The meeting was presided over by President Helen Oloroso.

 

The Thought for the Day was presented by Ann Searles: On Service by Luis Vicente Giay from Argentina, a Past President of Rotary International: "Service is a privilege – assume it; Service is a challenge – meet it; Service is a journey – complete it; Service is a gift- accept it; Service is a duty – perform it; Service is a promise – fulfill it; Service is friendship – enjoy it; Service is spirit – live it; Service is a goal - achieve it; Service is action – do it; Service is vision – have it: Service is the future- build it."

 

 

Helen Oloroso presented a brief update on the proposed district grant application for future Covid-19 support for PPE needs of early childhood centers in Evanston that serve the lowest income children in the Evanston Community.

 

Chris Joyce announced the next Club Service Committee meeting will be on Thursday, June 4, at 7:30 a.m.

 

Bill Glader announced the next Taste of Evanston Meeting will be on Thursday, June 4, at 6 p.m. At the meeting there will be a preview of the website for this year’s virtual Taste of Evanston event.

 

Jean Saunders encourages members to take a look at the RI Facebook channel, affirming Rotary’s continued efforts to support and make positive change. Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/rotary/photos/a.366443499551/10159929948839552/?type= 3&theater

 

Linda Gerber announced that on June 1, the day rent was due, Kristin Brown, Joan Borg, Sue Bova, and Ann Weatherhead joined Keith Banks of Reba Place Development to distribute meals prepared by NaKorn Urban Thai Restaurant. We came together with our Taste of Evanston partners - NaKorn and RPDC - to show support for our neighbors living in affordable housing who are struggling to make ends meet in these trying times.

 

On Sunday, Kathy Tate-Bradish hosted an International Service Committee gathering with members of ELRC and the Rotary Clubs of Siaya and Busia (Kenya). DJ Bruce Baumberger played music videos from Kenya and facilitated a fun international Zoom party. Siessourby Soma spoke about hands-on service in an orphanage in Thailand. Patrick Mbullo presented an overview of the work of Pamoja Community Based Organization and the pivot to respond to COVID-19 in Kenya. The members toasted Patrick, the incoming ISC chair, with a bottle of Tusker, Kenya's premier lager. The larger group broke up into chat rooms for smaller, more intimate conversations. The highlight was meeting our global grant partners in Kenya, who impressed us with their level of commitment to reducing HIV. Kathy Tate-Bradish was the hostess with the mostest.

 

Helen Oloroso: Evanston Loves Rotary might be called upon to help with the virtual Taste of Evanston. She is no longer participating in the group, but Jean Saunders will be the point person.

 

Kathy Tate-Bradish announced that the two Taste of Evanston partners that we are focusing on this week are That Little Mexican Cafe  and Mt. Everest Restaurant. They donated to our fundraisers to address housing insecurity, and now they could use our help to continue to stay in business during this difficult time. She also announced that three of our partners have opened for outdoor seating: Cupitol, Firehouse Grill, and 10 Mile House. See the list on our website for more details. If you have news of restaurants closing, re-opening, or making significant changes to their hours, please let Kathy know. Also make sure to send the name of the partner you ordered from, along with the number of meals ordered, to Joan Borg (borgjoan@gmail.com). 

 

 

Don Gwinn boasted Ann and John Searles for loaning Joanne a walker for use after her second knee surgery.

 

Bruce Baumberger is getting his first haircut in three months today!

 

Marv Edelstein thanked Zbig Skiba for filling in as co-host today.

 

Harold Bauer boasted Kathy and Bruce for the meeting on Sunday. He enjoyed the Kenyan beer.

 

 

Susan Prout presided over a presentation of 2020 Community Service grants. The theme for this year’s grants was to fund programs that would improve and enhance the quality of life for Evanston residents in need, especially school-aged children and youth in the areas of health, safety, and the environment.

 

Speakers from each organization briefly described their organization and how their grant will be used:

 

Dave Moreno - Erie Family Health – for the Teen Hub medical and behavioral services.

 

Faith Albano - Hillside Food Pantry – for supplies such as the grocery bags required for the food distribution.

 

Melanie West - Tiz Media – for the development of online education curricula for 4th and 5th graders focusing on climate change.

 

Susan Trieschmann - Curt’s Café – for funding stipends, transportation expenses, and meals for Evanston Township High School students living in at-risk situations.

 

Lynn Weiss - Evanston Work Ethic - a stipend of one student in a program which provides job training and internships for students who may not necessarily attend college.

 

Nina Hazelton - The Recyclery Collective – for supplies used in the Youth Open Shop program.

 

Kim Hammock - Books & Breakfast – to support a program which provides academic and emotional support for low-income students at schools which are not Title One eligible.

 

Please note that Susan will be sending out a more complete description of the projects selected.

 

 

 

Linda Brennan of Macon, Georgia

 

 

Recipients of Community Service Grants listed above

 

 

Kate Collinson, 12 years on June 3

 

Brad Weiss, 14 years on June 6