Page 1 of 16

July

2012

May

2013

INSIDE

Governor’s column...........................2

District Conference pictures.........3, 4 D6490’s largest grant project........5,6 50+years as Rotarians.....................7 Silent Auction nets $3,100...............7

Vermilion Co. clubs partner.............8 Mitkoses become Major Donors......8 Illini Rotaract raises money..............8 Marshall Rotarians honored.............8

Normal basketball winners...............8 RINGS Day gets Council OK...........9 Champaign auction June 1..............9 Normal’s last charter member........10

Pontiac’s annual fundraiser............10 Dates to Remember.......................10 Monticello raises $16,000..............11 Youth Exchange interest grows.....11 Hoopeston has dyslexia program..11

GSE team ready for Italy...............12 RYLA/Conference dates change...12 CU Illini After 5 is 100% PH Club...13 Sullivan has book club...................13

PolioPlus on Facebook..................13 RYE planning for 2014-15..............14 Friends Forever walk planned........14 Arcola sponsors Citizen of Year.....14

Litchfield spruces up park..............15 Urbana offering dyslexia program..15 Rotarians in the News....................15 District Secretary’s Report.............16

Normal, Danville Sunrise named clubs of the year The Normal and Danville Sunrise Rotary clubs were honored as the top clubs in District 6490 at the annual Conference on April 20. In a departure from the tradition of naming a single club for the top spot, Normal was named as the top club with more than 40 members and Danville Sunrise received the same honor for clubs with 40 or fewer members. Monticello received an honorable mention among the larger clubs, and Savoy and Arcola received honorable mentions among smaller clubs. All clubs in the district were judged on the same criteria. Here are some notes about the top clubs: Normal — $215.30 in Annual

Giving/member; Polio $1,780; new Interact club at Normal Community HS; sponsor of the new Bloomington-Normal

Daybreak Rotary Club; RI’s Presidential Citation; Star Club; Five 50+ year member Rotarians; received the District Avenue of Service Awards in all five areas — Club Service, Community Service,

International Service, Vocational Service and New Generations; six new Paul Harris Society members along with the eight that are presently PHS members; one new Major Donor to add to the three present Major Donors; Five Bequest Society members; one District Simplified Grant; six international projects; three individuals received the District Governor’s Making A Difference Award and two received the DG’s Excellence Award; two received the District Hall of Honor Award; one nominated for the RI’s White House Champion of Change; one Nominated for the RI Spouse/Partner Award; sponsors two Rotaract clubs; numerous members serve the district in leadership

President Art Drake accepted Normal’s Club of the Year award and President Sue Lochbaum accepted for Monticello.

Accepting for Danville Sunrise was John Alexander. Savoy was represented by President Elect Mike Kessel and President Larry Howell accepted for Arcola.

Continued as TOP CLUBS on page 7

B-N Daybreak chartered April 4 The Bloomington-Normal Daybreak Rotary Club became an officially chartered club on Thursday, April 4, 2013. Daybreak has operated as a provisional club since members began meeting in February 2011. The club's application for charter was approved once it reached membership requirements of Rotary International. The 24-member club wasted no time serving the community. The club hosted Cajun Craze on Saturday, April 8, 2013. The sold-out crawfish boil raised money to benefit Habitat for Humanity. As a provisional club, Daybreak members have volunteered to support several local organizations, including

the Ecology Action Center, the Salvation Army, Relay for Life, the Bloomington Public Library and others. Daybreak President Sig Enger said the club is excited to have its charter. "Being an official Rotary club allows us to be part of the oldest and one of the most respected service organizations in the world," Enger said. "It also opens doors to us to begin seeking grant dollars for implementing sustainable projects that will improve lives for people here and elsewhere in the world. We are going to immediately begin developing ideas for just that. It's an exciting time for our members." The Daybreak Rotary Club

President’s rep down on the farm

RI President’s Rep. Charlie Rogers had a little fun at the dairy farm of PDG Ray Ropp while attending the annual Rotary District 6490 Conference in Normal on April 19-20. (Photo by Mary Rogers)

Continued as Daybreak on Page 7

Page 2 of 16

District Website www.rotary6490.org Rotary International Website www.rotary.org Online make-up www.rotaryeclubone.org

Newsletter editor Bill Wills 2404 Clarkson Lane Bloomington, IL 61704 Email: Billphyl@aol.com (309) 825-3541

District Governor J. Gordon Bidner 5150 E. 2050 North Road Carlock, IL 61725 Email: vmsa@frontiernet.net Home: (309) 963-4240 Cell: (309) 531-1230

Deadline for next newsletter is May 31

Governor’s column

Thanks Alan Chapman and Hank Campbell and Team Excellence for orchestrating a great District Conference April 19-20, 2013, at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Normal, IL. Yes, I admit that I may be a bit prejudiced, but from the comments that have come my way it appears that we met expectations of the attendees. I like to categorize things so permit me to list my ‘Bakers Dozen’ items that resonated with me. 1. The Newton 6th Grade Choir. 2. Leah Matchett “On Becoming Beautiful.” 3. The 50+ year Rotarians. 4. The 27 baskets for ShelterBox, the 40 club displays and Friendship

think is wise; …..Risk more than others think is safe; …..Dream more than others think is practical; …..Expect more than others think is possible.” So, thanks for caring, risking, dreaming and expecting as we walked together this Rotary Year to realize Excellence!

House. 5. The Memorial Service. 6. The Oratory Contest. 7. JoJo Rhinehart, “The Green Path to Peace.” 8. The GSE teams. 9. The RYE, Interact and Rotaract. 10. The 12 breakout sessions. 11. The awards and recognitions and the three new Paul Harris Fellows. 12. The fun, fellowship and food that we experienced. 13. Our 2012-13 district theme “Excellence.” Yes, we had a great president’s representative in PDG Charlie and Mary Rogers, John T. Capps energized us and Ed Futa brought us full circle with his thoughts. These four added lots to the core values of the District Conference and were on target! When we ended with the song “Peace,” led by Jan Bahr. It seemed like we did indeed place

the ‘cap sheath’ on the conference as it came to an end. To each Rotarian that participated in the planning, the implementation and attended, “Thank you” for making the 2013 District Conference special. To those clubs and individuals that we recognized, congratulations and thank you for Making A Difference as you strived for Excellence. It has been our honor to serve District 6490 and the now 55 Rotary Clubs as your district governor. Sandi and I have enjoyed working with you during this year as we strived to achieve some pretty lofty goals and in most cases even surpassing those goals. Again thank you. Remember------ “Excellence can be obtained if you: …..Care more than others

DG Gordon & Sandi Bidner

District 6490

DG Gordon & Sandi

Page 3 of 16

Roger Schmidgall won the Outstanding Rotarian Peace Initiative for his leadership in developing Friends Forever in the Bloomington-Normal area.

A picture is worth 10,000 words – so here is our District Conference...........

Our speakers

RI President’s Rep. Charlie Rogers, wife Mary, and Leah Matchett, Illini Rotaractor

John T. Capps III joking with DG Gordon Bidner

Former RI General Secretary Ed Futa and DG Gordon Bidner

JoJo gets surprise

JoJo Rhinehart of Monticello came to talk about winning a $1,500 scholarship from the district to attend the Honolulu Peace Forum, but was surprised with a Paul Harris Fellow, compliments of DG Bidner.

Cathy Rector, left, and Tiffany DeSpain

Rotarians

of the Year

Hall of Honor inductees

Gary Swearingen with DG Bidner received his award Friday night. Inducted Saturday, from left, were PDG Ray Ropp, District Secretary Marcia Dennis, Joe Mikulecky and Bill Wills.

New Rotarians of the Year

Larry Stoner Amy Snyder

Peace award winners

Noeli Anderson accepted the Outstanding Club Peace Initiative award in behalf of the Bloomington-Normal Sunset Rotary Club.

