Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1
THE ROTARY YEAR OF
PRESIDENT LON LOVELLETTE,
2013 -2014
Dwight Rotary Officers
President - Richard Jancek
Vice-President - Lon Lovellette
Secretary - Tanya Jennings
Treasurer - Lorna Sibert
Programs - Chuck Johnson
_________________________
Current Events:
July 1st the Rotary Family Picnic and Installation of New Officers & Directors was held on the Patio of the Dwight Country Mansion.
Once the meals were ordered, a short meeting was held and President Lon performed his final act of his year, which was to install Richard Jancek as the
2015-2016 Rotary President. President Rich's officers and board members were installed shortly after with new President Jancek looking on. President Jancek presented the first 4-Way Test Story of the year and called for a prayer preceding the
meal. The new officers are listed on the home page of this website. The RI presidents theme for the New Year is "Be a gift to the world"
2
On June 24th Marilynne Davis spoke with the members of her experiences with the State Department.
She is an expert on local government here in our country and has worked for the State Department in
Hungary, Blugaria, Albania, Tajikistan, Kazarhstanm, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgystan. She averaged
about three years in each country. In total she has worked in 19 countries in Eastern Europe, Balkans and Africa.
Marilynne is the incoming president of the Champaign Rotary Club and worked with her club to sponsor a
Rotary Club in Dushanbe, Tajkistan and both clubs did 17 water projects in that country.
Jenn Myzia, Chaperone for the
6th - 8th graders trip to Washington DC, was the speaker June 17th. Jennifer Myzia collected several photos taken during
the student's recent trip and prepared a slide program for the Rotarians. Her photos included all the places the students visited, such as the White House, Arlington
Cemetery, The Reflecting Pool, and the many monuments. She was impressed with the students during the trip and says she is ready to return to Washington with the next group of students.
Accompaning her to the meeting was her husband Joe.
New Member Talks were held June 10th. Presentations were made by Earl, Bill,
and Kim telling us about their lives. Older members will do theirs in the future.
Rotarians & family members attended the Picnic for membership June 3rd at the Country Mansion on the Patio. The social hour was great fun. We
3
will see you all next month, first Wednesday, for another social
Induction Held at the Club Service
Meeting May 27th
The Rotary Club of Dwight is proud to accept Kimberlee Frauli of
Dwight, IL, as our newest member. Already she has been assigned the
roll of Publicity Chair. Kim, we are proud to call you Rotarian and look
forward to working with you. Kim's sponsor is Jenn Myzia.
The problems of Invasive Species and
Ways to Abate the Effect on the
Headwaters of the Illinois River System.
Brennan Caputo, Biologist for Illinois Department of Natural Resources,
spoke at the May 20 Rotary meeting about the invasive species in the upper
Illinois River system. While he compared the different types of Carp, he
showed pictures of some requiring two men to hold up for a picture.
Mr. Caputo explained why the imported species had spread throughout the
Mississippi River system, but the Asian Carp (the Big Head and the Silver)
do not seem to reproduce above the Dresden Lock and Dam. He said the
IDNR thinks the three electrical barriers are keeping the fish from going
closer to the Great Lakes. The problem is people use small shad for bait
and often some Asian Carp young are caught up in the bait net also and dumped out at the end of the fishing trip
in a new area.
The problem with the Asian Carp is they suck up the algae and plankton that is needed for the young of
desirable species to eat and grow. In reality, they can clean the river water to the point it has so little nutrients
that they can starve themselves to death. The Silver Carp are the ones that have ended boating and skiing on
large stretches of the river because they jump out of the water and hit people. The Big Head Carp can eat
twenty percent of its body weight each day and lay 300 million eggs each year.
4
Mr. Caputo showed pictures of IDOT and commercial fisherman harvesting thousands of carp to be processed
into liquid fertilizer; a very unpleasant smelly process. The best way to rid the country of these invaders would
be human consumption in our country. He says they taste very good, or so he has been told.
Two other carp in the area are the Grass Carp (grass eater), and the Black which are uncommon,. Many Grass
Carp are in ponds and lakes where they are supposed to keep the weeds down. They can grow large but are
supposed to be genetically fixed to not reproduce.
Mr. Caputo downplayed the Round Goby that was dumped into the Great Lakes years ago since it is food for
other fish species. He brought a Round Goby and a native Sculpin for the Rotarians to try to note any
differences.
RYLA Experiences & a
Rotary Induction All in the Same Meeting. Rotarians welcomed DTHS Sophomore Delaney Haas and Junior Lyndey Krug to their weekly lunch meeting at The Country Mansion. Delaney and Lindy were chosen by DTHS Principal Dan Kaiser to attend the RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award Camp) April 17th-19th, and joined us to share of their experiences. Attendance at the camp was sponsored by Rotary Club of Dwight. Delaney Haas is the daughter of Dr. Travis and Denise
Swink. Delaney is involved in cheerleading and in 2008 she went to Nationals for jump-roping. She is thinking about the
field or X-Ray or Ultrasound Technician as career choices.
Lyndey Krug is the daughter of Dean Chervany and Kimberly Krug. Lyndey is involved in FCCLA, cheerleading, and is
a member of the National Honor Society. Her future plans are to serve in the Air Force and then study to become a
Pediatrician.
The ladies reported to Rotarians that the camp included sessions on job interviewing and conversation starters, team
building activities which included building a boat as a team and a trust walk in a forest. They both felt that the sessions
and activities taught a lot about leadership and skills they would need for their futures. They also were able to hear
motivational speakers and meet students from the surrounding area. Both ladies said it was a wonderful time and were
glad they attended.
5
We are proud to announce the Bill Jedlink is the
newest member of Dwight Rotary. He was inducted
today by President Lon Lovellette. We are looking
forward to working with Bill in our Rotary projects.
NOTE: MAY 7TH WAS THE 77TH ANNIVERSARY FOR DWIGHT ROTARY CLUB.
Blackbird Yoga Studio Instructor Helps Rotarians President Lon presented Jennifer with the Rotary coin which is imprinted with the Rotary Wheel on one side and the four way test on the opposite side.
Jennifer Connor gave the Dwight Rotarians an educational
program about her business May 6th following the business
meeting held at the Country Mansion. Jennifer is the owner and instructor of the Blackbird Yoga Studio. The Studio is
located in Dwight at 106 West Main Street.
The members participated in a series of exercises they were able to do from their chairs. The Rotarians and guests learned
deep breathing and stretching techniques. Jennifer's style of yoga does not involve twisting the body into the famous lotus
position and chanting. She emphasizes proper breathing and stretching.
