Rotopep Vol. 97 No. 32
 
Rotary Club of Evanston
 
March 16, 2017
 
Program:  We will be meeting at the Infant Welfare Society at the Family Focus building, 2010 Dewey in Evanston.
 
 
Inspiration:  Stephanie Murray
 
Greeter: Sonar Greene
 
Greeter: Michael Pure
 
Scribe:  Jane Lawicki
 
Sgt.-at-Arms:  Pam Rosenbusch
 
Meeting of March 9, 2017:
 
 
President Dave Stumpf opened the meeting and gave the invocation.  He gave us two appropriate quotes by notable ladies, in honor of the 3/8/2017 Women’s Day.
 
Visiting Rotarians were introduced by President Dave: Dr. Shelly Kelz from Glen Falls, New York, and David Hersh from Rotary One, in Chicago.
 
Only one non-Rotarian visitor was with us today, Ned Schaub, who was immediately inducted into the club.  Brian King is his sponsor.  Ned did give us a few comments about how he learned of Rotary, and as a result, wished to join us in our mission.


First Publishing: The board has approved the membership of India Alexis Ehioba, who is transferring from the Park Ridge Rotary club.
 
Announcements:
 
March 10 - Nan Sharp Dinner
March 11 - Kids Against Hunger - Meal Packing - Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield (see below)
March 16 - Offsite meeting at Infant Welfare Society Meeting @ Family Focus, 2010 Dewey
March 23 - Offsite Service Project! Stay Tuned!
Apr 28-30  - 2017 Rotary District Conference
May 4 – RI President John Germ as Speaker – Tour to Follow
May 16 - PizzaFest 2017 @ Gigio’s - Tickets on their way!
May 20 – District Training Assembly – Harper College
July 29 – 3rd Annual District 6440 Road Trip to Miller Field Cubs vs. Brewers.
•10-14 Jun – International Convention-Atlanta
 
Reminder: We won’t be at the RI building for a meeting on March 16, as all of the meeting rooms are booked! We will be meeting at the Infant Welfare Society at the Family Focus building, 2010 Dewey in Evanston.
 
On March 23, there will be a club service project – details to come
 
The 4th of JULY Parade needs a leader for our club’s participation.  Dick Peach will head the entire 4th of July celebrations for the city of Evanston.  We need a leader to do what he’s done in the past – finding where our starting point will be; working with the Lighthouse club to coordinate our joint effort; obtaining cars, trucks or fire engines to carry some of our senior members; recruiting volunteers to help with promotion, fresh water and confirming the parking available at the end of the march.  Basically, someone needs to talk to Dick Peach to learn what is needed.  It’s a great way to meet your fellow members.
 
Jane Lawicki announced a replay of a memorable Women’s Day Program.  Please contact Jane for further information.
 
Speaker: Silvia Alvino, of the Community Council For International Students at Northwestern University.
The program started at Northwestern 45 years ago.  Northwestern has international students attending from over 100 countries around the world.  This program primarily serves the graduate students.  PhD students are usually here for 5 years.  Some programs can go as long as 7 years.
Many do quite well at Northwestern, but the Chinese, for example, are the most uncomfortable culturally.  Being away for such an extended period for all these students, without their families, is taxing even for the most culturally similar.
With recent events regarding travel bans and the news emanating from Washington, many students and their families have become quite concerned.  Even if they are not Muslims nor from the now-six-countries on the ban list, all are concerned.  Many are receiving calls from family worried about their safety and asking if they want to come back home. 
The program is looking for volunteers to meet with these students.  English Conversation Partners are needed.  PhD students have to pass verbal skills tests as they also teach while here.
There’s a Foster Parent Program, but no room or board need be supplied. 
The Indonesian Students come around 7/1 yearly and spend 7 years here learning about the positive aspects of the American Culture – something a group that throws Peace Festivals like our club – would do well at.
We were assured that volunteering is not a big time commitment.  The students gain a sense of community, and we gain from making new friends.  Our speaker reported that our country often gets a very happy returnee to their countries, who share all the good feelings they had while they were with us.  This type of result is exactly what we usually had from our Rotary International Foundation Scholar programs in the past.
Harry Vroegh shared this type of program was how he came to our country from the Netherlands when he was a student.  He also shared how he got scolded for having a girl visiting his room at age 23, and this was the impetus to his obtaining off campus housing.
Thanks Harry for sharing that with us.
 
