Ann Searles updated the attendees on John Wold’s condition and that he was doing well and should be back next week. Ann also mentioned that Harold Bauer’s cataract surgery was successful (which Harold happily acknowledged).

 

Fran Caan, Bill Glader, and Don Crost-Fink gave details regarding the Taste of Evanston, 2015, to be held on Sunday, June 14, 2015. It is a huge summer community-wide fundraiser to take place on the lawn of the John Evans Center at 1800 Sheridan Rd. They encouraged the club members to actively participate and to bring friends and family. Cost is $75.

 

There will be live auctions and several local restaurants and businesses have already signed on as sponsors. Fran, Bill, and Don are looking for very high quality items for the live auction such as Blackhawks tickets, ski trips, airline miles, etc. Bruce Baumberger recommended that a club-wide email be issued which the committee intends on doing.

 

Bruce Baumberger reminded members of Rotary's upcoming District Conference, to be held from April 10-12. More information can be obtained at the district's the district'stwebsite. He remarked that everyone involved in club leadership activities should take the opportunity to attend. The event is free except for the meals; however, there are dynamic speakers during meal times.

 

Elaine Clemens mentioned to the club that there will be two service opportunities with the Community Service Committee. One on April 24, when three volunteers are needed from 5 to 8 p.m. The event will take place at Hilda’s Place. The activities will involve just the serving of the meals. The other event will take place in June at Just Harvest and about 10 to 15 volunteers are needed. More specifics will follow. Attendees at the meeting indicated a preference for weekends by a show of hands.

 

Steve Carlson reminded the attendees that volunteers are needed for the club's Rebuilding Together event that will be held on Saturday, April 25. A sign-in form was distributed at all tables.

 

Jon Carlisle provided an update on an upcoming Rotaract event and can be contacted for more details.

 

Harold Bauer reminded the attendees of the significance of the upcoming religious holidays for both Christians and Jews. He explained the historical and religious significance of Passover. He wished all a Happy Religious Holiday Week!

 

As a Rotary Club president, Harold receives many letters concerning a variety of topics. He shared such a letter that he received from a Turkish Rotarian whose son is studying for an advanced degree in Engineering at an Illinois university. The father enquired about how his son could go about obtaining a position to further his practical experience. Harold encouraged those who might know of any opportunity to contact him.

 

 

Ann Searles mentioned that as part of her mentoring of new members, she and John were looking at previous copies of the Rotarian (which she believes is an excellent magazine) when she was pleasantly surprised to see a picture of our very own Kristin Brown.

 

Harold Bauer boasted Lincoln Janus for driving him around after his eye surgery.

 

Steve Steiber boasted Dale Bradley for right-sizing and properly allocating his investment in Bradley’s firm.

 

Sergeant at Arms Ken Green quizzed the attendees on issues ranging from movies to vegetables to whiskey.

 

 

 

Ira Graham related how he was encouraged by a schoolmate at Lindbloom High School to enroll in the Navy in 1944. The friend was qualified for an Army early commission and was sent to Hunter College in New York. As Ira was at Great Lakes, his friend was put in the infantry as more troops were needed in lieu of officers. He exchanged several letters with his friend and learned that his friend was killed four days after their last letter exchange. After reading about Irv Abramson and realizing he had similar experiences as his friend, he decided to meet him and to invite him to speak to the club.

 

Private Irv Abramson enlisted in the Army when he was 17. As an expert marksman with the Combat Infantry Division, he fought in France, Germany, and Belgium, where he was seriously wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. He is a recipient of the Purple Heart and was awarded the Bronze Star. He also shared in a Presidential Citation given to the Infantry Division for valiant combat. He just learned last week that he received a Citation and Introduction into the French Legion of Honor.

 

Irv graduated from high school in 1943 and was enrolled at IIT when he enlisted in the Army and was sent to the University of Wisconsin to study Military Engineering. Because of the needs for more troops in the war, he was sent to Fort Sheridan and enrolled in the Infantry. Irv related his experiences during the '44-'45 winter in Europe, which was experiencing one of the coldest winters on record. He was on the front lines for 57 days. At times, he and his army colleagues welcomed the fighting so they could forget about the cold.

 

He related the event during which he was seriously wounded. He was sharing a foxhole with two other soldiers during a particularly ferocious attack by the Germans. He woke up the next day while two medics were carrying him on a stretcher and learned that the two other soldiers had died in the attack. He noted how that event affected him and he always wondered why his life was spared. He mentioned how he and many war veterans never discussed these events.

 

Irv currently volunteers with veteran groups and speaks to students at high schools.

 

 

 

 

None

 

 

 

 

Bruce Baumberger – 29 years

Zbig Skiba – 5 years

John Wold – 22 years

 

 

Ed Martin (Retired US Navy) – Guest of Ira Graham

Katie Peterson – Daughter of Gary Peterson

Jake Zunamon of the Connections for the Homeless

Max Davis from the State Comptroller’s Office

 

 

Steve Steiber shared the following thought:

 

Nothing is inherently and invincibly young except spirit.  And spirit can enter a human being perhaps better in the quiet of old age and dwell there more undisturbed than in the turmoil of adventure. -- Santayana