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Scribe: Linc Janus
Editor: Chuck Bartling
Photographer: John Searles
Speakers
Jan 24, 2017
Updates from the 2016 Grantees
Jan 31, 2017
The ABC's of Sex Education in Kenya - Global Grant Opportunity
Feb 07, 2017
Trends in Vacationing
Feb 14, 2017
Improving the health of our communities through improving our urban forest.  
Feb 28, 2017
Follow Up on Club Visioning
Mar 07, 2017
Operetta
Mar 14, 2017
Bringing clean water and better health to rural, indigenous communities in Bolivia and Ecuador
View entire list
Upcoming Events
New Member Gathering
Jackie's Home
Jan 27, 2017
5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
 
Young Leaders committee meeting. Feb 2, 2017
Rotary International
Feb 02, 2017
7:15 AM – 8:30 AM
 
2017 RYLA first session
Camp Edwards
Mar 09, 2017 5:00 PM –
Mar 12, 2017 1:00 PM
 
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
Sage
Meeting Notes for January 17, 2017
 
President-elect Marv Edelstein presided at the meeting and started it with music from Wham, “Wake Up Before You Go.” Nancy Franzon presented the thought for the day: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” and “The ultimate measure of a …[person} is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.).
 
Announcements
 
Linda Gerber thanked all the participants (29 Club members) and planners for the Club’s visioning session on January 12. She said that the Club last embarked on a visioning initiative eight years ago.
 
Zbig Skiba and Dame Simmons prepared a summation of the visioning meeting. Dave said that the meeting generated more than 100 ideas concerning the key characteristic of the Club in 2020. At that time, the Club will have 90-100 active members; provide a place to socialize and forum for bringing people
together to do good; and will have earned a reputation as a place that gets things done. Additionally, the Club will actively address international issues where it can have an impact and partner with other organizations where it can solve significant challenges on the local and international levels. Finally, the Club will raise $150,000 a year to fund these initiatives and will communicate effectively with Club members and the community concerning its efforts.

Bruce Baumberger mentioned that an international assembly is taking place this week in San Diego. The new RI president, H.S. Riseley, has chosen “Making a Difference” as next year's RI theme. He is concerned about a graying RI membership that is 80% male.

Marv addressed upcoming Rotary events. On Saturday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m., the Rotary Foundation will hold a fundraiser involving the Windy City Bulls. A portion of each $20 ticket goes to support End Polio Now. Club members and their guests can visit WindyCityBulls.com/PROMO and enter the promotion code ENDPOLIONOW to buy tickets.
 
On Friday, March 3, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Club is sponsoring a forum for Evanston youth at RI. The theme is “A world of opportunities in
leadership and service available to Evanston youth.” The Club is inviting students from ETHS, Beacon Academy, and Roycemore School to participate. Club members are invited to volunteer at this event.

Additionally, RYLA is holding a retreat for high school youth on March 9-12 and April 6-9. Club members are invited to attend. Finally, Rotary District 6440 is holding a conference from Friday, April 28, through Sunday, April 30, at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort. John Huston and Rick Metzger will be among the
speakers.

Don Gwinn said that the bills for the winter quarter that recently went out to members have the wrong date on them.

Roasts and Boasts

Gary Peterson boasted Don Gwinn for keeping track of past due bills, including one Gary owed.

Dale Bradley boasted six members who have joined the Evanston History Center: Don; Marv; Charlotta
Koppanyi; Marisa Naujokas; Bill Glader;
and Ken Green.

Special Presentation

Marv presented Katherine Adams with her blue badge, noting that she is an attorney in Arlington
Heights and the daughter of her sponsor, PDG Rodney Adams.
 
Marv and Katherine

Program

History of the Opera and the Lyric Opera in Chicago

Speaker: Sam Fain, Group Sales Associate, Lyric Opera

Fran Caan introduced our speaker, Sam Fain. Sam recounted the early days of opera in Chicago. The first operas were presented in Chicago in 1850 and the first permanent home for opera was built in 1865. That building was known as the Crosby Opera House. It failed financially soon after opening. Thereafter,
the Auditorium Theater became home to operas in Chicago, starting in the 1890’s.

In 1929, under the leadership of Samuel Insull, the Civic Opera house opened. It soon ran into financial troubles because of the Great Depression. In 1952, Carol Fox founded Lyric Opera of Chicago and soon propelled it to prominence by bringing Maria Callas to Chicago to perform. She resigned in 1981 amidst
financial problems at Lyric.

Currently, Lyric Opera is profitable, having successfully spearheaded the sale of subscription series. Lyric plans to continue a recent innovation of offering one Broadway musical per season. Club members can buy tickets to any performance at a discount using the promotional code “Rotary.”

Marv thanked Sam and said that the Club is donating a book on the history of the Lyric to the Evanston Public Library.
 
Marv  Edelstein and Sam Fain

Guests and Milestones

Guests

Heather Harper, prospective member and guest of Kristin Brown
Eric Franzon, guest of Nancy Franzon
Luis Abrev, our exchange student
Sam Fain, Lyric Opera, and today’s speaker

Anniversary

Steve Carlson, 19 years

Next Week’s Assignments

Set Up : Gary Peterson and Nick Powers
Greeters: Gerry Baumann and Bruce Baumberger
Thought for the Day: Neil Gambow
Scribe: Yves Lassere
Break Down: Kristin Brown and Paul Brown