Longtime Misericordia parents, Jo and Tom Halleran, spoke about the organization. Misericordia offers a community of care that maximizes potential for persons with mild to profound developmental disabilities, many of whom are also physically challenged. By serving society’s most vulnerable citizens, Misericordia also serves the families who want the best for them, yet cannot provide it at home. Through a spectrum of residential options on its 31-acre Chicago campus and in the community, and with a wide variety of programs, Misericordia currently serves more than 600 children and adults residentially, from diverse racial, religious and socio-economic backgrounds.

Len Becker, the Economic Development Manager for the Village of Skokie talked about recent developments in downtown, specifically the new hotel.

With over 30 years as an economic development professional, Len is currently the Economic Development Manager for the Village of Skokie. Joining the Village in 2017, he leads Skokie’s economic development efforts to build additional real estate capacity, spearhead redevelopment efforts, expand capital investment, grow employment and regional presence, and works to enhance municipal revenues. These efforts have led to the approval of multiple Tax Increment Financing agreements, Property Tax abatement projects as well as the utilization of local incentive programs. Over the past five years, economic development in Skokie has resulted in over $150 million in capital investment and over 1000 full-time jobs for the Village.  Concurrently, numerous transformational achievements have taken place in Skokie such as the establishment of the Old Orchard Business District and Oakton-Niles TIF District, completion of the Highpoint at 8000 North, continued expansion at Skokie Hospital as well as the Illinois Science + Technology Park. In his current capacity, Len serves as the liaison to the Skokie Economic Development Commission, led the economic recovery taskforce during Covid, represents the Village through numerous professional associations and has worked with and has assisted numerous business constituencies and partners throughout the Village. 

Prior to joining the Village of Skokie, Len served as Director of Economic Development in Buckeye, Arizona where his efforts led to the creation of 87 new businesses, 1,339 new jobs, and development of over 450,000 square feet of new commercial space. Len has also worked for several private and non-profit sector organizations in a similar capacity as Vice President of Economic Development at both the Greater Phoenix and Tucson Metropolitan Chambers of Commerce, Director of Economic Development for the Downtown Phoenix Partnership, and other positions in the private consulting and real estate sectors.

Skokie Valley Rotary Club grant recipients Phyllis Nutkis from the Ark, Sharon Caldwell and Haley Hansen from Metropolitan Family Services, and Joseph Gackstetter from the Mitchell Museum discussed their organizations and described how the funds will be used.  

Phyllis Nutkis has been the Grants Manager at The Ark since 2004, and oversees a portfolio of 50 grants annually. Prior to joining The Ark, she taught preschool and kindergarten in Milwaukee and Buffalo Grove. She  has a B.A. in music education and an M.S. in Jewish studies, and is the author of a children's book and of several magazine articles and stories. She is a native of New Jersey but has lived in the Midwest for many years. She and her husband have three married children and eight grandchildren. 

Sharon Caldwell is a Senior Grant Writer at Metropolitan Family Services. She earned a MSW in Social Work from University of Illinois Chicago. Sharon formerly worked as the Director of Institutional Giving for Housing Opportunities for Women (HOW) preparing grant applications to Foundations and Corporations, requests for new and renewal funding for services for homeless individuals and families, researched new prospects, prepared reports for existing funders, and coordinated site visits. She's lived in Skokie for six years now and her oldest child is a Niles West graduate, and her youngest is a senior in the city.

Joseph Gackstetter, Development and Collections Manager at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, is an experienced Collections Manager with a demonstrated history of working in museums. He's skilled in museum and collections management, exhibit development, donor management, and conversations with cats. He earned a Master's Degree in Museum and Artifact Studies from Durham University. 

Ms. Brennan currently serves as the Executive Director of the newly created Illinois Family Caregiver Coalition – a statewide network of caregivers, state agencies and advocacy organizations focused on supporting family caregivers throughout the state of Illinois. This coalition was created by the Illinois Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and funded by the Retirement Research Foundation on Aging and the Illinois Department on Aging.

Previously, she worked in Washington, DC on Capitol Hill and later in the communications office at one of the largest healthcare associations in the country. She spent 8 years working in Washington DC for a variety of media consulting firms and with journalist Elizabeth Drew as a research assistant where she assisted Ms. Drew writing a book covering the Clinton White House and the Gingrich Congress.

A native of the Chicagoland area, Amy returned to Illinois where she worked in and around Illinois State Government the past 22 years. She served as a Legislative Aide for the Speaker of the House. Next, she was hired by the Governor's office as Legislative Director for the Illinois Department of Human Services. Amy then created a small lobbying/consulting business, advocating for a variety of organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Illinois, Loyola University’s Child Law Center, Citizens Utility Board and the Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics. She was then hired in the Chicago office of JP Morgan Chase as a Vice President, managing State & Local Government Affairs and covering 7 Midwest states.

