“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” ― Diana, Princess of Wales

“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.” ― Woodrow Wilson

NOTES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Last week’s All-Area Rotary meeting was canceled due to weather.

Read Across America will take place from 10am-1pm on Saturday, March 5th.  See Robb Patton if you are interested in volunteering.

Last Thursday’s club social took place at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.  Several Rotarians attended, and a good time was had by all.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE

March 3rd – Dr. Naira Hovakimyan, Director of the Intelligent Robotics Lab of CSL, UIUC, will discuss future use of robotics and drones in the home

March 10th – Mary Butzow, Presence Health

March 17th – Steven Bentz, Director, Virginia Theater, will discuss upcoming shows

March 24th – Molly Delaney, Executive Director, C-U Schools Foundation, will discuss their first cross-district, collaborative grant

March 31st – Dee Brown, Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics, UIUC

April 7th – Laura Weis, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

April 14th – TBD

April 21st – Megan McKisson, vice president of Illinois 2015-2016 Vis International Commercial Arbitration Team

April 28th – TBD

May 5th – TBD

May 12 – Prof. Christopher Barkan, Executive Director of the Rail Transportation and Engineering Center, UIUC, will discuss high speed rail travel and RailTec

May 19th – TBD

May 26th – TBD

June 2nd – TBD

June 9th – Megan Casey, Frances Nelson and SmileHealthy

“A healthy attitude is contagious but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier.” ― Tom Stoppard

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Notes provided by Allan Penwell)

The All-Club Rotary meeting is Wednesday, February 24^th at Round Barn Center.  Doors open at 11:30 am,and the program starts at noon.  There is NO Sunrise meeting this week.

Although we do NOT meet on the 25^th, there is a social at Krannert Uncorked this Thursday evening.  Show up at 5:30 pm in the KCPA lobby and listen to a little reggae/jazz with Nucleus with guest star Cary Woolard.

PROGRAM

Ray Cunningham is mayor of Homer, works, at the U of I Foundation, and loves to visit totalitarian countries.  He has been to North Korea six times and is planning a fall trip this year.  If you would like to know more about his trips and pictures, just Google “Ray Cunningham Photos,” and you will get to his Flickr website.

North Korea has around 25,000 annual visitors which includes 18,000 Chinese.  It’s not a modern country.  Nothing works consistently, but there are signs of modernity in the cities with some western styles for women becoming popular.  In addition, an Egyptian company has installed cell towers with about three million cell phones in the country.  Internet?  Good luck.  Ray described North Korea as the only thing in common with the rest of the world is gravity.  Change is glacial.

North Korea is all about indoctrination and leadership propaganda.  There are really three societies which are: the elites in the capital, workers in the cities, and the rural population.  There are food shortages, water shortages, and electricity is random.  Gas is hard to find.  Agriculture is done by hand with no motorized equipment.  The standard of footwear is rubber boots because roads are not maintained, and everything is muddy when it rains.

This is a closed society with very strict rules.  If you live in a rural area, you need permission to go to the city which is probably to control food supply in the cities.  The country is always in a food crisis, and interestingly enough, the military has full control of all meat production.  Corruption is what gets things done.  Ray has been able to maneuver through the country rules and is always curious from one trip to the next as to what has changed.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE

February 24th (Wednesday) – All Club meeting at noon at Round Barn – Adam Bleakney, Head Coach of Wheelchair Track and Road Racing at the University of Illlinois

March 3rd – Dr. Naira Hovakimyan, Director of the Intelligent Robotics Lab of CSL, UIUC, will discuss future use of robotics and drones in the home

March 10th – TBD

March 17th – Steven Bentz, Director, Virginia Theater, will discuss upcoming shows

March 24th – Molly Delaney, Executive Director, C-U Schools Foundation, will discuss their first cross-district, collaborative grant

March 31st – Dee Brown, Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics, UIUC

April 7th – Laura Weis, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

April 14th – TBD

April 21st – Megan McKisson, vice president of Illinois 2015-2016 Vis International Commercial Arbitration Team

April 28th – TBD

May 5th – TBD

May 12 – Prof. Christopher Barkan, Executive Director of the Rail Transportation and Engineering Center, UIUC, will discuss high speed rail travel and RailTec

May 19th – TBD

May 26th – TBD

June 2nd – TBD

June 9th – Megan Casey, Frances Nelson and SmileHealthy

“It may be that when we no longer know which way to go that we have come to our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings.” ― Wendell Berry

Announcements and Club Assembly

(notes provided by the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Eddie “Don’t Call Me Murph” Perry)

Mary noted that readers from our club for the Book Mentor project are needed. Readings take place the second Tuesday of each month, with the next readings on March 8th.  You will read a children’s book at a local Head Start and it takes about an hour of your time. Please see Barb, Mary or contact Ana Olguin, aolguin2@illinois.edu. and she can help get you set up.

