“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” ― Buddha

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Notes provided by Allan Penwell)

Jack reported that all dues are now collected.

Rod announced that the Habitat for Humanity build at 903 W. Eads begins on August 1^st. Everyone has received an email from Rod on details, but please give him a call if you wish to participate.

More volunteer stuff from Rod!  Let him know if you would like to volunteer for the Urbana Sweetcorn Festival on August 28 and 29.

On August 6^th, our new district governor, Surinder Sethi, will be at our club.  Assistant Governor, Kathy Rector, will be here to introduce Surinder.  Wear your Rotary bling.

PROGRAM

Phil Hoggatt and Connie Vincent made an excellent presentation on hospice which has become a term all too familiar to many of us.  While we know that the hospitals generally have a hospice program, there are also private companies such as Harbor Light Hospice where Connie works.

Healthcare is changing, and Medicare does not pay for some services, such as administration of pain management, like it used to.  Dementia and Alzheimer’s are now only covered at the end stages of life when a patient is in the hospital.  Hospice is able to fill these and others gaps in patient care and be called in at early diagnosis.  Hospice employees are equipped to work with patients and caregivers to determine the best direction amidst the changing options.

Hospice can also provide treatment in hospitals and provide extra services to supplement those provided by nursing homes.  Hospice social workers can step in to give family members a period of respite if they need to be gone for a short period.  Hospice workers also provide palliative care when treatments are no longer wanted by patients.  After a loved one passes, hospice has grief counseling  and provides bereavement.

Phil is a hospice volunteer but was very involved with hospice when his wife was ill with dementia.  He calls on facilities in Champaign and Ford counties.  It’s rewarding to him to visit with families and help them with providing care to their loved ones.  He gave us advice to make sure that everyone has a will, and their final wishes are known to their families.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE

July 30th – Club Assembly

August 6th – Visit from District Governor

August 13th – Rick Manner, Executive Director of the Champaign-Urbana Sanitary District

August 20th – Jaymeet Attaway, part of the Rotary Group Study Exchange team that traveled to Denmark

August 27th – Barry Pittendrigh, Department of Entomology, UIUC

September 3rd – TBD

September 10th – Dan Olson, Executive Director, Champaign County Forest Preserve Distrct

September 17th – TBD

September 24th – TBD

October 1st – TBD

October 8th – Jessica DeYoung, Director of the C-U Special Recreation Program

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” ― Maya Angelou

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

Rod announced that our club has teamed up with local Rotary clubs to help with a Habitat for Humanity house project for a veteran. Rod has sent out a club email noting the Saturday dates (8/1, 8/15, 9/12, 10/1) that have been set for our work and how to sign up. Half days and other dates are available, just contact Rod (rod@thunderstruckdesign.com) with any questions.

From the President’s Desk – Reuben noted that those members who want more information on Rotary District Seminars and Training, Rotary leadership Institute sessions to please review his recent emails. He also handed out the club’s current committee assignment listing for members to check and/or fill in. Reuben further mentioned that “CU after 5” Rotary Club is looking to help those who do not speak English. If you know someone who wishes to learn English, contact Reuben, rtdl17@gmail.com.

A date for the Club’s picnic was set for Sunday afternoon on August 30th. Further details will be provided at future meetings.

Program

Jennifer Shelby presented a personal and professional look of the activities during her business trip to the 68th Annual Cannes Film Festival. Permission must be applied for and granted to attend the various functions and perhaps even a chance to walk the red carpet (and illegally take photos).  Through her association as an executive producer with Shatterglass Films, the local award winning film and video production company (www.shatterglassfilms.com) they were granted permission to attend the festival.

Through the use of photos, even a selfie on the red carpet, Jen described the beauty of the French Riviera, the organizational lay out, activities, glamour and the sights and sounds that go with such an international festival. Staying in a small town just east of Cannes, Jen and members of Shatterglass Films could take a train to and from Cannes in a manner of minutes. Many modes of transportation were used by those attending the festival, including the use of a marina where you could park your yacht or one could moor a yacht out in the Mediterranean and arriving by boat or helicopter.

