President Kathy Tate-Bradish welcomed members to the first meeting of September before Jose Lopez led the group in the Why We Are Rotarians statement.  Jose shared a Thought for the Day from Chinua Achebe, a dominant figure in African literature: “While we do our good work, let us not forget that the real solution lies in a world in which charity will have become unnecessary.”  Kathy thanked the Technology Team for their very important support before, during, and after meetings.  If you’d like to join that group, please contact Bryant.

 

 

Bill Glader announced that the final Taste of Evanston potluck meeting will take place tonight at his home with dinner at 6 p.m. and business at 7 p.m.  Any interested members are welcome!  To date, 280 of 500 tickets to the Sunday, Sept. 18, event have been sold.  It’s important that we all continue to reach out to potential attendees!   Also, please check out the many and varied online TOE Silent Auction offerings – on which you can bid now!  From the TOE website (www.tasteofevanston.org), click on ‘Silent Auction’, ‘View Items’ and create an account (entering basic info) in order to bid.  Silent Auction Chair Helen Oloroso explained that there are auction items (both goods and services) and ‘buy in’ events – such as Mahjong Lesson with Buffet Dinner -– which are sold at a fixed price. While TOE is fast approaching, it’s not too late to donate or bid!

 

Bill also thanked a number of Rotarians who have gone the extra mile this year for TOE.  Randy Usen and Steve Steiber have led the Sponsorship solicitation effort with good success during a tough year. Dan Coyne, in his first year as a TOE volunteer, agreed to serve as Volunteer Coordinator and has also recruited restaurants and publicized the event with Facebook live videos. 

 

Bruce Baumberger continues to be everywhere, helping with everything!  Another new member, Jose Lopez, is helping Willy Steiner with the Supply Tent.  Ann Weatherhead has been a liaison to the beneficiaries and is our decorations maven.  Graphic designer Jim McGuire has developed a wide variety of important print materials.  

 

Helen Oloroso and Kelly Fidei, as Silent Auction leads, have spearheaded the move to online bidding (with able tech assistance from Bryant Wallace).  Kristin Brown and Willy Steiner are capably overseeing TOE finances, while Hillary Hufford-Tucker designed the club’s social media strategy.  Linda Gerber has once again secured and maintained our restaurant relationships, with countless in person visits. 

 

Restaurant Liaison Linda Gerber gave a brief update, noting Dan Coyne’s recent successes in the Main Street/Chicago Ave. dining corridor.  Four participating TOE restaurants have Rotary connections!  A complete list of restaurants, wine shops, and breweries is included on the TOE website. 

 

Last, but not least, Kathy Tate-Bradish thanked Bill Glader for his ongoing efforts and reminded members of the importance of TOE as our most successful fundraiser and signature event. If you’re among the many members who have not yet purchased tickets, please consider doing so – or making some type of donation to the event.  TOE is critical to funding our good work! 

 

Community Service Chair Myra Janus announced that the committee will meet for the first time during this club year on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 7 p.m. via Zoom.  If you’d like a link to that event, please contact Myra at myra.janus@gmail.com.  All are encouraged to attend!

 

Keith Banks, one of nine candidates for 2^nd ward Alderman, will be presenting tonight, 7 p.m., at a Town Hall Meeting covered by the City of Evanston’s Youtube channel and TV Channel 16.  Please consider cheering Keith on at the meeting or virtually!   

 

Environment Committee Chair Steve Goranson announced that the next Lighthouse Beach Clean-up will take place on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 9 a.m.  Please contact Steve for more info or to register.  Wear your gloves!

 

In response to a question from Harold Bauer, Kathy explained that the land acknowledgement read at the beginning of our meetings was taken verbatim from Evanston’s Mitchell Museum of the American Indian (an organization that we would like to feature at an upcoming meeting).

Steve Steiber explained that he is currently seeking someone experienced with Survey Monkey to assist in preparing this year’s TOE satisfaction survey.  Survey Gurus Steve and Bruce will advise on content, but need assistance with the ‘hands on’ Survey Monkey component.  If interested, please reach out to Steve or Bruce.

 

 

 

 

 

Describing herself as a ‘newish’ member, Vaidehi explained that she was born in South India (specifically, Chennai on the east coast).   Born in her maternal grandmother’s home, Vaidehi grew up in her paternal grandmother’s house.  Surrounded by relatives and friends, she enjoyed the busy location which allowed her to listen to diplomats, politicians, and other interesting visitors.  When her parents eventually decided to move their nuclear family to another home, Vaidehi missed it tremendously for six years. 

