February 14, 2018

 

Written by Patrick Hart

 

 

 

Tucker Olson opened the meeting, and in honor of Saint Valentine’s day Dan Lutter led us is singing  “Let Me Call you Sweetheart.”

 

Scott Adams joined us for another week as a guest of Scott Hezner.  We also had a visiting Rotarian, Narayan Muraka from the Barrington Breakfast Club. 

 

As our winter fund-raiser scheduled for February 23, 2018 rapidly approaches, we are in dire need of more gifts and more attendees to make the event a success.  We have guaranteed 150 seats at the event, and as of now we have sold less than 100 tickets.

Also on the fund-raiser bidding will now be entirely electronic, so be sure to bring your smart phone to the event.

 

At their meeting on Tuesday our board voted for the club to join the Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills Chamber of Commerce (GLMV).  Our members can now attend chamber events as representatives of the club, which could be a great opportunity to spread interest in the Sunrise Rotary.

 

Chuck Nozicka has resigned from our club.

 

After a year hiatus during construction of the facilities, we are resuming hosting Bingo at Liberty Towers.   Bingo takes place at 6:30 in the evening of the second and forth Wednesday of each month, and the person in charge of fun and frolics that day is also responsible for running Bingo.   

BRAGS:

David Potts bragged that the Libertyville Village Board has just approved his business expansion project, which is being architectured (is that a word?)  by Scott Hezner.

 

Narayan Muraka our visiting Rotarian bragged about the multi club grant he obtained allowing him to expend $550,000.00 for projects in Guatemala.  The grant enables for the improvement of education by setting up water sanitation systems in a number of schools and also provides mechanical cows which produce soy milk and boosts the nutritional level of students in Guatemala.  Narayan presented the Sunrise Rotary with a certificate for being one of the many clubs that has assisted with this project. 

 

Larry Neal this morning presented a Valentines Day trivia quiz.  I learned that Emperor Claudius II was responsible for putting Saint Valentine to death.  Claudius II also outlawed marriage for all young men, because he thought that single men made better soldiers. 
 
PROGRAM: 

Our speaker this week was Brian Meister a counselor for compulsive gambling with Nicasa.

 

About one or two percent of the population suffers from a gambling problem and the American Psychiatric Association now officially recognizes gambling disorder as an addiction.  The problem crosses all economic lines and is a major cause of depression, job loss, divorce, foreclosure and bankruptcy.  A compulsive gambler though compared to individuals suffering from other addictions is less likely to be spotted with the problem.

People with gambling problems disregard the fact that the odds are fixed against them, and despite their continual history of losing more than they win, they keep hoping for the big prize that will solve all of their problems.  One challenge in persuading individuals with the problem to quit their gambling is that they are correct in thinking that it is possible even if highly unlikely that someday they will obtain the huge winnings that they are seeking.

 

There is counseling help available though through Nicasa and other organizations.  Gambler’s Anonymous is another group that has helped a number of people overcome this problem.  An individual needing counseling can also always call 1 800 gamblers.

RAFFLE: 

Our progressive pot has now entered the really big money category with $1,328.00 in the kitty this week and only nine cards left.  Tickets sales soared accordingly, and since Tom Zengeler failed to draw the winning card it will no doubt grow even larger next week.   Meanwhile Tim Dempsey won the weekly pot of $68.

 

 

Fun & Frolics: Scott Hezner

 

Greeter and Prayer: Jon Robb

 

“I've searched all the parks in all the cities and found no statues of committees.”  Gilbert K. Chesterton