“The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you.” – Stephanie Perkins – Author

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve – 1952-2004 – Actor-Director-Activist

“It’s not about thinking outside the box.  It’s about realizing there is no box.” – Jari Askins – Judge-Lawyer

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by the dissuading gentleman from Connecticut, Ed Perry)

Ata presented group photos of club members volunteering for the Crisis Nursery Holiday shop with Kappa Delta Sorority and Books to Prisoners.

Bucket bucks for December are going towards Austin’s Place. January’s bucket bucks will go towards helping Andrea Fain’s international health clinic. Suggestions are welcome for future monthly club Bucket Bucks contributions.

Robb and Tod announced that Sola Gratia’s fruit purchasing and pickup starts this Saturday at Lincoln Square.

Darrell noted that entrants for the singing at the Karaoke Fundraiser are needed. Each local Rotary Club will be asked to provide a group of singers to perform. Our club will be providing a group and volunteers are needed. 

UPCOMING MEETINGS

12/19 – CUSRC’s annual Holiday Party with the Elephant Gift Exchange and cookie exchange. Holiday attire is welcomed!

12/26 – No Meeting

PROGRAM

Cary introduced Brendan McGinty as our morning’s speaker. Brendan has been the Director of Industry at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications for the last 10 years. He has been involved at various levels at the University of Illinois, including Director of Industry for Artificial Intelligence Innovations. 

Brendan was introduced to the power of computers at the University of Illinois as an eleven-year-old school student.  Brendan learned about the wonders of the computer from Donald L. Bitzer, the “father” of PLATO, Programmed Logic for Automated Teaching Operations, and with Larry Smarr, the leading pioneer in scientific supercomputing applications, who was responsible for the University of Illinois securing the National Center of Supercomputing Applications.

Brendan started with a brief history of the University of Illinois’ beginnings in Computer Sciences and how the University was, and continues to be, a leader in today’s computer applications and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Brendan gave various examples of the many University of Illinois’ AI applications that are currently being used throughout the world by major industrial companies. AI can take data and produce a model on how to proceed with what can be done before production begins. The amount of information AI can assess in minutes and respond can save time and money. 

The future growth in AI applications is unlimited. The University of Illinois has the world’s top people and Illinois students are highly sought after as the need for these students continues to grow. 

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

December 19^th – CUSR Holiday Party

December 26^th – No morning meeting

January 2^nd – Amanda Borden, Vice President of Development, Eastern Illinois Foodbank (Les)

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

December 29 – Jerry Payonk

“Whatever you want in life, other people are going to want it too.  Believe in yourself enough to accept the idea that you have an equal right to it.” – Diane Sawyer – American Broadcast Journalist

“The great thing in this world is not so much where you stand, as in what direction you are moving.” – Oliver Wendell Holmes – 1841-1935 – Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court

“I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” – Louisa May Alcott – 1832-1888 – Novelist-Short Story Writer-Poet

ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS
(notes provided by the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut, Eddie Perry)

Tod distributed information about Sola Gratia Farm’s Fresh Fruit Fundraiser.

Lisa noted that volunteers are needed for January’s breakfast preparation. 

Dec. 14, 10am-7pm – Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Walmart in Champaign

Dec. 19 – Sunrise Holiday Party with White Elephant gifts and cookie exchange

Dec. 26 – No Meeting

Bucket Bucks for December will go to Austin’s Place.

PROGRAM

Joe introduced Molly Cornyn, Project Coordinator for the 2025 Ebert Film Festival. Molly is a Champaign native with college degrees in media studies and in producing film and television. Her previous work includes five years working for Caesars Entertainment in Las Vegas as an entertainment public relations coordinator and a film and special events manager.

Molly is now back in town and is helping to plan the upcoming Roger Ebert Film Festival for the U of I College of Media. Molly presented background information on Roger Ebert and on the film festival which will be celebrating its 25th year this coming April 23-26.

While the full film schedule is yet to be announced, a special one of a kind film will be shown. The 75mm film of John Ford’s “The Searchers” will be shown. This 1959 film is considered by many as one of the top 100 films ever made and this 75mm showing at the Virginia theater is a one of a kind presentation.

Festival Sponsorships and Full Festival passes, for all 12+movies, are currently on sale with individual movie passes going on sale April 1, 2025. 

