Fine Fine Master and another side of the Life of Karen Baker

Posted by Robert Paddock 
on Nov 06, 2014
 
  • Charitably Happy were -- Chris McClure announced a new accounting system, Quick Books.  Special thanks go to Treasurer Jim Thomson for the extra work!  Linda Borton thanked Tim Corrigan and others the efforts as the program the previous week in getting Club Runner running for us.  Bob Paddock was happy about the Herald’s efforts at diversification -- the purchase of Profile Publications, a national publisher of chamber of commerce community guides.  He was also happy for the ready fellowship and friendship our membership in Rotary brings, even when he comes in late for a meeting (he then asked his patient table mates Mary Cay Chisholm and Deb Whisler to pass the olive oil and bread again! : )
 
  • Fine Fine Master Dr. Joe Musolino did an especially Fun and Fine job entertaining for charity.  He used a slide show to quiz us on little known aspects of speaker Karen Baker’s life.  Among other things, could we guess her favorite Dr. Seuss book?  Favorite Chinese carry-out item?  Her fantasy celebrity dinner companion?  Song she readily knows all the lyrics of?  As president Borton said afterwards, “Joe’s presentation was a great example of the ‘Fun’ in Rotary.”  Contact Joe to show it to you.
 
  • Our speaker, Karen, had told us in a regular luncheon program about her job as Director of Community Outreach at Northwest Community Hospital, so this week in her Classification talk she told us more about herself.  Raised in Palatine and Arlington, she graduated from Arlington High School along with fellow Rotarian Mike Cassidy.  Her first job was selling merchandise with Charles of the Ritz, then moving into training.  Parents and grandparents among us, note that good things can come from being a band groupie -- she married a band member,  Kevin Baker !  She and her husband have three children.  She said her hardest job ever was being an active stay-at-home mom. Having been very involved in schools and activities, one of her children got to the point asking, “Are you going to be at school again today ! ?  She felt it was time to go back into the workforce. 
  • Feeling she wanted something more than selling, she worked as Palatine Township  outreach coordinator.  At an event there she met her friend and mentor, Ron Buch, who brought her to NW Community Hospital.  In addition to community outreach she also handles the tasks of regulatory reporting, community needs assessment, government relations, charitable giving, and Latino outreach
  • On a personal basis, travel is a hobby and pleasure.  The family has enjoyed adventure travel, the kids most of all, plus she and Kevin have enjoyed several trips as just a couple.  Cooking and country music are other pleasures, along with family time, sister time, Dudley (12-year-old beagle), friends and Bunko pals…and of course, Rotary.