Presiding at the Aug. 24, 2021, meeting of the Rotary Club of Evanston Lighthouse was President Linda Gerber, who began the eighth meeting of the Rotary year with Harold Bauer, who presented Why We Are Rotarians, and the Thought for the Day.

 

Harold described a wonderful cartoon he saw recently, a picture of a Jewish family at shabbat with a table full of good food and cheer.  In the background, interestingly, we see a Santa Claus coming down the chimney.  Whereupon the Rabbi said, ‘Never mind 'wrong house', come sit down and eat!" 

 

He is generously welcomed, and Harold felt that the host’s exclamation of “sit down and eat” was a wonderful and generous sentiment of welcome which we should symbolically offer to everyone in the world.

 

 

Linda Gerber warmly introduced and generously welcomed new members, Rebeca Mendoza and Keith Banks.  Linda Gerber announced and heartily congratulated our latest Paul Harris Award winner, Steve Steiber, PHF+8.

 

Bill Glader announced that Bruce Baumberger has been helping out in so many ways with the Taste of Evanston, and it’s greatly appreciated.  ToE is doing a new layout this year, and we will have several long and narrow tents that improve air flow rather than one large one.  The entrance will be similar with welcome, sponsors, etc. and once you get onto the main lawn there will be a series of 10 x 20 tents.  We have about three weeks to go.  Please send out invitations to friends and encourage sponsorship from your local connections. 

 

Randy Usen announced that the ToE sponsors committee is looking for “warm leads” to community connections.  Also looking for categorical sponsors like real estate, construction or remodeling, HVAC, or appliance, professional firms, chiropractors, doctors, etc.  Please think about your local connections to pass along any leads so we can approach them for a sponsorship package.  We’ve achieved $30,000 so far, with a goal of $50,000.

 

Kelly Fedei played a video with a quick tutorial about posting on social media as a way to spread the word of ToE to many more people on Instagram, FaceBook, and Twitter.  Go to the websites and do a search for ToE which will allow you to access the post to share with friends and family, and / or click on the “heart” and “like” or add a comment to get the word out.  Add emojis for 60 percent more engagement.  Instagram is the most used social media, so please consider posting there.

 

Kristin Brown announced / boasted our youth exchange student from 2018, Othòn, who was married last Saturday in Mexico.  Miguel Hernandez attended the wedding along with Othòn’s hosting family, the Grover-Blanchards. 

 

Bryant Wallace announced that the Technology Committee is meeting this Thursday and everyone is welcome.

 

Katherine Peterson announced several Club Service organized events.  Our members are invited to a photography exhibit and presentation about homelessness at Prospective Gallery at 1310-1/2B Chicago Ave., on Sept. 5 at 5:30 p.m.  Please register with Katherine (agingpotential@me.com) to attend. 

 

We will be organizing theatre nights at Northlight Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts starting in September.  Look for details forthcoming shortly.  On Sept. 26, we will be organizing carpools to the McHenry County Farm Stroll featuring organic, regenerative, family farms, including products such as beef, pork, equine therapy, fruit, vegetables, flowers, and artisan quality items available for purchase.  See https://extension.illinois.edu/events/2021-09-26-2021-mchenry-county-farm-stroll for details.

 

Had there been time, the following additional announcements would have been made:

 

Kathy Tate-Bradish announced that there is still room in the District Leadership Academy, which starts soon.  https://rotary6440.org/page/district-6440-leadership-academy/ If you have questions contact Kathy Tate-Bradish kathytatebradish@gmail.com

 

Bruce Baumberger announced that Mamma Mia, a Music Theater Works production now running through this coming weekend at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, is a super musical – excellent choreography, favorite Abba songs and a very safe theater – everyone masked, frequent air exchange with special filtration.  Tickets available at Music Theater Works or HotTix.

 

Joy Joyce thanked participants of the Artist + Scientists Exhibit at Ryerson Woods last week who attended as a group: Bruce Baumberger, Marisa Naujokas, Kristin Brown, Ann Weatherhead, John Searles, Chris & Joy Joyce, and individually Steve Goranson, Miguel Hernandez, Kathy Tate-Bradish and Bob.