Her students range from toddlers through the most senior of us as to how to get fit and stay fit. The members appreciated
the program and saw the need to follow her advice. After a twenty minute program the Rotarians left with a relaxed
feeling.
6
Rotary District 6490 Conference was
held in Champaign, IL May 2nd & 3th. To the sound of Neil Diamond's Ameria, the Districts Incoming and Outgoing Youth Exchange Students carried their flags of their respective country through the tables at conference prior to Saturday's Lunch
event. It was a very moving Rotary Moment.
President Lon, Chuck and Susie attended the Rotary District 6490 Conference. In addition to great camaraderie
with Rotarians from other clubs, they learned of projects of other clubs. They were asked if Dwight would work on joint projects.
The entire weekend was thought provoking. They look forward to next year's Conference in Bloomington.
Bar-B-Q: a discussion of the many regional varieties of meats & sauces across the US. The Rotary Club of Dwight met at Dwight’s Cherry Red
Roasters 207 E. Delaware Street for their luncheon meeting on
Wednesday, April 29th. Mr. Duncan Miller and his wife, Sue
Miller, gave Rotarians an outstanding presentation on BBQ and the many regional varieties of meats and sauces
across the U.S.
Rotarians were treated to samples of pork, chicken, beef, and sausage and their custom, homemade sauces
available as well as their homemade baked beans and coleslaw. All agreed that the food was excellent!
Mr. Miller explained that the U.S. has what is called the “Barbeque Belt,” that stretches across the southern
states and includes Texas, Tennessee, the Carolina’s, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Missouri. Each area has
a specialty meat that is prevalent on their menu: In Kansas City you’ll find “Burnt Ends,” in Texas it’s
7
“Brisket.” Kentucky will have “Mutton,” Memphis, it’ll be “Ribs,” North Carolina has the “Whole Hog,” but in
South Carolina you’ll get “Pork Shoulder.”
Barbecue dates back to pre-Colonial days. The Spanish explorers brought pigs with them to the America’s and
evidence of Indian corn cribs were found when English settlers arrived 200 years later! The pigs, which had
turned feral, were the most widely used meat in barbecue.
What is the difference between BBQ and grilling? Barbecue is smoking meat with indirect heat for a long
period of time. Grilling is cooking meat over direct heat in a relatively short period of time. Barbecue uses a
variety of wood to impart different flavors. Hard woods will give the meat a strong, smoky flavor, whereas fruit
woods will give the meat a milder, sweeter taste. And don’t forget the sauces! Any sauce from clear vinegars to
tomato based sweetened sauces to molasses and mustard sauces are acceptable!
Cherry Red Roasters BBQ, LLC has been a member of the Kansas City Barbeque Society since 2010 and has
competed in nearly 25 competitions.
Rotary would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Miller and their staff for giving us a wonderful lunch and for being a
great example of the quality businesses Dwight has to offer.
Global Warming - Fact or Fiction. President Lovellette gave Mr. Angel the Rotary Coin with the Rotary Wheel
on one side and the Four-Way Test on the other.
Mr. Jim Angel, a Climatologist at the State Climatologist Office with the
Illinois State Water Survey, joined Rotarians at our April 22nd lunch
meeting. Jim has presented with WGN’s Tom Skilling for programs around
Chicagoland and has presented at Fermi Lab. Mr. Angel presented information on ‘Global Warming and
Climate Change.’
Mr. Angel gave four main reasons for our climate changing:
1. Natural Climate Change. This would be any natural event that has been on-going and will continue to
happen. Volcano eruptions are such events.
2. Greenhouse Gases. These are naturally occurring gases that form a layer in the atmosphere and absorb
heat that is radiated off the surface of the earth. These molecules retain the heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and
can cause up to a 200 increase in temperature.
3. Land Use Changes. How land is used has changed much in the last 150 years. As more land is utilized by
industry and urban landscapes and less by rural areas, the climate in these areas are affected.
4. Non-Natural Greenhouse Gases. These are the result of mans activities.
8
Over the last 20 years, our country has gone up 1.50 overall. The west has seen an increase of 30-40, while
Illinois seems to have been largely unaffected. Because of the heat buildup in the west, weather patterns and
ocean patters are changing. How has this affected Illinois in the last century? We are getting about 10% more
precipitation overall.
Mr. Charles Johnson asked about the “Polar Vortex” that has been happening the last few winters. Mr. Angel
said that because the oceans are warmer, it is causing the jet stream to buckle in western Canada, thereby
causing the jet stream to dip deep into the U.S. bringing the cold Canadian air. The jet stream has been in this
pattern since November of 2013. It is a phenomenon that Mr. Angel had not seen this jet stream pattern
previous to 2013 and does not know if it will continue or how long it will continue.
For more information about Climate Change, please visit www.sws.uiuc.edu/atmos/statecli/. Rotary would like
to thank Mr. Angel for joining us for this informative presentation.
On April 18th Dwight
Rotary Celebrated 77 years of
Service
with an Art & Memorabilia Extravaganza accompanied by a
Beer and Wine Tasting event and a silent auction at the Country
Mansion. We would like to extend our gratitude to all of you
who came to our Art Extravaganza!! It was a great night and we loved seeing everyone!
Highway Engineer for Livingston County Speaks at Dwight Rotary PHOTO CAPTION: The basic message from Livingston County Highway Engineer David Winters
9
was that new cars require less gas consumption, therefore, the Department receives less revenue. And this year that revenue is cut by
22% by the Fund Sweep.
Retiring Livingston County Highway Engineer David Winters was the speaker at the April 8 Dwight Rotary
meeting. Having a county engineer has been mandated by Illinois law since 1914. Illinois has nearly 100
county engineers. Some counties are too small to have their own and share with another county.
Mr. Winters supervises fourteen employees with half of the staff doing the planning and administrative
chores. Sometimes the seven outside people aren't enough to keep the 258 miles of county roads plowed so
part-timers are employed. Contractors are used for major maintenance work.
The discussion of how money from the Motor Fuel Taxes was distributed around the state was a sensitive
issue. The charts and statistics made the political aspects of the allocation of funds obvious. Chicago and the
collar counties get a special allotment of the fuel taxes.
The fuel taxes that are included in each gallon of gasoline purchased is the same no matter what the price of the
gallon. The Federal Tax of 18.3 cents was last raised in 1994. The state tax of 19 cents was last raised 25 years
ago.
In the last 15 years the costs to repair roads and bridges has gone up 240% and the allocation has gone down. It
is reduced because the increasing number of vehicles on the roads are using less fuel. As we buy more fuel
efficient vehicles, hybrids using natural gas or hydrogen, and electrics a new way of raising money must be
found. Several states are experimenting with mileage taxation -- one uses a GPS to record miles within the state
and another uses all miles driven each year.
