President Linda Gerber welcomed members to the meeting before Susan Prout led the group in our statement of purpose.  Susan also shared some Spring Thoughts for the Day by Henry David Thoreau, Mark Twain, and Goodfellow.   

 

 

Harold Bauer recapped the creation of the ELRC Endowment at the Evanston Community Foundation as a way to provide for future financial stability.  The ELRC hopes to raise the $10,000 required minimum by taking advantage of a $5,000 match to contributions (up to $5,000) by members and others. Checks may be written to Kristin Brown (727 Wesley Avenue, Evanston 60202 – with the memo line: ECF Endowment).   The match deadline is April 15.  Please consider a donation to this important, future-driven club effort!

 

Clarence Weaver and Linda Gerber updated the club on follow-up to the March 16 presentation by Dr. Alvin Tillery.   Dr. Tillery’s CREED model focuses on Common Purpose, Research, Equanimity, Empathy, and Deliverables.

 

Thanks to the efforts of involved DEI Task Force members (Clarence Weaver, Kathy Tate-Bradish, Bryant Wallace, Charlotta Koppanyi, Rebeca Mendoza), our club's DEI work has grown from a club effort to one that includes all three Evanston Community Rotaries, RI staff members, and the District Governors line.  Particular thanks to Clarence for his ongoing commitment to follow-up sessions.

 

Linda Gerber also reported on the recent International Service Committee meeting and three service project grants.  The first is a global grant project in Lithuania to provide mental health care to Ukrainian refugees (our club’s second emergency response to the crisis). Our total contribution, with the help of District Designated Funds (DDF) and matching funds from The Rotary Foundation (TRF), amounts to more than $10,000. In addition to the club’s grant, Marisa’s family made a generous contribution to the project.  A second grant was approved yesterday for our partner in Tel Aviv, Ani Shlishi, which provides job training for ‘at risk’ teens and young adults. A third grant was approved for a housing project in the Dominican Republic brought to us by frequent visitor Jose Lopez, a Rotarian from Michigan. 

 

Don Gwinn is still seeking volunteers for this Saturday’s Reba Place Work Day. From 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Rotarians will be building storage and organizing supplies at Reba Place’s 707-712 Seward location.  If you would like to help out during any portion of the day, please contact Don.  Don also reported that Rebuilding Together will take place on Saturday, April 30!   We will be working on a house in South Evanston -- cleaning, painting, organizing.  More details to come!

 

Steve Goranson reported that the Community Service Committee will be meeting tonight (3/22/02) to determine Community Service grant funding.  Please contact Steve if you need the link to this important meeting.   Steve also noted that the next Lighthouse Beach Clean-Up will take place on April 23. 

 

Rebeca Mendoza wished members a Happy World Water Day, drawing attention to the important issue of water and sanitation.   Nine members are among the 34 ticketholders for the March 31 Empowering Girls event at Koi, but tickets are still available!   Rebeca encouraged Rotarians to submit their words of empowerment for young women!  (You don’t need to be a woman to do this!) The Public image committee has been working on getting better connected with young people.  Hillary Hufford-Tucker will be launching a new website next week which will feature this content and other helpful info.   If any members would like to help clean out the Family Focus classroom of Joann Avery, please reach out to Rebeca for the Signup Genius details.  The project will take place tomorrow (March 23), 2-hour shifts, while Evanston schoolchildren are on break.

Kathy Tate-Bradish reminded everyone of the opportunity to become a Charter Member of the District 6440 PolioPlus Society. As long as there is even one case of polio anywhere in the world, we must keep immunizing children everywhere. The requirement to be a charter member is to pledge that you will donate $100 before June 30, and $100 a year until polio is eradicated. To find the pledge, go to rotary6440.org. Scroll down and click on the box on the right that says “click to become a charter member.” Once a charter member always a charter member, and you get a cool little pin.

 

Bill Glader and the Taste of Evanston (TOE) Committee are already working on this year’s event – to be held on Sunday, Sept. 18.  Additional volunteers are needed to help with: Silent Auction (working with Helen Oloroso), Decorations (working with Ann Weatherhead), Sponsor Recruitment (assisting or providing leads to Randy Usen, Steve Steiber, Dale Bradley and Mike Merdinger), Supply tent organization, and Electrical distribution at the event.  Please reach out to Bill, if interested.

