“The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely.”  ― Louisa May Alcott
 
True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity, before it is entitled to the appellation.” ― George Washington 
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Notes provided by Allan Penwell)
If you don’t see Tod Satterthwaite at club meetings for the next six months, it is for a good reason. He will be doing Peace Corps volunteer work in the Philippines. His work will be related to eco-tourism to create jobs. This isn’t his first time doing Peace Corps work. Tod was a volunteer in the West Indies in 2010, and did a two-year stint in 1990-1992. Safe travels!
 
Michelle thanked everyone who donated to the Interact car wash on September 15th. The Interact 5K is on November 3rd, and we will need to have some volunteers.
 
PROGRAM
Our speaker last week was Deb Feinen, Mayor of the City of Champaign. There are many projects going on with city planning:  the Neil Street Corridor Plan, the Curtis Road interchange, and the ice hockey rink called The Yard. Deb talked to us about a lesser known project simply called The Plaza.
The Plaza is the football-size triangle that is the big parking lot next to the Orpheum Children’s Museum and Meyer Drapery. It is presently in the conceptual stages as a gathering place for entertainment and community events where people don’t have to spend money. There are seven different areas of focus.
The Neil Street Esplanade (1) will be a walking area and entrance way into The Plaza. Washington Street (2) will have additional parking to make up for the loss of spaces in the new area. The Hickory Promenade (3) is the north-south Hickory Street which now dead ends into Washington Street. This will be an area for emergency vehicles and a spill-out space for businesses.
The north-east corner (4) will be adjacent to Hickory Street and another entrance way. The Great Lawn (5) will be entertainment space with a permanent stage space. It is located on the corner of Neil and Washington. The Plaza at Hill (6) is where Hill Street dead-ends into Neil Street and located next to The Great Lawn. There will be a water feature and possibly a skating rink. The Performance Perch (7) is a small entertainment area adjacent to Neil Street.
The price tag for The Plaza ranges from $7 to $15 million, and features would probably be phased in. It’s important to finish up on the concept plan as grants are available.
 
 

  Sept 27th Oct 4th Oct 11th Oct 18th
Introductions Ata Durukan David Henry Mary Hodson Darrell Hoemann
Reflection Ethan Chew Paul Conforti Diana Dummitt Ata Durukan
Greeters Ata Durukan David Henry Mary Hodson Darrell Hoemann
Scott Paceley Robb Patton Allan Penwell Ed Perry
Song Leader John McDaniel Phyllis Mischo Scott Paceley Robb Patton
Notetaker Hodson Conforti Perry Penwell

 

 
UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee member responsible listed in parentheses)
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 – Nancy Fahey, Head Coach, UIUC Women’s Basketball (Mary/Jen)
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 – Dr. Angela Williams, Associate Director, Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, UIUC (Bob)
November 15th – Bryan Medlin, Illinois Wrestling’s Regional Training Center (Charlie)
November 22nd – No Meeting – Thanksgiving
November 29th – TBD (David)