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

December 12^th – Brendan  McGinty, UIUC, will discuss AI (Cary)

December 19^th – CUSR Holiday Party

December 26^th – No morning meeting

January 2^nd – Amanda Borden, Vice President of Development, Eastern Illinois Foodbank (Les)

January 9^th – TBD (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 – TBD

February 13^th – TBD

February 20^th – TBD

February 27^th – TBD

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

December 29 – Jerry Payonk

“Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top; it is the willpower that is most important.” – Junko Tabei – 1939-2016 – Mountaineer-Author-Teacher

“The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – 1756-1791 – Composer of the Classical Period

Give without remembering and always receive without forgetting. – Unknown

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(notes provided by Lisa Crane)

Thanks to Mary Kay and Charlie for hosting breakfast in November.

We still need members to sign up for breakfast for the month of January. Your expenses will be

reimbursed. If you want more information, please see Lisa Crane.

Thanks to everyone who helped make The Veteran’s dinner a huge success! We had at least

13 veterans from CHEZ attend.

Sola Gratia is now selling fruit. Tod will send out more information if you would like to

spread the word to help them sell. They are selling grapefruit, mandarins and pears.

Football picks we are doing ok with our standings.

Our bucket money for November will go to the Rotary Foundation.

CUSR HOLIDAY PARTY

Our annual CUSR holiday party will take place on Thursday, December 19^th during our normal meeting time.  This year will feature, among other things, a white elephant gift exchange as well as a cookie exchange.  For the cookie exchange, please bring four dozen (homemade or store bought) cookies to share.

UPCOMING DATES

Dec 7th – 8:30-10:30am – Crisis Nursery Children’s Holiday Shop @ the Orpheum Theater

Dec 9th – 3-5pm – Feeding Our Kids – Volunteer Center @ Eastern Illinois Foodbank

Dec. 14th – 10am-6pm – Salvation Army Bell-Ringing – Champaign Walmart on N. Prospect

Sign-ups can be done on DACdb.

SPEAKER

The speaker this week was our very own Garrett Colbert.  Garrett posed the question: Why would Southern California parents consider moving to Champaign for their retirement?? Their only daughter secured a position as a counselor in Savoy, Illinois. They wanted to be close to her, so six weeks later they sold their home, bought a home in Morrissey Park, and moved to Champaign!

Garrett noted that shortly after they moved in there was a knock on the door and they were greeted by Scott and Cindy Paisley who had flowers and food in hand. Scott suggested coming to a Rotary meeting. The first Rotarian to reach out during the meeting was Mary Kay. Mary Kay and Paul were influential in his quest for membership. Darrell also made him feel welcome. Garrett felt that the Sunrise club members had similar interests as he is a morning person. Joining Rotary has been a great opportunity to meet people because the only person he knew in Champaign-Urbana was his daughter.

Garrett will be starting a 13-week entrepreneur program at the Library.  He will get others to come in and talk to the kids about their work experiences.

Garrett was raised in Washington, DC area and has three siblings – two brothers and a sister.  He attended Towson University and earned a degree in social work.  Garrett taught a class in Health Science and worked in a psychiatric hospital, Shepard Pratt, counseling kids 12 and older.  He then moved to Chicago area and worked in the psychiatric facility at Michael Reese Hospital.

Garrett needed a change so he took a position with a trucking company, MidAmerican Lines and completed their management training program. He became Vice President of Sales & Marketing. They relocated five times in six years so relocation and vacation was how it worked. He spent 25 yrs in transportation.

Garrett also worked for a communications company like Zoom before it became popular, a software company, and he started his own consulting practice for entrepreneurs.  He was involved with Junior Achievement and helped a team win San Diego shark tank and

moved on to Nationals and that same team won Nationals.

Garrett was asked how he met his wife, and he noted that Judy was in the Airforce for four years before college. Thus, she was a non-traditional student in his health science class. They were both in a relationship at the time, but four years later she got in touch with him to return a book and then they started dating.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

December 5^th – Molly Cornyn, Project Coordinator, Roger Ebert’s Film Festival (Joe)

December 12^th – Brendan  McGinty, UIUC, will discuss AI (Cary)

December 19^th – CUSR Holiday Party

December 26^th – No morning meeting

January 2^nd – Amanda Borden, Vice President of Development, Eastern Illinois Foodbank (Les)

January 9^th – TBD (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 – TBD

February 13^th – TBD

February 20^th – TBD

February 27^th – TBD

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

December 1 – Larry Johnson

December 29 – Jerry Payonk

The way you live is your message to the world. Make sure it inspires. – Unknown

“Follow your bliss and don’t be afraid and doors will open where you didn’t know they were going to be.” – Joseph Campbell – 1904-1987 – Writer-Professor

“We’re strongest when we cheer each other on.” – Serena Williams – Professional Tennis Player

ANNOUNCEMENTS

There was not a regular, morning meeting last week.  Instead, we gathered for the CUSR anniversary dinner at City Vie.

