“At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.” – Frida Kahlo – 1907-1954 – Mexican Painter

 

|Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. – 1928-1968 – Minister and Civil Rights Activist

 

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(notes provided by the unconventional and unorthodox Paul Conforti)

 

September Bucket Money will be for the Developmental Service Center (DSC).

There was be a club volunteer opportunity Tuesday, September 14th at the Decker Garden to help with a garden transplant project.  Thanks to all those who volunteered.

Les Schulte announced an Illini After 5 fundraiser on Wednesday, September 22 at Riggs Brewery from 5pm to 8pm. $12 gets you in, there will be a 50/50 raffle, a brewery tour and food prepared by Blue Dragon catering.

 

PRESENTATION

Tom Ulen introduced Dr. Ryan Burge, Assistant Professor of Political Science at EIU and 14-year pastor of the 1st Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

Professor Burge wrote a book called “The Nones” detailing the past 70 years of people who identify their religious affiliation as “none”. Soon, Ryan was receiving requests to be on many TV and radio news outlets.

The growth of the nones in American society has been dramatic. In 1972, just 5 percent of Americans claimed “no religion” on the General Social Survey. In 2018, that number rose to 23.7 percent, making the nones as numerous as both evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics. Every indication is that the nones will be the largest religious group in the United States in the next decade.

Part of the “We Don’t Join Anything, Anymore” phenomena the nones saw a significant rise in percentage of the population after the advent of cable television. As easy access to 24/7 global news increases people are being exposed to ad driven sensationalized and often bad news constantly, trivializing the existence of organized religions. Each successive generation is less religious, with more and more children being born into non-religious families. To stay relevant, organized religion must re-tailor their outreach to promote and support the family and the individual, to break down the “bigness” of an ever-shrinking world and promote the goodness that is best appreciated by focusing on and thereby strengthening the communities in which we live.

 

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  Sept 16th Sept 23rd Sept 30th Oct 7th
Introductions Allan Penwell Ed Perry Joe Rank Rod Roberts
Reflection Jen Shelby Lou Simpson Charlie Smith Mary Kay Smith
Greeters Allan Penwell Ed Perry Joe Rank Rod Roberts
Cary Woolard      
Song Leader        
Notetaker Hodson Conforti Perry Hodson

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

 

September 16th – Dustin Heuerman, Champaign County Sheriff (Bob)

September 23rd – Terri Reifsteck, Visit Champaign County, will discuss the Chambana Welcome Crew (Cary)

September 30th – Club Social

October 7th – Club Assembly

October 14th – Dr. Charles Gammie, professor of astrophysics, UIUC, will speak about black holes (Tom)

October 21st – Normal Rotarian Drake Zimmerman, co-founder and chair of the Rotary Action Group Against Malaria, will speak about Global Grants of Scale (Mary)

October 28th – TBD (Charlie)

November 4th – Club Assembly

November 11th – Veteran’s One to One (tentative)

November 18th – Derek Peterson, Director, Allerton Park & Retreat Center (Joe)

November 25th – No meeting – Thanksgiving

December 2nd – Club Assembly

December 9th – TBD (Ondine)

December 16th – TBD

December 23rd – TBD

December 30th – TBD