The Rotary Club of
Springfield
 
 

April 28, 2022 Newsletter

Please buy and sell tickets for June 26 Rotary Family Day at the Ballpark to see the Cards play the Cubs! The last day for discounted tickets is April 30 then the price increases. Reserve a seat on the bus for pain-free roundtrip travel to Busch Stadium in St. Louis to see the game! See articles below for details. 

President Barry's Message
 
 
Meeting RI President Shekhar Mehta’s Challenge
When Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta challenged Rotary members with his appeal of Each One, Bring One, we knew that he wanted us to get personal and invite someone we knew who shares our values as Rotarians.
 
Our membership effort begins with an exercise to inspire you as members to consider why Rotary matters. From there, members are asked to share their Rotary experiences with others and invite them to join a club meeting, a service project, or a social event.
 
We each have an opportunity to extend that gift to others who can benefit from Rotary and help us increase our impact. If each of us sponsors just one new member between now and 30 June 2022, we'll have no difficulty reaching our goals.
 
Get Tickets for the Baseball Game and Support Literacy
The baseball rivalry between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs is already heating up in the 2022 baseball season. For many years Rotary member Rod Buffington has worked with the St. Louis Cardinals to provide a fun Rotary Family Day at the ballpark and to help fund and support literacy grants in Rotary District 6460. The proceeds from ticket sales provide money for grants such as the LEGO backpacks project (image to right) and the Little Libraries just to name a few. Rod has a total of 1500 tickets that need to be sold and with well over half of these already sold, we need your continued help in selling the remainder of these tickets for the game on June 26. If you respond before April 30 the cost for these tickets is just $45, but will rise to $58.00 on May 1. We also have a bus reserved so that you can ride in style and share rivalry stories about the Cards and Cubs to and from St. Louis. That cost is only $30 each but we will need to hear from you as seating is limited on the bus. If you have not already bought or sold tickets to this popular rivalry game now is the time to step up to the plate to support literacy in our club and District 6460. The articles below provide details on how to order tickets and reserve a seat on the bus.
 
May 2 Meal Reservation
 
Our May 2 club meeting will be hybrid with the opportunity to dine in person at Maldaners Upstairs or dine at home by ordering a meal to pick up behind Maldaners. In either case, make a reservation!
 
All meals include the main course, sides, salad, and dessert. Take out meals are well packaged, and are hand deliverd by Maldaner's staff, sometimes by Chef Michael Higgins!
 
Please make reservations for dining in or take out so we can estimate our food needs and so Maldaners knows you are coming. The deadline for reserving dinner for the May 2 meeting is Monday, May 2 at noon. Meals are $15 each. Please use the following link to make your reservations for the meal for dining in or pickup by clicking: 
 
 
 
 
For curbside takeout, please place your meal tickets or cash in an envelope with your name and “for Sheila Mack” on the outside of the envelope and give it to the Maldaners staff member that gives you your food. They will get the envelopes to Sheila Mack. Curbside pickup is between 4:45 and 5:15 p.m. To pick up food, turn into the alley behind the building and pick up the food at the back door. It's easy to pick up your food an the food is delicious!
May 2, 2022 Meeting Link
When it's time, join your Webex meeting here. 
 
 
 
More ways to join:
 Join from the meeting link
 
Join by meeting number
Meeting number (access code): 2578 593 1417
Meeting password: PKjd5RYQP63
 
 Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only)  
+1-408-525-6800,,25785931417## Call-in toll number (US/Canada) 

Join by phone  
+1-408-525-6800 Call-in toll number (US/Canada)  
Global call-in numbers
 
Join by video system, application or Skype for business
Dial 25785931417@webex.com 
You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.
 
If you are a host, click here to view host information.
 
Need help? Go to https://help.webex.com
June 26 is Rotary Family Day at the Ball Park
Mark  your calendar and order your tickets now! We have scheduled our annual Rotary Family Day at the Ball Park for June 26 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Our game time is 1:10 p.m. and will feature another exciting match up of the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. I have 1500 tickets for Rotarians in District 6460 to sell. We are offering special Pre-opening Day ticket prices of $45 per ticket for any tickets purchased or requested on order forms postmarked before or on April 30. On May 1, ticket prices will increase to $58 each. So buy your tickets right away to take advantage of this special discount!
 