Most recently, Amy served in the Pritzker administration for the State of Illinois, heading up the legislative offices at the Department on Aging and at the Department of Veterans' Affairs. For the past 5 years, Amy has also worked as a real estate broker in Evanston for @properties, assisting clients moving in and out of the greater Evanston/ North Shore/ North side of Chicago area.

Ms. Brennan earned her undergraduate degree at Marquette University in Milwaukee and later a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

On July 12, 2022 Al Rigoni presented John Jekot with a Paul Harris Fellow Award. Continuing the legacy of  Rotary's founder Paul Harris, the Paul Harris Fellow program recognizes individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

The honor was established in 1957 to show appreciation for contributions that support Rotary's Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant.

Sarah Generes is a lifelong music lover and a passionate advocate for the performing arts. She currently serves as the Director of Development for the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University where she oversees the fundraising strategy and execution in support of the school’s strategic priorities. The school recently announced a successful conclusion to the WeWill Campaign, raising $72 million and exceeding its $70 million goal for that capital campaign. Prior to joining Northwestern, Sarah worked on the artistic teams at the Ravinia Festival and Lyric Opera of Chicago, producing large- and small-scale programs across a variety of musical and theatrical genres. Sarah graduated from Vanderbilt University with degrees in music and English.

Sarah discussed the Bienen School and talked about fundraising and programs. 

Jim Szczepaniak, the Executive Director of the Skokie Community Foundation discussed the foundation and the work they do in the community. 

Jim Szczepaniak became Executive Director of the Skokie Community Foundation in September 2021. He was a member of the original steering committee of the Skokie Community Fund in 2014 and has been a member of the Board of Directors since that time. He served Niles Township High School District 219 as Director of Strategic Partnerships & Community Relations from 2006 until his retirement in June 2021. He has been part of the Skokie and Niles Township community since 1985, when he started as a reporter for Pioneer Press, covering Skokie. He was also Public Information Officer for the Village of Skokie from 1988 to 1996. Between his public sector stints at the Village of Skokie and D219, Jim was Public Affairs Director for Ameritech New Media/SBC. Jim holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and German Studies from Northwestern University and a Master’s in Written Communication from National-Louis University.

The speaker on November 2, 2021 was Maureen “Moe” Yanes.

Moe is one of the top producing travel advisors with the Travel 100 Group in Northfield Illinois – a successful high end travel agency. Moe will discussed the state of travel at this point in the pandemic

Moe is a transplanted Jersey girl who moved to Skokie in 1962. Moe attended Devonshire Elementary (6^th grade), Old Orchard Junior High (class of ’65), and Niles North High School (class of ’69). Moe went on to college at NIU and finished at Northeastern University with a BA in history.

Moe has worked in the travel industry since 1987. Her client base blossomed thru the years, especially after picking up the Chicago Chapter of the Electrical Contractors Association (1991) and Steppenwolf Theater (1999). Moe has survived  many challenges to the travel industry: the airlines eliminating commissions, 9/11, the market tanking, the internet, and the Pandemic.

Moe has traveled to a good deal of the world-----sometimes leading groups on luxury cruises. Moe’s most memorable trips have been to the Baltic countries, Machu Picchu, the Peruvian Amazon, and Petra in Jordan. She is involved in the travel industry and has developed many relationships with hoteliers, cruise reps, and tour operators. Moe has received various accolades in the industry. In 2013, Moe was awarded the Island Destinations Rising Star Award. In 2019, Moe was one of the 25 “North American Travel Advisors of the Year” with the Grand Velas Hotel Brand. 

Moe has been married to Howard Yanes for almost 50 years. They moved their family of four to Skokie in 1987. Moe has consistently given back to her community.  PTA President at DeWitt Clinton School, Temple Judea Mizpah Membership Vice President, Skokie Park District Board Commissioner, Rush Hospital SAME Committee Board Member, Skokie Human Relations, Commission, Skokie Village IPLAN Committee, and Niles Township Coming Together Committee.

At the August 3, 2021 meeting, two grant recipients addressed the club.

Club Member Jennifer Sultz from Turning Point talked about the organization and how they will use the grant funds.

Michael Pauken, General Manager, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts discussed his organization and how it will use the grant funds. 

Colleen Burns, State Engagement and Innovation Lead for the Greater Chicago Food Depository spoke to the club on April 20. Colleen spoke about the Illinois Commission to End Hunger's recently released From Food Insecurity to Food Equity: A Roadmap to End Hunger, an action plan to make meaningful progress against hunger by better connecting people to food programs and promoting equitable access to food.

The Commission to End Hunger is a public-private partnership composed of stakeholders from across the state dedicated to the belief that no one in Illinois should ever face hunger.

