President Linda Gerber welcomed members to the meeting before John Osterlund led the group in the Why We Are Rotarians statement.  Florida State University alum John shared several quotes from FSU’s legendary football coach Bobby Bowden who passed away recently at 91 years of age.  “Discipline to me is sacrifice; it’s willingness to give up something you want to do, so you can better yourself.”   “Somehow I went from being too young, to being too old.  Somewhere in there I must have been just right.”

 

 

MaLu Simon shared photos and stories from Sunday’s successful Koi/Mahjong event which raised $2,120 for Taste of Evanston 2021.   Twenty-one participants, ages 16-85, enjoyed an afternoon of mahjong instruction, play and wonderful food, provided by Sandy Chen of Koi.  Thanks to Instructor Luisa, Sandy and MaLu for coordinating this event.  Sandy hopes to repeat it quarterly!  Don’t forget… if you reserve Table 23 at Koi and identify yourself as an EL Rotarian, the club will receive 20% of your bill!  

 

Steve Steiber boasted the collegiality – and great wines – of the recent ‘Dinner with a Monk’ event.  Also a Taste of Evanston ‘buy in’ opportunity, the dinner was graciously provided by hosts Kathy Tate-Bradish & Bob. Yves Lassere (with Charlotta’s assistance) contributed some excellent wines, and Charlotta Koppanyi & husband Mui steered the very interesting conversation!

 

Harold Bauer announced that the November show at Gallery OTR (Over the Rainbow) features several of his recent paintings and those of two colleagues with whom he shares Studio 999 in Evanston.  The show opening is Thursday, Nov. 4, from 5 – 8 p.m.  OTR is located at 2040 Brown Ave., just east of McCormick Blvd., across from the Ecology Center. All are invited.

 

Sunshine Lady Ann Searles reported that Susan Prout had knee replacement surgery several days ago. She is home, and willing to take calls on her cell phone. She is adjusting to her new meds but doing well. The Afghan Refugee Coat project continues to accept donations.  Full details were sent in a recent email.  Please contact Ann if you’re interested in contributing,

 

Chris Joyce shared the very lengthy Mayoral proclamation re: World Polio Day that was read recently at an Evanston City Council meeting.  Please check your email (Oct. 19) for a copy!  

 

Relatively new member Bryant Wallace offered positive impressions of the District Fall Training Day (One Rotary Summit – Oct. 23).  Bryant appreciated the opportunity to meet members from other clubs, learning from their differing perspectives, and noted the importance of taking care of our members.  At least ten EL Rotarians attended the hybrid event.   

 

Ann Weatherhead shared the news that Evanston photographer (and previous meeting speaker) Doug Haight is the recently announced recipient of the Mayor’s Award for the Arts.  Doug’s powerful exhibition – See My Story – poignantly captured individuals facing homelessness in our community.  The award will be presented on Thursday, Nov. 4, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., at the Evanston Arts Center.

 

Bruce Baumberger updated the club on Holiday Sale progress.  The product line-up is set, with new Orie tangerines (replacing oranges), no spice boxes, and all of the traditional favorites – ham, pecans, wreaths, citrus, holiday greenery and quality snacks.  The computer order system has been enhanced and should be ready early next week.   There will be opportunities for both new and seasoned members to receive instruction or a refresher.   Please continue to watch your email for developments! 

 

Bylaws Chair Bruce Baumberger explained that his committee (Kathy Tate-Bradish, Bryant Wallace and readers Helen Oloroso and Clarence Weaver) spent several weeks, updating our leadership structure, broadening Board representation and incorporating RI’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) statement into our Bylaws. After circulating the proposed changes, the committee received feedback and will continue to welcome ideas going forward.  All views will be heard and considered.  The proposal offered today is a ‘good base to start’.  Bruce also shared some video remarks by RI President-Elect Jennifer Jones, stressing the value of our diverse perspectives and the need to knock down barriers if we are to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. 

 

Voting at a club meeting requires a quorem (at least 1/3 of our members present).  Approval of the Bylaws requires a ‘yes’ vote from 2/3 of the members present.  An electronic vote was held on the question “Do you approve the Bylaws sent to members on Oct. 16?”.   Forty-three persons voted yes, with four persons voting no.  Approval of the revised Bylaws compels us to infuse DEI into everything we do.  All persons should be valued, respected, and included.    
 

