President Brad Weiss welcomed members to the meeting.   A Thought for the Day from Dale Carnegie was offered by Joan Borg.  “Any fool can criticize, complain and condemn – and most fools do.  But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.”

 

 

Brad thanked all those who helped with the day’s meeting.

 

Joan Borg asked members to consider helping out as Scribe on Nov. 8, as none of the four current Scribes is available to take notes that day.  Please contact Joan if you’re able to help out.

 

Several items that had found their way into Brad’s possession were returned to their owners.

 

Chair Marv Edelstein announced that the Young Leaders Committee will meet on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 7:15 a.m. in the Rotary International Lower Level Cafeteria.   The Committee will be planning Youth Leadership Day activities, in conjunction with representatives from ETHS.  Any interested Rotarians are welcome!

 

Bruce Baumberger noted the breadth and quality of the items sold during the Holiday Sale. Bruce encouraged members to consider their own holiday needs first… then purchasing for (or offering products to) friends, family, neighbors, and business colleagues.  Bruce also drew attention to the new Gifts of Giving flyer that highlights the many projects funded by our Holiday Sale.  The Holiday Sale Committee will be staffing a Help Desk before and after meetings to assist members with their Holiday Sale questions and coaching will be available under the tutelage of Ken Green. Flyers, forms, and FAQ’s will be available on the Club and Holiday Sale web sites. It is hoped that each member will take the sale seriously as it funds more than 75 percent of our philanthropic activities.

 

Bruce also drew attention to the Miles to End Polio flyer supporting Kristin Brown.  Noting that yesterday was World Polio Day, Bruce encouraged Rotarians to donate to Kristin’s campaign in advance of RI President John Germ’s speech to our club on Nov. 15.

Oct.

Gary Peterson announced that the next Golf Road Clean-up will take place on Saturday, Nov.5, at 8:30 a.m., meeting at the TJ Maxx parking lot.

 

Following up on Mike Erickson’s program last week, Linda Gerber explained that our club’s Visioning evening will take place on Thursday, Jan. 12.  Additional details will be forthcoming.

 

Brad Weiss noted that, in addition to serving displaced residents, Shelter Boxes are being used on the ground in Haiti to house health professionals doing cholera screenings.

 

Dale Bradley, who will be attending the Cubs-Indians World Series game on Saturday night, offered up four tickets to SASI’s fundraiser (the Ruby Event) on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Evanston Golf Club.  If you’re able to use Dale’s tickets (valued at $125 each), please contact him via email or phone.

 

Ann Searles explained that Nancy Franzon recently had surgery in Kansas City for a stomach hernia. Nancy is staying with her son and hopes to be back around Thanksgiving.  Ann also reminded the membership about an Oktoberfest at Smylie’s, supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.  Ann also confirmed the list of attendees for the Great Gatsby performance at NU.  If anyone would like to give up their ticket(s) in order to watch the Cubs, there are a few others who might be interested in them. Ann is still looking for a restaurant that can accommodate the large group for dinner.  Carol Bild thanked Ann for organizing this fun outing.

 

In honor of Vocational Service month, Katherine Adams – attorney and new member – spoke briefly about ethics and her career.  Noting that attorneys face many ethical challenges while helping people sort through their problems, Katherine explained that she is primarily involved in estate planning and family law. Something as simple as accepting payment for answering questions can pose an ethical challenge.  (Have I done enough?  Am I presenting a complete answer?)  Attorneys are monitored by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC) which investigates client complaints.  It is a perpetual balancing act…  what is best for the client, the firm, and the attorney?  Katherine acknowledged that she hadn’t previously considered her work in the context of the Four Way Test.  1.) Is it the truth?  As her father says, ”there are three sides to every argument – yours, mine, and the truth.”  2.) Is it fair to all concerned?  Who decides what is fair?   3.) Does it build goodwill or better friendships? Katherine commented that attorneys make more enemies than friends.  4.) Is it beneficial to all concerned? Katherine explained that she tries to be honest and empathetic, never wanting an outcome to be unconscionable to another person.  5.) Is it fun?  Absolutely!

 

 

Kate Collinson toasted her son and his new wife who were married on Saturday in Indianapolis at Union Station, one of the rare venues without a TV. It was a great day that was enhanced by an easy Cubs victory which didn’t require guests to cling to their phones to follow the action.

 

Susan Prout shared some Chicago Architecture Foundation/International College of Surgeons/Rotary synergy.  Susan learned about CAF’s Open House days from a recent ELRC speaker.   As part of the Open House event, she visited the International College of Surgeons building which had an entire room devoted to eradicating polio.  It all comes full circle!

 

Steve Steiber threw a surprise birthday party for his wife on Saturday night. Thinking he was providing info to media-starved Cubs fans, Steve announced the current score… only to be corrected by the many party guests who were following the game closely, and surreptitiously, on their phones.

