Danville IL Rotary Club

A  nonprofit organization, CASA of Vermilion County trains and supervises community volunteers to serve as appointed advocates for abused and neglected children in the juvenile court system stemming from allegations of parental/caregiver abuse, neglect, dependency or abandonment. CASA volunteers are appointed by a juvenile court judge and are a constant adult presence in the lives of the children they serve. Opening its door in July of 2007, CASA of Vermilion County is one of the newest of more than 900 CASA programs in the nation with over 53,000 volunteers nationwide who assisted over 225,000 children last year.

For more information visit http://www.casavermilion.org/

Alan Beck, President/General Manager of Illini Radio Group, was our presenter today.  He has been raising money to send 75 veterans on a flight that leaves Oct 18, 2011 to see the war memorials and give them the celebration they well deserve.

Honor Flight is a national non-profit organization created to honor Veterans for their sacrifices.  The local Chapter is the Central Illinois Honor Flight, Coordinated by the radio Stations of the Illini Radio Group.

They have already raised enough money for 2 flights this year and now they are only 15K away from raising enough to send a flight next Oct, 2012.

VA Illiana Healthcare Director of the Danville VA Michael Hamilton presented a wide variety of information on the VA and improvements which have included significant infrastructure improvements.  He further discussed the new Green House project which will afford the residents of the VA to live in small group homes which will each fit 10 people with private bedrooms and bathrooms.  This will allow the residents to choose how they live and give them significant improvements in privacy and care.  This is the first development of this type in the US and has taken over 5 years to get approval.  It will have a capacity of 20 by the end of the year and capacity for 40 more has been approved with another 40 planned in the future, for a total capacity of 100 eventually.  He has a long and distinguished career within the VA and the military and has numerous distinctions he has won throughout his career.  Finally, he discussed significant other facility improvements which have been undertaken in the recent past and are currently happening.  He discussed what the plan is for the future and the plan for what the Illiana VA Healthcare should look like in 2020.

2010 Pape Scholarship Winners

Diana Kirk conducted Fellowship

Bob Bookwalter discussed our Danville Rotary Membership drive for 2010-2011 called “Tailgate For Rotary Membership”.  the incentives for the drive are as follows:

1.  Starting now through December 31, 2010 each member recruiting someone who becomes a member  by December 31, 2010 will be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card.
2.   Each member bringing a prospective member will have Fellowhip fines waived.
3.  Days Inn has generously agreed that prospective member guests will not be charged for meals.

If you have a new member in mind and would like a somone else to contact them, please see a Board Member.

Program for the day was:  Dr. Tom Herrman, he spoke on “Living Lessons”

Next Program 10-11-10, State Representative Mike Frerichs.

The Danville Rotary Club installed the officers for the 2010-11 year today.  Mark Denman was sworn in as President for the upcoming year.  The other officers for the new year are:

Cathy Reardon – Past President
Rose Henton – President-Elect
Amy Hoose – Vice President
Kathy Cooksey & Marla Bauerle-Hill – Co-Secretaries
Scott Reed – Director of Community Service
Don Rokosh – Director of International Service
Tom Mellen – Director of Club Service
Bob Bookwalter – Director of Membership
Rick Rotramel – Directory of Foundation
Amy Marchant – Director of Vocational Service
Keith Souza – Treasurer

The club would also like to thank out-going President, Cathy.  Cathy has been as source of positive energy and truly defines “Service Above Self”.  Thank you so much Past President Cathy for all the work, time and effort that you put into the President’s chair this past year.

The Danville Rotary Club hosted the candidates for the 5th Circuit Judge race.  All four candidates spoke to give their view of the office and why they should be elected.  Below are pictures and links to the candidates websites.

(In order of appearance)

Brian L. Bower  website: www.electbrianlbowerjudge.com

Matt Sullivan  website: ElectMattSullivanJudge.com

Frank Young (No website provided)

Eric J. Neumann website: www.electericneumann.com

Click the link below to download the handout from today’s meeting.

Rotary MLK 2010

Here is the text from Past-President Keith’s speech about Rotary & Dr. King.

Dr. King & the 4-Way Test

I have placed a printout that I made on your tables.  It contains a couple of different things.  First, is my favorite line from one of Dr. King’s speeches.  Secondly, the full text of his most famous speech, “I have a Dream”.  I would encourage everyone to re-read this speech today on this, Martin Luther King’s National Day of Service.

Coretta Scott King, widow of Dr. King said, “The greatest birthday gift my husband could receive is if people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds celebrated the holiday by performing individual acts of kindness through service to others.”

“Service to others.”  Those words should echo louder for Rotarians than anyone else.  Our motto, “Service above Self” places in front of us the belief that we are here to serve the greater good.  We are here to put helping others ahead of our own self gain.  Today, January 18, 2010 we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King’s National Day of Service.  Making this, “NOT A DAY OFF, BUT A DAY ON.”

Every Monday we recite the 4-way test:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Reading that again, I believe that test could have been written by Dr. King himself.

Is it The Truth? – “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.’

The phrase was quoted by Dr. King in his famous I Have a Dream speech, as the “creed” of the United States.

Is it FAIR to all concerned? – He spent a lifetime trying to get to the root of fairness on equal rights.  That All men are created equal.  Not just white men.  Fairness and equality is what Dr. King ultimately gave his life for.

Will it build GOODWILL & BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? – (from his Noble Peace Prize Acceptance speech) – “I still believe that one day mankind will bow before the altars of God and be crowned triumphant over war and bloodshed, and nonviolent redemptive good will proclaim the rule of the land. “And the lion and the lamb shall lie down together and every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall be afraid.” I still believe that We Shall overcome!”  From “I have A Dream – I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.”

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?  Was there any doubt that what Dr. King preached would be beneficial to all mankind?  Harmony, peace, love, & equality.

In his final speech before his death, this is what Dr. King had to say about what is beneficial to all concerned through his words of peace: ”And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers? Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.”  He saw what was beneficial to all.  That speech was delivered on April 3rd, less than 24 hours later, he was dead.

As we spend today celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, let us remember that the same ideals that unite us in Rotary fellowship, were principles that Dr. King spent a life time fighting for.  Ultimately giving his life for on April 4, 1968.

1.    Is it the TRUTH?
2.    Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3.    Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4.    Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Remember, make today a day on, not a day off.  Thank you.

Keith Souza,
Past-President Danville Rotary Club

This weeks presentation was Danville New Tech High School.  Information about the New Tech High School can be found by visiting their website: http://www.danville.k12.il.us/Schools/DHS_Site/NewTech/index.htm

President Cathy reminds everyone that we will be meeting next Monday.

Norht Ridge students presented their “I Will Prevent it” campaign.

On Sunday, January 17th North Ridge’s Future Problem Solvers will begin their “I Will Prevent It” campaign. They are looking to break the cycle of child abuse by breaking a world record. Join them at 1:30 in the field behind the WDAN Radio Station to simultaneously set off more than 2100 Diet Pepsi and Mentos geysers. The cost is $10 per person. You can register yourself or sponsor a student. All proceeds will be used to fund projects for Reagan’s Rescue Fund and the YFRC Women’s Shelter. For more information contact sponsor Lori Woods at lwoods@danville.k12.il.us or 444-3456. Click here for a flyer. Click here for registration and Sponsor Forms.