By Tim Dempsey

 

President Schoeneman rang the bell, Tom Zengler gave the Pledge, and Patricia Bleck led us in prayer. There was no song. Bummer.

 

-Ron Lapins celebrated the 19^th anniversary of his company Great Lakes Mortgage. He also revealed that the 4-way testers golf league will be starting 4/18.

 

-Tucker Olson said that the paddle raise for Honor Flight Chicago was incredibly successful raising $22k.

 

-Steve Risley’s son had their second grand child recently. He also said that auction items should be picked up at his house.

 

-Seb Karasu returned from Turkey last week. There was extra security.

 

-Robin O’Connor, our Lake County Clerk, said the County is getting new voting machines that will be the finest in the country. She will have an open house soon to show off the new system with a great chain of custody of ballots.

 

FOUNDATION MINUTE:

What is our grant model designed to do?

-Simplify Foundation programs and processes.

-Focus Rotarian service efforts where they will have the greatest impact.

-Offer program options to help achieve both global and local goals.

-Increase the sense of ownership at the district and club levels.

-Gain greater understanding of The Rotary Foundation’s work and enhance Rotary’s public image.

 

-Rotary suggests Shelter Box and Charity Navigator for contributions to aid Ukraine.

 

-There will be a Board meeting after next Wednesday’s meeting to discuss scholarships.

 

-The fundraiser had 132 participants. $10k raised from sponsors, $19k from the silent auction, 50/50 raffle raised $13k with half going to the winner Tony Collins. President Rich went over the sponsors.

 

-Howard Jaffe said we delivered 101 meals which were all great. Nirvana had the largest number. There were coupons in each meal for future visits to the restaurant providers. See Howard for additional coupons.  

 

-Steve Risley said all but 2 auction items were sold. If you were a successful bidder, please get your items out of Steve’s living room!

 

-Patricia Bleck told us we spread the word of the fundraiser on social media. We bought ads on Facebook that reached 5363 people.

 

-Tom Miller said we raised $40k net for the Foundation and an additional $22,600 for Honor

Flight. Everyone stepped up!

 

-There will be no morning meeting on 3/30. Rick Mittelman will send out an email with options for an evening event.

 

John McDonald entertained us with a quiz on lexophilia which is an addiction to words. We played a word game.

 

 Today’s program was Rich Carani, Chief of the Libertyville Fire Department. Rich started as a volunteer in 1987 and then joined fulltime. He went through the paramedic program, became Assistant Chief and then became Chief when Bob Zamor retired. He has been Chief for 17 years.

 

A fire burned nearly the whole town of Libertyville on August 30, 1895. In January of 1896 a volunteer fire department was started. The first full time Chief was hired in 1969. Today the department has 42 full time first responders including 2 fire inspectors. There are 13 paramedic crews covering 31.66 square miles. The village owns the buildings and equipment, and the fire fighters work for the Fire Prevention District. The district has contracts with surrounding communities. The district consolidated with the Rockland FPD in 2018.

 

In 2019 there were 4700 emergency calls. In 2021 there were 4453 so things are returning to normal. Libertyville has a 100 ft. ladder truck purchased in 2000. In 2020 the department refurbished the truck rather than buying a new one saving about $600k.

There is currently a plan to consolidate 9 1 1 centers in Lake County. There are currently 21 agencies and Phase one will be to consolidate their equipment by 2023. Phase 2 will consolidate down to 7 centers. Phase 3 will complete the consolidation with 2 or 3 centers. Lake and McHenry Counties have worked together to have specialized response teams rather than each department or district having their own. These include a dive team and specialized rescue team.

 

The hat was passed, and we collected $235 for the Food Pantry.

 

Robin O’Connor was wheeled for not signing in. She had to lead us in a rendition of: “Take me out to the ball game. Looks like the wheel needs to be updated!

 

-Daily: $28 won by Steve Risley.

 

Progressive: $178 (49 cards) John Blair drew the Ace of Hearts. Rollover!

 

-Greeter & Prayer: John Blair

-Fun & Frolics & Bingo: Tom Miller

 

-Program: Nicasa

 

“ Victory belongs to the most persevering”.  Napoleon