Guests: Our only guest was today’s speaker, Elijah Wilde
Birthdays and Anniversaries: No birthdays or anniversaries today.
Announcements: No announcements today.
Thought for the Day: Amy Skalinder inspired us
Happy Bucks: Rich Lalley was happy for his cousin Bobby who just received a new heart. Fred Schwimmer received a Covid – 19 Test and he was infection free.
Dig and Grin: Brooke Peppey entertained us with an “Ode to our Masks” and a new pick-up line: “If Covid -19 does not take you out, can I?”
Our Speaker for the Day was Elijah Wilde who is currently Chairperson of the Winnetka Caucus.
The Winnetka Caucus was founded in 1915 to encourage and evaluate individuals for public offices in Winnetka (and Northfield for the Winnetka-Northfield Library Board). There are 68 potential members from 16 districts. Without a major issue on the horizon, many of the slots are not filled. The idea of the Caucus is to avoid the bitter partisan debates that can tear apart communities and instead have an out-reach program to engage as many citizens as possible to discuss issues and concerns. Then, the Caucus encourages thoughtful citizens to run for the various public offices and Boards of Trustees within the community.
Elijah is Chair of the Winnetka Caucus Council which, like in Northfield and New Trier Township, is a group of volunteers responsible for developing a slate of candidates for election to various Village offices.
President Chuck called the meeting to order at 12:18. There were 21 Rotarians in attendance; our only guest was our speaker.
Liz shared a compelling Thought of the Day. There were no Announcements.
Happy Bucks:
Wes shared one for the nomination of Kamala Harris as Democratic VP.
Tony paid up and asked Rich for assistance with a donation to the Club.
Dig N Grin: Greg shared a funny story about an older couple and a helicopter ride.
Our speaker was Yevgeny Frolov, co-founder of Wilmette’s HORA Studio. Yevgeny and his wife Svetlana founded the studio in Charlotte in 2006. HORA was originated by an Armenian living in Russia. The practice involves creating movements of the body while remaining calm in motion. Using the Universal Laws of Nature to create the foundation of the practice: gravity, evolution and mobilization.
The practice is intended to create a calmness of spirit, allowing one to feel peace and not feel the need for the use of substances.
Yevgeny is very active in the local community, serving as a board member at the Winnetka Youth Organization and on the Winnetka-Northfield Chamber. They have offered free classes for youth at the Community House. Their TedX talk featuring Wilmette Women is very popular.
The New Trier Citizens League, the 105-year-old community caucus for New Trier Township, is seeking interested residents to serve as Township Supervisor and Trustee. Those elected in April 2021 will serve four years with monthly meetings.
The Supervisor and Trustees oversee Township government and participate on advisory committees that allocate grant funding to local social service agencies that provide a variety of services to residents.
The candidate exploration process begins now and culminates in this caucus-slating candidates for the April 2021 Consolidated Election. All Township offices will be on the ballot and elected officials must be registered voters who reside in New Trier Township.
Interested parties or those wishing to nominate an acquaintance should contact New Trier Citizens League President Peter Tyor at (847) 446-2217 or petertyor@gmail.com, with a deadline of August 17, 2020.
About New Trier Citizens League The New Trier Citizens League is a non-partisan community organization made up of volunteers who function as a caucus to slate candidates to serve as Township officials. Secondarily, the Citizens League functions as a watchdog group to provide oversight on behalf of residents to observe the work of New Trier Township. The relationship between the Citizens League and the Township is a partnership wherein members of the Citizens League educate themselves on the business of the Township to assure the Township stays focused on its core mission of providing leadership, advocacy and resources to benefit the physical, mental and social well-being of Township residents.
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.
Helped provide infant formula to 50 Chicago area food pantries, shelters and social services through a $3,000 donation to Infant, Inc., a Winnetka based nonprofit.
Supported homeless families and children in foster care by providing weekly meals from Donna Goodman Events (the club’s regular caterer) to Good News Partners in Rogers Park and Lydia Home in Irving Park.
Provided 300 pairs of new children’s shoes from Operation Warm to homeless families served by La Casa Norte of Chicago.
“Rotarians are People of Action who live the long-time Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self’, and our club fits that to a tee,” said Club President Marie Kuipers.
Chuck Norton, President Elect of the club, adds “We have a long history of humanitarian service- locally, in our region, and internationally. We are long term supporters of Rotary International’s work to eradicate polio, we have supported many international humanitarian projects in Africa, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia. Every year, we provide hundreds of Chicago area children with the gift of a new winter coat through our Operation Warm project, and for over ten years we have sponsored the large, all-day Kids Against Hunger food packing event at the Winnetka Community House. Our longstanding Community Grants program annually provides financial grants to nonprofits that are nominated by our members and are doing work that aligns with our values.”
Local citizens interested in learning more about the Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield may join the club’s weekly lunch meetings on Thursday’s from 12:15 – 1:30. Each meeting features an interesting and topical speaker and opportunity to deepen friendships. Learn more at www.wnrotary.org.
Until meetings resume at the Winnetka Community House, email info@wnrotary.org to get the Zoom access link. Membership is open to anyone of good character who is interested in making new friends and taking action to create lasting change in the world.
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).
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.
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.
Helped provide infant formula to 50 Chicago area food pantries, shelters and social services through a $3,000 donation to 
Provided 300 pairs of new children’s shoes from Operation Warm to homeless families served by 
