The Weekly Newsletter of the Only Normal Rotary Club in the World Chartered June 17, 1949

The Normal Spoke

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

RI No. 3282 District No. 6490 April 30, 2014 Volume No. 64 Issue No. 43 Link to Rotary International http://www.rotary.org/ Normal Rotary web sites: http://nrcspoke.com/ http://www.normalrotary.org/ Link to District 6490 Website: www.Rotary6490.org (The District Newsletter can be found on the left side of the main

page)

Wednesday, May 7, 2014 Special Event

High School Student Scholarship Luncheon The May Birthday Auction will be postponed until next week – Wednesday, May 14, 2014. Please bring a gift for the Birthday Auction then. Wednesday, May 14, 2014 Head Table: Don Rutledge & Marci Schneider Greeters: John Burrill & Bill Caisley Lottery: Meghan Rogers & Cathy Milligan Program: Birthday Auction & Congressman Rodney Davis

Roger Weller Rob Glover Nancy Brokaw Carson Varner Larry Dietz Iris Varner John A. Bishop

2 3 8 18 19 21 26

Club RI Contributions:

$6,111

Reporter: Art Drake

Photographer: Heather Dennis

Editor: Becky Goeckner

President Dale Strassheim convened the April 30 meeting of the Normal Rotary Club, and Stephanie McClellan offered the reflection. Visiting Rotarians: John Wohlrend, Sunrise. Guests: Miranda Resendiz, guest of Lindsey Henry.

Dale Strassheim & Stephanie McClellan Lindsey Henry & Miranda Resendiz

Announcements: --Dale congratulated Stephanie McClellan on the successful happy hour at Medici’s. Nine Rotarians and four spouses attended, and everyone present agreed that we ought to do it again. --June 6 is Rotary Night at the Corn Crib. This is a social event, not a fund-raiser. See Matt Riehl for tickets. --The May 7 Rotary meeting is special. That’s when the club will present scholarships to area high school seniors. The birthday auction will be held May 14. --Memorial Day is coming up May 26, and our members are urged to march at the head of the parade with other Rotarians from B-N. We have 50 American flags, and it’s an honor to carry them on Memorial Day. Wear your blue Rotary shirts and khaki shorts or long pants. Meet at 8:15 a.m. in the parking lot behind the old Eagles Hall. The parade begins at 9 a.m. and concludes at Miller Park. --The District is seeking applications for the position of team leader for the Group Study Exchange team to Denmark. The team leader’s application is to be submitted by May 15. If you have questions, contact Kevin at kevmil@mmtcnet.com or DGE Les at lmitkosjr@gmail.com.

--Mark Comadena said that plans are shaping up for the Rotary One on One event for Veterans Day. He could use another member for the committee.

--Mark also reminded members that the presidents-elect of the five B-N Rotary Clubs are planning a family-oriented social event in October. Heather Dennis is helping to plan it, and one more committee member is needed

--Pennies for Polio is scheduled for May 16. A sign-up sheet circulated. Normal Rotary is scheduled to collected money for Polio Plus from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the McDonald’s at Main and Hovey and at Main and Raab.

--Mark reminded members to contact him with insights and information about the Rotary Planning Guide that he distributed last week. Just reading through the document would be an informative exercise for every Rotarian, Mark said.

Becky Goeckner reminded Rotarians that she is updating the club directory. Please review your listing and let her know if there have been changes in addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, etc.

John Burrill announced that the Minigrants Committee has received 22 applications. Committee members will review them over the next few weeks and make final decisions at a meeting on May 28.

--Hank Campbell announced that Rotarians are participating in the Oakdale Elementary School’s Fun Fair Friday, May 2. Rotarians also were involved last Thursday in Oakdale’s field trip. --Hank also has raffle tickets for the Friends Forever fund-raiser.

--Art Drake once again bared his soul to fellow Rotarians, pleading, begging and imploring members to sign up to help write and take photographs for the Spoke.

--Art also announced the NCHS Interact met Monday and made T-shirts to promote a program to provide shoes to people in underdeveloped countries.

Students of the Month:

--Kelly Bissey of NCHS said she was honored to attend our meetings this month. She said she enjoyed seeing the opportunities for service that await when she finishes high school.

--Alissa Wilson of Normal West enjoyed seeing the amazing things that Normal Rotary does. Our enthusiasm impressed her.

