There are some people who touch our lives that make us better for having known them. We knew Neil through Rotary. Not his beloved Skokie Club, rather our Chicago Financial District. Because it was much more convenient, Neil would often attend meetings with us. We always enjoyed his company. Occasionally, he would fill in as our speaker. As we grew to know him better, we came to admire his love of life.
Neil was born on September 23, 1929 in Chicago and was raised in Skokie, IL. After graduating from Evanston Township High School, Neil headed to Yale University, where he was a champion Ivy League pole vaulter. Following his graduation from Yale, Neil served as a naval of cer during the Korean War.
Following his naval service, Neil returned to Skokie to join his father in Armond King Real Estate as a broker, appraiser and counselor.
He served as President of the North Shore Board of Realtors and of The Counselors of Real Estate. Very active in business and civic affairs, Neil served on many boards, including that of Skokie Valley Hospital (now North Shore Skokie Hospital) for 50 years. He loved the Skokie Public Library and the Skokie Rotary Club, where he and his father both served as president and whose meetings he attended weekly even after moving to Chicago.
Always up for an adventure, in 1975 Neil sailed across the Atlantic Ocean with his teenage son in a 36' sailboat. He was also an enthusiastic member of the Chicago's Adventurers' Club, where he enthralled his grandchildren with shrunken heads, the giant stuffed bear and the ags suspended from the ceiling commemorating several of his own escapades.
A natural athlete, he also competed as a decathlete, a marathoner and a runner well into his seventies.
Above all, Neil treasured his family and friends. Neil is survived by his wife, Diana; his sisters Susan Gaede and Louise Webb and cousin Susan Leonard; his children Marcia King, Steven King (Melinda), Carolyn King and Alison Bastien (Helio); Diana's children, Charles Theobald (Sara) and Margit Nahra (Kirk); nine grandchildren and two great
grand children
On August 2, 2023, the topic of membership was discussed, with the discussion being led and presented by two membership experts from Rotary International: Sarah Diller, and Charles Poole. It was a very informative meeting. In the photograph, Charles on the left, Sarah on the right, and club member - Past President Jerry McIlvain - is in the middle.
Our Rotary club, the Rotary Club of Chicago Financial District (Rotary CFD), was established in 1985. we meet for a luncheon meeting at 12:10, on the first and third Thursdays of each month, at the Berghoff Restaurant - in downtown Chicago. We routinely order our lunch off of the menu, which is routinely followed by a presentation from a speaker, after which we eat our meal.
The club meetings are an opportunity to break bread and share fellowship. Diversity is sought after, with members welcome irregardless of gender, race, nationality or religion.
We are starting to do more service projects, now that the pandemic is winding down; Examples include:
We have re-packed commodities at the Food Depository of Greater Chicago.
We have assisted in efforts to get winter coats to veterans in need.
We periodically get together at a member’s home to pack art supplies into backpacks, to distribute to students participating in our “Smart Art program” - discussed below.
Our signature service project is our “Smart Art” program - which is a joint project in conjunction with the Smart Art Meuseum - affiliated the University of Chicago. We take classes of students, typically in third grade, on a field trip, both before and after eight weeks of art instruction in the classroom.The lessons incorporate a strong emphasis in promoting peace in the world.
Even upon casual observation of the students at the visit before, and then after the eight weeks of instruction, reveals a decidedly increase in engagement of the students with the different pieces of art in the museum.
Our club is just one of 46,000 rotary clubs, worldwide; there are some 1.4 million members in the organization. The signature philanthropic project of the international organization, Rotary International, has been an effort to eliminate polio from the world. At this stage, a constant effort is required to terminate periodic breakthroughs (three countries remaining) of the polio virus. It should be noted, that Bill Gates of Microsoft fame, has provided several hundred million dollars to join in the effort to eliminate polio.
Reputed to be the first service club, the first meeting of the first Rotary Club was in 1905, organized by Paul Harris in Chicago.
Of interest to anyone asking about the nature of Rotary, the following one sentence definition was formulated by Rotary International in 1976:
“Rotary is an organization of business and professional people united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.”
For further information on our Rotary Club, our contact email is: rotaryclubcfd@gmail.com
And OUR FACEBOOK PAGE is: Rotary Club of Chicago Financial District
On July 20, 2023, our very own club member, Vickie Dorgan, presented a program regarding a recent trip that she made to Spain to complete her third pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago; there are several trails for pilgrimage to one of the most important sites in Christianity, because of the presence of Saint James tomb at the Cathedral there. In 2024, Vickie plans to take the fourth pilgrimage.
The traditional routes of pilgrimage, transverse France, Spain, as well as Portugal. Tradition mandates that the last 100 km of the pilgrimage are required to be walked by foot. Otherwise, various forms of transportation are permitted, such as a boat, or a train, but not cars and motorcycles, and possibly buses.