Please remember to sell tickets to friends, neighbors, relatives, colleagues, or anyone who would enjoy a great baseball game and the opportunity to support literacy projects. Proceeds from ticket sales support District 6460's Literacy Grant Program that funds projects proposed by clubs in our district. So sell as many tickets as you can and be certain that our club submits a proposal for a literacy project to benefit the community. To purchase tickets now click on Ticket Order Form or download this form from the download files section on our website homepage (www.spirotary.org).
 
I hope you sell numerous tickets and that I will see you at the Ball Park! I am arranging for a bus, and we will need about 52 riders to make it affordable. Spread the word about the availability of a bus and check out the article below to reserve your seat.
Pre-Sale Savings on Baseball Tickets Ends April 30
 
As you may know, however if you don't, we are having our "Early Bird" sale for our annual "Rotary Family Day at the Ball Park." The game is June 26 in St. Louis between your favorite Cardinals or your favorite Cubs!  The tickets are on pre-sale "Early Bird" ticket price for $45. Go to the front page of Rotary District 6460 website  or click on Ticket Order Form here to get the order form. PRE-SALE ORIGNALLY ENDED ON APRIL 6, BUT WAS EXTENDED THROUGH APRIL 30!
 
Game time is 1:10 p.m. at Busch Stadium, St. Louis.
 
The seats are in the Left field loge - Section 267 next to McDonald's Land.  
 
Rotarians and friends of Rotarians and all game fans we need your help in selling out 1500 tickets for this game. Our annual game has raised over one-half million dollars over the past 19 years for helping children and adults gain literacy skills within our Rotary Communities.
Take the Bus to Family Day at the Ballpark
The Rotary Club of Springfield Downtown is sponsoring a bus to the annual "Rotary Family Day at the Ball Park" on June 26 for the game in St. Louis between the Cardinals and the Cubs.
 
Send a $30 check made out to Rotary Club of Springfield to reserve your seat!
Send check to:  Baseball, 2001 Barberry Drive, Springfield, IL 62704  
 
Round-trip cost per fan:  $ 30
 
Bus will leave from the park lot behind Macy's upper level at White Oaks Mall
 
Bus arrival at White Oaks parking lot:  10:00 a.m. (Sunday, June 26)
 
Bus departs from Springfield for trip to St. Louis:  10:30 a.m.
 
Bus departure after the ball game:  The bus will leave one hour after game with a tentative departure time from St. Louis of 6:00 p.m.*
 
*The bus departure time after the game is tentative. However, the decision was made to depart one hour after game to give fans time to return to the bus without rushing. 
 
I hope to see you on the bus and at the game! Thanks for supporting our literacy grant program.
March Madness Raises $1000 for PolioPlus
Thank you to all who made this year’s effort a big success! I am in the process of collecting money from participants of this fundraiser. The good news is that we normally contribute $800 to PolioPlus but this year with additional donations, particularly from Harry Mitchell, Bill Kempiners and Jim Theis who donated their winnings, the donation to PolioPlus is $1,000. This amount plus the two for one match of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, means there will be $3,000 to help eliminate polio.
 
Our donation has extra benefits for our club. This donation earns our club Paul Harris Fellow points, one for every dollar donated. For every 1,000 points, our club can designate a Paul Harris Fellow, and we recognize our Community Paul Harris Fellows using these points.
 
Thanks again for a great event.
 
Past and Upcoming Club Programs
Planning is underway for a number of outside speakers and in-house presenters. Please remember that club meetings have returned to our hybrid format and include the opportunity to participate in person at Maldaners or online via Webex.  
 
April 25 Program on EP!C Host Homes:  We thank Hilary Frank, Community Options Recruiter for EP!C,  and Dave and Chip (image below) who discussed EP!C’s Host Homes Program for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Hilary provided an overview of the program. EP!C is a community of families, staff, volunteers, and community members working together to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families with unique educational, residential, employment, and care programs tailored to each individual’s abilities and needs. They began as a small, community-organized network of Peoria families in 1950 who took an innovative approach to disability by emphasizing ability over disability. They have since grown to serve individuals of all levels of ability residing across 15 counties in Illinois from finding funding to the best program and service match. Chip hosts Dave in his home as a part of the program and told us about why he decided to serve as a host and how much he enjoys hosting Dave in his home. Dave spoke about what he enjoys most about the program. Members had numerous questions about this program and enjoyed the dialog with all three of our guest presenters.
 
