President Steve Goranson convened the sixth meeting of the Rotary year and the Thought for the Day was offered by Joan Borg.

 

 

 

Club Service Committee:  Helen Oloroso announced that the committee would support the annual club picnic once a new date in September is identified.  Members were urged to contribute goods or services that can be sold at auction for support of the club’s service projects. 

 

Club Service Committee:  The committee has developed a set of instructions for those who help set up and take down materials for club meetings.  Members are urged to provide feedback and updates to the instructions.  (A newly revised set of instructions will be emailed to each helper before his/her date to set up or take down meeting materials.)

 

Club Service Committee:  The committee is working on a slate of monthly social gatherings around ethnic themes represented by our members’ backgrounds and interests.  More information will be coming soon.

 

Community Service Committee:  Ken Green asked members to assist in the backpack project sponsored by Evanston COPE Care Team, which receives funding from the ELRC’s community service grant program.  An email from Ken to the members will detail the times and dates for the distribution project, beginning on Wednesday, Aug. 12, and running through Saturday, Aog. 14^t.  Contact Ken to volunteer.

 

Community Service Committee:  Ken Green also announced the next date for the Evanston Lighthouse Beach Clean-up:  Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to noon.

International Service Committee:  Yves Lassare announced that the next meeting will be at 7:15 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 24, at the Rotary International cafeteria.

 

New Generations Committee:  Marv Edelstein announced that 10 members of the club have volunteered to serve on the committee – a record for New Generations!  He asked that club members begin looking for 2016 RYLA candidates because the applications process begins in the next 30 days.

 

Program Chair:  Kristin Brown asked the members to offer ideas for club meeting discussions that would take place several times each year to generate actions for the club to take.  She also indicated that the club would need to find another venue for the meeting on Nov. 10^.  Contact Kristin if you have suggestions for either the discussions or the venue.

 

Holiday Party:  Carol Bild announced that the Holiday party will take place on Sunday, Dec. 13, at the John Evans Alumni Center, Northwestern University.

 

Steve Goranson reminded the club that the new RI President, K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran, will be our special guest at the club’s meeting next Tuesday.  Members from other local clubs have been invited to join us.

 

 

Lincoln Janus boasted his son for making it on time to his own wedding, and he boasted himself for celebrating his 40^th wedding anniversary this month.

 

MaLu Simon boasted her husband for attending the club breakfast meeting today on his birthday.

 

Bruce Baumberger boasted club members who helped with various “Rollin' with Rotary” activities last week, but especially Ken Green and Kristin Brown for hosting overnight guests in town for the events.

 

Albert Menard boasted his 45^th wedding anniversary at the end of August.

 

 

 

Marisa Naujokas, sponsored by Kristin Brown, was awarded her red badge and welcomed by the club.

 

 

 

Steve Goranson presented Bill Glader and Charlotta Koppanyi with Rotary pins that honor their commitment to bringing new members to the club.

 

 

 

 

 

Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club member Elaine Clemens gave the club a comprehensive look at the many soup kitchens that operate in Evanston.  Together, they make it possible for hungry people to have two home cooked meals a day, every day of the year.  These kitchens are arranged in partnership with local areas of worship and a non-profit organization known as Interfaith Action of Evanston, which works with legislators, community leaders, and citizens “to promote a healthy and equitable society.”

 

Together, these soup kitchens provide meals to several hundred Evanston residents every day – people who are homeless, underemployed, overextended with additional dependents, those with no support network, and those who must choose between housing and food. 

 

Volunteers are needed at all ten locations in Evanston for either lunch or dinner every day. Volunteers shop for food, prepare the meals, set up for the meal, serve residents food and beverages, and clean up after the meal is finished.

 

In addition to providing nutritious home cooked meals to hungry people, many of these organizations also provide a host of other benefits to clients, such as food pantry items and donated used clothing.

 

Many ELRC members spoke of their observations from volunteering at soup kitchens.  The dignity accorded to the diners, the camaraderie and fellowship developed among the diners, and the awareness that many of us are not far removed from being a diner ourselves were common themes offered by our member volunteers.  Elaine urged us to all volunteer as the need is greater than most of us realize.

 

 

 

 

Paul Weber, husband of MaLu Simon

Tina Pinkston, Morgan Stanley, guest of Steve Goranson

Dave Lawlor, Owner of Woof N Bark, guest of Steve Goranson

(All are prospective members)

 

 

 

 

 

Marisa Naujokas and Harvey Newcomb