By Tim Dempsey

 

President Olson opened the meeting and Dennis Kratohwil gave the pledge. Greeter Peggy Freese led us in prayer and Pat Hart attempted a group song. The song was so memorable that I didn’t write it down!

 

-Steve Risley told us we are up to 4 auction items for the Winter fundraiser. It is never too early to get our items in.

 

-Doug Fendon’s daughter received her Masters degree in Arizona.

 

-Tom Miller reported that the Feed my Starving Children event at his church was a roaring success. They packed 544,000 meals over 3 days!

 

-Dr. Tony Collins’ son is in a robotics group at Carmel and they recently doubled their

previous high score. They are ranked 8^th in the world!

 

-Rich Mittelman recently visited Zion and Bryce National Parks near Las Vegas.

 

-Jeff Harger bragged that the Libertyville Food Pantry distributed 45 meals to needy families.

 

-Our Salvation Army volunteer group collected over $1200 and 2 gold coins during our bell ringing stint.

 

-Diana Taylor reported that our election slate is complete except for President Elect.

 

-Dennis Kratohwil reminded us that this is the 10^th year for food baskets for the Food

Pantry.

 

Tucker Olson subbed for Seb Karasu and conducted a Rotary pin exercise. Fines were less if you had a pin on. A Rotary tattoo might qualify. Not sure.

 

PROGRAM: 

Today’s program was Vickie Marasco who told us about the Art Impact Project. The group visits several treatment centers each week and works with people dealing with addiction and emotional issues.  Vickie started the program 3 years ago when her son was going through rehab while in high school.  Young people who are dealing with addiction and emotional issues tend to see themselves as failures and shut down.  It is often difficult for them to express themselves. Vickie and her volunteers work on art projects with the people in therapy. They work side by side with the staff. Each participant does a water color painting and the uses a quill to write a word that describes their feeling on the painting. The kids say more in one hour than they do in 12 hours of therapy. The kids responded and want a session every night.

 

Vickie is also working with Lake Forest High School on a program called “Wellness for Life”. This is a preventative program that is required for the whole freshman class. She is expanding her mission to mental illness in young adults. She is meeting with different groups at 7 sites. The opioid problem in Lake County is huge. It leads to heroin use.  Libertyville is especially bad. Four overdoses have been reversed this year using Naloxone in Libertyville.

 

Vickie’s group has touched over 2000 lives. They visit 4 sites per week. Their budget is $75,000, mostly from donations. They have 10 to 12 art advocates and work with people 11 to 70.

 

RAFFLE:

-Daily - $31 won by Dave Ritland.

-Progressive - $1028 with 16 cards left. Tom Miller did not draw the ace. Rollover!

 

Greeter & Prayer: Tim Klein

 

Fun & Frolics: Doug Fendon

 

Program: TBD