For more information visit https://ccsd21.org

Costa Rica

Giovanni Cappa, Emergency room physician Rotaract Club of Pavia, Italy

• More than 935 total therapy hours. That's equivalent to nearly 40 full days of therapy!
• Over 14,029 group therapy miles, which is the same distance as riding across the continental United States 5 times. 
• We have consistently hosted one or two virtual rides a day, totaling 153 group rides.
• We have had our Project Hero wounded veterans and first responders participate more than 750 times. 
• We've burned a total of 475,020 calories, or, as we like to say, that's equivalent to 659 1/2 pound hamburgers!
• Our total elevation gain is 804,010 feet, which is like climbing Mount Everest more than 27 times. 

The Mission of the Sommer Foundation is to provide college or university scholarships to deserving high school seniors who have experienced the death of a parent and despite the resulting emotional trauma, have performed in an exemplary manner during his or her high school career.

From the late 1970s throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s, four men built an incredible bond. Bob Kiely, Al Rigoni, Bill Sommer and I were professional colleagues, trusted friends and confidants. We worked hard and played harder. We shared personal and professional triumphs and tragedies. We learned from one another and about one another. We were as thick as thieves. We were a "Band of Brothers".

The Sommer Foundation

Trisha Clare, Rotary Club of Skokie Valley Grant Recipient, has been the President of  the Skokie Concert Choir for the past six year.

Guest Speaker Lawrence A. Dimmitt,  Director 2018-20 Rotary Club of Topeka Kansas

1. Rotary’s theme this year is “Rotary Connects the World.”  The Coronavirus has really made this a challenge all around the world.

2. Almost all Rotary communication is remote/virtual.

3. Some other examples of virtual communication among Rotarians.

4. Recent RI Board actions promoting connection despite Coronavirus.

5. How will Rotarians provide service during the pandemic?

6. Examples of clubs and districts fighting Covid:

Lawrence A. Dimmitt is retired from AT&T, where he was general attorney. He then was an adjunct professor at Washburn University School of Law, his alma mater. He is a member of several professional associations.

A Rotarian since 1983, Dimmitt has served Rotary as committee member, regional Rotary Foundation coordinator, and president’s representative. He personally raised $200,000 for a Million Dollar Dinner in District 6040 (Missouri) in 2010 and co-chaired a similar event in District 5710 (Kansas) in 2014.

Dimmitt has received the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service and the Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award. He and his wife, Lois, are Benefactors and Major Donors to the Foundation, and members of the Arch Klumph Society and Bequest Society.

What is Chicago Common Brick?

Much of Chicago is built from Chicago Common bricks. If you're in Chicago, you're probably near some now. Chicago Commons are the rougher and dirtier bricks on the sides and back of many of Chicago's buildings. They're made from the clay from the Chicago River and when fired they can turn a range of colors, like buff yellow, salmon pink, or deep red. Chicago bricks age beautifully and take on a beautiful patina.

History

Before the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Chicago was built mostly of wood. The fire burned down over 17,000 buildings and, after another fire in 1874, citywide building codes were changed to ban new wood buildings. The rebuilders of the city in turn dug into the clay of the river and areas surrounding the city to make bricks.

The clays used to make Chicago Common Bricks are full of lime, iron, and tons of little stones and particulate. Depending on the makeup of the particular batch, the bricks burned to a different range of colors, often colored in spots (called flashpoints, where the bricks touched in the kilns). These Chicago bricks were called Commons because they were rougher and deemed unworthy of gracing the street facing facade of the building. That purpose was left to nicer “face bricks” made with the smoother, cleaner clays from areas like Pennsylvania and St. Louis.

So, Chicago bricks were tucked away on the back, sides, and interiors of buildings. You can still spot them there!In 1871 there were 5 brickyards in Cook County. By 1881 there were 60. By 1915, 10% of all brick made in America was made in Chicago. Chicago was transformed from a city of wood to a city of brick. The last Chicago Common brick maker was closed in 1981, and no Chicago Common bricks have been made since.

Reuse and Reclaim

Chicago Common bricks are often reclaimed and sent around the world. Often times, brickyards will use saws to slice the long stretcher faces off the reclaimed bricks creating multiple thin bricks out of one brick.

You can spot reclaimed Chicago Common brick on many new homes, storefronts, and interiors. 

Any easy way to spot a wall of reclaimed Chicago Common brick: Original walls of Chicago brick aged and stained together and are often from the same batch of clay and thus the same color. On a wall of reclaimed commons, bricks are taken from multiple buildings, sites, and batches, so you’ll see a large variation in colors, patina, staining, and painting. For example, a painted common next to a red common, next to a yellow, next to a black soot-stained Common brick. That’s a tell-tale sign of a reclaimed wall.

Other Regional Bricks

One of the cooler things about Chicago Commons is how unique they are to Chicago and the clay deposits here. Move up the lake to Milwaukee and the clay is different enough that you get Cream City Brick. In Madison, Wisconsin, the common bricks are smooth silver. St. Louis clays were smooth and high in iron and made dense, matte red bricks. Toullouise, France is covered in home-grown pink bricks.

