“When I dare to be powerful – to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.”  – Audre Lorde – 1934-1992 – American Writer, Librarian

“Accept the presence of thorns, but let the rose inspire you.” – Steve Pavlina – Self-Help Author – Speaker

“A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because her trust is not in the branch but in her own wings. Always believe in yourself.” – Unknown

ANNOUNCEMENTS

There was no regular meeting last week because it was the fifth Thursday of the month.  Instead, a gathering was held at Robb Patton’s house on Wednesday, 8/28.

UPCOMING EVENTS

9/9 – 3pm-5pm – Feeding our Kids in the New Volunteer Center at Eastern Illinois Foodbank

9/6 – Deadline for sign up for iRead-iCount volunteers

9/12 – Ties & Tennies Gala fundraiser for the Champaign Park District Foundation

9/26 – 5pm to 6:30pm – Books to Prisoners

10/24 – World Polio Day

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

September 5^th – Cathy Grill, So You Want To Be A Published Author? Let’s Talk About That (Charlie)

September 12^th – Cole Alvis, Athletics, Inclusion, and Volunteer Coordinator, Champaign-Urbana Special Recreation (CUSR) (Cary)

September 19^th – TBD (Charlie)

September 26^th – Tom Kacich, retired News-Gazette staff writer (and continuing contributor), will discuss the 2024 election (Joe)

October 3^rd – Dr. Michael Aiualasit, Assistant Research Scientist, Environmental Archeology, Illinois State Archaeological Survey (Darrell)

October 10^th – TBD (Michael)

October 17^th – TBD (Club Assembly)

October 24^th – TBD (Mary)

October 31^st – Club Social

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

September 2 – Andrew Kerins

September 3 – Charlie Smith

September 11 – Eddie Bridges

September 25 – Tod Satterthwaite

September 25 – JP Thompson

“One word of encouragement can be enough to spark someone’s motivation to continue with a difficult challenge.” – Roy T. Bennett – 1939-2014 – Author

“Not everyone will make it to your future. Some people are just passing through to teach you lessons in life.” – Danielle Steel – Writer

“Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it.” – Ziad K. Abdelnour – Financier

ANNOUNCEMENTS
(Notes provided by  Lisa Crane)

Joe provided a great breakfast!  If there is anyone with dietary restrictions, please email Lisa.

We still need members to sign up for breakfast for the months of January, February, March and April. Please see Lisa Crane.

Mary Kay gave a unique reflection informing us that it is National Sneak Some Zucchini on Your Neighbor’s Porch Day. She spoke of its origin and gave some strategies on how to accomplish this feat successfully.

Michael Hogue announced a volunteer opportunity to put placard signs together for the United Way Pond Walk. We will need to find a date this month.

We discussed social ideas for our 5th Thursday in August. There is also an Illini football night game and we may want to tailgate details on the selected activity coming soon.
Are we going in on football pics? Please let Cary know.

Bucket  bucks for August will go to Luella’s Lodge.

UPCOMING DATES

August 17 – 9-11am Salt & Light Urbana ** NEW DATE

August 26 – Tom Costello Memeorial Gold Outing @ Lake of the Woods Golf Course

September 1 – District Grants Due

September 3-8 – Zone Institute Emerging Leaders Program Huntsville, AL

September 12 – Ties & Tennies Gala fundraiser for Champaign Park District Foundation

September 26 – 5-6:30pm Books to Prisoners

October 4-5 – District 6490 Conference

October 24 – World Polio Day

PROGRAM

Garrett introduced Fiona Munro & Hannah Fink from Solia Gratia. Fiona Munro is the coordinator of outreach and Hannah Fink is the volunteer coordinator. Their presentation was titled: Service Learning Fun and Farming. Their mission is to provide community food assistance, outreach and education, and support community gardens through Solidarity Gardens CU.

Solia Gratia Farms has grown to 34 acres. Their farm is dedicated to producing locally-grown, high quality, natural produce. They are committed to helping those who lack adequate food resources by donating 10% of its produce to support regional hunger programs.

They also give in-school agriculture education and food access through USD 116 Farm to school program.   They provide on-farm events and programming. They also have partnerships with community organizations and other local producers.

With their outreach programs they had:

*Farm visits of high school urban agriculture students who learned about starting seeds.
*Over 150 8^th graders visited to learn about plants, seeds, bugs, and water.
*Vacation Bible School kids planted seeds, transplanted starters and explored sensory plants.

