Meeting Notes From November 27, 2018

President Kristin Brown presided over the meeting, which was also streamed live and recorded by Marv Edelstein.    Jeff Owen quoted Henry David Thoreau for the Thought for the Day:  “I am grateful for what I am and have.  My thanksgiving is perpetual.  It is surprising how contented one can be with nothing definite – only a sense of existence.”

 

Kristin announced that November is Rotary Foundation Month; December is Disease Prevention Month and December 1 is World Aids Day.

 

 

The major announcement of the meeting was detailed information presented by Marisa Naujokas regarding the Holiday Sale.  Key points included the following:

 

The first floral and greenery pickup is Nov. 28.

 

The MAJOR floral and greenery delivery will be Saturday, Dec. 1.

 

Alternate floral dates available are Dec. 5 and 8.

 

The major food delivery date is Dec. 15.

 

Detailed handouts were distributed on each table, along with information on the new floral and greenery supplier, Clesen’s.  Marisa also sent an email to each member of the club with specific information on ordering product and delivery instructions.  Members were encouraged again to sign up to help with the distribution of both floral and food products on upcoming dates.  This sale is critical to the successful fundraising that is needed to continue our service projects at home and abroad. 

 

Helen Oloroso announced the slate of officers and chairs for the 2019-20 Board of Directors and issued a call for additional individuals to fill several open slots.  The slate consists of the following:

 

President-Elect:  Zbig Skiba

Secretary:  Linc Janus

Club Treasurer: Barb Miles

Club Foundation Treasurer:  _______________________

Community Service Chair:  ________________________

International Service Chair:  Linda Gerber

Vocational Service Chair:  Charlotta Koppanyi

Programs for Young Leaders:  Mike Merdinger

Fundraising Chair:  Steve Steiber

Club Service Chair:  Chris Joyce

Membership Chair:  Kathy Tate-Bradish

Program Chair(s):  __________________________

Public Image Chair:  Suzy McNamara

Rotary Foundation Chair:  Gary Peterson

 

The final slate will be approved by a vote of the club’s membership at the Dec. 11 meeting of the club

 

 

Due to the number of other items of business, the Sergeant did not ask for roasts or boasts.

 

 

President Kristin Brown asked Harold Bauer, Rotary Foundation Chair, to bestow Paul Harris Fellows on three members of the club.  Ken Green received his PHF +3 pin, Paul Brown received his PHF +4 pin and Kristin Brown received her pin for PHF +6.

 

 

Two new “Friends of Rotary” were welcomed into our club.  PDG Bruce Baumberger introduced his wife, Nancy, in her new role as a “Friend” and Chris Joyce introduced his wife, Joy, as a new “Friend” as well.  While we are accustomed to having Nancy and Joy in our midst as guests of Bruce and Chris, they will take their own places in the club.  Welcome, Joy and Nancy!

 

 

 

 

Officer Adam Howard and Officer Ervin De Leon spoke about the founding and development of the community-based program known as Officer and Gentlemen Academy .  In 2016, there were 16 gunshot victims in our community, predominantly African American males. Officer Adam Howard already knew most of them from the time they were teenagers. He said, "Once you meet these men at 21, 22, 23 years of age, it’s too late. They’ve already made up their minds that this is their lifestyle."  

 

In 2017, Officer Howard, a ten-year veteran with the Evanston Police Dept., co-founded The Officer and Gentlemen Academy to help eliminate the pipeline from the school system to the prison system for young black males. OGA aims to educate, inspire, and empower them to reach their full potential.  

 

Like most of the students he mentors, Officer Howard grew up in a single-parent household. His friends got into a great deal of trouble, sold drugs, and got involved with gang activities. Some lost their lives. He says “If it wasn’t for a praying grandmother and a hardworking mother, I don’t know where I’d be.”  

 

OGA was founded in 2017 as a partnership between the Evanston Police Department and Evanston-Skokie School District 65 to work with students at Nichols Middle School in Evanston.  The first season ran on Wednesday afternoons and alternating Saturdays from March through May with an enrollment of 12 African-American young men. 

 

In the second year, the program expanded to all of the middle schools in the district as well as Evanston Township High School.  Returning students provided examples of how participation in OGA contributed to their success.  Other officers and community members (“Fairy Godmothers”) have volunteered as mentors and organizational support.  The program now includes homework assistance, a curriculum developed around 12 themes that are deemed essential to the development of young men in our current society, and experiential learning.

 

Officer De Leon introduced a segment to the OGA program called Tell Me Something Good. Each young man shares something positive that happened to him since the last time they all were in class together.   Another practice of the OGA is for the young men to wear a tie during the Wednesday programs as a sign of not only professional attire but also male etiquette.  Other program features are academic success, positive interaction with peers and with law enforcement, law literacy, community service, and conflict resolution.

 

 

 

Nancy Baumberger, wife of Bruce

Joy Joyce, wife of Chris.

Officer Adam Howard, Officer and Gentlemen Academy

Officer DeLeon, Officer and Gentlemen Academy

Nicole Pelayo, Director of Operations, Officer and Gentlemen Academy

 

 

Linda Gerber, November 27

Dale Bradley, November 28

 

 

Don Gwinn, 31 years

Steve Goranson, 10 years

Chris Joyce, 3 years

Patrick Mbullo, 5 years in Rotary

 

 

Greeters: Marv Edelstein and Nancy Franzon

Thought for the Day: Dave Simmons

Scribe: Kate Collinson