New to Paul Harris Society

Conference

photos by Meng Horng

(Bloomington)

DG Bidner welcomed, from left, Hank Campbell, Alan Chapman, Rick Davidson, Art Drake, Larry Howell and Kevin Yonce.

Page 4 of 16 .........And if you didn’t see enough, here is more from the April 19-20 event

All photos by Bill Warmoth and Meng Horng from the 2013 Rotary District 6490 Conference may be viewed and downloaded at: https://picasaweb.google.com/104917012049953729446/2013DistrictConference?authuser=0 <https://picasaweb.google.com/104917012049953729446/2013DistrictConference?authuser=0&feat=directlink> &feat=directlink From the album you can click on an individual photo, then click the "Download" tab above the photo to download that photo.

Newton Elementary School 6th Grade Choir Making a Difference winners

RI Rotarian Spouse/Partner

Nominee

Carol Ropp honored

RI White House Champion of Change

Largest % membership growth

Gibson City was represented by Ray Hankes, Treasurer Sue Everett and President Gene Everett.

Oratory Contest winners

Amy Daniels of Charleston, next to DG Bidner, won the Oratory contest.

Newest Major Donors

PDG Dick and Eileen Wagner were honored at the District Conference as new Major Donors

Drake Zimmerman is district’s nominee.

Carly McClory and Mallory Davidson came to lead breakout sessions and receive awards for their Douglas County Rotaract Club and were surprised with Paul Harris Fellow awards presented by Mallory’s father, Rick Davidson of the Tuscola

Rotary Club.

Surprise Paul Harris Fellow Awards

Page 5 of 16 District’s largest grant project ever undertaken waiting ................

By Heather Stoa Rotary Club of Decatur On April 5, our District 6490 received word that a $58,330 matching grant to bring clean water to 15,000 Kenyans is in process by The Rotary

mutual friend, who knew that both men had an interest in Africa and in water projects. Carl and Dean teamed up to drill wells and to share the need for clean water in eastern Kenya with Central Illinois Rotarians.

Project in Tulia, Kenya The proposed water project is in Tulia, Kitui District of Eastern Kenya, Kavonge sub-location. The community is in a mountainous area where incomes are $1 to $2 a day. Unemployment is high. People raise two crops per year, but often experience crop failure in the dry season with resulting food insecurity. Families typically have six to eight children and frequently lack the money to provide secondary school education for their children. Families that get their water from shallow wells and streams see these sources disappear during the dry season, forcing them to walk miles for water. In the dry season, women and children, primarily school-age girls, spend 4 to 12 hours a day collecting water from pits dug in the bottoms of dry river beds. This water is sandy and contaminated with typhoid. Lack of water has led to major crop failure and overgrazing. Unsafe water sources have led to disease. The area is currently served by two wells, drilled in 2005 and completed in 2007. Contributions from the Tulia community, the Kenyan and Danish

governments, the International Red Cross and Caring for Kenya made the wells possible. Unfortunately, the two wells are inadequate to meet the needs of the population. A third well was drilled in 2011, but requires pumps, piping, a tank and kiosk stations to be usable. Last June, Carl and Dean traveled to Tulia to drill a fourth well with funds from Caring for Kenya and Healing Hands International, another NGO where Carl serves as the international agriculture

Foundation! This is a culmination of two years of effort among eight clubs: Champaign, Champaign-Sunrise, Decatur, Decatur Metro, Greater Lake Charles Louisiana, Rantoul, Thika Kenya, Urbana; and three districts: 6490, 9200 and 6200; individuals; and Champaign Rotary Club Foundation. The total cost of the project is $116,810 and is the largest project our district has ever undertaken. During the 2011-2012 Rotary year, Champaign Rotarian Carl Burkybile and Decatur Rotarian Dean Ekberg made presentations to Rotary clubs in District 6490 about the urgent need for clean water in eastern Kenya. The proposed project evolved from a friendship that began in 1989 between Carl and Erastus Kavuti, a Kenyan sent by his country’s air force to Chanute Air Force Base at Rantoul for training. Erastus returned home as a Christian with the desire to help his fellow Kenyans. Carl and others who met Erastus in the U.S. formed Caring for Kenya, a faith-based humanitarian organization of Americans. Over the years, members of Caring for Kenya have made multiple trips to the region to provide humanitarian assistance focusing on agriculture, education, health care, clean water and community development. Dean is a hydro-geologist, who has also worked with faith-based organizations, and has drilled more than 200 wells in Africa. Carl and Dean met through a

director. While in Tulia they repaired existing wells and Dean sited the location for a fifth well, which was drilled last July. The three new wells have been cased, tested and capped while money is being raised to complete the project. The proposed Rotary project will bring electricity to the three wells. Each well will have pumps, tank stands and water tanks. Piping will be laid from the wells to the tanks and then to the kiosk distribution stations.

The stations will supply approximately 15,000 individuals. The Kwambelu well will serve a secondary school to be constructed in the near future. Water will be used to make the bricks for the building, and then the water will be used to meet the needs of students and staff; the Mwangya well will have multiple kiosks that will deliver water to a demonstration farm that teaches sustainable agriculture and will also provide for the needs of community members; while the third well in Mibhiini (Nziathwu) will bring water to Kavonge Primary School and nearby residents.

The Grant Process Heather Stoa from Rotary Club of Decatur volunteered to write the grant. She quickly encountered one of many hurdles. The Kenyan District 9200 is a Future Vision Pilot District, and Future Vision Pilot Districts can only work with other Future Vision Districts on grants. District 6490 is not a Future Vision Pilot District. The pilot project ends on June 30, and

Friends: Erastus Kavuti & Carl Burkybile want to uncap wellhead

The location: Tulia, Kenya

The goal: clean, running water

A leader & beneficiaries: Carl Burkybile and nearby residents Continued on next page

Page 6 of 16

....for $58,330 matching grant from The Rotary Foundation beginning July 1 all districts will be eligible for Future Vision projects. However, after discussions with Carl, District Governor Gordon Bidner, District Foundation Chair Surinder Sethi, Drake Zimmerman, Steve Walters, members of the World Community Services Committee, Kenyan District Governor

Geeta Manek and District 6490 clubs, it was decided that 15,000 Kenyans needed clean water sooner rather than later. Our district will not receive credit for this project, but because of the urgent need, our district decided to look for another Future Vision Pilot District willing to take on the project this year. District 6200 and the Greater Lake Charles Louisiana Rotary Club generously agreed to serve as the international partner and submitted the grant to The Rotary Foundation in March. Also in March, and during his third trip to Kenya this year, Carl Burkybile was able to secure the Thika Rotary Club as the host partner. District 6200 Past District Governor Rich Churchman, the primary international contact for the grant, reported on April 5th that the project has been assigned a number by TRF, and the grant is now in process! In an April 5 e-mail to all who have worked on the project, District Governor Gordon Bidner wrote: “I can’t tell you how proud I am of all of you for your Vision, for your Persistence, for your Cooperation and for exhibiting “Peace Through Service” in spades!! So many came together from our District 6490 Rotary clubs, from our three districts—6200—9200---6490 and our district’s leadership and RI to Make It Happen!! Yes, we even crossed the Future Vision lines knowing it was the Right Thing to do for the Right Reasons!”