--Miles Logan from the Bloomington Area Career Center was impressed that our members have such a passion for service, which inspired him to seek more opportunities for service in his own life.

--Trey Watts from U High recalls the warm welcome he received from Rotarians.

Kelly Alissa Miles Trey

Judge: John E. Bishop took the podium. Lottery winners were Lindsey Henry and her guest, Miranda Resendiz. The real winner was our club; as Lindsey & Miranda put their winnings back into our club’s coffers.

Mystery Host: Art Runyon presented the $2 to Rob Cranston for his devotion to Rotary service, especially in the area of Rotary Youth Exchange.

Several people paid happy fines, including Dick Wagner who was pleased to make a last-minute pitch for attendance at the District Conference. It’s a wonderful experience and an opportunity to learn something from members of other Rotary Clubs

Speaker: Todd Anderson introduced Jenni Blum, the Marketing Coordinator for the Town of Normal Parks and Recreation. Jenni talked about the variety of events going on through Parks and Rec: discounted pool passes available through May 9, annual passes available for golf, a trip to the Cards-Yankees game May 26, a trip to the Cubs-Cards game July 26, movie nights, high school summer theater and more.

At the Children’s Discovery Center, there are camps, new exhibits, a Plaza Palooza Fundraiser on June 20 and Pirate Family Night on July 18. This year, Parks and Recreation Department is observing the 10th anniversary of the Children’s Discovery Center at the current location, the 20th anniversary of the Normal Theater and the 25th anniversary of Constitution Trail. Heather Wagner, Communications Manager for the Town of Normal explained the on-going relationship between the Town and the Parks and Recreation Department. For more information, you can go to www.normalparks.org.

Heather Wagner

Thought for the Day: “Failure has a thousand explanations. Success doesn’t need one.” -Sir Alec Guinness Calendar: May 3-4 –District Conference in Champaign May 7 – Scholarship presentations at our regular meeting May 16 – Pennies for Polio at local McDonald’s Restaurants May 26 – Memorial Day, Rotarians march in the parade June 6 – Rotary Day at Corn Crib (Buy tickets by May 9) Sept. 1-30 – Group Study Exchange to Denmark

The Normal Spoke is a publication of the Normal Rotary Club of Illinois - P.O. Box 333, Normal, IL 61761 Editorial Staff: Jim Carter, Art Drake, and Becky Goeckner Meetings are held Wednesdays at noon in the Circus Room or Old Main Room at the Bone Student Center, ISU.

Officers 2013-2014: President - Dale Strassheim (spouse: Carol) 24843 Nighthawk Road Hudson, Illinois 61748 E-mail: dstrassheim@thebabyfold.org Work phone: 1-309-451-7201 Home phone: 1-309-726-2468 President Elect – Mark Comadena (spouse: Pamela) 208 S. Bone Drive Normal, Illinois 61761 E-mail: mecomad@ilstu.edu Phone: 1-309- 826-3961. Vice President – Andy Copenhaver – (spouse: Jill) 4 Brownstone Court Bloomington, IL 61704 Cell:1- 309-830-1525 E-mail: Andy.copenhaver@gmail.com Secretary—Jeremy High - (spouse: Alicia) 1208 Janet Drive Bloomington, Illinois 61704 E-mail: jeremychigh@yahoo.com Work phone: 1- 309-531-0776 Home phone: 1-309-808-1962 Treasurer - Rod Weigelmann (spouse: Brenda) 2605 Blarney Stone Lane Bloomington, Illinois 61704 E-mail: r.weigelmann@comcast.net Work phone: 1-309- 663-4962 Home phone: 1-309-664-0818 Sergeant At Arms- Hank Campbell (spouse: Mary) 2319 Mabel Road Normal, Illinois 61761 E-mail : hlcampb@ilstu.edu Home phone : 1-309-530-5134

