Written by Patrick Hart

 

 

 

Diana Taylor opened the meeting with a pledge and a prayer, and then observed that since there was no one here to make us sing, we could dispense with a song. 

 

This week we were honored to have our district governor, Julie Clark, and our assistant district governor, Kevin Stephens join us at our meeting. 

 

We also had Ryan Chapin join us as the guest of his father, Ken Chapin, and although Ken himself is a member, I think everyone would agree that his attendance this week after his long absence for medical reasons deserves recognition.

BRAGS:

Steve Risley bragged about having attended the World War II Warbirds Exhibit, where they displayed the only B 24 bomber still in existence.  Since Steve’s father was the pilot of a B 24 during World War II, he was interviewed by the media, and his comments appeared in the Daily Herald.

 

Steve also bragged that his wife has taken a job at Libertyville High School. 

Seb Karadu mentioned that after her own history of starting to drive at the age of thirteen and in the interim having performed many triumphant and death defying feats as a race car driver, she is very proud of her son having obtained his driver’s license at the age of twenty-nine.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Teri Dreher was awarded her Paul Harris plus four award

 

We are planning to have a fellowship event at Steve Risley’s house on the evening of August 29 in lieu of the morning meeting that day.  Please RSVP so they will know how many are coming.

 

There are still tickets available for the Rotary outing on September 3 to attend a Cubs/Brewers game at Miller Park in Milwaukee.

 

Tom Miller informed us that tickets for the Northshore Wine Beer Cigar and Food Festival are selling better than last year, but we need more sales.  Diana Taylor then added that the event still has openings for sponsors.  Also on the subject of the festival Carol August passed around sign up sheets for volunteers at the event.  She has employed the system that automatically assigns you to the same job you performed last year unless you request a change.  So please check the sign up sheets to remind yourself what your default assignment is or to request a change.

 

Our club board meetings will be switching their regular venue from Mickey Finns to Chili U.

 

Former Sunrise member Ralph Ladtke, who is now 97 years old, recently lost his wife.  Tucker Olson has contact information for anyone who wants to send condolences.

 

Ken Chapin announced that he is investigating the possibility of placing a baby box at a Libertyville Fire Station.  A baby box provides a safe means for people who want to anonymously surrender a baby, whom they cannot take care of.  It would cost $20,000.00. Ken feels that it has the potential of becoming a good club project.  

 

Teri Dreher would like to have one more couple sign up for her Rotary South African trip.

 

Our club will be holding a highway cleanup on Saturday, August 25.  Meet at southeast corner of Butterfield and 137 at 7:00 a.m. and we should be finished cleaning by 8:00.  
 
FUN AND FROLICS:

Tim Dempsey held a golf chipping contest this week.  No one managed to meet his high standards for accuracy, but he felt sorry for us after our dreadful performance and took a dollar off the fines for the table which got the best shot.

 

PROGRAM: 

Our speaker this week was Julie Clark our district governor for the 2018 to 2019 year.

Ms. Clark wants to devote much of her energy during her term to improving communication in Rotary.  Along these lines she is attempting to hold some of the district training programs electronically to replace live sessions that are now held on Saturdays, and which many participants find difficult to make.  She hopes to start the electronic training with the club secretaries and treasurers, which are offices that the same individual frequently holds for several years in a row.  She thinks our current training for club president is an excellent program, which draws a considerable benefit from being a live session, since the exchange between attendees provides an opportunity to learn from other clubs.  

 

Another goal of our governor is to increase the use of facebook for communicating between the district and the various Rotary club.  She says she is not an extensive Facebook user herself, but realizing how many people are these days, she feels it would help keep in touch with many people if we took advantage of this tool.

 

Ms. Clark stated that membership in our district is down, as it is across most of the country for Rotary, and we have gone to 68 clubs in the district from the former 70. She says though that Rotary is more active than ever, and that we need to increase public awareness of what Rotary does.

 

The governor also spoke for a moment about the concept of forming satellite clubs to make it convenient for more people to participate in Rotary.  A satellite club would have at least eight members, and it would be an extension of a main club. The participants of the satellite would be members of the main club, but they would hold their own meetings and conduct their own activities. If for example former members of the Libertyville Noon Club were interested, they could continue being active in Rotary as a satellite of the Libertyville Sunrise Club.

 

This week we collected $336.00 by passing around the hat for the food pantry.

 

Assistant Governor Kevin Stephens held the first ticket to be pulled this week, and going for the big prize of $402.00 with only 39 cards left, he drew the jack of spades.  

Tim Dempsey then won the weekly drawing of $29.00.  Tim had left early and since someone was certain that he had really wanted to donate the money to a good cause, his winnings were turned over to the food pantry. 

 

Fun & Frolics and Bingo: Teri Dreher

 

Greeter and Prayer: Ron Lapins

 

Program: Steve Magnusen will speak on his new Civil War era book.

 

Right before we adjourned sergeant at arms, Steve Risley, pointed out that Pat Schwartz had failed to sign in for the meeting.  Then however in what might be a first in our club history, instead of making Pat spin the wheel, he told him this was merely a friendly reminder.

 

Perhaps feeling a little remorse at having denied us music earlier, Diana Taylor decided that in lieu of reciting the four way test this week, we would all sing Happy Birthday to Ryan Chapin, who turned 44 that day.

QUOTE FOR THE DAY:

“The quality of mercy is not strained; it droppeth as the gentle rain  from heaven upon the place beneath.”  William Shakespeare