Project Outcomes Upon approval from The Rotary Foundation for the $58,330 match,

the project will begin. This project will provide employment for community members during construction. Once completed, the community water committee will monitor, operate and maintain the water system. Individuals who use the kiosk stations will pay a small amount for the water. Local citizens will be trained to maintain the equipment, and the fees will cover the costs for maintenance and repairs as well as wages for the kiosk operators. With the addition of three wells and six kiosks, more families will have access to clean water resulting in fewer waterborne illnesses. Because the quantity of water in the community will increase, there will be fewer opportunities to overcharge for water, allowing families to keep more of their income for food, education fees and other expenses. Girls will spend less time collecting water and more time in school. More water available for farming will increase

food production. The future school by the Kwambelu well will offer vocational classes for secondary students, resulting in improved employment opportunities. Caring for Kenya and Healing Hands International currently offer workshops on sustainable gardening, including composting and drip irrigation methods. The demonstration farm by

the Mwangya well will provide more training in sustainable farming; therefore, increasing food production and improving food security. Once the project is completed, three more reliable wells with clean water will be available for community members at a reasonable cost. Although the grant is targeted towards Water and Sanitation, it easily impacts other Rotary areas of focus of Disease Prevention and Treatment; Maternal and Child Health; Basic Education and Literacy; and Economic and Community Development. This project would not be possible without the commitment, patience, hard work and faith of Carl Burkybile. He truly lives the Rotary ideal of Service Above Self. A tribute to Carl and his efforts in the form of a poem was written by his friend and fellow Champaign Rotarian Lin Warfel:

Water A friendship is born based on a person known to both and the friendship grows; Off to Africa a world apart yet people just the same needing clean water more food, better food, year around; Caring leads to ideas and ideas can grow

Water source now: Pits dug in bottom of dry river beds

Proud carrier: Girls carry water for miles

reaching out to others who care Relationships grow and lead to answers; Not just philosophy but water clean abundant; Changed lives no longer days spent walking digging in a dry river bed for muddy water diseased water a plethora of diseases sidetracked! Health! Energy! Redirected productivity! Two friends plus Rotary yields thousands helped We lift our glass Champaign plus Rotary*

L'Chaim!” *Champaign, Champaign-Sunrise, Decatur, Decatur Metro, Greater Lake Charles, Rantoul, Thika, Urbana and more!

Today’s distribution system: Residents line up with their containers to get water

Page 7 of 16

CLUB NAME INDUCTION DATE/YEARS Arthur: James Winningham 52 years Atlanta: Paul Adams 6/10/1953 60 years John Brandt 11/12/1952 61 years Robert Thompson 11/03/1959 54 years Bloomington: John Trefzger 7/01/1962 51 years Blue Mound: Malcolm “Doc” Mathias 50+ Champaign: Bernard A. Dunn 1/01/1962 51 years Richard H. Foley 1/01/1960 53 years Morris L. Hecker Jr. 1/01/1949 64 years Frank D. Keck II 1/01/1961 52 years Donald E. Moyer Jr. 1/01/1963 50 years Robert T. Parkhill 1/01/1953 60 years Kyle Robeson 1/01/1958 55 years Lott H. Thomas 1/01/1963 50 years Richard R. Tryon Jr. 1/01/1960 53 years Charleston: J. Leeds Bower 11/18/1961 52 years Robert W. Rupel 5/17/1960 53 years Danville: Thomas R. Byrket 10/23/1961 52 years Robert Muirhead 5/28/1962 51 years Decatur: William F. Blank 9/1951 62 years G. Glen Dalluge 7/1954 59 years Dwight: Delmar “Del” Hancock 1954 59 years Effingham: Ted Keller 52 years Eureka: Mike Sager 4/09/1957 56 years Gilman: Eugene Merkle 1963 50 years

Harrison Randall 1961 52 years

Gilman continued Jerome Rebholz 1950 63 years Donald Wilken 1963 50 years Lincoln: Robert Albert 5/08/63 50 years Litchfield: O.K. Donham 1958 55 years Francis T. “Mike” Michels 1958 55 years Hayward Talley 1954 59 years Mattoon: John Dooley 1/07/1963 50 years Bob Clark 06/1963 50 years Monticello: Charles N. Finson 09/1937 75 years Keith Hutson 62 years Nokomis: Lester Bruns 1960 53 years Normal: Art Runyon 56 years Melvin D. Schultz 2/1963 50 years Robert E. Ward 3/1963 50 years Paris: Robert Sprague 11/03/1952 61 years Ray Taylor 11/10/1952 61 years Paxton: Robert Martensen 1963 50 years Robinson: Wilbur Powden 11/06/1950 63 years Tuscola: Ned Ferguson 55 years Bill McCarty 55 years Urbana: Richard Godgal 64 years Kermit Harden 54 years John Houseworth 56 years Robert Mussey 54 years

CLUB NAME INDUCTION DATE/YEARS

positions; net gain of two new members. Monticello — $135.37 in Annual Giving/member; polio $2,615; one of the Outstanding Interact Clubs of the year and Presidential Citation winner for club at Monticello HS; RI’s Presidential Citation; Star Club; two 50+ year member Rotarians —one of which has been a member 75 years; received Avenue of Service Award for Community Service and New Generations; has one Major Donor, one Bequest Society Member and two Paul Harris Society members; numerous members serve the district in leadership positions and one member at the zone level; New Rotarian of the Year; sponsored one of the district Peace Forum delegates; had a District Simplified Grant; net gain of one new member. Danville Sunrise — $123.08 in Annual Giving/member; polio $1,808.78; 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club this year; Presidential Citation; Star Club; District Simplified Grant project; one member received DG’s Excellence Award; net gain of four members; one member serving as district Annual Giving chair; one Major Donor. Savoy — $130.90 in Annual

Giving/member; polio $993; district Rotarian of the Year; Outstanding Interact Club of the Year—and Presidential Citation for Champaign Centennial HS Interact Club; Presidential Citation; Star Club; District Simplified Grant; net gain one member; one member is district RYLA Committee chair; one Major Donor; one Bequest Society member. Arcola — Net increase of one member; Star Club for 4 years; 1 Rotary Youth Exchange student; 4 students to RYLA in 2013; 2 students in the 2013 Rotary Oratory Contest; district Involvement as RLI facilitator; Achievement Awards; nominations; ShelterBox.

provides its members with social and business networking opportunities and service events and projects to benefit the local community and communities around the world. The club meets regularly on Thursdays from 6:15-7:30 a.m. at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center at 10 Brickyard Drive, Bloomington, Ill. Guests are welcome. For more information, please contact Daybreak President Sig Enger at 309-824-9087, (dwsenger@gmail.com); or Daybreak Secretary Joseph Ciccolo at 781-710-2737, (joe.ciccolo@gmail.com). Daybreak online: http://sites.google.com/site/daybreakrotaryofbn/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Daybreak-Rotary-Club/215769078436129?ref=ts&fref=ts.

Daybreak continued from Page 1

District 6490’s Rotarians with 50-plus years of service TOP CLUBS continued

From Page 1

By Marcia Dennis The District Conference display of Silent Auction Baskets was very impressive. We had 30 baskets, including a large tool box filled with Handy Man tools, two Party Tubs filled with a variety of fun items, and even a Get Your Butt Out of Bed basket, donated by our newest and earliest (6:15 am) Daybreak club. After lots of looking and bidding we raised $3,110.00! This will be donated to Shelter Box. A big thank you to all the clubs that donated a basket and all the good Rotarians that bid higher and higher.

Silent Auction Nets $3,100

Page 8 of 16

Marshal Rotarians new to Paul Harris

Illini Rotaract raises money for PolioPlus

DGN Mitkos, wife become major donors

Vermilion County clubs partner

Ken Konsis, executive director for the Environmental Education Center, receives a check from Mike Wilkenson on behalf of four Rotary clubs. Wilkenson was treasurer for the building project.

By Judy Story Project chair The four Rotary clubs in Vermilion County have partnered on a project for the Environmental Education Center that is under constructeion at Kennekuk County Park on Henning Road. The four clubs, with grants and individual club money from fund- raisers, are purchasing tables, chairs, computers, dissecting scopes and educational materials

for the educational classrooms. When this project is completed the classrooms will be named the Rotary Educational Classrooms. The four clubs involved in this project are The Rotary Club of Danville with President Amy Hoosel; Downtown Danville Rotary with Jennifer Dixon as president; Danville Sunrise with Chuck Kasper as president; and the Rotary Club of Hoopeston with Greg Anvick as president.

