HARBOR LIGHT NEWS LETTER 2014-05-28

GREETERS:  

 

 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

 

Joan O’Neill shared the lovely poem In Flanders Fields, one of the most memorable war poems ever written, and instrumental in starting the tradition of passing out poppies on Memorial Day.   Each year around Memorial Day, Veterans of Foreign Wars members and American Legion Auxiliary volunteers distribute millions of bright red poppies in exchange for contributions to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans. Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD, of the Canadian Army, wrote the poem.

ATTENDANCE:  John Bowman

 

 

GUESTS:  

Jimmy Lipsey and his Dad, Peter.  Jimmy was one of our RYLA students, and he spoke eloquently about his experiences.

 

Eleonore Kulp, one of the co-presidents of Interact this past year.  Carol Wells was invited to speak to the Interact Club last fall about End Polio Now.  The students were so receptive and engaged that they decided to sell purple EPN bracelets, They did a lunch time fundraiser selling the bracelets and raised $100  for EPN.

 

 

VISITING ROTARIAN:  

 

John Dyrud from Wilmette Noon.

 

BIRTHDAY:  

 

Joan O’Neill, June 9

 

ROTARY ANNIVERSARIES:  
        
Frank Hussey, 24 years on June 1
Linda Frothingham, 21 years on June 1
George Vandervoort, 18 years on June 1
Joanne Aggens, 7 years on June 7

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:  

 

George Pearce, Barry Miller and Sheri Miller reported on the Spring Wine Tasting fundraiser … which was a great success!  Results are not yet final, but net income looks to be $11,000 or more.  Thanks to all who helped out at the event, and to all who took part!

 

 

Puran Stevens thanked all the volunteers who helped her serve 83 persons at the most recent Soup Kitchen:  Jackie McGuire, Ellen Falkof, Frank Hussey, Tom Riley, Susan Kozak, Jean Reed, Jim Bowman, Gil Gilbert, and especially Jim Ditkowsky (Margaret Wein’s husband) who has gone to Costco with Puran for several years to get the food for the Soup Kitchen, drives to the church and carries everything inside.

 

Jack Close reported on a successful food drive for the Wilmette Food Pantry.  Even though had scheduled another group on that day, Jack regrouped our team and they managed to fill two cars with food items.  The Food Pantry was most appreciative!

 

 

Jeff’s surprise  Jeff Martin’s final Wednesday club meeting will have a slight alteration:  It’s going to be on Friday, June 27.   Please be sure to attend, and show your flexibility as a Rotarian.  As an added incentive, Jeff is hosting a golf outing following the meeting (the hours of the meeting will be the same as usual)

 

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS:  

 

Chris Simcox was offered and has accepted a position with JP Morgan Private Bank.  He will assume a book of business and will be working with affluent individuals and families through out Chicagoland. Chris is scheduled to begin on June 26 … and ia very excited about the opportunity.

 

John Kessler just returned from the four-day Washington D.C. party of his son Eric's wedding.   Eric started the New Trier Interact Club and was a student Rotary exchange student in Austria.  Having graduated from West Point he has continued his government career and is now working with US Secretary of State John Kerry in the Middle East efforts

 

 

Norene Chip’s daughter, Isabelle, received a scholarship to attend the Shedd Aquarium Marine Biology Program on the Shedd's research vessel in the Bahama's this summer.

 

SHENANIGANS:  

 

John Wertymer was prepared to be unprepared, and shared a number of insightful observations of the advantages to being a man.

 

 

It’s not often when our meeting hits the energy pitch it did when Erin Kahoa spoke to us.  Declining an introduction by Margaret Wein (who invited him for our program, Erin launched directly into a story about a pivotal event while growing up on a farm in Oklahoma.

 

 

Live Lit Story Club is a nonfiction storytelling show. The goal of Story Club is to mix the spontaneity of an open mike with the experience of live theater. Each show has both open mike and featured performers.  The North Side Chicago show is held the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 pm. Chicago shows have a suggested donation of $10. On the North Side, food and drink are also available to order, provided by the Holiday Club wait staff.  The Holiday Club is located at 4000 N Sheridan Rd, on the corner of Sheridan Rd & Irving Park Rd.  It's a 1/2  block north of the Sheridan Red Line stop. 

 

Erin’s story was about a time in his youth growing up on a farm in Oklahoma.   His father was a cattle rancher and loved to attend cattle shows.  Erin had little interest, but was charged with showing the animals in the ring.  Once during a lull in the competition, Erin wandered off and managed to win a free hat at the midway.  He was beside himself with joy.  He rushed back to the barn, just in time to lead his animal back into the ring.  His heifer won first place … but was actually named the Grand Champion Shorthorn Heifer.  It was a culminating achievement for his father.

 

 

On the way back to the cattle barn, they met a neighbor.  Erin’s dad said, “Erin, till Mr. Smith the good news.”  Unaware of the significance of the cattle judging, he replied “I won a free hat!”.  Looking back at this even now as an adult, Erin realizes that this was a pivotal point in his relationship with his father.  Erin was never going to be a rancher.  He was going to go to college and study theater.  Their relationship was never close.

 

Erin’s energetic presentation was a spellbinder.  If you’d like to learn more about Live Lit, check out their web page:
http://www.storyclubchicago.com

 

NEXT WEEK’S PROGRAM:  
International Service Projects:  John Bbowman etal
 
NEXT MEETING CLUB DUTIES (June 4):

 

Greeters:   John Kessler & Sheri Miller
 
Thought for the Day:  Margaret Wein