Directors: Club Administration – Stephanie McClellan (spouse : Tad) 1002 Drayton Street Normal, Illinois 61761 E-mail : stephanie.mcclellan@commercebank.com Work phone : 1-309-823-7398 Home phone : 1-309-451-5749 Cell phone : 1-309-275-5214 Rotary Foundation & International Projects – Ann Haugo (spouse: Steve Pelphrey) 104 Kite Court LeRoy, Illinois 61752 E-mail : ahaugo@ilstu.edu Work phone : 1-309-438-3955 Home phone : 1-309-962-9225 Community Concerns – Matt Riehl (spouse : Betsy) 11 Fiddlestix Court Bloomington, Illinois 618705 E-mail : mriehle14@hotmail.com Work phone : 1-309-888-5380 Home phone : 1-309-287-2306 Publicity – Marci Schneider 1905 Garling Drive Bloomington, Illinois 61701 E-mail : mschneider@cancercenter.org Work phone : 1-309-825-0040 Home phone : 1-309-451-2241 Assistant Governor: Susan Hoover Home phone: 1-309-888-4810 E-mail: cjsghoover@yahoo.com District 6490 Governor - Larry Pennie (spouse: Arlene) 1902 Quail Run Ct. Normal, Illinois 61761 E-mail: pennierotary@comcast.net Home phone: 1-309-452-3696 Cell phone: 1- 309-530-8124

Past-President - Art Drake (spouse: Jan) 42 Inglewood Bloomington, Illinois 61704 E-mail: ardra345@hotmail.com Home phone: 1-309-242-5125

Rotary International President 2013-2014

Ron D. Burton

Members: Dennis, Marcia PHF* HH DNRY DHH Jontry, Mark PHF Runyon, Art PHF* HH

Adanri, Bayo PHF* HH Dietz, Larry PHF Koos, Chris HM Rutledge, Don PHF* HH

Alexander, Kathy PHF* HH Drake, Art PHF Kouba, Andrew Schneider, Marci PHF

Anderson, Todd PHF Dude, Ralph PHF* HH DRY Kukla, Cynthia PHF Schultz, Mel PHF HH

Bergethon, Bruce PHF* HH Dunlap, Mark Larkin, Erica Semlak, Bill PHF*

Bidner, Gordon PHF* PHS MD BS GWRY HH

Fleming, Ryan Lindsay, Jeff Sethi, Surinder PHF* PHS HH DHH DRY

Bishop, John A. PHF* Gentry, Connie PHF HH Matsler, Frank PHF* Sherman, Mark PHF* HH

Bishop, John E. PHF Glover, Rob PHF McClellan, Stephanie B. Smith, Kevin PHF

Brokaw, Nancy PHF* Goeckner, Becky PHF* HH Mesdag, Elleke PHF* Springer, Ron, PHF*

Brown-Nielsen, Dayna PHF Gudeman, Gene PHF* HH Milligan, Cathy Strassheim, Dale PHF*

Burrill, John PHF* Hardman, Jeremy Naik, Vandana PHF* Tanton, Ed PHF*

Caisley, Bill PHF* HH Haugo, Ann PHF Pacha, Ron PHF* HH Timmerman, Ron PHF* HH

Campbell, Hank PHF Healy, Linda PHF* Puri, Satish Varner, Carson PHF*

Carter, Jim PHF* PHS HH GWRY

Henry, Lindsey Radhakrishnan, Radha PHF* PHS

Varner, Iris PHF*

Chambers, Jason PHF High, Jeremy PHF Raper, Lyle PHF* HH Wagner, Dick PHF* PHS MD BS HH DHH

Chapman, Alan PHF* PHS GWRY

Houchin, Michelle PHF Reitan, Carol PHF* Wagner, Heather (Beal)

Comadena, Mark PHF Houska, George PHF* HH Riehle, Matt Ward, Robert PHF*

Copenhaver, Andy PHF Howell, Gene PHF* Rogers, Meghan PHF Weigelmann, Rod PHF

Cranston, Robert PHF* PHS HH GWRY DHH

Hoyt, Whitney Ropp, Gordon PHF* HH Weller, Roger PHF

Dennis, Heather Hunt, Robert PHF* Ropp, Ray PHF* HH DHH Wilz, Jack PHF* HH DHH

Jontry, Gene PHF* HH Rosenlund, Jim Zimmerman, Drake PHF* PHS MD BS HH DHH

PHF – Paul Harris Fellow HH – Hall of Honor PHF* - Paul Harris Fellow/Stone PHS – Paul Harris Society

DHH - District Hall of Honor HM – Honorary Member MD – Major Donors

DNRY- District New Rotarian of the

Year

BS – Bequest Society Member DRY-District Rotarian of the Year GWRY – George Wolf Rotarian of the Year