DGN Les Mitkos and wife, Yvonne, were honored by DG Gordon Bidner at their April 10 club meeting and again April 20 at the District 6490 Annual Conference in Normal

By Bill Dees On April 10, Litchfield Rotarians DGN Les and Yvonne Mitkos were recognized by Rotary District 6490 Governor Gordon Bidner for achieving the Major Donor level of giving. By becoming Major

Donor’s The Rotary Foundation recognizes couples or individuals whose combined personal or cumulative giving has reached $10,000. All contributions to the Foundation are included in this total, regardless of the gift designation. They were

presented by Governor Bidner with a crystal recognition piece and a Major Donor lapel pin. The governor was assisted in the presentation by First Lady Sandra Bidner, who also had a Peace Crane that she made for the district governor nominee and his wife..

Illini Rotaract members

The Illini Rotaract Club at the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign recently raised $443 for Rotary International’s Polio Plus campaign. Suzanna

The shot glass

Storms of Illini Rotaract said the club was interested in helping with the campaign to eradicate polio through a worldwide vaccination program, a Rotary International priority. They created a fundraising event called “Shot glasses for Shots” in which they designed and sold shot glasses on the U of I campus and gave the program and the polio vaccine.

proceeds to Polio Plus. As they sold the shot glasses, they provided information on the PolioPlus

Marshall’s Weir, Mascher honored AG Terry Weir was the “presenter” at his own Marshall Rotary Club on April 23, but just 3 days earlier he was the one being “presented” during the annual District Conference in Normal. AG Weir was welcomed as a member of the Paul Harris Society at the Conference. The Paul Harris Society is named after the founder of Rotary International. The society recognizes friends of The Rotary Foundation who annually contribute $1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus and other approved Foundation grant activities. Rotarian Mascher was recognized April 23 as a Paul Harris Fellow because her

contributions to The Rotary Foundation have totaled at least $1,000. It was the second time within a month that she was recognized. On April 4, she received the Marshall Service League Diana Award for her countless volunteer activities.

Normal basketball winners Ramesh Chaudhari (Bloomington-Normal Sunset Club) won $100 and John Morris (Normal Rotary Club) won $200 for having squares that matched the halftime and final scores in the Normal Rotary Club’s college basketball contest. See page 9 of the February 2013 Rotary District 6490

newsletter for details on how the contest worked. The Normal Rotary Club wishes to thank all who participated in the contest, which earned the Club $700 for its “Coats for Kids” project. Please contact Mark Comadena (mecomad@ilstu.edu) if you have any questions regarding the contest.

Page 9 of 16

By PDG Chris Scherer Let’s celebrate the passage of Resolution 13-167 initiated by the Bloomington-Normal Sunset Club asking the Rotary International Board to consider the establishing of a Youth Services Volunteer Service Day. Note the name of New Generations has been changed to Youth Services, thus we probably need to change the name of the Volunteer Service Day or Week. And as to the timing, I suggested in my presentation

By Elizabeth Krchak Past President, Champaign Rotary Every three years since 1976, the Rotary Club of Champaign has hosted an “Action Auction” to raise money to support local organizations and initiatives. The 2013 event, themed “A Night on Broadway,” will be held Saturday evening, June 1, at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana. The Rotary Club of Champaign’s goal is to raise $100,000 this year. The last auction in 2010 helped fund dozens of programs and organizations such as ShelterBox, Rotary International water wells, Backpack Buddies, the Garden Hills Literacy Project, Read Across America, Developmental Services Center, Orpheum Children’s Theatre, Center for Women in Transition and many more. Regardless of where you live in the district, you can help the club reach its fundraising goal! The club has partnered with Busey Bank in a social media campaign to benefit

Champaign Rotary and the programs it supports. Busey will donate cash to the club for new ”likes/follows” to Busey’s Facebook and Twitter pages. To activate a donation, follow the steps below each day: May 30 Like and Follow Busey on Facebook and Twitter Tell Busey your favorite Broadway play

$3 will be donated on your behalf

May 31 Like and Follow Busey on Facebook and

Tw Twitter

Tell Busey a line from your favorite

Broadway play.

$4 will be donated on your behalf

June 1 Like and Follow Busey on Facebook and

Tw Twitter

Complete the phrase—“Without Broadway,

life “ life would be_____.”

$5 will be donated on your behalf

Champaign can use your help with ‘Action Auction’

B-N Sunset’s proposal for RINGS Day OK’d by Council on Legislation

RESOLUTION 13-167 To request the RI Board to consider establishing RI New Generations Service Day

Proposed by the Rotary Club of Bloomington-Normal Sunset, Illinois, USA Endorsed by District 6490, Illinois, USA, November 2011

PROPOSER’S STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND EFFECT

With the recent emphasis on improving our RI brand recognition amongst the new generation and our need to recruit youngsters to become dedicated, passionate Rotarians,we propose the introduction of a program called RINGS Day, which stands for Rotary International New Generation Service Day. The program would involve RI designating a specific day (or week) annually during which the local Rotary clubs, with

engagement from youth, would conduct service projects simultaneously around the world. With over 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide, we have an opportunity to bring at least another 1.2 million youth each year to partner with us on pre-determined days/weeks to do community projects around the world. The potential of future leaders can be leveraged after or during their involvement with one of the New Generations

programs (EarlyAct, RYLA, Youth Exchange, Rotaract and Interact). Each of our six areas of focus (peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and economic and community development) would constitute a RING and all projects selected would directly connect to one of these RINGs. All volunteer hours and projects would be recorded and shared with

media outlets to create Rotary brand awareness as well as create an interest amongst the youth to join Rotary in the future. And this program fits into the plans of RI to collect and report the value of service of Rotary to the people of the world. A similar program involving youth around the world is currently being successfully run by Youth Service America

(www.ysa.org) called Global Youth Service Day (www.gysd.org), and this year (2010-2011) the YSA youth did over 3,500 projects worldwide.

three years. The voting delegates are all past district governors (328 in attendance, four absent). No past RI president is allowed to vote, but they are permitted to speak on proposals. Every speaker’s remarks are translated into six languages and voting is done electronically with results showing in seconds. Sessions ran from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on

Friday. The Council has been held in Chicago the last fifteen years. In 2001, a total of 631 items of legislation were submitted. So this year’s 200 was a light load. If your club would like a more complete report please contact me. [Editor’s note: To read all proposals entered for Council on Legislation consideration: http://www.rotary.org/ridocuments/en_pdf/col13_proposed_legislation_en.pdf ]

on the chamber floor that the timing, at least in America, should be during National Volunteer

Week in April. You understand this is merely a recommendation to the RI board. We are not assured it will be a reality. But with the initial passage 254 to 251 I think we should at least initiate the program in District 6490. I should tell you our proposal was one of 10 that passed. Fifteen resolutions failed and 25 were withdrawn before consideration by the Council. A total of 150 enactments were considered. (An enactment seeks to amend the RI Constitution, bylaws or The Club Constitution.) Fifty-one enactments were passed and 67 failed. Enactments take effect July 1, 2013. Fifty resolutions were submitted (a resolution deals with policy, procedure or programs). As stated earlier, 10 resolutions passed, 15 failed and 25 were withdrawn. Withdrawn enactments or resolutions many times have been withdrawn before the council gets to them because they parallel other proposals or because a prior proposal nullifies the action sought. Other proposals of interest to District 6490 members include the failure to limit Youth Exchange to sons and daughters of Rotarians and the lowering of RYE top age to 17. Approved was an international dues increase to $53 per year for 2013-14, $55 per year for 2014-15 and $57 per year for 2015-16. Minimum dues amounts for small clubs was also raised, but I am not certain as to the amount at this time. The council, Rotary’s legislative body, began in 1934 and currently meets every

Page 10 of 16

Dates to Remember MAY 2013 May 14: Outbound GSE team leaves for Italy. May 17-19: RI Peace Forum III, Hiroshima May 31: Deadline for June newsletter May 31: Last day to submit Inbound commitments for 2014-15 JUNE—Rotary Fellowships Month June 15: Outbound GSE team returns from Italy. June 23-26: RI Convention, Lisbon, Portugal June 30: District 6490 installation, Illinois State University Alumni Center. June 30: Deadline for July newsletter. JULY July 31: Deadline for August newsletter. AUGUST Aug. 17: RLI training day at Richland Community College, Decatur. MAY 2014 May 3-4: Rotary District 6490 Conference, Hilton Garden Inn, Champaign.