Dec 3^rd – project at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church – more info to come

Dec 7^th – 8:30-10:30am – Crisis Nursery Children’s Holiday Shop @ the Orpheum Theater

Dec 9^th – 3-5pm – Feeding Our Kids – Volunteer Center @ Eastern Illinois Foodbank

Dec. 14^th – 10am-6pm – Salvation Army Bell-Ringing – Champaign Walmart on N. Prospect

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

November 21^st – Garrett Colbert (Cary)

November 28^th – No meeting – Thanksgiving

December 5^th – Molly Cornyn, Project Coordinator, Roger Ebert’s Film Festival (Joe)

December 12^th – TBD (Charlie)

December 19^th – CUSR Holiday Party

December 26^th – No morning meeting

January 2^nd – TBD (Les)

January 9^th – TBD (Lisa)

January 16^th – TBD (Mary)

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

January 30^th – TBD

“Passion is the log that keeps the fire of purpose blazing.”  Oprah Winfrey – Actress-Entrepreneur-Talk Show Host-Media Executive-Philanthropist

Knowledge becomes wisdom only after it has been put to practical use.

Unknown

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

November 14 – Sunrise Charter Dinner with Chez Veterans at City View.  The gathering starts at 5:30pm with dinner being served at 6:30. There will be No Morning Meeting

November 30 – Interact Club Hot Chocolate Sale at the Parade of Lights

December 7 – Crisis Nursery Holiday Shop, 8:30 to 10:30am at the Orpheum

December 9 – Feeding Our Kids 3 to 5 pm

December 14 – Salvation Army Bell Ringing at Walmart on North Prospect

Bucket Bucks for November go to The Rotary Foundation

Bob with Good Shephard, who helps us every Thursday, is having a Diaper Drive and is in need of Diapers sizes 5 and 6. If you wish to donate, please bring diapers or donation to our next morning meeting on Nov. 21.

PROGRAM

Mary introduced Andrea Fain who talked about her recent Rotary Service trip to Guadalajara, Mexico. Andrea is a member of Champaign Rotary and participated in a joint Rotary District project. Our District, 6490, and District 4140 participated in a service project organized by Rotary Districts 6820 and 4140 Mexico, who are two major partners in the Heart to Heart program.

The purpose of this trip was to serve communities surrounding Guadalajara by providing support in various ways to the area residents. This support included conducting all day medical, dental and vision clinics and various construction projects, including a water purification project. The Rotarians spent four days working on projects and were joined by local dentists and doctors, including medical students from local university’s medical schools. In the four days, the clinics had completed 698 vision exams, 378 dental exams and 218 physical exams. A supply of various medications were provided for free to 591 people in need. 

Members of the construction team completed various projects including waterproofing a roof, pouring a concrete ramp and slab, painting classroom walls, sanding and refinishing student desks, and minor plumbing and electrical repairs. One Rotarian from Mississippi brought 100 water purification filters and provided the supplies and instructions.

Andrea is a new Rotarian looking for a way to contribute through a hands-on project. She knew no one on this project but volunteered and found the various tasks and all that she learned was an amazing experience. She was truly amazed about the large amount of help Rotarians were able to provide and said she will continue to go on this yearly service project. All Rotarians pay for their own way and all donated funds go directly towards the project total project itself.

