“Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine.”- Anthony J. D’Angelo – Author-Speaker

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt – 1884-1962 – Former First Lady of the United States

“Too many people miss the silver lining because they’re expecting gold.” – Maurice Setter – 1936-2020 – English Football Player & Manager

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(Notes provided by Lisa Crane)

Mary’s reflection on her experience hosting International Rotarians from Bhopal and Indore India was very entertaining! We were instructed to sit for this reflection!  She was given several gifts and gave some gifts in return. She also gained flags from the two clubs.

Bucket bucks for June will go to Ambulances for Ukraine.  Bucket bucks for July will go to Feeding our kids.

Club & District Installation Sunday, June 25, 2023.  We will have a good group attending.

Weekly Decker Garden watering. Please sign up for slots after 7/3.
June 29 Social at Riggs 5:30.pm  THIS WILL ONLY BE A SOCIAL.
July 6 PASS THE GAVEL
July 10 Mahomet Rotary GOLF
July 29 ROTARY at the Ballpark St Louis
July 30 Lou Celebration of Life at Rose Bowl in Urbana

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES 
July 5 – 5-7pm Books to Prisoners *note updated date*

July 8 – 7am-noon – Rotary Booth at Urbana Farmers Market

Aug 8 – 5:30-7:30pm – Assembling the United Way school kits at United Way in Savoy

Week of Aug 21 – Diaper Drive.  Our goal is 20,000 diapers.

Sept 2 – 9-11am – Salt & Light in Urbana

Sept 9 – Feeding our Kids

SPEAKER
Our speaker last week was Christopher Manson, Vice President of Government Relations for OSF Healthcare in Peoria. He manages all local, state & federal legislative and regulatory issues that impact OSF Healthcare. Prior to that, he worked as a Regional Director for 11 years for Providence St Joseph Healthcare in California.   In addition to his professional career, Chris has served in the US Marine Corps Reserve and has served as a volunteer firefighter. He and his wife are the proud parents of a 7-year-old daughter.

AMBULANCES FOR UKRAINE was an idea that began in March 2022. His daughter wanted to do something for the Ukrainians she saw on the news. An idea to help with providing a fully loaded ambulance evolved.

Discussions with the Ukrainian consulate in Chicago led to the first ambulance from Peoria (with local support of supplies) being sent on March 29 2022.  After this success, requests for more ambulances were surfacing. Chris was able to find additional interest in supporting the Ukrainians with supplies and ambulances. Chris met with regional and federal levels of government in Ukraine including the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA).  He has made two trips to Ukraine to see what was needed and how they were being used. The areas of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro have benefitted.

To date there have been donations from 18 states with the most coming from Illinois.
He has named each operation and the latest one, Operation Florian, was in January 2023 which was sponsored by grants from Rotary International in the amount of $100,000.  This operation included a few fire engines. July 2023 will mark the 9th shipment totaling 50 ambulances and approximately 10 fire engines.  They are also looking for some SUVs to help with providing medical supplies.  

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

June 29^th – Pass the Gavel

July 6^th – Club Assembly

July 13^th – Jen Shelby, The Sequel (Mary)

July 20^th – Tom Mitchell and Joi Hoffsommer, will discuss Tennessee Williams (Michael)

July 27^th – TBD (Tom)

August 3^rd – TBD (Cary)

August 10^th – TBD (Michael)

August 17^th – District Governor

August 24^th – Joe Rank, Taste of Northern Italy

August 31^st – TBD

September 7^th – TBD

September 14^th – TBD

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

July 6 – Paul Conforti

July 28 – Cary Woolard

“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton – 1862-1937 – Writer

“We first make our habits, then our habits make us.” – John Dryden – 1631-1700 – English Poet-Translator-Playwright

“Success in life is not for those who run fast, but for those who keep running and are always on the move.” – Bangambiki Habyarimana – Author-Community Worker

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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

Scott welcomed everyone to our monthly evening meeting which included members from the Illini After Five Rotary club and the Savoy Club.

Scott noted that Volunteers are needed to water the Decker Garden, see Darrell’s email for the sign-up sheet.

This month’s bucket bucks will be going to Ambulances for Ukraine.

Larry will pass around a sign-up sheet for Books to Prisoners at this week’s meeting.

Members were reminded that Rotary dues are due June 15.  See Tod’s email on 5/29.

Pass the Gavel Day will take place June 29

“Rotary Day at the Park” in St. Louis is July 29

Lou Simpson’s Celebration of Life will be the evening of July 30 at the Rose Bowl in Urbana.

CU Sunrise Rotary Club’s “Diaper Drive” will be the week of August 21

PROGRAM

Darrell introduced Kirk Banner as this evening’s speaker. Kirk is a recently retired air traffic controller who presented a program on the annual EAA Aircraft event in Oshkosh, WI of which he has been an active participant for many years.

With 650,000 attending last year’s event, the activities for this weeklong gathering include:

-1,400 Forums and workshops

-3,226 Show planes

-10,000 Aircraft

-40,000 campers

Kirk began his presentation with the history of the Experimental Aircraft Association up through the current EAA AirVenture events. The event attracts participants who drive, fly or bus to the event.