Pontiac raises scholarship money

Linda Schneeman, left, and President Lori Fairfield, right, presented $2,000 check to Roland and Alberta Kinate.

By Linda Schneeman Pontiac Rotary Club Linda Schneeman and President Lori Fairfield presented Roland & Alberta Kinate a check for $2,000 for winning the Pontiac Rotary Club’s 2013 Hawaiian Raffle. This year the winners decided to take the cash instead of the trip. Kelly Kinate sold the winning ticket to his father.

Pontiac Rotary Club has been doing the Hawaiian Raffle for over 30 years. I have been chairwoman for 20 years and it is so wonderful that we can help give scholarship money to 5 students to go to college. There are only 175 tickets sold for this event. The winner can take a one-week trip that includes air, hotel, transfers and car or they are awarded $2,000 cash. Also there are 10 drawings for $50 cash throughout the night. The last ticket drawn will be the trip or $2,000 cash. Winners need not be present to win. We had Nathan Joerndt sing for us this year. We have a hog roast and all the trimmings. Master of Ceremonies Marlon

Eilts provided music and got the young kids involved in the drawings. It was a fun night. The money raised from this event will be given for scholarships to the top 5 students at Pontiac Township High School. On May 21st, the 5 scholarship winners and their parents, will be guests of the Pontiac Rotary Club to receive their scholarships. I never get tired of doing the Hawaiian raffle. Sometimes it gets hard the day of the raffle, especially if the tickets are not sold. But in the end, it is all worth it and all of the Rotary club members pull together and help get all the tickets sold. They have never let me down. So, yes, it is worth every minute of it.

Ben Gildersleeve was last surviving charter member of Normal Rotary Club

On Nov. 30, 2011, Ben Gildersleeve was honored by then- DG Ron Schettler and Normal Rotary President Linda Healy.

By Art Drake Normal Rotary Club president When Ben Gildersleeve died April 4, 2013, McLean County lost an innovator, a business person, a community leader, an affable gentleman and, yes, a Rotarian -- one who had logged more than 60 years of perfect attendance with the Normal Rotary Club. Ben died at age 94 at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal. A Hudson resident, Ben was the last surviving charter member of the Normal Rotary Club, which dates back to June 17, 1949. He was president in 1958-59. He was a Paul Harris Fellow +8 and a Rotary International Major Donor. In 1999, he was named to the Hall of Honor. Until his recent illness, Ben maintained his attendance record by making up meetings in Bloomington, Florida or wherever he was. District Governor Gordon Bidner got to know Ben through their involvement in the hybrid seed business and the potential of cloud seeding to curtail a drought. Ben was owner and operator of Gildersleeve Seed Co. “Ben leaves a legacy of modeling, of caring, of sharing and of leadership and as a friend to many,” Gordon said. When Gordon joined Normal Rotary in 1999, he used Ben as a mentor. “And when I became president of Normal Rotary in the 2007-08 year, I dedicated my year of service to Ben,” Gordon said. Ben was a mainstay of the club. In 2005, he was a major force in the development of Easter Seals’ Timber Pointe Outdoor Center at Lake Bloomington, a project of the four Rotary clubs in Bloomington-Normal. A former Timber Pointe volunteer, Ben issued a $230,000 challenge gift to jumpstart the donations being raised to develop the facility. Today, the center is the premier resource in the state that provides specialized and inclusive camping and respite programming for people with disabilities or special needs and

their families in a safe, accessible and beautiful environment. In the 1970s, he used a “second-rate piece of ground” that he owned as a site for Hazy Hills golf course, a family-oriented facility that is used for charity as well as recreation. For years, Ben has closed the course to the public – for free! -- so Normal Rotary could hold its annual golf outing there. Benjamin T. Gildersleeve was born Jan. 12, 1919, in Hudson, son of Charles T. and Florence Jones Gildersleeve. He married LaVelle Dunn on Aug. 3, 1941, in Gardner. She survives, as do two two children, Joy Gildersleeve, York, S.C.; and Jim Gildersleeve, Hudson. “Over my lifetime, I have met and worked with many individuals that have made an impact in their chosen profession, their communities and, yes, our world,” DG Gordon said. “Ben is at the top of the list. “He was a leader in agriculture, specifically in the seed industry, a creative and innovative thinker. In addition he was a loyal friend with a quick wit and a friendly smile for everyone he met.” For members of Normal Rotary, the challenge will be to maintain the qualities that we and others admired in Ben: “an attitude of inclusiveness, plain old common sense and leadership by example.” “Ben was kind, gentle, always professional and a true gentleman,” DG Gordon said.

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Hoopeston learns about dyslexia

Monticello raises $16,000 for literacy

By Kelly M. Younker Crawford On Saturday, April 6, the Monticello Rotary Club hosted the Monticello Rotary Auction. The event was held at the Piatt County Trail Blazer’s Club in Monticello and nearly 200 guests attended the event,

helping to make it a success. The club had a 50/50 drawing, which offered prizes and cash. The silent auction went over well with 46 items, but the biggest event of the evening was the live auction! Items such as a Jimmy Buffet party, an Illini Tailgate and

a Hawaiian vacation were among the list of 33 live auction items. This year’s club project, chosen by President Sue Lochbaum, pictured above, is literacy and the event raised just over $16,000 to put toward

literacy projects. Many of the items auctioned were donated by Rotarians and local businesses in the Monticello area. The event was truly a success and the club is looking forward to a bigger and better year in 2014.

By Jim Bowers The Hoopeston Rotary Club participated in presenting “Journey Into Dyslexia” April 23 at the Hoopeston Public Library. We had 15 people present for the presentation, of which two families attending had family members with dyslexia. One was a grade school child and the other was actually one of our members. The presentation went over very well. When asked about the presentation, the parents of the young boy said they would enjoy showing it to a group to which they belong. There was also a mother there

who saw several signals from the DVD that her son was experiencing. It was suggested that we try to get the DVD into the school systems in the area – it was that good. The director of our local Multi-Agency Service Center would like her Teen Reach directors and helpers along with the Teen Reach kids to see the DVD. It was put together very well and very much accepted by our group. We are in the process of trying to either get our own copy of the DVD or get it back here sometime in the future.

Interest increasing in Youth Exchange By Karl Konrad District 6490 RYE chair The March 23, Youth Exchange Officer training session and outbound orientation revealed an increased interest in the Youth Exchange program. Alongside seasoned YEOs Bill Volk (Urbana), David Dyer (Forsyth), Rob Cranston (Normal), Terry Weir (Marshall), Tom Redington (Clinton), Bob Keller(Champaign West), Jeff Van Buren (Champaign Sunrise) Larry Howell (Arcola), and Aaron Ifft (Mattoon) were first-time attendees Sam Moser (Eureka), Doug Schwalm (Bloomington-Normal Sunrise), Sandra Calderon (Champaign), Phil Ferguson and Amy Schneider ( both of CU Illini after 5). Those who attended both the Outbound orientation and the afternoon session for YEOs only agreed to have benefitted from exposure to new aspects of the program. Doug Schwalm also joined the district committee along with Larry Howell (Arcola) and Illini Rotaractor Leah Matchett. Leah and Doug share in common having been Outbound RYE students as well as being involved in Rotaract after their exchange. Doug agreed to organize a committee to create RYE

marketing tools with prospective Outbounds and host families in mind. Being considered by Doug and Leah are print and on-line materials to be made available on a new section of our district web site. While not up and running yet, all D-6490 YEOs are also looking forward to being able to access district specific materials on line as opposed to receiving them one form at a time by e-mail. Those materials will include forms and flyers as well as district specific policies. Among those is the 2014/15 Inbound Commitment Form that should be submitted ASAP to the current RYE Chair Karl Konrad with payment of the customary $1,000 -- due no later than June 1, 2013. The appropriate form can be requested by contacting Karl Konrad at rb6490yeo@yahoo.com.

Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says "If an emergency, notify:" I put "DOCTOR."

Page 12 of 16

GSE team ready to head for Italy for a month’s stay Michael Snow will lead the District 6490 Outbound Group Study Exchange Team to Rotary districts in Italy this month. The team will leave May 14 and return June 15. Team members are Holly Bray, a social sciences teacher from Effingham; Rachael Mosley, an agency business analyst for State Farm Insurance in Bloomington; Kirby Vandivort, a computer programmer from Champaign; and Kristin Williamson of Urbana, director of public & government relations for BPC Inc. Mike lives in Mattoon, where he retired as pastor of the First Baptist Church. He had been pastor there since 2007. Since retiring from full-time ministry, he continues to serve part-time as minister of older adults at the First United Methodist Church. He has been a Rotarian for four years and has served for three years on the Mattoon club’s board as chairperson of the Paul Harris Foundation. In recent years his family has hosted GSE team members from India, Brazil and Germany. He has also hosted exchange students from Switzerland, Brazil and Sweden. In 2010, Mike and Diane Snow’s daughter, Hannah, was a Rotary Exchange Student to Denmark. The Snows also have two adult sons, Ben and Nathan. Holly attended Concordia University, Chicago from 2002 to 2006 to obtain degrees in secondary education and Lutheran education. She is licensed to teach social sciences, which include history, government, geography, sociology, psychology and economics for students ages 11 through 18 as well as, religion classes for Lutheran schools and churches. Her work after college took her to

domestic destinations such as New York City, Los Angeles, Hawaii and Colorado, and to international destinations such as England, France, Italy and Japan. Her passion for history grew exponentially when she began to travel. She tries to see a new state each year of her life and has been to 30 states. Rachael graduated from Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, MS. She graduated in 1994 with a degree in business administration with a minor in accounting. She has worked at State Farm Insurance Cos. since 1993. She began as an accounting summer Intern and was invited back to full- time employment when she graduated in 1994. She has worked in the Finance, Agency Operations, Enterprise Compliance and Ethics and Agency Recruiting departments. She now works in Agency Operations and works on projects related to State Farm’s agency field leadership structure. Her husband, Michael, is the head basketball coach at Bloomington High School. They have an 8-year-old daughter, Kendall. Kirby grew up on a dairy farm and helped his family milk the cows, bale hay and raise crops. He attended the University of Missouri, obtaining an undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering and a graduate degree in computer science. He then spent a year teaching undergraduate computer science courses at the university. He then moved to Champaign and became a research programmer at the University of Illinois. He develops scientific software for mobile devices (tablets and phones). He also manages real estate. He and his wife, Mariya, have been married for three years. She is a real estate agent. Kristin was born and raised in Effingham and moved to Champaign-Urbana to attend Parkland Community College and the University of Illinois. She has

traveled much of the United States, but her journey to Italy is her first experience in seeing the world. She works in public and government relations and marketing, referring to herself as a “storyteller,” working with the news media and bloggers, collaborating with graphic designers, videographers and

District 6490 Outbound GSE Team members are, from left, Kristin Williamson, Rachael Mosley, Kirby Vandivort, Holly Bray and Team Leader Mike Snow of the Mattoon Rotary Club.

photographers to create telling images, writing, shredding and rewriting pages of words and engaging with people through social media. She is also active in her community, volunteering for with professional, political and charitable organizations. She has a son, Evan.

Eliminating conflicting RYLA/Conference dates

The tradition of making boats out of cardboard that actually float continued at RYLA camp this year.

DG Bidner visited with RYLA Director Tiffany DeSpain.

This may be the last year in which the annual District Conference conflicts with the RYLA Camp at Allerton Park near Monticello. Next year, the conference and camp will be at least a week apart

so district officials won’t have to choose which to attend. Several attendees at the April 19-20 District Conference in Normal wound up making trips to the camp to help with the student attendees or just to visit, including District Governor Gordon Bidner.

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C-U Illini After 5 now a 100% Paul Harris Club

District Governor Gordon Bidner presented the Rotary International 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club banner to President Gayle Wallace (seated second from right) at the April 4 meeting of the Champaign-Urbana Illini After Five Rotary Club. He congratulated club members and said, "Illini After Five is one of only three clubs in District 6490 to achieve this elite status during the Rotary year. The club became eligible for the recognition in 2012, only

seven years after it was chartered in 2005, but Governor Bidner's several attempts to personally present the coveted banner were thwarted by snowstorms and other conflicts until nearly a year later. By that time, the club had added another new member who also became a PHF, bringing the total to 22. Sandi Bidner, Assistant Governor Jon Rector and Cathy Rector also attended the club's celebration.

‘One Book, One Sullivan” for community Middle school students and Sullivan residents will be able to share conversations about how people with disabilities are treated as part of a communitywide reading initiative. The book “Out of My Mind” by Sharon Draper was chosen as the featured reading for this year’s One Book, One Sullivan program, said coordinator Rikki Ray, a sixth-grade language arts teacher at Sullivan Middle School. The Sullivan Rotary Club funds the program, which was originally supported by the Sullivan Education Foundation. Students apply to be part of the effort to choose the book for the year with about 20 children chosen, Ray said, Four fifth-graders were picked this year to help increase interest in the program for the future, she said. This year’s book can help raise awareness about how people with disabilities are treated because no one in the book knows the child in it is capable of learning, despite her photographic memory, due to a hindrance in speaking... . Ray hopes to allow everyone interested in taking part in discussions about the book time to get it read. The students led discussions Feb. 26 at Sullivan Middle School and March 12 at the Coffee Bean in Sullivan. Others outside of Sullivan are encouraged to read the books, too. Those who obtain a copy of it in Sullivan are invited tio pass it around to others they might know or encounter. A postcard is in each book to

let the group know who’s read it or Ray said she’d welcome emails with the information. “We hope others read it,” Ray said. “We want to see how far it travels.” A foreign exchange student from Mexico who was leaving town in December took five copies along to distribute to others on the bus, Ray said. She’s interested in finding out where those copies end up. [Editor’s note – Reprinted courtesy of the Herald & Review, Decatur]

District 6490 has a PolioPlus Facebook page; hopes clubs budget for donations in 2013-14

By Fred Heilich Tuscola Rotary Club I have accepted DGE Larry Pennie’s request to act as the District 6490 PolioPlus chairman for the 2013-2014 Rotary year. As past District 6490 PolioPlus Chairman Les Mitkos has been very successful in receiving donations during his chairmanship over the last few years, I have some very big shoes to fill. Les will be our district governor for 2014-2015, but will be of assistance to me this year whilst he’s preparing for his new position. As a way to keep district members informed on PolioPlus, we have started a “Rotary District 6490 & PolioPlus” Facebook page to post the up-to-date progress worldwide. Now that you are working on the 2013-2014 budgets for your upcoming year as club president, I would like to request that you add a line item in your club budgets for a PolioPlus donation to the RI Foundation so we can get that much closer to eradicating this disease worldwide. Also, as a way

to encourage your members to make individual donations to the Foundation, your clubs can use their Foundation points as a match to your club member’s donation as a certain level match to assist