Included in the handout was a list of the funds the Governor has swept up to pay for the overdue bills. Among
the long list was $250 million from the Road Fund, $30 million from the Motor Fuel Tax Fund, and $10 million
from the Grade Crossing Protection Fund. That is 22% of the state's yearly allocation.
The basic message from Livingston County Highway Engineer David Winters was that new cars require less
gas consumption, therefore, the Department receives less revenue. And this year that revenue is cut by 22%.
Rotarians Learn About The Transitions Program -- A Compassionate Care Program For Those With Life Limiting Illnesses
March 27, 2015. Rotary Club of Dwight welcomed guest speaker Becky Wilder of the Kankakee Valley
Transitions program. The Transitions program is a compassionate care program for those diagnosed with a life-
limiting illness of 12 months or less. This program is the precursor to hospice care and aids the client in a gentle
transition into hospice care.
10
In the Transitions there is no need to cease curative treatment. Clients can still be in treatment or on palliative
care. Clients are accepted with a referral from involved organizations, churches, and individuals. The first phase
of the program is anticipated to take several months so that the Transitions staff can ensure the program is
working smoothly before offering their services to a wider audience.
Potential plans for Transitions include transportation, a resource referral service, and an on-line resource
directory available to the public to assist in locating appropriate support for their needs. Transitions is looking
for volunteers. Qualified individuals will undergo a background check, Transitions training that is
approximately two hours, and hospice training that is one and a half days. It is Transitions hope that volunteers
can accompany individuals from their program into hospice. Volunteers would perform some daily living tasks
such as companionship, light errands, meal prep, offering caregivers respite, and general help for the client.
For more information about Transitions, contact Becky Wilder at 815-939-4141 or 815-351-6300.
Pakistan Consul General Visits
Dwight Rotary
March 28th, Mr. Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, the Honorable Consul
General of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan visited Dwight and
spoke to members of the Dwight Rotary and their guests. Tirmizi
is an honorary Rotarian and provided an overview of Pakistan, its
internal problems, and its relationship with its neighbors. He also
discussed Pakistan’s relationship with the U.S., historically and today.
The country faces a myriad of problems today, including ongoing insurgency, the threat of wide-scale violence
and terrorism, refugees, narcotics and political instability. The country has seen 1,200 terrorist incidents every
year since the war on terror began. He also was quick to condemn the “bigots who attacked children” in a Dec.
16 school attack in Peshawar. Tirmizi referred to ISIS as “the worst form of this bigotry you can see, and it has
to be stopped.” He stated the movement is made up of mostly young, unemployed men and fueled by narcotics.
“They have an altogether different worldview.”
However, Tirmizi pointed out that most Pakistanis seek the same objectives as most Americans, “peace,
employment and education for our children. Human beings all over the world are the same.”
In addition to exploring the relationship with his country and India and Afghanistan, he talked about the history
of Pakistan’s relationship with the U.S., including the battling of common enemies like the Soviet Union and
terrorists.
Tirmizi also spoke about the more than 1.2 million Pakistanis living in the United States. He said, “Pakistanis
are doing very well in the U.S., which can be a strong linkage between the two countries.” According to
11
Tirmizi, many are physicians and engineers, and generally they are not into crime. The students do very well,
and they also have done well in the Silicon Valley.”
He stressed the importance of this relationship between the 3rd and 6th most populated countries in the world
and stated disengagement is not an option. “I like to compare it to a Catholic marriage; there is no divorce,” he
joked. He believes, “This should be a more sustainable relationship because it is important to both.” He also
praised the Rotarians for contributing close to $2 billion in fighting polio and getting children vaccinated in
Pakistan.
--Article by Kim Frauli, who visited Rotary for "The Paper." Paul Westermeyer fromPontiac Daily
Leader covered the event. Dennis Yonker of the Kankakee Daily Journal covered the story also.
On March 11th the program for
the Dwight Rotary Club was a
look at ComEd Today
The Rotary Club welcomed Mr. Jeff Hettrick from ComEd
to our weekly meeting.
Mr. Hettrick gave Rotarians an overview of where
ComEd is today and what they hope it will be in the
future.
ComEd says that their equipment for the infrastructure of
the power grid is old. They are currently replacing equipment with updates as it wears out. They have
dedicated$2.6 billion dollars to updating the power grid infrastructure. ComEd no long is in the business of
power generation. They are distributers. When power is purchased in the open market, ComEd dispatchers
distribute the power to substation and from there into homes and businesses. The biggest change in power today
is technology. ComEd.com allows customers to access real-time outage information during bad weather and
report outages. They also have an app for a phone or tablet that allows you to do the same as the web-site.
ComEd has noticed that as new equipment is installed, customers have been seeing less outages and brown-
outs. Smart meters will be making an appearance in our area in 2017/2018, and have programs available to suit
everyone's energy needs.
Rotary would like to thank Mr. Hettrick for joining us for an informative
afternoon.
The newest member of the Dwight Rotary Club was installed during the
meeting today. Rosemary I. Miller of Dwight is now a Rotarian. Rosie, as
she prefers to be called, is a retired school nurse. She was welcomed by the
Club members.
12
John Greuling Discussed A Viewpoint
For The Illiana Expressway
Rotarians were pleased to welcome Mr. John Greuling from the Will
County Center for Economic Development on Wednesday, March 4th to
their weekly meeting.
Mr. Greuling has served as an Economic Practitioner since 1975 in the
Chicagoland area and has been with the Center for Economic Development for 14 years. He is a member of the
Joliet Rotary Club. He spoke to Rotary Club on the proposed Illiana Expressway, its current status, and the
progress needed to complete the project.
Rotarians learned that the purpose of the toll road is to ease the truck traffic on I-80 and provide a more direct
route for transportation to the BSNF and Union Pacific Intermodal yards. These are the largest receiving yards
in North America. Union Pacific also has intermodal yards in Rochelle, Crete, and NW Indiana. The proposed Illiana Expressway would serve several purposes: as a freight bypass for the Chicago metro area, alleviating
congestion on I-80; an alternative to I-80 for travelers as currently there is no other East-West highway south of I-80; to make East-West travel easily accessible for Central Illinois.
Who is going to pay for it? Mr. Greuling was very clear that the funding for this toll road would have the
majority of its funding from private sources with a pre-determined amount from the state. The funding entities for the project would be paid back through the toll fares. They are still looking at creative ways to source
funding, such as IMPACT fees, gaming revenues, etc... they do not desire to take money from other existing projects.
What about the farms and people living in the path of the toll road? Mr. Greuling pointed out that an
Environmental Impact study done for the current planned location was the lowest of all those submitted. If the planned toll road was closer to I-80, it would not have been economically feasible and there would have been
greater environmental harm with more homes, farms, and businesses displaced. Joliet Herald Reporter's story can be found by following this link.
