“It’s okay to be proud of what you’ve done. It’s okay to believe you deserve something because you’ve put in the work for it.” – Rugby star Ilona Maher on she doesn’t struggle with imposter syndrome.

“Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.” – Eileen Caddy – 1917-2006 – Author

“Love yourself first and everything else falls into line.” – Lucille Ball – 1911-1989 – Entertainer-Businesswoman

ANNOUNCEMENTS

This week we will not have a morning meeting.  Instead, we will gather at 5pm at the Axe Bar in Champaign. Rumor has it that Ed Perry will bring his own axes and show off his skillz.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

January 30^th – Evening social at Axe Bar

February 6^th – Karaoke fundraiser (no AM meeting)

February 13^th – TBD (Cary)

February 20^th – Club Assembly

February 27^th – Mitch Marlow, Sales & Public Relations Manager, Virgina Theatre (Charlie)

March 6^th – TBD (Lisa)

March 13^th – TBD (Joe)

March 20^th – TBD (Les)

March 27^th – TBD (Mary)

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

January 18 – Jen Shelby

January 27 – Rod Roberts

January 28 – Scott Paceley

“Not everything that is faced can be changed but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”  – James Baldwin – 1924-1987 – Writer

“Without commitment, you cannot have depth in anything.” – Neil Strauss – Author-Journalist-Writer

“Courage of the heart is very rare. Let it guide you.” – Sarah J. Maas – Author

ANNOUNCEMENTS

No AM meeting on Feb. 6.   Karaoke Fundraiser at Jupiter’s at the Crossing starts at 5:30 PM

Feb. 22 – 9-11 AM, Salt and Light

March 26 – Read Across America

PROGRAM

Mary introduced Pavlo Dziuba, Visiting Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-CHampaign. Dr. Dziuba and his family came here from Ukraine under the Illinois Scholars at Risk Program. He shared “one family’s experience” of the Russian invasion.

At the time of the Russian invasion, Dr. Dziuba was teaching at the Department of International Economics in the University of Kyiv.  He and his family lived in Irpin, which is adjacent to Bucha.   Irpin was occupied in the first days of the Russian occupation.  On February 24, Pavlo, his wife and two children moved to the basement of their apartment building.    Fortunately, his mother was in the subway when her apartment was bombed. 

Pavlo’s apartment building was hit, destroying the rooftop boiler room   He decided to evacuate his family on March 2.   The Ukrainians had blown up the bridges leading to Kyiv to block the Russian forces, leaving just once escape route to the south.   He said there was a 50/50 chance of making it through “The Road of Death”.  

They stayed with friends in the Carpathian Mountains until April 19, when he returned to Irpin.   He had to pass through road blocks, answering questions that only Ukrainians would be able to answer.    He brought his family back in June.   The area was heavily mined.  Pavlo showed a picture of a mine in a tree where his children played.    

He and others in his building made repairs but couldn’t replace the boiler.   So he and his family left again in late October.   They couldn’t go to his wife’s parent’s home as they were in an occupied area.   He did research and learned about the Visiting Scholars Program.   He is now in the U.S. under a G-I Visa.   His family have G-2 Visas.  They are valid for up to five years.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

January 23^rd – Lynne Barnes, Advocates for Aging Care (Michael)

January 30^th – TBD

February 6^th – Karaoke fundraiser (no AM meeting)

February 13^th – TBD (Cary)

February 20^th – Club Assembly

February 27^th – TBD (Charlie)

March 6^th – TBD (Lisa)

March 13^th – TBD (Joe)

March 20^th – TBD (Les)

March 27^th – TBD (Mary)

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

January 18 – Jen Shelby

January 27 – Rod Roberts

January 28 – Scott Paceley

“I don’t like to gamble, but if there’s one thing I’m willing to bet on, it’s myself.” – Beyonce – Singer-Songwriter-Actress

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

“The final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” – Olivia Newton-John – 1948-2022 – Singer-Actress

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the distinguished gentleman from Rhode Island, Edward Perry)

There will be no morning meeting on February 6^th.  Instead, that evening our club will host our Karaoke Fundraiser at Jupiter’s at the Crossing.  Cocktails will start at 5:30pm before the real pros start singing at 6:30pm. Mary K passed around a Sign-up sheet for various ways for everyone to help.