 

Marisa Naujokas boasted Helen Oloroso who took time to meet with Marisa and her son to talk about potential careers.

 

Marv Edelstein boasted the League of Women Voters and Kathy Tate-Bradish for hosting a fun, interesting, and objective Watch Party on the occasion of the Third Presidential Debate.

 

Bruce Baumberger boasted Marisa Naujokas and Jim McGuire for creating our new Holiday Sale flyer.  It will be available soon on the web site and will be sent to all members in an email.

 

Kristin Brown briefly explained her recent participation in a recent France-USA Intercountry Committee Conference for young adults. She also presented a banner from the Rotary Club of Senlis, France.

 

 

 

 

Fran Caan introduced her good friend, Julie Bordo, a volunteer and Congressional District Leader for the global advocacy organization known as the ONE Campaign.   In her 25^th year as an attorney, Julie provides legal services to fellow lawyers and works with PCH Mutual Insurance Company, a risk retention group serving assisted living and personal care homes in the U.S.  With her husband Tony, she has raised two sons in Evanston and is a Board member of Evanston Scholars.

 

Quoting Admiral Stockdale of Vice Presidential debate fame  -- “Who am I?  Why am I here?." Julie explained that she started her career as an advocate and litigator representing victims.  After beginning a family, she pivoted to serving other lawyers and professionals.  A plea from Bono at a 2005 U2 concert inspired her to join the ONE Campaign.  The ONE Campaign is an international, nonpartisan, non-profit, advocacy and campaigning organization that fights extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa, by raising public awareness and pressuring political leaders to support policies and programs that are saving lives and improving futures.

 

For 10 years, Julie signed petitions, but in 2015 she was invited to attend ONE’s Leadership Academy at Lake Street Church. From there, she became a Congressional District Leader and more recently attended ONE’s annual Power Summit in Washington, DC.  A profoundly moving experience, Julie found “her tribe” at the Summit, a group of diverse people sharing common foundational values.

 

ONE is a perfect partner for Rotary International, sharing similar goals and sensibilities.  ONE is taking on the eradication of TB, malaria and AIDS, as Rotary has worked to end polio.  ONE will never ask you for money.  As an advocacy organization with 7.5 million global volunteers, ONE advocates and lobbies different governments in multilateral endeavors to deal with the pressing issues of extreme poverty and disease.  Rather than dictate solutions abroad, ONE seeks to be a partner to organizations worldwide.  ONE values transparency, effective training, sustainable methodologies, and long term solutions.

 

What has ONE done lately?  The Global Fund, dedicated to the eradication of TB, AIDS and malaria, has saved more than 20 million lives.  Lobbying efforts this year have resulted in billions of dollars being earmarked for ONE causes.  There is a cascading effect as poverty and disease are reduced.  As those in the developing world achieve basic levels of health, they can begin to excel and thrive. And as individual living conditions improve, economies and entire nations can progress.

 

Julie asked a favor of the membership.  One of the last initiatives for the year is a bi-partisan bill introduced by Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin.  The Education for All Act is designed to reach 263 million children who are not in school. Lack of access to quality education, especially among the poorest and among girls, is preventing millions of people from escaping the cycle of extreme poverty around the world.  Julie asked members to send letters to Sen. Durbin, letting him know that his constituency still cares about the education bill during the lame duck session.

 

The ONE Campaign, an organization of like-minded individuals, would welcome our help in identifying events, manning tables at events, hosting, etc.  ONE is well-organized, social media-savvy, and supported by foundations, philanthropists, and other civic, corporate, and celebrity leaders, including the Gates Foundation, Sheryl Sandberg, and Bono. ONE is a voice for the most vulnerable in the world.  Julie provided sample letters, pens, and a sign-up sheet for those with a continuing interest in these issues. 

 

 

 

Robert Zinser, PDG, RC of Ludwigshafen-Rheinschanze, Germany

Larry Shawver, Rotary Club of Harbor Country and former president of Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club

Joe Berger, Rotary Club of Harbor Country

 

 

Julie Bordo, speaker, ONE Campaign

Paul Weber, husband and guest of MaLu Simon

Betsy Robinson, prospective member and guest of Fran Caan

Jane Wong, prospective member and guest of Charlotta Koppanyi

Tibor Pakozdi, prospective member and guest of Kristin Brown

Emily Burd-Thomas, France-USA Intercountry Committee Scholar, guest of Kristin Brown

Valerie Burd, guest of Kristin Brown

 

 

Harvey Newcomb – October 29

 

 

Set-Up: Steve Goranson and Ira Graham

Greeters:  Sri Sakthivel and Keith Sarpolis

Thought for the Day: Dale Bradley

Scribe: Helen Oloroso

Breakdown: John Searles and Ilana Seligman

 

 

Emily Boling, The Floured Apron – a social enterprise bakery