August 11 Meeting
The next meeting of the Club will be held on Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 7:30 am at the Harbor Club. Julie Yusim, Executive Director of the Wilmette/Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce, will provide an update and overview of businesses within our community, including a discussion of how local businesses have fared during the pandemic.
Meetings will continue to be held in hybrid form, so that members and guests can participate either in person and by Zoom. The link to the hybrid meeting will be emailed to members, guests and others within the community who express an interest in attending. In light of recent CDC guidance, masks are recommended for those attending in-person.
Recent Meetings
The Woman's Club of Wilmette graciously provided a tour to Club members and guests of their beautifully restored building on Wednesday, August 4. After the tour, a brief reception was held in the Phoenix Room (rising from the ashes). We look forward to the completion of renovations to this wonderful community facility, including renovation of the auditorium.
At the July 28, 2021 meeting Anthony Auston, Director of the Wilmette Public Library, spoke to the Club. Anthony provided an outstanding update of new developments at the Library, including how the Library has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and new initiatives to reach out to the Community.Anthony also included very interesting observations about how the question "Is it the truth?" is a guiding principle for both the Library and the Rotary.
Community Conversation Series
Anthony Austin's presentation was the second in the Club's "Community Conversation" series. Each Community Conversation provides an opportunity for one or more community leaders to provide an update of important current developments within the community. The Community Conversations also present an opportunity for those in attendance to ask questions and offer comments. Interested members of the community are invited to join us.
The Club will be holding Community Conversations on the last Wednesday of each month at 7:30 am at the Harbor Club in Gillson Park, and also be available by Zoom in hybrid meeting form.
Our first Community Conversation was held on June 30, and featured Steve Wilson, Executive Director of the Wilmette Park District. On August 25 John Jacoby is scheduled to speak about his new book Wilmette at 150. On September 29 Julie Wolf, Chair of the Wilmette Environmental Commission, is scheduled to speak.
New Environmental Committee
The Club has formally established a new Environmental Committee. Ben Ivory and Maureen Barry will serve as Co-Chairs. The Committee in particular plans to consider ways to collaborate with the District as Rotary implements its new focus on the environment this year, and also to continue to consider ways to collaborate with local government and organizations on environmental projects.