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HAPPY B-DAY MILES ISSUE MAY 23, 2026
VOL. 6 NO. 30
LOOKING SHARP!
NEWS-NOTES-NONSENSE
Look for your next Eastender News on June 6th.
On Thursday we were joined by Operation Blessing Executive Director Karen Wilson, with an assist from RobinK. The all-volunteer pantry serves nine area communities. Virginia Kirkpatrick started the organization in her garage in 1982. In 2025 OB served over 4,000 clients, with 18% consider unhoused. Karen lamented the fact that as the St. Louis Food Bank distributions have dropped from 20 tons down to 6 tons, the demand for food has risen significantly. Robin took a moment to talk about the upcoming fundraiser (see the flyer below ) and encouraged everyone to spread the word and consider a sponsorship. The loss of the previous $40K United Way allocation looms large with an organization that has a $155K budget.
Opening duties were covered by GeorgeM, DianeS and GlennB.
Congrats go out to MarkSp for his 52 years of club service, AllenH-51 years, ScottL-35 years and KristenB-1 year.
Guests included Phillip, a guest (consultant) of KristenB and BradP's granddaughter.
Our Installation Dinner will be held on June 25th in the Belk Park event space. Catering by Food A Fare. Fellowship @ 5:30, dinner and program to follow @ 6. See your email from this past Tuesday for all the details and to register.
Birthday wishes go out to our outbound exchange student Lilly on the 28th and MarkA on June 5th.
GlennB recently sent you a Business of the Year voting guide. As of Thursday, he had received 13 ballots. Time to vote!
Early arrivals included-LoriP, KarenJ and Diane.
At our June 11th meeting we will be voting on bylaw changes. We need a quorum of members to be in attendance for a binding vote. Please make every effort to be on hand.
The Keasler Rec Center electronic sign dedication ceremony is scheduled after our June 4th meeting, @ 1:30. All are invited to attend. See you there!
We had 6 Rotary pavilion painters taking care of the yellow posts this past Wednesday. The pavilion now has some great color pop.It's worth noting that the our pavilion is the most used in Belk. A huge thanks to MikeK for "herding the cats" and procuring the supplies, well done!
Speaking of Belk, JoeS reported that the disc golf course will soon be installed. He proposed that we all go out and play a game when it's ready. (5th Thursday??)
PattiA sez we need sponsors (lots of sponsors!), multi levels, and runners for our Color Run on June 13th @ Belk. Registration is now live. Spread the word! Link via the QR code in the flyer below or on our Facebook page. Want to be a run day volunteer? Let Patti know ASAP.
Our golf tournament is on Saturday July 18th @ Belk. The event needs teams and sponsors. JoeS has hard copy flyers. Please encourage all your golf buddies/work associates/family members to consider joining us for this fun event. See the flyer below for the details.
Slide-right-inners-DaveA, ChrisH and JoeS.
Last to arrive included GlennB, SherryT, JoeS and GeorgeM.
There were 19 members dining on breakfast for lunch and fresh fruit.
SAA RickH recruited DianeS to serve as the Finemeister. Happy Fines were paid by KarenJ, RobinK, Prez Mark and RickH (and maybe a couple of others). We continue to do well with the trivia Q's, 3 out of 4 correct. Do you have any counterfeit Pokemon cards?
The $73 jackpot went unclaimed by Prez Mark and BradP's granddaughter. DianeS won the scratchie.
A study found that Americans tip less on weekends. Whe. were the tips highest (averaging 21.47%)?
A. Monday
B. Tuesday
C. Wednesday
D. Thursday
(Find the answer near the end of the newsletter)
Today is National Taffy Day
In which national park can you drive Going-to-the-Sun Road?
Glacier
Death Valley
Great Smoky Mountains
Acadia
It may not take you on an interstellar journey, but Going-to-the-Sun Road — the central thoroughfare of Montana’s Glacier National Park — is surely one of the most breathtaking drives in the United States. Going-to-the-Sun Road stretches for 50 narrow, winding miles, and a one-way trip (without any stops) takes about two hours.
FROM OUR ARCHIVES
Sourced from the Eastender News, Make-Up and Banner newsletters
May 2018
The WR Club heard a presentation about law enforcement from Brad Wells. Dan Brannon spoke to the EA club about a book he cowrote with Andy Yakstis "You Can't Kill the Dream".
The WR club noted the recent passing of former club president and Paul Harris Fellow Mark Badasch.
EA-WR Junior Rotarians Rachel Staten and Justin Englar dined with the WR club.
