WELCOME TO OUR CLUB! CELEBRATING 96 YEARS OF SERVICE. COME JOIN US CONNECTING FOR GOOD.

Winnetka-Northfield

PEOPLE OF ACTION

We meet In Person
Thursdays at 12:15 PM
Meeting with Zoom during the health crisis. Email info@wnrotary.org for log-in info.
620 Lincoln Avenue
Winnetka, IL 60093
United States of America
District Site
Bulletins
Follow us on Facebook
Venue Map
Club News
November 19 Meeting Summary
Posted by Carl Yudell
President Chuck Norton chaired the meeting commencing at 12:17.
 
Guests:  We did not have any special guests other than our speaker, Monica Dombrowski.
 
Eric Birkenstein offered the Thought for the Day:  “The Congo has not had any new ebola cases in 45 days”
 
Birthdays and Anniversaries:  Greg Nelson and Krysten Warren are celebrating birthdays this week.  There were no Rotary Anniversaries.
 
Announcements: 
Barbara Tubekis:  While we are in Tier 3 shutdowns for Thanksgiving, Amy Skalinder said that for purposes of the Thanksgiving basket creation, the Community House is declared as a Food Pantry for the day.  Rotary will be purchasing supplies, collating and delivering the Thanksgiving baskets on Monday and Tuesday.
Chuck Norton:  WNRC is looking for a president or a co-president for the coming year.  Please call Chuck.
Rich Lalley:  Sleeping bags for the homeless is a Rotary of Wilmette raffle.  Contact Rich for more details.
 
Dig and Grin:  Amy Skalinder recited a series of “Bad Joke” groaners to the cheers of the audience.
Happy Bucks:
            Robert Mardirossian thanked Barb and Amy for their work on the Thanksgiving baskets.
            Barb Tubekis thanked the community for gifts of 30,000 items to charities
 
Speaker:
John Thomas introduced our speaker, the new head of the Winnetka-Northfield Library, Monica Dombrowski.
 
Monica has been working in the field of library science since 2013.  Prior to that, she was active in corporate America.  Monica joins W-N from the Sycamore library.  While the population of the two districts are about the same, W-N is much more active with 210,000 visitors last year, 172,965 items in circulation and 46 staff members.  Due to the new Tier 3 restrictions, W-N has transitioned to Curbside Pickup and a new service, the Personal Library Shopper.  
 
Monica asked her management staff to give her their favorite “reads” (paper or digital).  All of that information plus upcoming virtual programs can be found at:
 
 
The digital content available to library patrons is astounding.  The Library can link to your computer, your nook or your kindle.  Monica urged everyone to visit the Library and become A Friend of the Library.
 
Share Your Bounty- A Success!
Share Your Bounty- A Success!
We did it again! Thanks to all our members and friends of Rotary who contributed over $2,700 to our annual Share Your Bounty campaign! 100 bags full of groceries are going to Good News Partners, along with a financial donation to support their food pantry. 
 
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 on November 23, so please donate by November 22.
 
We hope to provide over 100 bags of groceries, and have a fundraising goal of $2,000. This will be easy if everyone contributes. 
 
This campaign has closed. If you missed out on supporting it, please consider a donation to our sleeping bags for the homeless campaign. You can donate here. 
 
Bringing Warmth to the Homeless in Chicago
Bringing Warmth to the Homeless in Chicago
We are partnering with the Rotary Club of Wilmette to provide new sleeping bags to homeless people in Chicago. Your donations will support new sleeping bags which will be sent to the nuns of Fraternite Notre Dame, who will provide them to homeless men and women at Christmas time.
 
Your donation of $30 will provide a sleeping bag to another person in need. Donate today at https://secure.givelively.org/donate/winnetka-northfield-rotary-charitable-foundation/sleeping-bags-for-the-homeless-in-chicago or send a check to WNRCF with notation "sleeping bag" to the club at 620 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka. 
November 12 Meeting Summary
Posted by Keith Reed
The meeting was online via Zoom and had 23 members participating. The “thought of the day” was given by Brooke Peppey who defined “good friends” and the benefits of people being “low key”.
 
