“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

 

“The future is always beginning now.” – Mark Strand – Poet

 

“And one has to understand that braveness is not the absence of fear but rather the strength to keep on going forward despite the fear.” – Paulo Coelho – Author

 

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

July Bucket Bucks will go toward Dream and August Bucket Bucks will go toward Luella’s Lodge

 

August 1 – District Governor Mike Martin will visit 

 

Sept. 3-8 – Zone 31 Assembly, Huntsville, Alabama

 

October 4-5 – District 6490 Conference

 

 

PROGRAM

 

Mary introduced Mark Wolters, Associate Teaching Professor of Business Administration in the Gies College of Business, UIUC.  In addition to his academic duties, Mark produces travel videos and blogs.  His YouTube channel, Wolters World Travel, has over 250,000,000 views and 1,000,000 subscribers.   On his Professor Wolters education channel, Mark strives to make marketing and social media education accessible to all people.

 

Mark’s mom, Kathy Wolters, was one of the first women to join the Quincy Rotary Club.    He was a two-time Rotary Youth Exchange and lived in Lisbon for five years.  He chose B&B’s as his topic for CU Sunrise because travelers use them both domestically and in other countries.

 

He discussed the reasons that people who live in tourist areas now resent travelers coming to their towns.   Specifically, airbnb’s have driven up the cost of owning or renting properties to the point that locals often can no longer afford to live in their own home towns. 

 

In general, Mark prefers VRBO to airbnb because with VRBO, you know that you are getting a whole house.   It is important to read all of the comments and study the pictures before booking.   If pictures show the area around the B&B and not the actual rooms inside, beware.   Read between the lines on the descriptions and comments.   Read the rules and the lists of extra charges.  It is important to note what is provided by the owner.   Assume that what isn’t listed will not be provided.  

 

When traveling, Mark and his family always spend the first and last nights of their stay in hotels because airbnbs don’t allow early check ins or store luggage.

 

Always use the official websites to book travel or hotels.   If you see a good deal on another site, call the airline or hotel.   They will often match the deal.

 

Mark thinks England, Ireland, Scandinavia, France, Portugal and Italy are the easiest destinations for first time European travelers.   He personally loves Brazil because he is fluent in Portugese but he doesn’t recommend it for those who don’t speak the language.

 

 

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  July 18th July 25th Aug 1st Aug 8th
Introductions Scott Paceley Robb Patton Jerry Payonk Ed Perry
Reflection Eddie Bridges Paul Conforti Lisa Crane Mary Hodson
Greeters Scott Paceley Robb Patton Jerry Payonk Ed Perry
Eddie Bridges Paul Conforti Lisa Crane Mary Hodson
Food Tod Satterthwaite Tod Satterthwaite Joe Rank Joe Rank
Notetaker Conforti Perry Hodson Crane

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UPCOMING SCHEDULE (with program committee members listed in parentheses)

 

July 18th – Mary Hodson will discuss the 80th Anniversary of D Day

July 25th – Charlie Smith will discuss DacDB

August 1st – TBD

August 8th – TBD (Lisa)

August 15th – TBD (Mary

August 22nd – TBD (Michael)

 

 

UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS

 

July 28 – Cary Woolard