President Helen Oloroso presided.  The thought for the day,  a quote from John Muir, was presented by Joan Borg: “Keep close to Nature’s heart…and break clear away once in awhile and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”

 

A member of the staff at Rotary International came to instruct as to how to use the table microphones. There will be instructions on the table in future weeks. Please consult them.

 

Marv Edelstein provided a short tutorial session in the use of the Club Runner Phone App.

 

 

Helen Oloroso announced that the Rotary Club of Naperville is co-hosting a forum with Reclaim 13 on Feb. 20 at the College of DuPage Homeland Security Center, Room 1022, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellen. This event is important for building awareness and arming our communities to battle sex trafficking of children thoughout the Chicagoland Area.

 

Susan Prout announced the Community Service Committee meeting for Tuesday,  Feb. 11, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. The host is Horton Kellogg and it will take place at Westminster Place.

 

There will be a Taste of Evanston meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 5:30 p.m. at Fran Caan’s house on the corner of Orrington and Noyes. Bring items for a potluck dinner.

 

Kathy Tate-Bradish thanked everyone who has signed up for the Feb. 15 event at Evanston Township High School which we are co-sponsoring with the noon club, answering the question, "What would make Evanston an extraordinary place for all children to grow up in?" Ten of us have signed up so far, but a few more would be even better. You can learn more and sign up at evanstonbigideas2020.eventbrite.com.  Kathy also reiterated that anyone with an announcement or roast and boast should give it, in legible written form, to the scribe for that day, using the words they wish to have published.

 

Don Gwinn reminded everyone of the need for Rebuilding Together workers this Saturday, Feb. 8, starting at 1p.m. at 1819 Lyons St.

 

Ann Searles welcomed back Steve Goranson and expressed everyone’s condolences on the death of his wife, Linda. More information is at https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/linda-goranson-obituary?pid=195238182  Chuck Bartling followed up with a story about how Linda, who was his son’s English teacher at  ETHS  in 1986, had inspired the youth at the first parent-teacher conference. He is now a tenured professor of public policy at DePaul University and is living in Evanston with his wife and two sons.

 

Ann also welcomed back Paul Brown and remarked that he looked great in spite of still recovering from several broken bones as a result of a fall.

 

There will be a Past President’s Council Meeting this Saturday, 9:30- 11:45 a.m., at Ann Searles’ house, 9028 Forestview Road in Skokie, to work on our club’s 35th Anniversary plans.

 

 

Napat (Potter) Supapsuntorn, our Rotary exchange student from Thailand, thanked Kassandra McGovern for picking him up on his return from the Groundhog Day celebration for exchange students in Woodstock, IL.

 

Ann Searles had a banner day last Thursday when she noticed publicity from Learning Bridge with a picture of club member Keith Sarpolis and wife, Ann. In addition, Ann Searles was quoted in an article on page 6 of the Evanston Review about the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz event which she attended at the Holocaust Museum in Skokie.

 

Kathy Tate-Bradish made note of Bill Glader’s ad for Advocate Health Care that was shown during last Sunday’s Super Bowl Game.

 

 

 

Bill Glader introduced the speaker, Bob Hercules, who is a producer/director and a co-founder of Media Process Group founded in 1985. He said that he is particularly inspired by social justice themes and artists and their creative process.

 

He showed  a spot featuring Ricardo Muti for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra;  a commercial for Menards, and excerpts from a biography of Maya Angelou, which he co-directed and is available for viewing on Netflix.

 

In 2006 he won the Special Jury Prize at the Slamdance  Film Festival for the documentary “Forgiving Dr. Mengele,” a portrait of Auschwitz survivor and former “Mengele Twin” Evan Mozes Kar, the transformation that lead her to forgive the Nazi perpetrators to heal herself and the controversy it sparked.

 

In 2006 he chronicled then Sen. Barack Obama’s diplomatic trip to Africa, including his visit to his late father’s homeland near Kisumu, Kenya. Bob talked about these projects and answered questions about the various ways he has raised money for projects, including out-of-pocket expenditures, corporate funding for commercials, and grant writing. The film  “Mikva! Democracy is a Verb” will appear on WTTW in the Fall.

 

 

 

 

Viviane Forsberg, Rotary Club of Sundsvall-Vangavan, Sweden, and a prospective member of our club.

 

 

Bob Hercules, the speaker

 

Susan Patel,  friend of Linda Gerber

 

 

Sam Lovering, Feb. 1

 

Chris Joyce, Feb. 2

 

Keith Sarpolis, Feb. 5

 

Zbig Skiba , Feb. 6