ANNIVERSARIES: Rich Lalley is celebrating Club membership for 16 years and David Birkenstein for 11 years.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Rich mentioned that our Club was recognized by District 6440 for being the second largest contributor to the Rotary International Fund and that special thanks should be given to Brooke and  past President Marie for all the work they have done in leading our gift giving programs.  Rich did mention that our Club was helped in gift giving last year with a sizable donation to the Rotary Disaster Fund  when the Caribbean hurricane occurred, an amount which was matched by the International Rotary.
 
Barb Tubekis reported on our Gift Basket program on Thanksgiving in connection with Good News Partners.  On Monday, Nov. 23 at 4:00, she, Amy Skalinder, Bob Baker, David Grant and any other volunteers will shop at Costco for basic food items to fill 100 paper bags to donate to Good News Partners who has arranged for many local families to receive on Thanksgiving.  Rich said that we need to raise about $2000 to pay for this food, at which time Patti and Robert Mardirossian each donated $100 to the cause.  The purchased food will be brought to room 101 at the WCH on Tuesday, Nov. 24 at noon for our members to pack in the 100 or so bags and loaded into the volunteers’ cars (social distancing and masking guidelines will be followed). Unlike in the past when we took these bags to Skokie School before Thanksgiving, our volunteer drivers will leave the bags in their cars and then take them directly to Good News Partners Thanksgiving morning.  (Speaking of bags, Bob Sanfilippo said that his business is accepting slightly used grocery bags  in case you don’t want to put them in your garbage bins.)
 
Rich reported that the Operation Warm Project just distributed 250 coats to needy students in the Highwood area.  (Rich will supply the other part of his report on this Project.)
 
HAPPY BUCKS: Fred Schwimmer reported that he recently had a great  experience that he hopes all grandparents are able to enjoy;  that was, to spend time with his 10 year old twin grandchildren (a boy and a girl) watching the election returns—thus, he contributed to our Good New Partners project.  David Birkenstein reported on a similar great experience helping his wife Mary celebrate her special birthday with many phone calls, videos etc. from friends and relatives.
 
DIG N GRIN: Bob Sanfilippo was so amused by a recent SNL skit honoring two celebrities who recently died, Alex Trebek and Sean Connery, that he somehow was able to hook it up on Zoom for everyone to enjoy.
 
WINNETKA/NORTHFIELD ROTARY TOWNHALL MEETING!—John announced that the scheduled speaker had some scheduling problems and was unable to speak to us on the topic of the use of Social media in  business consulting.  Rather than adjourning the meeting early, President Chuck asked the attendees “do you have anything you want to talk about?”  When have you seen a group of Rotarians not willing to talk! So we spent the remaining 45 minutes talking about possible discussion topics for our future meetings.  Mentioned were—the current and future economic condition of Chicago and Illinois and the “good, bad ugly” that will result from the rejection of the “fair tax” amendment;  the growing expansion of Illinois municipalities approving legalized pot dispensaries and their good and bad experiences thus far; how should families handle the Covid virus restrictions this Thanksgiving and  the pros and cons of the shutdowns experienced and proposed by the politicians;  an explanation of the metrics and models used to measure Covid’s progress in the State and Nation; what will Club members do for entertainment and activities  when it gets cold outside (at which point John mentioned that at our next meeting we will have the new Winnetka Library Director as our speaker to discuss good books, TV and movies—and then Rich mentioned that the Club’s informal Monday evening cocktail group also discusses these topics); should we be contacting Club members who are not participating in our Zoom meetings—(Robert reported that he had been calling many members as part of his Membership initiative and that only a couple of members have said that they are uncomfortable with using Zoom, but generally Zoom has been very beneficial to the Club during this year.) John Thomas is always open to discuss potential topics and speakers with anyone at any time. He reported that he does have speakers lined up for the rest of the year.  We won’t have a meeting on Thanksgiving.  And it was decided that there will be no meeting on December 24th but there was no discussion about NYE falling on a Thursday.
 
There being no more discussion, President Chuck gave the 4 way test and the meeting was adjourned.
 
