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Bulletin Editor
David Grant
Speakers
Aug 31, 2017
Refugee Camp in Greece
Sep 07, 2017
Our own internationally-recognized Crow Island School
Sep 14, 2017
Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse
Sep 21, 2017
Issues Facing the Northfield Police
Sep 28, 2017
Unintended Impact: One athlete's journey from concussions in amateur football to CTE dementia
Oct 05, 2017
Annual meeting with Rotary District Governor
Oct 12, 2017
Trees that Feed
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Club Information
WELCOME TO OUR CLUB! CELEBRATING 93 YEARS OF SERVICE. COME JOIN US CONNECTING FOR GOOD.
Winnetka-Northfield
Service Above Self
We meet Thursdays at 12:15 PM
Winnetka Community House
620 Lincoln Avenue
Tyrrell Room (winter) 111A (summer)
Winnetka, IL  60093
United States
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Stories
Speaker on Aug 31: Paul Keenon
Paul, who is a Rotarian, will present an overview of the refugee crisis moving through Greece, and report on a refugee camp he visited earlier this year on the Island of Lesvos, Greece.
Meeting Recap August 24
The meeting was opened at 12:15 by President Tom Nash and followed by a “Thought for the Day” from Fred Schwimmmer. Then the pledge of allegiance was led by Tony Kambich. Lunch was served and the meeting itself started about 12:40. The lunch meeting was in the Winnetka Community House  with 25 of our 53 members (54%) in attendance. There were 6 guests present.
 
ANNOUNCEMENTS: President Tom told us we have been approved for a $3600 grant for Kids Against Hunger. This is an excellent start to raising the money needed to have yet another very big program.
 
He also noted there were fliers on the tables about the Fall Fest staged by the WPD in which Rotary will participate.  There was also on the tables a sign-up sheet for those who can help man our Rotary booth.
 
DIG & GRIN:  Mark Kotz was again substituting and delivered a low-key list of “Life Observations”.  The attendees deemed his offering quite humorous and gave a solid round of applause.
 
SPEAKER NOTES:    John Thomas, who is a Winnetka Park Commissioner and has been on the Board since 2004,  introduced the speaker, Matt Johnson. Thomas noted the Winnetka Golf operation is the Park District’s largest revenue generator. They have two excellent courses, an 18 hole and a 9 hole.  Unfortunately, it had long been a financial drain as operations management was inadequate..
 
Matt Johnson was promoted to Facility Manager & Head Golf Professional in 2014 under new senior management. At the same time, the Board invested in a new Driving range and significant upgrades to the facilities. Matt has led restructuring of teaching systems, flexible single-round play fees, an agreement with Golf Now, and  aggressive area-wide marketing efforts. The operation has been in the black now for several years. He gave a slide presentation, assisted by the WPD Executive Director, John Muno. The presentation noted that this is the 100th year anniversary of the Golf course and carried the audience briefly through highlights of its history. Currently it hosts over 30,000 rounds annually on the 18 hole course and 13,000 on the 9 hole course. It is also the home course for the New Trier H.S. golf teams. Matt has led our award-winning Junior Elite programs and he has coached many junior golfers to successful competitive careers. In the Q&A session Matt noted the cost to play is the same for all comers no matter where they reside. There is no longer preferential rates for Winnetka residents vs. others. Pricing is flexible for single rounds depending on several factors with the lowest often being $32 for 18 holes. He also offered that kids are much easier to teach than adults.  The Q&A ended at 1:30 and the meeting closed with recital of Rotary’s four-way test.
 
 
Meeting Assignments
August 31
GreeterEric Birkenstein
Dig-n-GrinSam Badger
Thought Bob Baker
Sgt-at-ArmsPatti Van Cleave
ScribeWes Baumann
 
September 7
GreeterJohn Ford
Dig-n-GrinTerry Dason
Thought Denise Dubravec
Sgt-at-ArmsJoe Fell
ScribeKeith Reed
 
September 14
GreeterCarl Yudell
Dig-n-GrinHeather Higgins
Thought Tony Kambich
Sgt-at-ArmsDenny Lauer
ScribeJohn Thomas
Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
David Birkenstein
August 19
 
John Thomas
August 21
 
Randy Reeves
August 28
 
Join Date
Peter Skalski
August 1, 1992
25 years
 
Samuel Badger
August 22, 2013
4 years