President Marv Edelstein welcomed members to the meeting. Incorporating Rotary’s September theme of Basic Education and Literacy, Kristin Brown quoted Malala Yousafzai: “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.”

 

 

Marv noted that the ‘on screen announcements’ trial was being discontinued.  Instead, Marv encouraged Rotarians with announcements to line up near the podium in order to more efficiently use the group’s time.

 

Following his own advice to ‘think outside the box’, Marv told his doctor it was time for the arm sling to go.  Congrats to Marv on his progressing recovery.

 

Kristin Brown reminded Rotarians that she and Kea Gorden will be participating in the Ride to End Polio in Tucson on November 18.  With the 2:1 Gates Foundation match, the event hopes to raise $10 million for Polio Plus.  To contribute to Kristin’s and/or Kea’s fundraising efforts, please click on the link on our club’s home page.

 

Club Treasurer Susan Prout noted that it’s not too late to pay for Summer Quarter (July 1 – September 30) dues.  Fall dues invoices will be going out shortly.  

 

Susan also encouraged members to attend an upcoming diaper bundling session that will be held next Tuesday evening (October 3) at 7 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church.  Bundling and restocking the shelves at Bundled Blessings will take less than 90 minutes --and drinks will follow if there’s sufficient interest.

 

Gary Peterson promoted Beacon Academy’s Walk for Water that will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. in front of Rotary International.  The hour-long walk – to the lakefront and back – will help raise funds for water wells in collaboration with Haiti Outreach.  For those not working mid-day, this is a perfect opportunity to support our newest Interact Club at Beacon Academy.

 

Linda Del Bosque of Evanston Woman Magazine announced her magazine’s Girls on Fire Women’s Expo that will be held on Oct. 23 from 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. at the newly renovated Holiday Inn.  The event will feature keynote speaker Laura Fine, refreshments, shopping and more to benefit the MetaMedia Youth program at the McGaw YMCA.

 

Suzy McNamara, on behalf of the Community Service Committee, thanked members for bringing food for the Streetwise Café.  Following up on their August drive, the Committee recently sent 500 diapers and checks totaling $450 to the Texas Diaper Bank.   Suzy also reminded members that it’s still possible (through Sept. 30) to reserve Table 23 at Koi restaurant.  You’ll earn a small discount on your order and our Club will receive 20 percent of your bill.

 

Zbig Skiba explained that our club, in conjunction with the Noon Club and the City of Evanston, will be participating in a Community Tree Planting effort on Saturday, Oct. 7.  Trees will be planted in five different parks at about 10 a.m.  An excellent public relations opportunity, all are invited to attend.  (It is not necessary to be involved in the actual planting!)  Please contact Zbig for more information.  Bill Vernon, on behalf of the Boy Scouts, committed to participate at the Penny Park site.

 

Neil Gambow explained that our club faces an Oct. 20 deadline for proposing an Outbound Youth Exchange candidate. If you know of anyone who might be interested in this exciting opportunity, please contact Neil.  He also encouraged Rotarians to include our current Inbound Youth Exchange student – “C” from Thailand – in our plans.   Museum visits, restaurant outings, almost any activity could be a positive experience for “C”.

 

Don Gwinn noted that he still has three pounds of quality Guatemalan coffee available for sale.  At $12/bag, coffee sales benefit Guatemalans through this Rotarian-led project.  

 

Acknowledging the visit of Zones 28/29 RI Director Robb Knuepfer, Bruce Baumberger offered a brief summary of Rotary’s governance structure.   There are currently more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries, boasting 1.2 million total members.   These clubs belong to 535 districts, each of which is led by a District Governor (RI officer).   These districts are grouped geographically into 34 zones worldwide.  These zones are combined into “zone pairs” for the purpose of electing directors to the RI Board.  The Rotary International Board is composed of 19 Directors – 1 from each zone pair, plus the President and President-Elect.  The Secretariat is led by the General Secretary who manages RI’s 650-plus member staff. 

Our meeting guest, Robb Knuepfer, represents Zones 28 & 29 as our Rotary International Director for 2017 to 2019.  Currently Lake Michigan separates Zone 28 (west) and Zone 29 (east).  As Robb explained, Rotary representation is evaluated every eight years. Based geographically and founded on membership data, zones may periodically need adjustment.  With North American membership falling and Asian Rotary participation rising, it is necessary to realign zones in 2020.  Simplistically, North America will ‘lose’ a zone (coincidentally in our zone pair area) while Asia adds an additional one. 

  

Robb Knuepfer urged members to consider attending the upcoming Zone Institute – ChiZone – Oct. 24 – 29 in Itasca.  Highlights include top motivational speakers, a Heritage Tour of Paul Harris sights in Chicago, a Planetarium event and a tour of Rotary International.   In closing, Robb noted that polio eradication earns headlines, but the real work of Rotary takes place at the club level – in all of our communities.  Keep up the good work!

 

 

 

Bill Glader boasted Elaine Clemens for kicking off today’s Streetwise Cafe food drive and thanked generous Rotarians for contributing.

