Sunrise Rotary Bulletin – August 28, 2019
Posted by John Blair
Call to Order: Club President Greg Hill called the meeting to order, Doug Fendon led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Jeff Harger gave the prayer. Dennis Kratohwil led the song “Sunshine on My Shoulders”… gives me sunburn!"
Guests: Brett Weiss, guest speaker from the Naperville Club.
Brags:
-Doug Fendon said this has been a lucky week … he won $33 at Rotary, $25 somewhere else, and his stepdaughter won the $5,000 raffle jackpot at the Wine, Beer and Cigar Fest.
-Dave Potts has reached the 49 year mark of wedded bliss.
-Kevin Stevens said there have been good changes to the Rotary vocational scholarship program. The former program was caught up in academia, and is now giving greater consideration to students who are not high necessarily high academic achievers.
-Jim Hessenthaller mentioned next week’s speaker will be a cardiologist from Peru who established a world class hospital in his country. Doctors from the US provide training there. He recommended that members not miss this presentation.
-Elliot Pinzel is in awe of the work everyone put into the Fest and the impact it has toward the various charities we support. He’s looking ahead to the next charitable dinner.
-Tony Collins recognized the many self-starters who worked like clockwork at the Fest. Thanks to all the club members.
-Tucker Olson dittoed Tony’s comment.
-Greg Hill said every member was involved. Thanks to all.
Announcements:
-Greg Hill talked preliminary results about the Sunrise Rotary Wine, Beer, and Cigar Fest. Attendance Increased from 875 last year to approximately 1,000 this year (up 11-12%). Good weather was a contributing factor as well as enhanced advertising. Gross revenues were down from $36K last year to $26K this year, however, expenses were lower as a result of the smaller tents. The bottom line is $40K net is year versus $32K net last year. We have 140 cans of beer left over which will be available from Steve Risley’s garage this week, or leftovers at the next meeting for $5 a 6-pack.
-Scott Hezner announced the American Legion facility repair-outing will be rescheduled due to conflicting American Legion activities. The new date will be announced at another meeting.
-Kevin Stevens mentioned the club donated $250 toward the military veterans Cubs/Brewers game on September 7th. If anyone is interested in attending, call Kevin today (last Wednesday).
-The Corn Maze event at Richardson Adventure Farm in Spring Grove, IL is scheduled for Sunday, September 15th from 2:00-6:00PM, $15.00 per person. This features the World’s Largest Corn Maze.
-Greg Hill announced that long time member Peggy Freeze is resigning the club to spend more time traveling. We wish her the very best and thank her for her commitment as coordinator of the club’s food pantry giving. Carol August volunteered to assume this role.
-Greg mentioned there are two coolers left over. If you are missing yours, please claim it.
Fun and Frolics:
Immediate Past-President Diana Taylor did a fun game! Can’t remember what!
Program:
Brett Weiss of the Naperville Rotary Club (Thursday lunch) talked about the Weiss Scholarship Foundation’s efforts to provide scholarships for 54 students (27 boys, 27 girls) to attend high school or vocational school in the Village of Dago, Kenya. The village is very rural. Families live in mud huts and there is no electricity or plumbing. Most days students only have one meal. Typically they only have two sets of clothing…a school uniform and clothes from a charity box. Few have both parents alive and there is little to no medical care. Most quit school around 4th grade because parents cannot afford to pay for their education. There is a limited supply of books, pens, pencils, and paper.
Some never see a doctor and many people die at around 40 years old. AIDs has devastated the population. There is little transportation and typically vans are stuffed with people and on top. Subsistence farming is how they live. There is gender inequality and girls are mostly left behind by the 8th grade. Students are fluent in 3 languages. There is high respect for elders and a wonderful sense of community. Religion is 90% Christian, 10% Muslim. It costs $3,500 per child for the 4 year program. A prospective student must submit 4 essays as part of the application.
Brett is asking for help by: Donate or Sponsor (Donations are tax deductible)
Check: mail to “Weiss Scholarshipfoundation.org”, 415 W Jackson, Naperville, IL 60540
Cash App: $weissf
Venmo: @Weissf
An organization can also sponsor a student for a FULL SCHOLARSHIP OF $3,500.
