Kristin Brown gave the “Holiday Sale Minute” report, indicating that the food order deadline is today but over-ordering does give Rotarians a little more time. Saturday, Dec. 3, is the pick-up day for greenery at Anton’s. Volunteer sign-up sheets were placed on the table. Dec. 10 is the pick up at Evanston Subaru for food items. Please consider ordering a ham to donate to Family Focus.
Bruce Baumberger reminded the club of the fellowship event on Friday, Dec. 2. Dinner will be at Prairie Moon, 1502 Sherman Ave., at 6 p.m. followed by the Lakeside Singers holiday concert at the Music Institute of Chicago, 1490 Chicago Ave., at 7:30 p.m. Concert tickets are $25. Contact Bruce for more details.
Kathy Tate-Bradish invited everyone to her home for her family’s annual open house on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2 p.m. – prior to the club’s annual holiday party later that day.
Carol Bild reminded the club that the annual holiday party is to be held at the home of Brad and Tiffany Weiss on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Food contributions and volunteer opportunities are available through the sign-up sheets on the tables and online. (Click on the party announcement in the left pane of The Light and it will take you to the sign-up site.) Brad’s home is at 2725 Lincoln St., between Ewing and Bennett.
Marv Edelstein gave an update on the activities of the Young Leaders Committee. Later today, the Beacon Academy Interact club will have a kick-off meeting which will include a Skype call with an Interact club in Haiti. Kathy Tate-Bradish will be the ELRC club liaison with the Interact club at Evanston Township High School and is in the process of connecting with the Kakamega Interactor club in Kenya. The committee is also working on the Youth Leadership Day at Rotary International on Feb. 24; volunteers are needed. Marv also announced that the next Young Leaders Committee meeting will be at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8, in the RI cafeteria. All are welcome to attend.
Don Gwinn announced that he is putting together a group to attend this year’s performance of “Twist Your Dickens” on Thursday, Dec. 15, at Goodmans Theater. Although Don’s son, Peter, will not be performing this year, Don indicated that approximately one-third of the content changes each year. Contact Don if you are interested in attending.
Don Gwinn reminded the club that donations to The Rotary Foundation can be made online at rotary.org. Steve Goranson told members that District 6440 has an anonymous donor who will match one time gifts to TRF. Steve Steiber reminded everyone that various members of the ELRC board have also pledged to add to donations by club members (prior to 2015) who have never given to TRF with an additional $10 per person.
Elaine Clemens invited everyone to attend an inaugural meeting of the Vocational Service Committee at her home (1106 Seward) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30.
Bill Glader thanked the club for a donation of six hams provided to Streetwise for Thanksgiving.
Sunshine Lady, Ann Searles, announced the passing of Steve Steiber’s mother in the previous week.
Roasts & Boasts
Kristin Brown boasted herself for finishing the End Polio Ride in Tucson and also boasted Marissa Naujokas for filling in at the last minute for an absent spin class instructor.
Raissa Bailey boasted her son for his graduation from the US Marine Corps boot camp and roasted herself in advance for missing the Holiday Sale pick-up dates due to travel.
Special Presentation
Brad Weiss showed a brief video on a district project on maternal health in Haiti featuring a jeep that was purchased. The jeep made it possible for 7,900 health related visits to women in one year.
Program
Member Bio: Jean Saunders
Jean Saunders described her early childhood in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada as nearly idyllic. Located only a half mile from the border with Maine, St. Andrews was a perfect place to grow up while her father held a position as a research scientist. Jean’s parents are both U.S. citizens, entitling Jean to both a Canadian and a U.S. passport.
Jean’s Bachelor’s degree in Food Science is from the University of Guelph near Toronto but her MBA in Marketing from the University of Toronto took her into marketing and communications. She worked for two marketing firms in Toronto and developed a client relationship with Apple, Inc. After working for Apple Canada for three years, Jean looked for an additional challenge and found it with a group called, “Population and Community Development Association,” in northeast Thailand where she volunteered doing grant writing for programs assisting the rural poor of the country.
Back in Toronto, Jean reentered the field of communications and marketing in telecommunications, consumer services, and ultimately back to her passion in food services. She relocated to the Chicago area in 1996 and entered the culinary program at Kendall College when her son, Gavin, was little. Jean also began her own catering business and has devoted much of her career now to school food advocacy.
Currently, Jean is an Account Executive for Membership Marketing at Rotary International, serving on a newly-formed marketing team. Jean works with the Marketing Director on new initiatives for developing Rotary’s membership.
While Gavin is currently working out in the Pacific Northwest, Jean and her partner, Joe, make their home in Evanston.
Jean Saunders
Guests and Milestones
Visiting Rotarian
Mary Bak, Glenview Sunrise (Assistant Governor, District 6440)
Other Guests
Cassie Tingley, future exchange student
Pam Tingley, mother of Cassie Tingley
Anniversary
Steve Goranson, 8 years
Next Week’s Assignments
Set-up: Jim McGuire and Joan Borg
Greeters: Kate Tate-Bradish and Bob Teska
Thought for the Day: Steve Carlson
Scribe: Kate Collinson
Break-down: Chuck Bartling and Harold Bauer
