KANKAKEE

We may have a great meeting place here but the Hotel was full of meetings and were were relegated to a small room.
The buffet was nice but with a hugh group of teenagers the CHICKEN disappeared quickly and the Hotel was not
prepared to refill the chafers quickly. That was OK for me because the salad and beans were fantastic. Chicken who needs it!

This Club has great plans to support the Rotary Foundation in 07/08 there was even a member that gave me a check for $100.
Interact and and job shadowing took its toll on attendance today.
I was happy to receive a T shirt from Julia and another from the Rotaract Club for the sleeping in a box fund raiser.
President Jerry has an aggressive program for membership growth and Foundation support.
The Club 'Shares" Rotary with other Clubs and Shares Rotary with the community.
Good Job.

MATTESON

WOW!! This lunch was one to remember=mmmmm-good.
A buffet that has it all, a great salad selection and the entree choices were fantastic. I believe I had the best crab cake EVER,
corn battered catfish [there was CHICKEN] but the other choices far out weighed the need to select chicken.
The soul food selection was amazing and very tasty.
There was even a desert buffet!!

The meeting went well and I was able to present Shirley Green, the first woman in our District, a women in Rotary pin and framed photo of her induction taken 20 years ago. A private room and great food what a combination, add an effective Club and we have Rotary.

Chicago Heights

Chartered in 1922 the Chicago Heights Rotary Club has been meeting at the same Church for almost ever
and the Church ladies have been making lunch for them for the past 65 years. Yes 65 years.
Roast pork with smashed potatoes steamed vegetables and a really nice pork gravy, not to forget the
rhubarb pie, [I did take a taste of the pie] was the menu and it was wonderful. The ladies keep your plate full just like Mom did. This is a great place for a make up and a great meal. The Club is friendly and fun, try it you will like it.
The Club has plans to increase membership this year, along with continuing the long list of projects.
At 85 years old they have a rich history of service and a strong future ahead. Do to an emergency business
commitment the Club President was unable to attend, the Board did a great job.

PRESIDENTS ROUND TABLE AND MEMBERSHIP SEMINAR

TODAY 9/22/07
THERE WAS AN EXCELLENT MEETING THIS MORNING AND I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED
IN THE PRESENTATION.
I HEARD GREAT REPORTS THAT THE MEETING WAS FUN AND MEANINGFUL.
THERE WERE ABOUT 62 THAT ATTENDED THIS VERY IMPORTANT WORKSHOP, WE EVEN ENDED A LITTLE EARLY.

I AM GENERALLY A PERSON THAT LETS MOST THINGS ROLL OFF MY SHOULDERS, HOWEVER---I MUST VENT.
TODAY, AT THE WORKSHOP THERE WERE ABOUT 15 PEOPLE THAT WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY AND SPENT MANY HOURS PREPARING A QUALITY PROGRAM FOR YOU, THE CLUB PRESIDENTS AND MEMBERSHIP CHAIRS.
A SINCERE THANK YOU TO ALL THAT ATTENDED, I AM SURE YOU FELT IT WAS VALUABLE AND WORTH WHILE.

31 CLUBS WERE NOT REPRESENTED, ALMOST HALF OF THE DISTRICT, WHAT A SHAME, AND MOST [NOT ALL] THAT MISSED ARE THE CLUBS THAT NEED THE MOST HELP IN SO MANY WAYS. THESE EVENTS ARE DONE FOR YOU, PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THEM AND GROW YOUR CLUB. WE ARE HERE TO HELP.

DO YOU THINK THAT AN APOLOGY TO THE WORKSHOP COMMITTEE IS IN ORDER? I DO

THANKS FOR READING THE BLOG [IFEEL BETTER NOW]
ROTARY SHARES
ART DAVIS DG6450

CHICAGO NORTH WEST

I like evening meetings they always last a long time, more time to socialize and no work to run off to. What a concept.
Nothing is rushed. There is even time to have a cocktail. [I had no desert] This is a common meeting time
every where but in the US.

I arrived at the Club at 7 PM for the Board meeting, dinner started about 8:15.
Dinner, I think President Lorena reads this blog because there was no chicken in sight.
Dinner was a "fall off the bone" full slab of baby back ribs, baked potato, soup, salad and desert, hurt me!
This was a great meal, I had no bread, soup or desert.
I was totally surprised, I inducted a new member but, even more surprising was the fact the I was
asked to present 10 Paul Harris fellows [3 were missing] one #1 level and two #2 levels a well as a #5 level.
I hope they will be able to do it again, there may be a society member in this Club.
This Club was accepted by R.I. as a test Club for a flexible meeting schedule and so they meet the first and third Thursday of the month. We shall see if this helps in any way.

Elmhurst

Today was a really nice Italian buffet that included stuffed peppers, lasagna, meatballs, a tomato and cucumber salad, soup and
a seafood salad. chocolate cake for desert. WOW, I think I hurt myself [no desert however]
You talk about a Club that has it together, this is it. Over twenty new members last year and lofty goals for this year.
I had the pleasure to induct new member Tom Grittani into the Elmhurst Club today.
This Club has so many projects going I don't have enough room here, OK one, how about a free dinner for 400 plus needy
folks at Thanksgiving.

TINLEY PARK / FRANKFORT & INTERACT 9/19/07

The meeting place was beautiful, the Odyssey Country Club.
I believe I had the best CHICKEN so far, it was a roasted 1/2
chicken, done properly with rice and corn on the cob, the salad
was fresh but too much dressing, ice cream with strawberry sauce
was desert. [I took a pass]
As with most small Clubs, membership is an issue, the Club was
aggressive in trimming some inactive members and is now in
the process of re-growing the membership by having a goal of 7
new members this year.

