“The final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” – Anne Frank – 1929-1945 – German-Dutch Diarist-Jewish Holocaust Victim

 

“Seek to be whole, not perfect.” – Oprah Winfrey – Television Personality, Actor, Philanthropist

 

Be brave when you are scared, and humble when you are victorious. – Unknown

 

 

ANNOUNCEMEMTS

(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

 

Bucket Bucks for June will go to the Child Advocacy Center. July’s Bucket Bucks will go to Dream.

 

The District Youth Exchange Program is looking for interested students and host families.

 

May 30 – There will be no morning meeting.  Instead, we will gather for a club social from 5:30 – 7:30 PM – Club Social at 1607 Sandpiper, Champaign.

 

June 27 – Pass the Gavel

 

July 12 – Mahomet Rotary Golf Outing – need a 4th for our team of duffers.

 

 

PROGRAM

 

Cary introduced Pam Lau, President of Parkland College.   Dr. Lau came to the U.S. from Singapore when her husband began his doctoral studies at the University of Illinois.   She began teaching part time at Parkland in 1995 and worked her way up to the presidency.

 

There are 48 community colleges in Illinois.   Parkland College is in Community College District 505 which serves Champaign County and parts of 11 other counties.   Students from District 505 pay in-district tuition, supported by a property tax.  The enrollment was 6,018 as of the fall 2023 semester.   

 

Parkland has five functional areas: transfer oriented programs, career-oriented programs, developmental education, adult education and community education.   Dr. Lau described some of the programs offered.

 

In the Parkland Pathways Program, students are dually admitted at the University of Illinois where they take one class per semester.   They pay Parkland tuition and are eligible for University of Illinois housing and facilities.

 

Parkland Science Scholars, funded by NSF, is for first-generation, low-income students in STEM programs.  They have the opportunity to do undergraduate research at the University of Illinois during the summers.

 

Career Programs include health care, aviation, vet tech, mechanics and agriculture.   

 

The Ford Asset Program offers apprenticeships.  Students are employed at a dealership while attending the program.   Case New Holland offers an agriculture technology program.

 

Parkland took over the Institute for Aviation from the University of Illinois in 2014.   There are currently 100 Parkland students training to be pilots.

 

Dr. Lau said that students in all of these programs have jobs waiting for them when they graduate.

 

—

  May 23rd May 30th June 6th June 13th
Introductions Paul Conforti Lisa Crane Karen Yeager Darrell Hoemann
Reflection Jarrod “Thunder” Scheunemann Jen Shelby JP Thompson Mary Kay Smith
Greeters Paul Conforti Lisa Crane Karen Yeager Darrell Hoemann
Jarrod “Thunder” Scheunemann Jen Shelby JP Thompson Mary Kay Smith
Notetaker Conforti Perry Crane Conforti

—

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

 

May 23 – Cooper, the Child Advocacy Center Comfort Dog (Joe)

May 30th – No morning meeting – social at Mary Kay and Charlie’s house
June 6th – Craig Pessman will present photos from his trip to Death Valley

June 13th – Sue Grey, President & CEO, United Way of Champaign County (Michael)

June 20th – TBD

June 27th – Pass the Gavel

July 4th – ?

July 11th – TBD

July 18th – TBD

July 25th – TBD

August 1st – TBD

August 8th – TBD

August 15th – TBD

 

 

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

 

 

May 29 – Phyllis Mischo