“The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them.” ― Ernest Hemingway 

 

“Let my soul smile through my heart and my heart smile through my eyes, that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts.” ― Paramahansa Yogananda 

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

 

Contact Barb Lintner if you are interested in being a part of the Book Mentor Project.  There is a training session on the 23rd.

 

Robin announced that our club will be sponsoring both an Inbound and an Outbound Rotary Exchange student next year.  Robin and her family will be hosting one student.

 

Our club will be helping to distribute food for the Eastern Illinois Food Bank on Saturday the 24th in Bement, Illinois. Email Ed with any questions or details. If you wish to car pool, please meet at the Hawthorne parking lot for an 8am departure.  Ed will bring the omelet maker to whip up breakfast in the Hawthorne parking lot

 

Justin noted that our Central High School Rotoract Club will be doing a car wash from 12:30 to 4:00pm on Saturday at the Prospect bank on the corner of Kirby and Prospect. For those volunteering for the EIFB Food distribution swing by and get your vehicle washed.   

 

Also, the Central Rotoract Club will be organizing a 5K run on Nov. 11th, and our club is being asked to help with volunteers during the race and donations.

 

President Rod announce that our regular Thursday meeting on September 29th will be canceled in favor of an evening gather.  Gates will open at 5:00pm at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts Stage 5. Enjoy this “Uncorked” series with club members, and sample wine while listening to the music of The Joan Hickey Trio. It’s also a great opportunity to bring a friend and possible new member.  

 

PROGRAM

 

Gary and Michele Olson presented a program about their recent visit to Cuba. Their trip to Cuba was part of a large group of architects from the United States.  While it was part of a AIA Lecture and Educational program, the group was also able to go out on their own and see people and the beauty of Cuba. 

 

Michele and Gary’s presentation consisted of a combination of slides and videos showing the streets, buildings, squares, beach fronts, food, music, dancing and daily life of current Cuba. Cuba will be going through many changes as work is needed in the areas of basic infrastructure, crumbling buildings, and basic economic conditions.  In particular, the island nation will need to balance the future handling of the growth in tourism and all that it can bring to the country while keeping its unique identity. New buildings are going up while preservation and restoration of existing structures continue.

 

Michele and Gary’s visit included examples of Colonial Architecture in Old Havana, Russian influence in architecture during the cold war, and the current Chinese influence in new buildings. Included among the many places visited were The Hotel National, Christopher Columbus Cemetery, Varadero Beach, Mansion Xanadu Hotel, Cuba’s National Art Schools, 1950’s Swiss Ambassadors House, and many other historical and architectural significant treasures. They enjoyed evening strolls along The Malecon beach walk, local food during lunch and dinners, visits to historical museums, The Havana Club, the entertainment of dancers, musicians and the overall friendly people of Cuba.

 

Gary and Michele also enjoyed their rides in several 1950’s classic car taxis that Cuba is famous for, one in particular brought back fond memories for Gary.  Cuba continues to be a beautiful island which is once again entering a time of change after years of slow economic conditions. Michele noted that the Copperbridge did a very good job with this tour and future tours can be found at copperbridgefoundation.net.  

 

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  Sept 22nd Sept 29th Oct 6th Oct 13th
Introductions Ata Durukan Robin Ferguson Mary Hodson Darrell Hoemann
Invocation Robb Patton Allan Penwell Ed Perry Rod Roberts
Greeters Ata Durukan Robin Ferguson Mary Hodson Darrell Hoemann
BJ Lytle Ben Mast John McDaniel Phyllis Mischo
Song Leader Bob La Charite Barb Lintner BJ Lytle Ben Mast
Notetaker Penwell Hodson Lintner Conforti

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

September 22nd – Dr. Ellen Fireman, Department of Statistics, UIUC (Tom)

September 29th – No AM meeting

October 6th – TBD (Tod)

October 13th – Prof. Jennifer Pahre, College of Law, UIUC, Legal Issues in the News (Tom)

October 20th – Jennifer Shelby, New Developments in Film (Mary)

October 27th – Niala Boodhoo, WILL Radio’s The 21st, will discuss the Mandella Washington Fellowship(Mary)

November 3rd – TBD (Phyllis)

November 10th – TBD (Tod)

November 17th – Mike Hirschi, Champaign West, will discuss the Foundation (Allan Penwell)

November 24th – Thanksgiving, no AM meeting

December 1st – Club Assembly

December 8th – TBD (Bob)

December 15th – Isak Griffiths, Executive Director, Courage Connections (Laura)

December 22nd – TBD (Mary)

December 29th – No AM meeting

January 5th – TBD (Phyllis)

January 12th – TBD (Tod)

January 19th – TBD (Tom)

January 26th – TBD (Bob)

February 5th – TBD (Laura)

February 12th – TBD (Mary)

February 19th – TBD (Phyllis)

February 26th – TBD (Tod)