President Marv Edelstein convened the meeting and Paul Brown offered the Thought for the Day.

 

 

Elaine Clemens encouraged members to bring non-perishable food items to donate to Street Wise.  Bill Glader will deliver them.

 

Ann Searles’ Sun Shine Lady report was that Ira Graham is doing well.

 

Helen Oloroso shared that next social gathering arranged by the Club Service Committee would be held at Jennifer’s, a Taste of Evanston restaurant on Thursday, Oct. 25. Invitations and sign up will follow. Limit 12 attendees.

 

Ann and John Searles donated two oak tree saplings to the Tree Planting Project.

 

John Searles thanked members who participated in the successful Alliance for the Great Lakes Beach Sweep event on Saturday, Sept. 9, at Evanston Lighthouse Beach. Forty-one volunteers, including a bus-load from Glenbrook High School, picked up 38 pounds of trash.

 

Zbig Skiba announced that the two Evanston Rotary clubs are kicking off the Community Tree Planting in Evanston Parks project on Saturday, Oct. 7, from 9 a.m. until noon. Twenty native trees will be planted in designated spots in Evanston’s parks, based on the advice of Paul D’Agostino, the City of Evanston’s arborist. This is part of the combined clubs’ plan to plant over 100 trees in Evanston over the next year.

 

Katie Peterson, Beacon Academy student and Interact club member announced that The Beacon Academy Interact club is doing a fundraiser for Haiti Outreach on their journey to support clean water by funding a well. She invited club members to join the walk which will take place on Wednesday, Sept.  27, at 2 p.m., starting in front of the International Rotary building.

 

Sue Gauna, visiting Rotarian from Vieques, Puerto Rico, said they had received minimal damage after Hurricane Irma but that they were very concerned about Hurricane Maria. Sue suggested that there would be opportunities for our club to partner with hers to help provide relief to victims of the recent  tropical storms. She invited interested members to attend their up-coming fundraiser for students.

 

 

Steve Steiber reminded the club of the ongoing FlowerPower fundraiser that is taking place online.  To date, $311 has been raised. He reported that planning the holiday fundraiser is under way and the committee is looking for members who can learn the project roles with the goal of expanding.

 

Don Gwinn announced that there are six bags of Guatemalan coffee remaining to be sold; members should contact him for purchase.

 

Linda Gerber announced that the International Service Committee meeting will take place on Monday, Sept. 25, at Rotary International at 7:15 a.m.

 

Jean Saunders announced that the Membership Committee meeting will take place on Monday, Sept. 25, at her house, 1136 Sherman Ave., at 7:15 p.m. Anyone interested in membership development is welcome.

 

President Marv shared a ‘Marvelous Moment’ with the club. He let members know that the Jewish High Holidays begin on Sept. 21 with Rosh Hashana, the beginning of the Jewish new year. He said this is a festive family gathering that is often celebrated by sharing apples and honey. This is followed 10 days later with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Marv wished all members of the club a happy new year and wished for a peaceful new year for the rest of the world.

 

 

 

Kim Hammock is not only the Executive Director of Books & Breakfast(B&B), but the mother of District 65 students and is a 13-year resident of Evanston.  She started out by asking club members how they felt when they entered school for the first time as children.

 

Books & Breakfast is a before-school program that offers a healthy meal and homework help at six Evanston elementary schools. Its goal is to prepare children for the school day so they are physically, emotionally, and academically ready when they arrive in their classrooms.

 

The program started more than 30 years ago when parents and school  leaders at Dewey Elementary School recognized a need for breakfast. It has lasted for decades with the assistance of volunteers. In 2012, the program was reinvented to add academic support to the morning meal. In order to sustain the new model, B&B became an independent non-profit in 2013.

 

Books & Breakfast has a staff of six, and over the course of this school year will provide 10,000 meals to 140 students. Kim shared that it is the only organization in Evanston that provides a holistic before-school program. The morning program runs for an hour and connects students to caring and committed tutors including Northwestern students, parents, and other community volunteers. Tutors typically commit to one morning a week and work with one or two students at a time on homework or reading. Tutors receive training in how to provide academic help and have daily support from a B&B Site Director.

 

Kim explained that there are resource gaps in Evanston. Four elementary schools: Dawes, Oakton, Walker, and Washington are eligible to receive Title 1 funds and offer a free breakfast for children who qualify for a free or reduced priced lunch. At Kingsley and Lincoln, the district provides breakfast, but the schools do not receive Title 1 funds. At Dewey, Lincolnwood, Orrington, and Willard, the district does not provide breakfast, nor do the schools receive Title 1 funding.

 

Books & Breakfasts welcomes volunteers, and training opportunities are on-going. Anyone interested in learning more program volunteer or donation opportunities can contact Kim at kimh@booksbreakfast.org or visit booksbreakfast.org/donate.

 

 

 

 

Mary Bak, Assist. Governor, District 6440

Sue Gauna, Vieques, Puerto Rico

 

 

Katie Peterson, daughter of Gary Peterson

Ron Gatchalian, Glenbrook North High School, guest of Steve Steiber

Patida Phanithullawat , Rotary Youth Exchange Student

Pam Tingley, host Mom for exchange student

 

 

Louis Allred, Sept. 19

Linc Janus, Sept. 19

 

 

Al Menard, 3 years

Chip Uchtman, 16 years