The Light for November 3, 2020
By Katherine Peterson
Presiding was President Chris Joyce, who began the meeting with Why We Are Rotarians.
The Thought(s) for the Day was presented by Kristin Brown with thoughts on leadership and responsibility:
“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States.
“Faced with crisis, the man of character falls back on himself. He imposes his own stamp of action, takes responsibility for it, makes it his own.” Charles de Gaulle, Former president of France.
“One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes…and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.” Eleanor Roosevelt.
Announcements
From the Rotary World, Chris Joyce shared a pronouncement and congratulations from District Governor Staab! Our club has earned a Certificate of Appreciation from The Rotary Foundation for support of the End Polio Now: Countdown in History Campaign in Rotary Year 2019-20. Only those clubs that donated more than $1,500 were so recognized.
Steve Steiber shared ideas for increasing Holiday Sales. Rather than “selling,” Steve suggested that members take the approach that we are giving people an opportunity to do good with Rotary by buying Holiday items. Being effective + kind + nice = success. Steve encouraged members to be good listeners that make connections with buyers through conversation. Rotary Holiday Sale buyers will be happy to know that there is 0% overhead, and that all proceeds go directly to Rotary causes. The Holiday Sale will
be contact free and include more purchasing choices this year, including offerings from Evanston’s The Spice House. Steve encouraged members to ask buyers about friends who may also want to be included.
Bruce Baumberger continued that new template letters and a flyer were created for this year's Holiday Sales, and that the improved website was almost ready. Bruce encouraged members to start with your own order, and to be reminded to follow-up with previous buyers in your area.
Bryant Wallace thanked the club for their past holiday contributions to the Chessmen, and for future donations most especially appreciated at this difficult time. Bruce added that the Club will make ham donations to the non-profits we have served in the past. The floral delivery will be Dec. 5 at the florist distributor, and the food
distribution will take place on Dec. 12 at Evanston Subaru.
Katherine Peterson for Club Service announced that the fellowship walk will not take place this week due to the elections. We will meet for the balance of November on Tuesdays, starting Nov. 10 at 3:30 p.m. at the Ecology Center, 2024 McCormick Blvd.. Everyone is welcome. The next Club Service monthly meeting will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 a.m., via Zoom.
Ann Weatherhead thanked members for their calls and questions stemming from the announcements she made about homelessness and affordable housing issues recently. She and Linda Gerber continue to address issues in affordable housing. Of late,169 units have been added, though there is more work to be done. A Chicago-based Rotary club is offering member opportunities in service to the homeless that will be discussed and shared in a meeting taking place today. Ann will incorporate those findings
and communicate the details shortly.
Chris Joyce announced that District Governor Staab will be attending our club board meeting on Nov. 16, at 6:30 p.m., which will take place via Zoom.
Roasts and Boasts
Nick Powers facilitated Roasts and Boasts:
Chris Joyce boasted Joy Joyce for her service as an election judge taking place today at the Ecology Center.
Bruce Baumberger boasted Nancy Baumberger after a year of living successfully in residential care, and shared a recent photo of her.
Don Gwinn boasted that a recent submission to a woodworking periodical to which he subscribed as a woodworker was published.
Ann Searles boasted Ann Weatherhead for donating prescription bottles for reuse that were already sanitized and ready to reuse.
Linda Gerber boasted Alex Janus who was a volunteer early morning driver for C&W Market, delivering to poll workers on duty for election day at 6:30 a.m. today.
Marv Edelstein boasted going to an early morning election site where the ballot form didn’t print properly. He could see the problem, but wasn’t allowed to help, and while the site workers were busy discussing the issue, he fixed it, and voting proceeded.
Chris Joyce boasted Kristin Brown, who was featured on the last page of the November issue of Rotary.
Nick Powers offered a selection of election related trivia questions that challenged members.
Program
Due to speaker illness, today's program speaker had to cancel his presentation, Instead, the Technology Committee created “break outcreated “break-out rooms” on the Zoom platform that allowed small groups of members to converse about upcoming holidays or any subject of their choice.
Guests and Milestones
Club Anniversaries
Ann Weatherhead – 4 years
Michael Merdinger - 5 years
Gary Schultz - 14 years
Next Week’s Speaker
Kate Freeman, Hagerty Consulting, Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery. How the whole community comes together in the time of COVID.