Sullivan Rotarians Larry Stenger, left, and David Cole, right, with club members. Rikki Ray, second from left, is coordinator, and Haley Seely,

second from right, is assistant coordinator.

them in growing their points to receive a Paul Harris Fellow. Be sure that your treasurer downloads the Foundation Contribution form to help your members complete it. This way, District 6490, your club and your member will receive the proper credit. Also, make a notation on the checks that it is for a District 6490 PolioPlus Foundation Donation. (Contact Fred at fheilich@msn.com )

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Walk will start from the Islamic Center and finish back at the Moses Montefiore Temple--symbolically linking our own Arab and Jewish communities! (A less rigorous 1-mile walk is also available). We are planning to have Middle Eastern foods available at the Temple after the walk. The Walk is free (with voluntary contributions to support Friends Forever gratefully accepted). We request (but don't require) advance registration to help us prepare: Phone: 309.826.9491 Email: friends.forever.bn@gmail.com Online: www.firstgiving.com/FriendsForever/ FriendsForeverPeaceWalkBloomingtonNormal

Friends Forever is bringing 10 Israeli teens (5 Jewish and 5 Arab) to Bloomington-Normal this August. During a 15-day “life raft” living, serving and learning together, they will have the opportunity to make cross-cultural friends…forever. This is a community project initiated and supported by Rotarians. Friends Forever's motto, "World Peace...Grown Locally," is an excellent counterpart to our own, "Peace Through Service." All Rotarians and their families and friends are invited to walk in “From the Mosque to the Temple” In support of Friends Forever at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 19. After gathering at the Moses Montefiore Temple (102 Robinhood Lane, Bloomington) we will catch rides to the Islamic Center (2911 Gill Street). The 5K

District Conference attendees, including RI President’s Rep. Charlie Rogers (in dark suit at back) got a sample of one of the exercises for Friends Forever. All held onto a circle of rope and then leaned back. The lesson: No one falls if you do it all together.

Friends Forever plans 5K Peace Walk

RYE students carrying their home-country flags are always a highlight of the annual District Conference, and this year was no exception.

By Karl Konrad District RYE coordinator During the District 6490 Rotary Conference, 22 Inbound and Outbound Rotary Youth Exchange students proudly displayed flags of the country they will be returning to or where they will spend the next year. The 22 also expressed their appreciation for assistance received from Rotarians to be able to meet the Shelterbox Challenge for Youth Exchange Students. Collectively, our RYE students began raising awareness before and during the district conference. This is the first time that all students participated as a group in a districtwide fundraiser and by doing so raised $2,296. Participating in the ShelterBox project, attending district conference sessions and visiting the House of Friendship was an opportunity to experience firsthand what Rotary is about and how Rotarians raise funds to benefit the global community. It is hoped that Inbounds and Outbounds alike share overseas what Rotarians do in District 6490.

ONE STEP CLOSER

Thanks to overseas districts committing by June 1, 2012, to host an Inbound, 11 district 6490 Outbounds are being contacted by their host districts that they are free to apply for their visa and make contact with their first host families. This process is mirrored throughout District 6490, as nine youth exchange officers and

respective host families in Charleston, Mattoon, Casey, Marshall, Effingham, Eureka, Normal, Litchfield and Arthur are looking forward to hearing from their 2013/14 Inbounds. The dream of those Inbounds began with clubs in their home districts committing by June 1, 2012, to host a 2013/14 inbound from partnering countries and without knowing who their Inbound will be. The number hosted in each participating district worldwide determines how many Outbounds can be sent.

LAYING CORNERSTONE

June 1 marks the deadline for clubs to submit an Inbound Commitment for 2014/15 to be sent overseas to tell our exchange partners how many Outbounds they can recruit and how many to expect from our district. Clubs that have decided to participate should send the commitment form and associated participation fee of $1,000 to the district RYE chair. Those still undecided or with questions should contact our Inbound coordinator, Terry Weir, to schedule a presentation to your club’s board and/or at a club meeting. Committing to host as well as hosting is as easy as 1,2,3 with the help of a highly trained district staff and a process proven to be successful for past and current participants.

RYE planning for 2014-15 year

Arcola sponsoring its Citizen of the Year

The Arcola Rotary Club is sponsoring its sixth annual Arcola Citizen of the Year award in 2013. The award honors an outstanding Arcola citizen who has effectively combined the ideals of moral character, honesty, dependability and integrity with a strong commitment to family and community, with a dedication to volunteerism receiving strong consideration. The Rotary Four-Way Test will be

used in judging by a committee of Rotarians. The deadline for nomination from the community is May 10. A dinner and ceremony honoring the 2013 Citizen of the Year is planned for June at Kaskaskia Country Club. Nominations must be made in 100 words or less and submitted to the Arcola Record-Herald in care of the Citizen of the Year Award.

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Litchfield Rotary, students spruce up park By Bill Dees Litchfield Rotary Club president The Litchfield Rotary Club was at the city’s Echlin Park on two consecutive days in April. On the first day, April 26, Rotarians, teachers and second- grade Colt School students gathered at the park in Litchfield to celebrate Arbor Day. All were welcomed by Rotarian/school board member Donna Wujek, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of the Star Spangled Banner. Mrs. Wujek introduced Rotarian and Regional Superintendant of Schools Marchelle Kassebaum. Mrs. Kassebaum then guided the students through an exercise that included an explanation of the establishment of Arbor Day to honor founder Sterling Morton. Arbor Day has been celebrated for more than 130 years in the United States. “Each generation takes the Earth as trustees. We ought to bequeath to posterity as many forests and orchards as we have exhausted and consumed,” said J. Sterling Morton in 1854 as he began promoting the beginning of Arbor Day. Mrs. Kassebaum and Kris Reynolds asked the students to list some of the reasons why we plant trees. 1. Trees conserve energy 2.Trees help clear the air 3.Trees bring songbirds close 4.Trees around your home can increase its value 5.Trees help clean our rivers and streams 6.Trees conserve energy in the winter 7.Trees fight global warming 8.Trees make you home and neighborhood more beautiful 9.It is easy and FUN Kris Reynolds from the Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation Department

then presented each student with an Eastern White Pine seedling to take home for planting. He gave details on the proper techniques of planting seedlings. With the assistance of Kindon Graham, Madilyn Chvala and Rotarian Steve Bryant planted and watered the tree. Led by second-grade teacher Linda Smith the second-grade students then sang a song about trees. Rotary President- Elect Jeanne Banovic closed the program and said, “This is your tree”, a baby Crimson Red Maple, please come to the park occasionally and help us take care of it.”

On the following day, five Litchfield Rotarians, Rich Heller (Rotary Echlin park maintenance chairman) Steve Bryant, Jeanne Banovic (President elect) Edgar Reid and Bill Dees participated in the annual Echlin Park cleanup day. The group was racing the incoming spring rain clouds, but managed to install new marigolds and tulip flowers at the Echlin Park sign location. In addition the group installed mulch and landscaping protection around the newly installed Arbor Day tree.

Rich Heller and Edgar Reid earlier in the week were able to remove, paint and reinstall the Echlin Park and sign along with the smaller sign indicating the park has been adopted by the Litchfield Rotary Club. Rotarian Rich Heller as chairman has taken on the task of weekly oversight of the park flowers along with the maintenance of the Lake Lou Yaeger Rotary Blue Bird boxes. Another job well done!

Urbana Rotarian Chris Scherer, left, shares his thoughts in a breakout group.

