“The greatest tragedy for any human being is going through their entire lives believing the only perspective that matters is their own.” – Doug Baldwin – American Football Player

“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the things you think you are unable to do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt – 1884-1962 – Former First Lady of the United States

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“Women speaking up for themselves and for those around them is the strongest force we have to change the world.” – Melinda Gates – Philanthropist

“Change can be beautiful when we are brave enough to evolve with it, and change can be brutal when we fearfully resist.” – Bryant McGill – Author

“An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. When life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means it’s going to launch you into something great.” – Pablo Coelho – Author

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the unconventional and unorthodox Paul Conforit)

Bucket money for July will be for Prosperity Gardens. Send your bucket money check (CU Sunrise Foundation) to Lou Simpson.

Happy Birthday to former C-U Sunrise Rotarian (and all-around nice guy) Neil Chamberlain who turned 85 on July 15^th.

Rotary Blood Drive: the last week of July will be Rotary Blood Drive week. Please visit Community Blood Services of Illinois (1408 W University Ave, Urbana) to participate. Our community is currently experiencing a 20,000-pint blood shortage. With medical procedures now resuming on a wider scale blood donation becomes much more critical.

Darrell announced that our Zoom meetings are being streamed live on our Facebook page and then each thrilling episode is archived on our You Tube channel allowing you to watch previous meetings and see if the notes are accurate. Having our meetings archived on You Tube can be effective in recruiting new members by emailing potentials a link if they would like to learn more about us. Having potential new members read these newsletters may also be effective, but only if they have a good sense of humor.  See the Cartoons section in next week’s edition.

5^th Thursday Club Social: Keith announced our next social will be held July 30^th at Rigg’s Brewery (1901 S High Cross Rd, Urbana) at 5:30pm. We have reserved 3 tables of 10 on the Party Porch to accommodate social distancing. LaPaloma’s food truck will be on hand as well. Masks are required inside the brewery, but not in the porch seating area.

PROGRAM

Past DG Mike Hirschi introduced our new District Governor, Mike Step.  Michael (Mike) Step of Paris, IL was installed as the new Rotary District 6490 District Governor Sunday, June 28, 2020 in a virtual ceremony seen by members of the 47 clubs that comprise the district.

Mike is a graduate of Paris High School and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology where he majored in chemical engineering. He was employed for 40 years by a petro-chemical company and has been involved in Rotary Clubs wherever he and the family lived. He was a member of clubs in Morris, Ill., Jackson, Tenn., as well as Tuscola. He retired in February 2014, moved back to his hometown, and has served two years as Paris Rotary Club president.

Under his leadership, the Paris Rotary Club helped establish an Interact Club at Paris High School with 29 charter members. He is a certified lay leader for the United Methodist Church and a member of the Paris church. He has been active in Faith in Action of Edgar County, building ADA-approved ramps and steps for residents. Mike also serves on the oversight board of the Paris Center of Fine Arts.

Mike and his wife Denise have been married 46 years and are the parents of two children and have seven grandchildren.

The theme for Rotary District 6490 during the 2020-2021 year under Mike’s leadership is Rotary Opens Opportunities – the “7 Country Roads” as Mike calls them: Promoting Peace, Fighting Disease, Supporting Education, Saving Mothers and Children, Providing Clean Water, Growing Local Economies and Improving the Environment.

In addition to his emphasis on fun (the 5^th wheel in the 4 Way Test), Mike has set four priorities for himself this Rotary year:

1)      Work on new and innovative club models, such as interacting more with Rotaract and Interact Clubs.

2)      Schedule individual club strategic meetings to develop 5-year plans

3)      Membership development and growth. There are 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide and that number has stayed constant over recent years. The goal is to grow membership by recruiting individuals only if they are a good fit for the club.

4)      World Polio Day is October 24. The theme is One day. One Focus: Ending Polio. Mike would like the District to host a World Polio Day fundraiser.