Ingrid Andor was the guest speaker at the Skokie Valley Rotary Club luncheon meeting of February 11. Ingrid is a local, Independent Insurance Agent and benefits consultant, experienced in transitioning employees and retirees from group insurance to individual Medicare plans. While Ingrid specializes in Senior benefits, she also assists those under 65 individuals, entrepreneurs, and small groups with their health, life, and long term care insurance needs. Ingrid is a published author, has taught at Chicago area colleges, and holds a Master's Degree in Linguistics, with a concentration in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Following are items she spoke about:

Gillian Hemme is a performer, writer, and director. She has studied at Grinnell College, Pacifica Graduate Institute, the National Theatre Institute, and Piven Theatre Workshop. Gillian has appeared on stage with Piven, The Moth, ten x9 Chicago, Literate Ape’s Bughouse, Something Marvelous, Prop Theatre, Jubilee Theatre Collective, Prologue, the Chicago Fringe Festival, and the International Theatre Festival in Taiwan.  Her on-camera credits include Mind Games and The Onion, and she is represented by Big Mouth Talent. At Piven, she teaches PEEP (Piven Empowerment through Enrichment Program) classes for adults with developmental disabilities, directs for Performance Project, and teaches story theatre for Conservatory. She and Beth Voitik helped start the EPIC ensemble at Cook County Jail, where she and an outstanding team of teachers develop original performances with an incredible group of women.

Experienced with a demonstrated history of working in the entertainment industry. Skilled in Non- Profit Organizations, Theatre, Performing Arts, Fundraising, and Acting. String arts and design professional with Bachelor of Arts (BA) focused un Theatre w/Honors; Pre Med from Grinnell College.

Collective Resource, Inc. (a.k.a. Collective Resource Compost or CRI) began when Erlene Howard, an Evanston resident, became interested in composting but couldn't find a good place to do it in her condo environment. Howard, a bookkeeper by trade, is a frequent consumer of organic fruits and vegetables. She was inspired to start a food scrap recycling service when she realized that, if composting were made more convenient, more people would do it.

Her first pickups started with three customers, using her Toyota Camry for collection. Howard's customer base has since grown to over 1400 residential and nearly 300 commercial customers. The company now uses seven cargo vans to collect pre and post-consumer food scraps weekly in an area that extends to over 60 communities encompassing Chicago's entire north side as well as near south and southwest side neighborhoods and the suburbs north to Lake Bluff and extending west to Schaumburg, Arlington Heights and Buffalo Grove.

During their first six months of business, Collective Resource collected a single ton. Now they collect at least twice that amount every day, averaging 20 tons per week. In December of 2019, the company celebrated a total collection milestone of 6,000 tons.

Sam Eckerling (left) Dr. Mark Parisi (right)

Club member Dr. Mark Parisi receives his 8th Paul Harris Fellow Award from Past Club President Sam Eckerling.

In order to receive this award $1,000 cash must be paid to the Rotary Foundation. Thank you Dr. Parisi for your generous  monetary contributions.

President’s Message - December  2019

• All individuals are able to exceed expectations. 
• All students have the right to ambitious instruction and a rigorous education. 
• We embrace diversity and will work to eliminate the racial predictability of student achievement. 
• We are committed to employing professional staff members who are culturally competent, reflective of our student body and qualified to advance district initiatives. 
• We pledge to meet these commitments in the most financially efficient manner. 

• Use ambitious culturally relevant instruction, teacher collaboration and effective leadership to grow student’s learning beyond their expected trajectory.
• Implement a framework for K-14 programming that leads to high school and college readiness.
• Increase digital literacy and teach using 21st century digital tools and applied/ partnership opportunities.
• Involve families and provide individualized interventions to raise healthy students in a safe, culturally inclusive environment.
• Connect students with adults and their school through increased par􏰀cipa􏰀on in extra-curricular ac􏰀vi􏰀es.
• Improve the physical learning environment using fiscally responsible and sustainable practices

Left to right: Mike Dorf, Mayor Van Dusen and Judge Barbara Meyer

A new debate on nuclear arms

• In 1988, there were 350,000 annual cases of wild poliovirus from 125 countries. In 2018, there were 33 cases reported in only two countries - Pakistan and Afghanistan. While this exceeds the number of cases in 2017 (22), wild polio transmission has remained at unprecedented low levels in recent years.
• Today, wild polio exists in the smallest geographic area in history. The world has not experienced any outbreaks of wild polio outside the three remaining polio-endemic countries – Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria – since August 2014. In fact, Nigeria has not seen a case since 2016. If the country reaches three years without detecting the virus, the entire WHO AFRO Region could be certified wild polio-free as early as 2020.
• Only one of the three wild polio virus strains appears to survive Wild polio virus type2(WPV2)was certified eradicated in 2015, and type 3 wild poliovirus (WPV3) has not been detected since 2012.