November 5 Meeting Summary
Posted by John Thomas
The meeting was online via Zoom and had 24 members. We were opened at 12:20 PM by President Chuck Norton, followed by the pledge of allegiance. The Thought for the Day was given by Felicia O’Malley who told of gratitude to voters, those who worked on the election and the many health care people who daily meet the challenge of Covid 19.
 
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES :  President Chuck noted Tony Kambich has a birthday to be celebrated, This week’s anniversaries include Jeanne Beckman, Lee Padgett and Mike Wurzburg.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Barb Tubekis asked for volunteers to assist in collating food materials for Gift Baskets which will be delivered to Good News Partners for Thanksgiving.  The in-person event at the WCH is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, 11/24.   She noted that much time has been spent to ensure that new Covid restrictions will be met when we gather to assemble the gift baskets.
 
Rich Lalley was pleased to announce that, after 2½ years the Rotary Foundation has approved grant funding for the farming project in Ecuador.
 
HAPPY BUCKS: Tony K. announced he will contribute heavily in recognition of his 39th birthday.
 
SPEAKER:   At 12:35 John Thomas introduced todays’ speaker, Jane Goldenberg. She is a Northfield resident and Communications Chair of Climate Reality Chicago. Her topic is climate change and she has made the presentation often previously. As had been planned, her talk was to run well over the normal 20-25 minutes. She noted her involvement in the matter began in 2008 when a freak deluge in Northfield flooded their home. It took many months to repair the effects of that surprising event.
 
NOTE BENE: For the entirety of MS. Goldenberg’s talk , please use the link below
The very thorough talk gave extensive and factual information on the history of our climate. We heard where we are now and what remedial efforts are underway. After her lengthy discourse, there was a 10 minute Q&A. 
 As shown in the Project Drawdown web site referenced above, the efforts to substantially reduce a major cause of the problem are bearing solid results. Moving to wind and solar power generation are well underway world-wide – especially in the U.S..
 
The meeting was then closed at 1:35 with a recitation of the Four Way Pledge.
 
 
Community Grant Application Now Available
Community Grant Application Now Available
The Winnetka Northfield Rotary Charitable Foundation annually provides monetary grants to organizations that further Rotary’s mission to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace.
 
Applications are accepted each year from October 15th until December 25th. Grant awards are announced in March by our board. Grants range in size from $500 to $5,000, averaging between $1,000 and $2,000. Recipients are eligible for only two awards within a three year period. 
 
Areas of Focus: Our board is open to reviewing grant applications from any 501(c)(3) organization that has a club member sponsor. Preference will be given to organizations that meet one or more of the following criteria:
·       Support people living in need in Chicagoland
·       Have operating budgets under $1 million
·       Request funding for programs, not general operating expenses
 
While these areas of focus will guide the board’s decision making, the board may award grants to organizations that meet none of this criteria but have a strong club sponsor and compelling case for support.
 
 
October 29 Meeting Summary
Posted by Rich Lalley
Thought of the Day presented by Greg Nelson quoted Zig Ziglar: “If people like you they'll listen to you, but if they trust you they'll do business with you.”
 
President Chuck announced that the District is looking for a list of all club veterans.
 
Rich announced a new fundraising initiative with the Rotary Club of Wilmette to provide sleeping bags to Chicago’s homeless. Donations can be made here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/winnetka-northfield-rotary-charitable-foundation/sleeping-bags-for-the-homeless-in-chicago $30 will provide a new sleeping bag.
 
Happy Bucks:
  • Barb announced the Volunteer Center has completed their biggest Make a Difference Day event ever. 300 cars dropped of goods for local nonprofit organizations! Thanks to all Rotarians who participated.
Speaker: Rotarian and Polio Survivor John Nanni gave a terrific detailed presentation on polio, it’s history in the U.S., the parallels to the polio epidemics of the mid 20th century and the current pandemic, and how Rotary’s eradication effort is progressing and being used to fight COVID-19 and other infections disease outbreaks. He noted that he is among 2 million polio survivors in the U.S., many who recovered as children, only to be struck by post-polio syndrome as an adult. A recording of the meeting and John’s outstanding presentation can be seen here: https://youtu.be/xgyUMotonpk
 