ORCHIDS AND ONIONS:
 
Abby had an Onion for the parking garages that dent one’s cars.  Dick Peach’s name came up the probable designer of these garages.
Brian gave a salute to the International Women’s Day with his foreign currency.
Ned’s son is coming home from Switzerland, and he got a job with a Swiss firm,
Phill had an Orchid for facetiming family in Korea while driving his car.
Mark was in India last week, and had an Orchid that our club was the first Rotary meeting for staff from there, even though they had been staff there for years.
David’s Orchid was for his daughter, who is in swim meets all month.
Dick had an orchid for the 7 district PETS training – it was a fund time – plus he learned that our club was better organized and imbued with better technology than most clubs.
Guy gave an Orchid for our two members who taught at the recent PETS training.
Kelly gave an Orchid for being in business for 14 years, and passed along the greetings from long-time member, John Hamal.  John has graduated from long time active member to Honorary.
If you know everyone’s name listed above, Congratulations.  If not, here’s a perfect opportunity to learn their names.

We finished with Tracy Tebear quizzing us on Women’s Issues as Sgt. @ Arms.  As of February 28th, we have raised $2,000 since July 1st from the Sgt. @ Arms and Orchids and Onions collections.  This money will definitely be put to a good cause, and we were all entertained as we collected these funds.
Thanks.
 
 
 
 
 
Updated Duty Roster
Tracy Tebear sent out an Updated Duty Roster for club assignments through June 2017.  Please take note for your assignments and remember, if you are not able to perform your function that day, it is your responsibility to find someone who can.
 
 
Annual Fund Contributions Update
Once again, a most generous anonymous donor is making Rotary Foundation recognition points available
to match cash contributions to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund-SHARE. This is a great
opportunity for Rotarians to become new Paul Harris Fellows. Do take advantage of this generous
donation and support the wonderful work of Rotary International.
 
It is through these donations that the District Designated Funds for our club coming back to use to support our involvement in District Grants and Global Grants.  This year, our club set a goal to contribute $10,000 to the Annual Fund, and through December we were just over half way there, with contributions of $5,100.  Please help our club reach our goal for 2016-17, which also helps support our ability to participate in Foundation grants in future years. Thank you!!
 
 
Public Service Announcement – Video from D-65 about school referendum
Please watch this powerful video that includes many different District 65 parents and everyday Evanstonians on why they are passionate about the April 4th school referendum.  https://vimeo.com/207474411
 
 
Rotary Peace Fellowships Open For Applications  
The 2018 Rotary Peace Fellowship application is now available! Our new online application will streamline the submission and review process and help districts manage the increasing number of Rotary Peace Fellowship applications. Users of the new application can expect (1) Better functionality and design, (2) A district dashboard for reviewing and endorsing applications and communicating with applicants, (3) Automated email communications from the platform, (4) Technical support and training from our platform provider, Embark, and (5) A sign-in process that is separate from My Rotary and other Rotary databases and applications. Follow this link for more information.  
District Training Assembly Coming May 20 
The District Training Assembly (also known as COTS = Club Officer Training Seminar) will be held Saturday May 20 at the Wojcik Conference Center of Harper College. Further details will be announced soon by District Governor-Elect Don Brewer and District Trainer Cynthia Tomusiak, but all incoming (or continuing) club officers for 2017-2018 can attend. There is no fee to attend - it is part of the district dues that each club pays. We can send as many participants as we want. Breakout sessions will be offered for specific interest areas and responsibilities. 
 
Ottawa Tornado February 28
Tornado and storm damage took a heavy toll on part of our neighboring District 6420, particularly in and around Ottawa. Rotary resources are being mobilized together with other community agencies. Read more about it at this D6420 link.
 

“What’s Rotary?” PowerPoint 
Need to answer the question “What’s Rotary?” Now you can use this brief presentation to help others discover what Rotary is all about. The slides cover Rotary’s values, history, and the benefits of membership. Present it at prospective member or other events your club holds for the public to introduce them to Rotary. The presentation can be edited to include slides with information and images that reflect your club. Be sure to have prospective member and club brochures on hand to distribute! Follow this link to download the PowerPoint presentation.   
 
 
Polio Cases Updates
Our District provides the following information on the number of Polio cases around the world year-to-date, as well as the last time a case was reported in the last three endemic countries:
 
 
Through March 1, 2017 world-wide:
Total polio cases year-to-date = 3
Total polio cases in 2016 = 37
Total polio cases in 2015 = 74
 
Last cases:
Afghanistan January 20, 2017
Pakistan January 27, 2017
Nigeria August 20, 2016