Cary announced that our next social gathering will be at the “Uncorked” gathering at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, February 25th starting at 5:00 pm. The feature music will be from local group, Nucleus, who combine elements of reggae, jazz, r&b, neo-soul and so much more. Wine samples will be provided by Big Grove Tavern.

Jen announced that the bucket money for February and March will go to Developmental Services Center.

The annual all CU Rotary Clubs Meeting will take place at noon on Wednesday, February 24th, at Champaign West Rotary Club’s Round Barn meeting location. Our regular Thursday meeting on the 25th will be canceled as all club members are encouraged to attend this all area Rotary meeting. It is a very informative meeting, great speaker and includes the best of Rotary singing!

Members are asked to forward nominations to Reuben for this year’s CU Sunrise Rotary Club’s “Outstanding Citizen Award”. Nominations should be a non-Rotarian who exemplifies Service Above Self.  Our Club donates money to the Outstanding Citizen’s charity of choice. Last year’s award winner was John Doll who volunteered his time for Empty Tomb’s Home Maintenance program. In honor of John, our club donated $500 to Empty Tomb. Get you nominations in as soon as possible as the award will be made in April.

Reuben announced that the local Rotary Clubs are planning an all-area Rotary new membership drive social gathering. A location is being looked into in which Rotary members could bring a guest(s) and enjoy social evening. More information will be available at a later date.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE

February 18th – Ray Cunningham will discuss North Korea

February 24th (Wednesday) – All Club meeting at noon at Round Barn – Adam Bleakney, Head Coach of Wheelchair Track and Road Racing at the University of Illlinois

March 3rd – Dr. Naira Hovakimyan, Director of the Intelligent Robotics Lab of CSL, UIUC, will discuss future use of robotics and drones in the home

March 10th – TBD

March 17th – Steven Bentz, Director, Virginia Theater, will discuss upcoming shows

March 24th – Molly Delaney, Executive Director, C-U Schools Foundation, will discuss their first cross-district, collaborative grant

March 31st – Dee Brown, Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics, UIUC

April 7th – Laura Weis, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

April 14th – TBD

April 21st – Megan McKisson, vice president of Illinois 2015-2016 Vis International Commercial Arbitration Team

April 28th – TBD

May 5th – TBD

May 12 – Prof. Christopher Barkan, Executive Director of the Rail Transportation and Engineering Center, UIUC, will discuss high speed rail travel and RailTec

May 19th – TBD

May 26th – TBD

June 2nd – TBD

June 9th – Megan Casey, Frances Nelson and SmileHealthy

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” ― Mark Twain 

Announcements:

Rod advised anyone who would like more info on Food Bank opportunities to check in on our website.

Molly was raising money for the 361 homeless students in our community – this in conjunction with her participation in One Winters Night.

Tod noted that Sola Gratia is preparing for the 2016 growing season (fresh seasonal vegetables throughout the 24-week season). Contact Tod to lock in full or 1/2 shares.

Our club has another acronym: ABEP which stands for Anyone But Ed Perry. Not sure the meaning or intent, but it did come up for those of you that were not in attendance.

Program

Matthew S. Winters
Associate Professor of Political Science @ UIUC
Affiliated Faculty of Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Affiliated Faculty of Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies
Affiliated Faculty of Center for African Studies
Affiliated Faculty of Center for Global Studies

Professor Winters’ presentation centered on the effectiveness of various approaches of helping the poor in Third World countries (also referred to as the Global “South).

Using data from several economic studies, Professor Winters’ reviewed several approaches to helping the poor from foreign aid, micro-financing initiatives, and simply giving cash directly to individuals in need.

Part of the discussion was what Professor Winters’ called the Micro-Macro Paradox-Redux: Micro level investments don’t appear to be sustainable because at the macro level there isn’t adequate or facilitating infrastructure to allow sustained growth at the village/family/individual level.

