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 October 10, 2012 Volume No. 63 Issue No. 14 Link to Rotary International http://www.rotary.org/ Normal Rotary web site: http://nrcspoke.com/ Link to District 6490 Website: www.Rotary6490.org (The District Newsletter can be found on the left side of the main page)

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Head Table: Andy Copenhaver & Rob Cranston Greeters: Todd Anderson & Bruce Bergethon Lottery: Bill Caisley & Hank Campbell Invocation: TBA Program: Congressman Aaron Schock - United States Representative for Illinois's 18th congressional district, serving since 2009 Judge: Ann Haugo Wednesday, October 24, 2012 Head Table: Marcia Dennis & Connie Gentry Greeters: John A. Bishop & John Blumenshine Lottery: Jim Carter & Alan Chapman Invocation: TBA Program: Update on the Children’s Discovery Museum. Sheila Riley, Manager Judge: John E. Bishop

Sustaining Members: 23 Club RI Contributions: $24,825.50

Reporter: Jim Carter

Photographer: John E. Bishop

Editor: Becky Goeckner

President Art Drake called the meeting to order. Ann Haugo and Mark Comadena graced the front table. Bill Semlak gave a reflective Rotary invocation, and then we pledged and sang, after having greeted colleagues. John E. Bishop was busy selling raffle tickets and taking photos.

Paul Brauchle passed around his sign-up sheet for writers and photographers for the Spoke. President Art Drake passed around the sign-up sheet for the joint club visit to Pontiac on Oct. 20. Assistant Governor Susan Hoover gave an enthusiastic push for the Pontiac visit. And, remember the 5-Club Happy Hour on October 25 at the 2nd floor of Rosies, 5-7 PM, sponsored by the Sunrise Club. Guy Fraker will be there to tell his Lincoln story and sign books. We had many guests today, including AG Susan. Mary Caisley came to hear the Unit 5 story and cheer husband Bill on. Becky Goeckner brought friend Carol Kerestes. Pamela Sweetwood brought “Yemi” Yemiymah Yisrael, of the local Girl Scout Council. Both Carol and Yemi are looking at the Normal Rotary Club as potential members.

AG Susan Hoover Bill & Mary Caisley

Yemiymah Yisrael & Pamela Sweetwood Carol Kerestes & Becky Goeckner

The Rotarians quickly introduced our students and let them tell us something about themselves. So, Linda Healy handed the mic to Tessa Eckley of U-Hi, Rob Cranston to Alexia Leggans of the BACC, Mark Comadena to Nora Fredstrom of NWCHS, and Alan Chapman to Trevor Seibring of NCHS. All gave short statements showing their involvement in service activities.

Linda Healy & Tessa Eckley Rob Cranston & Alexia Leggans

Mark Comadena & Nora Fredstrom Alan Chapman & Trevor Seibring

Announcements:

Board member Hank Campbell reminded us that we need to think of Coats for Kids in Unit 5 schools and that on November 8 we will hold an Ice Cream Social for the McLean County Nursing Home from 6-8 PM. This is being done in coordination with Carl's Ice Cream.

Board members Mark Comadena and Dale Strassheim learned their lessons at the recent Rotary Training Sessions. Mark gave a big nudge to get us to bring in new members. Give them the names of persons you would like to invite along with their contact information, and they will make the contact. And, for every new person you invite and who joins you will get 100 points towards another Paul Harris Award (equivalent to a $100 contribution to The Rotary Foundation in your name.)

Ann Haugo gave another positive report on the ISU Rotaract Club – particularly for their successfully food drive for Clare House during Homecoming last Saturday.

Radha Radhakrishnan was the Mystery Host and gave the $2 to me, Jim Carter. He noted he thought that there were many worthy candidates.

REMINDER: Be sure to visit the NRC Facebook Page and LIKE us. (It’s easy to do if you already have

a Facebook account. At the top of your home page there is a box used for searching. Type in “Normal Rotary Club” – up pops several choices. Under pages you will see a photo of Gene Gudeman and Michelle Houchin; click on “Normal Rotary Club”. That will take you to our page where all you have to do is click on “Like”.)

Judge Bruce Bergethon had Gene Jontry draw the winning ticket and then waited for someone to speak up. Finally he dug in his pocket to find that he was the winner. Bruce reported that he has been in Paris the last couple of weeks but did not get a chance to make up. But, pictures of him wearing his Rotary pin are available on his Facebook page. Bruce also had to admit his Pirates were not going to prevail this year. He gave the Normal Rotary Foundation a $125 check for that convoluted wager he and Mark Comadena made a few weeks ago. Mark gets to make a similar payoff at a later date since he was caught without his checkbook.