 
 
May16:  Lashonda Fitch, Director of Oak Ridge Cemetery, will present The History of Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Lashonda Fitch is the 20th Director and Certified Cemeterian of Oak Ridge Cemetery. Oak Ridge is the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln and one of the most visited cemeteries in the nation. Since inception, Oak Ridge has been owned and operated by the City of Springfield, Il. In addition, Oak Ridge encompasses 180 acres, has over 77,000 interments, and is home to the two public mausoleums in Sangamon County.  

Lashonda an accomplished leader, business professional, and trail blazer. She enjoys meeting new people, learning new skills, and is passionate about haring her knowledge and educating others.

Lashonda understands the importance of serving the community. For three years, she served as the board Secretary for the largest home owners association in Springfield, Twin Lakes. She is a past recipient of the Springfield Business Journal’s 40 under 40, and numerous Springfield Chamber ambassador awards.  In addition, she served on the Local First board, the Illinois Women in Leadership board, and served as a Springfield Chamber ambassador for four years.

Currently, she is studying as a National Academy of Sports Medicine, Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Nutrition Coach. She is a member of a League of Our Own, Toastmasters, a licensed real estate professional for the state of Illinois, a Certified Les Mills Body Pump instructor, a member of the Fresh Visions Community Church Health and Wellness committee, and the co-leader of the Fresh Visions Community Church Financial Ministry Committee.

In her spare time, she enjoys time on the deck with her husband, walks in the park, coloring, listening to audio books, and when weather permits, she averages 120 miles on the local bike trails each month. You can learn more about her story on her linked in profile.

If you have suggestions for future speakers, please let me know.
2022 Volunteer Opportunities and Thanks
 

Looking for Flag Service Volunteers

Flag Service deployment is coming up soon! For the Memorial Day distribution we expect to have more than 500 flags to distribute in routes with 25-30 flags. Flag Installation will begin during the week before the Memorial Day (May 30) weekend!

Many hands make light work! We are recruiting for more folks to help with conduit installations (for new customers) and to take or team up with a spouse/friend/child/fellow Rotarian for a distribution route. This is an excellent service opportunity for just a few hours work. Please consider helping out with this. Contact John Loftus (jlloftus@aol.com) or Marty Michelson (exdirector@rutledgeyouthfoundation.com) to volunteer. 

 

 

Collaborative District Club Grant to Help the Homeless

Preparation of the dinner for the homeless by Cafe Moxo has been postponed to May 12. Special thanks are due to club member Chris Atchison (image below) for volunteering to help deliver the meals to participating shelters including Helping Hands, Sojourn, and the Mini O'Beirne Crisis Center. Remaining funds in the grant will be used to provide blankets and other needed services for Sojourn Shelter.
 
 
Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery Fence
Our club is helping the Nursery spruce up a pinwheel garden for spring by sanding and painting a small picket fence by their front walk. Volunteers proposed some optional dates to the Nursery. Volunteers who signed up will win a Tom Sawyer straw hat, along with the fun. 4-6 volunteers are needed. Thanks to Megan Norman, Jasmine Gibson, Joe O'Beirne, and Stacy Kelly for signing up. Vicki distributed straw hats to volunteers Megan, Stacy, and Joe at our April 18 meeting. Check with Jasmine Gibson for more information about sanding. To sign up to paint, contact megginson.vicki@gmail.com.
 
The image below shows our enthusiastic Community Services Director Vicki sporting one of the straw hats. Thanks to Bill Sturm for providing this great image.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Central Illinois Foodbank 
The Foodbank welcomed us back as food sorters and packers on April 7. A full crew of 10 hardy volunteers (image above) packed 300 boxes of food (image to right) and bagged frozen meat (image on left below) for delivery and distribution in Centralia. We may not have whistled while we worked, but there was some excellent juggling of canned goods by member Kirk Kellus (image in center below), and we all had a great time helping families in need.  Volunteering is rewarding and fun, and we hope to have more opportunities to work with the Foodbank.
 