For the week of the event, the Oshkosh airfield is the busiest air control tower in the world. Kirk explained how the team of air traffic controllers handle the constant plane traffic in and out of the landing fields. With all the people moving in and out, camping, staying at hotels, workshops, museums, children’s activities, concerts, shopping and just watching the various airshows, it takes many volunteers to plan, organize and handle the six square miles of activities and do it safely.

Kirk showed photos and videos of the many examples of the types of air and space craft one would see at the event. From the early days of flight, through the various aircraft used in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, up through the present day, various types of planes are available to see. Experimental aircraft, home built planes, Sea Planes, gyroplanes up to the largest transport planes, and the Blue Angels, day and night, one can see them all!

This year’s show will be the week of July 24 to July 30. For more information go to http://wwweaa.org. 

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

June 15^th – TBD (Lisa)

June 22^nd – Christopher Manson, VP for Government Relations at OSF, will discuss Ambulances for Urkaine (Mary)

June 29^th – Pass the Gavel

July 6^th – Club Assembly

July 13^th @ 5:30PM – Jen Shelby, The Sequel (Mary)

July 20^th – TBD (Michael)

July 27^th – TBD (Tom)

August 3^rd – TBD (Cary)

August 10^th @ 5:30PM – TBD (Michael)

August 17^th – District Governor

August 24^th – TBD (Joe)

August 31^st – TBD

September 7^th – TBD

September 14^th @ 5:30PM – TBD

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

June 14 – Bob LaCharite

June 17 – Jacob Bilvin

June 19 – Joe Rank

“When within yourself you find the road, the right road will open.” – Dejan Stojanovic – Poet-Writer-Essayist-Philosopher-Businessman

“There are no wrong turnings. Only paths we had not known we were meant to walk.” – Guy Gavriel Kay – Fantasy Fiction Writer

“Every morning is a fresh start. Wake up with a thankful heart.” – Kristen Butler – Editor-Producer

Announcements and Volunteer Service Projects

(notes provided by the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Edward Perrie)

The list of next year’s club officers was approved. Charlie Smith will be our next president and the president-elect position is still open. Tod Satterthwaite will be our new treasurer.

June 8: This Thursday we will meet in the evening starting at 5:30pm. The speaker will be Kirk Banner who will present a program on the EAA event in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Please invite friends or any of your aviation enthusiasts to attend this meeting.

This month’s Bucket money will go to Ambulances for Ukraine.

Don Decker Garden weekly watering sign-up sheet has been emailed to members. Please sign up online. Unlocking the hose and spigot requires opening locks with the numeric combination of 1408. The spigot and hose are connected to the Park District’s yard hose bib and then to the garden’s sprinkler system. If watering volunteers have any questions text Ed at 217-369-3064.  Texts preferred between 10pm-6am.

June 10: Feeding our Kids

June 10: the start of the Rotary Booth at the Urbana Farmer’s Market

June 15: Due date for everyone to pay for next year’s Rotary Dues and select a payment plan for meals and possible donations. See Tod’s email.

June 29: Club meeting for Pass the Gavel Day

July 6: Club meeting with the yearly awards presentation

July 29: Rotary Day at the Ballpark in St. Louis

July 30: “Celebration of Life” for Lou Simpson at the Rose Bowl in downtown Urbana under the Tent. Festivities will run from 4pm to 8pm+/-

November 9: Currently scheduled for our annual club charter night dinner.  It may be combined with a Veterans Day celebration to be held that evening with dinner at The City Center. More information to come.

Club Assembly 

The floor was opened for random discussion on various future and past club projects and activities and additional topics. 

Here’s a summary:

Charlie asked for any and all ideas for future recipients for our Bucket Bucks donations.

Oktay noted that “iRead iCount” is a very worthwhile volunteer opportunity for our members. Additional info can be found at  https://www.champaigncounty.org/iread-icount

Evening club meeting attendance and combing meetings/activities with Savoy and Illini after Five Rotary clubs.

Books to Prisoners projects will be a regular club volunteer project with  scheduled meetings every 2 to 3 months.

Possible volunteer projects discussed included Holiday Shop with the Crisis Nursery, working with the local Park Districts on volunteer projects, and working with the Savoy Rotary Club on their litter pick up.

Club member birthday cards and happy birthday singing will continue.

Our Annual Fruit Sale Fundraiser is being considered as a joint project teaming up with Sola Gratia Farm as a fundraiser for both of us.

Planning has begun for a future “Krannert Uncorked” as a club social.   

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

June 8^th @ 5:30PM – Kirk Banner will discuss the EAA event at Oshkosh (Darrell)

June 15^th – TBD (Lisa)

June 22^nd – Christopher Manson, VP for Government Relations at OSF, will discuss Ambulances for Urkaine (Mary)

June 29^th – Pass the Gavel

July 6^th – Club Assembly

July 13^th @ 5:30PM – Jen Shelby, The Sequel (Mary)

July 20^th – TBD (Michael)

July 27^th – TBD (Tom)

August 3^rd – Club Assembly

August 10^th @ 5:30PM – TBD (Michael)

August 17^th – District Governor

August 24^th – TBD (Joe)

August 31^st – TBD

September 7^th – Club Assembly

September 14^th @ 5:30PM – TBD

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

June 2 – Oktay Baran

June 7 – Lisa Crane

June 9 – Diana Dummitt

June 14 – Bob LaCharite

June 17 – Jacob Bilvin

June 19 – Joe Rank