Stories

October 11 Morning Program - Drs. Parag V Patel/ Erin Nasrallah

Drs. Patel and Nasrallah spoke to us about their organization, Global Foundation for International Cardiac and Community Services. They offer unique opportunities for medical practitioners in Kenya to expand their individual skills and knowledge with the goal of providing improved health care and health equity to their own communities. They also collaborate with local community organizations to provide health care, education and leadership development.

October 11 Noon Program - Meals on Wheels

Deborah Mack, Executive Director for Meals on Wheels Northeastern Illinois (MWNEI) spoke to the RAD group about this organization's customized meal services. MWNEI is an amazing movement of neighbors volunteering to deliver fresh, healthy and delicious meals to those who are unable to prepare their own food at home. They serve not only senior citizens but also people with physical or cognitive disabilities and those who need help during a specific medical situation like recovering from surgery. Unlike other organizations with the same name, Deborah's group customizes meal choices that are prepared according to hospital specifications. The food is high quality and is available to anyone in the region who requests it; the meals are paid for by the recipients on a sliding scale based on income.

July 12 Noon Program - Project CURE

Katie Hanlon, Executive Director of Project C.U.R.E. Chicago, spoke to us about Project CURE, which is the world’s largest distributor of donated medical equipment and supplies to resource-limited communities across the globe, touching the lives of patients, families, and children in more than 135 countries. She described how each week, Project C.U.R.E. delivers approximately three to five semi-truck sized ocean containers packed with the medical equipment and supplies desperately needed to save lives in hospitals and clinics. In addition, each year hundreds of healthcare professionals travel with Project C.U.R.E. to provide medical treatment to communities in need and training to those dedicated to serving them. 98% of donations to Project CURE go to providing medical supplies and equipment, only 2% goes for administration and staff.

April 12 Program - Connie Izquierdo

Connie Izquierdo, gave an interesting presentation about the primary causes of sleep distrubance. She outlined how obstruction of the airway while sleeping can cause the urge to unrinate, to snore and sleep apnea. Inadequiate sleep can contribute to diabetes, heart failure and Alzheimers. While a CPAP device is often recommended to solve the airway problem, it is too cumbersome for some people. Connie runs Interactive Speech Associates in Wilmette where she does myofunctional therapy, which teaches clients how to exercise orofascial muscles to help open the airway for easier breathing at night.

Hope Walk for the Homeless- May 6

Our 2023 Fundraiser will once again be a Fun 5k Walk/Run in beautiful Gillson Park. It will be on Saturday, May 6, starting at 10am in the Wallace Bowl area of the Park. All proceeds will go to organizations that provide services to the homeless in Evanston, Chicago, and the local area (e.g. Connections for the Homeless, La Casa Norte and Fraternite Notre Dame and others). Registration fee is $50 per person, $100 for a Family, and $25 for Students.

This will be a combined effort by the Rotary Club of Wilmette with assistance from the Rotary Club of Evanston, Evanston Lighthouse, Winnetka/Northfield and Wilmette Harbor. A pre-determined course will be set on Park grounds. Refreshments will be available. Click the boxes to the right for donations or to register for the event.

Our Sponsors: NorthShore Community Bank and Wayfair

Kids Against Hunger - Food-Packing Event

Several club members and family members joined the Kids Against Hunger food-packing event on Feb 25. The food packages will be sent to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. We had volunteeers for both the 8:30am shift and the 11am shift. The goal of packing 60,000 meals was met. Organized by the Rotary Club of Winnetka/Northfield and the Volunteer Center, this event is always fun and worthwhile.

Kids Against Hunger - Food-Packing

Several club members and family members joined the Kids Against Hunger food-packing event last Saturday. The food packages will be sent to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. We had volunteeers for both the 8:30am shift and the 11am shift. The goal of packing 60,000 meals was met. Organized by the Rotary Club of Winnetka/Northfield and the Volunteer Center, this event is always fun and worthwhile.

2022 Holiday Drive for the Homeless:
A Success

Our 3rd Annual Holiday Drive for the Homeless was a success. In collaboration with the Sisters of Fraternite Notre Dame, much-needed items will be distributed to the homeless in Chicago. All the items on the Gift Register with Amazon were purchased, approximately 70 % from donors and 30% from our fundraising. We hope these items will bring a little bit of relief to those unfortunate people living on the street in makeshift shelters and tents.

A big "thank you" to Mariana Al Far, President-Elect and Community Service Chair, for organizing, selecting items, and publicizing this event.

Upcoming Fundraiser - Rotary Hope Walk for the Homeless

Our next major fundraiser is planned for May 5-14, 2022. It will be a 10-day Walk-a-thon followed by a 5K fun run/walk on May 14 in Gillson Park. Proceeds will go to support organizations that provide services to homeless people in Chicago and the suburbs (Connections for the Homeless, La Case Norte, and others). Walkers will solicit others to sponsor their personal walks at $5 per mile walked.

Register to participate in the Walk-a-thon or attend the fun run/walk on May 14 by clicking the red Registration button on the right. If you just want to donate, click the red Sponsor button.

The 5K Fun Run/Walk will begin at 10am and run until noon. Everyone should meet at the Wallace Bowl at 10 am to begin the 5k. Representatives from recipient organizations, the Sesquicentennial Committee and others will be there as well.

Rotary clubs of Wilmette Harbor, Winnetka/Northfield, Evanston, Evanston Lighthouse and Skokie Valley have agreed to support and promote this event.

Our current Sponsors are North Shore Community Bank, Evanston Community Bank and Wayfair.

January 26 Program- Dementia Care

We heard an interesting presentation from North Shore-based geriatric care manager, Amy Cohen, OTR/L, CDP, CMC. Amy identified the early signs of dementia and how best to deal with people suffering from this condition. She emphasized that patience is the key. People with dementia are slower to respond to questions and may be confused by the question if it requires a short-term memory issue. Long-term memory is usually good, but short-term memory is usually faulty. Amy also mentioned ways to prepare for our own dementia should this occur.

January 19 Program - Global Compliance at McDonalds

Amy Kovalan, Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer for McDonald's Corporation, outlined the complex nature of global compliance for this international fast food provider. McDonald's feeds 68 million people each day through 39,000 restaurants, in 119 countries. Amy's job is to see that McDonald's operations comply with the rules and ethical standards of the US government, foreign governments, local governments, and their own stringent operational standards. Recognizing also the cultural and local differences necessary to be successful in foreign markets. Amy emphasized that the most important aspect of compliance is "3rd party due diligence". She needs to ensure that organizations that do business with McDonald's also comply with the ethical and governmental standards.

Club Receives ShelterBox Recognition

Our Club has received a bronze level ShelterBox HERO recognition for Rotary Year 2021-2022. ShelterBox has provided disaster relief to over 2 million people since 2000. COVID 19 has not stopped ShelterBox efforts, they provided aid to over 33,000 household in 2020, and over 28,000 households in 2021.

January 12 Program - Restructuring Sears Tower

Tod Desmarais, architect, developer, designer (among other things) presented a fascinating story of the restructuring of Sears Tower which later became Willis Tower. Originally built in 1973, Sears Tower was designed as an office building for Sears employees. When it was bought in 2016, the developers wanted to redesign the building for "mixed-use" so employees, residents and tourists would feel welcome to come to the building. Major redesign and structuring took place for the public areas outside the building and the first two floors.

The Sears Tower was transformed from a dull, unfriendly, sterile office building to a welcoming, user-friendly, inviting place to visit, live and work. Willis Towers is now a major Chicago tourist destination and a beautiful addition to downtown Chicago.

December 1 Program- - Dr. Thomas Meade

Posted by John Kilner

Dr. Thomas Meade was introduced as one of only a handful of the 3,400 professors at Northwestern University awarded two endowed professorships--and it was evident why one of those was for cancer research and one was for excellence in teaching. He explained some amazing developments in the struggle against cancer. One portion of his presentation covered his discovery decades ago of a simple way to identify if a person has various genetic diseases, even on the day one is born. This has revolutionized medicine's ability to effectively treat such serious conditions as cystic fibrosis by beginning treatment on day one. One practical word of advice: Dr. Meade noted that the reason why cancer kills so many people is that it is not treated until it has spread--so any unusual growths even just on one's skin should be checked by a physician sooner, not later.

November 17 Program - Surviving the Holocaust

Holocaust survivor, George Brent talked about how he survived being held captive at Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration and extermination camp during WWII. Dr. Brent told us how he was sent there at age 14, left alone, lost his mother and younger brother, and never saw his father again until after the war. Dr. Brent's personal story was heart-breaking, but also inspiring.

November 10 Program - Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith, financial advisor and planner, has more than 30 years of financial service experience. He presented an overview of how various investment markets have performed in the past and how they might in the coming years. He offered some alternative strategies to the the traditional ways of investing. Today's investors must understand how to plan and organize their assets, so they will realize growth and protect the assets through life transitions. Jeff's website is http://www.nsinv.com/

November 3 Program - Nuclear Weapon Analysis

Ward Hayes Wilson is a Senior Fellow and director of the Rethinking Nuclear Weapons project at the British American Security Information Council (BASIC), and a think tank, RealistRevolt, both focus on nuclear disarmament. He spoke to us about popular beliefs about nuclear weapons, and why these assumptions are mostly incorrect. This includes thinking that nothing can be done about the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

He explained that the question of whether to keep nuclear weapons is a question of utility and danger, and it IS possible to have a frank, pragmatic discussion. He believes that the reputation of nuclear weapons got overblown, for various reasons, and that their utility, based on history, is open to doubt. And that nuclear deterrence, although it has worked for quite some time, cannot work forever. To learn more about this go to his website, realistrevolt.org .

October 27 Program - John Jacoby

John Jacoby, former Village President and author of Wilmette at 150, presented an overview of some of the chapters in his new book. He told us about "No Man's Land" which became part of Wilmette after much bickering between Wilmette and Kenilworth. Other topics included: the creation of the Village Center; how New Trier West was built and used; notable church leaders, women and famous people associated with Wilmette; and other fascinating facts. Wilmette is celebrating its Sesquicentennial 150th anniversary this year.

October 13 Program - The Forgotten People

Ron Frahler, Director of Development for CHIEF, Inc, recounted the history of how Native Americans were treated in the US and Canada, and the conditions under which most of them live today. He gave some very interesting statistics. Today there are 576 federally recognized Indian Nations (variously called tribes) in the US. There are approximately 326 Indian land areas in the U.S. administered as federal Indian reservations 22% of American Indians and Alaska Natives live on reservations or other trust lands. 78% of American Indians and Alaska Natives live in metropolitan areas.

For further information on "the Native People," look under the "About" tab on the chief.org website.

September 15 Program- Ray Zeiss

Member Ray Zeiss gave a fascinating presentation honoring the life and work of the late Jim Allans. He told us about a Rotary Volunteer trip that he made with Jim to Suriname in South America to combat malaria in the Amazon, and a side trip to Brazil. Ray recounted the challenges of travel in the Amazon, encountering tribal warriors, befriending the native population and more.

September 8 Program - NASA Simulated Missions

Andrzej Stewart, a Satellite Systems Engineer, gave a fascinating presentation about how the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) prepares astronauts for living in space stations. They simulate missions by creating an environment here on earth that is very like a space station. They find an isolated confined environment, like a desert or craggy uninhabited place, and have the team spend a specific amount of time in that environment. The team is totally isolated and must rely on the limited resources of the habitat. They must wear space suits when leaving the habitat. Andrzej himself has been trained in this way for space travel.

August 18 Program -Elizabeth Kilner Wickware

Dr. Elizabeth Kilner Wickware graduated with both her Doctorate and Master's degree in vision science Her excellent presentation was informative and enlightening. Elizabeth explained how the eye is structured, what can go wrong, and how it can be fixed in most cases. She spoke about computer vision syndrome, macular degeneration, cataracts, irregular corneas; and further described the surgical and other methods used to restore vision.

July 28 Program - New Cancer Diagnostics and Therapy

Dr. Thomas Meade, Northwestern professor, researcher, inventor and entrepreneur, presented some fascinating insights into "theranostics" for the 21^st century. He explained that people who are diagnosed with cancer rarely die of the initial cancer, but rather it is when the cancer cells metastasize (spread) and affect other organs that 99% of people die. So improved diagnostic and therapeutic techniques with minimal side effects are being developed to identify and stop the spreading of cancer cells. Dr. Meade explained how early diagnostics through imaging can find the cancer and determine where it will spread. Then tumor specific therapy can be employed to slow down or stop the metastasis. Cancer will never be “cured”, he said, but lives can be saved with early diagnosis, imagining and tumor specific treatment.

July 21 Program - Electric Railways

Our member, John Plante (President Elect) spoke to us about how electric railways work. He explained the structure, the uses, the precautions, the safety features, etc. of the Chicago electric rail system. It was a fascinating look at this unique system of transportation.

July 14 Program- Drug Enforcement Administration

Our member Carly Morell and her colleague, Joe Mele presented an overview of how the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) functions, and their role as Diversion Investigators. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is a United States federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Justice tasked with combating drug trafficking and distribution within the U.S. It is the lead agency for domestic enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act, sharing concurrent jurisdiction with the FBI, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security. The DEA has sole responsibility for coordinating and pursuing U.S. drug investigations both domestically and abroad.

This was our first hybrid meeting, combining Zoom with an in-person meeting. Despite some technical glitches, the presentation was excellent and well- appreciated by the group.

June 30, 2021 - John Lenhard

Volunteers Make a Difference for the Coast Guard

Club member John Lenhard was the speaker for the June 30, 2021 meeting of the club. John provided us with an overview of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, an active arm of the United States Coast Guard staffed by volunteers. John, an active member of the Auxiliary, reviewed the history of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and talked about the great variety of functions and volunteer opportunities within the organization. A primary mission is boating safety through water patrols, boat safety checks, and training for boaters. Go to their website, https://www.cgaux.org, for further information.

Following John's presentation, it was noted that, barring any changes, this would be the last fully virtual meeting of the club. The Installation Dinner will be held on July 7 in the evening (registration this page) and in-person meetings will begin on July 14. Thank you to John Held and Frank Candioto for their leadership during this unusual time!

June 9 Program - Elmwood Dunes Preserve

Patrick Duffy, resident of Wilmette, talked to the club at its June 9, 2021 meeting about his efforts to restore the area formerly known as Elmwood Park in Wilmette. After learning that the Village might turn the 80 foot wide, public right-of-way to Lake Michigan over to the neighboring properties, Patrick put together a plan that would clean out the overgrowth and trash and restore the natural vegetation to the area and preserve the open space for public access. Working in cooperation with the Village and with the aid of grant monies, the area is now a beautiful spot from which to observe the lake and the natural shoreline. Club members recently completed a public service project assisting in the removal of some of the invasive plants in the renamed Elmwood Dunes Preserve.

May 5, 2021 - Ellen MacGran

Taking Time to Meditate

Ellen MacGran, of Integrative Restoration, joined the May 5 meeting to guide club members through a meditation session. Before and after the 25 minute session, Ms. MacGran talked about the many benefits of meditation including improved sleep and reduced pain. She noted that many have found meditation especially helpful during the past year of uncertainty. She promised to provide further information for those interested in learning more.