 
 
Time to Support Our Operation Warm Project
Time to Support Our Operation Warm Project
Over the last two years, our community's generosity made it possible for over 2,300 children living in need to receive a new winter coat from our club. Member contributions and our Operation Warm Benefit Concert gave Chicago area children brand new coats. Here is a list of the organizations that received these coats, because of you.
  • Several Chicago Library Branches
  • Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook Holiday Gift Program 
  • Open Arms Mission food pantry in Antioch
  • Holy Family Ministries school in Homan Square
  • Asian Youth Services in Albany Park
  • Hope Community Church Head Start in Austin
  • Stand Down Day Chicago supporting homeless veterans and their families
  • Grandparents and Kins Raising Children- Lake County
  • Learner Charter School in North Chicago
The public health crisis prevents us from holding a live benefit concert this year. It also has resulted in the COVID recession and more families in need.  Our program matters now more than ever.
 
We're asking members and friends of the club to make tax-deductible donations to support our club’s Operation Warm program. We’ve already committed to sponsoring one Chicago library program this year, and hope to support two. And the nonprofits listed above rely on our support for the children they serve.
 
Make your contribution now at www.operationwarm.org/wnrotary. Checks should be made payable to WNRCF and mailed to Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield, 620 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, IL 60093.
 
Thank you for your past support and for caring about children and families living in need. Your contribution means more kids receive the warmth, confidence and hope that comes with a new winter coat!
Meeting Recordings
Meeting Recordings
One of the nice features of meeting virtually is that our meetings can be recorded. This of course depends on your meeting host (me) remembering to start the recording (sometimes I'm a bit late in starting it). 
 
Here are links to view our recent meetings:
Read more...
People of Action- The Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield and The Rotary Foundation Provide Relief to Those Impacted by COVID-19
 
People of Action- The Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield and The Rotary Foundation Provide Relief to Those Impacted by COVID-19 
The Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield has met weekly at the Winnetka Community House since 1924. That streak ended in mid-March, when the club suspended its weekly lunch meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
However, this did not stop the club from continuing to meet and live up to its well-earned reputation as People of Action. Almost immediately, the club began to meet on Zoom every Thursday at its regular 12:15 time, and the club’s board and committees did so as well.
 
Over the club’s 96 years, it has undertaken many notable service projects. So, it is no surprise the club quickly responded to the needs of those affected by COVID-19. Supported by donations from members and friends of the club, and a grant from The Rotary Foundation, the club took the following actions:
  • Supported the local food pantry and provided financial assistance to families experiencing severe financial need through a $5,000 donation to the New Trier Township Angel Fund.
Read more...
Every Rotarian Every Year- Support The Rotary Foundation- Club Update 2020
Posted by Richard (Rich) Lalley on Jun 27, 2020
Every Rotarian Every Year- Support The Rotary Foundation- Club Update 2020

As the 2019-20 Rotary Year concludes, please join the millions of beneficiaries of projects funded by The Rotary Foundation in thanking our members who have honored their commitment of Every Rotarian, Every Year, contribute to The Rotary Foundation's Annual SHARE Fund.

These gifts support the local and international work of Rotary Clubs and Districts through District and Global Grants. A significant portion of these gifts support projects of our club like Kids Against Hunger, our COVID-19 response, and our Ecuador "Farm to Table" Global Grant. 

To date, our club members have donated a total of $9,951 in the 2019-20 Rotary Year, 99% of our goal of $10,000. 

Please thank these 27 Rotarians and friends for already making their annual contribution, especially those in bold who are Paul Harris Fellows:

Sam Badger*+, Bob Baker, Wes Baumann, David Birkenstein*+, Laura Cunningham, Donna Goodman, David Grant*, Heather Higgins, Tony Kambich, Marie Kuipers+, Rich Lalley+, Bill Leske, Robert Mardirossian, Greg Nelson, Chuck Norton+, Felicia O'Malley, Lee Padgitt, Brooke Peppey, Keith Reed, Bob Sanfilippo, Fred Schwimmer+, Peter Skalski, Liz Taylor, John Thomas, Barb Tubekis, Julie Tye, Patty Van Cleave, and Carl Yudell.
* signifies a Major Donor + signifies Paul Harris Society ($1,000 per year)

