President Chuck Norton chaired the meeting commencing at 12:18. Tony Kambich started the meeting with the Thought of the Day: Tony recited “The Optimist Creed”. As we persist through these dreary days of winter and the Covid 19 continuing lockdown, the Creed is probably something we should take to heart:
Promise Yourself.......
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.
Other Announcements:
Rich Lalley pointed out a story in the Chicago Tribune lauding Rotary for its I-Pads for nursing home residents program.
Tony Kambich passed on greetings from our brother/sister Club in Uganda.
Happy Bucks:
Robert Mardirossian contributed in recognition of our Co-Presidents to be.
David Birkenstein was happy that he and his wife Mary received vaccines from a Walmart on the southside of Chicago
Heidi Sibert is at the river and they are finally getting internet cable.
Dig and Grin: Rich Lalley showed a video called “Winter is the Fail Time of the Year.”
Speaker for the day: Christopher Stein of the National Park Service. Christopher is with the National Park Service’s regional office and is currently working from his home in Stillwater, MN. Christopher is a longtime Rotarian and is advocating a new Rotary initiative: Protect our Pollinators/Operation Pollination. Take Aways:
Over 1/3 of all the things we eat depend upon the world’s pollinators:Bees, Wasps, Flies, Beetles, Butterflies and Moths
Since the 1970’s, 45% of the world’s pollinators have disappeared.
Rotary has recently added a 7th Area of Interest:Support of the Environment which is symbolized by:Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG)!
Our Winnetka Northfield Club Social Justice Committee, led by Marie Kuipers, is embracing a new equity challenge.
Many of you may have read about the challenge in an email from Rotary District Governor Lyle Staab:
The United Way of Illinois Equity Challenge, which starts on January 18th, is a 21-week program that encourages Illinois residents to engage in conversations and gain a deeper understanding about the impact systemic racism and inequity have on our state and in our local communities. THERE IS NO COST TO PARTICIPANTS, who will receive one email per week through mid-June. Each weekly challenge will require 15 minutes. Topics include Understanding Privilege, Housing & Redlining, Justice System Inequities, among many others. Participants who complete all of the weekly challenges will receive a certificate of completion, a digital badge, and links to tips and training tools to help continue the conversation.
Peter Skalski spoke with Jean Wright recently to wish her a Happy 95th birthday.
Peter learned that she has Covid.
Jean says she's doing ok. She was in hospital for a week and is now back at the infirmary at her assisted living facility. She says she was congested at first, but better now. She can taste and her temperature is normal, but she has a roommate who doesn't talk. Sometimes that's a good thing. Hopefully, she will continue to improve and be able to get back to her own room soon.
She can take incoming calls on her cell phone number, 847-217-1906, and she would welcome Happy Birthday calls from those in our club who know her.
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).
