Our club meeting last Wednesday, May 6 was attended by 25 people; this included four members from the Wilmette Harbor Club, Jim Waite, Beth DeWall, Jim Bowman and Maureen Barry. After our traditional opening, John Held announced the next week's guest speaker, Dr. Robert Bonow. Nick Dallas mentioned that he and Frank Candioto gave blood recently, reminding us all that blood is urgently needed right now.
Julie Yusim, Executive Director of the Wilmette/Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce gave us an overview of how Wilmette business are faring since the "stay-at-home" orders have been in place (see summary below). There was an attempt to show a couple of short videos as the "Thought of the Day" and "Fun & Frolic", but the quality was not very good. So click on the link to see one of the videos on your own computer or device. It is worth the time to view.
Our Club has pledged a minimum of $5,000 this Rotary year for the EREY program. EREY stands for Every Rotarian Every Year. For every dollar we contribute, our Club receives $2.50 in grants from Rotary International and District 6440. As of May 9, members have contributed $3225 toward the program so we are still short for this Rotary year which ends on June 30, 2020. All contributions should be made by June 1, 2020.
There is additional incentive for contributing to the program. If you contribute $500, the Club will match that amount and you will receive a Paul Harris Fellow recognition. Additionally, the contributions are cumulative. Therefore, your annual contributions in whatever amount can be counted over a multi year period and you would still qualify for the Club match.
In these challenging times, the needs are immense. Rotary International has initiatives to fight the COVID-19 virus globally including the United States. Any help you can provide will go a long way. Ways to Pay:
Checks may be made payable to the Rotary Club of Wilmette Foundation marked for EREY and sent to: Rotary Club of Wilmette, PO Box 111, Wilmette, Il 60091
Online: Go to our website wilmetterotary.org and click on the link "EREY for Members only. Follow the instructions to use a credit card or direct payment from your bank.
Julie Yusim, Executive Director of the Wilmette/Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce updated us on how businesses are doing since the COVID-19 restrictions were ordered last month. Julie reported that while all Wilmette restaurants are taking a hit financially, some are faring better than they thought since the orders. Most are offering curbside pickup and/or delivery, and one restaurant, Torino's may even open a new site for take-out only. The Chamber sends our email blasts twice a week to let residents know what stores and restaurants are open and what goods and services they are offering. Several restaurants and businesses are sending meals to care workers on a regular basis. Julie mentioned that the Village of Wilmette is offering special grants to small businesses in Wilmette, adding that Wilmette is one of the only villages doing this.
The businesses suffering the most are retailers, personal services (nail salons, massage therapy, fitness centers) and theaters. The biggest concern after re-opening will be if the public is confident enough to return to the place of business.
Some businesses have been forced to create new ways to serve customers. Some have created online stores; medical practitioners are doing "telemedicine".
Some members thanked Julie for the notifications she has sent to Wilmette businesses regarding the availability of small business loans. Julie was asked if she has any information about businesses unable to pay their rents. She replied that so far this does not seem to a problem for most businesses.
Vitalant, formerly LifeSource, will now be testing all blood donations for COVID-19 antibodies.Our next Blood Drive (Donation Date) is scheduled for August 21, 2020, at (or about) Noon - Vitalant/Lifesource, 2436 Main Street, Evanston, Illinois 60202. Please remind anyone who may be interested to make an appointment by calling 877-25-VITAL or going on-line at www.Vitalant.org. The "Group Code" for The Rotary Club of Wilmette is WM-17. This is a great way to get tested.
Our Satellite's project to help the Sisters of Christian Charity in Wilmette is continuing. We send a check that covers groceries to be delivered for the week, and provide one catered meal per week for the 29 sisters at the convent. A week of groceries or one meal costs about $400. Donations to date have exceeded $5200 using online payments through the link on our website, "COVID-19 Response Sisters of Charity".
The Satellite group has raised over $11,000 this year in their overall fundraising efforts. Kudos to this enthusiastic and committed group.
As some of you know, Sharon Weingarten has written a book entitled, "What I Wish You Knew Conversations with Teens". She is donating all proceeds from the sale of this book to a different charity or non-profit each month. She chooses organizations that are helping families to cope with these difficult times. To find out more, her website is https://www.whatiwishyouknewconversations.com/
From the Wilmette/Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce: In the spirit of community and making sure many of our neighbor businesses and their employees survive and thrive during this time of crisis, we are asking you to remember to shop online at your local businesses and order from local restaurants. See our Open for Business Updates for a list of restaurants offering curbside pickup or delivery and information about other stores and service businesses. Wilmette businesses are here for you!
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.
Our new District Governor, Lyle Staab, will meet with our board at 10:30am and address our club meeting at noon.
Lyle Staab is a member of the Rotary Club of Long Grove, Kildeer, and Hawthorn Woods. He has served his club as President, Chair of its Charitable Fund, Membership Chair, and, for the last three years, Director of the Rotary Race for Charity, its major fundraiser and service project. At the District level, Lyle has been an Assistant Governor, serves on the Visioning team, and was a member of the committee that organized the Foundation Centennial Dinner. He is currently the District’s Youth Service Advisor, working with Interact, Rotaract, Rotary Youth Exchange, and RYLA leaders.
Lyle retired in late 2012 from Siemens Healthcare. Over his career in the medical diagnostics and consumer products industries, he led manufacturing, integration, restructuring, commercial, and accounting organizations, oversaw operations in the US and Europe, and lived in Canada and Ireland. (His first Rotary Club was Dublin Fingal.)
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