Andrea noted that there are several ways to donate. If you are interested in donating or want additional information, please contact Andrea Fain at andrea.fain@gmail.com.  This way she can ensure you receive a thank you note and summary report.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

November 14^th – Veteran’s Dinner at City View

November 21^st – TBD (Cary)

November 28^th – No meeting – Thanksgiving

December 5^th – Molly Cornyn, Project Coordinator, Roger Ebert’s Film Festival (Joe)

December 12^th – TBD (Charlie)

December 19^th – CUSR Holiday Party

December 26^th – No morning meeting

January 2^nd – TBD (Les)

January 9^th – TBD (Lisa)

January 16^th – TBD (Mary)

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

January 30^th – TBD

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

November 4 – Tom Ulen

“Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.” – Brene Brown – Professor-Lecturer-Author

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” – Albert Einstein – 1879-1955 – Theoretical Physicist

“Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” – Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1811-1896 – American Author

ANNOUNCEMENTS

There was no morning meeting last week.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

November 7^th – Andrea Fain, District 6490 International service Director, who will tell us about her trips to Guadalajara with Mississippi District 6820 (Mary)

November 14^th – Veteran’s Dinner at City View

November 21^st – TBD (Cary)

November 28^th – No meeting – Thanksgiving

December 5^th – Molly Cornyn, Project Coordinator, Roger Ebert’s Film Festival (Joe)

December 12^th – TBD (Charlie)

December 19^th – CUSR Holiday Party

December 26^th – No morning meeting

January 2^nd – TBD (Les)

January 9^th – TBD (Lisa)

January 16^th – TBD (Mary)

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

January 30^th – TBD

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

November 4 – Tom Ulen

“Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” – Angela Lee Duckworth – Psychologist-American Academic-Science Author

“Life isn’t perfect, any failures you have are actually learning moments. They teach us how to grow and evolve.” – Phillipa Soo – Actress-Singer

“I choose to make the rest of my life the best of my life.” – Louise Hay – 1926-2017 – Motivational Speaker-Author

ANNOUNCEMEMTS

(notes provided by the erudite Mary Hodson)

The Club voted to donate $1,000, earmarked to Shelter Box USA, to the District Disaster Relief Fund.

October Bucket Bucks will be donated to the GSLC Operation Turkey Sandwich.   Volunteers are needed on Thanksgiving AM to help make and distribute sandwiches to workers around the city.

Volunteers are needed to sign up to work at Salt and Light on November 9 from 9-11 AM.

CU Sunrise Charter Dinner with Chez Veterans will be at the City View on November 14.  We will have cocktails starting at 5:30 PM followed by dinner at 6:30 PM.   There will be no AM meeting on November 14.

Our Interact Club will serve hot chocolate at the Parade of Lights on November 30.

PROGRAM

Darell introduced his friend, Bob Cloverdill.   Bob received an MA in Engineering from the University of Illinois.  He is president of the local Experimental Airplane Association.

Bob’s father, Captain Edward M. Cloverdill, was a U.S. Air Force pilot from 1942-1945. He lost a leg in a crash in 1944, ending his dream of becoming a commercial pilot.   Edward died in a car crash when 20-year-old Bob was in the Air Force himself.  After his death, Bob found photographs of the crash site and became determined to locate it.

Bob’s father was born in 1919.   In the 1930’s, there was great enthusiasm for aviation amongst young boys. Bob’s dad designed competition model planes and learned to fly at the age of 19. His goal was to become a commercial airline pilot. By age 23, he was fully rated. In 1942, Edward was inducted into the Air Force at the rank of 2nd Lt. because he was already a qualified pilot.  Given the option of being an instructor or a ferry pilot, he chose the latter.   In 1942 alone, he flew B-17, B-25C, A-20C, B-26, C-60 and C-46 planes.  By 1944, he had flown 25 different planes.

On January 18, 1944, Captain Cloverdill was scheduled to ferry a B-17 from Georgia to England. That plane was damaged, and the crew was switched to a B-24 Liberator.   Pilots said flying the B-24 was like flying a “big semi-truck” with cumbersome controls. As it was winter, they avoided the “polar route.”   The southern route took them to Homestead Florida, Trinidad, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Dakar and Morocco before heading to England on February 1.  The weather was terrible and Bob believes they got off course. After 13 1/2 hours of a scheduled 12 hour flight, they were running out of fuel and Captain Cloverdill looked for an emergency landing site.

Blasting through centuries old hedge rows and trees, the plane was ripped apart.  All four engines and the tail ripped off.   Bob believes his father survived because the cockpit was ripped off and turned around. Bob was named after his father’s best friend, the navigator Bob Diamond, who did not survive. Five other crew members died. Three of them are buried at the American Cemetery in Cambridge.  Overall, just three crew members, including Bob’s dad, survived.   

The plane crashed nine miles east of Barnstable in North Devon, England.  After his first retirement, Bob was determined to find the site.  Using the photographs, he built a Lego diorama of the crash site. Bob used topographical maps to try to narrow down the location. 

