Our meeting was attended by 22 members. Mariana Al Far reported that the Satellite group was actively exploring ideas for some form of outdoor fundraising in connection with a COVID-related cause. Debora Morris indicated that the Fundraising Committee will be meeting July 21, and suggested that Mariana attend as the ideas being considered by both groups are very similar.
Terry Porter reported that the Finance Committee met recently and the topic of fundraising was discussed; specifically, new methods to fund it.. President Frank Candioto said that he would be contacting all committee heads to discuss what is planned for this Rotary year in their respective areas of service. We had a presentation from Abby Wilson about the Borgen Project (summary below).
Abby Wilson is a student volunteer for the Borgen Project. The Borgen Project is an international, humanitarian non-profit focusing on working to make poverty a focus of U.S. foreign policy. Currently 1/10th of the world's population lives in extreme poverty, living on less than $1 per day. COVID has made poverty even more wide-spread.
The people associated with the Borgen Project are trying to operate on the political level by contacting government officials in the US. The aim is for the US government to grant more time and money to addressing world issues, like starvation, sanitation, global health, which contribute to a humanitarian crisis worldwide. Studies have shown that reducing malnutrition can contribute to a more secure economy. Abby reported that 7-10 calls or emails to a congressional leader will get their attention. She is personally trying to raise money for this cause at https://borgenproject.org/abigail-wilson/
Our Board of Directors unanimously approved the membership application of Greg Michel. We are very pleased to welcome Greg as our newest member. Greg has a long history with Rotary and should become an asset to our club. His primary interests are Membership, Community Service and International.
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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