

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

 

(will be updated next week)