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The Light for October 18, 2022
 
By Myra Janus
 
Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge that Evanston and Rotary International sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomii, and Odawa, as well as the Menominee, Miami, Ho-Chunk, and other tribal nations. It was also the site of trade, travel, gathering, and healing for more than a dozen Native tribes.
 
 
Why We are Rotarians and The Thought for the Day were presented by Steve Goranson:
 
A quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: “For our own success to b e real, it must contribute to the success of others.” 
 
From Peter Drucker:  “The ultimate resource in economic development is people. It is people, not capital or raw material, that develop an economy.”
 
And from Rotary president, Bhichai Rattakul (2002-03):  “ When love is infused into our actions, we do not stop to question the time or money we are sacrificing.  We are inspired to do more, to give more.  Love is the motivating force behind all of Rotary’s best work.”
 
 And Dr. Seuss: “To the world you may be only one person, but to one person you may be the world.”
 
 And for October 24, World Polio Day, Jonas Salk said, “Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.”
 
Announcements
 
Steve Steiber will be announcing the results of the Taste of Evanston survey at the November 1 meeting.
 
From Rebeca Mendoza: Volunteers are needed to help with the bi-monthly Armor Girls Down Book Club for girls ages 8 to 21 aspiring to eliminate self-doubt and empower through book characterizations. The books are selected based on lessons or themes where girls can learn, grow, and aspire. ADG will meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 4:30 -5:30 p.m. In-person at Robert Crown Community Center, 1801 Main Street, Evanston, or online via Zoom. Volunteers needed:
  • Discussion facilitators
  • Women speakers
  • Women in history presentation
  • Set up
  • Snacks
Volunteer Orientation Saturday, October 22, 2022, 9-10 am on Zoom
 
Joan Borg reported about tours of Rotary International on Tuesday, Oct. 25, and Tuesday, November 1.  Meet in lobby at 9 AM, masked and make sure your Covid inoculation and in formation is uploaded into the Rotary system.
 
There will be a bonfire on Oct. 30 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Emily Oaks in Skokie.  Do bring food, but no alcohol.
 
Jose Lopez reported about an international service project done in conjunction with Delta Waverly Club in Lansing and Project Las Americas. They built a replacement for a deteriorated house in the Dominican Republic.
 
Jose also showed a chart created by the Adhoc Fundraising Committee which has met for the first time. Other members are invited to attend the next meeting. Ask Jose or Kathy for the time and place.
 
Young Leaders Committee - Youth Leadership Day will be held on Wednesday, Nov 2. between 8:30 and 1:15 at ORC.  We have lots of volunteers already both from the committee and outside of the committee, and welcome more.  Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Joy or Chris to volunteer either on the day of or beforehand.
 
Kathy Tate-Bradish - District 6440  representatives will be at this Saturday’s Evanston Farmer’s Market to publicize the EndPolioNow Campaign. Wear your End Polio Now (EPN) or Rotary gear if you plan to attend!
 
Neil Gambow reported that Aviation Day at ETHS was a greatt success with many volunteers and more than 1,000 students attending.
 
Dan Coyne reported on the newly constructed affordable accessory dwelling unit on Jackson St. recently painted by a crew of Rotary volunteers led by Don Gwinn.
 
Don’t forgethttps://raise.rotary.org/KristinBrown/fundraiser2 100% of proceeds go to PolioPlus – support of all our team of bike riders raising money for this very important work!
 
World Polio Day, Monday, October 24 – 5:00 p.m. at One Rotary Center; free registration https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-polio-day-viewing-party-tickets-429855327857
 
Bryant Wallace thanked members who attended or contributed to the Chessman Gala. It was a great community event!
 
Program
 
Topic: Member Biographies
 
Speakers: Jose Lopez and Jeff Snyder
 
Jose Lopez, though new to our club, was a member of the Delta Rotary Club in Lansing, Mich., for 16 years. Jose is a native of the Dominican Republic, which is only two hours from Haiti but he seldom visited Haiti due to tensions during the time of Dictator Trujillo’s reign.
 
Haiti currently experiences a lot of racism. Jose celebrates his birthday in two different months. His birth was registered with the government two months after his actual birth, probably because two older but very young siblings died during that period.
 
Jose grew up in a close, supportive community with grandparents nearby, as well as aunts and uncles. He has lived in the United States for 60 years.  He first came here as a seminarian intending to become a missionary priest, but left after 11 years of training.
 
He then studied Communication Arts at St. John University in New York. He became editor of a weekly Spanish tabloid newspaper. He met Berta in Toledo, Ohio, at a seminar and they have been married for 47 years.
 
He worked for 23 years in the Michigan Department of Transportation, most recently as a hearing officer.  His family makes him happy in Cleveland, Chicago, and Madison and his oldest son did become a priest.
 
Grant writing with small non-profits is one of his special passions.
 
Jeff Snyder is a professor of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at Northwestern. He teaches primarily graduate students getting their Ph.D., but also MS students (many from Asia) and teaches the core undergraduate course on Materials Physics.
 
He worked at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California developing technology for the radioisotope power systems for deep space probes (e.g. Voyager) and the Mars Rovers.
 
At Northwestern he was an undergraduate faculty advisor and has led graduate admissions in MSE. He is well known in academic engineering circles internationally, as he has published many “highly cited” scientific articles. 
 
He is a volunteer and supporter at an international high school in Ethiopia (spent a month at the school in 2022) that his wife has helped found with her sister. He is skilled at basic engineering problem solving, building repair and maintenance, electrical wiring, electronics repair, machining (lathe, mill, CAD), water, gas, sewar. Sustainable energy – solar photovoltaics, solar water heating, composting, permaculture, toilets. E
 
He is an experienced international traveler with university contacts in many countries, particularly China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, India, and all of western Europe, especially Germany (he speaks German), Turkey, Ethiopia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine.
 
He lived for nearly two years in Stuttgart, Germany, working at the Max Plank Institute. He is originally from Buffalo, N.Y., where his family business (now sold) built steel and aluminum fuel tanks for trucks.
 
Guests and Milestones
 
Visiting Rotarians
 
Chanda Lubinda - Zambia
 
Scott Daniels AG – Glenview Sunrise
 
Other Guests
 
Katherine Rush
 
Amy Resnick
 
Joanna Greene
 
Birthdays
 
Don Gwinn – October 18
 
Brad Weiss – October 20
 
Kristin Brown – October 21
 
Jackie Mack – October 22
 
Georgia Viahos – October 22
 
Bob Teska – October 23
 
Club Anniversary
 
Katherine Peterson – 4 years – October 23, 2018 
 
 
 
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