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Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary Club
As a rainy night dawned to a cloudy morning, 10 Rotarians and one traveling member gathered in the back room of Rudi’s Grill. While some ordered breakfast, the Unbreakable Polio Jar made its way smartly around the narrow meeting table while greetings and chatter ebbed and flowed. President Brittany arrived just in time to ring the May 19 meeting open at 7:01 a.m., followed by Don leading the Pledge of Allegiance, Mary leading the Four-Way Test (five for the fun-loving members) and Pat giving the opening prayer.
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Rotations were made by Jay, Mary, Don, Cindy, Pat and Brittany. Brittany did a creative job of coaxing donations to the scholarship fund with a Recognition trip down memory lane (thanks to Google) for members who attended a field trip to the Paul Findley Congressional Office Museum at Illinois College nine years prior.
With no outside speaker scheduled, traveling member — and one of the founders of the club, now in it’s 31st year — Gordon, gave a brief review of the history of the club, highlighting its crowning achievement, Play-for-All Park in Godfrey Park and the power behind it, the late Barb Baker. The club reviewed the status of upcoming fundraisers, speakers and service projects.
When all current topics were exhausted (or the coffee ran out), President Brittany rang the meeting to a close at 7:39 a.m. The next meeting will be at 7 a.m. May 26 in the back room of Rudi’s Grill. All guests and visiting Rotarians are welcome.
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• Scholarships awarded — May
• Meeting — 7 a.m. May 26 at Rudi’s Grill
• Discount cards — Selling in June
• National Night Out — Aug. 4
— Submitted by Sarah Edmiston
Jacksonville Lions
As a cloudy, spring day cooled toward evening, 17 Lions gathered in the back room of Rudi’s Grill. A few ordered meals while greetings and chatter ebbed and flowed and scribbler Lion Sarah sold 50-50 tickets. When the time was right, President Lion Tamra tinkled — using a loaner tiny bell — the May 19 meeting open about 6:30 p.m., followed by Secretary Lion Cheri reading past minutes and Lion Gentz making his treasurer’s report. After both were approved by the club, President Lion Tamra opened the virtual mail bag and the club approved two civic-minded expenses.
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Highlights from the night’s meeting included:
• admiring the Brave Gowns — check out a sample lion Brave Gown at the upcoming Trivia Night;
• Lion Dan announced impressive totals of donated items gathered from the familiar boxes around the community, more than 160 pairs of eyeglasses, a pair of hearing aids and 14 printer cartridges); and
• signing up for Trivia Night and the Sight and Sound Mobile Unit during the Wellness Fair.
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After reviewing upcoming important dates in the Lions calendar, President Lion Tamra and her borrowed tiny bell tinkled the meeting closed at 7:20 p.m. The next meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. June 2 in the back room of Rudi’s Grill.
• Flags up for Memorial Day — 5:30 p.m. May 22
• Flags down after Memorial Day — 5:30 p.m. May 26
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• Meeting — 6:30 p.m. June 2 at Rudi’s Grill
• Trivia Night — June 5 at KC Hall
• Health Fair — June 10 at the Site & Sound Mobile Unit
• Flags up for Flag Day and Juneteenth — 5:30 p.m. June 12
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• Flags down for Flag Day and Juneteenth — 5:30 p.m. June 22
— Submitted by Sarah Edmiston
South Inn-Morganettes Home Extension Unit
South Inn-Morganettes Home Extension Unit met May 18 at the Morgan County Extension office.
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Hostess Nancy Wynn began the meeting by leading members in the Pledge of Allegiance. There were 11 members present, each of whom answered roll call by sharing a trip or event they have planned this summer.
The April minutes were read and approved. Nancy Wynn, treasurer, gave an update on our account balance. It was noted that all members have paid their membership dues and $5 for our unit’s fund. Mary Jo collected money for the Friendship Project. Nancy reminded members of the upcoming Morgan County HCE annual meeting celebrating 90 years. It will be June 18. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. Several members from our unit signed up to bring finger foods for the luncheon that day.
Nancy mentioned members should still be keeping track of their volunteer hours. There is a Zoom lesson at 2 p.m. June 9 at the Extension office. “Becoming a Dementia Friend” is open to all HCE members. Call Terri at the Extension office at 217-243-7424 to register.
Mary Jo Sparrow presented the major lesson, “Gardening on a Budget.” Most of the information included in the lesson applied to actual plowing, planting and maintaining a yard, vegetable garden or raised vegetable garden. Most members do not need that amount or produce or do not have the space for that type of garden. Information was obtained and presented on container gardening for vegetables, herbs and flowers, including items that will suit a patio, deck, small yard area or even indoor space. The minor lesson on first lady Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt was given by Linda Griffin.
We will not have a regular meeting during the summer. Our unit will meet for lunch at 11:30 a.m. July 13 at McAlister’s Deli.
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The meeting was adjourned. Refreshments were served and enjoyed by members.
— Submitted by Mary Jo Sparrow
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