The Dwight Rotary Club elected to send two students from the Dwight High School to the Rotary District 6490 RYLA Camp*.
At the March 4th meeting, Supt. Jancek informed the members that two High School students have been chosen
to attend the activity April 17 - April 19. They are Lyndey Krug (Daughter of Kim Krug and Dean Cherveny) and Delaney Haas (Son of Dr. Travis and Denise Swink).
13
*Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
Each summer thousands of young people are selected to attend Rotary sponsored leadership camps or seminars in the
United States, Australia, Canada, India, France, Argentina, Korea and numerous other countries. In an informal
atmosphere, groups of outstanding young men and/ or women spend a week in a challenging program of leadership
training, discussions, inspirational addresses and social activities designed to enhance personal development, leadership
skills and good citizenship. The official name of this activity is the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program (RYLA),
although these events are sometimes referred to by other names, such as Camp Royal, Camp Enterprise, Youth Leaders
Seminars, Youth Conferences or other terms.
The RYLA program began in Australia in 1959, when young people throughout the state of Queensland were selected to
meet with Princess Alexandra, the young cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. The Rotarians of Brisbane, who hosted the
participants, were impressed with the quality of the young leaders. It was decided to bring youth leaders together each
year for a week of social, cultural and educational activities. The RYLA program gradually grew throughout all the
Rotary districts of Australia and New Zealand. In 1971, the RI Board of Directors adopted RYLA as an official program
of Rotary International.
Dwight Rotary Club Welcomed Justice
Thomas L. Kilbride of Illinois Supreme
Court on February 25th. Elected to the Supreme court of Illinois in 2000, he went on to be elected
Chief Justice by his colleagues, serving a three year term that ended in October 2013. Justice Kilbride covered a wide range of subjects, including emminent domain and how the
Supreme Court decides to keep a case.
The questions and answer session brought up some interesting points. Dale Coughlin, who attended the
meeting, asked Justice Kilbride whether there was ever a time he had to make a decision based on Case Law, even though his heart might have a different opinion, and was there a solution to this occurrence?
Justice Kilbride nodded commenting, "We can do a report about cases that we feel the legislature should look into." In this way, it is possible for cases which seemed to receive the wrong decision to be reconsidered.
Justice Kilbride was born in LaSalle and raised in the Kankakee area. He and his wife, Mary, live in Rock
Island. They have three daughters.
Reporter for The Paper wrote this article. Luke Smucker of the Pontiac Daily Leader attended the meeting and posted his story on thepaper website.
14
Rotarians enjoyed Tour of Donnelley's Plant
in Dwight
Induction of 4 new members was held Feb 18th at the Donnelley Plant in Dwight prior to a tour of the plant. New members are (left to right) Chad Lundberg, Manufacturing
Manager; Mike Ryan, Manufacturing Manager; Nick Milhauser, Human Resources Manager; and Earl McCoy, Director of Operations. Congratulations to all.
In celebration of Abraham Lincolns 206th birthday, Rotarians welcomed Mr. Michael Krebs and Ms. Deborah Ann
Miller who are the Midwest’s premier Impersonators on Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln. In addition to joining
Rotary Club for lunch, Rotarians and guests were treated to a stunning portrayal of insights to the Lincoln’s personal life,
15
their interaction in marriage, and the struggles they experienced as our country was torn apart during the Civil War. At
times, the depths of their portrayals’ were so sincere and rich that one was able to forget they were not in the midst of a
country at war with itself. For a moment, when Mary Todd Lincoln expressed her frustration, fear, and exasperation of the
attitudes and actions of the Southern States, it resonated deeply of the very frustration and fear we see in today’s world
with the Middle East situation. It would seem that men, no matter the time or place, yearn for peace with each other and
grow weary of strife year after year.
Dwight Junior High School and Pontiac schools also were able to enjoy the re-enactment of the “Lincolns.” Rotarians
would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. McClarey for hosting our guests for the day.
It was truly a memorable afternoon and the Rotary Club is grateful to Mr. Krebs and Ms. Miller for giving us such a
remarkable afternoon!
Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln Impersonator's website can be reached by clicking here.
"A Different Viewpoint On Power Auctions, Power Grids, Nuclear Generation Plants, And Green Energy."
The Rotary Club of Dwight welcomed John Washko, Plant Manager of
Dresden Generating Station to our weekly meeting on February 4th.
Mr. Washko provided an opposing view to our January 28th speaker on Wind Farm power. Mr. Washko
informed us that as exciting and as environmentally responsible wind power is, the reality is that we cannot live
without nuclear power as the base for our energy needs. One reason for this is that wind in Illinois is
inconsistent. Wind production varies according to the time of day and season. It is not completely reliable. He
believes there is room for it in the energy portfolio, but it cannot be the foundation of energy generation needs
because power must be reliable 24/7. Another reason is that the regulations being handed down from the
Federal Government are projected to cause forms of energy production, such as coal, to reduce carbon
emissions to such a level that it will cause these plants to close. Nuclear power generation is clean with low
carbon emissions and, if closed, would make compliance to EPA regulations extremely difficult and expensive
for Illinois. Natural Gas provides 3% of our total energy consumption in Illinois, wind provides 5%, coal
provides 43%, and nuclear provides 48% of our energy needs. Of the 48% nuclear provides, 90% of that is
“clean” or carbon-free. Exelon Generation operates 11 reactors at six plants, which supply “round-the-clock”
electricity to 7 million Illinois residents, making it the most reliable source of power.
There have been reports and rumors about the decommissioning of three Exelon nuclear plants: Byron, Quad
Cities, and Clinton. According to the State of Illinois report on the impact of premature closings of nuclear
power plants, closing the three plants would have a negative impact on the economy, the environment, and
16
would increase wholesale electricity prices in the ComEd region by 9.9% in the first year. Each plant employs
800-900 people plus contractors and additional people when units are shut down for maintenance. Closing three
plants could add upwards of 3,000 people to the unemployment lines. If the plants are closed, power would
have to be generated by other forms of fossil fuels, all of which add carbon emissions to the air. It would ensure
more pollution, loss of jobs, and loss of reliable energy for consumers.
Rotarians would like to thank Mr. Washko for joining us and presenting a very informative program.
Photo: Mr. Washko, Plant manager is being thanked by President Lon Lovellette in front of the Rotary Flag.
"Wind power and our electricity system:
integrating clean energy into the electric
grid.”