One EA wag wondered if a paper cut could be considered an OTJ injury?
The sign-up sheet for the EA village clean-up day was circulating.
Want to know more about Rosewood Heights history? AllenH is your man.
LindseyH announced that there would be Zumba session before the Color Run. Patti
A was looking for event volunteers and PaulG was distributing event flyers.
LoriP was distributing Baseball Mania tix.
PattiA fined everyone who didn't participate in an outdoor event the previous weekend.
WendellR and LoriP failed to claim the $79 jackpot.
JohnP paid a Happy Fine.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
DATELINE:ROTARY
PEOPLE OF ACTION
FROM AROUND THE WORLD
United States
The deadliest U.S. wildfire in a century killed more than 100 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses on the Hawaiian island of Maui in August 2023. Searching for healing and reflection, the community group Aloha Amplified organized a twilight walk and ceremony this past September, supported by District 5000’s fire relief fund and the three Rotary clubs in Lahaina. Hundreds of people carried lanterns along a milelong route, joining together at the end in the revered song “Hawai‘i Aloha.” The event featured cultural entertainment and booths staffed by local groups, including Rotary clubs. Rotarians, many of whom lost their own homes and businesses, also volunteered at the event. “People know Rotary in Lahaina,” says Joanne Laird, of the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset.
Costa Rica
Lush rainforests and world-renowned birding help draw hundreds of thousands of travelers to Costa Rica every year. That backdrop belies many needs, including for children in the country. Stéphane Dähler, a Swiss expatriate who works in the tourism industry, reports his Rotary Club of Belén, northwest of the capital of San José, is committed to improving education and health outcomes. In February, members worked at the Español School to assemble, sand, and paint 112 desks funded by the club, District 4240 in Costa Rica, and Rotarians from District 5280 in California. The following month, Belén Rotarians visited the Santiago Alpízar School to drop off books. To help fill gaps in health care, the club held a medical camp in rural Puriscal in December to offer blood screenings and a toy distribution. The club “has become a bridge that unites Costa Rican industry with the common good, showing that the private sector and volunteers can generate a positive and sustainable effect,” Dähler says.
Italy
The Rotary Club of Monfalcone-Grado revels in the history and charm of its northern Italian region, located northeast of Venice near the Slovenian border. A recent project helped ensure that information is accessible to everyone, including people with visual impairments. In December, members unveiled a multisensory panel explaining the story of the Church of San Proto in San Canzian d’Isonzo, just west of their community. The 15th century chapel sits atop foundations dating to the fourth century. The panel combines educational content with tactile elements and Braille notations, with a placement designed for easy access by wheelchair users. “The church is located along an ancient Roman road and represents an important example of what we often call ‘minor heritage,’ meaning small sites with great historical and cultural value that deserve to be known and protected,” says club member Paolo Messana. Rotary members participated in every phase of the project, says Messana, “from concept and design to approvals and installation.”
AND I QUOTE
Quotes from Shakespeare-
I do desire we may be better strangers.
Either thou art most ignorant by age, or thou wert born a fool.
He’s a most notable coward, an infinite and endless liar, an hourly promise-breaker, the owner of no one good quality.
There’s no more faith in thee than in a stewed prune.
SMILE
After the ballet skirt was invented, the creators spent days coming up with a name. Finally, they put tu and tu together.
150 years ago everyone owned a horse and only the rich had cars. Today everyone has cars and only the rich own horses. The stables have turned.
For his birthday I got my friend a telepathic abacus. It's the thought that counts.
It's impossible to run through a campground. You can only ran...Because it's past tents.
THE NUMBERS
More than 12% of Americans reported taking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss last fall, up from 6% in early 2024-Gallup
Pew research found. About 65% of those who get health and wellness information from influencers say they trust some of the information, while 10% said they trust all or most of it. Around a quarter of people said they trust not much or none
The average Illinois home is worth $290,210, up 4.9% over the past year, compared with $368,198 in the U.S. as a whole, up 0.6% over the past year-Zillow
Nurse practitioners have grown their ranks by 60% to 461,000 between 2019 and 2025-American Association of Nurse Practitioners
Asked what type of promotions they’re most likely to take advantage of this year, the majority of consumers (55.9%) said price discounts, nearly triple the next most popular, loyalty rewards, at 19.8%, and cash-back offers, at 12.2%-2026 Shopper Sentiment Report from RetailNext
U.S. consumers returned around $706 billion of goods in 2025-Appriss Retail
