President Helen Oloroso opened the meeting with a welcome and led us in a recitation of the Rotary pledge. Siessourby Soma presented the Thought for the Day: “If we are peaceful, if we are happy, we can smile and blossom like a flower, and everyone in our family, our entire society, will benefit from our peace”. Thich Nhat Hanh

 

 

Helen Oloroso announced that there are currently 40 clubs in the district using Zoom for their meetings. The international polio campaign has been temporarily suspended so that the teams can assist with COVID-19 issues in their country.  District 6440 has been awarding $1,000 grants to clubs currently. We applied and received the grant, thanks to Bruce Baumberger. We are matching the grant and it will go to the Evanston Community Foundation for their Rapid Response Program. Helen also mentioned that she and the Technology Committee are working on getting speakers who are comfortable with Zoom. More to come on this topic.

 

Chris Joyce discussed last week’s Club Service Meeting. The main topic was our virtual club meetings and how we are doing. Most comments have been favorable. The Installation Dinner is still scheduled for June 23, but is subject to change, depending on a decision by Northwestern University as to whether the facility will be open.

 

Bill Glader updated the Club concerning the status of this year’s Taste of Evanston. Taste is canceled for this year and rescheduled to 2021. Linda Bouvolon, the Taste consultant, very graciously will defer her fees until 2021. The Taste Committee will meet this Thursday to consider all options.

 

Malu Simon discussed a neighborhood initiative that her husband and member Paul Weber coordinated the other day. He enlisted a group of neighbors to order takeout from Koi, one of our Taste restaurants. Ten families ordered! Sandy Chen, the owner, was very appreciative and sent each family a note, a coupon, and a roll of toilet paper. Thanks, Paul!

 

Helen said that it would help our Taste restaurants if we wrote a good review in Yelp. She also mentioned that, at the Board meeting, we discussed perhaps picking two Taste restaurants a week and encouraging club members to purchase meals from them that week.

 

Neil Gambow announced that the student foreign exchange program for next year has been canceled. Students currently here, like our Napat, are being sent home, where possible. In Napat’s case, he cannot leave because Thailand is currently closed. Thanks to Linc and Myra for taking good care of him while he is waiting.

 

Patrick Mbullo said "hi" from Kenya. He said that they had used some of the funds that we donated there to buy sewing machines. The sewing machines are being used to make masks. All Kenyans must wear masks when they go out.

 

Charlotta Koppanyi presented the Professional Career Committee report. The full budget committee amount of $3,400 was donated to Reba Development Corp. The grant is to be used to assist the residents and families impacted by COVID-19 through Career Training, Certification Programs, Education and job training, for registration fees and online training, to provide employment opportunities.

 

Linda Gerber discussed service provided this past Friday for Reba Place residents. NaKorn restaurant provided 90 meals. Linda, Helen, Malu, Bill and Jean Saunders, properly distanced and properly masked, delivered the meals to the residents. Rotary Service at its best!

 

Jean Saunders mentioned that today is World Health Day. A joint statement has been issued by Rotary International, Kiwanis International, Optimist International, and Lions International. The statement affirms the joint effort of these organizations to work together to maintain connections with each other and our neighbors so that we can cope with and overcome the effects of COVID-19. We combine the efforts of our 3.2 million members to provide comfort and hope to those living in isolation and fear. We focus our collective skills and resources to support frontline health workers and first responders as they battle this disease and save lives.

 

Kristin Brown is inviting anyone who is making masks to send a selfie of themselves wearing the mask. She will make a composite and post on the website.

 

 

Helen on Monday had sent out a link to a video by Jenny Stolls that was presented at the January Rotary International Assembly. Jenny is a member and past president of the Athens, Ohio, Sunrise Club and an assistant governor in District 6690. Helen requested that all members watch it prior to today’s meeting. The talk is called “Rotary Happy” and discusses Jenny’s experiences in her former Rotary Club and why she and other former club members were moved to set up the new club. Please be sure to watch the video if you haven’t.

 

Several members commented on the video.

 

Chris noted that it was well produced and was a good discussion of issues that can arise in a club. It is a good idea to sometimes take a measure of the health of the club.

 

Steve Goranson noted that he was looking for parallels to the issues mentioned about the former club with our club and didn’t see any obvious parallels.

 

Zbig Skiba wonders how we are doing. Are there any issues that stand in the way of “Rotary Happy”? Helen responded that this question will be a part of our ongoing updating of our strategic plan.

 

Joy Joyce observed that this is an example of how some clubs and their members navigate intergenerational differences. Clubs should have a mechanism for members to express concerns.

 

 

Bill Glader boasted those who delivered the NaKorn food to Reba Place, and especially Linda Gerber for organizing the effort.

 

Jean Saunders boasted her husband, Joe, for his help and skills in making masks. She also boasted her mom, who, on her 89th birthday, was able to figure out how to Zoom with the family.

 

Kathy Tate-Bradish boasted Horton Kellogg for mastering  Zoom, her parents for mastering Zoom, and the Technology Committee for all their hard work.

 

Harold Bauer boasted his son (or roasted himself?). His son set up a family Zoom and really enjoyed it because, as host, he could mute Harold.

 

Marv Edelstein roasted the coronavirus. His nephew is a nurse in a New York hospital and now has the coronavirus. He boasted himself for going to give blood this week and invited others to do the same. He also boasted the Technology Committee for its hard work.

 

 

 

Margeretta Gacheru, Rotary Club in Kenya

 

 

Orthon Ortega, from Mexico, our club exchange student in 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bryant Wallace, 1 year