The Light for July 26, 2016 (Jul 28, 2016)

President Brad Weiss welcomed members to the meeting. Two Thoughts for the Day were offered by Bob Teska, a student of Native American history and culture. “Silence was meaningful with the Lakota, and his granting a space of silence before talking was done in the practice of true politeness and regardful of the rule that ‘thought comes before speech.” Bob also shared a Cherokee sentiment: “Listen, or your tongue will make you deaf.”

Announcements

IMPORTANT: We will not be meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn next week! With both Rotary International and the Hilton fully booked, the club needs a venue for our August 2 meeting. Please let Brad know immediately if you have any venue suggestions. An email will be sent to all members this weekend, notifying them of next week’s meeting location.

Brad thanked all those who helped with the day’s meeting. Noting that water had damaged our sound system, he went ‘off mic’ and encouraged presenters to speak up.

Steve Goranson introduced Deandre Shareef, a recent ETHS graduate who is the recipient of our 2016 Vocational Scholarship. A four-year athlete, role model, and mentor, Deandre will be studying fashion/design, marketing, and entrepreneurship at Harper College. Congratulations and good luck to Deandre in his future studies!

Steve Goranson, Deandre Shareef, and Brad Weiss

Kristin Brown explained that her area of Rotary oversees an innovative crowd-sourcing tool. More than just a crowd-funding site, the tool allows clubs to ask for funds, partners, in kind contributions, volunteers, etc. An Argentine Rotary Club is currently seeking one book for children or youth (explaining local stories or traditions) from interested Rotary Clubs around the world. Our club expressed a desire to participate; individuals may also have books to contribute. Just click on this link.

Joan Borg sought volunteers to assist with the scribe function at our meetings. There are currently four scribes who write up meeting notes for The Light on a rotating basis. If just a few additional members volunteer, each scribe would only be responsible for note-taking every 6-7 weeks. Please consider helping with this important task!

In Helen Oloroso’s absence, members were reminded about the Annual Picnic on Tuesday, Aug. 9. The picnic will replace our usual Tuesday morning meeting. Fran Caan has generously offered to host the meeting at her home at 2236 Orrington Ave, at Noyes Street. As in the past, tables and chairs will be rented and some help will be needed with set-up/take down. Sign-up sheets for food contributions will be circulated next week.

Charlotta Koppanyi reminded the group that we will be collecting food items for The Streetwise Café at the picnic. Please consider sharing the bounty of summer with those who have little!

In Susan Prout’s absence, Ken Green explained that there will be a diaper packaging event on Thursday, Aug. 18, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at First Methodist Church in Evanston. Our grant recipient – Bundled Blessings Diaper Pantry – needs help sorting and bagging diapers prior to distribution.

Ken also shared that Hillside Food Pantry needs help on Saturday afternoons during peak Farmers Market Season. They receive tons (literally!) of free produce from participating vendors and need to load and transport it to the pantry. Please contact Ken or the Hillside Food Pantry for more information.

Zbig Skiba announced that the inaugural Rotary Means Business event will be held at the Firehouse Grill on Thursday, July 28, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. If you’ve been planning to participate, it’s now time to register!

In Ilana Seligman’s absence, members were reminded that volunteers may still be needed for the Aug. 1 Luncheon Soup Kitchen. Please contact Ilana for additional information.

Marv Edelstein announced that the Young Leaders Committee will be meeting tomorrow morning at 7:15 a.m. in the Rotary International Cafeteria. In addition to discussing plans for the year, a brief marketing video for RYLA will be shown.

Marisa Naujokas thanked the membership for donating more than 135 vases to Random Acts of Flowers. In the future, donated vases may be dropped off on Marisa’s porch at 1108 Maple Ave.

Dale Bradley explained that he is trying to get a foursome together for the rescheduled Evanston Chamber of Commerce golf outing that will take place on Aug. 29 at the Wilmette Golf Course. (The event – originally scheduled for July 25 -- was postponed due to course flooding.) A ringer -- Don Gwinn?-- and several other players of any ability are needed to round out an ELRC team. The per-person entry fee is $135 but includes several meals, prizes, etc. Please contact Dale if you’re interested.

Roasts & Boasts

Yves Lassere boasted fellow Rotarians – Steve Steiber, Gary Peterson, Ken Green, Linda Gerber, Steve

Carlson, Ilana Seligman and Bill Glader -- who attended or donated to the Haiti Outreach fundraiser on

Saturday night.

Horton Kellogg offered $5 to anyone who could name the dog on the Cracker Jack box, but there were no correct guesses.

Paul Harris Presentation

Brad Weiss presented Paul Harris Fellow awards to two generous Evanston Lighthouse Rotarians. Created in 1957, the Paul Harris Fellow designation honors those who contribute $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation and acknowledges their shared commitment to enhancing global understanding and friendship while improving lives around the world. Each additional $1,000 is recognized as well, as a plus.