Jan 18^th – Jen Shelby’s birthday party in Miami – BYOB

Feb 22^nd – 9 to 11am – Salt & Light in Urbana

Mar 2-6 – Read Across America

PROGRAM

Garrett introduced Lauren Gramly, Business Specialist, with the Champaign Public Library. Laura has an MBA from the University of Illinois and has over 20 years of experience in small business and nonprofit management.

The Champaign Public Library began to provide information for those interested in entrepreneurship about seven years ago. Lauren recently joined the library and has been directing and organizing this free service on how to start and grow your own business. This service includes free workshops, powerful online tools and one on one consultations. The focus is for those first-time business owners, beginning a non-profit start-up, and young entrepreneurs.

Lauren helps to show the path using business workshops, YouTube videos, online information sources such as Mergent Intellect, Reference Solutions, Gale Business Plan Builder and Gale Entrepreneurship, and one on one meetings with Laura. Included in this path is how to determine your business concept, how to conduct market research and analysis, how to create a business plan, making it legal, get funding, how to market, and deciding on the scale of the business.

In the workshops she brings in local businesspeople as speakers to help explain how to start and what is needed to maintain a business. She is also teaming up with the local schools to help young people who are interested in entrepreneurship. 

Additional information about the program and how you can help please contact Lauren at lgramly@champaign.org.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

January 16^th – Dr. Pavlo Dziuba, Visiting Professor, Economics, UIUC  (Mary)

January 23^rd – Lynne Barnes, Advocates for Aging Care (Michael)

January 30^th – TBD

February 6^th – Karaoke fundraiser (no AM meeting)

February 13^th – TBD (Cary)

February 20^th – Club Assembly

February 27^th – TBD (Charlie)

March 6^th – TBD (Lisa)

March 13^th – TBD (Joe)

March 20^th – TBD (Les)

March 27^th – TBD (Mary)

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

January 18 – Jen Shelby

January 27 – Rod Roberts

January 28 – Scott Paceley

“The key to abundance is meeting limited circumstances with unlimited thoughts.” – Marianne Williamson – Author-Speaker

“Not everything that is faced can be changed but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin – 1924-1987 – Writer-Civil Rights Activist

“Being happy never goes out of style.” – Lily Pulitzer – 1931-2013 – Fashion Designer

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

February 6 – No AM meeting – Karaoke Fundraiser at 5:30 PM, competition starting at 6:30 PM at Jupiter’s at the Crossing

February 22 – 9-11 AM – Salt and Light in Urbana

PROGRAM

Les introduced Sophie Becker, Marketing, Communication and Engagement Manager at Eastern Illinois Food Bank and member of Champaign West Rotary.

EIFB serves food pantries in 18 counties covering 14,500 square miles. In that area, at least one in eight people are facing food insecurity.  The Food Bank is serving 90% more people than they did in 2022.  Sophie said the need has never been higher.

Every day, their fleet of eight box trucks deliver food to 160 partner agencies. Their food mobile reaches about 100 rural communities each month. Some of the counties have just one food pantry that is open just once per month.   

There is an urgent need for volunteers to staff the local food pantries.  The food distribution at Champaign’s own Vineyard Church serves 500-600 families per week.

Sophie told us about a new state funded program, the IL Food Purchase Assistance Program.  Food Banks sign cooperative agreements with disadvantaged farmers to provide meat to food banks.  

You can sign up to volunteer at their website, http://www.eifoodbank.org.  There is a good chance you will be volunteering alongside UIUC athletes who are there a couple of times per week.   The Food Bank especially needs volunteers during the summer months.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

January 9^th – Lauren Gramly, Business Specialist, Champaign Public Library, will discuss entrepreneurship (Lisa)

January 16^th – Dr. Pavlo Dziuba, Visiting Professor, Economics, UIUC   (Mary)

January 23^rd – Lynne Barnes, Advocates for Aging Care (Michael)

January 30^th – TBD

February 6^th – Karaoke fundraiser (no AM meeting)

February 13^th – TBD (Cary)

February 20^th – Club Assembly

February 27^th – TBD (Charlie)

March 6^th – TBD (Lisa)

March 13^th – TBD (Joe)

March 20^th – TBD (Les)

March 27^th – TBD (Mary)

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

January 18 – Jen Shelby

January 27 – Rod Roberts

January 28 – Scott Paceley