The District expects Rotary International to approve a $25,000 grant from which individual clubs in the district will divide if they applied. CU Sunrise applied for a $5,800 grant. Phyllis was our point person on the grant application.

Mike ended his presentation by saying “Rotary connects everyone and opens opportunities to make miracles happen, for yourself, your club, your community and the world.”

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

*All meetings via Zoom*

July 23rd – Heather Stoa, 2021-2022 District Governor, will speak about the 2019 “Heart to Heart” trip to Mexico and new projects in honor of Mexico’s 100th anniversary of Rotary  (Bob)

July 30th – Club Social

August 6th – TBD (Cary)

August 13th – Trisha Crowley, President, League of Women Voters of Champaign County (Charlie)

August 20th – Evelyn Shapiro, Promotions Manager, Champaign Public Library (Ondine)

August 27th – TBD (Tom)

September 3rd – TBD

September 10th – TBD

September 17th – TBD

September 24th – TBD

October 1st – TBD

“Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife, are in fact plans to protect man.” ― Stewart L. Udall, 1920-2010, politician, environmentalist

“Live so that when your children think of fairness and integrity, they think of you.” – H. Jackson Brown, Jr. – Author

“The sky is not the limit. Your mind is.” –Marilyn Monroe – 1926-1962 – Actress-Model-Singer

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Condolences to Allan Penwell on the passing of his brother.

President Mary Kay asked new member Jarrod Scheunemann to tell the club about himself.   He said that when he was one year old, a tornado went through his hometown of West Bend, WI.   Afterwards, the community came together and that experience built a service spirit in his family.  They lived across the street from a park and he grew up appreciating and advocating for parks.  At the age of 19, he met his future wife, Jessie.  Her family had a tradition of visiting national parks, and it was a practice that Jarrod wanted to emulate.  In 2007, he and his wife quit their jobs to travel the U.S. and visit National Parks.  To date, Jarrod has visited over 50 national parks.  After their trip, Jessie got a job here in Champaign and he completed a Master’s degree in Recreation, Sport, and Tourism from the University of Illinois.   Jarrod and Jessie have two children: Cadence, aged 11, and Gavin, aged 8.   

Since the club was not able to award a vocational scholarship this year, the Board decided to donate $1,000 to a scholarship in Drew Adams name at Central H.S.    

Rotary District Governor Michael Step will speak at our meeting on July 16.

Our July 30 meeting will be an outdoor social event.  Location to be announced.

CLUB ASSEMBLY

The treasurer, Lou Simpson, reported that the club has $5,000 in checking and $10,000 in the Money Market account.  The CU Sunrise Foundation checking has $23,000 in checking.  Since we are not meeting in person, it was suggested that members donate Bucket Bucks through the end of the year, $25 at the rate of $1 per week or $50 at the rate of $2 per week.  Checks can be mailed to Lou Simpson. 

The club lost four members, including the Vocational Service Chair, at the end of the Rotary year.  Please let President Mary Kay know if you would be interested in serving in this position.    Youth Services Chair Michelle will take over the scholarship duties.   Please let Michelle know if you would be willing to serve on the Youth Services Committee.

President Mary Kay announced that she made the Membership Chair a board position.    Larry contacted ten former members, three of whom are interested in returning to the club.  

Phyllis reported on the Food as Medicine program at Frances Nelson.  They have discontinued the monthly food pantry.  Instead, they have partnered with CU FAIR (Champaign Urbana Friends and Allies of Immigrants and Refugees).   Five weeks ago, the USDA established the program called Farmers to Families.  It is authorized through the end of August.   They provide boxes of dairy and produce.  Food As Medicine provides boxes of rice and beans.  Donations of money and diapers are needed.  Diapers can be delivered to the back porch at 514 S. Edwin, Champaign.   CU Sunrise applied for the District Rotary Disaster Response Grant to help.  A volunteer is also needed to deliver boxes of food to 8 families in Rantoul.