March 31, 2021 - Elise Steffe

Building Social Skills Through Theater

On March 31, the speaker at our weekly meeting was Elise Steffe, Development Manager for Special Gifts Theatre. Elise introduced us to this nonprofit organization which has as its mission that it will "foster self-confidence, social, speech and language skills in individuals with disabilities, using educational and therapeutic techniques with the stage as the platform, integrating creativity and fun." We were fascinated to learn about the ways young people with disabilities benefit as well as how more neuro-typical students can also play a part. While Special Gifts Theatre was founded in 2000, the last year with its many COVID restrictions, created new challenges and opportunities both in terms of services and funding. Elise is hoping to partner with organization like local Rotary clubs to build a more robust support network.

March 17, 2021 - ReneeDominguez

Supporting Emotional and Mental Wellbeing in the Community

Renee Z. Dominguez, Executive Director of the Family Service Center serving Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glenview and Northbrook, spoke to club members as the March 17 noon meeting via Zoom. Ms. Dominguez, herself a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, talked about how the organization addresses its vision and mission through a variety of programs and services to members of the community, including both individual counseling and group presentations in partnership with local agencies and governmental bodies. She described the changes in the demand for services and in the way services are delivered due to the COVID pandemic.

March 10, 2021 - Shannon Valko

Providing Children with Meaningful Opportunities to Pay It Forward

Shannon Valko is the Chief Operating Officer the The Kindness Connection, currently headquartered in Northbrook Court. Shannon spoke at the club's March 10 meeting about how The Kindness Connection was founded by local parents eager to provide children with a chance to learn empathy, compassion, and social responsibility through the act of creating gifts for others in need. The Kindness Connection partners with organizations such as hospitals, senior centers, veterans groups, and other community organizations to find areas of need to be addressed and then assembles all-in-one kits for children, primarily in grades one to six, to use to create practical gifts for those organizations. Although their primary audience is groups such as school classes or scout troops, The Kindness Connection also makes their materials available for individual purchase. See their web page, https://thekindnessconnection.org, for more information.

March 3, 2021 - Javi Santacruz

Providing Support for Mathematics Learning

Rotary member Javi Santacruz was the speaker for the March 3 club meeting held over Zoom. A former attorney, Javi's current focus is on helping children come to a better understanding of mathematics through mastery of math skills in a logical, individually paced manner. Javi is doing this in Illinois and California as owner of several Mathnasium company locations. His passion for building confidence in children through the personalized attention to the development of mathematical skills and comprehension was evident throughout the talk and the lively Q&A session following it. Javi also encouraged those interested math and children to consider joining him as a tutor.

February 24, 2021 - Sara O'Keefe

Supporting Teens and Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Sara O'Keefe, Development Manager of Our Place in Wilmette, spoke to the club at the noon meeting on February 24. Sara explained the mission of Our Place is to provide support for teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can live meaningful and socially connected lives within their community. She talked about the various programs that are offered and the ways clientele are referred to the program. Unfortunately, the COVID crisis has made the important one-on-one interactions difficult but staff have found ways to alter some of the experiences provided and to remain in contact with each family so the clientele do not feel abandoned. Our Place will be the beneficiary of the next club fundraiser.

February 17, 2021 - Annie Aggens

Shackleton's 1914-1917 Expedition

Annie Aggens, a Director of Polar Explorers and guide at Northwest Passage based in Wilmette, presented the program for the club's February 17 noon meetings. Using her own experiences crossing both poles as well as photos from the Shackleton expedition, Annie provided her listeners with a fascinating retelling of the harrowing expedition and its amazing conclusion.

February 10, 2021 - Rostom Mbarek

High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena Through the Lens of Cosmic Rays

Rostom Mbarek, graduate student at the University of Chicago's Department of Astrophysics, presented the club's lunchtime program on February 10. After briefly introducing himself and his background, Rostom provided an introduction to his work on astrophysical phenomena including the origins of cosmic rays and the formation of neutron stars. Club members expressed interest in having Rostom return to help us learn about black holes.

February 3, 2021 - Joe Goldstein

A Successful Investment Strategy

Long-time member Joe Goldstein provided the program for the February 3 club meeting via Zoom. Joe was excited to share with fellow members the investment strategy he has used for many years to generate extra income. Through study and experimentation, he has found a way to reduce his risk by using Option Spread investments. Joe provided several examples from his own experience and would be happy to share his wisdom with anyone who would be interested in learning more. Thank you, Joe!

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.

September 30, 2020 - Emily Schnell

Warming House Youth Center Welcomes Teens

Emily Schnell, Executive Director of the Warming House Youth Center in Wilmette, spoke to club members during the regular noon meeting via Zoom. She reviewed the history of the Center which was founded in 1971. Emily, a licensed clinical social worker, discussed the Centers services to all teens - both as they existed before the COVID pandemic and now. Activities range from programing, serving as a gathering place, and providing some counseling. Like most non-profit organizations, they are currently faced with the challenges of finding ways to interact with their clientele virtually as well as ways to recouperate from lost fund raising opppotunities. Further information about the Warming House can be found at https://www.warminghouse.org/

September 23 - Bill Plante

The History and Challenges of Reporting the News

Bill Plante, retired CBS News Correspondent and brother of club member John Plante, spoke to club members about his experiences as a reporter covering U.S. presidents. Using the quote often attributed to Mark Twain - "History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes" - he reviewed some of the relationships between U.S. presidents and the press and noted that publishing false information or attempting to go around or stifle the press are not new or unknown in our past. He noted the more challenging difficulties of determining fact from fiction in the current environment of 24/7 cable networks and social media. Especially troubling are modern technologies that allow people to alter film and recordings to alter the appearance of an actual event. He believes that all of this puts a greater responsibility on the consumer to evaluate any information more carefully as to its sources and reliability. Following his talk there was a lively Q&A session.

September 16 - Club Fundraising Committee

2020 Walk-A-Thon Fundraiser for COVID 19 Relief

Club members Debora Morris, Joe Goldstein, and Martha Sheridan spoke to meeting attendees about why the Club has chosen to undertake a walk-a-thon as a fundraiser this year and how to participate. The Club has already provided several of our community partners with assistance during the pandemic crisis and we hope to do more! It's easy to participate. You can walk with the support of friends and family, you can encourage others to join us, or you can donate. Those walking will record their distances during the first 10 days of October. Go to our webpage to get started: www.wilmetterotary.org. Click here to see a news release with more information.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Rotary Club of Wilmette Receives Rotary Citation Award

The Wilmette Rotary Club has been recognized by Rotary International for its achievements in club performance objectives as established by Rotary during the 2019-2020 club year. The Citation was awarded with distinction at the platinum level. Congratulations to all club members for their participation and devotion to the club. A special congratulations goes past president John Held for his leadership during the year.

September 9 - Marina Bershadsky

Food Preparation Skills Equip Children For Better Health

Successful Business Operations and Management consultant Marina Bershadsky, launched her organization Pineapple Way (https://pineappleway.org/) fifteen years ago. Her mission: to fight childhood obesity and malnutrition.

Being a small not-for-profit organization, they can work with smaller groups and communities and achieve a significant result. By interacting more closely with families, volunteers get to know them and their food preferences, resources available to the neighborhood, and family's monthly food budget. With this information, Pineapple Way can teach and guide them on incorporating better nutrition into their family meals to help them achieve healthier lifestyles and nutritional goals.

Pineapple Way is always looking for donations of food, kitchen supplies, and equipment to support their cooking classes that give children the food preparation skills they need to help build a healthier future for themelves and their families.

September 2 - Jill Mecklenburger

Advances in Hearing Technologies

Jill Mecklenburger is a Principal Audiologist in the Global Audiology Group at GN ReSound, a Danish organization established in 1869. Her presentation reviewed how modern hearing aid technology helps individuals with hearing loss overcome common problems including tinnitus and difficulty hearing in challenging situations. Testing is a critical first step; including your “speech reception threshold”, word recognition and your ability to hear in a noisy environment. Once thresholds have been plotted on the audiogram, the degree of hearing loss can be determined. Today the hearing aid user can be successful in more environments than ever before thanks in large part to developments with algorithms and connectivity. The devices “read” the surrounding environment, as in separating a conversation in a noisy room. Test data – along with comfort and appearance considerations – will help you zero in on the specific design best for you.

August 19 - John Kilner

Bioethics and End of Life Decisions

Club Member, John Kilner, is a well-know expert in the field of bioethics. He has contributed to many news programs and publications. He is recently retired as Forman Chair of Christian Ethics & Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and was Senior Fellow for The Center for Bioethics & Human Dignity based in Deerfield, IL. John spoke to attendees at the August 19 Zoom meeting of the club about the fast changing world of bioethics from the point of conception to the end of life. Following a brief overview, John focused on the many areas that should be considered when planning for end-of-life decisions, especially when creating formal documents. John will be conducting a follow-up workshop for those interested in putting an advance directive in place on September 2 at noon. Those interested will need to provide John with contact information to be able to participate. Watch the Spoke or email communications for further information.

August 5 Program - Donna Lee Gulley

Shelter Box Continues to Provide Disaster Response

Donna Lee Gulley returned to update club members on the ongoing activities of Shelter Box, a global organization that believes that shelter is a human right. Ms. Gulley thanked the club for its past support of Shelter Box and presented information on current activities throughout the world. Club members expressed special interest in any actions that might be undertaken following the recent explosion in Beirut. Ms. Gulley promised to keep members informed in that area. For further in formation about Shelter Box or to donate, go to https://www.shelterboxusa.org/. Be sure to include Rotary district information (District 6440) and Donna Lee Gulley's name when donating directly to Shelter Box. (There is space available for this information on the online form.)

June 24, 2020 - Annual Installation Meeting

Annual Installation of Officers and Presentation of Awards

John Held conducted his last meeting at Club President at the June 24, 2020 meeting. Frank Candioto took the gavel and the oath of office as the new president for the 2020-2021 Rotary year. All in the Club expressed their gratitude for John's service to the Club.

More than 30 members and guests attended the club meeting on June 24, 2020 via Zoom software to celebrate the successful completion of one Rotary year and the beginning of a new year.

Sherman Marks received a special award from Rotary for his FIFTY years as a Rotarian. He spoke briefly about the changes he has seen and about how being a Rotarian had enriched his life experiences. Congratulations Sherm!

June 17 - Fellowship Program

Luis Carreon Adds Magic to Our Meeting

In keeping with the Club goal of having at least one meeting each quarter that has a more relaxed program to encourage fellowship, Luis Carreon, professional magician, was invited to join the club meeting this week. He entertained us with a delightful half hour of magic during our Zoom meeting. His card and coin tricks amazed the onlookers, including the audience members who assisted on two tricks. Mr. Carreon has performed on stages around the world including at the Magic Castle in California. He is a founding member and regular performer at the Chicago Magic Lounge. Following the magic performance, we were greeted by District Governor-Elect Lyle Staab, and we received updates about two international projects to be funded this fiscal year.

June 10 Program - Jason Turner, Wintrust

Economic Overview in the Time of COVID 19

Jason Turner, Chief Operating Officer of Great Lakes Advisors, spoke to 28 Club members and guests about the economic impact of the COVID 19 crisis on the national and state. He included remarks about consumer confidence, the difficulties of reopening, especially for small businesses, and how the elections in the fall of 2020 might play a role. Following his presentation he answered questions from the participants.

Rotary Meeting Update

Club lunch meetings are now both in-person and Zoom. Our first priority is always safeguarding the health and well-being of our members and their families, however, we believe we can safely meet in person at this time. Zoom links will be available for those who want to join virtually.

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 either in-person, or by Zoom.

Be Safe Out There

A Message from Club President John Held:
Based on consultations with the Club officers, on the District Governor's message, and to further the goal of endeavoring to best ensure the health and safety of our Members, I have decided to cancel our Club's March 18th lunch meeting, to cancel our Club's April 1st lunch meeting, and to postpone and seek to rescheduled our Club's March 24th social meeting. I also urge all Committee Chairs and the Satellite Club President to reschedule any meetings, which are presently scheduled, until a date at least to after April 4th.

The Club officers and I will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and the various updated guidelines and Rotary recommendations. I will decide during the first week of April whether any further lunch meeting cancellations are needed to achieve our goal, which is a hallmark of Rotary fellowship, in view of the ever evolving COVID-19 situation.

Additionally, I would ask all members who know of a member, who tend not read, on a regular basis, ClubRunner messages and the SPOKE, to please contact them and relay this meetings cancellations/postponement message. Thank you for doing this and for your understandings of my decision.

John

Making a Difference on a Global and Personal Scale

Saving the Environment by Focusing on People

Blue Star Recyclers calls itself a 501c3 Social Enterprise. By that they mean that they work to keep revenue local and minimize taxpayer funding by training and paying their disabled employees in meaningful employment. Buffalo Grove plant manager Raul Guzman spoke to the club about how people with disabilities, including those on the autism scale, are able to work at Blue Star and provide valuable community service by ethically recycling electronics, all within the United States. The company began in Colorado and has been growing, in part with the help of some local Rotarians. The Buffalo Grove location will accept individual drop-offs of computers, tablets and other equipment, many without any cost, at 1387 Barclay Blvd. or Mr. Guzman would be happy to help to arrange a recycling event.

Building a Movement for Peace

Exploring Rotary International's Peace Initiatives

Rebecca Crall spoke at the Club meeting on January 29, 2020. Ms. Crall is the Area of Focus Manager for Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention. She has been with Rotary International since 2006, working primarily with the strategic and programmatic development of the Rotary’s peace initiatives. Her work as Area of Focus Manager centers on the strategic growth of the PCP portfolio with an emphasis on the development of the Rotary strategic partnership with the Institute for Economics and Peace.

TIME TO PARTICIPATE!

Three opportunities to reach out

FEBRUARY 13: Wine Tasting to benefit Kids Against Hunger. Held at the Bottle Shop, 1148 Central Avenue, Wilmette from 7-9 p.m. Cost is $25.

FEBRUARY 17: Random Acts of Kindness Day. Our club will be serving dinner at Just Harvest. We need 5 volunteers.

MARCH 14: 2020 Kids Against Hunger food packaging event held at the Winnetka Community House, 670 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka. We need 12 volunteers to work from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Addressing the Global Energy Challenge

At the January 22 meeting, Sam Ori, Executive Director at EPIC and the Becker Friedman Institute at the University of Chicago, described EPIC’s mission to bring research and partnership to the forefront of solving the global energy challenge through cutting edge, interdisciplinary studies in business, economics, law, and policy. Mr. Ori presented an overview of the global energy challenge: the need to provide people around the world with access to reliable, affordable energy for economic growth while limiting emissions of pollution that harm human health and causes climate change.

It Was A Wonderful Evening!

Congratulations and Thank You!

Congratulations to the Fund Raising Committee for a delightful evening of good fellowship and celebration of the many good things that happen in this club. And thanks to all who attended or contributed to the evenings events. We couldn't do anything without you!

Teaching Teens to Lead Toward Peace

Local Organization Uses Dialogue to Promote Peace

Rick Rosenfeld has been the Executive Director of Glenview-based Hands of Peace since 2016. At the December 4 meeting, he talked to the Club about ways Hands of Peace empowers young Israelis, Palestinians, and Americans to raise their voices as leaders of change. They believe the way to create impactful and lasting change in communities is through developing young leaders who are committed to freedom, equality, and justice for all.