• Thanks to polio eradication efforts, more than 18 million people are currently walking who otherwise would have been paralyzed by the virus. Ending polio is a critical step toward improving the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children.
• In 2019, the WHO South East Asia Region marks five years since being declared polio-free following eradication of the virus in India. India was once described as the most challenging place in the world to end polio and just over a decade ago was responsible for almost 70% of all wild polio cases globally. Stopping polio in the country is one of the most significant achievements in public health and serves as evidence for what is possible in the remaining endemic countries.
• The tools, infrastructure and knowledge developed to eradicate polio have been used to fight every vaccine-preventable childhood disease, deliver malaria prevention tools and improve disease surveillance worldwide. Polio workers have also delivered 1.3 billion doses of Vitamin A since 1988 that have saved an estimated 1.5 million children’s lives. In 2014, the polio vaccination infrastructure in Nigeria was also used to stop the Ebola outbreak in its tracks.

• If we don’t end polio now, we could see a resurgence of up to 200,000 cases annually within a decade. The world could also risk losing upwards of US$50 billion in estimated savings that eradication would generate by 2035 – with these savings primarily concentrated in developing countries.
• To protect global progress, the program vaccinates more than 400 million children across dozens of countries every year and conducts disease surveillance in more than 70 countries. Since 2001, there have been wild polio outbreaks in 41 countries that were previously polio-free. While each outbreak has been stopped, each one is a reminder that as long as polio exists, every country—and every child—is at risk.
• Through its ongoing surveillance, the program investigates more than 100,000 suspected cases of polio each year using a community reporting network. It has also expanded environmental sewage testing to help vaccination campaigns target areas where the virus is circulating even before any child shows symptoms of polio.

Left to right: Diane Krier-Morrow,  John Robertson,  Nick Wyatt, - Jon Lavin,  Ralph Klein.

The following new club members were installed this past Tuesday by club president Ralph Klein:Diane Krier-Morrow, Sponsored by Hohn Haben - John Robertson, Sponsored by Diane Krier-Morrow - Nick Wyatt, Sponsored by Al Rigoni - Jon Lavin, Sponsored by Ralph Klein.

The entire Skokie Valley Rotary Club Assembly Welcomes you all!

Nigeria Just Won a Complex Victory Over Polio

The country’s vaccinators have overcome distrust, misinformation, and an insurgency to reach this point, but they can’t stop yet.

Click here for full article 

Erika Vavrik, Director development Orchard Village  (left) Club President Ralph Klein (right)

Jamie Lake, Director of Development at Keshet (left) Club President Ralph Klein (right)

Jennifer Sultz, Development Director Turning Point (left) Club President Ralph Klein (right)

The above representatives received a donation check from the Skokie Valley Club President Ralph Klein for the Rotary Calendar Year of 2018-2019.

Orchard Village

partners with families and communities to optimize personal outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities through a community-integrated approach.

Keshet

Trisha Clare from Skokie Concert Choir (left) Club President Ralph Klein (right)

Alyse Cohen Burman from Niles Township Food Pantry (left) Club President Ralph Klein (right)

Rotarian Rob Paddor from Project Here (left) Club President Ralph Klein (right)

Kate Tucker Fahlsing from North Shore Center for the Performing Arts (left) Club President Ralph Klein (right)

The above representatives from Skokie Concert Choir, Niles Township  Food  Pantry, Project Hero and North Shore Center for  the Performing Arts    received a donation check from the Skokie Valley Club President Ralph Klein for the Rotary Calendar Year of 2018-2019.

From left to right:  Club President Ralph Klein,  Maria Alejandra Salazar Niles Township High School Foundation's Board Member, Jeff Burman, Niles Township High School Foundation's President

From left to right: Club Member and Sommer's Foundation treasurer, Robert Kiely,  Sommer Foundation's Board Member,  Club President Ralph Klein.

The above representatives from Niles Township High School Foundation and Sommer Foundation  received a donation check from the Skokie Valley Club President Ralph Klein for the Rotary calendar year of 2018-2019.

From left to right: Phyllis Nutkis,  Audrey Brenner and club president Ralph Klein.

The above ARK representatives, received a donation check from the Skokie Valley Club President Ralph Klein for the Rotary calendar year of 2018-2019.

The following essay was written by Audrey Brenner:

Polio Cases Surge in Pakistan and Afghanistan

Rich Buhrke has been a "Ball Hawk" at Wrigley Field since 1959. The story behind my first homer . Friendships that have lasted a lifetime. Oprah Winfrey interview in 1984. Ballhawk’s the movie in and around 2005. While it all started and still remains around Wrigley Field, there have been many balls caught another ball parks. Finally the Sandberg BP homerun that won the all star game Home Run hitting contest at Wrigley in 1990 and the Cooperstown trip. 