 

Zbig Skiba reminded members to refrain from using acronyms (TOE, RYLA, etc.) during our meetings so that prospective members can easily understand what’s being explained.

 

Bill Vernon, representing our Boy Scout troop, announced that an Eagle Scout recently passed the Board of Review process. Congratulations!  We hope to hear more about our troops’ Eagle Scout projects at a future meeting.

 

Kate Collinson boasted Linda & Hal Gerber for hosting a wonderful (and delicious) Indian cooking demonstration/dinner on Sunday afternoon.  A Taste of Evanston auction item, the unique event was contributed by Mt. Everest owner Ramakant Kharel and his chief chef. 

 

Ann Searles boasted Holly Halliday who contributed to our club’s Foundation in exchange for Music Theatre Works tickets.  Ann, as Sunshine Lady, also noted that “all are well.”

 

Lucas Albright boasted his wife who recently celebrated her 70^th birthday with a jazz combo!

 

Helen Oloroso boasted Jean Saunders, Neil Gambow, Kathy Tate-Bradish, Kathleen Delgado, and Chris Joyce for joining our band of scribes for The Light.

 

 

 

Fran Caan introduced Nancy Armstrong and Pat Broughton of Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.   A mother of three children and Park Ridge resident, Nancy became involved in Girl Scouts when her daughter entered Kindergarten.  As the leader of a Daisy troop, Nancy began a 9-year period of mentorship that impacted her young charges and herself!  That passion continues in her work. 

 

Girl Scouts today are Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers, and Leaders.  The mission of Girl Scouts is to build girls of courage, confidence, and character.   Girl Scouts welcome all.

 

On March 12, 1912, Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Lowe in Savannah organized the first Girl Scout troop.  Since then, the organization has grown to be the preeminent leadership development organization for girls.  Known for badges, campfires, and cookies, Girl Scouts do much more, serving as groundbreakers, role models, and community activists.  The organization has been proven to help girls thrive in five key ways as they: develop a strong sense of self, seek challenges and learn from setbacks, display positive values, form and maintain healthy relationships, and identify and solve problems in the community.  Even the eponymous Cookie program develops strengths in a variety of areas including goal-setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics.

 

In an effort to “take action to change the world,” Girl Scouts today focus on STE(A)M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) the outdoors, life skills, and entrepreneurship/financial literacy.

 

Girl Scouts has a rich, nearly 100-year-old history in Evanston.  There are currently 44 troops with 500 members and 200 adult volunteers.  Girls from Kindergarten through 12^th grade participate in the following Girl Scout programs:  Daisies (Grades K-1), Brownies (Grades 2-3), Juniors (Grades 4-5), Cadettes (Grades 6-8), Seniors (Grades 9-10) and Ambassadors (Grades 11-12).

 

Girl Scouts fuel the female leadership pipeline.  Fifty percent of business leaders, 80 percent of technology leaders, and 100 percent of female U.S. Secretaries of State were Girl Scouts.   Nancy recently met with Mayor Hagerty to discuss the organization’s “Building My Community” service initiative.  As a result, scouts will participate in a brainstorming session with area civic leaders this fall.

 

Girl Scout annual membership is not costly at $25, but uniforms, books, and additional items can put scouting out of reach for those with limited means.  Girls Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana annually distributes $200,000 in financial assistance to those in need. Evanston resident and VP of Philanthropic Innovation Pat Broughton explained another Girl Scout initiative coming to our community.  Currently, 9 percent of young girls participate in Girl Scouts.  Among girls of color, that number drops to only 6 percent. This fall, Girl Scouts will be piloting a program to find and support leaders in underserved communities. Part time staff will mentor and coach volunteer leaders in the Oakton, Washington, and Fleetwood-Jourdain areas.  A $5,000 grant from the Evanston Community Foundation is the seed money for this initiative.  If you would like to help the Scouts reach the actual $15,000 goal/cost of the program, please contact Pat.

 

Both Nancy and Pat shared brief stories of girls who took the initiative and acted audaciously – as Rotary did with its goal of eradicating polio.  Rotarians could partner with Girl Scouts in a number of ways…. on service opportunities, as mentors, troop resources, meeting space providers and cookie buyers.  Nancy encouraged us, as she encourages her young scouts, to “take the lead.”  As their short video declared, “One girl ignites a movement.”

 

 

 

 

Robb Knuepfer, Zone 28/29 Director (2017-2019)  

Patrick Mbullo, Rotarian from Kenya, hoping to transfer membership to ELRC

 

 

Linda del Bosque, Evanston Woman Magazine

Sarah Diller, RI Membership Staff

Patida Phanithullowat – “C”, Inbound Youth Exchange student

Elizabeth O’Connor, prospective member

Nancy Armstrong, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana

Pat Broughton, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago & Northwest Indiana

 

 

Barb Miles – September 27

Kate Collinson – September 29

Elizabeth Newton – October 2

 

 

Set-up: Neil Gambow/Debi Genthe  

Thought for the Day: Linda Gerber

Breakdown:  Bill Glader/Joan Borg