With the glamour of daily film premiers and the Red Carpet events there are the trade show activities, as well as the meeting, greeting and dealing with the powers in the film industry. Jennifer and the Shatterglass team were not only enjoying the festival but continually working to connect and spread the word on Shatterglass and its current projects. One of the projects they are currently working on is securing a director and crew for an upcoming film on Emmett Till, having just received the rights from Mamie Till’s estate.  Filming for this project will take place in Illinois, and Jen mentioned the potential opportunity for Rotarians to serve as extras (don’t call us, we’ll call you).

Jen gave a very informative presentation about what goes on during an international film festival along with the beauty of the area.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE

July 23rd – Phil Hoggatt, Harbor Light Hospice

July 30th – Club Assembly

August 6th – Visit from District Governor

August 13th – Rick Manner, Executive Director of the Champaign-Urbana Sanitary District

August 20th – Jaymeet Attaway, part of the Rotary Group Study Exchange team that traveled to Denmark

August 27th – Barry Pittendrigh, Department of Entomology, UIUC

September 3rd – TBD

September 10th – Dan Olson, Executive Director, Champaign County Forest Preserve Distrct

September 17th – TBD

September 24th – TBD

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the venerable Neal Chamberlain)

Rueben congratulated Neal on his upcoming 80^th birthday.  The whole crowd sang “Happy birthday” in melodious harmony – hard to mess that one up.  Neal was very appreciative.

Ben introduced our visitor, the honorable Finn Kerins (son of the nefarious Andrew Kerins).

Congratulations to Larry and Judy Johnson on their upcoming 27^th anniversary.

Oktay presented the CUSR “Encouragement” award to Neal Chamberlain. (Thank you CUSR.)

Plans for a CUSR picnic before the start of school are in the works – details will be forthcoming.

Jack reminded everyone that club dues are past due.

Gary provided an update on his efforts with ShelterBox, including the impact being made in Nepal.

PROGRAM

Ed introduced Stacey LaFeber as our speaker of the day.  Stacey is the Fund Development Professional Girl for the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois –ChampaignServiceCenter.  Prior to joining girl scouts she spent 17 years in higher education and freelance writing.  Stacey is a 13 year resident of Urbana, and is a diehard Cubs fan.

The Girl Scouts organization is 103 years old, founded March 12, 1912.  Stacey explained that there are 3100 active Girl Scouts in centralIllinois, 2.8 million active Girl Scouts in theU.S.and 50 million alumni in this country.  Girl Scouts encourages the power to explore, the power to achieve, the power to overcome and the opportunity to learn about life.  Through Girl Scouts, every girl has the opportunity to and the encouragement to learn.

Studies have shown that Girl Scout alumni are more likely to attend college, more willing to volunteer, are more willing to vote, plus they have higher lifetime average earnings.  Girl Scouts promote programs of service, to serve the underserved.  They have opportunities to travel, “pathways” as they travel to troop events and camps.

The main financial support for Girls Scout is cookie sales.  Of the income from cookie sales – 75% stays local and 25% goes to the baker to pay for the cookies.

Stacey asked each of us to consider, “how did you become the person you are?  We all need the village behind us”.  She asked Rotarians to support Girl Scouts with our time, talent and treasure.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE

July 16 – Jen Shelby will discuss the Cannes Film Festival

July 23rd – Phil Hoggatt, Harbor Light Hospice

July 30th – Club Assembly

August 6th – Visit from District Governor

August 13th – Rick Manner, Executive Director of the Champaign-Urbana Sanitary District

August 20th – Jaymeet Attaway, part of the Rotary Group Study Exchange team that traveled to Denmark

August 27th – Barry Pittendrigh, Department of Entomology, UIUC

September 3rd – TBD

September 10th – Dan Olson, Executive Director, Champaign County Forest Preserve Distrct

September 17th – TBD

September 24th – TBD

“ I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life; I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well. ” ― Theodore Roosevelt

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Notes provided by Allan Penwell).

