Written by Patrick Hart

 

 

 

Diana Taylor opened the meeting with a pledge and a prayer, and in the absence of Dan Lutter, Dennis Kratowhil volunteered to fill in as songmeister.  Then feeling humbled next to the man he was substituting for Dennis selected the song “Danny Boy” in honor of our missing comrade.  

 

Former member Janelle Moravek showed up this week, and she brought along her own guest, Revane.  Revane is from Paris, and he is the son of a woman who hosted Janelle when she was a Rotary exchange student in France a couple of years ago. Revane is interested in participating in Rotary activities as well, and our president presented him with a banner from our club.

 

Bate Blair, John Blair's brother, also joined us for breakfast this week.

BRAGS:

John Blair bragged that is daughter is pregnant with his sixth grandchild.

 

Tucker Olson bragged that his wife continues to be cancer free.

 

Tom Zengeler was awarded his thirty-one year perfect attendance award today, and Jon Robb received a four year award along with an appreciation gift for his past year service as a board member.

 

A meeting on our August fund-raiser was held in Diana Taylor’s office on Wednesday evening, she asks that anyone with responsibilities for the event who was unable to attend email her. 

 

Tom Miller informed us that Northshore Wine Beer Cigar and Food Festival raffle tickets are selling well.

 

The report is that Dan Lutter is doing better.

 

The district governor, Julie Clark, will be attending our meeting on August 1.  She will also be attending a board meeting that will be held the night before at Tucker Olson’s house.

 

We are planning to have a fellowship event, still to be determined, on the evening of

August 29, and there will be no morning meeting that day.

There are still tickets available for the Rotary outing on September 3 to attend a Cubs/Brewers game at Miller Park in Milwaukee.

 
FUN AND FROLICS:

Elliott Pinsel gave us a quiz on songs of the 1970s, and it was heartwarming to see that we have several members with a remarkable level of knowledge in this field, such as Dennis Kratowhil, Doug Fendon, and of course well known Renaissance man, Steve Risley.

PROGRAM: 

Our program this week was Dan McConchie, Illinois State Senator.  Senator McConcie professed his belief that Michael Madigan is responsible for all of Illinois’ problems, and that Madigan  runs the state and makes all the rules for his own benefit.  However, Mr. McConcie did not mention any legislation that has been passed under Madigan that was not beneficial to the people of Illinois, nor did he bring up any legislation that he felt we needed to put through that Madigan had failed to obtain for us.  

 

When challenged by a question from the floor, Senator MeConcie then acknowledged that Governor Ruaner is also significantly at fault for the situation in Illinois.  He said that Ruaner has no experience in government and is out of his league when he tries to make deals with other politicians.  The senator stated though that he would rather criticize Madigan than Ruaner, since as a legislator he has to deal with Madigan more.

 

Senator McConchie is on the pension committee, and when questioned about the pubic pension funding deficit in Illinois, he said that pensions are not a bad thing, but that governmental units have skipped too many payments to pension plans.  He thinks there might be little things the state can do to decrease pension expenses, and he believes that higher paid employees should not receive anything other than a 401k type plan.
 

RAFFLE: 

Bill Rickert again won the weekly raffle taking home $32.00.  Patricia Bleck attempted to win the $334.00 progressive pot, but when she drew for the ace of spades, she only came up with the three of diamonds.

 

Fun & Frolics and Bingo: Tony Collins

 

Greeter and Prayer: John McDonald

QUOTE FOR THE DAY:

“A fool and his money are soon elected.”   Will Rogers