President Brad Weiss convened the meeting and, in honor of Valentine’s Day, shared a quote about love from Rita Mae Brown provided by Ann Searles:  “Every day you’re alive and someone loves you is a miracle.”

 

 

Brad Weiss reminded everyone that the club is co-hosting an Evanston Mayoral Candidate Forum on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at Rotary International with the Evanston noon Rotary Club.  The event, which will replace our regular weekly meeting, will begin with a networking reception at 5:30 p.m. and the forum is scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Brad asked everyone who plans to attend to RSVP through the email sent previously.  Click here to register.

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NOTE:  Free parking will be available in the RI garage in Rotary-designated spots on floors 3 through 5.

 

Marv Edelstein reported on the recent Interact meeting at Beacon Academy in which the club members joined their counterparts from the Morningstar Interact Club in Haiti via Skype.  The students are enthusiastic about continuing the relationship. Marv also gave a brief update on applications for RYLA 2017 and issued an invitation to all club members to visit during the sessions coming up later in March (9-12) and April (6-9).

 

Treasurer Don Gwinn reminded everyone that quarterly invoices are due and that he is able to process credit cards or accept checks at the meeting.

 

Ann Searles gave a “Sunshine Lady” update on Chris Joyce’s knee surgery scheduled for later the same day.  She circulated two greeting cards for members to sign.

 

 

No new Roasts & Boasts were given due to time constraints, but Ken Green has since submitted a clarification regarding his Roast/Boast at the ELRC meeting on Tuesday, Feb.  7. He said that after he left a mayoral election forum at the Civic Center because of the large crowd, the event was moved to a larger room, which accommodated most of the attendees.

 

Marisa Naujokas received her first Paul Harris Award, presented by President Brad Weiss and Steve Steiber. Steve took the occasion to remind members that it is possible to transfer one’s own contributions to another person in order to advance their eligibility for the Paul Harris Award.  Copies of the Recognition Transfer Request Form were placed on each table, but the process can also be completed online at www.rotary.org/give.

 

 

 

MaLu Simon and Marisa Naujokas gave a presentation on the Rotary District 6440’s participation in the National Random Acts of Kindness Day and urged members to post pictures of such on the ELRC Facebook page.  The district is honoring the 100^th Anniversary of the founding of The Rotary Foundation through its participation in the event.  If you are not comfortable about uploading your pictures directly to our Facebook page, please send them to MaLu or Marisa.

 

Our second Special Presentation of the day was an “Ethics Minute,” presented by Richard Moenning in honor of Vocational Service Month.  (Rotary International observes Vocational Service Month in January but previous programming preempted Dick’s presentation, causing it to be postponed.)  Dick spoke of the challenges he faced as a practicing attorney over many years in the field.  He drew a connection between the Code of Ethics established by the Illinois Supreme Court and the life of attorney Paul Harris and the Four Way Test.  Even the legal principles of ex delicto (from a wrong or transgression) and ex contractu (from a contract) provide attorneys with the same type of guidance as the Four-Way Test.

 

 

 

 

Lydia Scott spoke of the creation of the Chicago Regional Trees Initiative and its partnership with stakeholders such as The Morton Arboretum, Openlands, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, Chicago Park District, ​Chicago Wilderness, ​Forest Preserves of Cook County, Illinois Green Industry Association, Illinois Landscape Contractors Association, Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and the U.S.D.A. Forest Service. 

 

The Chicago Regional Trees Initiative was established in 2013 as a collaboration of Chicago regional partners working together to develop and implement a strategy that builds a healthier and more diverse urban forest by 2040. This strategy was developed based on findings from the Regional Tree Census produced in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and The Morton Arboretum.  A coalition of agency, industry, and community representatives are working together to expand the understanding of the value of the region's trees and to make meaningful tree and forest improvements in the region.

 

Chicago’s regional forest is a critical asset that needs our protection. Trees clean our air and water, reduce flooding, improve our property values, create habitat for wildlife, and provide significant social and health benefits. In short, trees improve our quality of life.

 

But our trees need our help. They face threats such as invasive plants, including buckthorn and honeysuckle; the death of ash trees due to emerald ash borer; and a lack of funding for proper tree care. These issues are having significant impacts on the health and survival of our regional forest.

 

Ms. Scott’s presentation also included a comparison of the canopy coverage in Evanston (38%) with its neighbors – more than twice that of Chicago, Lincolnwood and Skokie.  However, she noted that poor and disadvantaged areas of Evanston have a much less significant canopy than other more affluent areas of Evanston due to being underserved.  She recommended that members consider becoming involved in this effort to preserve and expand our care of trees by volunteering, planting trees, advocating, and caring for trees on our own property (including those on the parkway).

 

 

 

 

Martha Danerell, guest of Kristin  Brown

Lydia Scott, speaker, Morton Arboretum

Pete Polos, Rotary International, guest of Kea Gordon

Chris Caan, guest of Fran Caan

Luis Abrev, Rotary Exchange Student

Lei Zhou and Asha Varghese, Northwestern University graduate students and guests of Ann Searles

 

 

Gary Schultz, February 18

 

 

Harvey Newcomb, 16 years

 

Marv Edelstein, 18 years

 

Nick Powers, 4 years

 

Steve Steiber, 4 years