Antonia is returning to Chile on July 15^th, and the plane leaves at 7:20 am.  Notify Jeff if you can attend her send-off.

Jeff has been in charge of youth exchange and has done an excellent job.  Now it is time to share his great experience, and we would like one of our members to step forward to replace him.

On August 6^th, our new district governor, Surinder Sethi, will be at our club.  Assistant Governor, Kathy Rector, will be here to introduce Surinder.  Wear your Sunday best.

Rotary Leadership Institute is on August 15^th at Richland Community College.  If you are interested in Rotary and getting involved, this is a great opportunity.  Learn more, and you can register at http://www.hoa-rli.org/.

Allan Penwell shared that he recently returned from the National Dusters, Quads, and Searchlights Association get-together in Colorado.  All left in high spirits.

PROGRAM

Bob introduced Anthony Cobb, the Champaign Police Chief.  Chief Cobb was raised in Champaign. He was active in the Boys and Girls Club and attended Centennial High School. At Centennial, Chief Cobb was president of his senior class and captain of the football team.  He attended West Point for two years before coming back to the University of Illinois to complete his education.  In 1992 he joined the Urbana Police Department where he was named the city’s first community policing officer.  Cobb worked in Urbana for over eighteen years, and in January 2012 he was appointed Chief of Police for the City of Champaign. 

Chief Cobb primary concern is gun violence. In almost all cases, the guns are stolen or unlicensed.  One of the main problems with reducing gun violence is that no one is cooperating with the investigations.  Chief Cobb cited a recent incident where an argument escalated from a friendly back-and-forth to a much more serious and violent affair.  An individual went to his car, retrieved a gun, and came back to shoot the other man in the argument.  The shooter took off, but he was pursued by friends of the man he shot.  One of the individuals in the back seat of the pursuit car accidentally shot himself.  Eventually the first man was found, and he was shot.  Thus, three people were shot all over a small argument.  Cobb stated that there is no easy solution for such problems because it involves adults who should know better. 

Cobb also discussed staff turnover and the problems it poses as people leave or retire from the department.  Generally, the department will need to hire around 20 new officers per year, but that number has been much greater in recent years.  Diversity and gender are also issues that have to be addressed in staffing.  Cobb noted that his aim is to have a police force that is representative of the diversity in the community, but doing so can be difficult due to limited applicant pools. 

Going forward, Cobb stated that community policing is needed with outreach and engagement to the public.  This type of police work is the foundation for good police work, according to Cobb.  He wants to see his department get back to this type of approach because it is the only way they will get the public’s cooperation in solving crimes and reducing gun violence.  Examples of officers engaging with elementary schools were discussed, including Booker T. Washington Elementary and Garden Hills Elementary.  Cobb said he prefers to have officers volunteer to take on such duties because it is more meaningful and impactful when an officer chooses to do so.

Cobb mentioned that a task force has been formed consisting of Champaign, Urbana, University, and Rantoul police departments plus the Champaign County Sheriff’s office.  They started a data base to share information which is crucial to find the perpetrators of gun violence and other crimes.  Cobb was particularly proud of this shared database because it helped increase local coordination while also reducing costs.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE

July 9 – Stacey LeFeber, Girl Scouts of Central Illinois

July 16 – Jen Shelby will discuss the Cannes Film Festival

July 23rd – Phil Hoggatt, Harbor Light Hospice

July 30th – Club Assembly

August 6th – Visit from District Governor

August 13th – Rick Manner, Executive Director of the Champaign-Urbana Sanitary District

August 20th – Jaymeet Attaway, part of the Rotary Group Study Exchange team that traveled to Denmark

August 27th – Barry Pittendrigh, Department of Entomology, UIUC

September 3rd – TBD

September 10th – Dan Olson, Executive Director, Champaign County Forest Preserve Distrct

September 17th – TBD

September 24th – TBD