 
 
Ridgely School Micropantry
Volunteers are needed to monitor and stock the pantry for two shifts each month (Shift A during the first half of the month and shift B during the second half of the month). The image on the left shows the micropantry at Ridgely School. Thanks to the members who have volunteered covered the following shifts:
April A        Ross Hodel
April B        Sheila Mack 
 
We still need a volunteer to stock the pantry during the first half of May.

We are looking for additional volunteers to carry us through the summer shifts. Please consider signing up for a two week shift, provide food to the individuals stocking the pantry, or drop off items anytime you are in the vicinity of Ridgely School. Use of this pantry has been very heavy during the cold weather. The following article provides good guidelines for the types of items that are needed.  Contact Vicki at megginson.vicki@gmail.com if you wish to help stock the Ridgely School Micropantry 
 
 
Little Libraries
There will also be opportunities to assist with our Little Libraries by sorting and stocking books. The image below shows the Little Library at Ridgely Elementary School. Details will follow soon.. Barry Tobias needs help locating movable carts for two little libraries that are otherwise ready to be installed.
 
 
Stuffing Backpacks for our District Literacy Grant
Thanks to all the volunteers from our club and our partners from Delta Sigma Theta for helping stuff the backpacks for our District Literacy Grant. The backpacks are being distributed to pre-school children who are experiencing homelessness . See story above for details. 
 
Contact Vicki at megginson.vicki@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer or suggest new projects. 
Suggestions for Pantries from People Who Use Pantries
We are repeating a list of suggestions of foods and other items to stock in the Ridgely Food Pantry. These suggestions came from people who use food pantries to help feed their families. 
 
1. Everyone donates Kraft Mac and Cheese in the box. They can rarely use it because it needs milk and butter, which is difficult to get from regular food banks.
2. Boxed milk is a treasure, as kids need it for cereal, which they also get a lot of.
3. Everyone donates pasta sauce and spaghetti noodles.
4. They cannot eat all the awesome canned veggies and soup unless you put a can opener in too or buy pop tops.*
5. Oil is a luxury and needed for Rice a-Roni, which they also get a lot of.
6. Spices or salt and pepper would be a real Holiday gift.
7. Tea bags and coffee make them feel like you care.
8. Sugar and flour are treats.
9. They fawn over fresh produce donated by farmers and grocery stores.
10. Seeds are cool in Spring and Summer because growing can be easy for some.
11. They rarely get fresh meat.
12. Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.
13. Hamburger Helper goes nowhere without ground beef.
14. They get lots of peanut butter and jelly but usually not sandwich bread.
15. Butter or margarine is nice too.
16. Eggs are a real commodity.
17. Cake mix and frosting makes it possible to make a child’s birthday cake.
18. Dishwashing detergent is very expensive and is always appreciated.
19. Feminine hygiene products are a luxury and women will cry over that.
20. Everyone loves Stove Top Stuffing.
 
* At our November 29 club meeting, Ross Hodel reported that he followed this advice and stocked numerous can openers in the Ridgely Pantry. He noted that they were quickly snapped up.
Encourage Membership in Rotary
Do you know or are you someone who has a passion to give back to your community? The Rotarians in this image are helping pack essential items for the Illinois Police Department to give to homeless individuals in our community. As a Rotarian, you adhere to the principles of the 4-way Test., which are:
  • Is it the Truth? 
  • Is it Fair to all concerned? 
  • Will it build Good Will and Better Friendships?  
  • Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?  
If you find value in these ideals and want to be part of a great organization, right click on the attached link to open our Membership Application in a new window. You can also download a copy of the Membership Application from our Club's website Home Page (www.spirotary.org) in the Download Files section. You can send the completed application to the Membership Committee at illinoisdelta@hotmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you! 
 
Regards, 

Downtown Rotary Membership Committee
 
Thank you. 

Travis
 
Record Your Service Hours and Contributions
Please remember to report your service hours and related contributions. Just follow this link:
 
 
Please email images of service activities to Bonnie Styles at bonstyles@yahoo.com. It's easy to take pictures if you have a smartphone, but even an old style camera works just fine. Send me an email (bonstyles@yahoo.com) to let me know when you will be volunteering for a service project, and I will come out and take some images.
 
The image below is from our volunteer work packing backpacks for preschool children in need on April 18, 2022.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Website, Facebook and LinkedIn
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