The Wilmette Rotary Club is participating in community efforts to assist migrants who are being bussed to Wilmette several times a week.  Community groups have become aligned with Nuevos Vecinos (New Neighbors) and SaLT (Service and Learning together).  The Wilmette Club is supporting this effort by volunteering time and publicizing educational and fundraising events.

 

There will be a fundraising event on April 6 in Skokie at 5pm at Sketchbook Brewing Co.  Funds raised will go to support migrant families in easing their transition to our area. You will enjoy  a traditional Venezuelan dinner from Evanston restaurant La Cocinita, live music from a teen rock band of newcomer students (as seen on WBEZ!), plus unique raffle prizes and silent auction

 

Funds raised will support "Monarca 2": the continuation of a highly successful creative community housing solution for newcomer families in Rogers Park as administered by the Nuevos Vecinos Community & Free Store, and other continuing efforts to coordinate our response to this crisis on the North Shore.

 

We could purchase a Rotary table for 8-10 for $100 per person (regular ticket  $150).  If you are interested in attending this dinner on April 6, please contact David Grant at teamgrant@hotmail.com or 847-778-6627.

   The meeting was chaired by Bob Baker, who started by leading everyone in his “breathing exercise.”  There were 14 members present with Fred on Zoom. Robert  gave us the “thought of the day” by reminding us that Spring was only a week away and approaching warmth is considered to be a time for healing and a time to open our hearts and minds to great thoughts and kind deeds to benefit others.

 

   ANNOUNCEMENTS:  Wes reminded everyone of the New Trier High School tour for our  meeting on March 28^th and that we should notify him soon if we are planning to attend and our lunch choices; and that the School’s access and parking is somewhat tricky—he has maps available that show the NE entrance (close to the two glass towers) off of Essex Avenue.  He also mentioned that the two Rotary Clubs from Wilmette have been invited to join the tour and our Club members are also welcomed to invite guests - but notify Wes of your plans to do so.  Bob mentioned that the two Wilmette Rotary Clubs (the one that meets at the Wilmette Harbor and the other that meets at the Wilmette Park District golf facility) are also joining us in celebrating the 100^th anniversary of our Rotary Clubs.)

 

   HAPPY BUCKS: Deb Campbell gave to celebrate getting home happy and uninjured from her recent Telluride Ski trip;   Bill Leske gave a HB due to his recent trip to a warmer climate;  Tony gave a HB due to his being “one day older but deeper in debt” since he is planning a future trip to the West Indies; and President Bob gave a HB, although he was more melancholy than “happy” due to his closing and cleaning out of his Killian Plumbing business at 933 Green Bay Road after having managed and worked there for the last 41 years.

 

   DIG N GRIN: Bill Leske gave us some birthdays and events that have happened in the past on March 14^th---BIRTHDAYS Eugene Cernan 1934, Prince Albert II Monica 1958, Albert Einstein 1879; EVENTS United States currency goes on the gold standard 1900, Gorbachev becomes president of the Soviet Congress 1990, Dallas jury finds Jack Ruby guilty of the Lee Harvey Oswald murder 1964, United States signs a 99-year lease on the naval bases in the Philippines 1947, and the event that got most of our discussion was in 222 AD when Roman Emperor Heliogabalus was murdered  for his socially deviant behavior.

 

   SPEAKER JUDETTE KURASZ FROM BYLINE BANK—FINANCIAL LITERACY. Judette has been in the banking business for 35 years and has worked the last 7 as the V.P. Financial Literacy Manager at Byline.  She works primarily with not-for-profits, schools, and organizations that want workshops on very basic money management. These workshops help participants achieve financial literacy by teaching them how to create a budget, how to track spending, the techniques to paying off debt, understanding how money works, and creating and achieving financial goals,  These workshops not only include how to manage personal finance matters, but instructions on investing, insurance, real estate, college expenses, budgeting, retirement and tax planning. Examples of organizations she has worked with are City of Evanston, Chicago Refugee Coalition, New Trier High School, Chicago Public Library and Rainbow Push.

     Judette used a very informative 32 page power point in her presentation. Please let me know if you would want to review a copy of her power point.

     After everyone participated in one of Judette’s work shop exercises where each Rotary table had only 20 beans to “pay for the living expenses” of a family of 4,  the meeting  adjourned around 1:30 pm with the reciting of the Rotary’s 4 way test.