On January 28th, Rotarians welcomed Mr. Kevin Borgia with Wind on the
Wires Association. Mr. Borgia is the Public Policy Manager. He presented
information on the basic technology of wind power and turbines, how wind farms
are plugged into the Power Grid, how local agencies benefit financially from wind
power, and how the power markets dictate the consumers cost of electricity. Mr. Borgia also took questions
from Rotarians regarding alternative usage and emergency preparedness. We would like to thank Mr. Borgia for
joining us for an informative and enjoyable afternoon.
"The Dwight Economic Alliance - it's history, structure, and funding."
Rotarians welcomed Janice Lauritzen from the DEA to our January
21st meeting. Mrs. Lauritzen spoke on all of the activities and plans
the DEA is working on for our village. We would like to extend our
thanks to Mrs. Lauritzen for her informative presentation and joining
us for lunch.
Photo: President Lon presented Janice with a Rotary Coin which has the Rotary Wheel on one side &the Four-Way Test on the other.
17
Sports Injuries and the Concussion Lawsuit Against IHSA.
Dwight Rotarians welcomed Mr. Craig Anderson from the Illinois High
School Association to speak to us regarding IHSA’s purpose and
organization, the state of sports in schools, and concussions. Mr. Anderson
oversees football, wrestling, and baseball.
The IHSA is governed by an 11 member Board of Directors that are current school principals. They oversee all
of the IHSA’s business practices and policies. The IHSA member schools submit resolutions to amend or
update IHSA’s bylaws annually. An example of a recent change was the prohibition of full live-contact football
in the summer months. This was done with the hope that it would reduce the number of injuries to players.
The IHSA performs two main roles for schools: 1.) IHSA advises schools of agreed upon policies, and 2.) IHSA
sets up all play-offs for schools.
As researchers and the media have been shedding light on the problem of athletes incurring multiple
concussions, the IHSA has included a Sports Medicine Advisory Committee comprised on members of the
medical community. This committee makes recommendations to the IHSA Board of Directors who then decide
what to implement.
Mr. Anderson informed Rotarians that there has been a steady decline in football in Illinois since 2008. While
concussions may not account for all declines in numbers, it is believed that if the decline continues schools will
be forced to cut their programs because the talent pool will be too diminished to compete effectively. IHSA also
has a 50 member Rules Committee that reviews and decides on all the rules for football. Safety guidelines are
their top priority. One of the most profound rules to come out of committee is the 2010/2011 ruling that a player
must leave the game if a concussion is suspected and may not return until cleared by a medical professional.
This rule was picked up by the IL General Assembly (HB 5431) and made into law.
Last Fall, the DTHS Board of Education approved the implementation of a neurological baseline testing
program to be used for all DTHS athletes. This baseline testing allows for a level of neurological function to be
set for each athlete and if a neurological event takes place, testing is then performed to access brain functioning.
This allows coaches and medical professionals to understand if a brain injury has happened and how it has
affected the athlete. It also allows professionals to know when it is safe for the athlete to return to practice and
games.
According to information available from the American Academy of Neurology, a concussion happens when the
brain is moved by force and hits the inside of the skull, resulting in a brain injury. Symptoms of a concussion
are headache, blurred or disrupted vision, confusion, drowsiness, inability to concentrate, dizziness, light
sensitivity, slurred speech, nausea or vomiting, and, in some cases, blacking out. It is believed that each
18
concussion one receives makes it easier to have repeated and more severe concussions. If you suspect your child
has received a concussion, please see your doctor for confirmation and treatment.
Photo: Craig Anderson is shown shaking hands with Pres. Lon.
Economic Outlook For The Dwight Area And What He Can Do To Help. was presented by U. S. Representative Adam Kinzinger at the December 17th
Rotary meeting.
Representative Kinzinger and President Lovellette pose for a photo shortly following the presentation.
On December 17th, Rotarians welcomed U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger to our meeting. Rep. Kinzinger
spoke about the current political atmosphere in Washington, D.C., and how it is affecting Illinois. Rep.
Kinzinger said that he is very optimistic for the future of our country with the change in Congress and the
change in Springfield that will take place in January. The specific areas he feels are needed to be addressed are
infrastructure, the Social Security system, the government in D.C. lying to U.S. citizens, manufacturing being
held back by over-regulations from D.C., and the decline of American leadership around the globe.
Three questions were asked of Rep. Kinzinger by Rotarians. The first question was about global
warming/climate change and its effect on the fossil fuel industry. What can Rep. Kinzinger do about it? He
pointed out the inconclusive evidence of whether the globe is warming or cooling. He does not want to see
regulation change implements that will cost American jobs or negatively affect our economy. With the bad deal
President Obama made with China, he does not want to see further damage to our energy industry. Second, it
was asked what it would take to tame ISIS. Rep. Kinzinger said that he believes ISIS cannot be defeated as a
group, but the next generation that is being raised up as fighters must be reached and re-educated to what
moderate Muslim’s believe. The third question was regarding our own Dwight Correctional Center and the
possibility of it being reopened. Rep. Kinzinger said that the mess Illinois has found itself in because of
previous administrations will take a lot of time to correct. He is hopeful that one day the prison will be
reopened, but there are so many reforms in Illinois that have to come first in order to fix our economy.
The Rotary Club of Dwight would like to thank Rep. Kinzinger for taking the time to join us and hear our concerns.
How Does A Farmer Cut The Financial Risks? was presented by an agent of
Farm Credit on December 10th.
19
Criminal Activity and Efforts to End It in Dwight The Rotary Club of Dwight was pleased to welcome our guest speaker,
Dwight Police Chief Tim Henson, to our weekly meeting. Chief
Henson spoke to Rotarians about community safety and our role in
helping Dwight stay a great, family- friendly, town.
As reported recently in the media, the Dwight Police Department has
been fighting against drugs in our community. A few years ago it was heroine. While heroine is still a concern,
it has taken a back seat to prescription drug abuse. The police department is working together with our schools
to crack down on illegal prescription drug sales and use. Chief Henson urges all citizens to dispose of unused
prescription drugs so they cannot be stolen and sold. There will be a drop off box at Village Hall where people
may deposit unused and old prescriptions and they will be safely disposed of.
Community members were reminded to lock cars and residences to help prevent drug-related robberies.
Chief Henson also spoke to Rotarians about the recent robbery at Centrue Bank. The police are working with
the F.B.I. but have no leads.
Shown in the photo is Chief Henson being thanked for coming by President Lon Lovellette.
A Look Into 20 Million Years Ago With the Famous Amber Encased Fossils. (Yes, just like those in Jurassic Park.) The Rotary Club welcomed guest speaker, Sam W.
