Announcements
Steve Goranson congratulated the new board on its pending activities and thanked the outgoing board members for their service, especially Bill Glader for his role as media chair.
Steve Goranson also reminded the members that this was the last day to make a donation to the RI Foundation for this fiscal year, noting that even John Walker has sent a contribution from his new home in Mexico.
Steve Goranson encouraged everyone to participate in the Evanston Fourth of July Parade, which will step off from Central Street and Central Park Avenue at 2 p.m. on Saturday. We will meet up with members of the noon club starting at 1 p.m.
Helen Oloroso announced that the new Club Service Committee is convening shortly to bring greater organization to the programs and services that involve the “care and feeding” of our members. Please expect to be involved in chipping in to this effort. Helen also thanked Marv Edelstein for his great efforts in setting up the process for expanding Club Service.
Marv Edelstein circulated a card for members to sign for his aunt’s 101st birthday. She still remembers the card for her 100th and is very grateful.
Don Gwinn reminded the members that the next quarter’s invoices will be arriving in our in-boxes shortly. Check your spam folder if you do not receive it.
Harold Bauer thanked the organizers of the Board Installation Reception for a job well done. The food, atmosphere and program were well received by members of both clubs. Even the local press turned out for it en masse, as illustrated by the links below to their stories:
Ken Green announced that he is still looking for volunteers for Campus Kitchens; contact him directly to sign up.
Harold Bauer announced that $21,400 was raised at the Taste of Evanston summer fundraiser and thanked Kate Collinson for her personalized “thank you” letters which were sent to all of the sponsors. Harold also mentioned that there have been several recent events called “Taste of Evanston,” and suggested that trademarking the name might be something to consider.
Paul Harris Recognition
Bob Teska received his Paul Harris +5 pin, and Steve Goranson received a pin for Paul Harris +4.
Bob Teska and Steve Goranson climbing the Paul Harris ladder
Special Presentation
Harold Bauer presented Marv Edelstein with a plaque honoring him as the Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club’s Rotarian of the Year for 2014-15.
Marv Edelstein, our club’s Rotarian of the year.
Sergeant: Roasts and Boasts
Ken Green quizzed the club on various points of trivia after members offered these roasts and boasts:
Neal Gambow boasted his daughter for her exchange student program.
John Osterlund boasted his son, Peter, for turning 16 and receiving his driver’s license.
Bill Vernon roasted himself for a mix-up involving End Polio now.
Louis Allred boasted himself for completing a 5K race recently.
Steve Carlson boasted himself for celebrating 53 years of marriage today.
Marv Edelstein boasted Steve Carlson for his contributions to the grant application being submitted to RI.
Program
The Open World Program at Rotary International
Kristin Brown introduced Natalia Kunzer, Open World Officer at Rotary International.
Natalia’s presentation emphasized the people-to-people diplomacy aspect of the Open World Program, which was founded in 1999 as a one-year pilot program known as the Russian Leadership Program. In 2000, Congress authorized the establishment of the Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC.
The purpose of the Open World Program is to: increase mutual understanding between participating countries and the U.S.; support OW countries’ efforts to strengthen democratic reforms; and to facilitate opportunities to introduce OW delegates to their American counterparts.
Rotary International has become the Grantee and National Host Organization for the Open World Leadership Center and, through RI, clubs across the U.S. have hosted delegations of young people from Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Armenia, Egypt, Estonia, Turkey, and Mongolia.
OW delegates are young, active leaders between the ages of 23 and 35 who have a strong interest in building a civic society in their home countries. By meeting their American colleagues through visits of eight days, these delegates experience democracy and free enterprise in the U.S., and see how private, non-profit, and government organizations work together to meet social and civic needs in their communities.
The Open World Program is looking for Rotary Clubs to host delegations and help them plan their program during their stay. OW provides funding for the stay, including the cost of programming.
Bob Teska informed the club that in the 1990s, the Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club was very active in supporting a young entrepreneur from Kiev, who is now a successful businessman in Toronto.
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Our speaker: Natalia Kunzer
Visitors
Linda Gerber and Mort Rahimi
Thought for the Day
Chip Uchtman offered words of praise for Harold Bauer’s “opera filled year” on the occasion of his stepping down from the club’s presidency. Chip then offered words of support and encouragement for Steve Goranson as he assumes the role of president for 2015-16. Chip encouraged Steve to enjoy the year as he makes the club great.