 

Joy Joyce noted that Rotary Day with UNICEF will be held on Friday, March 25, and live-streamed on Rotary International’s YouTube channel from 9 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.  The program focuses on empowering girls and will recognize six People of Action from around the world.  To view the program and register, please use the following link: https://www.rotaryundaynyc.org/home#rsvp.    Jane Lawicki, a Rotary employee and Joy’s sister, has been working on this important project for months! 

Time ran short, but … Katherine Peterson wanted to announce that we are convening another discussion group for the United Way of Illinois’s 21-week Equity Challenge. Discussions are beginning on Thursday, April 7, at noon, via Zoom, and we’d love you to join us! Everyone who aspires a greater understanding of the issues related to equity is welcome to join this powerful discussion.   

 

 

 

 

Katherine Peterson introduced Bethany Barbouti, who – with her best friend – recently opened Eco & the Flamingo, a new Evanston business committed to making eco-friendly living more accessible.  She has worked in data analysis for the US government, and in the humanitarian aid field as a researcher at the UN World Food Program and as a project manager overseeing agricultural and livelihood restoration projects in the Middle East. She holds a Masters degree in Sustainable Food Studies.

 

Eco and the Flamingo has two locations – directly across from Rotary International at 1551 Sherman and 4750 N. Rockwell in the Lincoln Square neighborhood.  Eco and the Flamingo is Evanston’s (and Chicago’s) first Zero Waste General Store! 

 

We are all familiar with the problem -- the U.S. is the world’s most wasteful country per capita!  As a leading producer and consumer of plastics, the U.S. has a permanent waste issue.  The U.S. also lags behind in recycling.   Eco and the Flamingo’s Core Values address these challenges.   

 

Sustainable. Bethany and partner Jackie rely on ongoing research to ‘take the hard questions out of the equation’.  They are seeking to offer the most sustainable products available. When all of the factors are considered, reusable cotton shopping bags (which utilize significant water and energy to produce) are not the preferable option when compared to jute carry bags.   Eco and the Flamingo prioritizes plastic- and package-free goods and avoids all materials which are detrimental to the planet.

 

Reusable and Refillable.  Among other things, Eco and the Flamingo is a refill store.  Customers bring in their empty, clean, and dry containers and have them filled (by store staff) with a very wide variety of products, including dry goods, oil, vinegars, cleaning products, and toiletries.  Their website offers a very comprehensive “Refill Station Menu” -- https://www.ecoandtheflamingo.com/refill-station-menus.  All of their products are reusable and long lasting, and they prioritize the reduction of packaging waste by offering bulk refillable products, working with brands to develop refillable options.

 

Accessible.  Eco and the Flamingo hopes to be an affordable zero waste store.  By watching their margins, seeking out the best deals and offering multiple price points, they are assisting customers in reducing their waste, regardless of income level.

 

Cruelty Free.  Products offered have not involved animal testing, suffering, or death.   A vegetarian store, their brand line is vegan.

 

Fair.  In dealing with staff, vendors, and others in the supply chain, Eco and the Flamingo prioritizes diversity, inclusion, and fair labor practices. 

 

Eco and the Flamingo sources from many local Chicago and Midwest makers/vendors and is developing its own product line (including ethically made textiles from Turkey and India, bar soaps, and biodegradable sponges).

 

Eco & the Flamingo also offers some hard-to-find TerraCycle recycling options.  You can bring in shaving equipment (blades, shavers), Bic-type pens (and other limited writing implements), and packaging materials (used mailers, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, etc.).  Eco and the Flamingo will soon have details of their recycling offerings up on the website. 

 

Commenting on “how good it feels” to shop there, several members described Eco and the Flamingo as well-sourced and delightful!   Why a flamingo?   Natural, colorful, fun (and pictured on a notebook that Bethany and Jackie used while planning the store)!  Good luck to Evanston’s newest entrepreneurs!

 

 

 

 

 

Basil Lewis, UK Rotarian

 

 

 

 

Bruce Baumberger – March 18

 

Lesley Peter – March 23

 

Rebeca Mendoza – March 25

 

 

Scott Kaplan – 32 years, March 20