“Life would be very dull without inspiration, and what inspires one person may seem fairly mundane to another.” – Rasheed Ogunlaru – Life Coach-Speaker-Author

 

“There is a time for peaceful contemplation; there is a time for dynamic action; and all the time the lake remains itself.” – Yung-Ming Yen-Shou – 904-975 – Chinese Zen Master

 

“Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.” – Dale Turner – Singer-Songwriter

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

 

Darrell presented a check in the amount of $1,060 to Pat Dessin of CU Schools Foundation. This donation was the result of our Leap into Karaoke event last Thursday night. The club thanked Darrell and Lou for their inspiration, efforts and equipment in getting this successful fundraiser together. CU Schools Foundation will use the money for the music programs at our local schools.

 

Michelle noted that our club participated in this year’s Read Across America activities. Six club members read children’s books to the young listeners at Lincoln Square Mall.

 

Phyllis passed around a signup sheet for this coming Thursday morning’s volunteering activity for Promise Healthcare’s Food is Medicine program. Volunteers will help distribute healthy food to families in need.

 

A special presentation took place as 11 members of our club were awarded as new or multiple Paul Harris Fellows.

 

Please keep the evening of April 17 open for an entertaining evening of  Bowl for Kids Sake at Old Orchard Bowling Lanes. Our club will have a least one team of semi-bowlers taking part in this fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Bowling skills are not needed to participate; over the years this has been a fun night for the bowlers and fans. See Tod for more information.     

 

PROGRAM

 

Mary introduced WILL/Illinois Public Media’s Sarah Edwards and Danda Beard. Sarah Edwards in the producer/director for the new documentary “Illinois Country” on WILL-TV that airs this week.

 

Sarah is a Champaign-Urbana native who began working in the film industry in California.  She then worked with CNN as a filming/reporter/editor, went back to making music videos in Los Angeles, and has since been recruited back here by WILL. 

 

Sarah explained how she worked on the idea of a country music documentary that tells the story of Illinois’ singular role in the history of country music.  Sarah wanted the one-hour documentary to be broken into three parts that tells the story about the roots, innovators and those who have made the big time in country music.

 

Sarah talked about the research done with DJ Roach and Isaac Musgrave. She also discussed the dozen of interviews with prominent country singers, song writers and musicians as well as the travels throughout Illinois and to Nashville to gather the needed information for the documentary.

 

The film tells of the beginnings in the early gathering halls and small-town hoedowns, to Chicago’s WLS National Barn Dance, Champaign’s Farm Aid and on to today’s Illinois’ Grammy award winners. She named several local area greats like Smiley Burnette, Jenny Lou Carson, Jerry Milam, Marvin Lee and Alison Krauss who contributed to the documentary.  

 

An original song, Backroads, is part of the film. Five-time Grammy nominee Graham Edwards and Nashville songwriter John Pennell teamed up to write the song. Recording artist Mo Pitney performs the song with Nashville performers including Alison Krauss, mandolin star Sam Bush, dobro player Jerry Douglas and renowned fiddler Andrea Zonn. 

 

The amount of time and work needed to put together a documentary is significant, especially with just a relatively small number of people.  The film was basically funded by local sponsors and the Friends of WILL. Throughout the filming, Sarah Edwards and DJ Roach used behind the scenes footage to make a six-part web series which provides additional stories and great performances.

 

Go to will.Illinois.edu/illinoiscountry for more information. 

 

 

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  Mar 12th Mar 19th Mar 26th Apr 2nd
Introductions Scott Paceley Robb Patton Allan Penwell Ed Perry
Reflection Tod Satterthwaite Angie Schoonover Jen Shelby Cary Woolard
Greeters Scott Paceley Robb Patton Allan Penwell Ed Perry
Charlie Smith Mary Kay Smith Adam Wright Oktay Baran
Song Leader Cary Woolard Charlie Smith Mary Kay Smith Adam Wright
Notetaker Penwell Hodson Conforti Perry

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

March 12th – Jen Shelby

March 19th – Evelyn Shapiro of Champaign Public Library (Ondine)

March 26th – Gabe Lewis, Planner, Champaign County Regional Planning Commission will discuss the U.S. Census (Tom)

April 2nd – Michelle Stallmeyer, Associate Director, Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County, will discuss Money Smart Week 2020 (David)

April 9th – Club Assembly

April 16th – TBD (Mary)

April 23rd – TBD

April 30th – TBD

May 7th – TBD (Phyllis)

May 14th – Club Assembly

May 21st – TBD (Cary)

May 28th – TBD (David)

June 4th – TBD (David)

June 11th – Club Assembly

June 18th – TBD (Ondine)

June 25th – Pass the Gavel ceremony