banner
Stories
Next Meeting: New Trier Township

This Thursday our "luncheon" talk will be about New Trier Township, what it is, what it does, and what it costs taxpayers.  The agencies funded cover a wide group with five getting over $100,000 annually. Our member John Thomas is a New Trier Township Trustee. 

 

October 15 Meeting Summary
President Chuck Norton chaired the meeting commencing at 12:16.
 
Guests:  We did not have any special guests other than our speaker, Steve Rauschenberger.
David Birkenstein offered the Thought for the Day:  “Thank goodness that we live in this wonderful nation.”
 
Announcements: 
President Norton:  David Grant was not able to attend today, but wanted to remind everyone that agencies can fill out applications on-line now for a community grant from our Winnetka-Northfield Rotary Foundation.
Robert Mardirossian:  Robert will be making membership phone calls over the next 3 weeks
Rich Lally:                  Thank you all for your Operation Warm Donations.  We will be ordering
coats on October 31.  Please send in your donations by check to the Club Address.  Make the checks out to WNRCF and place in the memo line “Operation Warm.”  Alternatively, you can donate on-line using the link on our website.  Each $18 donation buys a warm coat for a child that really needs it for this winter.
                                   
We did not have either happy bucks or Dig and Grin today.
 
Today’s speaker:  John Thomas introduced Steve Rauschenberger. Steve was a former State Senator from 1992-2007.  As a Senator, he was chair of the Appropriations and Budget Committees. 
 
Steve’s topic was the Opposing View on the “Fair Tax Amendment.”
 
Our 1970 State Constitution authorized an income tax but gave all the citizens of Illinois the protection of a one rate system.  A number of other states that had progressive systems are moving towards a one flat rate system.  Taking this protection out of the Illinois Constitution is handing a blank check to the politicians to tax our most productive citizens.  As shown in Connecticut and New York, those citizens can easily leave Illinois and move to Wisconsin and Indiana and other states where the taxes will be lower.  As the system currently exists, 35% of the tax revenue is paid by the top 2% of wage earners.
 
Illinois citizens are already among the most highly taxed citizens of our country (when all taxes are considered), yet Illinois still has enormous budget problems.  Our pension plans are so underfunded that even if all the revenue raised by Illinois over the next 5 years was poured into the pension plans, those plans funding rate would only be moved from 47% to 72%.  The Fair Tax Amendment is not a solution, it is only a Band-Aid.  It will not fix Illinois’ problems.
 
Illinois needs a comprehensive solution to its financial problems which must include pension reform and other budget cuts as well as revenue raising.  If people perceive a tax system as fair, they will participate.  If they perceive the tax system as unfair, they will not participate—they will work harder to avoid the taxes or simply leave the State of Illinois.
 
As the Illinois politicians have proven time and time again since the Democrats obtained control of both the House and the Senate, “Trust Me” will not generate a solution to Illinois’ financial problems.  The Illinois politicians and the Fair Tax Amendment are like a teenager with a 12 pack of beer asking for the keys to the car.
 
 
 
  
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.
 
 
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 Assignments
October 22
Thought Robert Mardirossian
Dig-n-GrinTony Kambich
ScribeCarl Yudell
 
October 29
Thought Greg Nelson
Dig-n-GrinJoe Nash
ScribeRich Lalley
 
November 5
Thought Felicia O'Malley
Dig-n-GrinLee Padgitt
ScribePatti Van Cleave
 
Note:
If you are unable to fulfill your assignment, please find a substitute.
 
 
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...
Bulletin Editor
David Grant
Speakers
Oct 22, 2020
New Trier Township
Nov 05, 2020
Climate Change
View entire list
President's Message
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!
Club Information
WELCOME TO OUR CLUB! CELEBRATING 96 YEARS OF SERVICE. COME JOIN US CONNECTING FOR GOOD.
Winnetka-Northfield
PEOPLE OF ACTION
Thursdays at 12:15 PM
Meeting with Zoom during the health crisis. Email info@wnrotary for log-in info.
620 Lincoln Avenue
Winnetka, IL 60093
United States of America
DistrictSiteIcon
District Site
VenueMap
Venue Map
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
ClubRunner Mobile
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Brooke Peppey
October 4
 
Join Date
Denise Dubravec
October 1, 2013
7 years
 
Robert (Bob) Baker
October 1, 1987
33 years
 
Joe Nash
October 4, 2012
8 years
 
Felicia O'Malley
October 5, 2017
3 years
 
Crystal LeRoy
October 11, 2018
2 years
 
Greg Nelson
October 20, 2016
4 years