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NEW MEMBER ISSUE AUGUST 9, 2025
VOL. 6 NO. 5
TAKE ME OUT GANG
NEWS-NOTES-NONSENSE
District Governor Bill Knake will be in the house this coming Thursday. Please make every effort to attend and offer him a strong RBE welcome.
For the first time in club history we had the pleasure and honor of welcoming two new members, Carson Conn and Jeremy Plank. If you have not already done so, please welcome them to our community service club.
On Thursday KristenB gave us a overview of some of the good things happening in and around downtown Wood River. Cafe LaNae is off to a strong start in the former 1929 Pizza space (try the baklava and cinnamon rolls). Pfund is busy rehabbing an old theater space which will serve as their corporate HQ for a few years. The dog park is almost ready to welcome Rover and his friends. The Rustic Roots space will soon be renovated by the folks at Pfund, and Kristen really likes the new look. Upcoming events include the Food Truck Festival (13 trucks) on September 21st, Trick or Treat walk on October 22nd and a Cruise & Q event on October 26th. Put these events on your calendar.
Can't make the meeting? Want to know what you missed? BradP usually live steams and archives the meeting on our internal Facebook page. Check it out.
Early birders included-AllenH, LoriP and Prez Mark.
Friendly reminder-If you want to view any of the photos from our weekly meetings and events you can find them via the photo album link near the top of our home page.
The post-nooner list included GeorgeM and ChrisH.
PattiA has our 5K Color Run flyer on her personal Facebook page. We are actively looking for sponsors. September 27th is the date. Since the proceeds will help to fund our Eswatini dental clinic project Prez Mark suggests why not ask your dentist for a sponsorship donation? Smile!
The SRI (slide right in) crowd featured PaulH and ChrisH.
We had about 30 members and guests gather at The Hop to cheer on the River Dragons on July 31st. The Dragons lost, but everyone had a fun time at the ball yard. Thanks to Prez Mark and LoriP for coordinating
SAA Rick recruited KristenB as the lugmeister. We answered 3 out of the 4 trivia
Q's correctly. Not going to the District 6460 Cards-Cubs literacy fundraiser game on August 9th (today)? pay a $.
Prez Mark read a thank you note from Riverbend Family Ministries for our golf sponsorship.
We had 16 members in the house noshing on the house version of chicken cordon bleu, mixed veggies, torpedo rolls, salad and choco cookies.
DianeS and KristenB missed the opportunity to claim the $58 jackpot. CarsonC won the scratchie. What are the odds-all three winners were seated at the same table.
Opening duties were covered by DaveA, DianeS and Prez Mark.
17 members forgot to take a look at the last issue of the Eastender News.
PREZ MARK PINS CARSON
DAVE PINS JEREMY
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
DT WOOD RIVER? KRISTEN KNOWS
A FUN NGHT AT THE BALLYARD
ALL THINGS TRIVIAL
Who or what is David protein?
A-A protein-bar brand that also sells raw cod
B-A paleo-diet social media influencer
C-A trend-setting butcher shop in Brooklyn, NY
D-A purveyor of meats from animals killed by slingshot
(The answer is found near the end of the newsletter)
Today is National Garage Sale Day
Which city has an airport named after Louis Armstrong?
New Orleans
Montreal
Seattle
Milwaukee
Louis Armstrong is considered one of the most influential people in the history of jazz, so it makes sense that New Orleans — the birthplace of jazz, as well as Armstrong's hometown — would want to honor him. As of 2001 — the 100th anniversary of the jazz great's birth — the city's airport is known as Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
FROM OUR ARCHIVES
Sourced from the Eastender News, Make-Up and Banner newsletters
August 2017
The EA club heard a presentation about the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance program.
In honor of Eclipse Day the WR club would gather at the Rotary pavilion @ Belk park.
TyB and WendellR returned from vacations. Wendell does not recommend Cuban lasagna.
Happy Fines were paid by JohnP and PaulG.
MarkSp, PaulH, RodC and RickH made a birthday visit to Jacksonville,IL to celebrate Red and Helen Littleton's birthdays.
DonnaK was taking charge of the Rotary Cash Raffle.
Leonard Berg noshed with the EA club and made a pitch for the Rotary Foundation.
ErinP was presented her 10 year service award by Prez Bill.
LindseyH and PattiA were busy preparing for the first Color Run.
JoeS shared information about the proposed veterans memorial located at the Main and Shamrock Streets intersection.
JohnP indicated that he is still awaiting word from the district regarding a grant request to help fund the firehouse artwork.
DaveA will be filing a district literacy grant request to help fund the dictionary project.
PaulH left before his 50-50 number was chosen. SherryT left money on the table.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
DATELINE:ROTARY
Finding inspiration and global connection in Calgary
A First-Time Rotarian's Take on the International Convention
I'm Amber Kraus. I joined the Rotary Club of Edwardsville just a few months ago, in March. When I signed up, I knew I was becoming part of something larger than myself, but I don’t think I truly understood how much larger until I attended the Rotary International Convention in Calgary.
It was a big step, jumping into such a major Rotary event only a few months into my membership, and I was a little nervous. Not nervous to traveling alone—that’s something I’m well-seasoned in—but more apprehensive about being the “newbie” in a group where many have been members longer than I’ve been alive. Would I feel out of place? Would I understand the sessions? Would it be overwhelming? As it turns out, those five days in Calgary became one of the most inspiring and energizing experiences I’ve had, not just as a new Rotarian, but in life in general.
A Truly Global Perspective
From the moment I stepped into the opening ceremony, I was struck by the sheer number of people in attendance. Not just Rotarians from across North America, but from every corner of the world. I met people from Portugal, Uganda, the Netherlands, Australia, Brazil—and the list goes on. Everyone wore their Rotary Club name badges with pride, and conversations started easily. We didn’t need much of an icebreaker. After all, we were all there for the same reasons: to connect, to learn, and to work toward making the world a better place.
“Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes; and adversity is not without comforts and hopes."-Francis Bacon
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."-T.S. Elliot
"Maybe that’s the best part of going away for a vacation — coming home again.”-MADELEINE L’ENGLE
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible."-Walt Disney
SMILE
If you're feeling sad go for a run. You soon realize that your physical health is way worse than your mental health.
A new restaurant just opened in Edwardsville, it's called "Karma". There are no menus. You get what you deserve.
I was robbed by six dwarfs today. Not happy.
What happens when a microscope crashes into a telescope? They kaleidoscope.
I was confused when my printer started playing music...until I realized that the paper was jamming.
The worst pub I've ever been in was called The Fiddle. It was a vile inn.
THE NUMBERS
Roughly four in 10 millennials and Gen Zers have side jobs-Deloitte
Since 1991, the average retirement age has increased by about three years-Boston College
Nearly one-third of people who leave jobs annually liquidate their 401(k)s, paying taxes and often penalties rather than keeping the money in a retirement account-Vanguard
Nearly a quarter of BNPL (buy now pay later) users missed at least one payment last year, up from 15% in 2021-Federal Reserve
There were 33.4 million mishandled bags on airlines worldwide in 2024. Two out of three were reunited with their owners within 48 hours-SITA
According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total cost to own and operate an automobile averaged a $12,296 in 2024, roughly 30% higher than a decade ago
(Trivia answer-A)
ROTARY'S AREAS OF FOCUS
These have been identified to help build international relationships, improve lives and create a better world to support our peace efforts and end polio forever
