President Marie Kuipers chaired the meeting.
Guests: Claude Kalter was Patti Van Cleave’s guest; Kim Hassenfeld was Bob Sanfilippo’s guest; and Julia Birkenstein (age 13) was Eric Birkenstein’s guest. John Kessler joined us as a fellow Rotarian as a member of the Wilmette AM Club.
There were no birthdays or anniversaries today.
Announcements:
- Our esteemed leader, Marie Kuipers, will be out for the next two weeks for a surgical procedure;
- August 24 is the Winnetka Farmer’s Market.We need volunteers.
- Barb Tubekis reminded us that on Thursday, Sept 26 from 12:00 to 1:30, we will be working at the Community Garden harvesting vegetables for the Pantry.
- Barb T. also reminded us to bring in toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss and mouthwash for the pantry;
- Liz Taylor announced the “Early Detection of Alzheimer’s” presentation on Tuesday August 20 from 5:30 to 7:00 at the Winnetka Community House sponsored by the Wintrust Family of Community Banks; and
- Jean Wright must be feeling better.She had to break-off her conversation with Peter after two minutes to get her manicure.
Happy Bucks:
- David Grant was thankful for the Counseling Center of the NorthShore;
- John Kessler expounded on the virtues of learning to balance on one foot and showed us how to do it; and
- Barb Tubekis wanted to thank the young teens who gave her ideas for the Volunteer center.
Dig and Grin:
Robert Mardirossian entertained us with an NPR story about the Wilsons, Neil Armstrong and the boy next door.You had to be there.Even Marie blushed.
Speaker:
Bob Sanfilippo, Executive Director (and Winnetka-Northfield Rotary Club member), and Kim Hassenfeld, Clinical Director, introduced us to the work of The Counseling Center of the North Shore (CCNS). CCNS has been active in Winnetka for over 126 years “Helping people through life’s challenges and transitions by providing counseling, therapy and community education.”
The Winnetka Thrift Shop provides 50% of CCNS funding with the balance being provided by session fees based on household income (with some participants being charged as little as $5.00/session) and grants (such as the Rotary grant of this past year).
CCNS has about 200 clients who received 2,480 sessions last year with just 5 therapists. Today the under 18 age group constituted 27% of the client base. The under 18 age group has increased by 275% in the last 5 years.
CCNS’s newest program is the Student Assistance Program designed to help students under age 18 negotiate the teen years to adulthood. This program provides up to 8 therapy sessions free of charge.
Heather was the winner of the raffle, but she did not pull the Ace of Hearts.