September 28th, 2017 Newsletter

“When music fails to agree to the ear, to soothe the ear and the heart and the senses, then it has missed the point.” – Maria Callas

“Just cause you got the monkey off your back doesn’t mean the circus has left town.” – George Carlin

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the unconventional and unorthodox Paul Conforit)

We are welcoming two new members to our club: Charles & Mary Kay Smith!

Scott Paceley is recovering from a broken leg incurred during a photo shoot at Road America in Wisconsin. Doctor says to place no weight on the leg until the 1st of the year. Kickboxing classes will resume shortly thereafter.

Jennifer Shelby is on the mend from a bicycle accident (she injured her shoulder, knee, elbow, fractured ribs) that could have been a lot worse but for wearing a helmet.  Helmet up people!

David Strand bid us farewell as he is relocating back to Lafayette IN, but not before exchanging club banners from his Lafayette Daybreak club with CUSR.

Keith recapped the outstanding Lake Shelbyville club social that took place on a boat that broke down on Lake Shelbyville. However, much like the hit 60’s show, the plucky Sunrise Crew realized that the ice in the coolers had not melted and the event towed forward. Keith will be holding auditions for roles in his upcoming theatrical adaptation of Gillian’s Island.

Our CU Sunrise Foundation board proudly announced a $1,000 donation to Shelter Box USA in response to recent weather disasters in our country. The board is soliciting member donations for a second Shelter Box.

Win $3,000 by purchasing CASA raffle tickets for $25 which will be available at upcoming meetings. Tom Ulen is the CASA board treasurer.

PROGRAM

Phyllis introduced Jim Rossow, Vice President of News for the News Gazette (NG). Jim is a 24-year veteran at the NG.

Jim heads up all OF the NG’s news-producing elements, including 65 journalists and support staff. His responsibilities expand beyond the daily newspaper and its website to include executive oversight of seven community newspapers, the news product on three radio stations (WDWS, WHMS, WKIO) and all digital content from these entities.

On October 19th the NG will complete the transition of combining the radio stations into the downtown Champaign headquarters. With this move, content from all NG media entities will coordinate together using new state of the art communication technology.

While actual paper distribution is down to 28,000 subscribers, there are over 1,000,000 hits to weekly NG stories on the NG website. As digital content becomes the preferred method of news consumption, the NG is in position to meet that demand.

Jim finished by handing out his business card and made a request with a promise. He requested that if anyone contacts him regarding anything they think should be covered by the NG he will respond to that request and forward the request to the appropriate staff for follow up.  Jim’s contact info is: jrossow@news-gazette.com and 217-898-4195

—

—

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

October 5th – State Senator Scott Bennett (Bob)

October 12th – Dr. Shirley Palmer, the co-pastor of Faith Methodist Church, will discuss the combined Rotary grant program to provide a men’s homeless shelter over winter months in C-U (Bob)

October 19th – Laurie Matheson, Director, University of Illinois Press (Phyllis)

October 26th – Rick Davidson, District Global Grants Chair, will discuss a vocational exchange between Indiana and Jamaica (Mary)

November 2nd – Derek Fultz, Director of Facilities, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, UIUC will discuss the renovation of the Natural History Building (Phyllis)

November 9th – Kari May, Director of the Children’s Advocacy Center (Mary)

November 16th – Adelaide Aime, Executive Director, RACES