President Brad Weiss presided at the meeting and presented the thought for the day, a quote from Paul Harris, “Friendship is a natural and willing servant…. There is no reason, ethical or otherwise, why the great power of friendship should not be harnessed to do its part in the world's work.”

 

 

Brad began by praising this year’s holiday party and thanking all involved, including Jean Saunders for all her work. Jean in turn thanked Nick Powers for volunteering as a runner and obtaining last minute refreshments. Jean also thanked Brad for hosting the party at his home.

 

Kate Collinson thanked those who volunteered last Friday and Saturday to unload and set up holiday sales items at Evanston Subaru. She reported that the Club has some extra pecan products still available for sale. She also brought in boxes of oranges and grapefruit to sell to club members at today’s meeting. Brad urged members to continue selling, pointing out that he received several orders for plants recently from folks who had not been ready to buy when he initially approached them earlier in the holiday season.

 

Brad urged all members, and particularly new ones, to attend the ABCs of Rotary at RI on Jan. 23.  Attendance is limited to 187 registrants.  The Club will reimburse members for the $25 registration fee.  Members can register at the District website.

 

Marv Edelstein read excerpts from various letters the Club has received from Evanston schools concerning Leadership Day at RI. The day will feature a tour, speakers, breakout sessions, and networking. The purpose of this event is to expose the young adults to the many opportunities for leadership and service. Marv indicated that the reaction has been overwhelming; volunteers from our club will be needed.

 

Zbig Skiba announced a Rotary Means Business meeting for Dec. 13.

 

Brad asked that a club member serve as the “champion” for a meeting that District 6440 is organizing for Feb. 17, -- Random Acts of Kindness day.

 

Brad said that District 6440 is looking for help from someone who is good with Quick Books in connection with a new charitable fund being established.  

 

Helen Oloroso announced there will be no Club Service Committee meeting this month.

 

Ken Green announced that there will be no Community Service Committee meeting this month.

 

Yves Lassere announced an International Service Committee meeting taking place on Dec. 19, 7:15-8:30 a.m, at Rotary International. 

 

Dale Bradley announced that our Taste of Evanston Event will take place on July 9 at the Evanston History Center (the Dawes House). He urged members to become members of the History Center. Bill Glader explained the Club changed the venue for this event from RI headquarters due to street work that will be taking place in front of RI next summer.

 

 

Steve Steiber boasted his cousin who was one of the vets who went to Standing Rock to protect the Native American protesters and give them training in safe civil disobedience practices.

 

Ann Searles boasted Nick Powers for his help distributing Rotary sales to her customers.

 

Kathy Tate-Bradish boasted Ann for the high level of her sales and for her participation in and help with the senior center grandparent support party.

 

Harold Bauer roasted himself for failing to pick up Dave Simmons on Saturday morning to help with the holiday food sale. He boasted his wife, Karen, who is retiring from her professorship at North Park University, saying how proud he is of her and her work with voice students.

 

Brad boasted the kids, including his three sons, and Sri Sakthivel’s daughter for their help checking coats at the party.  The kids donated $20 to RI that they earned from their work.

 

 

 

Bill Glader introduced our speaker, Bruce Crane, who has served as a founder and past executive director of Streetwise. Bruce passed out copies of the Streetwise 2015 annual report and urged members to read it as a good summary of the organization’s activities.

 

Bruce said he is a resident of Skokie; he started volunteering for Streetwise in 1994 and eventually served as Executive Director.  Bruce said that Streetwise serves individuals whom other agencies sometimes turn away:  the homeless, addicts and those with a history of convictions. Streetwise vendors locate themselves near mass transit stops because that is the type of transport vendors typically use.

 

Bruce said that meals help provide a basis for client interaction with staff social workers. Streetwise found that clients did not want to talk with social workers in other types of settings. Providing food helps satisfy a need that allows clients to focus on other issues with which social workers can help. The social work interaction covers a wide range of topics, from medical needs to emotional issues to financial topics.

 

Streetwise also offers a job training and placement program.  Job training focuses on behavioral skills, like being at work on time and taking breaks at appropriate times. Part of job training involves the job for 150 individuals of selling Streetwise Magazine.  Sellers keep $1.10 as profit of each $2 sale. Bruce urges those who do choose to buy the magazine to actually take it and read it and leave it in a place where others may read it as well. 

 

Simply giving a seller a donation does not show the same respect to vendors (who contribute ideas for content and work with interns on the same) as taking the magazine and reading it. Some individuals being served by Streetwise cannot handle the demands of a full-time job; for them, selling Streetwise may be within the scope of their present capabilities.

 

Streetwise partners with local universities and provides internship opportunities for 6-8 interns a semester. Streetwise also enjoys the support of 12 company or individual angels who donate supplies for the meal program. 

 

In response to questions, Bruce touched on a number of topics. As for the source of revenues, the annual report addresses this question; about one-third of them come from magazine sales. Interns do most of the writing for the magazine. Streetwise appreciates food donations. Sometimes, they do not come in the right proportion. For example, Streetwise receives a lot of peanut butter but not much jelly to go with it. Streetwise sometimes encounters problems with rogue vendors:  individuals who pick up discarded magazines and then try to resell them.

 

At the close of Bruce’s presentation, Brad said that the Club was donating “Rewriting Homeless Identity: Writing as Coping in an Urban Homeless Community ” by Jeremy Godfrey to the Evanston Public Library as a way of honoring Bruce and his work.

 

 

 

 

Bruce Crane, speaker and member of the board of directors of Streetwise, guest of Bill Glader

Dominique McIntosh, YWCA, guest of Kristin Brown

 

 

Don Gwinn, 29 years as a club member

 

 

Katherine Adams, 12/16

Marv Edelstein, 12/16