Evening Satellite Club Formed

New Members Installed December 3

The Rotary Club of Wilmette formed an evening Satellite Club with eight new members at the Bottle Shop Dec. 3^rd. While the main Rotary Club of Wilmette has 48 members and meets noon Wednesdays at the Wilmette Golf Club, the evening Satellite Club appeals to interested neighbors who work downtown or can’t get away from suburban responsibilities mid-day. It recognizes the busy workloads and personal schedules of many Wilmette-area adults who can now fully participate in the world’s oldest and largest service organization at a convenient time.

The Satellite meets at 7 pm twice monthly at a member’s home, office, local winery or restaurant. Its members are full Rotarians and will participate in Rotary Club of Wilmette activities and service projects (including their own), and all of Rotary International.

Smiling at the first induction ceremony are (back row from left) Rotary Club of Wilmette President John Held, Satellite chair Brian Bradley, Kurt Zoller and Dave Fox. And (front row from left) Marianna Al Far, Laurie Cavalier, Patricia Ohle, Satellite chair-elect Martha Sheridan and Club Membership Chair Debora Morris. Not pictured are Julie Minato and Mary Collins White.

What is ADHD?

Revealing the Gifts, Myths and Common Traits of ADHD
Dale Davison, a board certified life coach specializing in ADHD/Executive Functioning in Adults, was the speaker at the November 20 Club meeting. In her talk, Ms. Davison talked about the long history of ADHD, including its many name changes. She also described the challenges and gifts that come with experiencing ADHD as well as some of the treatments used to help people experiencing ADHD to function in the neurotypical world.

Book Drive Celebrates Another Successful Year

Rotary Club of Wilmette Collects 25,000 Books for Chicago Schools

The Rotary Club of Wilmette collected a record 25,000 books this year to help less-fortunate Chicago students perform better and love reading. Over 17 years, Rotary delivered more than 150,000 books to students. The Rotary Club of Wilmette’s Big Book Drive collects thousands of children’s, library, reference and young adult books from North Shore schools and libraries and the club gratefully thanks them. Books come from Wilmette District 39 elementary schools, local public and private high schools, the Wilmette, Winnetka/Northfield, Northbrook, Glenview and Skokie Public Libraries, and private individual donations. Like past years, Office Depot/Green Bay Road Manager, Terry Prange, donated hundreds of new bank-box cartons. And club benefactor, Jack Flynn, supported the drive. All books will be delivered to Catalyst Charter Schools grades K-12 in Chicago’s Marquette Park and Austin neighborhoods and Chicago Math and Science Academy grades 6-12 in Rogers Park. Together, they serve 2,200 students and make literacy a major priority. Rotary Book Drive Chair Maurice Sullivan notes a correlation between these thousands of donated books and increased student interest in reading and reading levels.
Photo Caption: The Rotary Clubs of Wilmette and Winnetka-Northfield and community volunteers sorted 25,000 children’s and young adult books by grade level for delivery to less-fortunate Chicago students.

Stay in Your Home Safely

Making Your Home Senior Friendly

At the November 13 luncheon, Drina Nikola, owner of Dwelling Places and Spaces presented ways to make your home both accessible and aesthetically pleasing as you get older. Their Evanston-based senior move management team provides design, downsizing and move management services for Chicago and Chicago’s North Shore boomer-and-beyond generation.

Tips for Downsizing or Decluttering

How to Value and Dispose of Household Items, Antiques, Art and Collectibles

Sisters Ann and Doris Ayres founded Ayres Estate Services (AES) to help people value and get rid of valuable items when downsizing or decluttering their homes. On November 6 they spoke to club members about their ability to be a resource for realizing value from antiques and collectibles as well as useful everyday items. They are a full service source for evaluating your items, connecting to the right buyers and selling for more money. Through the years, AES has helped people with difficult decisions about where to place their valuables. They like to say "We place our clients' valuables in the right hands for more money."

Public Safety Comes First

Wilmette Fire Chief Addresses Club

Ben Wozney, Chief of the Wilmette Fire Department, addressed the October 30, 2019 meeting of the Club. Chief Wozney described the various activities of the department both in terms of past events and training for the future. Chief Wozney was promoted to Chief in August 2017 and is a long-time resident of the area. Thank you to Chief Wozney and all the members of the Wilmette Fire Department!

A Wealth of Programs Serving New Trier Township

Brian Leverenz Acquaints Club Members with Township Services

BrianLeverenz10-23-19Brian Leverenz is the Community Services Administrator for New Trier Township, where his duties include overseeing the grant process for 30 plus agencies and 40 plus programs, as well as running the Township Food Pantry, and the Peer Jury Program. Further information about New Trier Township can be found on its website: https://newtriertownship.com.

October 9th Program

Kevin Kuhn shares Forest Preserve overview

Kevin Kuhn, Volunteer Program Specialist for the Forest Preserves of Cook County spoke to Club members at the weekly meeting on October 9, 2019. Kevin talked about the history of the Forest Preserves and the many resources available to the public in them. Besides providing natural habitat for plants and animals, the Preserves offer educational and recreational activities for the public. He also outlined volunteer opportunities. For more information, visit the website at https://fpdcc.com/.

October 2nd Program

Website/Clubrunner Review

Terry Porter and Debora Morris offered helpful tips on how to access ClubRunner and our website at the October 2 meeting. Most members brought their tablet, laptop computer or smartphone and followed-along as Terry and Debora walked them through Internet access, Rotary Club of Wilmette website access, website features and finding/updating member records.

NEW PUBLIC IMAGE GRANT PROGRAM

District 6440 is introducing a new Public Image Grant Program to spur the use of new marketing materials and spread the great Rotary name and logo throughout our communities. The Grant Program provides matching grants, up to $250 per club, for new brochures, road signs, banners, inflatable signs, logo wear, Facebook/newspaper/movie theater advertising, member recruiting materials, community fair signage and much more. Grants help reimburse clubs for outward-facing materials reaching the general public. Rich Brill will be the District's Grant Program Reviewer for Near North Sector.

Our esteemed member Richard Brill is also District 6440 Public Image Chairman. He is pictured here with Rotary International President-Elect Holger Knaack at the Rotary 2019 Zone Institute in Kansas City. Mr. Knack addressed the District Public Image Chair training sessions on Sept. 27th.

Service in Action

District 6440 Members Walk to End Alzheimer's

Club member Ellen Clark (second from left in picture) participated in the 2019 North Shore Walk to End Alzheimer's with a team of people from other clubs in the District. The team was organized by Jeff Kaplan, a member of the Deerfield club. The walk was held in Glenview on September 14. Donations are still welcome through the end of the year. (Click here for information.)

We'd Love To Have You Join Us!

Club Board Meeting

Our board meets monthly to keep our Club on track and making progress. Here is a recent gathering of most board members and committee chairs.

A Proposal for Education Reform

Member Richard Janzow Shares Education Ideas

Club member Dick Janzow spoke at the September 11, 2019 meeting about his observations of shortfalls in current educational practices for students in grades K-8 in urban or rural settings. He suggested moving to a process of achievement based on successful mastery of specific skills rather than generic grade- or age-based criteria.

District Governor Suzanne Gibson Visits

District Governor Suzanne Gibson visited our Rotary Club of Wilmette on August 28th. She led the board meeting, asking each member to explain their roles, what the club does and why they have a passion for Rotary. She was then speaker at our luncheon meeting, talking about the District and telling a moving personal story about a Guatemala clean water project that greatly improved the lives of local peoples.

Photos show District Governor Suzanne Gibson, Club President John Held, Assistant Governor Rich Lalley -- and many members and guests attending.

Rotarians Gather in Germany

A Report from the 2019 Rotary International Convention

Jim Waite, president of the Wilmette Harbor Rotary Club, told us about the amazing 2019 Rotary International Convention in Hamburg, Germany. He showed slides of the city, convention halls, general and break-out sessions and fellow Rotarians from 200 countries who attended. In all, 26,000 Rotarians heard from RI officers and global experts. He encouraged all of us to attend a future convention including the 2020 event in Honolulu.

A New Outreach at Family Matters

Devon Lovell Describes New School Project at Family Matters

Devon Lovell, Academic Director at Family Matters in Rogers Park, spoke at the July 31, 2019 meeting of the Club. She reviewed the work of Family Matters providing leadership, literacy and academic support to the community and her role there. She introduced the latest project which is to create a micro-school for students for the first few years of elementary school in order to build skills and enthusiasm for continued learning.

Meeting the Bend in the Road: A Story of Career Change and Discovery

Megan Van Treeck, Account Executive, Group Sales for Northwestern University Sports, spoke to the July 24, 2019 Club meeting about her career path from a successful Irish themed shop in Glenview to the Northwestern University sports program. She offered insights into the resources she used and paths she took to move from one career she loved to a new one that she looks forward to participating in each day.

New Officers for 2019-2020

2019-2020 Officers

The Rotary Club of Wilmette installed 2019-2020 officers. In photo (from left with career designations) are: Club President John Held, patent attorney; Club Secretary Bob Taylor, CPA and financial planning; Co-Treasurer Kent Meyers, investment banking; Co-Treasurer Roland Catenacci, industrial sales; Foundation Treasurer John Flanagin, institutional investment research; and President-Elect Frank Candioto, high school principal.

Scholarships Presented to Local Students

The Rotary Club of Wilmette awarded 2019 scholarships to five outstanding students from New Trier, Loyola Academy and Regina Dominican High Schools. Rotary Club of Wilmette Youth Chair Jackie Granat was able to meet with four of the students to congratulate them personally. We send all of the students our best wishes!

2019-2020 Joint Installation Event

This year, the Rotary Club of Wilmette joined with the Rotary Clubs of Winnetka-Northfield and Glencoe to celebrate the start of a new Rotary year. District Governor-Elect Suzanne Gibson administered the oath of office to the incoming Club Presidents, including John Held for the Wilmette Club, and the incoming Board members. Congratulations to all!

2019 Wilmette Rotarian of the Year

Congratulations to Debora Morris, the Rotary Club of Wilmette Rotarian of the Year! Debora works tirelessly for the Club including encouraging participation in Club events and increasing efforts to bring in new members. She also spearheaded the new visioning process. An honor well-deserved!

Understanding Behavior Styles to Improve Communication

Zbig Skiba, President of Skiba Associates and fellow Rotarian, was the speaker for the June 5 meeting. He talked about how to improve communication with others by first coming to understand your own behavioral styles. Prior to the meeting all Club members were invited to create their own personal behavioral profiles through an online version of the Skiba Associates training survey.

Looking Toward The Future

Nearly 30 club officers, board members and members participated in a valuable Vision Training the evening of May 20th at the Wilmette Golf Club. It was a fabulous opportunity to evaluate the strengths and weakness of our club and plan for the future. District facilitators helped us throughout this process of strategic planning. We evaluated options for the future and created a plan to grow forward. Thanks to all who participated - YOU make us a great club!

Shape the Future of Our Club

Vision Training - May 20 - 5PM to 9PM
Be sure to come to participate in strategic planning process for the Club. You will have a chance to offer compliments, critiques and dreams for our Club. ALL members are encouraged to attend.

Bridging the Red/Blue Divide

Sharon Kristjanson, founder of SVK Intercultural, a consulting firm specializing in skill development for leaders, visited the April 17, 2019 meeting of the Club to talk about Better Angels, "a citizens’ organization uniting red and blue Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America." The name of the group comes from Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural address. Better Angels offers workshops and skills training sessions aimed at helping people learn ways to have respectful conversations with people who disagree on political isssues. There are two upcoming opportunities to take part in these sessions in Evanston during May.

Welcome Back Billy!

Long-term Rotary Club of Wilmette member Billy Billimoria visited our luncheon on April 10th. Over the decades, he spearheaded 28 service programs for our club, mostly serving India, including the $2.5 million water treatment plant in his hometown. Billy attends Rotary meetings in Billimoria, India, when he is not in Wilmette and was recently honored with a plaque.

Healthcare for Those Without Insurance

Dr Abramson is an internist and endocrinologist as well as the Executive Director of Old Irving Park Community Clinic (OIPCC). Dr. Abramson attended Northwestern University and the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. She became the OIPCC volunteer Executive Director in 2014.

August is New Membership Month

Why join Rotary? Prospective members and current members share the same motives for joining a Rotary club. First and foremost is the desire to serve a greater good, by supporting and working for causes that benefit those less fortunate and in need. A close second is the friendship that is developed with like-minded people; this includes personal relationships as well as business connections.

Our 95-year-old club has accomplished a lot of wonderful things, and helped untold numbers of people locally and world-wide. We are always looking for new members who share our enthusiasm for making the world a better place. All our members share responsibility for maintain a vibrant and energetic club. Whether you are a long-time member or just considering membership, we welcome your enthusiasm and participation!

Polio Eradication Update

At the March 13, 2019 meeting, Carole Wells, past president of the Wilmette Harbor Club and district Polio representative brought us up to date on the progress of polio eradication. Only three countries remain on the list of countries still experiencing polio cases: Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria. While fewer than 28 cases were detected in these countries over the last year, monthly vaccinations of children under age 5 continue until no cases are experienced over a period of 3 years. Efforts to eradicate polio continue with the help of the World Health Organization, UNICEF, ministries of health of involved countries, and major donors such as the Gates Foundation.

Learning More About Alzheimer's Disease

On March 20, Jill Kennon, RN, spoke at length to Club members about Alzheimer's Disease, which affects a growing number of seniors. She outlined lifestyle and medical interventions that can prevent, treat and sometimes even reverse the affects of this devastating illness.

Wonderful Night of Celebration

The gala celebration of the Rotary Club of Wilmette's 95th Anniversary was a great success. Thanks to all who attended and who helped to make it happen. Money raised at the event will be used to fund the Club's many service projects benefitting local organizations as well as international projects.

Another Successful Kids Against Hunger Project

Many Rotary Club of Wilmette members and friends joined scores of others packing 100,000 meals for starving people at the Kids Against Hunger event March 16th at the Winnetka Community House. Thanks to all who participated!

Addams Family Preview by New Trier Cast

Club members enjoyed a preview of the New Trier High School 2019 musical The Addams Family at the February 27 meeting. As part of an annual social event, several club members plan to attend the musical when it is performed at the high school.

Kids Against Hunger Project!

Next Saturday is the Day -Hope to See You There

The 2020 Kids Against Hunger food packaging event is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2020, 11am to 1pm at the Winnetka Community House, 670 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka. We are sponsoring this event again this year. This project, which our club has participated in for several years, packages food supplements for hungry and malnourished children in Nicaragua. It's always a fun gathering. Our Satellite Club will be there with almost 24 participants. This event is free to our members since we are sponsoring the event.

Getting To Know Our Members

Long-time members Bob Larsen and Sherm Marks shared stories from their lives with the rest of the club at the luncheon meeting on February 13, 2019. Of special note is Sherm's 50th anniversary as a member of Rotary coming up in August, 2020.

Wilmette Rotary in Unganda

Steve Jambor, a long time member of Rotary Club of Wilmette and the International Committee, shared moments of his recent trip to Uganda for the purpose of advancing our Global Grant to install ultrasounds at five rural clinics and provide the training of midwives to operate them for obstetrics and gynecological care of women. The trip covered meetings with our Rotarian host partners and visiting rural clinics with Imaging the World, our in-country service provider. Steve gave many great stories and images of the challenging situation there. It was program not to miss!