Bill Caisley was initially let off the hook for having a photo in the newspaper which was cropped so we could not see his pin. However, Bill through self-confession noted that the Judge had caught a sinner because he did not have his pin on; therefore he put a dollar in the kukla. Jason Chambers did not fare so well for his TV and newspaper appearances. Because of the frequency of his sightings, Jason asked if he could maybe set up a payment plan???

Three Rotarians got the chance to give a happy fine. Linda Healy for her 23rd Anniversary. Pamela Sweetwood for the Heartland Rotaract 5K run for Easter Seals last weekend. Ann Haugo for the Leroy

football team which is still undefeated.

Program: Gene Jontry then introduced Gary Neihaus, Superintendent of Unit 5 schools who spoke on the shooting event at NCHS on Friday, September 7. He had prepared a 2-page handout, which is pasted at the end of the page. Gary noted that they learned much from this event and he feels compelled to share the experience with others, especially school administrators.

Unit 5 and NCHS had plans in place for such emergencies but as might be expected; not all things went as planned. Thankfully, no one was injured. Five police units were there. The highest ranking officers were from the State Police who took control of the scene and set up a Command Center. They had to assume there might be more weapons or explosives and perhaps other persons of concern in the building. Because of this, when teachers and students evacuated the building they were not allowed to take notes or backpacks or anything else with them. This caused some initial delay and confusion because teachers did not have attendance lists to show who was and was not present. Another problem they encountered; when the area was secured, Unit 5 buses were not permitted on campus to transport students to Eastview Christian Church the designated evacuation site. Students and staff had to walk in the rain to Eastview.

Establishing an accurate accounting of students in attendance and absent took some time which delayed releasing students to parents. Staff noted that there were more than 2,000 evacuated and that they would need to be fed as the process was to take them into the afternoon hours. Staff called local vendors and 22 of them brought food to Eastview so that all could be fed, even special diets were accommodated. Students in need of medications were also able to be taken care of.

Communication was of utmost importance in allaying fears and in getting the situation under control. Thankfully they were quickly able to inform everyone that no one had been injured. They concluded that students with their phones helped in this process as did social media. It was an interesting story, or stories.

For his presentation, Gary was given a Normal Cooks cookbook. President Art closed the meeting with this thought: “The best time to make friends is before you need them.” Ethel Barrymore

UPCOMING PROGRAMS: October 20 – Pontiac Road Trip $10 – 10-3:00 p.m. October 24 - Update on the Children’s Discovery Museum. Sheila Riley, Manager October 25 – Sunrise 5-club gathering – 2

nd floor Rosie’s on

Front Street: 5-7:00 p.m.

October 31 – President’s Mixer November 7 - Club Business & Birthday Auction November 14 - Mini-grant Recipient: Collaborative Solutions. Julia Madden Bozarth

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

Officers 2012-2013: President - Art Drake (spouse: Jan)

42 Inglewood, Bloomington, IL 61704 E-mail: ardra345@hotmail.com Home phone: 1-309-242-5125

President Elect – Dale Strassheim(spouse: Carol)

24843 Nighthawk Road, Hudson, IL 61748

Director of the Rotary Foundation & International Projects – Ann Haugo (spouse: Steve Pelphrey) 104 Kite Court

LeRoy, Illinois 61752 E-mail : ahaugo@ilstu.edu Business phone : 1-309-438-3955

Home phone : 1-309-962-9225 Director of Community Concerns - Hank Campbell (spouse :

Mary) 2319 Mabel Road, Normal, IL 61761 E-mail : hlcampb@ilstu.edu

Home phone : 1-309-530-5134

E-mail: dstrassheim@thebabyfold.org Business phone: 1-309-451-7201

Home phone: 1-309-726-2468

Vice President – Mark Comadena (spouse: Pamela) 208 S. Bone Drive , Normal, IL 61761 Phone: 1- 309-452-2961

E-mail: mecomad@ilstu.edu

Secretary—Ralph Dude (spouse: Karleen) 911 Randall Drive, Normal, IL 61701

E-mail: rhdude@yahoo.com Home phone: 1-309-452-3838

Treasurer - Rod Weigelmann (spouse: Brenda) 2605 Blarney Stone Lane, Bloomington, IL 61704

