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Scribe: Kate Collinson
Editor: Chuck Bartling
Photographer: John Searles
Speakers
Mar 21, 2017
Malta Conferences Foundation
Mar 28, 2017
Northlight Theater - Community Engagement
Apr 04, 2017
Do We All Need an Estate Plan?
Apr 11, 2017
Right to Be Free - Rescue and Rehabilitation of Trafficked Children in Africa
Apr 18, 2017
Awardees' feedback after Youth Leadership Retreat
Apr 25, 2017
Authentic Beatles manuscripts
May 02, 2017
Debate Topic TBD
May 09, 2017
Learn about this year's beneficiaries!
May 16, 2017
Update on Projects funded
View entire list
Upcoming Events
Community Grant Deadline
Mar 17, 2017
 
Young Leaders committee meeting. March 22, 2017
Rotary International - cafeteria
Mar 22, 2017
7:15 AM – 8:30 AM
 
International Service Committee Meeting
RI Bldg. - Lower Level Dining Room
Mar 27, 2017
7:15 AM – 8:30 AM
 
Membership Committee Meeting
Kristin's House
Apr 03, 2017
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
 
2017 RYLA second session
Edwards Camp and Conference Center
Apr 06, 2017 5:00 PM –
Apr 09, 2017 1:00 PM
 
Evanston's Annual Aging Well Conference
Levy Senior Citizen's Center
May 05, 2017
8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
Sage
ClubRunner
Stories
Meeting of 14 March 2017
Meeting Notes from March 14, 2017
 
President Brad Weiss welcomed members to the meeting. Ken Green offered several Thoughts for the Day related to education, a timely topic prior to the April 4 referendum on the Evanston ballot.
 
Announcements  
 
Brad Weiss and Youth Exchange student Luiz Abreu exchanged banners.  We will learn more about Luiz’s home club at an upcoming meeting.
 
Brad provided some highlights from the ELRC March Board meeting. After an impassioned request by Neil Gambow, the Board voted to accept an Incoming Youth Exchange student for the 2017-2018 club year. This decision reflected general Board support for the program, higher than anticipated Holiday Sale proceeds and the availability of two potential host families.
 
Brad also noted that our Club will soon be pursuing a District grant.  At the April Board meeting, Committee chairs will be presenting their best options for our sole District grant application.  If you have ideas, please contact your committee chair(s) to bring these projects forward.  Bruce Baumberger, chair of the District Grant Committee, confirmed that our club will have the opportunity to receive one grant of several thousand dollars – for a local or international project, based on a 1:1 match.
 
Harold Bauer thanked the membership for the warm reception given Emily Volz, last week’s spectacular soprano and a student of Karen Bauer. 
 
Dave Stumpf, Noon Club President, thought our club might be interested in their April 6 program featuring David Hirsch.  Hirsch rode the entirety of Route 66 (and has plans to ride around Lake Michigan) in an effort to honor dads and raise awareness of the importance of fathers and father figures. For more information, check out www.21stcenturydads.org. 
 
Nancy Franzon continues to look for host families for several California teens who are performing in a choir event this weekend. Two or more young people need a bed (and simple breakfast) on Saturday, March 18.  Please contact Nancy if you are able to help. 
 
Having visited the recent RYLA session, Mike Merdinger talked enthusiastically about the program, its techniques and participants, and its value to young people.  Linda Gerber, Ann &and John Searles and Carol Busam (Marv’s wife) also traveled to Camp Edwards in East Troy, Wisconsin to see RYLA in action.  A second session will be held from April 6-9, and interested Rotarians are welcome to visit.
 
Ann Searles remarked that RYLA motivational speaker Stedman Graham did not disappoint.  She also explained, as Sunshine Lady, that Dale Bradley is in the hospital with pneumonia. A card is being circulated to wish him a speedy recovery.  A Fellowship dinner will be held tonight at Mt. Everest at 6 p.m.  If you’re interested and haven’t yet signed up, please contact Ann.
 
Linda Gerber noted that there are many great photos on the ELRC Facebook page.  RYLA, Youth Leadership Day at RI, and the recent Bundled Blessings Community Service project are all represented.  It’s easy to check out our club’s page -- https://www.facebook.com/evlrc.  Please check out our club – and “Like” us!
 
Kristin Brown announced a Friendship Exchange being organized by District 6440.  Three couples will be coming from India in May and it’s hoped that they can spend some time with members of our club.  They will be in our area from June 3-5 and June 7-9. If you would like to host participants overnight, or plan daily activities, please contact Kristin for more information.
 
Welcome back to Chris Joyce who plowed thru snow on crutches in order to attend our meeting.  Chris is back after surgery on his knee/leg.
 
Vocational Service Chair Elaine Clemens explained that Ethics Award Nomination forms will be on the tables next week.  Please give some thought to whom you might want to nominate for this honor, and why.  Elaine will be picking up vocational scholarship applications at ETHS this week.
 
Community Service Chair Ken Green reminded the membership that grant applications are due this Friday, March 17.  It’s a good time to remind your favorite non-profits of the looming deadline! 
 