Dale Bradley received a PHF plus 2 award, and Steve Steiber received a PHF plus 1 award.

In a related vein, Brad announced that an anonymous donor in the District will match $500 contributions to the Foundation, making those contributors immediate Paul Harris Fellows. This match is only available to those who would be first time Paul Harris Fellows.

Dale Bradley and Steve Steiber

Special Presentation

Ken Green introduced the beneficiaries of the recent Taste of Evanston fundraiser – the Hunger Resource Network (Dan Jariabka) and Hillside Food Pantry (Maiya Lueptow) – presenting each of them with a check for $8,500. Dan noted that their gift will be used to purchase 17,000 pounds of chicken, providing 34,000 protein portions to the hungry in their service area. On behalf of the Taste of Evanston committee, Charlotta thanked club members for making these grants possible.

Ken Green, Dan Jariabka, Maiya Lueptow, and Brad Weiss

Program

Monique Brunson Jones, President and CEO, Evanston Community Foundation

Fran Caan introduced Monique Brunson Jones, President and CEO of the Evanston Community Foundation. Prior to joining ECF, Monique was Director of Programs at the Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW) where she provided leadership to a staff of 14 and a budget of $3.8 million. She managed its grant program, which awards annual grants of $2.5 million, and worked collaboratively with CFW staff to raise funds and develop major gifts.

Prior to her tenure at CFW, she was the director of the Office of Violence Prevention in the Cook County Department of Health. She received the Champion of Diversity award from Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy (CAAIP) in 2014 and recently joined the board of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce. Jones is a licensed clinical social worker with a B.A. in Social Work from The University of Arkansas and an M.S in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin.

Jones is also a contributor to the Huffington Post and Women’s Enews.

President and CEO of the Evanston Community Foundation since November 2015, Monique succeeded former ELRC member Sara Schastok. Her mission is to help Evanston thrive as a vibrant, inclusive and just community. ECF has a staff of nine, 23 board members and numerous stakeholders in and around the community.

ECF seeks to foster private philanthropy and support collaborative partnerships to address community challenges. It also strives to develop leaders with its well-regarded Leadership Evanston program. (The ELRC counts a number of Leadership Evanston alums among its members.) Community members learn to be community leaders and Evanston residents benefit from their projects and initiatives.

As a ‘community’ foundation, Monique explained that the Evanston Community Foundation is place-based. The first community foundation was in Cleveland. The largest community foundation is the Silicon Valley Community Foundation with a budget of $7.3 billion. The Chicago Community Trust manages just under $2 billion. ECF manages an endowment of $20 million, giving a portion away each year in perpetuity.

Over its 29-year history, the ECF has made grants of more than $6 million. Rather than a focus, ECF tackles a variety of issues: Youth Education, Arts and Humanity, Family Support and Counseling, Early Childhood, Housing and Basic Human Needs. As funds allow, ECF wants to “go deeper” in these areas.

ECF also lends its voice to issues. Illinois’ precarious budget situation has shifted their lens. ECF is continually asking the question “What can we do to help?”

ECF provides both Responsive and Strategic grants. Non-profits apply for Responsive grant funding. ECF seeks out those who can respond to specific needs through its Strategic grant-making. ECF granted $312,000 to area organizations during its most recent Responsive grant cycle. The need, however, was more than $700,000. There are lots of resources in Evanston, but equity is the goal. We are a diverse community, but also a segregated one.

ECF is now in "strategic planning" mode, preparing to be as responsive as possible. (What do we need to be in the next few years? How do we look to the citizens of our community?) Monique stressed the importance of being pleasant, positive, and honest. As change occurs, ECF wants to be an organization that adapts. If norms and trends are shifting, ECF wants to lead that change.

ECF’s Community Works program, captured in the "Change: Reimagining a community’s access to opportunity" brochure on the tables, focuses on early childhood investment.

Root2fruit grants are another avenue of the Foundation. Funded by the Mammel Foundation, Root2fruit funds small to medium sized non-profits with three-year grants of $10,000 a year, and provides ongoing mentorship.

ECF handles a variety of fund types. With donor-advised funds, the family (or other entity) determines fund use. With agency funds (such as the ETHS educational fund), the entity also makes fund decisions.

ECF directs Donor-Designated Funds or Field of Interest funds (which target a particular issue, such as teen pregnancy or homelessness).

What are the key issues right now for Evanston? Monique, speaking for herself, cited the following: diversity/equity, poverty, a widening educational achievement gap, homelessness/affordable housing.

All members are encouraged to celebrate ECF’s 30th birthday at its annual gala - Celebrate! Evanston.

This year, the party will be held at the Evanston Golf Club on Thursday, Sept. 29. For the first time, Rotary International will be a presenting sponsor of the event.

ECF also has a modest sponsorship budget (as part of it general operating budget). Could there be an ELRC/ECF collaboration in our future?