In 2008, Hannah Warren, a former Rotary Youth Exchange Student to Thailand and a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to India and Global Grant Scholar to London, learned about the plight of female weavers while taking their portraits in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, India. She was inspired to found Jhoole, a nonprofit eco-fashion social enterprise designed to combat poverty and empower women. Jhoole is helping women to gain economic independence, invest in education and, ultimately, break the cycle of chronic poverty. She is now empowering women in Rockford IL through the nonprofit Womanspace, who connect, empower, create and transform our world — one woman at a time.
Ms. Warren has a BA in South Asian Studies and Linguistics from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies and an MA in Fashion Entrepreneurship from the University of the Arts London College of Fashion. London. She is also President Elect of the Rotary Club of Rockford. www.jhoole.org/womanspace-rockford.org/
Now is the time to express interest in participating on the Board because the Club Nominating Committee is discussing candidates for next year's Board. If you have interest in a Board position, please contact President Chuck at 847-501-3355, or by email at: chuck.norton@sbcglobal.net
At a regularly scheduled Thursday meeting in January, the Club will vote to approve the Board candidates slated by the Nominating Committee. The next Board term begins in July of 2021.
The meeting was online via Zoom and had 24 members. We were opened at 12:20 PM by President Chuck Norton followed by the pledge of allegiance. The Thought for the Day was given by Todd Stephens. Krysten Warnes provided our Dig & Grin and regaled the assembled multitude with three Christmas “How To” anecdotes.
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES : President Chuck noted he had a birthday to be celebrated but was mum on which one. This week’s anniversaries included Roger Morris (48), Mary Lou Bilder-Gold (25) Amy Skalinder and Krysten Warnes with one year each.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: President Norton noted he is still seeking someone interested in being a co-President next year. He also noted grant applications for our Foundation need to be in by Dec. 31.
Tony Kambich said he has uncovered some possibly valuable Rotary historical material in his garage that seems worth saving He asked if there was still storage space in the WCH Rotary closet
Rich Lalley was pleased to confirm that, after 2½ years the Rotary Foundation has approved grant funding for the farming project in Ecuador
HAPPY BUCKS: Julie Tye noted the Hadley School reached 25,000 enrollments which is triple the normal level. This was the result of significant re-structuring of their curricula and cost structure. She will throw in something less than a buck for each enrollment.
SPEAKER: At 12:40, John Thomas introduced today's speaker, Andy Drendel. He heads the Trust Department at the Byline Bank and was recommended by Bill Leske. With over 40 years of wealth management experience, 20 of which have been in Chicagoland, Andy Drendel has extensive expertise in trust administration, estate planning, asset protection and fiduciary practice management.
He started by outlining what Trust Services from a bank entail. He then explained in some detail the factors that suggest having a bank be Trustee for estates of moderate complexity. He added commentary on what might be the disadvantages of professional trust services.
A spirited Q&A followed for almost 30 minutes led off by David Birkenstein as well as Eric Birkenstein,. Both are active in advising clients in that area. Keith Reed also had some legal-oriented questions
The meeting was closed at 1:25 with a recitation by all of the 4-Way test.
The Winnetka Northfield Rotary Charitable Foundation annually provides monetary grants to organizations that further Rotary’s mission to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace.
Applications are accepted each year from October 15th until December 25th. Grant awards are announced in March by our board. Grants range in size from $500 to $5,000, averaging between $1,000 and $2,000. Recipients are eligible for only two awards within a three year period.
Areas of Focus: Our board is open to reviewing grant applications from any 501(c)(3) organization that has a club member sponsor. Preference will be given to organizations that meet one or more of the following criteria:
· Support people living in need in Chicagoland
· Have operating budgets under $1 million
· Request funding for programs, not general operating expenses
While these areas of focus will guide the board’s decision making, the board may award grants to organizations that meet none of this criteria but have a strong club sponsor and compelling case for support.
Over the last two years, our community's generosity made it possible for over 2,300 children living in need to receive a new winter coat from our club. Member contributions and our Operation Warm Benefit Concert gave Chicago area children brand new coats. Here is a list of the organizations that received these coats, because of you.
Several Chicago Library Branches
Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook Holiday Gift Program
Open Arms Mission food pantry in Antioch
Holy Family Ministries school in Homan Square
Asian Youth Services in Albany Park
Hope Community Church Head Start in Austin
Stand Down Day Chicago supporting homeless veterans and their families
Grandparents and Kins Raising Children- Lake County
Learner Charter School in North Chicago
The public health crisis prevents us from holding a live benefit concert this year. It also has resulted in the COVID recession and more families in need. Our program matters now more than ever.
We're asking members and friends of the club to make tax-deductible donations to support our club’s Operation Warm program. We’ve already committed to sponsoring one Chicago library program this year, and hope to support two. And the nonprofits listed above rely on our support for the children they serve.
Make your contribution now at www.operationwarm.org/wnrotary. Checks should be made payable to WNRCF and mailed to Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield, 620 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka, IL 60093.
Thank you for your past support and for caring about children and families living in need. Your contribution means more kids receive the warmth, confidence and hope that comes with a new winter coat!
We are partnering with the Rotary Club of Wilmette to provide new sleeping bags to homeless people in Chicago. Your donations will support new sleeping bags which will be sent to the nuns of Fraternite Notre Dame, who will provide them to homeless men and women at Christmas time.
One of the nice features of meeting virtually is that our meetings can be recorded. This of course depends on your meeting host (me) remembering to start the recording (sometimes I'm a bit late in starting it).
We did it again! Thanks to all our members and friends of Rotary who contributed over $2,700 to our annual Share Your Bounty campaign! 100 bags full of groceries are going to Good News Partners, along with a financial donation to support their food pantry.
Continuing our club's long standing Thanksgiving tradition, we will once again partner with the Volunteer Center to provide post-holiday groceries for families in transitional housing who are served by Good News Partners in Chicago's North of Howard neighborhood. We will purchase groceries in bulk at Costco on November 23, so please donate by November 22.
We hope to provide over 100 bags of groceries, and have a fundraising goal of $2,000. This will be easy if everyone contributes.
This campaign has closed. If you missed out on supporting it, please consider a donation to our sleeping bags for the homeless campaign. You can donate here.
Several Chicago Library Branches
