I am a lifelong Lake Forest resident. After a successful collegiate career at Winona State in football and baseball, I had a brief tryout with the Bears in 1987. I had been a ballboy for the team from 1975-1982. From there I joined my father's advertising agency, Ideas + Design Inc. I ran that business until I retired in 2003. I also owned Winona Printing Co. until 2009. So obviously I have a good background in publishing, so jumping into Best Version Media was a no brainer for me in 2017 when I launched Highland Park Neighbors. Peter Hansen, who had been publishing Winnetka Living since November of 2016, asked me to take over the magazine in March. So I have been doing this for the past 2 months. I look forward to getting to know you all and sharing your stories. I will elaborate on Best Version Media and our magazines.
There were 34 persons in attendance at this week’s meeting – 29 members, three guests and our two speakers. Bob Sanfilippo, the recently appointed director of the Counseling Center of the North Shore was the guest of David Grant and Liz Taylor, Board members of the CCNS, as well as his predecessor Robert Mardirossian. Bob has expressed interest in becoming a member of the Club. Marie Kuipers brought Laura Cunningham for her second visit. Lee Padgitt brought his daughter, Annie, who is teaching in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
There was a rendition of ‘happy birthday’ for Ned Meissner and president Tom Nash recognized that Ginny Hilton has been a member of the Club for 20 years. Tom also announced the upcoming District Assembly this coming weekend as well as the District Conference to be held in Sheboygan from May 17 to 20.
Rich Lalley told the Club that Darrel and Karen Malcom would be retiring this year from their positions with the Kids Against Hunger program. Rich proposed presenting the Malcoms with an honorary Paul Harris Award from our club. The couple has been instrumental in the many years our Club has packed meals for this fantastic program.
Bill Leske reminded the Club that our annual benefit would be held on May 11th from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at A. Perry Homes at 1220 Washington Avenue in Wilmette. The cost is $80 per person with the proceeds going to support the Club’s foundation’s Community Grants program. Patti Van Cleave said she is seeking items for the silent auction as well as bottles of wine for gift baskets. Tying in with the benefit Brooke Peppey, Foundation chair, mentioned that the Club will match dollar for dollar up to $100 contributions to organizations that the foundation is recognizing with a grant.
Patti Van Cleave announced the Winnetka Club will be sponsoring “Housewalk 2018” where participants can tour five fantastic homes in Glencoe, Kenilworth and Winnetka on May 17th. Tickets for this fundraiser cost $35 per person.
Happy Buck$ came from Ned Meissner for his great trip to Ecuador and his successful back surgery procedure this past Monday -Tony Kambich contributed for David Birkenstein for bringing in a speaker on stem cells that have provided Tony with relief- Robert Mardirossian in honor of Bob Sanfilippo – Rich Lalley for the award our Club won for its website – and the theater got recognition from Heather Higgins for a great play she saw called “Memphis” at the Cadillac Palace Theatre – Terry Dason in tribute to the Writer’s Theatre in Glencoe for its play “Smart People” – and Barb Tubekis touted “a Taste of Things to Come in Water Tower’s Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, a play about four Winnetka housewives.
John Thomas capably handled Dig ‘n Grin and provided his audience with a few chuckles.
David Birkenstein introduced the day’s speakers from the Senior Center of the North Shore: Dr. Elizabeth Gordon, the Director of the North Shore Senior Options at the NSSC and Eddie Meyer a program specialist and outreach liaison for this program. The NSSC has a service area of an eight miles radius around the Northfield Campus, but they will not refuse service to those outside of this area. There are service sites in Niles, Glenview and Evanston, but its main campus is in Northfield, which is also the location of its House of Welcome. The House of Welcome offers services for adults with memory loss giving caregivers a break. Music and art therapy, gardening, discussion groups, table games, trivia, storytelling and exercise are among the activities offered to this group of seniors. The agency has an annual budget between 6 and 7 million dollars and a staff of 125 full time equivalents.
Dr. Gordon also spoke about programs providing assistance to grandparents who are raising their grandchildren, adult protective services and caregiver support groups. The Center also helps seniors with housing issues such as how to get housekeeping chores done, how to look at the possibility of moving to assisted living, navigating the complexities of Medicare and dealing with the infirmities of aging. They also help pre-seniors in dealing with aging parents. The Senior Options program covers many of the issues of growing old gracefully. The North Shore Senior Options program is a 501c that is always looking for areas where seniors have needs. Care management is fee based. They do a comprehensive assessment to determine the senior’s needs. The Senior Option program provides in home therapy that can help depressed senior determine a course of action. The program can also provide help for seniors with their financial paper work i.e. paying bills, preparing taxes, etc. They will also provide a home safety assessment.
Tony Kambich provided a brief history of the NSSC emphasizing Rotary’s involvement with the Center and the fact that its first home was the Winnetka Community House. Another feature that was brought up by a member is the Lending Closet whereby seniors can borrow, at no cost, some durable medical equipment such as walkers, canes, crutches, raised toilet seats, wheelchairs, shower benches, etc.
The main conclusion one comes to is that we are extremely fortunate to have this fantastic agency in our own backyard.
Sixteen Area Charities to Receive Grants at Annual Fundraising Dinner
Our club will gather for our annual fundraising dinner the evening of May 11 at A. Perry Homes in Wilmette, celebrating Cinco de Mayo + Six and continuing it’s long tradition of supporting non-profit organizations who make our community and the world a better place. Members and their guests should register at http://wnrotary.org/event/annual-benefit-dinner.
