Posted by Carl Yudell
Guest Rotarians were Ron Bernardi from the Northbrook Club and Neil King from the Skokie Valley Club.
 
Eric Birkenstein gave us the thought for the day hoping and wishing for guidance and wisdom in the middle east as we increase our military presence in response to issues relating to Iran.
David Grant, Laura Cunningham, Fred Schwimmer and Heidi Sibert all celebrated birthdays while Connie Berman, Tom Evans and President Bill Leske celebrated club anniversaries.
 
Announcements:  (1)  The Lake Zurich Club is having a bowling event.  We are invited;  (2)  Heather Conway is our speaker next week on packing luggage; (3)  Our June 1 Gala is just around the corner.  Please bring a favorite bottle of wine or a 6-pack of beer as part of the auction items.  We are still looking for raffle items; (4) June 19 is the Installation Dinner; and (5) Barb Tubekis reminded us of the Volunteer Center’s Recognition Event next Wednesday May 22 with singer Manny Torres.  Visit their website at www.volunteercenterhelps.org for more information and tickets.  Happy Bucks:  Ron Bernardi was happy to see David Birkenstein.
 
Dig and Grin was presented by David Birkenstein with a number of Burma Shave couplets (if you are under age 60, see David for an explanation of life on the road in the 50’s and 60’s before the interstate highway system).
 
Our speaker, Len Joy the author of Better Days, gave us a view of life as a Triathlete starting with a basketball injury tearing his knee’s ACL.  As part of his recovery, he started to run.  There were ups and downs, but mostly downs until the children were out of the house and he wound down his business.  In July of 1999, he started to seriously run again, but it took until 2005 when he realized he needed a coach.  Len took us on his journey to run the Boston Marathon.  He qualified in 2013.  He then showed a U-tube video condensing the Marathon to about 10 minutes with personal comments on each leg of the race starting at the beginning with 8 minute miles and ending as he crested Heart Break Hill and could see the Citgo sign with 14 minute miles.  He finished the race in 4 hours and 42 minutes.  Pretty good for a 65 year old.