Urbana making dyslexia’ program available to clubs

By Marilyn Kay District 6490 , "Journey into Dyslexia" Project coordinator The Rotary Club of Urbana, with the help of a grant from the Rotary Foundation of District 6490, is providing communities throughout East Central Illinois with the opportunity to "Journey into Dyslexia", an awareness program about differences in the way the brain processes information and the gifts that so often go unrecognized. District clubs are encouraged to join in this project and suggest names of schools, colleges or regional offices of education that would like to obtain a free DVD for public showings of "Journey into Dyslexia." If you have questions or would like to suggest a venue, please call or send an email. Whether 7 or 70 people attend is not the important factor and a small meeting room, a library auditorium, a church fellowship hall or any room that would have a DVD projector have worked out well. We do require that a Rotary club needs to host the event. Phone: 217 367-0398 E-mail: mfkay@sbcglobal.net

Rotarians Rich Heller, left, and Edgar Reid

Students Kindon Graham and Madilyn Chvala helped Steve Bryant plant a tree.

Rotarians in the News DOWNTOWN DANVILLE -- Dana Schaumburg will be honored among Illinois Jaycees’ Ten Outstanding Young People of Illinois at its 2013 honors program in Springfield on May 4. Schaumburg is Area 8 assistant district governor and works as executive director of Downtown Danville Inc. DANVILLE SUNRISE -- On April 15, John Alexander of the Danville Sunrise Rotary Club became the new resource director for the Y-USA Association, working with officials and staff members at 24 small- and medium-sized YMCAs in Central and Southern Illinois, including Danville. As one of 40 resource directors of the Y-USA Association across the country, he will work with the Illinois facilities to develop strategies and management for each. He had been

executive director of the Danville Family YMCA since October 2001. MARSHALL – Searoba Mascher received the Marshall Service League Diana Award April 4 for her countless volunteer activities. CHAMPAIGN WEST – Laura Weis was among six women recognized April 11 by the Girl Scouts of Central Illinois as Women of Distinction for being role models to young women. Weis, president and CEO of the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, was honored in the business/professional category. She also serves on the board of Eastern Illinois Foodbank.

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Arcola Sunrise

29 30 1 1 3.45% 73.12% 69.30% 65.85% $4,144.00

Arthur

23 21 0 -2 -8.70% 66.83% 77.00% 65.11% $0.00

Atlanta

18 22 0 4 22.22% 77.75% 81.00% 76.67% $725.00

Bloomington

82 78 0 -4 -4.88% 68.61% 60.00% 67.64% $781.12

Bloomington-Normal Sunrise

87 90 2 3 3.45% 70.33% 79.00% 77.44% $2,561.00

Bloomington-Normal Sunset

22 22 0 0 0.00% 80.67% 76.00% 73.56% $4,607.82

Blue Mound NR 9

22.58%

$6,070.00

B-N Daybreak NR 0

0.00%

$0.00

Casey NR 20

62.00%

$307.09

Champaign

169 161 0 -8 -4.73% 67.92% 70.57% 68.03% $18,415.00

Champaign West

154 151 2 -3 -1.95% 75.73% 72.63% 73.09% $19,283.50

Champaign-Urbana Sunrise

43 49 0 6 13.95% 78.29% 75.70% 76.14% $5,374.00

Charleston

69 66 0 -3 -4.35% 62.25% 65.00% 66.67% $3,826.25

Clinton

37 39 0 2 5.41% 66.62% 60.42% 65.71% $3,701.00

C-U Illini After 5

21 22 1 1 4.76% 92.17% 90.00% 91.33% $3,223.50

Danville

96 84 -1 -12 -12.50% 28.70% 54.01% 51.59% $6,455.00

Danville Downtown NR 12

70.00%

$920.00

Danville Sunrise

28 31 0 3 10.71% 73.75% 62.00% 70.78% $5,008.78

Decatur

110 111 1 1 0.91% 38.67% 86.75% 51.71% $12,481.00

Decatur Metropolitan

16 14 0 -2 -12.50% 54.89% 67.90% 56.01% $0.00

Dwight

12 12 -1 0 0.00% 0.00% 56.25% 53.49% $0.00

Effingham Noon

100 105 0 5 5.00% 52.58% 55.00% 50.11% $0.00

Effingham Sunrise NR 60

74.10%

$0.00

Eureka

44 41 1 -3 -6.82% 73.67% 69.30% 73.63% $2,305.00

Fairbury

42 36 1 -6 -14.29% 61.43% 79.17% 66.64% $2,103.00

Forsyth Sunrise NR 17

73.67%

$1,100.00

Gibson City

24 35 0 11 45.83% 44.08% 44.00% 47.89% $1,244.30

Gilman NR 13

72.42%

$1,171.00

Hillsboro

26 26 0 0 0.00% 41.25% 48.00% 40.33% $331.00

Hoopeston NR 17

59.68%

$1,032.00

Lincoln

61 61 0 0 0.00% 69.76% 65.95% 66.79% $6,500.00

Litchfield

26 21 -1 -5 -19.23% 80.92% 73.00% 66.33% $9,083.58

Mahomet

26 30 1 4 15.38% 90.39% 88.39% 89.67% $6,090.00

Marshall

23 23 0 0 0.00% 75.42% 76.00% 75.44% $2,335.00

Mattoon NR 63

63.04%

$335.00

Metamora-Germantown Hills

31 33 0 2 6.45% 71.69% 71.59% 73.47% $2,522.00

Monticello

74 75 1 1 1.35% 70.18% 79.38% 71.95% $13,047.00

Mount Pulaski NR 12

47.17%

$0.00

Newton NR 33

70.93%

$3,723.00

Nokomis

10 10 0 0 0.00% 77.83% 80.00% 80.56% $652.00

Normal

85 84 0 -1 -1.18% 70.50% 75.00% 73.36% $20,533.36

Pana NR 21

63.99%

$1,443.00

Paris

33 32 0 -1 -3.03% 0.00% 0.00% 7.33% $500.00

Paxton

19 14 1 -5 -26.32% 56.58% 66.00% 60.11% $427.00

Pontiac

45 44 1 -1 -2.22% 57.00% 61.40% 64.02% $8,397.00

Rantoul

34 37 0 3 8.82% 69.94% 71.09% 70.14% $1,815.00

Roanoke

20 19 0 -1 -5.00% 6.50% 72.00% 49.00% $1,446.00

Robinson

16 19 2 3 18.75% 67.10% 55.26% 61.63% $310.00

Savoy

33 34 1 1 3.03% 83.92% 78.00% 76.89% $5,401.00

Shelbyville NR 26

61.42%

$0.00

Sullivan

31 25 0 -6 -19.35% 51.66% 77.00% 60.25% $2,125.00

Tuscola

43 43 0 0 0.00% 65.50% 62.00% 65.56% $5,781.00

Urbana

100 96 0 -4 -4.00% 49.45% 43.75% 50.34% $10,062.00

Vandalia

40 42 0 2 5.00% 55.71% 58.00% 58.11% $5,352.00

Villa Grove NR 22

5.50%

$300.00

District 6490

$214.28

SUMMARIES

2327

59.38%

$215,564.58

MEMBERSHIP ATTENDANCE

Club NR= July 1 Mar. 31 Feb. _____YTD________ Percent Did 2012 2013 + or - + or - Percentage Last March Year to Date Not Report Year Report

Rotary International Contribution Year to Date

District

Secretary’s

March

Report (This report is always a month late because clubs have until the 15th of the following month to report attendance. Thus, April’s

attendance won’t be known until May 15)

New members Reported in April Bloomington Sara Reeves Bloomington-Normal Sunrise Patrick Baranek Chris Downing Nick Sanchez Champaign Tom Whooley Champaign West Mary Racioppi Danville Andrew Mudd Lincoln Brian Bergen Samantha Detmers Paxton Andrew Rosten Sullivan Jane Stevenor Vandalia Jay Julliff Frederick Krueger

Rotarian deaths reported in April Charleston Marion (Jake) Zane: April 12, 2013 Normal Benjamin Gildersleeve: April 4, 2013