BULLETIN – November 19, 2025
By Tim Dempsey
President Gore rang the bell and called on me to give the Pledge. Greeter Tom Miller led us in prayer, and Song Meister Dennis Kratohwil helped us through a song written by him called “Thank you for Rotary” to the tune of “Thanks for the Memories”. He mentioned that we will need a stand in Song Meister when he leaves for Florida.
BRAGS:
-Steve Risley warned us about Amazon scams.
-Jim Laverdiere updated us on his Go Fund Me page for a friend that needs new water service.
-Hapi Datt called Bingo last week and had fun with the group at Liberty Tower.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-Howard Jaffe updated us on several charity items: Giving Tuesday donations can be made to our Club Foundation to include Shelter Box and Polio Plus and Annual Funds, each with matches up to $250. We can also contribute to holiday food baskets.
-The Fundraiser website is up and running. We can get an early bird discount and buy 50/50 raffle tickets. We need silent auction items that can be bid on for the website.
-Ellen Young and husband Chris were presented with a level 4 Major Donor award from the Rotary Foundation. Level 4 means a total of $100,0000 donated to the foundation or Polio Plus. Wow!
-For those who are not Paul Harris Fellows, the first award will require a $250 contribution that gets matched up to $1000. $1000 is the cost of a Paul Harris Fellow.
-Elliot Pinsel asked that we bring our gifts with the ornament tag attached to the Holiday Party on 12/3. He will have a truck there to collect the presents.
-The Holiday Party is on 12/3 at Nirvana in Vernon Hills. Please rsvp to Jon Robb if you are attending.
-There will be no morning meeting on 11/26 (Thanksgiving) or 12/3 (Holiday Party). The next regular morning meeting will be 12/10.
FUN & FROLICS:
Patricia Bleck entertained us with a turkey quiz. There will be 46 million turkeys cooked on Thanksgiving and the Butter Ball hotline will receive 160,000 calls!
PROGRAM:
Today’s program was Karen Wikes from the Liberty Prairie Foundation. The Foundation oversees a 600-acre agrihood (farm) that teaches engineering for a sustainable future. The farm offers learning in a farming pathway with Grayslake District 127 high school. They provide high school and college credit to students learning about farming. “Everyone feels better working on the farm”. They operate a farm store with produce from 42 local farms. Farmers take all the upfront risks. They put up dollars and labor and hope the weather cooperates.
The foundation provides internships for building pathways and skills toward careers in land use. They are building food sources for decades to come. They offer 20 paid internships each summer. They also teach animal care and have a community garden. They create connected and skilled futures.
The foundation has a plant sale on the Saturday before Mother’s Day. Volunteers are needed and the next volunteer day will be April 18, 2026. They have a matching program for donations through the end of November.
RAFFLE:
-Daily: $33 won by Jon Robb.
Progressive: $545 (37 cards) also won by Jon Robb. Unfortunately, he drew the 9 of spades. ROLLOVER!
NEXT WEEK – December 10th.
-Greeter & Prayer: John McDonald.
-Fun & Frolics: Mary Cole.
-Program: Board member presentations by: Scott Hezner, Kim Smith, and Rich Schoeneman.
FOUR WAY TEST:
-Ellen Young led us in the Four Way Test.
