“Be healthy and take care of yourself, but be happy with the beautiful things that make you, you.” – Beyonce – Singer-Songwriter-Actress

“You will always have the time for the things you choose to put first in your life.” – Brad Turnbull – Author

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau – 1817-1862 – Essayist

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the bionic man from Connecticut, Edward Perry)

Ata presented Allan Penwell a special pin for his multiple Paul Harris contributions.

Lisa noted how she met Rotary’s International President Elect at the recent Presidents Elect Training Seminar (PETS) that she attended.  

April 4, 6pm Central Interact International Fair

April 12, 7am CUSRC Board Meeting by Zoom

April 16, 8:30am-1pm Marathon Hydration Station at GSLC

May 17 10am to 12noon CC Humane Society Newspaper Roll at GSLC – please keep saving your Newspapers!

May 30 Champaign Rotary’s Action Auction

June 12 Final Club Assembly of the year and next year’s committee assignments

June 14 Rotary Expo and Installations

June 21-25 Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada

Sept 8 Diaper Drive Week

PROGRAM

Les introduced our speaker this morning, Todd Gleason. Todd is with the College of ACES here at UIUC and has been the voice of agriculture in the State of Illinois since 1984. He currently can be heard daily on his half hour show starting at 2:00pm on WILL radio along with numerous other avenues where he reports on all aspects of  agriculture.

Todd works hard to present unbiased reporting with information on everything dealing with his farm reports. He noted he has always been a non-commercial broadcaster, and he is proud to be part of the history of WILL Radio. WILL Radio reporting started back in 1922. 

This morning’s message centered on how Todd has continued to improve over his 40+ years, including the best ways to produce and deliver his agriculture messages. He gave several examples of the ways he has made his work more efficient, faster and more focused for his listeners. Starting with one of the first laptops so he could work from home to now the use of a phone, camera with monopod and laptop he can produce a total presentation anywhere and send it to the WILL studio for broadcasting. He has begun experimenting with AI to put his information into a “Broadcast” mode.

Todd finished with answering various questions from the group on the history of tariffs to the importance of Pot Ash. While touching on tariffs and farm subsidies, Todd noted that 48% of Illinois’ corn and soybeans production is shipped out of the country.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

March 27^th – Dr. Jeffery Mondak, James M. Benson Chair in Public Issues and Civic Leadership, UIUC, will discuss the relationship between personality types and political opinions (Mary)

April 3^rd – Andrea Fain, District 6490 International Service Committee Chair, will discuss their recent trip to Guadalajara (Cary)

April 10^th – Melissa Courtwright, Executive Director, CU at Home (Charlie)

April 17^th – Zack Schweig, Executive Chef, Hamilton Walkers, will discuss how COVID changed the restaurant industry (Joe)

April 24^th –  Dr. Joyce E. Hofmann, Research Affiliate, Illinois Natural History Survey, PRI, UIUC will discuss catching bats in the wild in Illinois (Les)

May 1^st – Dr. Whitney Gutierrez of Christie Hospital (Lisa)

May 8^th – TBD (Mary)

May 15^th – TBD (Cary)

May 22^nd – TBD (Charlie)

“Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald – 1896-1940 – Novelist

“Most people are rowing against the current of life.  Instead of turning the boat around, all they need to do is let go of the oars.” – Esther Hicks – Inspirational Speaker-Author

“The pessimist complains about the wind. The optimist expects it to change. The leader adjusts the sails.” – John Maxwell – Coach-Author

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

March 24, 3-5 PM – Feeding Our Kids, contact Larry to sign up.

April 4, 6 PM – Central Interact International Fair

April 12, 7 AM – CUSRC Board meeting by Zoom

April 16, 8:30 AM – 1 PM – Marathon Hydration Station at GSLC

May 17, 10-1 – CCHS Newspaper rolling at GSLC – keep saving newspapers

May 30 – Champaign Rotary Action Auction

June 14 – Rotary Expo and Installation

Sept. 8 – Diaper Drive Week

Dean Olson from GSLC visited to recruit people for their Habitat for Humanity Build Trip to El Salvador, June 6-15.  Contact Dean at DeanLOlson@gmail.com for more information.

Governor-elect John Calderon announced that the District will sponsor the cost of membership for one new member in each club this year.  They will be inducted at the Installation on June 14.   He also encouraged members to sign up for the Rotary International Convention in Calgary from June 21-25.   

 PROGRAM

Joe introduced Brandon Fischer from the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

The ReStore, located at 1914 Glenn Park Drive, Champaign, kept 225, 000 items out of the landfills last year.   The ReStore accepts donations of furniture, building materials, electronics, hardware, tools, sporting goods, etc., but not clothing.   Donations can be dropped off during business hours, Tuesday 10-6, Wednesday – Friday, 10-2 and Saturday 10-4.   Donations are also accepted between 5-6 PM, Wednesday – Friday.  You can arrange for free pick up of larger items at cuhabitat.org/request-a-pic-up or by calling 217-819-5112.

The store has a website and Instagram account where they feature newly donated items.

Habitat for Humanity will dedicate its 137th home on March 27.   Recipients must give 300 hours of volunteer time in order to qualify.  Habitat also maintains a community garden within walking distance of 70 of the Habitat built homes.

Volunteers are needed and orientations are held on Wednesdays at 3:30 PM and Saturdays at 9:30 AM.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

March 20^th – Todd Gleason, Farm Broadcaster with the College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences (ACES) at UIUC and WILL Radio (Les)

March 27^th – Dr. Jeffery Mondak, James M. Benson Chair in Public Issues and Civic Leadership, UIUC, will discuss the relationship between personality types and political opinions (Mary)

April 3^rd – Andrea Fain, District 6490 International Service Committee Chair, will discuss their recent trip to Guadalajara (Cary)

April 10^th – Melissa Courtwright, Executive Director, CU at Home (Charlie)

April 17^th – Zack Schweig, Executive Chef, Hamilton Walkers, will discuss how COVID changed the restaurant industry (Joe)

April 24^th – TBD (Les)

May 1^st – TBD

May 8^th – TBD (Mary)

May 15^th – TBD (Cary)

May 22^nd – TBD (Charlie)

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

March 14 – Michael Hogue