“Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” – George Bernard Shaw – 1856-1950 – Playwright

 

“Never too old to start an empire. Never too old to chase a dream.” – Jeremy Mcgilvrey – Digital Marketing Consultant

 

“Trust because you are willing to accept the risk, not because it’s safe or certain.” – Unknown

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Darrell reminded everyone to keep selling fruit as the selling for this year’s fundraiser ends November 22.

 

Phyllis announced that we received a $2,000 Rotary District grant to help the Francis Nelson Health Organization with a program to provide healthy food to those in need. 

 

Several club volunteer projects were noted:

-Saturday November 16, Central High School Interact’s 5K fundraiser at Crystal Lake School. Volunteers were asked to arrive by 8:15am.

 

-Crisis Nursery Holiday Gift giving is December 12th, additional volunteers are needed. See Michelle for more information.

 

-Salvation Bell Ringing will take place at the Champaign Walmart on north Prospect on December 14th.

 

-Daily Soup Kitchen volunteering opportunity over the Holidays is being finalized. 

 

Keith noted our annual Holiday party will take place at Lodgic on December 19th with holiday activities for children and grandchildren and the addition of egg omelets!  Please let Keith know if you will be bringing additional guests and if you want to share in a special gift giving activity during the meeting. Please plan to arrive a little earlier that morning for the additional activities. 

 

Darrell is helping to organize a club karaoke party in February with a possible competition among local rotary clubs. 

 

Scott announced that he and Paul have made special CU Sunrise Rotary information cards for member’s use with possible new members. You can pick up several cards at our regular club meetings.

 

PROGRAM

 

Rotary District Governor Julie Dobski was our speaker as this was her yearly official visit to our club. Julie presented not only district information, but her thoughts on Rotary as well. Julie joined Rotary 17 years ago, is a past president of the Bloomington-Normal Breakfast Club, and she and her husband operate 10 McDonald restaurants in the Bloomington-Normal area. Julie has visited all 44 Rotary Clubs in the district and enjoys making new friends, hearing about the various club projects, and being with those committed to service.

 

Membership was a focus on this morning’s program. Julie joined Rotary “because she was asked.” Membership has been down throughout Rotary, and our district is no exception. Our district lost 70 members last year and lost 3 clubs. We must ask ourselves -We are Rotary, why are we here? What difference are we making in our community and our world?

 

We need our club membership to reflect the diversity of the community in which we live. We must continue to be active in our club and district volunteer projects and events, along with working hard at these activities and providing the leadership to get things done.

This being Rotary Foundation Month she noted that our district gave out 29 district grants this year which are made available through our individual giving to The Rotary Foundation. 

 

DG Dobski asks all clubs to review their goals, become even more tech aware with the club, district, and International Rotary websites, and be even more creative in getting and keeping members. Julie challenged all of us to ask “Why are you here?”     

 

 

 

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  Nov 21st Nov 28th Dec 5th Dec 12th
Introductions Michelle Barbey No  Keith Brandau Paul Conforti
Reflection Ondine Gross meeting David Henry Mary Hodson
Greeters Michelle Barbey on  Keith Brandau Paul Conforti
Phyllis Mischo annual Scott Paceley Robb Patton
Song Leader Bob La Charite Turkey Phyllis Mischo Scott Paceley
Notetaker Conforti Day Perry Penwell

 

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

November 21st – “A geneticist’s perspective on how the brain works” – Dr. Stephanie Ceman, Associate Professor, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, UIUC, and the Carle Illinois College of Medicine. (Ondine)

November 28th – No meeting

December 5th – John Paul Buzard from Buzard Pipe Organ Builders will speak to our club about building organs (Bob)

December 12th – Molly Delaney, Vice President of Development, Eastern Central Illinois Foodbank (ECIFB) (Mary)

December 19th – CUSR Holiday Party

December 26th – No meeting

January 2nd – TBD (David)

January 9th – Club Assembly

January 16th – Rush Record, Executive Director, CASA (Mary)

January 23rd – TBD (Bob)

January 30th – TBD

February 6th – TBD (Cary)

February 13th – TBD

February 20th – TBD (Charlie)

February 27th – TBD (David)

March 5th – TBD (Mary)

March 12th – TBD

March 19th – TBD (Ondine)

March 26th – TBD (Tom)