“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” – Dr. Seuss – 1904-1991 – Author-Political Cartoonist-Illustrator-Poet-Animator-Filmmaker

 

“So much of our time is spent in preparation, so much in routine and so much in retrospect, that the amount of each person’s genius is confined to a very few hours.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson – 1803-1882 – Lecturer-Poet-Essayist

 

“We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something.” – Marie Curie – 1867-1934 – French-Polish Physicist

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

 

Immediately following our regular morning meeting on Thursday, 11/4, there will be Neil Chamberlain’s tree planting ceremony at Mattis Park near the Don Decker memorial garden. The Champaign Park District will be doing the tree planting.

 

On Veterans Day, 11/11, our regular morning meeting has been canceled with an evening dinner taking its place. Members, spouses and friends are invited for a buffet dinner at Lodgic with veterans from the U of I Chez Veterans Center as our speakers. The price is $35 per person, and there will be a cash bar. The gathering begins at 5:30pm, dinner at 6:30 and the program begins at 7pm. Darrell will hand out a signup sheet  at this week’s meeting. Please let Darrell know by Nov. 8th if you plan to attend. 

 

Robb noted that our annual Fruit sale is at the starting line with fruit orders needing to be in by 11/19. The expected delivery is 12/12. Flyers and order forms will be distributed in the next few days. All orders should be turned in to Lou. 

 

Michelle thanked everyone for signing up to volunteer with the Champaign Central High School Interact Club’s annual 5K run on November 20th in Crystal Lake Park in Urbana.

 

Phyllis noted that the Hygiene Kit assembly grant has come through and that Central High School’s Interact club will do the assembly around the first part of December.

 

This year’s Holiday bell Ringing for the Salvation Army will take place Saturday, 12/11. We will once again be at the Champaign Walmart on North Prospect.  A signup sheet will be distributed as we get closer to the date.

 

PROGRAM

 

Tom Hodson, our Rotary district’s ShelterBox USA representative, presented an update on ShelterBox with a focus on ShelterBox’s current activities in Haiti. ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that hand-delivers emergency shelters, supplies and tools directly to families impacted by natural disasters and conflict.

 

ShelterBox is a 20 year old organization and has served over 2 million people throughout the world. While working with many international relief organizations, ShelterBox sends in teams to evaluate the conditions, coordinate the deployment of their supplies and then a team to evaluate the operations.  

 

Current conditions in Haiti create a variety of challenges making the deployment of goods very difficult. With the recent natural disasters that have taken place getting the supplies to those in need is very difficult., Haiti has approximately 500,000 people in need with over 130,00 homes destroyed. Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world and with the current political unrest and rise in crime the challenges are many. 

 

Over the years our Rotary club has donated thousands of dollars to ShelterBox. For more information on how to donate individually or as a club go to www.ShelterBoxUSA.org. 

 

 

—

  Nov 4th Nov 11th Nov 18th Nov 25th
Introductions Jen Shelby No morning Lou Simpson Charlie Smith
Reflection Eddie Bridges Meeting. Paul Conforti Diana Dummitt
Greeters Jen Shelby Instead, meet Lou Simpson Charlie Smith
  at Lodgic    
Notetaker Hodson at 5:30pm. Conforti Perry

 

—

 

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

 

November 4th – Club Assembly.  Tree planting in honor of Neil Chamberlain.

November 11th – No morning meeting.  Dinner social instead.

November 18th – Derek Peterson, Director, Allerton Park & Retreat Center (Joe)

November 25th – No meeting – Thanksgiving

December 2nd – Club Assembly

December 9th – Ellen Miller, Rotary Youth Exchange and Ambassadorial Scholar (Mary)

December 16th – TBD

December 23rd – No morning meeting

December 30th – No morning meeting.  Evening Zoom social instead.

January 6th – TBD

January 13th – TBD (Tom)

January 20th – Jeremy Greer will discuss his epic 212 mile hike of the John Muir Trail (Ondine)

January 27th – TBD (Bob)

February 3rd – TBD 

February 10th – TBD (Cary)

February 17th – TBD (Charlie)

February 24th – TBD (Joe)

March 3rd – TBD 

March 10th – TBD (Mary)

March 17th – TBD (Ondine)

March 24th – TBD (Tom)

March 31st – TBD

April 7th – TBD

April 14th – TBD (Bob)

April 21st – TBD (Cary)

April 28th – TBD (Charlie)

May 5th – TBD

May 12th – TBD (Joe)