 

Sue Bova announced that the International Service Committee met on Monday morning with a good turnout for our first meeting of the new Rotary year, attended by Linda Gerber, Patrick Mbullo, Sue Bova,  Harold Bauer, Yves Lassere, Albert Menard, Kate Collinson, Bruce Baumberger, Kathy Tate-Bradish, Don Gwinn, Pram (with her new born son on her lap), and Steve Carlson.  We received an update on two global grants – HIV project in Kenya ( Yves and Kathy) and Cleft Palate Surgeons in Brazil (Linda). We discussed a proposed Global Grant being put together by the Northbrook Club for a digital transformation (providing internet service) initiative at Ak’Tenamit schools in Guatemala. We all tentatively agreed to support it at the $2,500 level.  We will review again once the Global Grant is provided. Bruce is the point person along with Don Gwinn for his deep experience and involvement with past Ak’Tenamit projects and trips to Guatemala.

 

 

Steve Steiber, PHF+8 

 

 

 

 

Jean Saunders introduced Carrie Goldbeck, the Membership Engagement Supervisor at Rotary International, presenting today on new member engagement opportunities. 

 

As the Membership Engagement Supervisor, Carrie is responsible for creating and maintaining membership information on rotary.org, supporting recognition opportunities, and finding new ways to keep members engaged. She specializes in content creation, instructional design, project management, and process improvement. In addition to developing membership publications and online courses, she also supports RI awards, and manages our alliance with Toastmasters.

 

Carrie’s been with Rotary since 2008, and joined the Membership team in 2015 after working on the Learning and Development team for more than seven years. Carrie is an active member, board member, and founding president of the ORC Orators Toastmasters club. She has a Master’s degree in Anthropology, has lived in Cabo Verde, and speaks Portuguese and Cape Verdean Krioulo. In her spare time, Carrie enjoys music and dance, hiking, and spending time with her two sons, Emerson and Tiago.

 

Carrie explained that Rotary sees 150,000 new members each year, and loses as many each year, most of whom are with the club for two years.  A more comprehensive introduction to Rotary, and awareness of opportunities to engage both within and beyond the club, is needed to keep members interested and involved.  

 

The top reasons Rotarians get involved is a wish to immerse in local community service, friendship and fellowship and professional development opportunities.  We have a new initiative in the new member welcome stream that includes welcomes and more sophisticated communication at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year.  Each message is timely, from setting up My Rotary account to programs beyond the club, and introduction to the Foundation.

 

We’re also recognizing member efforts to sponsor new members with recognition levels that begin with 25 new members and those that go beyond to 75+ new members.  New sponsors are also hearing from the RI President with the aim to motivate sponsors and allow club presidents to acknowledge new members as well as their sponsors. 

 

Some of the new opportunities include the collaboration of Rotary and Toastmasters International.  The goal of the alliance is to offer more opportunities for personal and professional growth to members of both organizations. Rotary members can become better leaders and communicators, which will make them more effective Rotarians, and benefit their professional and personal life as well. Rotary offers Toastmasters a platform to lead with purpose – to put their skills to use by tapping into a network that makes a difference in the community. 

 

This is a structured way to develop more skillful leadership.  The other goal is grassroots collaboration, cross training opportunities, social and networking events among others.  Clubs are also encouraged to invite Toastmasters as speakers to share their experience and expertise. 

 

Carrie explained that before inviting guests and new members to our club, be sure to do the internal work to ensure that the club is providing a warm and friendly environment inclusive to all.

 

Clubs must actively work to take care of their members and other participants, connecting each individual with the elements of Rotary that are most important to them and provide the greatest engagement and value. One of the best ways to take care of one another is simply to ask what members need.  While these check-ins can be informal, Rotary offers many resources that can help you plan for the future. You can find them at rotary.org/membership.

 

 

 

Basil (from the United Kingdom)

 

 

Carrie Goldbeck, Membership Engagement Supervisor, Rotary International

Dan Coyne, Board of Director Member of Reba Place Development Corporation

Jesus Vega, guest and supporter of Rebeca Mendoza

 

 

Chuck Bartling, Aug. 25

Marisa Naujokas, Aug. 27

 

 

John Searles, 24 years, Aug. 26, 1997