Left to right: Siva Albom, Past Club President  and Club founder - Adina Matten, Current year Club Co-President - Bayla Alter,  Current year and next year Club Co-President  - Hannah Wasserman, Next year Club Co-President.

• Multiple candy gram fundraiser raising over $200. As a result of this endeavor, their were able to donate $100  to Shalva and $100 to Empowering Opportunities. Candy grams are papers with a bag of chocolate attached to each one that people can buy for a dollar and write a nice note to send to their friends or teachers. 
• Had a  Random Acts of Kindness Day, consisting of posting notes on the wall, and quotes on the tv’s around the school. 
• Volunteered at The ark in March and Maot Chitim in April
• Helped in their school with the Shabbat Project,  Challah Bake, and with the supply drive with H.O.P.E in October.

From left to right:  Rotarian John Haben -  Haley Hansen, MFS Behavioral Health Team - Judge-Rotarian and MFS past Board Member Barbara Meyer - MFS Executive Director Roxanne Nava.

"My name is Sam Smith, I am a resident of Evanston, and work in Lincolnwood. I am owner operator of BRC Access Care, Inc., dba Better Residential Care. We have an office in Lincolnwood, and a remote agency branch in Naperville. Was raised in Northeast Texas, attended elementary school in Pittsburg, TX, and high school at Pine Tree High School in Longview, TX,  where I was a member of the Interact club.  This was where I first met rotary club members,  and one of them hired me as an intern. I graduated from Baylor University, in Waco in 1976 and have an MBA degree in Economics and Marketing.

I lived in Waco, and Dallas, TX most of my adult life, and spent three years as a church staffer in Vancouver, BC.  I Have been single now for about six years, and before that was married to my ex wife for 35 years. I have a married daughter with three beautiful children, who lives in Waco TX,  and a son who lives in Tulsa, OK.

I am an amature artist focusing on geometric designs, primarily mandalas, using pen and ink, and love to take long walks by the lake or wherever I can. Most of all, I love doing FaceTime with my grandchildren on a regular basis. 

I moved to Chicago area, in order to work on growing my business in affiliation with Better Care Home Health in Des Plaines. We have formed an Accountable Care Network, enabling the insurer, to place their beneficiaries in the home setting rather than in a facility like a hospital or nursing home. This is a cost savings to the payer. This is a growing system. We are working in conjunction with private insurors, such as IlliniCare, or Next Level Health, or Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

I learned of the Rotary Club of Skokie Valley through Rotarian Sam Eckerling, and joined the club in July 2018".

1. Literacy - so that parents can effectively communicate
2. Access to Community Resources - so that parents can support raising healthy children
3. Parent Education - so that parents themselves can model life-long learning

• A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute
  • Helps schools and organizations create a positive climate by providing tailored approaches and trainings to combat bias, bullying, cyber-bullying and hatred
• Managing Implicit Bias
  • Trains police officers to manage the influence of bias on their interactions and decision-making
• Words to Action
  • Gives middle, high school and college students the tools to combat anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias
• Echoes & Reflections
  • Provides resources and professional development to middle and high school educators to teach their students about the Holocaust

• Cleaned/Organized the Niles Township Clothing Closet and packed a truck full of extra clothes so that the Clothing Closet may receive a check in order to purchase new undergarments for distribution
• Made 212 tug toys and 64 blankets for Wrightway Rescue (animals)
• Made 132 heart pillows that will be distributed to local oncology units for those who have breast cancer
• Made over 200 bagged lunches for The Niles Township Food Pantry

Diane Zidman attended a seminar where Sheriff Tom Dart was the keynote speaker. His presentation on Sex Trafficking sparked her interest and she knew she had to get involved. She joined JCAST (Jewish Community against Sex Trafficking) where she now sits on the steering committee and lectures on Sex Trafficking.

• In the Chicago area, 16,000 to 25,000 local women and girls are “sex trafficked” each year.
• Most victims of sex trafficking in the US are women and children, particularly girls under the age of 18.
• While trafficking is often seen as a problem that occurs in other countries, more than 100,000 children are estimated to be part of the sex trade every year here in the U.S., with an additional almost 300,000 youths at risk of becoming victims.
• The majority of sex trafficking victims identified in this country are US citizens.
• Once girls enter the sex industry, their average life expectancy is seven years, with homicide and AIDS being the top killers.
• Most trafficking victims have experienced extreme violence, suffer from substance abuse addictions, experience homelessness, have health problems, and struggle with mental illness.
• Human trafficking is the world’s third largest criminal enterprise, after drugs and weapons, and is the fastest growing.
• Sex trafficking alone produces an estimated $7 billion annually.
• The International Labor Organization (ILO) of the United Nations estimates that there are 12.3 million adults and children at any given time in forced labor or commercial sexual servitude worldwide.

The above Niles West Hight School HOSA (Healthcare Occupations Students of America) senior students did a very interesting community awareness program and demonstration on Bystander CPR.