Helen Oloroso encouraged club members to become a member of the District 6440 PolioPlus Society.  Members pledge to donate $100 every Rotary Year to the Rotary Foundation PolioPlus Fund until the world is certified polio-free.  If you join/pledge and donate by June 30, 2022, you will become a Charter Member. You will receive Paul Harris Fellow Recognition Points for your donation.  With the Gates Foundation match, each $100 will protect 99 children from polio. This is your legacy—delivering on the promise of a polio free world!

 

 

 

 

 

New ELRC member and Rotary employee Rebeca Mendoza introduced Francis “Tusu” Tusubira, a Rotarian from the Sunrise Kampala (Uganda) Club with whom she’s been privileged to work since 2014 on a variety of Global Grants, microcredits, and other initiatives.  Tusu’s district is an exemplary one – well-represented at this meeting by a number of fellow Rotarians.  Tusu is an internationally recognized ICT professional, a transformational leader, and an original thinker who is responsive to change. 

 

Tusu explained that the inspiration for his talk was the popular business classic ‘Who Moved My Cheese’ by Spencer Johnson, a simple parable that reveals profound truths about dealing with change.  Tusu noted the need to change one’s (static) mindset, citing the story of a corn earworm who repeatedly promised, as danger gradually approached, that “I shall hear (and act) when the time comes.”

 

Despite lots of signals, the earworm met his fate when he didn’t act until it was too late.  How does that apply to us as Rotary Clubs?  We need to constantly respond to change as individuals, communities, and organizations. 

 

Why do we accept the word ‘normal’?   Everything starts in our minds.  If you accept normality, you are locking yourself in.  Normal is a static barrier to change.   We need to condition our minds to expect that there will always be change!  Normal does not exist and (pandemic-induced) ‘near normal’ does not exist.  Instead, we should strive to be abnormal (aka extraordinary)!

 

Why does change take us by surprise so often?  As the boiling frog metaphor illustrates, gradual change often allows us to miss vital signs until it’s too late to respond. With the example of a parent and drug-using child, parents may be in a perpetual state of denial, rationalizing the signs of change until it’s too late.   Worldwide Rotary membership has maxed out at 1.2 million and is falling.  Rather than distract with excuses, we need to objectively consider conditions and solutions.

 

We need to accept that we’re part of a global eco-system, affected by things happening around the world.  Global risk staffs around the world were aware of the neglected state of our health care systems and the potential threats – SARS, swine flu, etc.  Nonetheless, we allowed ourselves to be crippled by the ‘surprise’ onset of COVID-19.  Parents continue to guide children into skills/careers that will be abandoned by graduation.  

 

Rotary has always been good at self-congratulations.   If it becomes too much of a habit, this can mean blaming others when things don’t go well and just papering over the cracks -- which can leave a compromised structure. 

 

Another dangerous byproduct is that it builds large egos.  90% of Rotarians are wonderful people, but a small percentage have dangerous egos.  As a 21^st century organization, Rotary needs to ‘go flatter’—that is, remove decision-making levels, creating agility.   When you are dealing with clubs, districts, regions, countries, and zones, real change may be almost impossible and inefficiencies are compounded without adding value. 

 

Young people being brought in need to see themselves in leadership roles.  Elders need to step back and guide the younger generation as they take the reins of leadership.  Is Rotary’s August Council on Legislation which meets only every three years agile enough?

 

Who Moved My Rotary?  We are doing that ourselves! Membership is static and falling.  It’s time to sound the alarm and trigger a change – and that change could start with the ELRC.  Chicago could be the site of the rebirth of Rotary, fit for the 21^st century.  The challenge is on the table!

 

“Be the change you want to see in the world!” (Gandhi)

 

 

 

Tusu Tusubira, speaker, RC Sunrise-Kampala

 

Dorcas Tusubira, RC Sunrise-Kampala

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunrisers from Tusu’s home club and district

 

 

Brien Johnson, prospective member

 

Dan Coyne, prospective member

 

 

Keith Banks – Oct. 27

 

Harvey Newcomb – Oct. 29

 

 

Sam Lovering  – Nov. 1 , 27 years

 

Randy Usen – Nov. 1, 27 years

 

Ann Weatherhead – Nov. 1, 5 years

 

Michael Merdinger, - Nov. 4, 6 years

 

 

Talei Thompson, DEI Committee – District 6450