Our weekly virtual club meeting was attended by 18 members. Terry Porter reported that he will be meeting with the Finance Committee to propose funding, primarily for International and New Generations, through our Investment Account for this year. In this way, we could focus our fundraising donations on COVID relief issues exclusively. Debora Morris reported that the Fundraising Committee has decided on a cause, COVID Relief; a date, October 1-10; and an event, a Walkathon. Nick Dallas reported that the next Blood Drive is scheduled for August 21; the code WM17 should be used to credit our Rotary Club.
Paul Waechtler gave us an update on what New Trier will be doing to open gradually in September. They are planning a slow phase-in for those who want to come back to in-person classes. Masks and social distancing will be practiced. If anyone is exposed, a mandatory quarantine will be imposed. Contact tracing will be done by NT staff. Sports camps are going on now; masks are required. Golf and tennis are the only sports that will start up again for now.
Brian Leverenz from New Trier Township was scheduled to speak about the New Trier Food Pantry. He was having technical difficulties with the Zoom format, but was able to tell us a few things. The New Trier Food Pantry is preparing bags of food for pickup at the entrance; no admittance inside the facility. Produce is provided by Grand Foods. While the number of people needing food is about the same as before the pandemic, there are less disabled people coming due to fear of the virus, and an increase in people who have lost their jobs recently.
In this very difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic, our fund raising ability has been challenged. We can no longer have events that, in the past, generate the monies that support our many philanthropic activities. The pandemic has severely limited our opportunities to raise funds. I would like to propose the following:
In order to help in fund raising, I am asking all members to make a donation every quarter to the Wilmette Rotary Foundation for $100.00 or whatever you feel is appropriate. This is less than half of what is spent on a quarterly basis for our missing lunches. In addition, this amount would be fully tax deductible where the cost of lunches were not. This is an opportunity to help fund the many projects that so many have come to rely on. Donations can be made through our website by clicking the yellow "Donate to Our Foundation" button.
I know we all miss our luncheons, seeing friends, and maintaining contacts that are important to us. So far, Zoom meetings have been the safest way for us to stay in touch and continue our work as Rotarians in doing good for the less fortunate. I hope to see as many of you as possible each week.
Lyle Staab, our District Governor, asked Rotarians to respond to a survey about club meetings. About 35% of all district members responded which makes the survey valid. Below are some of the results.
Greg Michel grew up on a farm in Iowa. After graduating from ISU, he worked as a journalist, then went into advertising. At age 35, he and his wife bought a farm in Iowa. Not a good decision due to drought and inflation. But raising a family there was a good thing. He was active in the farm community and local politics. In 1985, he sold the farm and returned to the advertising business. His wife went to law school and became a lawyer. He had been a member of Rotary clubs in Iowa, where he led an environmental project in Bolivia. He retired in 2001 and moved to Wilmette. He joined the Wilmette Harbor Rotary Club and was club secretary, then elected club president. He lost his wife soon after. He became a member of our club last month.
Nick Dallas and his wife, Sue, had been trying for some time to have a child, but success was elusive. When she became pregnant they were elated, but apprehensive. Then, over three months before her due date, Sue suspected she might be in labor. She was rushed by ambulance to Evanston Hospital, where doctors and nurses fought for days to postpone delivery. On Sunday, July 28th, 1985, Lee could be held back no more. At birth Lee was 13 inches long, weighed 1 pound, 15 ounces, and was 101 days early!
Days, weeks and months went by as doctors battled to save the tiny baby. It was touch and go for some time; Lee had heart and lung problems; there were concerns about his digestive system and vision; he had a vein spasm, which caused his hand to turn black; most significant of them all, he had seizures, and Sue and Nick were told, by the foremost doctors in the field, that it appeared Lee’s brain was atrophying! He was, as Nick described him, “A train wreck of a kid!”
Throughout this time, Lee was on a respirator. It was only after the respirator was removed that Sue could finally hold her baby.Nick said that when his son was removed from the respirator, he seemed to have decided that he was ready to go home. And so he did, on October 14th, 1985, approximately 3 weeks prior to his due date, and weighing just under 5 pounds, Lee was able to go home, albeit with an Apnea Monitor.
Lee turned 35 years old this past Tuesday, a very healthy young man.
Welcome!
Our Motto:
Service Above Self
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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