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WELCOME TO OUR CLUB! CELEBRATING 95 YEARS OF SERVICE. COME JOIN US CONNECTING FOR GOOD.

Service Above Self

We meet Thursdays at 12:15 PM
Winnetka Community House

620 Lincoln Avenue
Tyrrell Room (winter) 111A (summer)
Winnetka, IL 60093
United States of America

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Meeting Recap November 21

Posted by John Thomas

Upon arrival, and as had been announced the previous week, members were immediately engulfed in packing Thanksgiving food in boxes for for the needy. Once a zillion boxes were done, the meeting itself in the Community House was opened at 12:20 by President Marie Kuipers. This was followed by the pledge of allegiance led by Rick Boerjesson. Lunch was served at 12:25 and the meeting was re-opened at 12:50 with 26 members present.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Tom Nash noted there was to be a party this evening at Little Ricky’s to celebrate the huge, almost surreal, success of the Operation Warm benefit several weeks ago at the Kenilworth Club. He noted its very favorable outcome was due in large part by W/N Rotary member participation.

Barb Tubekis thanked folks for set-up last night of those Thanksgiving food items in the hall and asked we help take the packed boxes out to waiting trucks after the meeting.

President Marie then asked we all “cross talk” by telling the person across the table what is their most likable characteristic. After a stunned silence (as is often the case) there was muted chatter to be heard.

HAPPY BUCKS: The call for “Happy Bucks” was met by an almost unheard of deafening silence by the assembly.

DIG & GRIN: Wes Baumann favored us with several mildly humorous anecdotes for which he received several mild huzzahs.

SPEAKER- David Birkenstein introduced our speaker, Chuck Dowding. Dr. Dowding is an Professor Emeritus at Northwestern University’s School of Engineering and deeply engaged in issues of sustainability. He exercises this as Chair of the Winnetka Environmental and Forestry Commission.

He had a well organized presentation on his computer that started with noting that the Village of Winnetka has “used up” their 2020 Plan and has now adopted a 2040 Plan. The new Plan was adopted just two weeks earlier by the Village Council. It will soon be seen on the Village website. He also referred us to the Greenest Region Compact which is a key to efforts locally on sustainability. The Compact addresses ten areas: climate, economy, leadership, mobility, municipal operations, sustainable communities, water, and waste & recycling. The GRC guides the more than 70 participating municipalities towards sustainable goals and actions and encourages communities to work together to create a sustainable region. In Winnetka, the GRC2 was adopted by municipal resolution R-23-2018 in April, 2018.

Unfortunately there was no time for Q&A and the meeting closed at 1:31 after the lottery drawing and 4-Way pledge recitation.

Meeting Recap November 14

Posted by Patti Van Cleave

Queen Marie called the meeting to order at 12:15 pm. She reminded us that we will be packing food for Good News Partners next week, and since Rotarians are all about service – we should come and pack, and support with a donation to purchase the food if we are able to do so.

After lunch, Greeter Patti Van Cleave shared the following guests:

Leslie Birkenstein was a guest of her father, Eric.

James Pappadis and Krysten Warnes were guests of John Thomas, who introduced them to the club as the new employees at the Winnetka Youth Organization.

We sang Happy Birthday (not very well) to Eric, as it was his actual birthday!

Anniversaries:

Jeanne Beckman (31)

Lee Padgitt (26)

Rich Lalley (15)

David Birkenstein (10)

Announcements:

Barb thanked the 18 or so Rotarians who packed books with Wilmette Rotary the week before. She shared that we will pack 100 bags of non-perishable food for Good News Partners to be distributed on Thanksgiving. Donations welcome; she will shop on Wednesday. Let her know if you would like to deliver on Thanksgiving.
Joe Nash reminded us that the Operation Warm “thank you” party for all involved in the fundraiser is on the 21^st at Little Ricky’s from 6:00-7:30. All are welcome. He also gave an early Happy Buck as he got engaged last week!
Brooke reminded us that Community Grant applications are due by November 30. There is a link to the application on our website.
Rich asked for volunteers for a Rotary coat distribution in Rogers Park this Saturday the 16th from 1-4:30. He shared that we are funding distributions at two libraries and have sent coats to several agencies. He is also working with a Libertyville HS Interact student to bring coats to a charter school in North Chicago.

After an interlude where we were encouraged to share a compliment with the person across from us, we heard a funny story from Sam Badger about Morris, who misunderstood his doctor’s advice. He also shared a funny dog story.

Our speaker was John Shea from the Winnetka Park District, who updated us on the Lakefront Master Plan, specifically at Tower and Lloyd beaches. This is part of the Winnetka 2030 Plan, adopted in 2016.

David Birkenstein won the raffle and pulled the three of clubs. We adjourned the meeting at 1:30 with the Four Way Test.

Share Your Bounty

Posted by Barb Tubekis on Nov 07, 2019

Continuing our club's long standing Thanksgiving tradition, we will once again partner with the Volunteer Center to provide post-holiday groceries for families in transitional housing who are served by Good News Partners in Chicago's North of Howard neighborhood. We will purchase groceries in bulk at Costco and club members will bag the groceries at our November 21st meeting.

Please consider a donation to help us provide post-holiday groceries to these families in need. You can bring a check or cash to our November 14 meeting, make a pledge by emailing your pledge to info@wnrotary.org, or donate online by clicking here: DONATE NOW. We hope to provide over 100 bags of groceries, and have a fundraising goal of $2,000. This will be easy if everyone contributes.

We will also need volunteers to pick up the groceries on Thanksgiving morning and deliver them to Good News Partners. We will meet at 9:15 at Skokie school, load up our cars, and drive to Good News Partners. You'll be back home before 11. Sign up to volunteer here: Volunteer to deliver food Thanksgiving morning.

Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield Continues Long Tradition of Community Grant Making

Posted by Brooke Peppey on Apr 24, 2018

Sixteen Area Charities to Receive Grants at Annual Fundraising Dinner

Our club will gather for our annual fundraising dinner the evening of May 11 at A. Perry Homes in Wilmette, celebrating Cinco de Mayo + Six and continuing it’s long tradition of supporting non-profit organizations who make our community and the world a better place. Members and their guests should register at http://wnrotary.org/event/annual-benefit-dinner.

“Our club has been an important contributor to local, regional and international causes since our founding in 1924,” said club president Tom Nash. “This year we are pleased to be supporting sixteen organizations that align with Rotary’s annual theme “Making a Difference.”

“Our Community Grants program is our foundational program,” said Brooke Peppey, President of the Winnetka Northfield Rotary Charitable Foundation, the club’s charitable arm. “Each year, our members nominate non-profit organizations whose work inspires them to receive a Community Grant. Funds raised at our prior year benefit dinner, along with donations received throughout the year, are granted to the nominated organizations after being vetted by our board. Since we are all volunteers, all of the money we raise goes toward these grants and our other service projects.”

Members may make additional contributions to any of the sixteen charities, which will be matched by an increase in award amount by our foundation. Contributions may be made at our weekly lunch and by credit card by clicking here. Click Read More for a list of grantee organizations.