Wilmette Rotary Clubs Hold Joint Meeting

About 50 members of the Rotary Club of Wilmette and Rotary Club of Wilmette Harbor socialized together at the Sheridan Shores Yacht Club Jan. 16th. We had very good interaction, fellowship, food and wine.

In the program, our president John Held, and the morning club president introduced their fellow officers and some committee chairs recapped their activities. Then, morning club member Jim Waite, who lived in China for many years, showed scenes and life there today. He then conducted a trivia contest where each table guessed the pictures, building, monuments and people of various Asian countries.

Pictures include John Held, Jim Waite and the group at tables listening to Frank Candioto telling about our Community Service Committee.

Talented New Trier Swing Choir Visits Club

On December 19, the talented voices of the New Trier Swing Choir provided a delightful mix of holiday favorites and jazz tunes to entertain members of the Club and their guests. This annual concert has become a favorite event each year.

Another Successful Book Drive

The Rotary Club of Wilmette collected 20,400 books to help inner-city students perform better and love reading. Over 16 years, Rotary delivered nearly 150,000 books to grateful Chicago students. In photo, Rotary Club of Wilmette members and Catalyst school staff moved 500 cartons with 20,400 children’s books onto trucks for a trip to Catalyst Charter School’s two Marquette Park locations.

REGISTER NOW!

SAVE THE DATE - March 7, 2019!
Join our 95th Birthday Bash Fundraiser: An Evening of Enchantment

This year's fundraiser will include dinner and a performance by the most acclaimed "interpretive" artists in Las Vegas paying tribute to Dean Martin and Barbra Streisand. We will also have silent and live auctions, amazing raffle prizes, cash bar, and free parking.
Place: Valley Lo Club, Glenview
Time: 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Tickets: $100 pp includes one free $35 raffle ticket
Dinner choice: Salmon, Filet Mignon, or Vegetarian

Click here or on the link in the Events box of our page for registration information.

Social Media Outreach Made Easy

David Kohn (right) and Chris Falcon (left) spoke to the Club on December 5 about the potential of new forms of media outreach for spreading the word about Rotary or recruiting new members. Through their company, Media Podz, they are providing an easy way to create and distribute social media outreach messages, such as podcasts and YouTube videos, for those less familiar with the technology or lacking the equipment to produce high quality products. They are offering assistance for each step of the process at reasonable pricing.

Shelterbox Still Providing Aid After 18 Years

Rotarian Ross Spencer provided Club members with an update on Shelterbox's operations and some of the changes that have been made since its founding 18 years ago. He noted that in 2012 Shelterbox became Rotary International's first project partner enabling both organizations to collaborate more closely in disaster response. He showed some of the new equipment being used to respond in situations where housing may not be the first concern. Those wishing to contact ShelterboxUSA to learn more or to donate may go to https://www.shelterboxusa.org/

Transitions for Special Young Adults

Diane Wojcik spoke at the November 28 meeting about her work as Transition/Vocational Coordinator in the Special Education Department at New Trier High School. Ms. Wojcik has extensive experience in career counseling and work with those who have different abilities. She is always looking for community partners to provide guided experiences for her students.

Club Member Mills Optimistic About US Economy

At the November 14 meeting, Rotary member, Ed MIlls, Professor Emeritus from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, gave a brief overview of economic cycles since the Great Depression of 1929. He then talked about the current economic situation in the country and gave the reasons he feels optimistic about continued growth. Ed has published over twenty books on economic issues and participated in numerous economic conferences around the world.

Helping Students One-on-One

Carey Kogol, Senior Development Director at iMentor Chicago, told our Club how iMentor works to secure funds from foundations, corporations, and individuals to build mentoring relationships that empower first-generation students from low-income communities to graduate from high school and succeed in college. iMentor is a national program with locations in New York City, the Bay Area, and Chicago. iMentor's program has increased college enrollment at participating schools by an average of 15 percentage points. Students at those school are nearly three times more likely to graduate from college than their peers. Ms. Kogol has been instrumental in helping iMentor Chicago reach from one high school in the westside of Chicago serving 207 students to four high schools throughout the city serving 1,334 students in three years.

Eradicating Sex Trafficking in Chicago

On October 10th, Gayle Nelson and Cathy Carmody from the Jewish Coalition Against Sex Trafficking (JCAST) spoke to the club about JCAST's efforts of eradicate sex trafficking in the Chicagoland area through public awareness efforts, community engagement, and advocacy at state, local and national levels. JCAST partners with interfaith and human rights groups, non-profit organizations, government officials, and law enforcement agencies to work with congregations, clergy, Jewish organizations and secular groups to educate the community and to take action to end demand for purchased sex and to protect children.

District Governor Visits Club

Rotary District Governor Julie Clark attended the Club meeting on August 29, 2018. She commented on the Club's activities and provided an overview of what is happening in the District. As District Governor, she will be visiting all 68 clubs over the next year. Pictured with Julie are Rotary Club of Wilmette President Pat Brown (left) and Assistant District Governor Rich Lalley (right).

Help for the Homeless

Mary Coy, Director of Development for HOW, addressed the members of the Club at the August 22, 2018 meeting. She described the various measures taken by HOW (Housing Opportunities for Women) are designed to prevent homelessness and support those in precarious living situations.

The Importance of Eye Care

Dr. Stuart Sondheimer was the speaker at the August 1 meeting. Dr. Sondheimer is a board certified ophthalmologist from Skokie, IL. He spoke about the recent advances in eye care, the use of lasers to remove floaters from the eye and recent improvements and rehabilitation options in cataract surgery. Dr. Stuart is also spoke about his participation as a volunteer in providing cataract surgery in the developing world.

Affordable Housing

On July 25, David Gottlieb, founding executive director of Full Circle Communities, spoke about the organization's mission to expand access to quality affordable housing through preservation and development, thoughtful design and the provision of significant and targeted supportive services to residents and the surrounding communities.

Getting Off The Treadmill

Author, Life Coach and CEO Michael Lauesen addressed the issues of how to deal with the challenges of daily living in a world filled with 24/7 familial responsibilities, the burden of deadlines and work agendas with ever increasing speed at the July 11 meeting. He discussed strategies for reducing stress, improving productivity and creating meaningful memories at home.

Celebrating a New Rotary Year

The June 27, 2018 meeting celebrated the end of another successful year for the Club and the beginning of a new year. Long-time member Terry Porter was honored as Rotarian of the Year for his ongoing contributions to the Club. Then the presidential gavel was passed from out-going co-presidents Debora Morris and and Kent Meyers to Pat Brown. Congratulations to all and best wishes for the year ahead!

Family Matters in Rogers Park

Chris Spence, Director of Youth Engagement at Family Matters in Rogers Park, spoke to the club on June 20, 2018. He discussed how his organization equips neighborhood children with basis life skills, like swimming and first aid, as well as providing tutoring assistance and a safe place for activities with others. Visit their website at https://www.familymatterschicago.org/.

Rotary Friendship Exchange Guests Visit

ROTARY FRIENDSHIP EXCHANGE GUESTS on JUNE 13

Friendship Exchange is an international exchange program for Rotary members and friends that allows participants to take turns hosting one another in their homes and clubs. Our club hosted an exchange group from India plus their local hosts at our regular meeting on June 13. Banners were exchanged between members of the Wilmette and Indian clubs to mark the meeting. Among those attending were District 6440 Governor Donald Brewer and wife, Roseann, seen here with Rotary Club of Wilmette co-presidents Debora Morris and Kent Meyers, as well as Past District Governor Rick Rivkin and District Governor Nominee-Designate Lyle Staab.

Bringing the Magic Back to Chicago

Joey Cranford and Don Clark, co-owners of the new Chicago Magic Lounge joined Ellen Clark and other members and guests of the Club at the June 13 meeting to talk about the long history of magic in Chicago and the establishment of their new entertainment venue, the Chicago Magic Lounge.

2018 Scholarship Recipients

The Rotary Club of Wilmette awarded 2018 scholarships to six outstanding students from New Trier, Loyola Academy and Regina Dominican High Schools. Pictured are Club Youth Chair Jackie Granat and the four recipients from New Trier High School.

A Community Partner to Assist Refugees

The Wilmette Rotary Club is working with Galya Ruffer, Senior Lecturer at Northwestern University and founding Director of the Center for Forced Migration Studies in a community partnership project known as COMPASS. This program is designed to provide refugees additional assistance in the settlement process beyond the basic US government resources. The hope is that this will move refugees into active participation in their communities and thereby making their experience better for both the refugees and the communities they live in. This is a pilot project but there is interest throughout the country in using this model if it proves successful.

Free Legal Services from CARPL

Tanya Pietrkowski, Director of Development for CARPLS (Coordinated Advice & Referral Program for Legal Services) spoke to us about the free legal services that her organization provides to those who cannot afford to pay for legal services. CARPLS handles civil legal matters such as divorce, veteran’s rights, housing, personal injury, probate, employment, education, housing, and consumer law.

Trees That Feed

Mike and Mary McLaughlin joined us on May 23, 2018 to talk about their Trees That Feed Foundation. With a mission of planting food-bearing trees to feed people, create jobs, and benefit the environment, TTFF has made a positive, long-term difference in places like Haiti, Jamaica, Barbados, and Pakistan. Learn more at http://www.treesthatfeed.org/

The Dangers of Distracted Driving

Allan Kaufman, national expert on distracted driving, talked to the club about the many ways drivers are distracted and the resulting significant increases in accidents, injuries and deaths. He also talked about the resulting costs to both the community and employers. He also described the increasing number of accidents due to distracted pedestrians and bike riders.

A Global Upbringing Taught Leadership Skills

Jesse Hallock, a coach and leadership trainer with the John Maxwell Team, spoke at the weekly Club meeting on April 18, 2018. He shared how his experiences as a child in the Amazon jungle led to insights in his current position as trainer for people operating in what he called the "concrete jungle." He told how he learned to focus on the greater purpose rather than short term goals as he faced many unusual tasks and challenges.

George Washington Bids Farewell

Jon Grand (center) of the Book Stall in Winnetka reviewed Washington's Farewell Address at our April 11th luncheon meeting. Club member John Dyrud, dressed in a Revolutionary War officer's uniform, introduced him. Dyrud is a member of the Sons of the Revolution. Club co-president Kent Meyers officiated.

SPECIAL PEACE-BUILDING EVENT - APRIL 10

“Sustaining the Long Peace” is the final event in the Pathways to Peace series organized by Rotary International in partnership with the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy. Using TEDx-style presentations, panelists will discuss how a new generation of peacebuilders are working in communities around the world to ensure that today’s challenges – from a record migrant population, to increasing unrest with global institutions of governance – do not undermine the reduction in overall violence in the last century.
This free event will take place on Tuesday, 10 April, in the auditorium at RI World Headquarters (1560 Sherman Avenue, Evanston) from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Speakers include Rotary Peace Fellows Susan Stigant, Director of Africa Programs at the U.S. Institute of Peace, and Abdi Ahmed, who has created innovative programs to integrate refugees in Canada. Harris Public Policy Alumni who will speak include Kristen Hajduk, Counterterrorism Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and Hafsah Lak, who was instrumental in the creation of a first-of-its-kind Violence Against Women Center in Pakistan. A reception will follow immediately afterwards. Attendees can RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pathways-to-peace-sustaining-the-long-peace-registration-43897519663.

Learning about Heifer International

Beth Gunzel is a development professional with a background in food security and sustainable agriculture and has worked with Heifer International since November 2012. On March 28, she presented Heifer’s current program goals and objectives, as well as current projects and their impact on reducing hunger and poverty to our members at their weekly meeting.

Kids Against Hunger Food-Packing Event a Success

13 Rotary Club of Wilmette members and friends packed 2,600 highly-nutritious meals for starving people overseas at the Kids Against Hunger food packing event Saturday at the Winnetka Community House. We were part of an all-day event with hundreds of community volunteers that packed 100,000 meals that day. The Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield was primary sponsor.

Special Leadership Opportunity for Teens Through Young Professionals

The Rotary Club of Wilmette invites local teens, college students and young professional to a morning of leadership, mentoring and scholarship. It takes place Saturday morning, April 14th at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines with information and registration available at www.empowerleadersbynorthernILrotary.com . To view the full press release, click here.

Kids Against Hunger

At the February 28 meeting we learned more about the Kids Against Hunger program and food packaging event. The 2018 KIDS AGAINST HUNGER food packaging event is scheduled for Saturday, March 17, 2018 at the Winnetka Community House Gymnasium 620 Lincoln Ave. Winnetka, IL This project, in which our club has participated for several years, packages food supplements for the hungry and malnourished kids in Nicaragua and local food pantries. We have reserved a table for 12 volunteers from our club and will be working from 11am to 1pm. Please arrive at 10:30 for a prep talk and hair net distribution. We would like to see more than 12 club members and would welcome at least another 6. It is a lot of fun for all!

Left Photo - Kids Against Hunger Director Darrel Malcolm previewed this great service project at our Feb. 28th luncheon meeting. Right Photo -- Club Co-President Kent Meyers (center) presented a club check for $1,000 to help fund the Kids Against Hunger food-packing event. Rich Lalley (left) of the Rotary Winnetka-Northfield Club, which is sponsoring the event, and Darrell Malcolm appreciated the donation.

Resources for Intelligent Aging

Several business owners who are members of the Wilmette/Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce have formed a network called Resources for Intelligent Aging. At the February 14, 2018 meeting, they introduced themselves and their concept of gathering these varied resources in one, easy to find grouping to assist seniors and their families find the guidance they need from trusted, local providers. A list of the members of this group can be found on the Chamber's website at https://www.wilmettekenilworth.com/community/resource-network-intelligent-aging/.

Suicide Prevention Signs at Train Stations

The Wilmette Rotary Clubs, in conjunction with Rotary District 6440 and the Union Pacific Railroad, have posted suicide prevention signs at the Kenilworth and Wilmette Metra Stations. The signs include contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Recognizing this serious issue which has affected many communities including our own, the Rotary Suburban District is working to place signs at many Metra stations throughout Chicagoland.

Public Image Committee Report

Our club’s Public Image Committee reviewed its work at the January 3^rdluncheon meeting. Committee Chair Richard Brill explained how Rotary North America intensified public image to bolster membership, foundation contributions and overall growth – and explained club public image programs. Emily Prymula previewed new and enhanced social media platforms she’s creating for our club. Joe Goldstein gave marketing strategies to make targeted neighbors more aware of Rotary and increase member leads.

Medical Ethics Oversight at NS Univ. Health-Evanston Hospital

Dr. David Donnersberger is a practicing internist in Winnetka and is affiliated with the NorthShore University Health system. He is also a member of the ethics committee serving the Evanston Hospital. In his talk on December 20, 2017, Dr. Donnersberger described the how the committee, which is made up of volunteers from the medical community and the local community, works to assure good practices at the hospital.

New Trier Swing Choir Shares Holiday Music

A visit from the New Trier Swing Choir has become one of the most anticipated annual events of the Rotary Club of Wilmette. On December 13 they once again provided luncheon attendees with a selection of songs, most with a holiday theme, that delighted all who were present.