Mara Stern (left) and Jarrett Dapier (right)

Ken Davis of Kenny the Kleener / Chicago's Discount Dry Cleaner is honored by the Rotary Club of Skokie Valley for his commitment to community service and our Annual Coat Drive.  Pictured with fellow Rotarians Rob Paddor of Evanston Subaru in Skokie and Michelle Tuft of the Skokie Park District.

Kenny the Kleeners Delivery Driver, Robert Katz brings a load of clean coats from Kenny the Kleener / Chicago's Discount Dry Cleaner to Vicki at St. Paul's Church

Kenny the Kleener / Chicago's Discount Dry Cleaner

Guest Speaker Claudiu Cionca (left) Acting Club President Max Slamkard (right)

Claudiu Cionca President of VOX Connect was the guest speaker at the November 6, 2018 Skokie Valley Rotary Club luncheon weekly meeting. His subject was syber security.

Vox Connect is a professional IT company and Telecom Services Provider that has been providing technical solutions to small- and medium-sized businesses in the Chicago area since 2006. Our customers are SMBs with 5-100 computers in the non-profit, accounting, real estate, construction, manufacturing, legal, and investment industries. At Vox Connect, we understand that maintaining computer and telecom systems can be intimidating, frustrating, time-consuming, and costly for SMB owners. That’s why we are 100% committed to making sure business owners have the most cost effective, reliable, responsive and professional technology service in Chicago that is centered around top-notch customer service.

Today acting club president Michelle Tuft inducted three new members to the Skokie Valley Rotary Club. They were:

• Teri Madl, Superintendent of East Prairie School
• Sam Smith, CEO of Better Residential Care, Lincolnwood & Chicago
• Glen Gaode, Owner of Luke Management, Luke Parking

The Skokie Community Fund was established in 2010 by a small group of Skokie residents who want to foster a supportive, engaged, and dynamic community in Skokie through meaningful giving, collaboration, and community programming. In the summer of 2017 the Fund became a 501c3 and the Skokie Community Foundation was created.

Our goal is to seek out and partner with donors and community builders who share our vision so that we can build a community resource that will benefit Skokie now and one hundred years from now.

Left to right: Dave Gendel, David Schoenberg, Jason Wicha

KESHET received a check in the amount of $1,000 from The Skokie Valley Rotary Club.

From its core programs for children and adults with intellectual challenges in the Chicago area, to its international consulting work, Keshet serves over 1,000 individuals with disabilities and touches the lives of many more family members, peers, supporters, and other stakeholders around the globe. 

For the past 35 years, Keshet has integrated students, campers, residents, and employees with disabilities into over 70 sites in the Chicago area and throughout the Midwest. Globally, Keshet has trained over 15,000 staff members, proving the tools necessary for successful inclusion.

Keshet’s local leadership, comprised of nearly 100 lay leaders from all walks of life, provide the inspiration, direction, and funding required to fulfill the organization’s mission: to do whatever is necessary to allow individuals with disabilities to achieve their potential.

Left to right: Jason Wicha - Jennifer Sultz, Development Director - Peter Robichaux, The Living Room Coordinator and Therapist 

Turning Point received a check in the amount of $1,000 from The Skokie Valley Rotary Club.

Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center is an outpatient mental health center with a mission to provide solid support, when you need it most.  We provide expert, affordable and compassionate care to people during some of the most difficult times of their lives.

Turning Point was established in 1969 as an area mental health center and has grown to serve residents in communities throughout metropolitan Chicago. We are easily accessible by public transit. We are conveniently located two blocks north of the CTA Yellow Line Oakton Street station, and are on the CTA bus lines #97 and #54A.

Our community is diverse. Clients range widely in age, diagnosis, and socioeconomic group. Client cultural, ethnic and religious orientations are as diverse as the staff available to serve them. Fees structured on a sliding scale flex to align with each client’s income.

In addition to primarily serving clients in Skokie and the surrounding communities of Morton Grove, Niles, Lincolnwood, and Evanston, Turning Point also sees clients from 47 other communities including clients from as far north as Antioch and McHenry to our western neighbors of Schaumburg and Lombard and south throughout the City of Chicago.

Our service is comprehensive. Brief or long-term care is available. Turning Point provides outpatient individual and group therapy for all ages, psychiatric evaluation and medication monitoring, case management, and a residential living program. Turning Point has consistently been awarded the highest rating from The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

Jason Wicha, Club President (left) Jessica T. Claudio, Grants Manager (right)

Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center received a check in the amount of $500 from The Skokie Valley Rotary Club.

The Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center was built on the courage of survivors, staff, volunteers and donors, we have been serving the community as a non-profit center against sexual assault and abuse since 1983.

We pride ourselves on the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center  experience. Our locations are designed to operate on the principle that a holistic environment, composed of safe, tranquil, and nurturing physical surroundings and compassionate staff, can significantly enhance the healing process so that all survivors can heal, safely, in their own way.

