“May we not succumb to thoughts of violence and revenge today, but rather to thoughts of mercy and compassion. We are to love our enemies that they might be returned to their right minds.” ― Marianne Williamson 
 
“ The only difference between the saint and the sinner is that every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.” ― Oscar Wilde 
 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Notes provided by the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Eddie Perry)
 
Cary noted that we need a new Projects committee chair. Past chair, Tod Satterthwaite, will be absent from club meetings starting in October as he and his wife, Beth, head to the Philippines with the Peace Corp.
 
David noted that his daughter, Lauryn, has started school in Leon, France, as our Outbound Rotary Youth Exchange Student. 
 
This month’s Bucket Money is going to Dr. Howard’s PTA to help with their transition to temporary quarters during the school’s building project.
 
Cary reminded everyone to help support Central’s Rotary Interact Club this Saturday at their annual car wash.
 
PROGRAM
 
Phyllis introduced Becky Ames as this morning’s speaker. Becky is the coordinator for the Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network for our area. 
 
Gift of Hope is a not-for-profit organ and tissue procurement organization. They work with 180 hospitals and serve 12 million people in Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Since 1986, they have helped save the lives of over 26,000 organ transplant recipients. Currently there are 4,300 people in Illinois on the organ donor waiting list. Kidneys, lungs, hearts, liver, pancreas, and small bowel make up the majority of organ transplants. The cornea, heart valve, bone, vein, skin and cartilage make up the majority of tissue donations. 
 
Becky’s work begins when a hospital notifies the Gift of Hope that they have a certified donor in critical condition and on a ventilator. Using the patient’s medical records, the Gift of Hope evaluates the patient, talks with the family, looks for a recipient that will match, and coordinates/schedules organ pick-ups. Time is critical as four hours is the maximum time that an organ can survive outside the body. 
 
Becky also touched on the respectful discussions that are typically part of the process, including with the donor’s family members, funeral arrangements, possible future communications between recipients and donor family, and insurance coverage.  She kindly answered many questions from the club after her presentation.
 
Additional information can be found at www.giftofhope.org and how to sign up as an organ donor with the State of Illinois at www.lifegoeson.com.
 
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  Sept 20th Sept 27th Oct 4th Oct 11th
Introductions Diana Dummitt Ata Durukan David Henry Mary Hodson
Reflection Keith Brandau Ethan Chew Paul Conforti Diana Dummitt
Greeters Diana Dummitt Ata Durukan David Henry Mary Hodson
Phyllis Mischo Scott Paceley Robb Patton Allan Penwell
Song Leader Ben Mast John McDaniel Phyllis Mischo Scott Paceley
Notetaker Penwell Hodson Conforti Perry

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)
September 20th – Deb Feinen, Mayor, City of Champaign (Tom)
September 27th – Benjamin Lapid, Traditions in Jewish weddings (Bob)
October 4th – Todd Gleason, Media Communications Specialist, News & Public Affairs (Radio), University of Illinois Extension (Charlie)
October 11th – TBD (Mary)
October 18th – Kate Williams, Associate Professor, UIUC, and Abdul Alkalima, Professor Emeritus, African American Studies, UIUC, will discuss New Philadelphia, the early settlement in western Illinois  (Ed)
October 25th – Chris Gleason, Executive Director, Rosecrance Central Illinois, will speak about the heroin/opioid crisis in central Illinois (Phyllis)
November 1st – TBD (Tom)
November 8th – TBD (Bob)
November 15th – TBD (Charlie)
November 22nd – No Meeting – Thanksgiving
November 29th – TBD (David)