President Marie called the meeting to order at 12:15 in the Garden Room.
Bob Baker stood in for Liz Taylor and shared an inspirational quote.
Todd Stephens led us in the Pledge.
After lunch, Greeter Heidi Sibert asked Heather Higgins to introduce her guest, her grandson Thomas.
Birthdays: Jean Wright on January 19. A card was sent to her in Florida signed by members of the club.
Announcements:
- District Grant Management seminar is on February 15 at Harper College. We need a club member to attend in order to qualify for a District Grant next year.
- District Conference is April 24-25 in Schaumburg.
- Heidi announced that plans are underway for our 10th Kids Against Hunger on March 14. We will pack our millionth meal. We need some volunteers to complete a number of tasks for this event. She distributed a flyer.
- Patti announced that it is RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) time again. This is a leadership retreat weekend for high school students. We would like to send at least 3 students. All may contribute; Patti will reach out to those who have contributed in the past.
- Barb announced that the MLK Day event on Monday will be at the Community House and encouraged all to attend. She distributed a flyer.
We enjoyed a few minutes for affirmations of each other, directed to the Rotarian across the table.
Happy Bucks:
- Patti gave a Happy Buck for Mike, who is leaving for Tucson for a few months with wife Julie.
Dig N Grin:
- Robert filled in for Peter Skalski who is in Florida, sharing several facts called “stuff you didn’t know you didn’t know”.
Our program was two Member Bios provided by Krysten Warnes and Amy Skalinder.
Krysten shared the somewhat circuitous route that brought her from a small town in Ohio to Chicago. After three years of college, which included several changes in her intended degree, she changed course before her senior year when her father died suddenly from a heart attack. She moved to Florida and attended Full Sail University, earning a degree in Music Business. After working in Florida and Washington DC, she moved to Chicago to expand programming for Bach to Rock, providing music programming for kids. After opening two sites in the Chicago area, she was looking for a new challenge when she saw the ad for the WYO. She loves mentoring teens and building new programs for the WYO. She remembers her father’s advice: “Stop worrying and everything will work out as it is supposed to”.
Amy has strong local roots, including a grandfather who was a physician in Winnetka, her mother taught at Washburne School, and her uncle who taught at North Shore Country Day School. She attended Tufts, then got a Masters in Social Work at Loyola University. Amy has worked for many local organizations: American Youth Foundation, McGaw YMCA, Angles (formerly LINKS), North Shore University Healthcare and most recently Howard Area Community Center. She was named President of the Community House-Winnetka in November. Personally, she shares her life with her wife Erin and children Corinne and Ella, who attend Niles North High School. She plays women’s hockey and sings in a small choral group as well as her church choir, with her children, at St. Luke’s in Evanston. In closing, Amy gave an overview of the many activities available at the Community House, encouraging us to pick up a program guide and check it out.
Robert won the card pull; Marie called for adjournment at 1:30, reciting the Four Way Test as always.