The virtual meeting was called to order by President Chris at 7:30 a.m. on the dot with ringing his bell, followed by reciting Why We Are Rotarians. 

 

The thoughts for the day from Neil Gambow:

 

Chris Joyce – Nothing new in the Rotary world this week. 

 

Linda Gerber - Thanks to the Nominations Committee and the Rotarians who stepped forward to serve our Rotary Club and the community we serve. These are the latest additions to our slate of nominees for RY 2021-22:

We are still looking for a Programs Chair. Please contact Linda, Kathy, Bryant, or Katherine if you'd like to nominate yourself or someone else.

 

Yves Lassere – Announced Global Grant GG2016697 - HIV Reduction in Kenya - was approved on Nov. 23 by The Rotary Foundation for $98,000.

 

Bruce Baumberger –

Zbig Skiba – We will be doing another tree planting this spring.  The cost is $80 per tree.  Hopefully, this will be a welcome in-person event.  More information will be forthcoming. 

 

Katherine Peterson –

Gary Peterson – As Foundation Chair this year, he mentioned we gave $26,700 last year and are currently only at $3,455.  There is still plenty of time to donate at Rotary.org.  Click on “Annual Fund” and go from here to donate online.  Remember, our donations come back to our club as matching grant funds three years from now. 

 

Ann Weatherhead –

While we can pause to celebrate this win, there is still much more to be done.It is estimated that an additional 6,000 affordable housing units are needed in the Evanston/Skokie area.

 

Bryant Wallace – needs volunteers to deliver groceries to families on Wednesday, Nov. 25.  Email him and he will give you the exact information to support the C&W Market and the deliveries.

 

Patrick Mbullo - The International Service Committee met on Monday, Nov. 23, and approved three grants:

 

Dave Simmons – Boasted Kathy Tate-Bradish, Bill Glader, Willie Steinert, and Holly (Ken Green’s wife) for helping with the Bundled Blessings diaper pickup and delivery on short notice.

 

Kathy Tate-Bradish – Boasted Yves Lassere for his work on the aforementioned global grant award. 

 

 

 

 

David Baskin is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ani Shlishi (“I am Third”), a nonprofit organization based in Israel, providing opportunities for self-advancement and meaningful employment for Israel’s at-risk youth ages 15–18.

 

He has strategic and operational responsibility for the organization’s programming, expansion, recruitment, management of staff, and execution of the mission. 

 

David was introduced to us by David Spitulnik, who was here as our guest today. Last year, he spoke to our high school students at the Youth Leadership Day at Rotary International. The students awarded David an international service grant, and the ELRC International Service Committee followed suit, with a second grant. 

 

David grew up in Evanston, where he volunteered with the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, assisting with the courtroom and post-courtroom procedures. He also worked as a team coach and camp leader.

 

David graduated from Denison University in 2012 as captain of the varsity BASEBALL team and with a B.A. in Anthropology/Sociology. He immigrated to Israel the following year. There, he served in the Israel Defense Forces in the Nachal Infantry Brigade -- Special Forces Unit in Operation “Good Neighbor” in Syria. 

 

In 2018, he was the youngest recipient of the ETHS Distinguished Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award in the award’s 126-year history. 

 

David is a member of Israel’s branch of the Global Shapers Community, an organization working to address local, regional, and global challenges through the World Economic Forum.

 

Ani Shlishi is a non-profit organization that supports at-risk youth by employing them in two stores that sell second-hand clothing.  It provides opportunities for self-advancement and meaningful employment for Israel’s at-risk youth.  Through the power of meaningful employment, Ani Shlishi gives these at-risk youths the motivation to succeed and the skills and resources required to do so. 

 

These at-risk youths are referred to them and come from many of the diverse Jewish communities.  Many are from broken homes, suffer from homelessness as well as other barriers to success. 

 

The key to integration into Israeli society is service in the Israeli military.  All Israeli youth at the age of 18 are expected to join for a mandatory military two-year stint.  Many bonds are formed through this experience. 

 

The at-risk youth in the Ani Shlishi program do not have that experience as they are deemed unfit to serve because of their at-risk barriers.  The Ani Shlishi program is set up to help these disadvantaged young people develop the skills and contacts to join the mainstream society as a productive member. The case of the first participant was presented and showed how successful the program is in creating a young person with new hope. According to her, just having an adult caring about her was cathartic. 

 

The coronavirus has taken a severe toll on the youth and young people in Israel.  There is a 47% increase in homeless youth, a 72% increase in youth reporting depression, anxiety, and loneliness.  40% report use of alcohol and drugs to cope.  The two shops are currently closed, resulting in a drop in revenue and slowing their growth. To support the youth, an alumni program has been initiated to assist in finding meaningful employment.  Courses in many of the skills needed to secure employment are part of this program.

 

Two short videos were shown to support the presentation.  If we want more information on the organization or wish to donate, please go to their web site at  anishlishi.org/en/