Welcome to Our Club

TOGETHER WE CAN END RACISM

The Rotary Club of Wilmette offers help and support to all communities locally and internationally wherever and whenever there is need in the human family.

The Rotary Club of Wilmette was chartered in 1924 with 21 members. Today there are over 48 active members who gather to do good for others while enjoying good fellowship.

Our Club members enthusiastically live the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” both locally and internationally. Recent projects include water well installation at schools in Angola, the collection and delivery of over 20,000 books annually to inner city schools in Chicago, supplying ultrasound equipment and related training to people in Uganda, resettlement assistance to legal refugees in the Chicago area, providing disaster relief supplies to hurricane, typhoon, and other natural disaster survivors, food packing for people in Guatemala and Central America, and supporting local food pantries and literacy efforts.

NOTICE: Because of coronvirus concerns, we are now meeting virtually via Zoom. When things return to normal, we'll resume our regular in-person meetings as listed below.

We meet Wednesdays at 12:15 PM at the Wilmette Golf Club, 3900 Fairway Drive, Wilmette, IL 60091.

We’d love to have you join us!

Welcome!

Our Motto:
Service Above Self

We meet In Person

Wednesdays

Wilmette Golf Club

3900 Fairway Drive
Wilmette, IL 60091
United States of America

Because of Corona virus safety concerns, we are now conducting Virtual Meetings. Please join us when we are able to have live meetings at our usual location.

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Rotary Meeting Update

ALL Club lunch and other face-to-face committee meetings are cancelled for an indefinite period. Our first priority is always safeguarding the health and well-being of our members and their families. Our members are meeting every Wednesday using the technology of Zoom. We have had some amazing virtual presentations from a variety of speakers these past few meetings.

We welcome prospective members and guests to come to our meetings. Please contact Debora at debora@pftl.net if you would like to join us.

COVID Relief Projects Update

Cooperative Project Delivers Sleeping Bags to the Homeless

In December, the Rotary Club of Wilmette in partnership with the Wilmette Harbor Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield collected 230 sleeping bags top be distributed to the homeless in Chicago by the Fraternite Notre Dame.

The project came about when the Sisters of St. Roger Abbey, who operate the French Organic Patisserie in Wilmette reached out to club member Mariana Al Far for help providing cold weather supplies to the homeless in Chicago. The evening satelitte group of the Wilmette club decided to help by collecting sleeping bags. The project was then enthusiastically taken up by club members in the noon groups as well as by neighboring clubs.

The sleeping bags were put in cheerful holiday bags with other items such as toiletries and hats and handed out by sister from Fraternite Notre Dame and other volunteers to homeless people in Tent City in Chicago. Thank you to Mariana and all who contributed!

January 6, 2021 - Karen Murchie

Freshwater Research at the Shedd Aquarium

Karen Murchie, Director of Freshwater Research for the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, presented the program for the January 6 noon meeting conducted via Zoom. Ms. Murchie talked about the variety of work that is being done to learn more about the freshwater ecosystem in the Chicago area and to engage the public in work being done. She talked about the need to encourage beneficial marine life like the sucker fish as well as barriers to a healthy system including culverts and invasive buckthorn. Although the Aquarium is currently closed due to the COVID-19 crisis, there are virtual programs and other information resources online at their website: https://www.sheddaquarium.org .

December 30 - Chef Q Ibraheem

A Personal Response to Neighbors in Need

Chef Q. Ibraheem, a local Evanston chef known for her underground dining club, Teertsemasesottehg, and her work teaching the value of healthy eating, spoke to club members about her response to the food insecurity of people in Evanston following the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis. As soon as she had to shut down her business, she began reaching out to offer healthy food to people she knew who were suddenly without resources to feed themselves or their families. Her efforts quickly grew to providing meals for over 100 people with the help of partners and outside funding resources. She has employed a small team of people to help her provide safe, contactless food delivery. Although her funding has been cut, she continues to find ways to offer assistance. For further information about Chef Q and her projects, go to her website: https://www.chefqibraheem.com/about

December 16 - Jose Munoz

Serving Youth and Families Confronting Homelessness in Chicago

Through its community service activities, the Rotary Club of Wilmette has long been a supporter of La Casa Norte in Chicago. At the December 16 meeting, new Executive Director Jose Munoz spoke to the club members during the weekly Zoom meeting. Director Munoz updated us on the many activites of La Casa Norte and specifically addressed the ways the organization has adapted to continue to provide services during the COVID-19 crisis. More information about La Casa Norte, including ways to help, can be found at their website: http://www.lacasanorte.org

December 9 - Leo J. Sheridan

A Visit To The North Pole

Club members continue to gather for weekly meetings via Zoom in order to meet with each other and to listen to informative speakers.