Heads, PhD, current Curator of Paleontology, and the
Illinois Natural History Survey at the University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to the November 12th
meeting. Mr. Heads hails from Northumberland, UK
and received his Ph.D. in paleontology form the
University Of Portsmouth, UK in 2009. Mr. Heads has traveled across the world to study insects found in
amber. He has resided in Illinois for the last five years at the University of Illinois.
For our program, Mr. Heads spoke of the truly amazing finds of insects and organic matter that have been
captured in Miocene Age amber (16-20 million years ago). Amber deposits are found throughout the world, the
largest single collection being discovered and collected by Dr. Milton Sanderson in 1959 from the Dominican
Republic and housed at the University of Illinois. Amber is classified as a precious stone; however, it actually is
20
hardened tree resin. Mr. Heads also answered the number one question that is asked of Paleontologists: Can
dinosaurs really be made from DNA preserved in amber like in Michael Crichton’s, “Jurassic Park?” The
answer is, unfortunately, no. The DNA would be too degraded to be viable.
Rotarians Welcomed
International Guests.
The six Chinese delegates from Chenzen, China also shared our meal and partook in a wonderful time of discourse, sharing about their culture, government, school system, and the differences in philosophies between the U.S., China, and Great Britain.
Dwight Rotary Gifts Country Mansion
With A DVD Player
Israel Counsul General visits
Rotary
News headlines in recent months, and indeed, for many years, have been written about this small plot of land in the Middle East
that is only 290 miles long and 85 miles wide.
President Lon visits with the Honorable Roy Glad during the Rotary Meeting.
This small nation has had to fight for its existence almost constantly since 1948, when they were granted
national sovereignty. In the aftermath of the Holocaust of WWII, Israel had to gather what citizens remained
from across the globe and defend her rights to be a nation. Israel has been the target of attacks not only on its
21
land, but continuing threats of annihilation against its people so extreme that every Israeli man and woman at
the age of 18 must serve in the Israeli Defense Forces. As a result of this mandate, the IDF is one of the
strongest defense forces in the world. Men and women walk the marketplace always on alert for attacks, armed
and ready to defend the innocent lives around them. The threat of violence is a way of life for Israel’s citizens.
One would think that Israel’s citizens would give up and find a home where peace and security prevailed. But
they don’t. How can a nation not only survive this, but thrive in the midst of it?
The Rotary Club of Dwight welcomed the Honorable Roy Glad, Consul-General of Israel to its weekly meeting
on November 5th. Mr. Glad spoke on Israel, its history, relationships with its neighbors, and its economy.
Mr. Glad described Israel’s current situation as one of “many challenges and few opportunities.” Israel has to
deal with three main groups: Shiites (Iran, Iraq, Syria, S. Lebanon), the radical Sunni terrorist organizations
(ISIS), and moderate Sunni Muslims. Within these three groups are more challenges to Israel existing in peace
with her neighbors.
The top challenge is the “Iranian Challenge.” For the past 10 years, Iran has sworn to annihilate Israel saying
that there is no room for a Jewish State in the Middle East. Iran has been on the road to developing nuclear
weapons, which it has said it will use against Israel. Israel wants peace and is willing to compromise to attain it.
Mr. Glad said that it is Israel’s desire that Iran attain a “breaking through technology.” The idea is to allow them
to develop technology very slowly, but not allowing them enough that they become a danger to the nations
around them. According to Mr. Glad, Iran has been producing weapons-grade plutonium for many years and
Israel has appealed to the International Atomic Energy Agency to negotiate with Iran that they would not be
allowed to develop advanced elements of nuclear weapons.
The second challenge to peace is the “Palestinian Challenge.” Israel wants an end to the hostilities with
Palestine and would be satisfied with the “Two State Solution.” If Israel and Palestine would be allowed to both
exist as sovereign states, peace could be attained. Mr. Glad says the main problem with this is the lack of
confidence. Israel does not believe it should have to give away its land. They have no confidence that Palestine
would deliver on the ‘Two State Solution.’ If Israel pulls back from the West Bank (3 miles from Ben Gurion
Airport), which is within a few miles of two major international airports and Tel Aviv, Israel’s largest city, and
Palestine launches attacks from Gaza (40 miles from Ben Gurion Airport), it would cripple Israel and her
people. Missiles from Gaza easily cross the 40 miles to Ben Gurion Airport. Mr. Glad says that they must
proceed with a lot of caution because if they do not, routine life in Israel would be brought to an end.
The third challenge to peace is the “Radical Sunni Coalition,” otherwise known as ISIS. The Islamic State has
sworn to conquer the Middle East, including Israel. Right now, Israel has not joined the US-led coalition against
ISIS because the Arab contingent will not serve with Israel. If Israel joined, the coalition would cease to exist.
Israel desires peaceful coexistence with the Arabs, but right now it is not possible.
With the challenges facing Israel, and peace seemingly elusive, where is the good news? Mr. Glad says that
there is opportunity to establish some kind of coalition with Jordan and Egypt. He said that Israel, as a nation, is
strong because of the challenges they constantly face, however, he does look for the day when Israel is not in
the headlines every day.
22
The Peace Corp; The Experiences of a Volunteer in Malawi and
Tanzania
The Rotary Club of Dwight welcomed guest speaker Jenny Venesek of the
Peace Corps to their meeting Wednesday, Oct. 29th. Ms. Venesek has served
in the Peace Corps since 2005 and has been stationed in Tanzania, Egypt, and Malawi.
In Tanzania, Ms. Venesek ran a community health educational after school program and in her second year in
Tanzania, at the villager’s request, she was able to open a health clinic. She was fortunate enough to get the
health clinic funded in Tanzania by the Peace Corps and Rotary International partnering up as they do in a
number of countries where both serve work to “reinforce each other.” Through this collaboration, Peace Corps
Volunteers and Rotary members in the US can work together to boost the impact of Peace Corps projects. One
way this is being done is for Rotary clubs to search, and donate to volunteer projects through our Peace Corps
Partnership program.
In Malawi, Ms. Venesek spent nine months with the District AIDS coordinator.
The Peace Corps is always looking for volunteers. The skill set needed to help in their countries of placement
are wide and varied. Questions you should be able to answer are “Where do you want to serve,” and “What
skills do you have?” Visit www.peacecorps.gov to review the application process. After applying and interview
will be held that offers placement options and they will give input on how to expand your skill base to be the
most effective volunteer possible.
The three areas the Peace Corps utilize are health, agriculture, and environmental awareness. You must be 18 or
older to apply, but there are not maximum age restrictions.
The Peace Corps have three goals:
1. Serve the community.
2. Be an ambassador of the United States by showing good will and character.
3. Return to the United States and share about your host countries and what was
accomplished.
Rotary Club of Dwight thanks Ms. Venesek for her informative presentation and for sharing her afternoon with
us.