“Our club has been an important contributor to local, regional and international causes since our founding in 1924,” said club president Tom Nash. “This year we are pleased to be supporting sixteen organizations that align with Rotary’s annual theme “Making a Difference.”
“Our Community Grants program is our foundational program,” said Brooke Peppey, President of the Winnetka Northfield Rotary Charitable Foundation, the club’s charitable arm. “Each year, our members nominate non-profit organizations whose work inspires them to receive a Community Grant. Funds raised at our prior year benefit dinner, along with donations received throughout the year, are granted to the nominated organizations after being vetted by our board. Since we are all volunteers, all of the money we raise goes toward these grants and our other service projects.”
Members may make additional contributions to any of the sixteen charities, which will be matched by an increase in award amount by our foundation. Contributions may be made at our weekly lunch and by credit card by clicking here. Click Read More for a list of grantee organizations.
This year’s Community Grant awardees are:
A Just Harvest (http://ajustharvest.org), who fights poverty and hunger in Rogers Park and the greater Chicago community.
Blues Kids Foundation (http://www.blueskids.com), who works to preserve, perform and promote the Blues among America's youth, parents and educators through its annual Blues Camp in Chicago and other cities.
De La Gente (http://www.dlgcoffee.org), who works with coffee farming communities to create economic opportunity that improves the quality of life for their families and communities.
Erika's Lighthouse (https://www.erikaslighthouse.org), who educates school communities about teen depression, eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness and empower teens to take charge of their mental health.
Hadley School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (www.hadley.edu) who creates personalized learning opportunities that empower blind and visually impaired people to thrive – at home, at work and in their communities.
Jewish Council for Youth Services (https://jcys.org), whose Champ Camp enables at-risk youth from low-income households in the North Shore to experience a traditional summer camp while also attending summer school.
Josselyn Center (https://www.josselyn.org), who provides affordable mental health services that make lives better for their clients, their families and the community.
Literature for All of Us (http://www.literatureforallofus.org), who uses books and writing to facilitate circles of connection, healing and growth in the face of social inequity.
NorthShore University Health System Integrative Medicine Department (https://www.northshore.org/integrative-medicine) who provides no-cost integrative health care, including acupuncture therapy, to low-income students in Evanston.
Operation North Pole (http://www.operationnorthpole.org) who provides a holiday season day of fun and fantasy for families who have a child battling a life threatening illness by hosting a fantasy trip to the North Pole.
Right to be Free (http://www.righttobefree.org) who funds the rescue and rehabilitation of enslaved children in Africa and broadens public awareness of human trafficking.
Samaritan Counseling Center (https://www.northshoresamaritan.org) who offers professional counseling services that provide hope, healing and growth in a manner that is ethical and caring.
Special Gifts Theatre (http://specialgiftstheatre.org) who provides children and teens with special needs a unique, creative drama experience enabling personal growth, while breaking down stereotypes related to disabilities within the community at large.
Volunteer Center (http://www.volunteercenterhelps.org) who helps residents and service groups of all ages in the New Trier Township, North Shore and greater NE Metro Chicago area volunteer or engage in days of service and service learning with 501C3 nonprofit organizations.
Winnetka Youth Organization (http://winnetkayo.org) who fosters individual development in junior high and high school youth in the North Shore by providing adult-to-youth mentoring, prevention services, and opportunities for leadership, citizenship, and, education within a safe, informal environment.
YouthBuild Lake County (http://youthbuildlakecounty.org) who provides underserved young adults in Lake County with the education and training necessary to become gainfully employed and build a better future.
We are pleased to announce our formal agreement with the Rotary Club of Les Cayes, District 7020, Haiti, to partner on a Global Grant project that will bring sustainable jobs and locally grown protein rich food to the Jeremie region of Haiti.
We are looking to raise approximately $20,000 for this project, which when matched $2.50 to $1 by The Rotary Foundation, will provide $70,000 in funding for this project. Rotary Clubs interested in participating should email info@wnrotary.org.
Areas of Focus
¨ Economic & Community Development
¨ Maternal & Child Health
¨ Bonus: Positive Environmental Impact
Project Objectives
¨ Restore and expand breadfruit production in Jeremie region of Haiti that was devastated by Hurricane Matthew
¨ Create a local, solar-powered breadfruit processing facility
¨ Provide vocational training to farmers, facility workers
¨ Develop the domestic and export market for breadfruit products
Planned Activities
¨ Propagate and grow 5,000 breadfruit saplings
¨ Provide ready-to-produce tress to small holder farmers and coop orchards
¨ Fund processing equipment for new facility (building funded by cooperating NGO)
¨ Provide packaged breadfruit breakfast meals to local schools
¨ Provide vocational training to farmers and workers
Expected Outcomes
¨ Produce 2.5 - 5 million lbs. of breadfruit annually
¨ Economic impact on region- $470,000 - $900,000 annually
¨ Good jobs and businesses for local population in poorest region of Haiti
¨ Provide nutritious meals to school children
¨ Develop an export industry for Haiti
Contribute to this project with the button below. Donations will be matched 2.5 to 1 by The Rotary Foundation.
Areas of Focus