Frances Nelson also sponsors the Reach Out and Read program.  It is a national literacy program endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatricians.  Physicians give books to children during wellness visits.   Frances Nelson and Smile Healthy also puts used books for children and adults in their waiting areas.  Last year, Orphan’s Treasure Box supplied 2000 used books.  Retired teachers collect books and put 80-90 books per week in the waiting areas.  Rotary members could assist with making sure the bookshelves are supplied and organized.   

The Buddy Bench in honor of Penn Nelson is on hold due to construction delays caused by COVID 19.  

Mary Kay announced the results of the membership survey.  A majority of members indicated that they would prefer to meet by Zoom through the end of the year or longer.

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

*All meetings via Zoom*

July 16th – District Governor Mike Step

July 23rd – Heather Stoa, 2021-2022 District Governor, will speak about the 2019 “Heart to Heart” trip to Mexico and new projects in honor of Mexico’s 100th anniversary of Rotary  (Bob)

July 30th – Club Social

August 6th – TBD (Cary)

August 13th – Trisha Crowley, President, League of Women Voters of Champaign County (Charlie)

August 20th – Evelyn Shapiro, Promotions Manager, Champaign Public Library (Ondine)

August 27th – TBD (Tom)

September 3rd – TBD

September 10th – TBD

September 17th – TBD

September 24th – TBD

October 1st – TBD

“All the breaks you need in life wait within your imagination. Imagination is the workshop of your mind, capable of turning mind energy into accomplishment and wealth.” – Napoleon Hill – 1883-1970 – Author

“There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others.” – Mandy Hale – Author

“Everything you don’t know is something you can learn.” – Unknown

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Notes provided by Allan Penwell)

Bucket money for July will go to Prosperity Gardens associated with Nicole Musumeci, Eddie’s daughter.  Since we do not meet in person, Rotarians are encouraged to contribute Bucket Money by sending your check to Lou Simpson.

At our meeting at the Decker Garden we welcomed Jarrod Scheunemann as a new member who was sponsored by Andrew. He is married to Jessie and has two children, Cadene and Gavin. Jarrod is assistant to the executive director at Champaign Park District, and he has an interest in community service. He is a cheesehead and has visited over 50 national parks.

PROGRAM

Our meeting on July 2^nd was Pass the Gavel Day where Mary Kay took over the presidential duties from Darrell. Mary Kay has nominated Darrell for District Rotarian of the Year, and she read part of her support letter to the district.

The following awards were presented by Oktay who chairs the awards committee.

Perfect attendance:  Michelle Barbey, Mary Hodson, Darrell Hoemann, Scott Paceley, Robb Patton, Allan Penwell, Ed Perry, Todd Satterthwaite, Lou Simpson, Charlie Smith, Mary Kay Smith, Oktay Baran, and Cary Woolard.

The Alive, Alert Awake Award:  Cary Woolard

Distinguished Club Service:  Phyllis Mischo

Special Award for Charter Member Service:  Ed Perry

Courage Award:  Paul Conforti

New Rotarian of the Year:  Eddie Bridges

Rotarian of the Year:  Darrell Hoemann

In addition to the above, Lou, Bob, and Scott received Paul Harris pins for additional contributions to The Rotary Foundation.

Many thanks to all those who attended. We thank Darrell for his year as president and look forward to having fun with Mary Kay in the coming year.

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

*All meetings via Zoom*

July 9th – Club Assembly

July 16th – District Governor Mike Step

July 23rd – Heather Stoa, 2021-2022 District Governor, will speak about the 2019 “Heart to Heart” trip to Mexico and new projects in honor of Mexico’s 100th anniversary of Rotary  (Bob)

July 30th – Club Social

August 6th – TBD (Cary)

August 13th – TBD (Charlie)

August 20th – TBD (Ondine)

August 27th – TBD (Tom)

September 3rd – TBD

September 10th – TBD

September 17th – TBD

September 24th – TBD

October 1st – TBD