Greeters:  Carol Wells, Walter Reed

Scribe:  Jim Bowman

Set-up:  Gil Gilbert

Attendance:  Jim Bowman

Treasurer: Bob Meeder

Thought for the day:  

John Wertymer informed us on how the $206 billion tobacco settlement was spent incorrectly by the states.

Guests:  Sarah Oliver brought Amber Nordely from Chase Bank

Announcements:

Jim Griffith had hip replacement surgery recently. 

Greg Michel is in the hospital with intestinal issues;  and Sheri Miller, hospitalized with diverticulitis,.  Get-well cards will be passed around.

Steve Goranson/Dick Moenning from the Evanston Lighthouse Club pitched their Holiday fundraiser.  They are selling poinsettia, wreaths, pecans, and hams among other items.

Abbey Romanek will be leading a tour and introduction of an exhibit at the Holocaust Museum on Sunday 11/16 at 1:00.

Susan Fisher informed us about the greetings from the Prague Rotary Club where Ben Ivory is currently a member.  

Barry Miller explained the expectation of each member to sell $800 of items or contribute $400 for our Holiday fundraiser. The wine tasting Monday was a success as 33 members attended.  Joyce, Gil, and Walter shared their success strategies for selling.

John Glascow brought Herb McDowell up for the Membership moment.  In an unplanned moment, Herb described his membership drive when he was President.  He strengthened the club by removing a number of inactive members.

Ellen Greenberger looked for volunteers for the 11/17 Soup kitchen and the 11/22 Holiday Parade marshall job.

John Kessler brought a flag back from the Berlin club and encouraged everyone to visit Rotary clubs when traveling. John will now head to Arizona for 6 months.

Puran Stevens announced that the Interfaith of North Shore will meet at the Bahai at 7:30 on 11/25.

Walter Reed highlighted that today was the 76th anniversary of his release after a mistaken arrest.  He has the police report to prove it

Shenanigans:  Tom Ryan entertained with Chicago linguistics and slang.

Speaker:  Joan O'Neill introduced Lydia Zopf who runs the Veterans Project at Thresholds in the city.  

They provide mental health services for veterans.  They were founded in 1959 and initiated the Veterans Project in 2010.  It already serves over 150 vets.  

Some of their services include affordable housing, mental health guidance, physical therapy, job training and links to employers, and help with substance abuse.  Their staff has grown to 20 with half of the staff being veterans themselves.  70% of their clients come to them homeless.  

A recent program uses dogs as a part of the therapy.  The vets receive training on how to help dogs who have been abused, are malnourished, lonely and depressed. The "broken" vets learn how to fix the "broken" dogs and find healing themselves in the process.  Lydia is very excited about the progress thus far.

Speaker for next meeting (Nov. 19):  John Reilly

President Emeritus of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs

Club Duties Nov. 19:

Greeters:  Ellen Falkof & Greg Michel

Scribe:  Ray Lechner

Set-up:  Gil Gilbert

Attendance:  Hank Hufnagel

Treasurer: Chris Simcox 

Thought for the day:  John Ray