President Steve thanked those who helped staff the day’s meeting, as well as the last several Tuesday morning meetings.   While he enjoyed some 90-degree temperatures in Santa Barbara, Steve declared he was happy to be back.

 

Noting that many Evanston homeowners recently received notice of large assessment increases, Carol Bild publicized an upcoming Evanston Property Tax Seminar.   Evanston Tax Assessment Reviewer Mitzi Gibbs, in conjunction with our Illinois State legislators and the Cook County Assessor, is hosting a property tax workshop on Thursday, March 3, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Evanston Civic Center, City Council Chambers, 2100 Ridge Ave.  The Seminar will review how to file a property tax assessment appeal without the aid of an attorney.  (Note: the deadline for appeals is March 25, 2016.) Homeowners can also visit the Cook County Assessor at the Skokie Courthouse, Room #149 or appeal online at www.cookcountyassessor.com.  For more information, please contact Mitzi Gibbs (mgibbs@cityofevanston.org or (847)448-8168).

 

Fran Caan, new Programs Chair for our club, welcomes your thoughts on programs and speakers for the coming year.  Mentored by Kristin Brown and Zbig Skiba, Fran looks forward to hearing your best ideas. 

 

President-Elect Brad Weiss will be attending the President Elect Training Session (PETS) this weekend in Itasca.  He will be delivering contributed items to the PETS for Vets cause at that time.  If you have a monetary contribution or other items to donate, please contact Brad so that he may include them in his delivery. 

 

Raissa Eirich announced that there is an opportunity for our club to host a direct exchange student from Switzerland during the 2016-2017 academic year.  The Board was encouraged to meet briefly after this meeting to discuss. 

 

Helen Oloroso reminded the membership of the Fellowship Dinner scheduled for Thursday, March 10, at Prairie Moon Restaurant in Evanston.  She confirmed a 5:30 p.m. start time and encouraged those interested in attending to let her know their plans. 

 

Vocational Committee Chair Randy Usen reported that our District is seeking applicants for its vocational scholarships.  Students attending a four-year college are not eligible.  Instead, District 6440 seeks to fund qualified students who will be attending vocational programs, community college, or other specialized training. The deadline for applications is nearing, so please contact Randy with the names of potential applicants.  

 

As Rotary Foundation Chair, Elizabeth Newton shared a John O’Donohue quote about water: “Let us bless the grace of water.”   She noted that 2.5 million people do not have access to clean water and 3,000 children die each day as a result of contaminated water and related diseases.  The Rotary Foundation is trying to improve the situation – funding wells, hygiene/sanitation education and better access to clean bodies of water.   More than halfway through the club year, please consider a contribution to the Foundation.

 

An excited Marv Edelstein reported that the Youth Leaders Committee (including Raissa Eirich, Mark Merdinger, Carol Bild and others) recruited and approved a record number of applicants for this year’s RYLA weekends. Our club, in partnership with the Noon club, will be sending 15 young people (from ETHS, Beacon Academy, and Allowance for Good) to this worthwhile leadership training.  Our RYLA attendees will be the featured speakers at our April 19 meeting.

 

This coming Sunday, March 6, and again on Sunday, March 20, Ken Green will be delivering meals for Campus Kitchens and conducting a training/familiarization session for anyone who wishes to join him and learn how to make the deliveries. If interested, meet Ken in the east parking lot of Allison Hall on the NWU Campus at 2 p.m.  The parking lot is entered on the north side of Clark Street, just east of Orrington and west of Chicago Avenue.  It is also just east of a small brick building that is closer to Clark Street.  The temperature this Sunday is supposed to be in the mid 40’s, so he will be waiting outside his car in the parking lot until approximately 2:10 p.m., after which he will leave to make the deliveries.

 

Joan Borg announced the duties for next week’s meeting, included at the end of this bulletin. 

 

President Steve commended Ann Searles (knee replacement) and Marisa Naujokas (gall bladder) on their returns after successful surgery. Albert Menard’s wife, Ann, is also recovering well after her operation.

 

 

Kristin Brown introduced Jeff Hannan and the ETHS Speech and Debate Team.  Hired as Debate Coach seven years ago, Jeff Hannan is now Director of Speech & Debate at ETHS.  Evanston students compete in four different styles of debate and three different types of speech events. Over the last five years, Speech & Debate participation has grown from 5 to 80 students and the school can boast both state and national champions. 

 

Four students participated  – Freshman Alex Bolling, Sophomore Nina Kaushikkar, Junior Allison Grimsted and Senior Logan Pearlman.  Using a variety of debate styles, they debated the topic: Should Evanston make affordable housing a great priority?

 

Poised and articulate, the students made well-researched arguments for and against expanded efforts to provide affordable housing in Evanston.   Questions were also entertained. 

 

In the remaining minutes, Jeff Hannan clarified the styles and events: 

 

Lincoln-Douglas Debate (LD) is one-on-one debate.  Topics range from animal rights to universal healthcare to Constitutional questions.  The topics, also called resolutions, change every two months.

 

Public Forum Debate (PF) is 2-on-2 debate.  Debaters work with a partner to debate topics ranging from tax policy to Middle Eastern policy to climate change.  The resolutions change every month.

 

Policy Debate is also 2-on-2 (partnered).  Teams debate a single proposition throughout the entire year, exploring a variety of policy options on the issue. 

 

Congressional Debate is modeled after the U.S. Congress. Students participate in a chamber of 18-20 students, debating bills and resolutions that they have written themselves.

 

In Interpretation Events, students select a piece of literature to perform or interpret, then edit their script down to a set time limit, and perform the piece either by themselves or with a partner.

 

In Platform Speaking Events, students select a topic or pre-written speech that interests them.  Then they write, review, memorize and perform that speech throughout the year.

 

In Limited Preparation Events, students are given a question, prompt, or unedited script, and given a limited amount of time to prepare a speech in response.

 

ETHS students participate in many tournaments, locally, regionally and nationally.  Speech and Debate participation begins during the first week of school and continues through mid-June.  While an Elective class is available at ETHS, its participants are distinct from the team.  Speech & Debate is an after-school activity, meeting two to three times a week. 

 

Right now, the students are heading into district tournaments and, as with many sports, preparing for the post-season.

 

Hannon explained that students are encouraged to "Speak Nice and Speak Smart."  While they may have to speak on both sides of an issue, they are always encouraged to speak the truth. 

 

Our club will be donating Thank You for Arguing: What Aristotle, Lincoln & Homer Simpson Can Teach Us About the Art of Persuasion to the Evanston Public Library.