20,000 Books Collected for Donation to Schools

Capping another successful campaign, the Rotary Club of Wilmette collected 20,000 books for students in the Catalyst Charter Schools in Chicago's Marquette Park neighborhood. Generous donations were collected from Wilmette schools and several local libraries. In all, 500 cartons were sorted and packed by Club members. Pictured (from left) are Rotary members and friends Maurice Sullivan, Arnie Klein, Jack Flynn, Jean Peters, Nick Dallas, and Kent Meyers. Catalyst Head Librarian Cathy Donahue is on the right.

Fr. Patrick Rearden's Experiences in Bolivia

Father Patrick Rearden provided Club members with a glimpse into his life as a missionary in Bolivia. He provided background about the country's economic situation and the difficulties the drug trade creates for the youth. Fr. Rearden is currently serving on the Chicago's south side.

2017 FALL CLOTHING DRIVE A BIG SUCCESS!

After the November 29th meeting, Club members Bob Taylor (left) and John Held delivered fifty bags of men's and women's clothing donated by club members to Connections for the Homeless in Evanston. Connections staff thanked the Club for these badly needed winter clothes and said it was their largest donation ever. Well done everyone!

Water Wells for Angolan School - Final Report

Thanks to our many partners, including the Rotary Clubs of Northbrook and Glenview Sunrise as well as the Rotary Club of Lobito in Angola, a $38,000 Rotary Global Grant has been used to put two new water wells near schools operated by RISE International. A third well will be installed by the local club using the remaining funds. Click here to see the final report and additional pictures.

A Sister District in Taiwan

Club member Debbie Stacey recently visited Taiwan with other Rotarians from District 6440. The trip provided the District with a chance to update the Sister Agreement between District 6440 and Taiwan District 3481. There were also opportunities to participate in an educational project. Debbie returned with many new club flags to share.

Farming and Job Training in Englewood

At the November 29, 2017 meeting, April Harrington, Development Director at Growing Home, Inc. told Club members about how Growing Home is bringing fresh foods and much needed job training to the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago. Growing Home operates a successful farm in the area which provides over 35,000 pounds of organic produce that is sold at local farmers' markets or donated to organizations feeding those in need. Work is done by local residents providing opportunity for all, including the homeless or formerly incarcerated.

Learning About the Boy Scouts of America

Cynthia Gentleman (left), district director of the Northeast Illinois Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and Emily Prymula who covers Boy Scout organizations in Wilmette and nearby, told Rotary Club of Wilmette members about the programs, services and benefits of scouting. Their Council serves the North Shore area including Winnetka, Wilmette, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Skokie, Evanston, Golf, Glenview, Northbrook, and Northfield. Their 3,000 scouting volunteers provide a program to 12,000 scouts and their families. Both women are Rotarians, Cynthia with the Glenview Club and Emily with the Rotary Club of Wilmette.

Random Acts of Flowers

Andrea Lutz, National Program Director at Random Acts of Flowers described the wonderful services her organization provides. They improve the emotional health and well-being of individuals in health care facilities by delivering recycled flowers, encouragement and personal moments of kindness.

Special Recognition

Co-President Kent Meyers presented Jim Hardee with a 4th Level Paul Harris pin on October 4. Congratulations and Well Done, Jim!

Welcoming a New Member

Membership Chair Arnie Klein and Co-President Debora Morris welcomed Christine Somervill to Club membership with a formal induction on October 4. Welcome Christine!

Fraud in the Corporate Environment

Lisa Braganca, attorney, spoke to the Club on September 27, 2017. She discussed dishonesty i corporations and how it can grow out of control. She experienced this first-hand at Arthur Anderson during the Enron scandal. She talked aobut some of the kpsychology behind the choices people make and how they can be influenced by the culture and environment of a corporation.

The Chicago Literacy Alliance

Chelsea Dowty of the Chicago Literary Alliance spoke to members at the September 20, 2017 meeting about the Chicago Literacy Alliance. The Alliance is an association of more than 100 organizations which promote literacy in the Chicago area. Open Books, a group supported by our Club, is a member of this association.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER!

Celebrity Night Live! starring Rat Pack: A Live Tribute from Las Vegas and Alexandra Turpalas from Zanies Comedy Club will be held on November 2 at the Holiday Inn North Shore from 5:30 to 10:00. Reserve your tickets today by clicking here or on the link under Club Events on our webpage. See you there!!

Refugee Resettlement and Immigration in the US

The Rev. Craig Mousin, from DePaul University, talked to the Club about the process for vetting and settling refugees seeking to come to the United States. He explained that the existing application process is a lengthy and complex process involving several branches of the US government. He provided data that dispelled some common misconceptions about immigrants who are in the US.

BOOK DRIVE Meeting - Sept. 13

Immediately after our club meeting on September 13, there will be a short meeting for all volunteers who wish to participate in our 2017 Big Book Drive. Maurice Sullivan will distribute all necessary information, identify and confirm member's responsibilities. Please come!

The Chicago Botanic Garden

Jim Boudreau, Executive Vice President, External Affairs, Chicago Botanic Garden spoke to the Club at the August 8, 2017 meeting. Mr. Boudreau gave an overview of the Garden, including all the scientific and philanthropic endeavors that are little known to the public.

Citadel Theatre in Lake Forest

Artistic Director Scott Phelps talked to the Club about the Citadel Theatre in Lake Forest at our August 16 meeting. Scott described the founding of the theater company and the plans for productions in the upcoming year. To learn more about the Citadel Theatre go to http://citadeltheatre.org/.

Attorney Alan Pearlman Speaks to Club

Attorney Alan Pearlman spoke at the August 9 Club meeting. He addressed the ramifications of DUI arrests and convictions.

Learning about the Joffrey Ballet

Sam Fain, Group Sales Manager of the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago provided the Club with a history of the Joffrey and its current activities in Chicago at the August 2 meeting.

Jeans Made In Chicago

Robert McMillan, founder of Dearborn Denim, talked about his new venture, a jeans manufacturer, at the July 26th meeting. Rob left the financial world to set up a company that manufactures its jeans in Chicago while paying fair wages to its employees. Dearborn Denim (https://dearborndenim.us) is able to keep prices competitive by eliminating the retail markups and selling directly to customers. They have recently opened a storefront in Hyde Park.

Celebrating the Old; Welcoming the New

On June 28 the Rotary Club of Wilmette held its annual Installation Dinner marking the end of a very successful Rotary year and the transition to a new one. Outgoing president Rich Brill passed on the gavel to new co-presidents Debora Morris and Kent Meyers. Rich also honored long-time member Roland Catenacci as Rotarian of the Year. Congratulations to all!

A Special Lunch at Taco Lago

Nearly 30 Wilmette Rotarians and friends enjoyed a fun taco luncheon and conversation at this new Plaza del Lago restaurant on June 21.

Club Civic Awards Announced

The 2017 Wilmette Rotary Club civic award winners were recognized at the June 14 meeting. Pictured (left to right): Bob Taylor, Chair of the Club Community Service Committee; Ellen Clark, Club member and recipient of the Fred W. Stoecker Award for Excellence in Public Service for her service as the Director of the Wilmette Public Library; Rabbi Sam Gordon and the Rev. Stephanie VanSlyke, recipients of the Dr. Willie Frankel Unity in Diversity Award for the interfaith activities between their two congregations; Sol Flores, recipient of the Dr. George Fischer Humanitarian Award for her leadership of La Casa Norte; Richard Brill, Club president.

Exploring Our Club Webpage

At the June 14 meeting of the Club, Ellen Clark and Terry Porter demonstrated some of the functions of the Club web page. Members are encouraged to check out the many features. Contact Ellen or Terry if you need help with your personal login.

Rich Brill Shares Expertise at Training Session

Rich Brill told 70 Rotarians how to place stories and photos in local newspapers and online news media at the Rotary District 6440 Spring Training Session, May 20th at Oakton Community College. District Governor Elect Don Brewer took the podium afterwards.

We're On The Map

President Rich Brill took this picture to illustrate a successful interaction with the Village of Skokie. He reported that the Village of Skokie placed a road sign on Old Orchard Road near McCormick & Schmick’s that features the Rotary International logo, Rotary Club of Skokie Valley meeting time, Kiwanis logo and Skokie Kiwanis Club meeting time. Soon after, we called the right Skokie department and they added another sign for us and our WEDNESDAY noon meeting time. Go Skokie!

2017 Scholarships Announced

At the May 24 meeting, the Wilmette Rotary Club presented scholarships to four students from local high schools. Students represented New Trier High School, Loyola Academy, and Regina Dominican High School.

Dealing with your treasures

Sophia duBrul (sophiadubrul.com) provided a fascinating overview of her expertise and experiences in estate sales and antiques. She cautioned that it's not easy to determine current value for items you might own because current market interests are so important to sales. However, with advance planning, and the help of a professional appraiser and/or estate sales expert, many of your treasures can find new homes.

Learning More About Our Members

Club members Frank Candioto, Joe Goldstein and Betsy Tucker provided insights into their personal lives as a part of an occasional series of member biographies.

Joint Social Event A Great Time!

Club members Terry Porter, Richard Brill, John Dyrud, Betsy Tucker, and Frank Candioto joined members of the Wilmette Harbor Club for a great social evening at the Backyard Barbecue store in Wilmette. They reported that the food and libations were delicious. The new location for Backyard Barbecue off Green Bay Road provides more space for display of barbecue equipment and has room for gatherings of up to 40 people.

Musical Treasures in Barrington

Glenview Rotarian Carl Kettler provided a photographic introduction to the Place de la Musique in Barrington, IL. The private museum, owned by the Sanfilippo Foundation, contains a large collection of functioning automatic musical instruments. The museum is used for fundraising events for charitable organizations. There are also concerts open to the public. Check their website http://www.sanfilippofoundation.org/ for further information and schedules.

Welcome Betsy Tucker

Membership Chair Arnie Klein formally welcomed Elizabeth (Betsy) Tucker into membership in the Club at the April 19th meeting. Betsy was sponsored by Gayle Inbinder. Welcome Betsy!

A Peek Into the Future

Mike Woodruff, Senior Pastor at Christ Church in Illinois and author of the book Future View, presented the luncheon program on April 19. He discussed the trends in our current world that will likely affect long-term changes in all parts of our lives.

Joint New Trier Rotary Clubs Meeting

Join members of the Glencoe, Wilmette, Wilmette Harbor and Winnetka Rotary Clubs at a joint meeting on Wednesday, April 5. We will gather at 6:00 p.m. for an evening of fellowship, dinner and an opportunity to hear retired Rotary International General Secretary Ed Futa speak. Please register by March 30 by clicking on this link: http://events.eventzilla.net/e/rotary-clubs-of-new-trier-joint-meeting-2138888639. See you there!

Feeding the Hungry

Members of the Rotary Club of Wilmette and their friends joined others at the Winnetka Community House on March 11 to pack 100,000 meals for hungry people in Nicaragua. Well done everyone!

Learning about New Trier's Seminar Day

New Trier High School Assistant Superintendent for Student Services Timothy Hayes was the speaker at the March 8 meeting of the Club. He discussed the recent Seminar Day on "Understanding Today's Struggle for Racial Civil Rights" held at NTHS on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. He described the planning process, which began two years ago when it became clear that the school year would need to be compacted due to construction constraints. The day was well attended and produced thoughtful dialog among the students and staff.

Guys and Dolls Theater opportunity

On March 12 the New Trier students will perform Guys and Dolls. As you know, the New Trier productions are always wonderful. Sherm Marks has tickets for the performance at $15 each. Following the show, Sherm is arranging a dinner at the Mission Hills Club for only $20 per person. Please contact Sherm now to secure your tickets and make you dinner arrangement.

KIDS AGAINST HUNGER Volunteer Opportunity

The 2017 KIDS AGAINST HUNGER food packaging event is scheduled for Saturday, March 11, 2017 at the Winnetka Community House Gymnasium, 670 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka. This project, which our club has participated in for several years, packages food supplements for the hungry and malnourished kids. Arnie Klein is looking for 12 volunteers to fill a table at this event from 11am to 1pm. Please let him know if you are interested.

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

Although February 17 is the official “Random Acts of Kindness Day”, our Club has a special opportunity for you to mark the day with five other Club members on February 24. As a part of Rotary International’s Random Act of Kindness Day, our Club members will serve dinner at Just Harvest on Friday, February 24th, from 5:00 to 6:30 PM. Our members will be joining the many Just Harvest volunteers who have served more than 1,430,000 meals to the homeless and hungry for over the last consecutive 8,950 days. This project is headed by member John Held.

The Wonder of the Hubble Telescope

Michelle Nichols, master Educator in the Astronomy Department at the Adler Planetarium, captivated Club members with her presentation about the amazing accomplishments of the Hubble Telescope at the January 25 meeting. See some of the them for yourself at the NASA.gov website.

A Wonderful Holiday Celebration

On Wednesday, December 28, we celebrated the holidays at Jameson's Charhouse in Skokie. Many thanks to Yvonne Sito for organizing this successful event. See you in 2017!

Meeting Time and Location Change for Last Week of November

There will be a special meeting of the Wilmette Rotary Club during the last week of November. On Monday, November 28, Ellen Clark and the Wilmette Public Library will host a lunch and tour of the library beginning at noon. This gathering will replace our meeting normally scheduled for November 30. Please watch this space for further details.

Wine, Dine and Dance Fun!

Thanks to Rich Brill for the following pictures of the good food, entertainment and company at our recent Wine, Dine and Dance fundraiser. And thanks to all of you who turned out for the night's celebration or who contributed in any way. We couldn't do it without you!

WINE, DINE & DANCE: Latin Style! 2016

Come to our "Wine, Dine and Dance: Latin Style" party. It will be held at the DoubleTree Hilton Hotel, Skokie on November 4, 2016. The party will run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. plus after party dancing with a live DJ until 11 p.m. Among the many activities will be sampling gourmet food from Latin Cuisines around the world, live music and a professional dance performance. Prepaid tickets are $75 per person ($80 at the door). You also will have the opportunity to purchase the wines in time for your holiday entertaining and gift-giving. Join us for an evening of fun! Your generosity will help to improve the lives of many people in our local community, the inner city of Chicago and throughout the world. Click here or go the the Club Events link of our web page to register and purchase tickets online. We look forward to seeing you there!

Getting our hands dirty

Many Wilmette Rotarians and friends joined 350 other community-minded gardeners planting habitats for migratory birds in Gillson Park on Sept.

24 and 25. Shown here are participants 1. (l to r) Chris Porter, John Flanagin, Cindy Ulrich, Tori Wible, Arnie Klein, Terry Porter; 2. Joe Ceisel and Joe Goldstein; 3. Don Olson and Joe Ceisel.

Rotary 101

Our own Debbie Stacey presented an informative overview of the history of Rotary and what it means to be a Rotarian. Her talk was a shortened version of what she gives at larger District and Zone training events.

Long Term Care

David Veatch, Sr. VP of Capitas Financial, spoke to the Club about insurance options for Long Term Care.

Rotary at Wilmette French Market

Our Rotary Club partnered with the Wilmette Harbor morning club to staff a Rotary table at the Wilmette French Market Saturday, August 27. We greeted passers by, talked about Rotary and gave-out literature. In photo are Debora Morris, George Pearce and John Kessler of the morning club, and John Dyrud. Richard Brill and Mike Harper were also there Saturday.

