“If you have an opportunity to make things better and you don’t, then you are wasting your time on earth.” ― Roberto Clemente 

 

“Human greatness does not lie in wealth or power, but in character and goodness. People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness.” ― Anne Frank 

 

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ― Epicurus 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The CU Sunrise Officers election was conducted. With some precincts are still not counted stay tuned for results.

President Rod presented a check in the amount of $175 to the Chez Center for Wounded Veterans.

President Rod reminded to “share” the CU Sunrise Facebook posts onto your own Facebook pages.

 

PROGRAM

Tod Satterthwaite introduced Diane Marlin the newly elected Mayor of Urbana as of May 1st this year.

Diane with her husband John Marlin are longtime residents of Urbana. In addition to being mayor Diane is Vice Chair of the Champaign County Economic Development Council.

The city budget is the main focus of Diane’s agenda. Not being able to count on property tax contributions from Carle Hospital ($5 million disputed), and with the State of Illinois projected to under fund city tax contributions by as much as 50%, Urbana must now address a projected General Operating Fund (GOF) deficit for this fiscal year.

Diane wants to initiate infrastructure development such as improving streets, sidewalks and street lights for the betterment of the community and to attract business development and increase tourism. Lincoln Avenue, Springfield Avenue and Vine Street are tops on her preference list.

Diane will soon initiate a nationwide search for a City Administrator who will be responsible for the day to day management of the city.

The Urbana Lincoln Hotel and Lincoln Square itself is also a priority, although both are private businesses. The hotel/shopping complex is in the center of the city and with the right plan can be the key to a downtown renaissance and an economic city engine. The challenge is the proposed $9.5 million city contribution (which after interest on a 20-year bond is actually $17 million). With the GOF on the hook if funding doesn’t meet projected economic benefits the overall plan is a critical detail that remains to be worked out.

Diane has made budget transparency a key to her overall plan, which includes city employee meetings, raise freezes for non-union employees, and creating of a voluntary job separation program.

Diane is planning a city e-newsletter and a Welcome to Urbana video to be placed on the city website. The video will feature the “stories” of Urbana, because as Diane put it “we have a great story to tell.”

 

 

NEW CLUB OFFICERS

At last week’s meeting the club elected our new slate of officers for the coming year:

 

President:  Bob LaCharite

President-Elect: Scott Paceley

Treasurer: Billy Stull

Secretary: Allan Penwell

Club Service Director: Keith Brandau

Community Service Director: Robb Patton

International Service Director: Ata Durukan

New Generations Director: Michelle Barbey

Vocational Service Director: Angie Schoonover

 

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  June 1st June 8th June 15th June 22nd
Introductions Larry Johnson Andrew Kerins Bob La Charite Barb Lintner
Invocation Billy Stull Jeff Van Buren Cary Woolard Laura Auteberry
Greeters Larry Johnson Andrew Kerins Bob La Charite Barb Lintner
Scott Paceley Ethan Chew Ethan Chew Ethan Chew
Song Leader Bob La Charite Barb Lintner BJ Lytle Ben Mast
Notetaker Perry Penwell Hodson Lintner
Decker Weeding Johnson Baran Schoonover Patton
Next Weekend        
Decker Garden Johnson Johnson Penwell Penwell
Watering        

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

June 1st – David Grogan, Associate Director of University Compliance, UIUC (Mary)

June 8th – Cari Rinker, attorney, will discuss Mediation: An alternative to litigation (Bob)

June 15th – Sally Carter, CEO and Founder of Tap In Leadership Academy (Laura)

June 22nd – TBD (Tom)

June 29th – Pass the Gavel and Annual Club Awards Presentation

July 6th – Joe Rank, U of I Foundation, will discuss Illinois at 150 (Mary)

July 13th – Professor Leslie Looney, Director, Laboratory for Astronomical Imaging, UIUC will discuss the total solar eclipse on 8/21/17 (Phyllis)

July 20th – TBD

July 27th – TBD

August 3rd – TBD

August 10th – TBD