E-mail: r.weigelmann@comcast.net Business phone:1-309- 828-8611 Home phone: 664-0818

Sergeant At Arms- Bill Semlak (spouse Joan)

3 Cheshire Mackinaw, Illinois 61755 E-mail: wdsemlak@ilstu.edu

Phone: 1-309-359-8172

Past President - Linda Healy (spouse: Pat) 1230 E. Grove, Bloomington, IL 61701 E-mail: lihealy@ilstu.edu

Business phone: 1-309-438-5083 Home phone: 1-309-827-8517

Directors: Director of Club Administration – Andy Copenhaver – (spouse :

Marcia) 203 OrleansDrive Normal, Illinois 61761

E-mail : copez12@frontier.com Business phone : 1-309-662-2663 Home phone : 1-309-661-9492

Director of Publicity - Meghan Listek (spouse : Adam)

22 Hodgehaven Circle, Bloomington, IL 61704 E-mail : mlistek@normalpl.org Business phone : 1-309- 452-1757

Home phone : 319-6347

Assistant Governor: Susan Hoover Home phone: 1-309-888-4810 E-mail: cjsghoover@yahoo.com

District Governor: Gordon Bidner (spouse: Sandra) 5150 E. 2050 N. Road

Carlock, Illinois 61725 E-mail vmsa@frontiernet.net Home Phone: 1-309-963-4240

Cell: 1-309-531-1230

R. I. President 2012-2013—Sakuji Tanaka

Members: Copenhaver, Andy Jontry, Gene PHF* HH Schneider, Marci

Adanri, Bayo PHF* HH Cranston, Robert PHF* HH PHS GWRY DHH

Jontry, Mark Schultz, Mel PHF HH

Alexander, Kathy PHF* HH Dennis, Marcia PHF* HH DNRY Koos, Chris HM Semlak, Bill PHF*

Anderson, Todd Drake, Art PHF Kukla, Cynthia PHF Sethi, Surinder PHF* HH DHH DRY

Bergethon, Bruce PHF* HH Dude, Ralph PHF* HH DRY Landon, Lyn PHF Sherman, Mark PHF* HH

Bidner, Gordon PHF* PHS MD BS GWRY HH

Dunlap, Mark Lindsay, Jeff Smith, Kevin PHF

Bishop, John A. PHF* Galloway, Aaron Listek, Meghan Spelios, Andy PHF*

Bishop, John E. Gentry, Connie PHF HH Matsler, Frank PHF* Springer, Ron, PHF*

Blackburn, Joe Gildersleeve, Ben CM HH PHF* MD PHS DHH

McClellan, Stephanie B. Strassheim, Dale PHF*

Blumenshine, John Glover, Rob PHF Mesdag, Elleke PHF* Sweetwood, Pamela PHF

Bowman, Al HM Goben, Allen HM Morris, John PHF* HH BS PHS

Tanton, Ed PHF*

Brauchle, Paul PHF* Goeckner, Becky PHF* HH Naik, Vandana PHF* Timmerman, Ron PHF* HH

Brokaw, Nancy PHF* Gudeman, Gene PHF* HH Pacha, Ron PHF* HH Varner, Carson PHF*

Brown-Nielsen, Dayna Haugo, Ann PHF Radhakrishnan, Radha PHF*

Varner, Iris PHF*

Burrill, John PHF* Healy, Linda PHF* Raper, Lyle PHF* HH Wagner, Dick PHF* PHS MD BS HH DHH

Caisley, Bill PHF* HH High, Jeremy Reitan, Carol PHF* Ward, Robert PHF*

Campbell, Hank PHF Hoelscher, Mark Riehle, Matt Weigelmann, Rod PHF

Carter, Jim PHF* HH PHS GWRY

Houchin, Michelle Ropp, Gordon PHF* HH Weller, Roger

Chambers, Jason Houska, George PHF* HH Ropp, Ray PHF* HH Wilson, Gary PHF

Chapman, Alan PHF* Howell, Gene PHF* Runyon, Art PHF* HH Wilz, Jack PHF* HH DHH

Comadena, Mark Hunt, Robert PHF* Rutledge, Don PHF* HH Zimmerman, Drake PHF* HH MD BS PHS 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

CM – Charter Member DNRY- District New Rotarian of the Year

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