“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – 1928-1968 – Minister and Civil Rights Activist

 

UPCOMING EVENTS & SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

April 3 (7am) – Club Board Meeting

April 6 – Feeding our Kids (sign-up sheet passed around)

April 19-21 – Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) at Allerton
May 4 (9-noon) – District Assembly
May 4 (9-noon) – Newspaper folding @GSLC – save your newspapers
May 18 (9-3:30pm) – Rotary Leadership Institute @ Richland Community College in Decatur (the club will pay your registration fee)

SPEAKER

Our speaker last week was Professor Kent Redfield.  Dr. Redfield is a professor emeritus of political science at the University of Illinois – Springfield where his research focused on teaching and public service on campaign finance issues and Illinois politics. He served as the program coordinator for the Illinois Legislative Staff intern program for 20 years. Before joining UIS he worked as legislative analyst for the Illinois Legislature.

Dr. Redfield has authored a number of books, chapters in books and articles on Illinois politics, campaign finance and political corruption. He is currently working with two co-authors on a new edition of Illinois Politics: A Citizen’s Guide which will be published by the U of I press in July 2024.

Dr. Redfield covered a number of different topics: shifting demographics; downstate versus Chicago; billionaires and bribery. Even veteran observers need a roadmap to track Illinois’ ever-changing political landscape. Dr. Redfield discussed recent events like the 2015-2017 budget disaster, the response to COVID-19, and the fall of longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan.

Much of his presentation centered on corruption, social policies, and the political rules of the game.  Dr. Redfield provided perspectives on the nuts-and-bolts of campaign funding and the ways political actors acquire power or influence.

Dr. Redfield made it clear that it is okay to contact him regarding questions about Illinois Politics. Cell: 217-971-8691 or kredfl@uis.edu

 

—

  Apr 4th Apr 11th Apr 18th Apr 25th
Introductions JP Thompson Rod Roberts Garrett Colbert Jarrod Scheunemann
Reflection Robb Patton Jerry Payonk Allan Penwell Ed Perry
Greeters JP Thompson Rod Roberts Garrett Colbert Jarrod Scheunemann
Robb Patton Jerry Payonk Allan Penwell Ed Perry
Notetaker Perry Hodson Crane Conforti

—

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

 

April 4th – Rabbi David Tiechtel (Joe)

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

April 18th – Retired American Airlines Captain John Carey will speak by Zoom about his experience investigating U.S. Airlines flight 1549 that landed on the Hudson River in 2009 (Mary)

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

 

April 3 – Mary Hodson

April 24 – Mary Kay Smith