Roasts & Boasts
 
Gary Peterson boasted his daughter Katie who just landed her first job  -- with Frio Gelato.  She is now “on her way to being off the family payroll.”
 
In another work-related boast, Kristin Brown noted that her son Xavi, a student in California, is now working for Fran Caan’s son Willie at Buddha Bowls.
 
Dave Simmons boasted Harold for his Oscar-worthy performance last week.  In Dave’s words, “he made me laugh, he made me cry…”
 
Bruce Baumberger boasted the NU Wildcats on their first invitation to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Paul Brown (and Kristin Brown) will be supporting the Evanston Wildkits who are playing a Super Sectional game this week.   A victory would mean “spending a month in Peoria this weekend” at the State Finals.
 
Zbig Skiba, Sergeant, asked questions related to the National Security Council.  Jean Saunders shared an interesting side story.  The NSC was created in 1947 – as was the National School Lunch program. Congress adopted the program as a security measure to fatten up young boys/teens (future members of the military) who were generally considered “too thin.”
 
Program
 
Engineers in Action: Why We Give Kids A Place To Play
 
Speaker: Rod Beadle, Engineers in Action
 
Fran Caan introduced Madison Rotarian Rod Beadle, the executive director of Engineers in Action (EIA).  A civil engineer with 32+ years of experience, Rod has worked for more than 10 years as a water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) engineer on development and disaster response assignments. 
 
Rod was attracted to Engineers in Action because of its dual focus on building the capacity of local engineers and improving lives in the neediest communities.  EIA has a unique approach to sustainable development and plans to supplement its water-related work with a new and exciting project – building playgrounds.
 
A 501(c)3 organization since 2009, Engineers In Action has locally staffed offices in Bolivia and Ecuador in the business of community empowerment through health-based programs and volunteer-based partnerships. EIA collaborates with other organizations, including Engineers Without Borders and Rotary Clubs, to improve conditions with engineering, water, hygiene, and sanitation projects.   Recent growth has been impressive – from 16 community programs in 2015 to 38 community programs in 2017. 
 
EIA has historically focused its efforts on landlocked Bolivia, a beautiful mountainous country with a rich Spanish and indigenous heritage and a long legacy of colonialism.   The second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, 49.6% of Bolivians live on less than $2.00/day.    Ecuador, EIA’s second area of focus, faces similar issues, with slightly higher income and a greater disparity between rich and poor.
 
A simple statistic – water, sanitation, and hygiene-related deaths of children under 5 – illustrates the problem.  U.S.: <1 death per 100,000; Bolivia: 245 deaths per 100,000; Ecuador: 65 deaths per 100,000.
 
Engineers In Action is responding by working with communities that ask to partner.  Rather than simply sending aid, EIA asks what the community needs.   If its needs align with EIA’s expertise, they work together.  EIA’s Latin American engineers, staff, and international volunteers boast an impressive list of completed Clean Water Infrastructure projects.  Rod shared photos of water-saving, composting, eco-friendly latrines, hand-washing stations, mountain spring boxes, hand pumps, and bridges.  Bridges provide access to schools and clinics that might be inaccessible during the rainy season.
 
EIA is now preparing to build its first playground!  Why?  1.) Productive play cultivates healthy body and brain development for kids (especially, from 1 to 10 years), 2.) Playgrounds allow EIA to quickly build relationships based on trust with the communities they serve because they see immediate results, 3.) You don’t have to be an engineer to build a playground for a community.  Everyone is welcome to come to Bolivia to serve as a volunteer on EIA projects.
 
Children are the hope for tomorrow and the primary agents of change.  While a water project may take 3 – 5 years, entailing assessment, design, execution, etc., the need for a playground can be identified, equipment can be shipped, and volunteers can construct a playground within one year. 
 
How does EIA do it?   Engineers In Actions is partnering with Kids Around the World (KATW) to secure and ship recycled playground equipment to the site in Bolivia.  Kids around the World, a 501(c)3 based in Rockford, contacts schools, park districts, and other entities that have retired playground equipment that can be successfully rehabbed for use in the developing world.
 
Guests and Milestones
 
Visiting Rotarian
 
A. J. Voth, Rotary Club of St. Charles
 
Other Guests
 
Rod Beadle, Engineers In Action, speaker
Luiz Abreu, Inbound exchange student (‘16-’17)
Cassie Tingley, Outbound exchange student (‘17-18)
Holly Holliday, prospective member, guest of Joan Borg
Debi Genthe, prospective member, guest of Ann Searles 
Lucy Davis, guest of Kristin Brown
Miguel Hernandez , guest of Kea Gorden
 
Birthday
 
Bruce Baumberger  - March 18
 
Club Anniversaries
 
Linc Janus – 2 years:
Karena Bierman – 10 years
Chuck Bartling – 21 years
Scott Kaplan – 27 years
 
Next Week’s Assignments
 
Set-Up: Kathy Tate-Bradish and Bob Teska    
Greeters: Neil Gambow and Linda Gerber
Thought for the Day: Don Gwinn
Scribe: Yves Lassere
Breakdown: Don Gwinn and John Heimbaugh
 
 
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