“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 8th 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.

 

—

  Aug 15th Aug 22nd Aug 29th Sept 5th
Introductions JP Thompson Rod Roberts No morning Tod Satterthwaite
Reflection Thom Hodson Darrell Hoemann meeting. Michael Hogue
Greeters JP Thompson Rod Roberts Club  Tod Satterthwaite
Thom Hodson Darrell Hoemann social Michael Hogue
Food Joe Rank Joe Rank time! Jen Shelby
Notetaker Conforti Perry   Hodson

—

 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

 

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

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

August 29th – Club Social

September 5th – TBD (Tom)

September 12th – TBD (Cary)

September 19th – TBD (Charlie)

September 26th – TBD (Joe)

October 3rd – TBD (Lisa)

October 10th – TBD (Michael)

October 17th – TBD (Club Assembly)

October 24th – TBD (Mary)

October 31st – Club Social

 

 

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

 

August 24 – Allan Penwell

August 30 – Darrell Hoemann

August 30 – Ed Perry