On September 14th of 2023, Alice McCutcheon - presented a fascinating program about her service in the Peace Corps from 2012-2014. As a volunteer stationed in China 18 Group  ChengXian Longnan Gansu Province China, She was teaching at Longnan Teachers College.

 Alice is currently serving as president of the Lakeview Rotary Club in Chicago.

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.

 

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.

 

STAYING IN A "FOREVER HOME" AND OTHER OPTIONS DISCUSSED

August 4, 2022 - Sharon Newman a Rotarian with Right Choice Home Care, an agency that she started 7 years ago, presented strategies to equip your or a loved one's home so they can remain in the home.
 

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INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER DESCRIBES EXTENSIVE REHABILITATION FOLLOWING A GUN SHOT WOUND AS A YOUNG TEENAGER

On June 2, 2022 - Freddie Almaza, a member of the Rotaract Club of Chicago, is a relatively new transplant from California who decided he needed something new in his life and picked up and moved to Chicago. Freddie gave a overview of usually 45 minute presentation.

APPLYING THE PRINCIPALS OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION TO ROTARY, AND TO THE WORLD

On May 19, 2022, Aleta Williams presented a program to our club, addressing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), and the application of these three principles to all levels of Rotary international; in part, to serve as an example to the community, and to the world.

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NON-FOR-PROFIT PROVIDES SCHOOL "LOADED" SCHOOL SUPPLY KITS T0 SCHOOL SUPPTO NEEDY CHILDREN

On April 7, 2022 - Matthew Kurtzmam, Chairman of the Board and founder of a non profit organization,  Board B2SA (Back to School America). Originally starting with the loading up of shopping carts at Target in 2007, the organization is expanding to other states. To date, more than 300,000 have provided to needy children. Each kit is packed with school supplies, as we saw today. They need volunteers to write inspirational notes and and to pack the kits.

            At this time, the organization is working on assembling Art Kits.

           As far as Illinois goes, B2SA has a long term goal to provide 1,000,000 kits to disadvantage children per year. They interface with Veterans groups, schools, service clubs and businesses. 
           In the photo, is club member Vickie Dorgan on the left, and our Speaker - Matthew Kurtzman on the right
 

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Today, 17 March, 2022, Keith Cross and his wife Fayrene, joined us for today’s club meeting. Keith wore two hats as he gave us an enthusiastic meeting presentation: Rotary as well as cyber security;

Keith and his wife are members of the Chicago Southeast Rotary club. Keith has been active in the Rotary organization for many years, and he is currently an assistant district governor within the 6450 district. He had a very interesting discussion concerning fundraising and service.

Keith also presented a talk regarding cyber security and identity theft. He continues his work with LegalShield and IDShiel. Kieth updated us on ongoing and new trends since his last visit with us in 2019. He talked about how we all tend to give out our email addresses, which is necessary to carry out virtually any sort of web-based activity. He talked about an obvious need for VPN to be used when accessing the web with any device, most particularly with cell phones and computers.

In the photograph, is club member - Marilyn Sainsot, speaker - Kieth Cross, Club President - Debbie Willage, Fayrene Cross - also a member of the Chicago Southeast Rotary Club with her husband Kieth. and club member - Cliff Harstad.

 

On March 3, 2022, club member Marc Willage performed 5 of his songs that he had written over the years. He has played guitar, on and off, since the mid-1960's. He likes to play some mandolin, but guitar is his major instrument. There were several years-long periods when he did not pick up a guitar, during times when his medical practice and/or child rearing activities would become more "labor-intensive"; Marc has played in some primarily "glorified garage bands" (occasional paid gig!) while in high school and college, but he has primarily played over the years for friends and family.

 

January 6, 2022 - Ron Beckstrom, a numismatist, presented a program on coin collecting and apreciation of coins. This included the evalation of various coin objects that members were invited to bring; of course each of these objects - for instance, a bueatiful neckice consisting of goild coins, each had their story to tell. Ron's company is Golden Rule Coins provides consulting services to indivuals, as well as with organizations. He works extensively with Wintrust Bank.

"DIVEHEART," A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS INCREASED MOBILITY TO BE EXPERIENCED BY THOSE PHYSICALLY CHALENGED 
On November 4, 2021  - Diveheart, presented by Jim Elliott, which is 501C3 non-profit organization - since 2001, has innovated the premier adaptive scuba training program in the industry, while growing Diveheart Scuba Experience pool programs (DSE’s), adaptive scuba adventure trips and adaptive outreachand education opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Positive experiences apparently foster increased experiences in the future for those that those that this program serves.

Jim expressed his thanks, to Rotary, who helped to make "Diveheart" make transformative developement to a global presence. Borrowing inspiration from skying programs serving a similar population, it came to be appreciated that are alot more swimming pools than skying venues.

NETWORK OPPORTUNITY FOR ROTARIANS AND NON-ROTARIANS ALIKE

On October 7, 2021 - Linda Kemp, a fellow Rotarian (who had served as president for own club), prepared for our club, a YouTube presentation concerning a recurring networking program at the district level, that she largely put together. In this unique forum, not only for Rotarians - BUT ALSO NON-Rotarians, are invited to participate, Throughout the year, these events alternate between in-person and virtual formates.

The group's name is Chicagland Rotary Means Business. A link to the website: https://chicagolandvocationalnetwork.org/  If the link doen't work for you, then "copy and paste" the link into your address bar.

On September 15, 2022, Rotarian Sandy Marcus, PhD in psychology, was accompanied by his wife, Christina.

He presented a program on at least three highly relevant topics:

First, Stress reduction, including how to take a not-so-deep breath that is based on a “sigh,” which is immediately relaxing - while relaxing the abdominal muscles.

Second, Sandy lead a discussion on “underachievers,” which he has proposed to be included as in diagnostic item in the DSM (Diagnostic and statistical manual of Psychiatry).

Third, In a book that he just published, appeared - in large part - to be addressing underachievement, tittle: “71 Keys to getting better grades, easier and in less time.”

On November 3rd of 2022, Sandra Scendrina - member of the Chicago Lithuanian Rotary Club, presented on her club's development and current function of their efforts.  

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On June 15, 2023, Melisa O'Dell, the Executive Director of Defy Ventures - along with Malaki Crayton, presented a program about their non-profit organization. Melisa has been with the organization for 8 years, and described that the organization is currently operating in eight states; they are in the process of initiating services in Pennsylvania.


In Chicago, Defy Ventures currently is staffed by 4 full time staff and 2 part time staff. They provide services to inmates in one womens' prison and two men's prisons.

The program seeks to assist the inmates they serve upon release, to find housing and jobs, even before release. Preparations well before release from prison, including the completion of training in the prison, on how to successfully work in a job, and/or even becoming an entrepreneur.

Melisa noted that recidivism of clients served to be10% at one years and 15% at three years.