Via the internet, he found that Barnstable had a local library. His email to the library was answered the next day. The library’s research librarian was excited to help him with the project of finding the site. She posted Bob’s pictures of the site on their Facebook page. Two days later, two women showed up. One had been a five-year-old sitting on the loo when the plane almost hit her house.

In 2017, Bob visited Grange Farm near the small town of Charles in Devonshire. He was shown artifacts found at the crash site, including a compass and a set of dog tags.  Bob was able to secure a plane and flew over the site himself.  In January 2024, he returned to give a talk to a local group and toured the place where the D-Day training occurred. 

The military accident review board determined that the crash was due to pilot error. Bob feels that his father never recovered from the guilt, despite the fact that the crash was mostly due to poor visibility.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

October 31^st – Club Social

November 7^th – Andrea Fain, District 6490 International service Director, who will tell us about her trips to Guadalajara with Mississippi District 6820 (Mary)

November 14^th – Veteran’s Dinner at City View

November 21^st – TBD (Cary)

November 28^th – No meeting – Thanksgiving

December 5^th – Molly Cornyn, Project Coordinator, Roger Ebert’s Film Festival (Joe)

December 12^th – TBD (Charlie)

December 19^th – CUSR Holiday Party

December 26^th – No morning meeting

January 2^nd – TBD (Les)

January 9^th – TBD (Lisa)

January 16^th – TBD (Mary)

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

January 30^th – TBD

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

October 23 – Jarrod Scheunemann

October 29 – Robb Patton

“The one who falls and gets up is so much stronger than the one who never fell.” – Roy T. Bennett – 1939-2014, Author

“When you let go of what you think you need, you clear space for the Universe to bring you what you really want.” – Gabby Bernstein – Author-Motivational Speaker-Spiritual Leader-Podcast Host

“A dead end is just a good place to turn around.” – Naomi Judd – 1946-2022 – Singer-Actress

UPCOMING EVENTS & SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

40 Under 40 list: personal ask & invitation to attend CUSRC project and or meeting

Winter market at Lincoln Square (up for discussion of benefit vs time)

Oct 22: deadline to nominate D6490 budget and dues committee

Oct 24: World Polio Day

Oct 24: Club Social: Pints for Polio, Elks Club in Savoy 5:30-7

Oct 26: Sola Gratia workday with UI student group 1-3 at Sola Gratia (wear work gloves, clothing appropriate for outdoor work in their gardens).

Oct 26: Interact 5K + costume contest – CUSRC $500 sponsor and $150 sponsor of Trick or Treat candy gram fundraiser. Check-ion is at 8:30am at Crystal Lake Park Lakehouse. Volunteers are okay to wear costumes! Proceeds to Crisis Nursery.

Oct 26: Decker Garden Fall Clean Up (Eddie Bridges is coordinator)

Nov 2: Robinson RC 100-year celebration 6pm at Von Meeks Farm

Nov 9: Salt & Light Urbana 9-11am with Champaign Rotary

Nov 14: Sunrise Charter Dinner with Chez Veterans at City View (no AM meeting)

October Bucket Bucks: Good Shepherd Lutheran Churches’ Operation Turkey Sandwich

CLUB ASSMEBLY

Project Development update from Larry:

We will continue to volunteer quarterly at Books 2 Prisoners and Feeding Our Kids.

Projects with United Way of Champaign County and Sola Gratia will be on an as needed basis.

Plan to participate in 2-3 more repacks at Eastern Illinois Foodbank in 2025, possibly inviting Champaign Central Interact Club members to join us.

Salt & Light sign-up on individual basis

Projects with DSC, Habitat for Humanity/Restore are organizations we are considering for member participation in the future.

