Meeting Recap March 16

Posted by John Thomas
 
The meeting was opened by President Pro-Tem Lee Padgett at 12:15 P.M. and the Pledge of Allegiance followed. There were 23 members present and we had one guest, Jim Steir, the Winnetka Village Forester.  The speaker was Stan Holat from Sav a Tree, Inc.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Lee Padgett announced that it was Rodger Morris’ birthday and led a lively singing of “Happy Birthday to Rodger”. The celebration included birthday cake for all.  Heidi Sibert noted the Kids Against Hunger event was very successful. We had 440 volunteers Saturday and she thanked all those Rotarians who have volunteered for the event and gave special thanks to the WCH for all its work and support of the program.  We were reminded that the March 30th regular Rotary meeting will be held at New Trier High School so we can be shown how the new construction is progressing.  Tom Nash also reminded us that the joint Rotary meeting of Wilmette, Glencoe and our Club is set for the evening of April 5 and that we will not have a Thursday meeting on April 6th.  He also noted we need to RSVP.  Rich Lalley said the Rotary night at the Brewers Park featuring Cubs versus Brewers will be held July 29th and that tickets need to be purchased by the end of this month in order to qualify for the discount price.   Both Happy Bucks and Dig and Grin were inimitably offered by Tony Kambich.
 
SPEAKER:  Stan Holat of Sav a Tree provided a thorough review of the status of the Emerald Ash Borer program in northern Illinois. In summary, thousands of trees have been lost and the Village has now effective methods to prevent infection of remaining trees.  He also detailed the same information on the Bur Oak Blight situation. The latter is not yet killing trees but must be carefully monitored. He also noted the Dutch Elm disaster that decimated so many Winnetka trees has passed its peak. There are about 150 Ash Trees remaining who are either immune or have been successfully treated. After a few questions, some of which were answered by Jim Stiers, the meeting was closed at 1:30 P.M.