On December 9 we were excited to hear from Leo J. Sheridan, husband of member Martha Sheridan. He talked about his 2009 trip to the North Pole with people from around the world. The trip was timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of Peary's trip. Leo discussed training activities and historical background of polar explorations.

We were all impressed by the hazards faced during the trip and by the beautiful photographs recording the event.

December 2 - Susan Schulman

Providing Legal Assistance Outside the City of Chicago

Susan Schulman, Executive Director of the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic (https://nslegalaid.org/), talked to the club at its December 2, 2020 Zoom meeting. She reviewed the Clinic's history and discussed the three major areas of concern addressed by the Clinic's staff: immigration, housing, and domestic violence. Of particular interest was the ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the need for their services. Demand for assistance is up in all areas for both health and political reasons. Following her talk, Ms. Schulman answered questions.

COVID Relief Projects - Sleeping Bags and Food

As a part of our COVID Relief fundraising effort, our club along with the Wilmette Harbor Rotary Club and the Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield have been collecting sleeping bags to be distributed to the homeless by the Fraternite Notre Dame in Chicago.

The goal of 230 sleeping bags will have been collected by the end of the month. This project came about when the Sisters of St Roger Abbey who operate the bakery in Wilmette, reached out to Mariana Al Far. As Community Service chairperson, Mariana recognized this as a perfect match for our COVID Relief efforts. The project was initiated by our satellite evening club. Many of the sleeping bags were also donated by friends of satellite members. Presentations of this project were given to the Harbor and Winnetka-Northfield clubs by Mariana, and the inter-club donations began.

Other COVID Relief beneficiaries are the food pantries of Just Harvest, La Casa Norte and St Thomas Church, with donations of $2000 each.

November 11 - Richard Rosen

Early Literacy Programs For Children Matter

Rotarian Richard Rosen presented a program to club members via Zoom on November 11 that discussed the importance of early literacy programs. When children are read to and encouraged to enjoy books at an early age, it is good for both the child and the community. Richard talked about ways many Rotary Clubs have been involved in helping to get books into children's hands. Maurice Sullivan talked about our own club's successful annual book drive. Bernie's Book Bank (https://www.berniesbookbank.org/) is another organization that is active in this area.

October 28 Program - Dan Rahill

Posted by Gregory Michel

Dan Rahill's Guide to Post-Election Tax Planning

Daniel Rahill, Managing Director, Wintrust Wealth Services presented a guide for post-election tax planning

If Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden wins, his administration is likely to try to roll back many of the 2017 tax cuts, including the $11.58 million gift and estate tax exclusion amount, and increase capital gains and payroll taxes on top earners. If President Trump wins reelection, he is likely to make the 2017 tax cuts permanent.

Dan offered some planning suggestions: A lower income tax rate is generally favorable for Roth IRA conversions to lock in lower tax rates on pre-tax retirement savings; deduction deferrals and income acceleration strategies—such as capital gains harvesting—are sound recommendations in anticipation of rising tax rates; give inheritances now to heirs; establish an S Corporation.

Dan gave some very detailed, useful information. If you are interested in receiving a recording of his presentation or a detailed outline of the material, contact Debora Morris (debora@pftl.net).

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RI Speaker Series
Jan 07, 2021 – Jan 28, 2021
Satelllite Group Meeting
Jan 26, 2021 7:00 PM

Amalya Campbell

Jan 27, 2021

Generosity

Amalya (Ami) Campbell is the Co-Author of Love Let Go: Radical Generosity for the Real World and a marketing consultant with an MBA from Harvard Business School. She has led stewardship classes at LaSalle Street Church for more than a dozen years. Amalya Campbell champions generosity and helps people rediscover their giving selves.

Joe Goldstein

Feb 03, 2021

How Option Spread Investments Can Pay for your Next Vacation

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