“If you want to do really important things in life and big things in life, you can’t do anything by yourself. And your best teams are your friends and your siblings.” ― Deepak Chopra
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)
Ed and Oktay modeled Rotary shirts now for sale. The club will pay for one Polo and one T-Shirt for new members. Others can purchase a Polo for $30 and a T-Shirt for $10.
Rod announced that volunteers are needed to distribute food for the EI Food Bank at Monticello on Sept. 26. Volunteers are also needed for the upcoming Habitat Build days. See Rod for further details.
September’s bucket money will go to the Cunningham Children’s Home.
PROGRAM
Andrew introduced Mahomet Rotarian and Executive Director of the Champaign County Forest Preserve, Dan Olson. He came to update us on the plans for the Kickapoo Rail Trail.
Nationally, there are 1,906 recognized open rail trails. The longest, now surpassing the Katy Trail in Missouri, is the John Wayne Pioneer Trail in Washington.
Dan reminded us of an article in “The Rotarian” magazine about Rotary clubs that have helped establish or maintain rail trails. Some examples are the Hudson Valley Trail in Highland, NY, the Red Line in Cleveland, the South Wind Rail Trail in Iola, KS, the Spanish Moss Trail in SC and the Rotary Trail of the Magic City at Birmingham, AL.
The Kickapoo Rail Trail project will convert a disused railway to a multi-use trail between Danville and Urbana. Keith Brandau is the lead structural engineer for the project, which will be supported by grants and donations.
Twenty-five years ago, the Heartland Pathways Foundation began the process for securing the line. The project was initially started as a prairie preserve by David Monk. The trail will traverse some of the most diverse ecosystems in this part of the state, including woodland and wetland ecosystems, as well as native prairie.
The Champaign County Forest Preserve, the Vermilion County Conservation District and the IL Dept. of Natural Resources each own a section of the trail. IDOT will provide $4 for every $1 in private donations.
The trail will be designed for pedestrians and bicyclists and will be ADA accessible. No motorized vehicles will be allowed. Parking lots, benches and restrooms are planned.
Phase 1 of the project will run from near the Urbana Wal-Mart to Main Street in St. Joseph. To begin construction, another $50,000 must be raised.
It is expected that the communities of St. Joseph, Fithian and Ogden will see an influx of business from the trail. Wineries and antique stores typically do well along rail trails. Studies have also shown increases in property values.
The trail will encourage physical fitness and healthy, active lifestyles. Dan said for every $1 spent on trails, $3 are saved on medical costs.
Cycles Plus is raffling a Trek Bike to raise funds for the trail project. For more information, see www.kickapootrail.org, or talk to Andrew for tickets. The Kickapoo Rail Trail also has a Facebook page.
A check for August bucket money was presented to Dan.
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| Sept 17th | Sept 24th | Oct 1st | Oct 8th | |
| Introductions | Tod Satterthwaite | Mitch Schluter | Jen Shelby | Lou Simpson |
| Invocation | Neal Chamberlain | Paul Conforti | Molly Delaney | Ata Durukan |
| Greeters | Tod Satterthwaite | Mitch Schluter | Jen Shelby | Lou Simpson |
| Oktay Baran | Keith Brandau | Alan Chalifoux | Neal Chamberlain | |
| Song Leader | Cary Woolard | Harold Adams | Laura Auteberry | Oktay Baran |
| Notetaker | Lintner | Chamberlain | Perry | Penwell |
| Rotary Minute | Mitch Schluter | Jen Shelby | Lou Simpson | Jeff Van Buren |
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UPCOMING SCHEDULE
September 17th – Tom Ramage, President, Parkland College, Update on Parkland’s Programs and Facilities
September 24th – Tyra Perry, new Head Coach of Women’s Softball, UIUC
October 1st – Christine Catanzarite, Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Illinois
October 8th – Jessica DeYoung, Director of the C-U Special Recreation Program
October 15th – TBD
October 22nd – Mike DeLorenzo, Associate Chancellor, UIUC, will discuss Willard Airport
October 29th – TBD
November 5th – TBD
November 12th – TBD
November 19th – TBD
November 26th – Thanksgiving, no meeting