Howard Area Community Center

Beth Ulion, Director of Development of the Howard Area Community Center, visited the Club on August 17 to talk about the organization's services to the local community and its needs going forward.

2017 FALL CLOTHING DRIVE

LAST CHANCE TO HELP! The Community Service Committee is having its annual fall drive to collect clothing, with a focus on winter coats and other winter wear, for CONNECTIONS FOR THE HOMELESS. The Committee asks our fellow members and friends to look through their closets when preparing the summer-to-fall-and winter-changeover and consider donating any extra or not-using-so-much-any-more clothing to this drive. Donated clothing should be brought to the weekly, Wednesday lunch meeting. Alternatively, please contact a John Held to arrange for a home pick up. Collected clothing will be delivered to CONNECTIONS. For more information about CONNECTIONS click here to view their website.

FALL CLOTHING DRIVE

The Community Service Committee is having its annual fall drive to collect clothing, with a focus on winter coats and other winter wear, for CONNECTIONS FOR THE HOMELESS. The Committee asks our fellow members and friends to look through their closets when preparing the summer-to-fall-and winter-changeover and consider donating any extra or not-using-so-much-any-more clothing to this drive. Donated clothing should be brought to the weekly, Wednesday lunch meeting. Alternatively, please contact a Committee member to arrange for a home pick up. Collected clothing will be delivered to CONNECTIONS. For more information about CONNECTIONS click here to view their website.

Building Backpacks on August 13

Wilmette Rotarians and family members joined the Build-A-Backpack campaign at Northwestern University Saturday. Together, all volunteers stuffed 3,000 backpacks with school supplies for underprivileged kids in four Chicago public schools. Rotarians walked the tables, filling backpacks with 3-ring binders, ruled pads, colored folders, pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners and post-it-note pads so kids can start school well equipped.

Doing Business with the Chinese

Engineer and artist Amy Segami offered insights into how to do business with the Chinese - whether in China or with Chinese communities in the United States.

Living In A Muslim Country

On August 3, Club member Mariana Al Far spoke about the turbulence in the Middle East from her experience as a Jordanian reporter. She provided insight into the interaction between Sunni and Shiite Muslims as well as the different governmental responses to groups such as ISIS.

We Need You on Build a Backpack Day!

On Saturday, August 13, from 1-4 p.m. volunteers will gather on the Northwestern University Arts South Lawn to assemble backpacks with school supplies for disadvantaged children in the Chicago Public Schools. It's a great way to reach out a helping hand while enjoying the company of other Rotarians and local volunteers. Please join in if you are able!

Kids Against Hunger

At the July 20, 2016 meeting, Darrel Malcom, Executive Director of Kids Against Hunger - Fox Valley (www.kay-fv.org), spoke to Club members about the origin of this program and its success throughout the world. He expressed gratitude for our annual participation in the spring packing event at the Winnetka Community House and encouraged consideration of an additional event to be held on "Make A Difference Day", Oct. 22, 2016, in Carol Stream.

Rotary Business Network Meeting

Evanston Lighthouse Rotarians Yves Lassere (at left above) and Zbig Skiva (not shown) attended the July 20, 2016 meeting to offer a new opportunity to local Rotarians. On July 28, 2016 from 6-8 p.m. there will be an inaugural meeting of a Rotary Business Networking group at the Firehouse Grill in Evanston. Enjoy good food and fellowship and provide input into the future of this local "Rotary Means Business" group! Go to RMBChicago20160728.eventbrite.com for further information.

Congratulations to our new President!

Congratulations to our new Club President Richard Brill. Rich, shown here with his wife Marlene, was installed at a special celebrations dinner on June 29. (photo Gayle Inbinder)

Installation Dinner on June 29

The annual Installation Dinner will be held on June 29 at McCormick & Schmick's. Cocktails at 6:00; dinner at 7:00. Get your reservations and food preferences to Roland as soon as possible!

Sweetening Life's Possibilities

Emily Boling, founder of The Floured Apron , visited the Club to tell about the organization she founded to help women in disadvantaged situations get job training in the bakery field. Ms. Boling and her team provide students with training in baking as well as job hunting skills in a ten week program in Winnetka. She even brought along some delicious treats baked by her students! For more information go to http://www.theflouredapron.org.

Chad Coe Talks About Fundraising

Rotarian Chad Coe, of the Northbrook Club, visited on June 1 to talk about fundraising for club activities. Chad was confident we can do better!

2016 Scholarship Winners

Club members Jackie Granat and President Jim Hardee were pleased to preside over the presentation of the Club's 2016 scholarship awards for students from New Trier, Loyola and Regina High Schools. Congratulations and Best Wishes to all!

The Politics of Egypt

On May 25, Jessica Winegar, Associate Professor at Northwestern University, presented a program on the politics of Egypt at the Club's weekly luncheon.

Honor Flight Memories

Club member Joe Goldstein shared his experiences on an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. for US veterans at the May 11 lunch meeting. Joe served in the Philippines during WWII. He brought with him a wonderful remembrance booklet of the trip made for him by his daughter-in-law. Congratulations, Joe, and thanks for sharing this special time with us!

Moran Center for Youth Advocacy

Kathleen Lyons, Executive Director of the Moran Center for Youth Advocacy in Evanston spoke to the Club at its meeting on May 11, 2016. For further information about the center, visit the web site at http://moran-center.org/.

Wilmette Rotary supports Russo talk

Don't forget! Pulitzer Prize-winning author Richard Russo headlines the Wilmette Library’s One Book, Everybody Reads program this year. Mr. Russo will speak about his books Nobody's Fool and Everybody's Fool on May 14 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wilmette Jr. High School, 620 Locust Road, Wilmette.

Tickets are not required. A book signing will be held following the program and Mr. Russo’s books will be available on site for purchase from The Book Stall. Our club is one of the community sponsors for this event.

An Inspirational Story

Tim Ryan hopes to educate drug users to get help and others to recognize what is happening. He shared his own story of drug addiction and the addiction of his son that lead to his son's death and how that has lead him to work toward recovery for other addicts at the May 4 meeting.

Meet Joan McCarthy Lasonde

Joan McCarthy Lasonde, Republican candidate for the 9th Congressional District, introduced herself to Club members at the April 27 meeting.

Opportunity for All

Mark Lutz spoke to the Club on April 20 about Opportunity International, an organization that provides micro-credit to people living in poverty through out in world in order to create independence and jobs.

Sharing Walter Reed's story

Jeanne Reed shared the inspiring story of her husband, Walter Reed, who was a survivor of the Holocaust, successful businessman, and active Rotarian. She also discussed Walter's book, The Children of La Hille, which was published shortly before Walter's death last winter.

Welcome Rotary Delegates

Greeters are needed for 4 hour shifts at O'Hare Airport on Saturday, April 9 to welcome incoming Rotary delegates to the Council on Legislation and direct them to Rotary-arranged bus transportation to their hotel. If you can help out, please send your name, telephone number, and e-mail address to Rick Rivkin at Gov.Rick@rotary6440.org . This is a joint responsibility of our District 6440 and District 6450.

Welcoming two new members

Past President Nick Dallas formally installed John Flanagin and Linda Strand as members of the Wilmette Rotary Club at the meeting on March 23. John was sponsored by member Bob Taylor and Linda by member Yvonne Sito. Welcome John and Linda!

Engineers without Borders

Rotarian AJ Voth, with the help of some friends, shared information about a water distribution project in El Salvador.

Kids Against Hunger food packing

Ten Rotary Club of Wilmette members enjoyed hours of camaraderie and fun March 12 packing highly-nutritious food for hungry people in Nicaragua. They joined hundreds of others from the Wilmette Harbor and Winnetka-Northfield Rotaries and other New Trier Township community groups, together packing 100,000 meals in plastic bags at the Winnetka Community House for the Kids against Hunger campaign.

Pictured are (from left) Arnie Klein, Nick Dallas, Kathy Owens, John Held, Jim Hardee, Bob Taylor, Kent Meyers, Linda Strand and Frank Candioto. Not pictured is Richard Brill, who took the photo.

An Update From Washington with Congresswoman Schakowsky

Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky was the lunch speaker at the March 9 meeting. She spoke about legislative activities in Washington and then answered questions on a variety of topics. She praised the Rotary efforts to end Polio and encouraged members to continue to be a force for positive change in the world.

10,000 Small Businesses Train at City Colleges

Randy Kravitz, managing director of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses project, described to the Club how owners of stable but growing small businesses are taught to improve their business practices at the City Colleges of Chicago. This program is funded by Goldman Sachs as a way to improve opportunities for small businesses in underserved areas.

A Just Harvest

The Rev. Marilyn Pagan-Banks, Executive Director of A Just Harvest, visited the February 24 lunch meeting to talk about the work A Just Harvest does to address hunger and economic inequity on the north side of Chicago. She also talked about volunteer opportunities in their soup kitchen as well as in other endeavors they are working on.

We Support Local Organizations

If you are looking for a way to tell people what our Rotary Club does, here is a handy list of local organizations that received support from our Club this year ready for saving to your computer or printing. Click here to download a list of recipients for the 2015-2016 Rotary year. Note that this list is also available from our webpage on the left side of the page in the box labeled "Homepage Download Files". For clickable links to the websites of each organization, click on "Service Projects - Local" in the Site Pages box.

Learning about Shelter Box

Donna Lee Gulley, member of the Northbrook Rotary Club, attended the February 10, 2016 lunch meeting to talk about Shelter Box International and the ways it works to assist those affected by major disasters throughout the world. Because this is an organization regularly supported by the Club, there was much interest in learning about the history of the types of aid delivered and some of the newer technologies being employed to provide fresh water.

Honor Flight Chicago

On Wednesday, February 3, Mary Pettinato, one of the founders of the Honor Flight Chicago organization, spoke to the Club about her experiences accompanying World War II veterans on day-long trips to Washington DC. These all-expense-paid trips are meant to acknowledge and honor veterans who served in WWII, and, recently, the Korean War. WWII vet Irv Abramson shared his personal experience on one of the trips and encouraged all who know someone who might be qualified for the trip to encourage him or her to take advantage of the program. There also is an opportunity for anyone who is interested to take part in the welcome home festivities for each flight. For more information go to http://www.honorflightchicago.org.

Chinese Culture presentation

Angela Moy, Cultural Event Coordinator of the Mid-USA Falun Dafa Association visited the January 13th meeting of the Club to talk about the many different traditional cultures that make up Chinese society. She included photographs from the Shen Yun stage show where performers dress and dance in traditional Chinese ways.

Holiday Celebration and Good Wishes

... Christmas Clipart Border | Clipart Panda - Free Clipart Images

REMEMBER: There will be no lunch meeting this week. Instead, we will meet with family and friends at McCormick & Schmick's at 6:00 p.m. for dinner and fellowship. Because of the holidays, this will be the last meeting of the year. The next regular meeting will be on January 6 at 12:15 at McCormick & Schmick's, Old Orchard Shopping Mall. Here's wishing you all a peaceful and joyful holiday season and a very Happy New Year!

Harry Kraemer Talks Leadership Values

Northwestern University professor and best-selling author Harry Kraemer spoke to Club members about the values needed for strong leadership at the December 9 lunch meeting. He illustrated how leadership based in strong values can bring extraordinary results by telling the story of the creation of the One Acre Fund. For further information on Professor Kraemer, visit his website at http://harrykraemer.org. You can find a link to the One Acre Fund on his site or you can visit the site directly at http://www.oneacrefund.org.

A Little Lunch Music

Posted on Dec 04, 2015

Members of the New Trier Swing Choir visited our December 2 meeting to provide selections of holiday and jazz music. It has been an annual tradition for this choir to visit and the members of the Club always look forward to hearing these very talented high school students sing.

Have you invited your friends?

It's not too late to invite people to join us at the annual Wine & Dine Gala. It's easy to send an email. Here is some suggested text:

SAMPLE EMAIL MESSAGE FOR YOUR PERSONAL CONTACTS (please be sure to include as an attachment the PDF Invitation)

Subject: SAVE THE DATE

Hi _____________,

As you probably know, I am an active member of the Rotary Club of Wilmette. Our Club will be having an annual gala fundraiser on November 6, 2015 at the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel in Skokie, from 6:30pm-9:30pm, with an "after party" for dancing until 11:30pm. This will be an evening to have fun and I think you would enjoy the event. Prepaid tickets are $75 prepaid ($80 at the door). See attached invitation.

Among the many activities will be gourmet food paired with wines from around the world, live music, a silent and live auction, a 50/50 raffle, a professional dance performance and lesson, and a DJ for dancing after 9:30pm. You will also have the opportunity to purchase the wines in time for your holiday entertaining and gift-giving.

Let me know if you are interested in coming. You can purchase event tickets, raffle tickets, and/or donate through me, or you can purchase event tickets and donate online starting October 1 through our website, www.wilmetterotary.org .

Jerry Alt visits Cuba

Posted on Sep 30, 2015

Photographer Jerry Alt spoke at the Club luncheon on September 30. He shared some of his photographs and experiences from a recent trip to Cuba. He advised those who are interested to travel to Cuba sooner rather than later as he believes the environment will be quickly changed once tourism becomes more common.

New Trier High School Learning Center

Posted on Sep 16, 2015

Members of the New Trier High School Learning Center team attended the Club meeting on September 16 to offer insights into one of the special support programs available to students who need alternatives to the routine educational program. They encouraged local business owners to consider offering short internships or shadowing opportunities to these students to provide them with a chance to learn more about the real world.

Wine, Dine and Dance Gala

Our Club will be having its annual gala fundraiser on November 6, 2015 in the Monaco Room of the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel in Skokie, from 6:30pm-9:30pm, with an "after party" for dancing until 11:00pm.

This will be an evening to have fun. We know you will enjoy the event and the company. Prepaid tickets are $75 ($85 at the door).

Among the many activities will be sampling gourmet food paired with wines from around the world, live music, a silent and live auction for gifts and trips, a 50/50 raffle, a professional dance lesson and a DJ for dancing after 9:30pm. You will also have the opportunity to bid on cases of fine wine or to purchase wines in time for your holiday entertaining and gift-giving.

Purchase event tickets or raffle tickets online. View Product Catalog

You can also make a donation online. View Product Catalog

Social Media - and Rotary

Luanne Triolo Newman, District 6440 Social Media Coordinator and member of the Rotary Club of Carol Stream, spoke to the Club about ways to use various social media options to reach out to people outside the Club. Luanne also demonstrated ways to create and add videos using Periscope and Animoto to attract more interest to Facebook posts and tweets on Twitter.

A Visit from the District Governor

The Rotary Club of Wilmette welcomed 2015-16 District Governor Rodney Adams to its August 26 lunch meeting. DG Adams was accompanied by Assistant Governor Ross Mathee. DG Adams talked about the state of the District and the ways it interfaces with Rotary International as well as the local clubs. He encouraged thinking outside the box to create more vital clubs and to attract new members.
(DG Rodney Adams, Wilmette Club President Jim Hardee, AG Ross Mathee - photo by Debbie Stacey)

SPECIAL EVENT

A check for $3,000 (includes District Grant of $1,340) for the Wilmette Housing Assistance Fund will be presented to the Village Board at their regular meeting on September 8, at 7:30.

