Thirty-two members attended this week’s meeting and the total crowd was over 55 as many recipient of grants (see below) were present.  President John Thomas opened the meeting at 12:15 and kicked off with the pledge of allegiance to our flag. That was followed by Rich Lalley’s “Thought for the Day”. Lunch was then served.

While lunch was being enjoyed, at 12:30 Thomas read a note form Mike Wurzburg expressing his appreciation for having been a Rotary Club member for years. However, he said going forward he will be in Winnetka very little and, as a result, is resigning from the Club.

Thomas then asked for announcements. Barb Tubekis told the group that Governor’s Awards were presented earlier this week in Springfield at the Old State Capitol. Grants to 15 were acknowledged and recipients made brief comments.  Although out of normal sequence, Dig and Grin was ably handled by Keith Reed.

Following that, Anna Helfman was introduced. She is a NTHS teacher and sponsor of the NTHS Interact Club. At each lunch table was an impressive list of 2016 Interact activities. With Ms Helfman were three Interact students who had all attended a recent RYLA weekend. They briefly shared their experiences with us.

 

Thomas then turned the meeting over to President-Elect Patti Van Cleave who is also the outgoing President of the W/N Rotary Foundation. She presented to leaders of 11 non-profits with grant checks as follows:

- Allowance for Good – educates and engages youth ages 13-18 in topics such as philanthropy, community involvement, leadership development and social entrepreneurship. 

- Angles – formerly LINKS, providing health and sexual identity education and support to teens and young adults in the metro area.

- Blues Kids Foundation – preserve, perform and promote the Blues among America's youth. We support an annual Blues camp for student musicians ages 12 to 18.

- Holy Family Ministries – K-8 school in East Lawndale providing after school  and summer programs, providing a safe environment.

- Jewish Council for Youth Services - we support Champ Camp, providing a traditional summer camp experience to low-income, Latino children entering first through sixth grade.

- Literature for All of Us – works primarily with urban adolescents living in underserved neighborhoods in Chicago and nearby Evanston.

 - Meals at Home – provides home delivery of medically prescribed and regular meals to frail, elderly and mentally ill clients in the area.

 - Northeastern Illinois Scholarship – Scholarship for a new program offering MSW.  Supported also by Dirk Tussing who is a new Board member at NEIU.

 - Right to be Free – Rescues and rehabilitates children who are victims of human trafficking in Ghana.

- Winnetka Youth Organization – provides a safe, supportive, and fun environment for teens outside of the home and school. Sponsored by John Thomas

 

The meeting was closed at 1:30 with reciting the Four Way Test