This pilgrimage came into existence when it became too dangerous to go to Jerusalem, or Rome, during times of the crusades and the reformation. There are many small stores and shops and restaurants to be available for supplies along the different routes.
Pictured is Vickie, standing in front of the map, showing for several rows off standing in front of the map, showing the various routes to the Santiago cathedral.
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
By: Marc B. WillageOn July 6 of 2023, the officers and committee chairs were installed by Past District Governor, Jane Hopkins.
CLICK ON "R E A D M O R E" FOR FURTHER DETAILS
.jpg)
On July 6 of 2023, the officers and committee chairs were installed by Past District Governor, Jane Hopkins. In the first picture, Debbie Willage is being installed by Jane.
In the other photo, the following members were installed into their positions for the 23–24 year: from the left, MARC WILLAGE will continue as Secretary and Program Chair, MARILYN SAINSOT will continue as Social Chair and Sergeant of Arms; and JERRY MCILVAIN will serve as Immediate Past President.
TOM BALTZ will continue to serve as Treasurer; VICKIE DORGAN will continue to serve as International Service Chair, and incoming President, DEBBIE WILLAGE, is shown all the way to the right, and start her year as Club President.
KATIE ANDERSON - will continue to serve as Assist Chair for Both International as well as local service project
Honored, but unable to be present, were: BOB MANTSH - who will continue to serve as Foundation Chair; CLIFF HARSTAD - will continue to serve as Local Service Projects Chair; and GUS SAMIOS - will continue to serve as Membership Chair.
Not pictured, but joining us today, were: FLORENCE FORSHEY - outgoing assistant governor, and MICHELLE BALOG - incoming assistant Governor.
The Installation Banquet was held at the Berghoff Restaurant in downtown Chicago. The food was great, and the fellowship was even better!
...
[Message clipped]
View entire message
 |
ReplyForward |
By: Cliff Harstad
The "Smart Art Project" was conceived by the Rotary Club of Chicago Financial District and has now grown to include multiple Clubs throughout Rotary's District 6450.
We feel it is unacceptable for any child to live in an environment of constant violence... or to lack some type of basic art education. According to an article from the New York Times... "Art Makes You Smart!" The purpose of the program is NOT to train potential artists... but rather to develop the mind to think in different ways and perspectives. An environment of violence, in whatever form, stifles the ability of a child to develop to his or her potential. Far too often, it ends the life of a child.
There are many organizations doing great things to address the problem, but as a community, a country, and a world, we've got to do more! We've got to stop failing future generations. The "Rotary Smart Art" program is designed to supplement, not supplant, the work of others. "Smart Art" is a basic awareness program for elementary school children that exposes them to what art is... so as to "spark their imagination, creativity, and to develop new ways of thinking." Using Art as the medium, the message is that violence (in all its ugly forms, to include domestic violence, bullying, and street violence) is not a given and must be diminished... or eliminated.
Started by the Rotary Club of Chicago Financial District, our team now consists of multiple Rotary Clubs... plus the Near South Planning Board ... Smart Museum of Art... and the University of Chicago Provost's Office. Our goal is to continually expand the program, first in Chicago, and then ever outward. The goal is to enlist involvement from communities, residents and businesses. At present, the program consists of:
1. An Initial Visit to the Smart Museum at University of Chicago for an interactive introduction to art.
2. 10 in school classroom sessions with our Art Director, spread over a 5 week period, with a focus on awareness of violence
issues through the use of various art techniques and media.
3. A 2nd visit to the Smart Museum so the children can share what they have learned, display their own art work, and interact
with museum staff and volunteers who also participate in the program.
4. The final Museum Visit is very exciting and includes a catered lunch.
Volunteer helpers assist with the in-class sessions and museum visits. The cost to conduct one class of 30 students is $2,500. The original "Pilot Program" was launched with one Chicago Southside School in 2014. Learning from that initial experience, it was then expanded to two schools in the second year... and, with additional "streamlining", we conducted the program on an even larger scale (7 schools) during 2016. As more people get involved, we can continue expanding the program, which has received "rave reviews" from the students and faculty who benefit from the program. Would you like to join us?
Read More
Dan Summins gave a presentation on Blessings in a Backpack at our club meeting on January 5, 2023. The organization started in Louisville Kentucky in 2004, now serving 95,000 children - with food insecurity across the country; 5000 of whom reside in the Chicago area. Each program participant receives a backpack containing meals on each Friday that school is in session. Dan is the Managing Director for the program in the Chicago area.
The food is "shelf stable," with no cooking or refrigeration required. 600 volunteers work with the Chicago program here.
Decreasing discipline problems, decreasing anxiety, improving grades and improvement in school attendance have all been observed in children participating in the program.
Dan noted that "pockets of poverty" exist throughout the Chicago area; for example, in Highland Park.
Dan also noted that 6,000,000 children live with food security, as well as 13,000,000 of all US residents in general.
Read More