23
Egyptian Counsul General Speaks to
Dwight Rotary The Honorable Maged Rafaat is shown with President Lon Lovellette.
Rotarians and guests gathered on Wednesday, October 22nd
to welcome
guest speaker, The Honorable Maged Refaat, Consul General of Egypt. Mr. Refaat spoke about Egypt’s government, it's relationship with Israel,
and the history of religions in Egypt, Iran, Iraq regarding the Shia/Sunni
divide.
Mr. Refaat gave Rotarians an informative view about Egypt’s revolutions and what led up to the populous
uprising. We learned that 40% of Egypt’s population is aged 18-25. These young citizens want more freedoms and more involvement in their governments’ decision making process. Egypt has been ruled mostly by
individuals who were heads of military with the reasoning that they knew everything that was going on and,
therefore, would be a good leader. When Mubarak was deposed and Morsi put into office, it was with the hope that he could bring the change the majority was yearning for. Upon discovery that Morsi was a Muslim
Brotherhood plant, that same majority removed him from office. A new constitution was drafted and el-Sisi was voted in. Within the next six months a new Parliament will be voted in. Prior to el-Sisi, approximately five
million citizens voted. With the deposition of Morsi, 55 million citizens were allowed to cast their ballot and
vote for the leader who they believed would secure their future.
Rotarians learned that Egypt has had lasting peace with Israel since 1973. Mr. Refaat said that this is because
the treaty is based on interests and not on sentiment. It is solid and it works.
What about the USA/Egypt relationship? We have a mutually beneficial treaty with Egypt. We supply them
with arms (which they also purchase from many countries) and in exchange we get clearance to use their air-
space, our Navy has free passage on the Suez Canal, and there is joint cooperation in intelligence and anti-terrorism activity.
Mr. Refaat also explained the differences in religion and the problem that has risen from it. Basically, there are not doctrinal differences between Shia and Sunni Muslims. If one is born into a Shia household, they are Shia.
Sunni Muslims beget Sunni Muslims. A person who wants to follow a different Imam (or priest), they would
simply pledge money to that individual and change from Shia to Sunni or Sunni to Shia. The religion itself is not different in any way. Egypt has not established an official religion. 10% of Egypt’s population is Christian.
Very much like the U.S., Egypt allows an individual to exercise the religion of his/her choice. Mr. Refaat stated that the problem has come mostly from Iran and a little from Iraq. Iran has set itself up as the head of the
Islamic religion. Iran was not elected or invited to do so, but just did it, and as a result, contentions arise when
Iran forces it authority where it has not been welcomed.
Mr. Refaat was a delightful speaker and the Rotary Club of Dwight is grateful that he was willing to join us for
such an educational afternoon.
24
Signs Replaced in Rotary Park Pinecone Path in Rotary Park is graced with new signs at both the
Franklin Street and Columbia Street entrances, provided by the Dwight Rotary Club during the 2012-2013 Rotary Year. They were installed
recently by city workers. These new signs replace the signs blown away by the Tornado June 10th, 2010.
The Rotary Park is in memory of Bill Clapp, former Dwight resident, who exhibited outstanding dedication to the community.
Economic Developement Discussion Concerning Dwight
After the presentation,John Whalen is presented the 4-Way Test coin by President Lon
Lovellette as Rotarian Andrew Funk looks on.
John Whalen, North Central Regional Manager of the Illinois Regional
Economic Development office, spoke at the October 8 meeting of the
Dwight Rotary. He told the Rotary club and the Dwight Economic
Committee what was needed to be done to attract businesses.
Mr. Whalen's job is to create jobs and grow communities with mostly federal money. Most of those funds go
for building or updating infrastructure in local communities. Businesses need reliable water, sewer, natural gas,
and roads to operate and communities need them to compete.
Mr. Whalen said the Dwight Economic Committee must lead a coordinated effort of citizens and village
government in order to attract and keep business. Dwight needs a designated person to coordinate and oversee
the effort. The committee should perform a honest self-evaluation of Dwight's advantages (good points) and its
disadvantages (bad points). Then maximize the good and reduce or eliminate the bad points. The committee
must also decide what incentives Dwight can offer and have them approved and in place. Then, know what state
and federal loans and grants are available to augment those from the village.
His greatest emphasis was get prepared with all zoning done, all sites optioned or price agreements in place, and
infrastructure to the sites in place.
Mr. Whalen said a community's effort must be open so the effort has the resident's support. He told the
members and guests after getting the needed work done, where their sites should be advertised.
25
Manufacturing in Dwight
President Lon is pictured with Mark Denzler, our speaker, and Dennis
Yohnka, reporter for the Kankakee Daily Journal
Dwight Rotary's October 1 speaker was Mark Denzler, the president of the Illinois Manufacturer's Association. He gave a
detailed explanation of the hindrances to manufacturing in Illinois: Lack of political direction, taxation, and worker's
compensation laws. The good reasons for manufacturing in
Illinois are large work force, with many, many colleges, universities and training schools scattered around the state,
most interstate miles of any state, nexus of railroads, diverse industrial base and other factors.
Mr. Denzler told those attending what Dwight needed to do to entice industry to the area. He said the
community needed to focus all its efforts on comprehensive plan to bring the villages' government, economic committee, and both county economic associations together. He said the state can help with its resources and
connections.
Mr. Denzler's number one advice was to be fully and completely prepared when a business comes calling. Do
not say "I will have to get back to you" or "maybe this property could be available." Eveything must be detailed, and able to be presented electronically and in a hard copy. The state's website is the first place to
advertise, but various other publications are necessary, too. A knowledgeable central contact person to meet
and greet with all the knowledge is essential.
In attendance was Dennis Yohnka, reporter for the Kankakee Daily Journal and Alex McWilliams, president of the
Dwight Economic Alliance representing the Economic Development Committee.
Pritzker Library Curator Speaks to
Dwight RotariansSeptember 24th
"The Importance Of Preserving The Oral
History Of Military Veterans & How To Do It."
Picture: Rotary President Lon Lovellette and Thomas Webb,
Curator of Oral History at the Pritzker Military Museum and
Library in Chicago.
Mr. Webb explained why the Pritzker and other facilities and
organizations are recording the history of military veterans.
The recordings are used by authors and historians to build a
picture of an event and the lives of the participants. They
26
record not just American stories but also those from other countries.
The instructor, Mr. Eric Long and seven students from Dwight High School's Video Technology class were given tips on
how to do the interviews. Mr. Webb wanted to impress on everyone the fact that every story is important and needs to
be told.
On September 17th the subject presented was "State, County, and Local Government Pensions Plans; their status, funding and recent legal cases."