 Acting Club President Michelle Tuft (left) Laura Prohov, CJE Senior Life (right)

Laura Prohov from CJE Senior received a grant check in the amount of $500 from Skokie Valley Rotary Club. 

What sets CJE SeniorLife apart from other organizations are its mission and values, and how its programs and services complement one another, creating a constellation of care.

For over 40 years, CJE SeniorLife has been helping older adults pursue lives of meaning, independence and good health. Today, CJE has over 700 employees who provide 20,000 older adults and family members annually with a myriad of programs and services including independent housing, assisted living, home delivered meals, transportation, long and short-term skilled nursing care, adult day services, geriatric care management, health and wellness activities, support groups for clients and caregivers, and numerous lifelong learning opportunities.

Acting Club President Michelle Tuft (left) Tarin Kendrick, Niles Township District for Special Education (NTDSE) (right)

Tarin Kendrick from Niles Township District for Special Education received a grant check in the amount of $300 from Skokie Valley Rotary Club. 

The Niles Township District for Special Education, in collaboration with its member school districts and families, provides an array of quality programs that create optimum learning experiences to meet each child’s specialized needs. 

• NTDSE believes that programs and student interventions should be based upon sound research and provide documented evidence of their effectiveness.
• NTDSE supports and helps build effective programs in member districts through research-based intervention programs and quality professional development.
• NTDSE believes in strong, meaningful, collaboration with families to meet their children’s changing needs.
• NTDSE is an advocate for public policy and legislation benefiting children with special needs

ICJA’s (Ida Crown Jewish Academy) Interact Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Skokie Valley has 35 members. Over this year the club has done many different projects, one of which was candy grams,  little bags of candy a person can send to a friend with a note attached expressing gratitude. The money raised through this has been sent to a few different organizations. They donated $234 to the victims of Hurricane Harvey, $54 to Shalva,  an organization that supports victims of domestic violence, $32 to Red Doors Animal Shelter , and $36 to End Polio Now.  

The Interact Club has also organized and sponsored three activities at school as a club. Firstly, on Random Acts of Kindness Day, they put up a wall of sticky notes in the commons area for people to spread the kindness and gave out candy grams. Leading up to Random Acts of Kindness Day the club members found famous inspirational people, and created slideshows of those people’s quotes, which appeared on the walls and TV screens around school. Each day for a month there was a specific feature person. Secondly, on Earth Day, they sent out members to clean up the schools surrounding areas and retention pond. Lastly, the school hosted a Chesed (Acts of Kindness) day which Interact Club helped organize. Three of the senior from the club went with the the sophomores boys trip, which the club sponsored, and helped an organization, Stand Up for Kids, repair and organize their facility. This organization helps homeless teens by providing a meal and activities as well as any needed school help. The Interact Club also collected toiletries, summer clothes, and socks for this organization. 

 ICJA’s Interacts not only volunteered with Stand Up for Kids, but they held many volunteer events throughout the year. They brought brownies to the Skokie Police Station. They volunteered at Lieberman, a rehabilitation center for the elderly. They organized a pizza party with Libeynu, an organization that houses adults with disabilities. Two other Jewish schools joined Interact for this event. Lastly, Interact volunteered with Artists for Israel by creating healing art kits. These kits are used to help at risk children combat PTSD with art therapy. This was so special and important to the community our club was featured in the Chicago Jewish Home, a prominent local Jewish bi-weekly newspaper. 

Even though the founders of this club are seniors, they are leaving the club in good hands. Siva Albom, President, and Masha Matten, Vice President, will be giving over their positions to Bayli Alter, future President, and Adina Matten, Vice President .

Siva and Masha expressed how they would never be able to accomplish all of this without the help and support of the Skokie Valley Rotary Club. 

• adopts companion pets into safe, healthy, lifelong homes
• serves as an educational and counseling resource for pet owners
• works to reduce pet overpopulation
• supports local food banks with pet food for owners in need

SEAN NELSON is the Volunteer RYLA Conference Chairman. Sean has been a Wheaton Noon Rotarian for 20 years and has been the conference Chair for the past 15 years. During that time, the conference has doubled in participation and is nearing capacity. 

Sean believes that the speakers at the conference are arguably the best that participants might ever have an opportunity to hear . . . at any price! Sean has been a Rotarian for almost 20 years and currently is the Executive Director for Illinois YMCA Youth and Government. Rotary Clubs sponsor 100% of the students selected to attend.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards - or RYLA - is a not-for-profit training program for leaders and potential leaders (Freshman- Senior). As a RYLA participant, sponsored students will attend an all-expense- paid, three day camp. 

The sponsoring Rotary clubs involved in organizing the event determine the specifics of each RYLA program. All programs emphasize leadership skills, personal development, and citizenship. RYLA goes to great lengths to make sure the three day weekend is fun and recreational as well as educational for all involved.