Everyone is welcome to attend the presentation - please come!

Supplies for Dreams a Success

On August 8 several Club members and some friends and family joined the Supplies for Dreams backpack packing event at Northwestern University to put together school supplies for children in the Chicago area. Club members were Bob Taylor, Kent Meyers, Nick Dallas, Debbie Stacey, Jim Hardee and (not shown) Rich Brill.

Mike McGreal

Wilmette Fire Chief, Mike McGreal was the luncheon speaker for the August 12 meeting. He talked about the strengths of the Wilmette Fire Department and his personal history with the department and then discussed the many changes he has seen in fire fighting in his years in the field.

Paul Hahn receives Stoecker Award

Paul Hahn, Facitilites manager and CBO for the Village of Wilmette received this year's Fred W. Stoecker Award. The award is given by the Wilmette Club to a local citizen who has excelled in public service. In addition to the Stoecker Award, Paul was also made a Paul Harris Fellow.Congratulations, Paul, and thanks for all you've done for Wilmette!

Frankel Award presentation

Posted by Ellen Clark

On July 29, 2015, the Rotary Club of Wilmette awarded its 2015 Willie Frankel Award to Gretchen Grad, founder of Hands of Peace. The award is given in honor of former member Rabbi William Frankel, who was a devoted civil rights and community activist. The award goes to someone who, like Rabbi Frankel, works to promote harmony and understanding, especially among peoples of different faiths. In 2003, Ms. Grad founded Hands of Peace in response to the 9/11 attacks. Each year since then this program brings American, Israeli and Palestinian teens together in Glenview, IL and San Diego, CA to participate in guided dialog and fellowship activities designed to promote leadership and peace-building skills. In addition to the Frankel Award, Ms. Grad was made a Paul Harris Fellow. We congratulate Gretchen on these honors.
(left to right: Bob Taylor, Gretchen Grad, Ellen Clark. photo by T. Porter)

Susan Noyes receives Fischer Award

Posted by Ellen Clark

Susan Noyes, was the 2015 recipient of the Rotary Club of Wilmette George W. Fisher Award. The Award is given each year to an individual of goodwill who has distinguished him-or-herself in service to humanity. Ms. Noyes, the founder of Make It Better magazine, is a publisher, social entrepreneur and active philanthropist. In addition to the Award, Ms. Noyes was made a Paul Harris Fellow. We congratulate Susan on these honors.
(left to right: Bob Taylor, Susan Noyes, Cathy Pratt)

President Hardee is installed

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jun 24, 2015

One June 24, the Club held its annual installation of officers at McCormick & Schmick restaurant in Skokie, IL. At that meeting, Jim Hardee was installed as the Club president for the 2015-16 year by outgoing president Nick Dallas. Congratulations Jim!

Installation Day - June 24, 2015

Today the Club will be installing the officers for the 2015-2016 Rotary year. Congratulations to Jim Hardee on becoming President. And many thanks to Nick Dallas for his service as president during the past year.

We Need Your Input!

Each year our club evaluates candidates for three recognition awards - The Fischer Humanitarian Award, The Stoecker Award for Excellence in Public Service, and The Frankel Award for Promotion of Harmony and Understanding. Who do you think deserves these honors? Please contact Bob Taylor with suggestions as soon as you can!

One Book Everybody Reads

The Wilmette Rotary Club is once again a community partner in the Wilmette Public Library’s One Book, Everybody Reads program. This year’s novel is Some Luck by Jane Smiley. It is the first book in a planned trilogy about a Midwestern farm family. Ms. Smiley will be visiting Wilmette to discuss her book at the Wilmette Junior High on April 26. You are encouraged to come and hear this Pulitzer Prize winning author speak. For more information about the program, visit the Library’s website at wilmettelibrary.info/onebook.

Joint Meeting - April 15

The Rotary Club of Wilmette Harbor will be hosting a multi-club meeting on Wednesday, April 15, at Sheridan Shore Yacht Club starting at 6 p.m. Our Club, the Winnetka/Northfield Rotary, and New Trier Interact are invited to this multi-club meeting. Three young pianists from the Music Institute of Chicago's (MIC) Community Music Festival will play and a representative of MCI will provide some insight on community programs This will replace our regular meeting on that day.

District Conference - Last call!

District 6440's 2015 conference is April 10- April 12 at the Westin in Itasca. Are you going? Click on this link to go to the District webpage for further information: http://rotary6440.org/

Another photo of Club participants at the Kids Against Hunger event

Thanks to Debora and Bob for forwarding this second picture of Club members at the Winnetka-Northfield Rotary Club event. Pictured are Jim Hardee, Nick Dallas, Heather Hardee, Richard Brill, Kent Meyers, Bob Taylor, Arnie Klein and Frank Candioto.

Hands-On Service to the Community

Members and family of our Club joined the Winnetka-Northfield Club to pack meals for the Kids Against Hunger project on Saturday, March 21. Besides doing a good deed, all had a wonderful time! Below, members Bob Taylor, Jim Hardee and Kent Meyers are joined by Heather Hardee as they measure food for the packages. (Photo by Rich Brill)

Strengthening Rotary

Posted by Ellen Clark on Nov 25, 2014

Debbie Stacey, Zone 28 Rotary Public Image Coordinator and former Club president, discussed Rotary's efforts to update and improve its public image throughout the world. She stressed the importance of the local clubs in the process. She provided examples of the current branding graphics that are modern, bold and flexible a variety of uses. She also outlined a simple but positive response to the question, "What is Rotary?" The suggested response include three key phrases: Rotary joins leaders together to exchange ideas and then take action to make the world a better place.

Wine & Dine 2014

Posted by Ellen Clark on Oct 01, 2014

Our Wine and Dine Gala Fundraiser is only a few weeks away. Remember to invite friends and family to join us at this wonderful event! Send a Wine & Dine invitation to your email contacts. You can use the link provided in the story below to purchase your tickets. Don't forget to sell the raffle tickets (one for $10; 3 for $25). The winner of the raffle will receive 25% of the money taken in; second place will receive 15% and third place 10%. The Club will use the remaining 50% to support our various charitable activities.

Wine & Dine Gala - Will you be there?

Posted by Ellen Clark on Sep 23, 2014

Our Club will be having an annual gala fundraiser on November 7, 2014 at the Hilton DoubleTree Hotel in Skokie, from 6:30pm-9:30pm, with an "after party" for dancing until 11:30pm. This will be an evening to have fun and we think you will enjoy the event. Prepaid tickets are $75 ($80 at the door).

Among the many activities will be sampling gourmet food paired with wines from around the world, live music, a silent and live auction, a 50/50 raffle, a professional dance performance and a DJ for dancing after 9:30pm. You will also have the opportunity to purchase the wines in time for your holiday entertaining and gift-giving. Let us know if you are interested in coming or purchasing raffle tickets ($10 each or 3 for $25).

Purchase Event Tickets and Raffle Tickets online by clicking: View Product Catalog

Video Showing Rotarians in Action in Our Community and Around the World

Posted by Ellen Clark on Sep 08, 2014

Here is an excellent short video showing Rotarians in action. It depicts our humanitarian efforts both near and far. Our District Governor has passed it on and asked that it be shared with you. Feel free to share it with others! http://vimeo.com/102872350

Best Wishes to our exchange student

Posted by Ellen Clark on Aug 14, 2014

John Schmisek is headed to Belgium as a Rotary Youth Exchange student sponsored by our club. He is hoping to improve his French as he spends time with his host families. We wish him a wonderful experience and look forward to hearing updates from John during the year.

Putting Our Dollars Into Action

Posted by Ellen Clark on Aug 14, 2014

Many thanks to Bob Taylor, Steve Jambor, Nick Dallas, Debbie Stacey and families for helping to fill approximately 2000 back-to-school backpacks with the Supplies for Dreams organization at Northwestern University. The Club is proud to support this program with its dollars and the hands-on efforts of its members.

Fellowship and Beautiful Music

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jul 23, 2014

ENDPOLIONOW_4p On Monday, August 18, Itzhak Perlman will be performing at Ravinia. As a Polio survivor, Perlman shines a light on the seriousness of the disease and the good that can be realized if the Rotary End Polio Now campaign is successful in eliminating Polio. Roland is eager to put together a group to attend the concert and join other District Rotarians in some fellowship ahead of time. Please contact him if you are interested.

District Governor Ellen Young Pays a Visit

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jul 23, 2014

New District Governor Ellen Young addressed members of the Club at the July 23 lunch meeting. She spoke of her goals for the year and her hopes for the local clubs. In addition, Martha Carr talked about The Many Faces of Professional Writing.

Club Installation and 90th Birthday Celebration

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jul 23, 2014

On Sunday, July 13, a festive brunch was held at Pinstripes in Northbrook to install the 2014-15 officers and celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Club. Nick Dallas presented his vision for his presidential term encouraging everyone to participate in Club activities and bringing in members. Joe Goldstein was honored as Rotarian of the Year for his years of dedication. Ray Zeiss inducted several new members of the Paul Harris Society (and a few repeat members) as a tangible way to demonstrate the Club's ongoing commitment to the Rotary family at large.

Don't Forget -- Wednesday, June 25 is Picture Day!

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jun 22, 2014

We need your smiling face! On Wednesday, June 25, we will take a Club picture in celebration of the Club's 90th birthday. Please come! We'd like the picture to be as complete as possible.

Attend a Sox game and support the End Polio Now campaign

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jun 22, 2014

Tuesday, August 5 is "Family Fun Day at the Ballgame." See the White Sox take on the Rangers and meet Rotarians from Districts 6420, 6440 and 6450. Or donate your tickets so veterans and their families are able to attend. Outfield tickets are $22 each and all profit on the tickets goes to End Polio Now. For more information or to print an order form click here. The deadline for ticket orders is June 30.

Sheriff Tom Dart speaks to joint meeting

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jun 22, 2014

On June 19, we met with the Wilmette Harbor and Winnetka-Northfield Clubs. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart spoke about some of the issues he faces in his work. He discussed the problem of mental illness among those incarcerated, the growing use of heroin, especially on the North Shore, and the status of implementation of the concealed carry law. During questions and answers, he promised to share the names of some mental health organizations that might benefit from donations from our clubs.

Wilmette Village President provides update

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jun 05, 2014

Bob Bielinski, Village President of Wilmette, spoke to the Club at its June 4 meeting about the current health of the Village. With colorful graphs and photos he illustrated some of the strengths and challenges being faced by the Village board and staff as they deal with the effects of the economic downturn in 2008.

Rotary past and future

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jun 02, 2014

During the last meeting in May five students were present to receive scholarships given annually to deserving students from the Club. In addition, member Ray Zeiss talked about the Club's service project in the Amazon.

Joint Meetings in May and June

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jun 02, 2014

In May our Club hosted a joint meeting with the Wilmette Harbor and Winnetka-Northfield Clubs at the Winnetka Community House. There was a wonderful chance for fellowship and a 50/50 raffle benefitting Polio Plus. Our speaker, David Snyder from Crain's Chicago Business, provided fascinating insights into the changing world of journalism and news communications.
Our next joint meeting is on Thursday, June 19. It also will be held at the Winnetka Community House at 6:00 p.m. and will feature Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart as the speaker. There will be no lunch meeting on Wednesday so we hope you will be there!
(in the photo l-r: Jeff Martin (Wilmette Harbor club president), David Snyder (Crain's speaker), Debbie Stacey (Wilmette club president), Eric Birkenstein (Winnetka-Northfield club president), Rich Lalley (Winnetka-Northfield Secretary, Web Coordinator, etc.)

EREY Donations

EREY-EN-c We are more than half-way through the Rotary year. If you have not already done so, please give your check for your Every-Rotarian-Every-Year (EREY) contribution to John Flanagin at the meeting on Wednesday. Make the check out to Rotary Club of Wilmette Foundation and put EREY in the memo.

Remember that after 3 years 50% of your contributions can come back to our club in the form of District Designated Funds. This is money we can use to fund our various projects and programs.

Fellowship on the links

Posted by Ellen Clark on May 21, 2014

Now that the weather is finally getting warm, several of our members are getting together to play golf and they would love to have you join them. Contact Mike Harper if you are interested. (l-r: Tim Grodrian, Cathy Pratt, Mike Harper, Debbie Stacey, Don Olson)

End Polio Campaign needs YOU

Posted by Ellen Clark on May 21, 2014

ENDPOLIONOW_4p The End Polio campaign is putting together the world's biggest commercial and you can help. It's easy! Go to http://thisclose.endpolio.org/en and click on the ADD YOUR PHOTO button to contribute a photo of you making the "this close" hand sign for use in this campaign. You may also donate to this campaign from this website. Do it now while you're thinking about it!

Innoculating Children against Polio

Posted by Ellen Clark on May 21, 2014

On May 21, Richard Rivkin, member of the Northbrook Rotary Club and District Governor-Elect for 2015-16, spoke to us about his trips to India and Nigeria to participate in National Innoculation Days to reduce the incidence of polio among the children of those nations. HIs facts, photos and inspiring stories reminded us all of the importance of the End Polio campaign. Remember: We are "this close."

Building Community with Baseball

Posted by Ellen Clark on Apr 24, 2014

Chris Beacom, founder of the Illinois Baseball Academy, spoke to the Club on April 23 about his desire to change the experience of children playing baseball from a focus on competition to one of encouragement and community building. More information about Chris and the Illinois Baseball Academy can be found online at http://www.illinoisbaseballacademy.com.

90 Years Young - Trivia Question #8

Posted by Ellen Clark on Apr 24, 2014

The answer to question #7 is that Clarence Quaintance was appointed to establish a high school youth exchange program between Rotary clubs in our District and clubs in other countries. During the five years of his tenure in the project, 135 high school boys and girls were hosted in our district while 125 teens from this area were sent abroad.

? Question #8 concerns the frequently mentioned visit by Prince Philip of Great Britain to our Club in 1982. Do you know the reason Prince Philip visited?

District Conference 2014

Posted by Ellen Clark on Apr 14, 2014

The Rotary Club of Wilmette was well represented at this year's District Conference. From left to right: Debora Morris, Maurice Sullivan, Cliff Lyda (6450 District Governor), Sarah Oliver (6440 District Governor), Debbie Stacey, Roland Catenacci, Nick Dallas, Jackie Granat and Jim Hardee.

146th Anniversary of Paul Harris' Birth on April 19

Posted by Ellen Clark on Apr 06, 2014

Paul Harris was born on April 19, 1868 in Racine, Wisconsin. He grew up in Vermont under the care of his grandparents. He returned to the Midwest for law school at the University of Iowa. The rest, as they say, is history. Interested to learn more? See the "Life and Times of Paul P. Harris" at the Rotary First 100 website.

WANTED: Nominations for Wilmette Rotary Club Awards

Posted by Ellen Clark on Apr 06, 2014

To all Club members:
Please give some thought and consideration for candidate nominations for any or all of the following three awards:

FISCHER AWARD Service Above Self
FRANKEL AWARD Harmony and Understanding
STOECKER AWARD Excellence in Public Service

Please submit your nominees (include a brief paragraph identifying accomplishments and qualifications) for any of the above awards to Bob Taylor-- art@fsadvisorygroup.com by April 10. The Community Services Committee meets on April 10 to evaluate nominees and select awardees.