Professor Winters’ suggested the website GiveWell.org as his recommended place to learn more about poverty in Third World countries with tips and guidelines on how to structure philanthropic outreach programs including tips on how to give or who to give to. See http://www.givewell.org/

Two books were suggested as good primers in understanding how to help the poor in underdeveloped countries:

Just Give Money to the Poor

From Midwest Book Review: The simplest of ideas can still hold much value. The collaborative work of Joseph Hanlon, Armando Barrientos, and David Hulme, “Just Give Money to the Poor: The Development Revolution from the Global South” discusses this revolutionary concept and how some developing countries are simply granting the poor money and watching how they use that money wisely, for education and for businesses to sustain the money they are given. Debating the problems and values of such a simple plan, “Just Give Money to the Poor” is a scholarly and thoughtful read that shouldn’t be missed.

More Than Good Intentions: Improving the Ways the World’s Poor Borrow, Save, Farm, Learn, and Stay Healthy

Karlan and Appel challenge those of us who like to think we’re making a difference in the world to think more about our work. Whether you’re writing a check, leading a nonprofit, or advocating for change, this book should be required reading before you leave the house Monday morning. The authors are at once both terrific storytellers and careful social scientists. This is a fascinating read, filled with surprises, and practical tools you can use to inform all of your efforts to make a difference in the world. I highly recommend it!

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE

February 11th – Club Assembly (in the Savoy Room)

February 18th – Ray Cunningham will discuss North Korea

February 25th – Rod Beadle, PE, Engineers in Action

March 3rd – Dr. Naira Hovakimyan, Director of the Intelligent Robotics Lab of CSL, UIUC, will discuss future use of robotics and drones in the home

March 10th – TBD

March 17th – Steven Bentz, Director, Virginia Theater, will discuss upcoming shows

March 24th – Molly Delaney, Executive Director, C-U Schools Foundation, will discuss their first cross-district, collaborative grant

March 31st – Dee Brown, Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics, UIUC

April 7th – Laura Weis, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

April 14th – TBD

April 21st – Megan McKisson, vice president of Illinois 2015-2016 Vis International Commercial Arbitration Team

May 12 – Prof. Christopher Barkan, Executive Director of the Rail Transportation and Engineering Center, UIUC, will discuss high speed rail travel and RailTec

June 9th – Megan Casey, Frances Nelson and SmileHealthy

“Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.” ― Erich Fromm 

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

Les Schulte from Illini After Five Rotary Club passed the hat and asked for donations to their club’s annual drive to provide each 3rd grade student in Champaign County their own personal dictionary.

Tod announced that Champaign West’s fundraiser “CU’s Got Talent” will take place February 6th.  For more information see www.cugottalent.org/.

Read Across America needs volunteers. Please sign up at our website.

Program

Phyllis introduced our speaker, Leslie Deem, Program Coordinator at the UIUC Pollinatarium. The University of Illinois Pollinatarium is the first free standing science center in the nation devoted to flowering plants and their pollinators.

The discovery science center building is located at 606 West Windsor Rd. in Urbana, IL. They provide educational programs on pollination for students of all ages. Admission is free and can be contacted at 217-333-2070 and check http://www.life.illinois.edu/pollinatarium.

The critical importance of pollinators in sustaining life on earth was touched on. Leslie gave information on how we can help with the planting of various flowering plants to attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies and many other insects. These insects and bees need a diversity of flowering plants that provide blooms from spring to late fall.   See www.illinoiswildflowers.info/ for more information on plant species native to Illinois.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE

February 4th – Dr. Matthew Winters, Associate Professor of Political Science, UIUC, will present What Works in International Development: The Latest Evidence

February 11th – Club Assembly (in the Savoy Room)

February 18th – Ray Cunningham will discuss North Korea

February 25th – Rod Beadle, PE, Engineers in Action

March 3rd – Dr. Naira Hovakimyan, Director of the Intelligent Robotics Lab of CSL, UIUC, will discuss future use of robotics and drones in the home

March 10th – TBD

March 17th – TBD

March 24th – Molly Delaney, Executive Director, C-U Schools Foundation, will discuss their first cross-district, collaborative grant

March 31st – Dee Brown, Special Assistant to the Director of Athletics, UIUC

April 7th – Laura Weis, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce

April 14th – TBD

April 21st – Megan McKisson, vice president of Illinois 2015-2016 Vis International Commercial Arbitration Team

May 12 – Prof. Christopher Barkan, Executive Director of the Rail Transportation and Engineering Center, UIUC, will discuss high speed rail travel and RailTec

June 9th – Megan Casey, Frances Nelson and SmileHealthy