Mary Kay update:

In addition to the 5K and candy gram fundraiser mentioned above:

Oct 23: Safe Halloween

November: Coin Wars (all month)

Nov 30: Parade of Lights Fundraiser – selling hot chocolate

December: Packing backpacks (local community event)

January: Cookie baking for school employees)

January: Flock My Space: scholarship fundraiser – this is a new event, details forthcoming

February: International Night

February/March: Clothing Drive

March: Trivia Night

April: Caring Carnival

May: End of year party

Incoming DG John Calderon was in attendance and handed out cards announcing the upcoming RI Convention to be held in Calgary, Alberta Canada June 21-25. He suggested this would be a great venue to attend, especially if you’ve never been before! Registration Category:

$525 registrations made by December 15

$625 registrations between 12/16/24 and 3/31/25

$695 registrations 4/1/25 – 6/25/25

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

October 24^th – Bob Cloverdill will talk about finding the crash site of his father’s B-24 in 1944 (Darrell)

October 31^st – Club Social

November 7^th – Andrea Fain, District 6490 International service Director, who will tell us about her trips to Guadalajara with Mississippi District 6820 (Mary)

November 14^th – Veteran’s Dinner at City View

November 21^st – TBD (Cary)

November 28^th – No meeting – Thanksgiving

December 5^th – Molly Cornyn, Project Coordinator, Roger Ebert’s Film Festival (Joe)

December 12^th – TBD (Charlie)

December 19^th – CUSR Holiday Party

December 26^th – No morning meeting

January 2^nd – TBD (Les)

January 9^th – TBD (Lisa)

January 16^th – TBD (Mary)

January 23^rd – TBD (Michael)

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

October 23 – Jarrod Scheunemann

October 29 – Robb Patton

“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.” – Jim Watkins, American Anchor and Journalist

“A good compromise is one where everybody makes a contribution.” – Angela Merkel – Chancellor of Germany

“Make it your habit not to be critical about small things.” – Edward Everett Hale – 1822-1909-Author-Historian

ANNOUNCEMENTS

(Notes provided by Lisa Crane)

Ed Perry provided a scrumptious breakfast in honor of Hispanic Heritage month.  

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

Our raffle basket at the District Conference was a hit and sold for $175.

Unloading of the pumpkins went well last Saturday. For the EI Foodbank we counted potatoes.

Andrew and Maggie celebrated their 10^th wedding anniversary with a trip to Salem and Boston.

Football picks – we are in last place with area Rotary clubs.  Sometimes it just feels good to be back in your regular spot.

Bucket bucks in October will go to the GSLC Turkey Sandwich project.

UPCOMING DATES

October 17 – Club Assembly

October 24 – World Polio Day

October 26 – 1-3pm Sola Gratia work day with UI student group @ Sola Gratia

October 26 – Central Interact 5K + costume contest

November 14 – Annual Sunrise Charter Dinner with Chez Center Veterans at City View

SPEAKER
Michelle Gonzales, Executive Director of the CU Schools foundation, was our speaker this week.  She was a 3rd grade teacher at Booker T. Washington and South Side Elementary Schools from 2002-2014.

She then served as a legislative Assistant/Chief of Staff for the late State Senator Scott Bennett from 2015-2020.  She worked for the Office of Public Engagement at the University of Illinois from 2020-2024.

She has been an active volunteer in CU for the past 10 years, including her involvement as a member of Urbana Rotary.

The mission of the CU Schools Foundation is to invest in an equitable and empowered future for Champaign-Urbana by strengthening the community’s commitment to our public schools, teachers, and students. What they do: administer teacher grants and scholarships; liaison between school and community. Recognize and promote teacher and students achievements to increase community awareness.

They are currently working on a five year strategic plan to address some major goals. 

Michelle noted many ways that we can help the CU Schools Foundation: follow them on social media, join the 365 club of donors, visit their website and share their information with others interested in investing in our schools.  You can also nominate a Distinguished Alum for their April event, mentor, participate in iRead icount.

Last year, the CU Schools Foundation awarded $103k in grants and they gave $100 to each teacher to help with their classroom.

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

October 17^th – Club Assembly

October 24^th – Bob Cloverdill will talk about finding the crash site of his father’s B-24 in 1944 (Darrell)

October 31^st – Club Social

November 7^th – Andrea Fain, District 6490 International service Director, who will tell us about her trips to Guadalajara with Mississippi District 6820 (Mary)

November 14^th – Veteran’s Dinner at City View

November 21^st – TBD (Cary)

November 28^th – No meeting – Thanksgiving

December 5^th – TBD (Joe)

December 12^th – TBD (Charlie)

December 19^th – CUSR Holiday Party

December 26^th – No morning meeting

January 2^nd – TBD (Les)

January 9^th – TBD (Lisa)

January 16^th – TBD (Mary)

January 23^rd – TBD (Michael)

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

October 23 – Jarrod Scheunemann

October 29 – Robb Patton