I also met with the Interact Club later in the afternoon and there
were about 40 members present, this was just the second meeting
so far this year and they are ready to serve the community.

MORE REASONS TO GO TO THE DISTRICT CONFERENCE
KID FRIENDLY
KIDS HAVE THEIR OWN ROOM WITHIN THE ROOM AND THEIR
OWN TV
ON THE WATER WITH A SANDY BEACH
FAMILY FRIENDLY

PLAINFIELD

Plainfield has a temporary meeting place at the new Police station,
what a facility!!
Lunch matched the Club name Plainfield. The lunch was catered and included
a great egg salad sandwich on wheat bread, which I had, along with a selection
of other sandwiches, chips, cole slaw and a selection of drinks.
I was concerned that this Club was not supporting the Foundation and I was
pleased to find out that the $2500 payment went in late and missed the cut off
[sorry PDG Sue] it will of course end up in this years contributions. Thanks Bill!
Six top ten high school students were in attendance and they did stay awake
during my presentation.
I was pleased to induct 2 new members into the Plainfield Club, one had been
a member it two other Clubs. They have two more next week.

ELMHURST MORMING

BREAKFAST, SWEET BREAKFAST, I LOVE BREAKFAST
Corned beef hash and a couple of poached eggs with whole wheat toast.
What a way to start the day. The meeting starts 6:45 AM, what time did I
leave Naperville? VERY VERY early.
15 members strong and hoping to add a few members this year, this Club
has heart an I am sure they will make their goals.

OAK PARK/RIVER FOREST

A fish, a salad and apple pie, sounds almost like Chevy commercial.
The view from the 13th floor in all directions was fabulous what a venue!
This Club has more projects than anyone can imagine, what a great Club.
The Club surprised me with the installation of ten, count them 10, new
Paul Harris Fellows. WOW!
This is a challenge to all Clubs = who will do 11 or 12 or more.

OAK LAWN and LISLE

I did not see Paris Hilton at this Hilton where the Club meets.
The kitchen allowed a choice of 6 different meals including salads and pot roast just to mention a few.
I can't believe it I chose a CHICKEN caesar salad - maybe I have missed having chicken every day. It was good.
The Oak Lawn Club opted to join Rotary's test club program for flexible meetings. That starts next
month. If you want to know about JOB1 this is the Club to ask. A new member will be inducted next week.
I would like to take a moment to thank Kathy Kobak for all the work she does for this Rotary District and me.
For those that don't know, Kathy is the person that creates the District newsletter "The Birthplace Beacon"
twice a month, let's hear it for Kathy!!

Paris Hilton was not at the Lisle Hilton either [am I lucky or what].
In previous statements I said that breakfast was my favorite meal, well I was not disappointed. hand made omelets
while you wait, crispy bacon, fresh pastries and lots of fruit. I don't think I have ever had a larger cup of coffee in
a restaurant. I got an arm cramp lifting it = this was great.
A private meeting room with a good breakfast and a room full of energized Rotarians, what a way to start a day.
President Tom has a membership goal of a net increase of 6, what a great goal "GET YOUR ASK IN GEAR".
It was old home week seeing friends I've known for years, Charlie, Gordon and Tom.
This is a really good makeup spot. 7:30 AM Tuesday Lisle Hilton. Be there.

Reasons to go to the District Conference in Sheboygan Wisconson [one hour North of Milwaukee]

New Hotel [it will be only three years old ]
We have the entire Hotel
Only Rotarians and Friends will be there.
All suites = all no smoking

GETS & ZONE

Arts Rotary ship sailed down the Mississippi to Davenport Iowa for a week long series of meeting 9/2 to 9/9.
This was an exciting and energy filled week starting with GETS [Governors Elect Training Seminar].
Imagine 25 DGEs [Governors Elect] from Zones 27 & 28 that include Il, Mi, In, Wi, Mn, Ne, Ia, NY, Oh, Pa, and some parts of Canada all pumped up about Rotary and the up coming year.
Included in the first few days is intense training for the new class of Governors. This training also includes the spouses.
The Zone meeting begins on the following Wednesday where the seated District Governors get continuing training.
The group expands to include PDGs [Past District Governors] and other interested Rotarians as well as trainers from all
over the world.
RIPE [Rotary International President Elect] D K Lee and his wife Young were in attendance to meet and be with his Governors.
My class [07/08] of Governors we able to perform our award winning Assembly Skit for the group [2 times] because we were
on a river paddle boat with two decks. It was well accepted again.
The food was pretty good at the Radisson Hotel we did NOT have chicken every day. On the "meals on your own days" we found
a small brew pub that had great in house brews and well as even an better menu that included some really good tuna and salmon.
If you want to grow your Rotary life please join in at a Zone meeting, you will be amazed and proud of what Rotarians do.
I now head off for more Club visits.
9/10/08

PARDON ME LAKEVIEW 9/1/07

I must say that I misplaced my notes on the lunch at Lakeview and I am sorry for that.
To that end let me say I should not have needed notes the lunch was great.
The buffet included Crab stuffed flounder, Beef Bourguignon, Cold chicken salad and two other salads.
Desert looked like it was to die for [I didn't have any] Blueberry pie, lemon pie, cheesecake.
There are three new members in the pipe line.

Sandy and I leave for the Rotary Zone meeting in the morning for a week in Davenport, yes a
whole week in Davenport with a lot of Rotary fellowship. The attendees include all or most of
the RID, PRID, PDGs DGs DGEs DGNs lots of trainers and RI people. Maybe a visit from President Wilf.

LATER AMIGOS