Learning About a New Definition of Social Investing

Posted by Ellen Clark on Apr 06, 2014

John Hoeppner of MM Social Capital spoke at the April 2 Club lunch about the theory behind his firm's creation of an investment fund using the choices contemporary consumers are making as they choose between products and vendors like fast food and grocery store chains as predictors for good investments.

District Conference is coming up April 11-13!

Posted by Ellen Clark on Mar 30, 2014

Join your fellow Rotarians in Oak Brook, IL, on April 11-13, for our District 6440 Conference 2014. You'll hear energetic and inspiring speakers, celebrate the impact of our engagement in the work of our clubs, and enjoy great entertainment and hospitality with members of our Rotary family from near and far during the 48 hours from Friday mid-day through Sunday morning. Registration for Conference and for the Saturday morning District Assembly that it wraps around must be made online. You can link to registration through the district website by selecting “District Conference & Assembly” from the Upcoming Events menu or go directly to the registration page by clicking here. There is no cost to register but there is a charge for meals.

90 Years Young - Trivia Question #7

Posted by Ellen Clark on Mar 23, 2014

As those of you who attended the March 12 meeting know, the answer to question 6 is Richard Nixon who was affiliated with the Whittier CA club.

? In 1966 Clarence Quaintance of Wilmette was appointed to establish what program between the Rotary Clubs in our district and Clubs in other countries?

Volunteers help fight hunger

Posted by Ellen Clark on Mar 23, 2014

In a joint project with the Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield, several of our members donated a couple of hours of time on Saturday, March 22, to participate in the Kids Against Hunger project. Pictured packing nutritious meals are L to R: Joy Stacey, Roland Catenacci, Nick Dallas, Arnie Klein, Mike Harper & an unknown helper.

Learning how Y.O.U. works with youth

Posted by Ellen Clark on Mar 23, 2014

The Youth Organizations Umbrella, or Y.O.U., is an organization providing after-school opportunities for at-risk youth and other services for families in Evanston and, recently, Skokie. Seth Green spoke to the Club about the organization's activities at the Club meeting on March 19. Y.O.U. would love to have more adult volunteers, especially as mentors. Check out their website at http://www.youevanston.org.

Giving to Rotary - a refresher course

Posted by Ellen Clark on Mar 12, 2014

On March 12, we were fortunate to have Natalie Bonfante Ginez from Rotary International attend the Club meeting and provide information about the various ways to donate to Rotary International. As the Annual Giving Officer of Rotary, Natalie discussed the value of having Club members donate through Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY). She also answered questions about accumulating and using Paul Harris points.

90 Years Young - Trivia Question #6

Posted by Ellen Clark on Mar 11, 2014

The answer to the last trivia question was "Rotary Ann". I wonder, were any of the wives of our longer-term Club members Rotary Anns?

? For question 6, which is another two part question, we will look at the 50th anniversary celebration of Rotary International in 1955. Which future US President began his address to the assembly with "I first want you to know how very proud I am to be able to begin my address to this historic Golden Jubilee Convention with the salutation 'Fellow Rotarians.' "? Do you know of which Club he was a member?

Rotary Club of Wilmette partners with the Wilmette Public Library

Posted by Ellen Clark on Mar 02, 2014

The Rotary Club of Wilmette is a community partner in the Wilmette Library's annual community-wide reading and discussion program known as One Book, Everybody Reads. This year's book is Claire of the Sea Light by Edwidge Danticat. There will be a series of programs leading up to a visit from the author on May 4. A copy of the book is being shared among interested members, or you may borrow a copy from the library. A schedule of events is attached.

Pat Brown Looks at the Affordable Care Act

Posted by Ellen Clark on Mar 02, 2014

At the meeting on February 26, member Pat Brown brought his many years of experience in the insurance industry to the podium as he talked about the many changes brought about by the Affordable Care Act.

90 Years Young - Trivia Question #5

Posted by Ellen Clark on Feb 23, 2014

The answer to question #4 is that Olar Norling-Christensen operated a veterinarian hospital on Hibbard Road, south of Lake, where he maintained a stable of Arabian horses.

? Question #5 should be an easier one. Rotary International did not admit women as full members until 1987. That did not mean that women did not participate in Rotary activities, however. What was the name given to women who participated in Rotary (as spouses or other relation) before 1987?

Dr. Maks shares insights on memory

Posted by Ellen Clark on Feb 23, 2014

Dr. Jonathan Maks spoke at the Club's weekly meeting on February 19. He offered information about normal memory fluctuations as we age and suggested ways to keep the memory functioning at its best through mental and physical activity.

90 Years Young - Trivia Question #4

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jan 29, 2014

The answer to Trivia Question #3 was Charles Percy. Are you ready for the next question? This one has two parts:

? In the 1940s, an annual Club picnic was held at Rotary member Ole Christensen's place of business on Hibbard Road. What was that business and what was the special attraction there?

Annual Economic Review and Forecast

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jan 29, 2014

At the January 29th lunch meeting, Club members Marsh Hammersley, Mike Harper and Bob Taylor provided their popular annual review of economic activity in the previous year and offered predictions of what might lie ahead. Club members were provided with a chance to guess where major indexes would be at the end of 2014. Winners of 2013 predictions were awarded a bottle of wine.

90 Years Young - Trivia Question #3

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jan 20, 2014

Did you guess the answers to the first two questions? The club sponsoring the Wilmette Club was the Evanston Club. The number of members was 21.
? The next question is about a young New Trier student orator who spoke at the club luncheon in 1937. He went on to become a U.S.Senator. Can you name him?

Learning about "the library of today"

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jan 15, 2014

Ellen Clark, Director of the Wilmette Public Library and a Past President of this Club, spoke about the trends in library service today at the January 15th meeting. She also reviewed what's being planned at the Wilmette Library. (photo by Debbie Stacey)

Theme for the 2014-15 Rotary Year

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jan 13, 2014

RI President-elect Gary C.K. Huang chose Light Up Rotary as his theme for 2014-15. Huang was inspired by the teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucious who said: "It is better to light a single candle, than to sit and curse the darkness."
"Light Up Rotary is our theme, but it is more than our theme. It is how we live in Rotary, how we think in Rotary, how we feel, how we work," Huang said. "It is how we make a difference — every day, in every club, every district, and every country where we serve."

90 Years Young!

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jan 12, 2014

The Rotary Club of Wilmette marks its 90th birthday in 2014. Special planning is underway to celebrate the occasion later this spring. As a warm-up, I'll post some trivia questions about the Club to see how much you know of our history. Answers will appear in the next post.
? The first question is a two-part one: Which Rotary club sponsored the Wilmette Club? How many members were registered in the initial charter?

December 18 Meeting Book Information

Posted by Ellen Clark on Dec 18, 2013

Walter Reed and Sheila Gerber presented a captivating program at our December 18 lunch meeting. They told a little of their childhood stories as "hidden children" of the Holocaust as they read excerpts of their contributions to the book Out of Chaos: Hidden Children Remember the Holocaust, recently published by the Northwestern University Press. For those who are interested, copies of the book can be purchased online directly from the publisher at this address.

Making your "Every Rotarian Every Year" donation

Posted by Ellen Clark on Dec 18, 2013

YEAR END GIVING

Now is a good time to consider making an Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) contribution. If interested, make sure you direct your contribution to the Annual Fund-SHARE, so it will be eligible for Paul Harris Fellow recognition and will generate District Designated Funds (DDF). Contributions are tax deductible where allowed by law.

There are many ways available to make a contribution:
•      online at www.rotary.org/contribute
•      online at the rotary.org website, click “GIVE”
•      call 1-866-976-8279
•      give a check payable to “The Rotary Foundation” to our Foundation Treasurer, Kent Meyers

You can find your membership ID on your “The Rotarian” mailing label or in Club Runner. Our Club Number is #3150.
Debbie Stacey

14,000 Books Gathered for Inner City Schools

Posted by Ellen Clark on Dec 11, 2013

With vast community support, The Wilmette Rotary Club gathered nearly 14,000 books for needy inner-city schools to help students enjoy reading and perform better. The Club’s tenth annual book drive drew thousands of children’s, school and reference books from local institutions. Books came from McKenzie, Romona, Harper and Central Schools, Highcrest and Wilmette Junior High, Marie Murphy, St. Joseph and St. Francis Xavier Schools – all in Wilmette -- and St. Athanasius School in Evanston. Others came from New Trier and Regina Dominican High Schools and public libraries in Wilmette, Northfield/Winnetka, Glenview, Skokie and Lake Bluff. Books are being distributed to seven schools in the Little Village, Pilsen, Back of the Yards, Lawndale and Marquette Park neighborhoods. Their principals, teachers and students expressed deep gratitude for the donations.

Congratulations Maurice and team! (Front row from left are Nick Dallas, Maurice Sullivan, Jean Peters, Debbie Stacey, Lisa Roberts and Jack Flynn. Back row from left are Arnie Klein, Bob Armbruster, Tim Grodrian, John Dyrud and Bob Matz.)
(photo/story by Richard Brill)

Beautiful Music

Posted by Ellen Clark on Dec 04, 2013

The New Trier Swing Choir made their annual visit to our Club lunch meeting on December 4. How lucky we are to be able to enjoy these talented musicians! (photo by Arnie Klein)

Blood Drive - November 22

Posted by Ellen Clark on Oct 02, 2013

Nick Dallas has arranged for a blood drive to be held at the North Shore Community Bank (1145 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette) on November 22. The times for appointments will cross the lunch hour so you will be able to give blood before or after a joint Club meeting that day at Depot Nuevo. Members of the Wilmette Harbor Club will be joining us. More details will be coming soon!

Fall Seminar Day on November 2

Posted by Ellen Clark on Oct 02, 2013

This year’s Fall Seminar Day will be at Medinah Banquets in Addison. The event will have a tailgate theme, so casual sports attire is appropriate. Following the breakfast plenary session, there will be four tracks: ABC’s of Rotary, Grant Mgmt. Seminar, Engaging Rotarians to Expand Your Service/Membership, and Using Public Image/Public Relations to Strengthen Your Club. Please let Debbie Stacey know if you plan to attend.

Wine & Dine Invitation

Posted by Ellen Clark on Sep 23, 2013

Looking for a way to invite your friends and family to our Wine & Dine fund raiser on November 8? Just click on this link Wine & Dine 2013 Invitation to open an invitation ready to be printed or saved to attached to an email. Note that there are links embedded in the invitation that can connect you to further information about the event, Rotary, and some of the sponsoring organizations. What could be easier?

Bill Pool

Posted by Ellen Clark on Sep 23, 2013

It is with sadness that we note the passing of long-time member Bill Pool. He was a devoted and giving member of our Club. He will be missed.

Getting ready to Wine & Dine - November 8, 2013

Posted by Ellen Clark on Sep 12, 2013

The Wilmette Rotary Club’s 2013 “Wine and Dine Around the World” benefit party is planned by (from left) Rotary members Bob Armbruster, Yvonne Sito and Debora Morris and Schaeffer’s Wines Certified Sommelier Mick Ter Haar. Rotary chose Schaefer’s to supply fine wines from celebrated regions in France, Spain, Italy, California and New Zealand.

ROTARIAN PEACE HALL OF FAME

Posted by Ellen Clark on Aug 28, 2013

The ROTARIAN PEACE HALL OF FAME will be dedicated on September 26, 2013 at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie, IL. The Rotarian Peace Hall of Fame is designed to highlight the acheivements of Rotarians who have contributed to peace throughout the world - while risking their personal safety. Sir Nicholas Winton, our FIRST honoree saved 669 children In Czechoslovakia before the Nazi invasion. He is a life long Rotarian and is 104 Years old.

For the event, there will be a PRIVATE PRE-RELEASE screening of the movie "Nicky's Family" - the official opening is on September 29th in the Chicagoland area. This dedication and showing is exclusively for Rotarians and their family/guests and is limited to 200. A light dinner will be served and you will have the opportunity to meet some of the children saved by Sir Nicholas. After the movie, these survivors will be conducting a Q & A session. Go to https://sites.google.com/site/rotarianpeacehalloffame/ to register.

Friendship Exchange opportunity

Posted by Ellen Clark on Aug 25, 2013

2011RIThemeLogo_Transp_150width Interested in the international aspect of Rotary? James Wales is working on building a Friendship Exchange Program for District 6440 and is looking for 6 or 7 Rotarians who would like to help. Please contact him directly at jwales@lith.org.

New Rotary International Website

Posted by Ellen Clark on Aug 25, 2013

Beginning August 26, there is a completely new look and feel to the Rotary International website. Visit https://www.rotary.org/ and look around. As you move your mouse over the menus at the top, additional options become available to explore. Be sure to register at the My Rotary link at the top of the page for access to tools and information especially for Rotary members.

Jim Allans

Posted by Ellen Clark on Aug 04, 2013

We note, with sadness, the passing of Jim Allans on July 31, 2013. Jim was a long-time member of our club who embodied the spirit of Rotary. For further information, visit the following website: http://www.murdochfuneralhome.com/book-of-memories/1641728/Allans-James/index.php

Installation Recap

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jul 30, 2013

On June 30, Debbie was installed as our Club President at a joint ceremony with the new presidents of the Wilmette Harbor Club and the Highland Park Club and the new District Governor, Sarah Oliver. There was a great delegation from our Club present. Thanks to all who attended!

Annual Beach Clean-up

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jul 29, 2013

Thanks to Ned, Marsh, Debora and Kent (not pictured) who participated in the Wilmette beach clean-up on Saturday, July 27th.

Wine & Dine on November 8, 2013

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jul 27, 2013

Put the date in your calendar! Our Club's annual fund-raiser will be held on November 8, 2013 from 6:00-11:00 p.m. at The Doubletree by Hilton Hotel - North Shore in Skokie. Watch for details on ways you can participate and help to raise funds for our many charitable activities.

2013-14 Installation

Posted by Ellen Clark on Jul 11, 2013

The Wilmette Rotary Club installed 2013-2014 officers at a gala luncheon on July 10, 2013.

Wine & Dine Tickets

Posted by Bob Armbruster

WINE & DINE TICKETS

Here is an easy way to purchase tickets for your friends and family to our Wine & Dine fund raiser on Friday, November 8th! Just click on the following " buy " link to open a shopping cart window, enter the number of tickets and pay online for your tickets.

You will pick up your tickets at the door on the night of the event. What could be easier?

You can also make an donation to the Wilmette Rotary Club Foundation by clicking this link

Club Moves to New Meeting Location

Posted by Bob Armbruster

The new Wilmette Rotary Club meeting location is McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurant in the Old Orchard Shopping Center at the corner of Old Orchard Road and Skokie Boulevard. We will enjoy our 12:15 lunch in either the upstairs or ground level banquet rooms so check with the maitre d' if you don't see us when you arrive. An elevator is available and there is plenty of free parking next to the restaurant.

Rotarians Clean the Wilmette Beach

Posted by Bob Armbruster

In hands-on community service, our Wilmette Rotarians did a mid-summer clean up of our spectacular beach from the rocks at the Harbor breakwater to the Park District swimming area. Starting early 7:00 am on Saturday morning July 23rd, Ned Leuchtner, Joe Ceisel, Joe Goldstein, Debora Morris and Cathy Pratt gathered up debris. They were cheered on by early morning beach-joggers who expressed their thanks.