Tina Sibert explained the status of the state penions. Tecya Anderson explained the Illinois Municipal
Retirement funds. Several questions were asked from the attendees. We welcomed several retired persons who
attended the meeting.
Click here for news article from "The Paper"
District Governor Leslie J. Mitkos's Official
Visit September 10th --
Pictured are Assist. Governor Susan Curtiss, President Lon Lovellette, & District Governor Leslie J. Mikos.
Rotary District 6490 Goveror Les Mikos made his official visit to the Dwight Rotary Club. D.G. Les is a supporter of Rotary's effort to eliminate Polio for very personal reasons. His sister had polio as a child and, as
with many victims, it has reoccurred. To help in that effort the club gave D.G. Les a check for $500.00 and the
members put cash conations in a giant glass Coke bottle. Once a week, the Governor empties the bottle, matches each dollar and sends the donations to the Rotary Foundation designated for Polio Plus. A short board
meeting followed the Governor's presentation to the club.
"Rotary's Effort To End Polio" Fred Heilich III was our speaker for the August 27th meeting. Fred is a
member of the Tuscola Rotary Club and chairman of the District's Polio Plus effort.
27
Fred talked extensively about the history and financial aspects of District Governor Les' plans. He was polite
and did not mention the last time our club donated to Polio Plus.
What Is Enbridge And
Why Is It In This Area. Our speaker on August 20th was Jennifer L. Smith, MBA,
Community Relations Manager of Enbridge.
Pictured are Jennifer Smith and Lon Lovellette, Rotary Club President. Members of the Dwight Economic Alliance (not pictured)
attended the meeting to find what economic benefits that might come to Dwight. The local restaurants, stores, gas stations, motels, and other retailers can expect some additional
business as the pipeline workers pass through.
Jennifer Smith, Community Relations Manager, spoke to the Dwight Rotary and visitors during the August 20th
meeting. Smith's talk was extremely informative and wide-ranging. Enbridge Energy Company is primarily a
pipeline company that transports Canadian and Bakken, North Dakota oil to refineries in Wisconsin, Northeast
Indiana, Joliet, Woodridge, the Gulf Coast and across Michigan to Eastern Canada. Enbridge also transports
natural gas through lines dedicated to that fuel. Enbridge has a growing
footprint in green energy through its wind farms in the United States and
Canada.
Bottle of different oils transported through area lines was examined by the
audience. Another item passed around was a sample piece of the piping that
will be buried next year.
The 36 inch pipeline, number 78, will be laid about fifty feet from the existing
number 62 line. The new line will run from their Flannigan Facility northeast to Griffith/Hartsdale Facility
where it will connect with their existing line south of Lake Michigan. The new pipeline will cross into Grundy
County about four miles from Dwight.
28
Michael J. Stevens, Director of Legislative Liaison of the IL Depart. of Natural Resources, Was the Guest & Speaker for the August 13 Meeting.
Mr. Stevens gave a very wide ranging review of the IDNR. The overview included budgeting, fees, invasives, and fracking, among many other topics. When the assembly is in session, Mike is in Springfield. When it isn't Mike is meeting with local and state officials, volunteer groups and special interest groups all over the state. We were lucky he could fit us into his schedule.
The August 6 monthly steak fry was held at the home of
member Dale and Deb. We had good attendance and steaks were enjoyed by all.
At the July 30th meeting at the Country Mansion, we
had New Member Talks from Andrew Funk, Randy Randall, and Susie Johnson. We also had a presentation by Katie,
from Heritage Health Therapy and Senior Care. Katie gave a description of their therapy program.
NAGASAKI, After the Bomb
The July 23rd meetings' program was our own Ollie Zivney discussing his time as an occupation troop in Nagasaki, Japan weeks after the bomb. Ollie passed around pictures showing the devastating effects and how the high hills sheltered part of the city. A sidelight of the pictures was seeing Ollie as a young Navy Corpsman serving with the
Marines 69 years ago.
29
SHELTER BOX USA BOARD
MEMBER VISITS DWIGHT
ROTARY
President Lon presents Mr. Olsen with a donation toward a Shelter
Box.
Dwight Rotary was visited July 16, 2014 by Gary Olson, who gave
an inspirational talk about the Shelter Box USA organization. Mr.
Olsen is a director and former president of Shelter Box USA. He was the architect of the Dwight Public Library
rehab. He is a member of the Champaign-Urbana Sunrise Rotary Club.
Shelter Box is an idea that came from a United Kingdom Rotarian who wanted to help disaster victims
survive in the disaster area for an indefinite time in 2000. Each plastic storage box weighs over 120 pounds.
Each box has a family size tent to give a family shelter, cooking and eating utensils, water purification system,
food, and bedding.
Shelter boxes are often distributed to the victims before other charities start their surveys. They have several
distribution centers around the world. Most of the centers are co-located with DHL who donates the space and
equipment to move and store the boxes. Boxes may start arriving within hours of the event.
The first major distribution was to the Indonesian Tsunami. Since then boxes have been sent to natural
disasters and conflict zones on every continent but Antarctica. They distributed boxes to hard hit areas after
Katrina. They were there almost immediately after the storm. FEMA people tired to send them away but the
overwhelmed officials of several parishes were thrilled for a place to put survivors.
Although they are designed for a few weeks, most of the Haitian survivors are still using them. So many
have been sent to Indian disasters, re-packed, and stored by the government that India feels they can handle
most disasters themselves.
Dwight Rotarians are looking to support Shelter Box USA as one of their charities. Current plans are to have
a Shelter Box exhibit at Harvest Days. Those wishing to contribute can do so at the exhibit.
30
Altorfer, Inc is Dwight's Newest Business
To Open In Dwight this Fall. Vice-President Pat Putoni for Altorfer's Ag Services Division was the speaker at the July 9th Rotary
meeting. Several local farmers were guests at this presentation.
President Lon thanks Mr. Putoni for his presentation.
June 2nd saw a lot
of changes for Dwight Rotary. The Members of the Dwight Rotary Club thanked Past President Richard Jancek and his officers and board for a great Rotary year.
The Installation of new officers was held. PDG Chuck Johnson held
installation ceremonies for Lon Lovellette, incoming President and his
officers and board members.(Officers and Board listed on Home Page.)
Immediately following the installation, new President Lon Lovellette
began his year by installing new member Susie Johnson. Susie Johnson has served as Webmaster for the Dwight Rotary since 2011. She is a retired high school library.
Her sponsor is Lon Lovellette.
Once ceremonies were completed
Lon asked the members to work on enlarging the membership.
The Rotary International Theme for
2014-2015 during President Lon's year
is "Light Up Rotary"