 

Fast forward…  Vaidehi at 20 years of age had finished her undergraduate degree and felt she needed to be on her own.  She planned to take the GRE and TOEFL exams and then begin journalism study in the U.S..   (Note: Vai had no journalism background, having majored in math with some physics and chemistry thrown in.)  Her parents responded “No way!”.  When she suggested marriage as a way to leave home, the response was even more negative.  She was told she could not marry until after she’d received a graduate degree and her mother literally accompanied her to register for graduate school.

 

This proved to be “the best advice” Vaidehi ever received.  Vai received a graduate degree in India and moved to the U.S. with her husband in 1979 and began a Masters program at the University of Pittsburgh.  After completing her Masters, Vaidehi spent the bulk of her career in the corporate world with breaks (both voluntary and involuntary).  She took time off as she raised her sons (now in their 30’s) and moved periodically to accommodate her husband’s job. In addition to the Chicago area, the family lived in Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and (briefly) Hong Kong. 

 

Vaidehi shared a story from 2004 when “No child left behind” was the prevailing educational policy. At that time, professionals with master degrees could be trained and certified over a summer to teach high school.  She attended Golden Apple teacher training and then student-taught at Kenwood Academy in Hyde Park.  This first teaching encounter (with motivated students, no discipline issues and the ‘real teacher’ in the back of the room) did not prepare Vaidehi for Best Practice High School near the United Center. 

 

Despite trying her best, the situation was untenable (due to discipline and neighborhood issues) and Vaidehi left, disappointed, aware of the inequities, and with an ongoing desire to be of service.  Vaidehi eventually found an outreach program teaching computer literacy to adults in Pilsen a more satisfying fit.  Busy with Book Clubs, OLLI classes and more, Vaidehi eventually found Rotary – and found our club a second time when she purchased a tree during our planting effort.   We are very glad to have you, Vaidehi!

 

Hillary Hufford-Tucker celebrated her one-year anniversary last week.  She grew up in Redding, Calif., a rural community two hours north of Sacramento that was an “outdoor paradise.”   Hillary’s 90-year old dad and 82-year old mom moved to the Merion in Evanston in late 2020.  Hillary and her husband Dave met in Mendocino when they were both participating in Masters Swimming. They celebrated their 25^th anniversary last September.  Children Quinn, 24, and Mackenzie, 19, round out this close family.  Both have followed their parents into swimming, participating at the collegiate level.  Quinn graduated from Wesleyan University in May 2020 and currently works for an ad agency in Brooklyn, Mackenzie (a STEM kid) just returned to Swarthmore for her sophomore year.  

 

Dave and Hillary both worked for Masonite early in their careers, with Hillary handling corporate communications and brand marketing and Dave involved in manufacturing, operations, and health and safety.  The company accommodated both of their careers, keeping them together and promoting them, with moves around the country.  From California, they moved to rural Mississippi, then to Chicago/Naperville, Tampa, Colorado, and Illinois. 

 

Midway through the moves, in 2005, Hillary left the company to form her own design and marketing business and Dave transitioned into a global supply chain.  Thanks to travel reward points, Hillary and her family have traveled extensively internationally.  In 2018, as many industries faced challenges and many individuals lost jobs, Hillary began a Masters in Strategic Communication and shifted her employment focus to career coaching and personal branding. 

 

For our meeting, Hillary developed a “3 Truths and a Lie” Quiz  (based on the similarly-name game) with prizes for those attending in person.  Why did she join Rotary?  Fellowship, community connections, hands on service, marketing?    As a marketer herself, she did not join for marketing purposes, but she has loved shaping our club’s Public Image and encourages other (even without skills) to join that committee.  Favorite sports?  Fishing, road biking, running, lifting weights?  The lie is running!  Despite disliking running, Hillary has competed in many triathlons.   Rolling a car six times, roller skating, participating in a triathlon, on a toaster?   Trick question -- all answers were true!  (She was putting away the toaster when the accident occurred.)  Been to…  Egypt Cambodia, Japan, Peru?   Hillary hasn’t been to Japan yet, but she’s traveled to 26 countries (often with her children).   Recent favorite adventures?  Ziplining, roller coasters, downhill mountain biking, white water rafting?  Roller coasters is the lie! 

 

Hillary wrapped up her presentation with a quotation from Albert Einstein: “Life is like a bicycle.  To keep your balance, you must keep moving!”   Advised by various Rotarians to “have photos,” “keep it casual,” and “be on time,” Hillary accomplished all three in her Member Bio presentation!

 

 

 

Basil Lewis - Rotary Club of Humberside, Yorkshire, UK

 

Chandra Cristobal Lubinda – past RC president, Zone 9210, Zambia   

 

 

Joy Joyce  – Sept. 6

 

 

Dave SImmons – 21 years, Sept. 7

 

Gary Peterson – 16 years, Sept. 12