There are many reasons to give to the The Rotary Foundation:

  • Contributions support humanitarian and educational projects initiated and run by Rotary Clubs and Districts in six areas of focus- Disease prevention and treatment, maternal & child health, education & literacy, water and sanitation, economic & community development and peace & conflict resolution.  Learn more by reviewing the Foundation’s annual report.
  • Contributions come back to support projects of our club's projects, like our COVID-19 Response efforts, coats for kids, Kids Against Hunger and International grants projects like our Farm to Table eco-agribusiness project in Ecuador, the water and sanitation projects we helped fund for schools in Guatemala and Kenya, and the digital x-ray/community health clinic project organized by District 6440. This year, we received $3,400, and next year we will can receive $3,660. But we must give to receive.
  • Charity Navigator gives The Rotary Foundation its highest “Four Star” rating, giving it a score 100 out of 100.
  • The Association of Fundraising Professionals named The Rotary Foundation the World's Outstanding Foundation of 2016!
  • Giving to The Rotary Foundation is an easy way for you to participate in Rotary’s service work beyond our club, providing you a personal connection to this great organization and the good it does throughout the world.
It’s easy to give.  You can send a check to “WNRCF” (mark TRF in the memo line) to our club, c/o Bob Baker at Killian Plumbing at 933 Green Bay Rd, Winnetka 60093; you can donate via PayPal by clicking here, or you can donate directly to The Rotary Foundation at www.rotary.org or by calling 866-976-8279. One very convenient way to give is by making a recurring monthly gift on your credit card or from your checking account, which you can set up on Rotary’s website.
 

If you have not already supported The Rotary Foundation this year, please do so now.

If you have any questions about The Rotary Foundation or how to give, contact Rich Lalley.

Got Questions about Rotary or our club? We've got answers.
Posted by Richard (Rich) Lalley on Mar 11, 2013
Got Questions about Rotary or our club? We've got answers.

Are you thinking about joining our club, but have some questions?  Or have you recently joined and want to know more about how things work?  Check our our new FAQs:

Still have questions?  Send them to info@wnrotary.org and we'll send you an answer and update our FAQs.

Doing Good in the World
Posted by Richard (Rich) Lalley on Feb 10, 2013

Last year, our club helped fund a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant program supporting a Rotary Club sponsored prosthesis clinic in Bolivia.  Our club's funds were matched with funds from The Rotary Foundation; $2.50 for each $1 we contributed.  Take a look at the impact this program has had on one gentleman!

Our club was able to participate in the matching grant program because our members contribute each year the the Annual Programs Fund of The Rotary Foundation.  You can make a contribution via PayPal by clicking here.

Donate to Our Foundation
Like Us on Facebook
President's Greeting

Chuck Norton

member photo
We welcome visitors to join us for lunch, to enjoy our great speakers and to learn about our club and our great service projects. Come join us!
Bulletin Subscribe
Subscribe to our eBulletin and stay up to date on the latest news and events.

Click here to sign up!
 
Upcoming Speakers
Andy Drendel
Dec 10, 2020
Wealth Management

With over 40 years of wealth management experience, 20 of which have been in the Chicagoland area, Andy Drendel has a vast expertise in trust administration, estate planning, asset protection and fiduciary practice management. Prior to joining Byline Bank, he worked for U.S. Trust/Bank of America N.A., LaSalle Bank N.A., M&I Trust in Milwaukee, First National Bank & Trust Company of Rockford, and The First National Bank of Peoria. Andy was the 2015 Alumni Hall of Fame inductee for Illinois State University’s College of Business. He was awarded his Chartered Trust and Financial Advisor CTFA designation by the Institute of Certified Bankers, and was twice elected President of the Corporate Fiduciaries Association of Illinois.

Hanna Warren
Dec 17, 2020
Empowering Women- In India and Illinois
View entire list...
Upcoming Events
Rotary Board Meeting
Dec 17, 2020 11:00 AM – 12:05 PM
Useful Links
Download Files