President Marv Edelstein convened the meeting.  The Thought for the Day was offered by Bruce Baumberger: "Leaders who seek power and control end up losing both," from Dr. Henry Cloud, and "Your values are who you are, and they represent how you will lead," from Kristina Diviny-MacBury.

 

 

Helen Oloroso announced that the Beach Sweep at Lighthouse Beach will take place on Sept. 16, and that John Searles is coordinating that effort.  She also announced for the Club Services Committee that the club picnic will be on Wednesday, Sept.  6, from 5-8 p.m. at Fran Caan’s home, 2236 Orrington.  She indicated we will need lots of volunteers to help, including with the grilling.  Club Service will also be coordinating the voting on club practices at the start of our meetings, which will take place on Sept.  12, 19, and 26, so everyone will have a chance to vote.

 

President Marv announced that there will be no morning meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 5, because of the picnic and the Labor Day holiday.

 

Neil Gambow announced that our Rotary Youth Exchange student, Patida Phanithullawat, has recently arrived from Thailand and was introduced at the meeting.  Patida, who likes to be called “C,” needs a ride to the RYE meeting in Barrington this Sunday, to be there at 1 p.m.  Her host family will drive her home.  He also announced that our outbound RYE Student, Cassie Tingley, has arrived in Finland and has a blog.

 

Steve Steiber announced that there will be an automated fundraiser to help close the budget gap, Flower Power, selling bulbs.  More details to follow.

 

Susan Prout reminded everyone to pay any outstanding dues bills.

 

Kristin Brown gave a presentation on Club priorities.  The Club had expressed during the visioning work last year that the identification of a Club focal point was a priority. Kristin had prepared a list of all Club contributions to service projects over the last three years, and then grouped them in eight broad categories that covered both domestic and international contributions: Water, Disaster Relief, Employment, Health, Housing, Hunger, Leadership, Literacy and Other.  She indicated the International Committee will focus on Water this year, and that the single biggest category of spending over the last three years has been Health.  Kristin asked members to vote on the Big Idea for the Club at the end of the meeting by placing color coded stickers next to their preferred two categories, which were listed on big sheets of paper posted on the walls.

 

Elaine Clemens handed out a survey from the Community Service Committee designed to ascertain what community service activities club members are interested in doing.

 

 

Kristin Brown boasted Kea Gorden for being selected to be part of RI’s Tour to Tucson bicycle team.  This ride on November 18 raises funds to end polio.

 

Neil Gambow roasted the anonymous person who changed his name to “Gambo” on the ELRC Board Agenda from the night before.

 

Dale Bradley boasted that he and his son Alec will be leaving after the meeting for a three-game road trip to Cincinnati to watch the Cubs play the Reds before Alec heads to UW Madison to begin his freshman year.

 

Sgt. Albert Menard asked the club if we knew what the Illinois state fossil was. No one did; it is the tully monster.

 

 

 

 

We welcomed back Sam Fain, group sales manager for the Joffrey Ballet, who spoke to us last year about the Lyric.  Sam presented an interesting talk on the history of ballet in Chicago and the Joffrey.

 

In the 1850s there were no resident ballet companies in Chicago, only touring companies from Europe.  About 15 years later, one was formed, although it did not last long.  It wasn’t until the 1950s that any resident performing companies set down roots in Chicago, joining the one company already established, the Goodman Theatre Company. 

 

The Joffrey started in New York as a touring company.  Its founder, Robert Joffrey, subsidized the company’s revenue by teaching ballet.

 

The Joffrey has always pushed the artistic envelope, and incorporated new dance styles into its ballets. The Joffrey was the first ballet to be invited to perform at the White House in 1961, and it was the first ballet company to perform live on television.  It also live-streamed its first ballet on YouTube six years ago.  All of these efforts have been intended to facilitate the next generation of dancers.

 

The Joffrey also participates in community outreach in 42 schools, 38 in the Chicago Public School System.  Dancers go into the schools to teach dance, and some students are invited to take week-long dance classes with the Joffrey over the summer.  The Beth Levine Bridge Program teaches dancers from 3 years old through high school.  Graduates of the Joffrey Academy dance all over the world.

 

The Joffrey was struggling financially in the 1980s, having had its major benefactor pull out.  Chicagoan Mary Galvin persuaded Robert Arpino, who took over after Robert Joffrey died, to move the company to Chicago in 1995.

 

In 2007, Ashley Wheater became artistic director and has been able to get the company back firing on all cylinders.  He has brought in modern dance masters, and the current state of programming indicates his desire to move the company forward.  There have been many world premieres, and last year the Joffrey created a new take on the world famous Nutcracker Ballet, which includes modern dance.

 

Sam concluded by answering questions about the company and the dancers.  Fran Caan noted that there were good group sales prices and suggested a group from the Club consider attending a performance.

 

 

 

Pam Tingley, parent of RYE outbound student Cassie, guest of Neil Gambow

Patida Phanithullawat, “C”, Inbound Rotary Youth Exchange student from Thailand

Patrick Mbullo, prospective member, guest of Kathy Tate-Bradish

Greg Walter, Rotary Foundation, guest of Harvey Newcomb

Alec Bradley, son of Dale Bradley

 

 Birthdays

 

 

 

Chuck Bartling – 20 years

Marisa Naujokas – 2 years