Their vision is to create an agricultural educational space with opportunities for teaching and learning, outdoor recreation and productive and meaningful service to include:
*Demonstration working farm
*Project plots adopting or incubator plots
*Demo perennial food forest
*Shade & seating 
*Play space

Hannah Fink is their first volunteer coordinator. She spoke about creating a volunteer culture, opportunities for variety of tours for creative learning, painting fence pickets activities which will mark the borders of their demo garden.

Other interesting bits to note:
*She mentioned the upcoming Farm Olympics this Saturday that needs volunteers still
10:30-noon this Saturday.
*Volunteer opportunities:  During summer weekdays mornings Tuesdays and Fridays
* Sola Gratia is in the process of expansion and transition.  The speakers shared a proposed map with 29 acres behind Eagle Ridge subdivision.
*The other places you can see Solia Gratia Farms is at the Farmers Market, Jubilee Café on campus, Daily bread soup kitchen, and Head Start free market.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

August 15^th – Mary Hodson will discuss Round Britain Cruise – Pt. 2

August 22^nd – Merry Mitchell from the Eastern Illinois Foodbank (Michael)

August 29^th – Club Social

September 5^th – TBD (Tom)

September 12^th – TBD (Cary)

September 19^th – TBD (Charlie)

September 26^th – TBD (Joe)

October 3^rd – TBD (Lisa)

October 10^th – TBD (Michael)

October 17^th – TBD (Club Assembly)

October 24^th – TBD (Mary)

October 31^st – Club Social

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

August 24 – Allan Penwell

August 30 – Darrell Hoemann

August 30 – Ed Perry

“Colors are brighter when the mind is open.” – Adriana Alarcon – Author

“Give light, and the darkness will disappear of itself.” – Desiderius Erasmus – 1466-1536 – Theologian

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.” – Helen Keller – 1880-1968 – Author

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

8/10 – Trunk Sale at Good Shepard

8/17 – 9-11am – Salt and Light (note new date)

8/26 – Tom Costello Memorial Golf Outing at Lake of the Woods. Duffers needed!

9/3-9/8 – Rotary Zone Institute in Huntsville, AL

9/12 – “Ties and Tennies” gala fundraiser to support Champaign Park District scholarships

9/26 – Books 2 Prisoners

10/4 – Rotary District 6490 Conference

10/24 – World Polio Day

PROGRAM

Our Assistant Governor Marlys introduced District 6490 Governor Mike Martin from Mattoon.  Mike grew up in Texas, then came to Illinois and graduated from EIU.  He is a certified Public Accountant and Nursing Home Administrator.  He has served in many roles in Rotary including two terms as the President of the Mattoon Rotary Club.

The Governor pointed out that although Rotary has changed since he joined in the 1990’s, the mission of “Service Above Self” has not. His “Rotary Moment” came from serving with the Mattoon Rotary annual food drive.   They knock on every door in town collecting food for the local food banks.   

Mike’s international service has been with the “Heart of America”, Rotary Zones 30-31 medical mission trips to Guadalajara, Mexico.   He told of one 90-year-old lady who walked about two miles to get medical attention.  She was accompanied by her father who said he didn’t need help!

The Governor asked members to donate toward water filtration units for Guadalajara.  He also asked us to give to the Rotary Foundation and Polio Plus.  He reminded us that even when Polio is eradicated, vaccinations will have to continue.  

In conclusion, he said that the Magic of Rotary is what Rotarians do together and he awarded a special governor’s award to Sir Edward Perry.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

August 8^th – Fionia Munro, Outreach/Education Coordinator, Solia Gratia Farm, will discuss Service, Learning, Fun, and Farming at Sola Gratia Farm’s Community Classroom (Garrett)

August 15^th – Mary Hodson will discuss Round Britain Cruise – Pt. 2

August 22^nd – TBD (Michael)

August 29^th – Club Social

September 5^th – TBD (Tom)

September 12^th – TBD (Cary)

September 19^th – TBD (Charlie)

September 26^th – TBD (Joe)

October 3^rd – TBD (Lisa)

October 10^th – TBD (Michael)

October 17^th – TBD (Club Assembly)

October 24^th – TBD (Mary)

October 31^st – Club Social

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

August 24 – Allan Penwell

August 30 – Darrell Hoemann

August 30 – Ed Perry