May 13, 2020
Written by Brad Gutzler
Our inaugural Sunset Rotary club meeting was a huge success with over 25 club members attending. I’d like to say it was because of the highly anticipated fun and frolics event, but I know that’s not it. We have a great group of members who are very committed to this club and enjoy each other’s company.
Guests:
Alexandra Sossa - Executive Director of Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project (FLAP)
Brags:
Dr. Dave Potts announced that the state of Illinois has allowed for the reopening of dental offices.
Announcements:
Over 6,000 meals have been provided to those in need during this unfortunate event as a result of recent donations made to local food banks
If you intend on donating your excess funds from your quarterly invoice please let Tom Miller know if you’d like the funds directed somewhere specific, otherwise, the funds will be allocated to Lambs Farm and the food banks. To this point, the club has allocated $1785 to Lambs Farm and the food banks.
The vocational team presented a total of 32 tool bags to recent IBEW graduates.
Tom Zengler and the fundraising committee are still welcoming new ideas that will help us continue to raise funds in this new environment and allow us to continue to support all of the organizations we partner with.
Fun and Frolics:
We engaged in a wonderful round of two truths and a lie and learned fascinating facts about some of our fellow Rotarians. The event was so entertaining that we have decided to give it another go at the next meeting.
Program:
Alexandra Sossa joined us this week and presented information related to her organization FLAP. FLAP has been improving the working conditions of low-income workers in Illinois for 21 years.
FLAP’s mission is to improve working conditions for low-income farmworkers, nursery workers, greenhouse workers, landscapers, snow plowing workers, packinghouse workers, cannery workers, restaurant workers, and meat and poultry workers and their households. A few of the violations that low-income workers are exposed to include: human labor trafficking, nonpayment of wages, denial of overtime wage rates, hazardous housing, discrimination, and injuries at work.
The organization has many partners throughout the state of Illinois which it works with to carry out its mission. In addition, FLAP utilizes multiple resources to help carry out its mission
including community outreach and education, information and referrals, and partnering with other organizations to fight human labor trafficking.
In Lake County, some of FLAP’s primary partners are HACE, A Safe Place, Mano a Mano Family Resource Center and Partnership for a Safer Lake County. In addition, FLAP coordinates with approximately 15 other organizations in Lake County for donations.
