By Tim Dempsey

 

Greeter Carol August led us in the pledge and prayer. Song Meister Kratohwil helped us with his rendition of “nah, nah, nah.

 

-Ron Lapins is celebrating 47 years in the mortgage business.

-Carol August bragged about new member Jim Curtis’ contribution to the fund raiser.

 

-Howard Jaffe celebrated his 31^st anniversary.

 

-There will be no food next week.

 

-We received thank you notes from the Food Pantry, Nicasa, and the Center for Enriched Living.

 

-There will be a wine packing event on 11/13. See Jon Robb if interested.

 

-Tucker reported an estimated $30k profit at the fundraiser.

 

-Our holiday party will be 12/7 at Nirvana. Details to follow.

 

-Elliot circulated ornaments for his holiday gift event.

 

In the absence of Greg Hill, $3 was collected. Greg may face retribution in the future!

 

Today’s program was Germaine Castellanos from the Boys and Girls Club of Lake County.

 

Germaine was kicked out of high school twice. He earned his GED in a program offered by the Lake County Workforce Development Board. He got a job at the Pet Factory and interned at Chicago Public Schools writing grants. He also worked at YCC before leaving to go back to the Waukegan Schools to start a college access program. He has been with the Boys and Girls Club for 4 months as Program Director.

 

They have 35 staff members with 20 full-time people. They started a new program to create a safe place for kids after school. They developed a facilities plan to accommodate 500 youth. They currently have 4 sites and programs in 29 school buildings. They are planning sustainable growth through grants and hope to build a new building. They have a non-profit board and are building their staff. They created a Leadership Council to try to engage parents, partners and other organizations.

 

Their after-school programs start with a “Power Hour “devoted to homework. They then offer mentoring and tutoring, gym time, a STEM program with help from Abbott, and arts and crafts programs. They try to avoid negative influences. Their 3 pillars are: Civic Engagement programs, Academic Studies, and teaching Healthy Lifestyles. They encourage a sense of community.

 

$305 was raised for the Food Pantry

 

-Daily: $28, won by Steve Risley.

-Progressive: $1,004, 18 cards. Bob Zamor drew the 4 of clubs. ROLLOVER!

 

-Greeter & Prayer: Tom Gore.

 

-Fun & Frolics: Howard Jaffe.

 

-Program: Patrick Blake, Sales Director for Kirk Players, a local theater group.

 

“Long distance running is 90% mental and the other half physical”. Rich Davis