August 27 2008
Our program this week will be an “Un-Fifth Wednesday” special meeting. Steve Ziegler , and John Alumbaugh will give us the Thought for the Day.
Previous Program—Mary Vita Rosmarino—Mahomet Area Youth Club
John Alumbaugh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mahomet Area Youth Club (MAYC) introduced MAYC Director Mary Vita Rosmarino. Mary Vita has held this position for the past year. Previous work experiences include the City of St. Louis, City of Champaign, and most recently Girl Scouts of America.
She is a native of the Syracuse, New York area and her mother said that Syracuse is ready to send Nancy Cantor back to the prairies of Illinois! Mary Vita has degrees from a NY college and SIUE. Her life experience includes a Peace Corps assignment in Togo.
MAYC started as a satellite of the Don Moyer’s Boys & Girls Club. When that organization decided to concentrate in Champaign, MAYC with great community support “went independent”. Mahomet Rotary has been a great supporter of MAYC and the Board includes, John Alumbaugh, Mark Kesler, Doug Bosworth, Bob Morrison, Ron Domagala & Jeff Fago. Many Rotarians have provided program support to MAYC.
Mary Vita says that a MAYC goal is to train productive citizens and to connect school, family, community and MAYC. One major emphasis is to instill a “sense of responsibility” to kids….and their parents! An recent example was when volunteers were painting the skate park. She strongly suggested that the kids who used the park help with the painting…and they did! One lesson is to become a “giver” not a “taker”!
The MAYC annual budget is about $225,000 which relates to about $2,000 per member year. Some of the funds come from membership fees, but the main funding is from contributions from the community, Spring Gala, Auction, Raffle, and grants. This weekend is the MAYC 5K, and Half Marathon which will yield $10,000 for the club. Mark Kesler has been in a runner in all thirteen of these races!
Programs include “Project Second Chance” for kids referred by law enforcement for community service. She said that MAYC can’t save them all, but many do succeed in becoming good citizens. “Teen Succeed” for 12 – 18 year old kids makes MAYC a safe place after school rather than being “home alone”. One effect of “home alone” is sexual promiscuity and that does not occur at MAYC!
Grants are a major funding source and come from the Community Foundation and Kraft. The Eastern Illinois Food Bank is a source for low cost hardy food. One Mother told Mary Vita recently that she sends her kids to MAYC so that they can eat!
“Till—Sow—Wait—Reap” is a concept used at MAYC. Brian and Markius are the staff leaders that provide leadership and mentoring for the 100+ MAYC members. They are great stewards of the financial resources and accept responsibility for the success of MAYC. The entire staff is congratulated for patience, maintaining firm & consistent discipline, high standards of behavior and gaining feedback.
The stewardship has led to a debt-free organization….which was far from fact only one year ago. Mary Vita Rosmarino says that MAYC is a “Jewel of the Mahomet Community” and offers a safe loving environment for kids in the community.
What does MAYC need from the community and Rotary members? Of course, contributions are fantastic, but volunteers are needed to present programs and to be positive role models for kids that may not have this input in their lives. In summary she said that you can “pray for us”!
Mary Vita Rosmarino has provided tremendous leadership to MAYC and is helping to change the lives of some kids in the Mahomet community. Mahomet Rotary thanks her for her update on MAYC…….and wouldn’t she make a Rotarian?
“Service Above Self!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST WEEKS MEETING
Brad Bridges greeted us and Steve Ziegler gave us thought for the day by Vince Lombardi. For the second week in a row, the song of the day was from the “Sound of Music”, “Edelweiss”.
We had three guests at the meeting. Mel Smigielski, Village Administrator for Mahomet, Mary Vita Rosmarino, Executive Director of the Mahomet Area Youth Club, Colonel Peter Em, leader of the US Army ROTC on the University of Illinois campus and Dan Waldinger of the Mahomet Park District. Shown to the right is President Debra Clark presenting Dan with a check for $220 for the Brent Johnson Park project..
Dan Waldinger & Debra Clark
President Debra Clark announced that Mel Smigielski will be initiated into membership at the next meeting. Mark Kesler has the honor of being the football guru for this year. Look for special “picks” on the EIU football games.
What’s new with Tina?
Tina recently emailed to let us know how she’s doing....
“Hi! The babies are doing great and so am I. The Doctor wants me to take it easy to avoid complications. Our baby girl is weighing in at 3 pounds 1 ounce while our baby boy is 2 pounds 15 ounces. They are both measuring wonderfully. Except for some swelling and slight pain I’m doing great too! I’m back to work part time and spending the other time relaxing , trying to remain “stress free”. This is harder than it sounds! Thanks again for the beautiful flowers you sent to the hospital and keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. I will keep you all updated and hopefully to sneak to a meeting or two before our “bundles of joy” join us in October! Thanks! Tina
Note--Tina is on a leave of absence from Rotary. By the way, she had better enjoy her “relaxing” because with the arrival of their twins will leave little time for that! Our son has twins and he says, “The first year was h____!
Announcements
Save Your Cans!
As a part of the Mahomet Area Youth Club support and new recycling effort in Mahomet, the Mahomet Rotary Club will be collecting aluminum cans in September. Lets fill John Alumbaugh’s pickup every week! Bring your cans each week in a plastic bag. Every time the MAYC trailer is filled it bring $350. Aluminum scrap price is $0.75 per pound….a record price! So bring to your cans to Rotary!
US 150 Cleanup
Charlie Smith thanked Glenna Weith, Jeff Fago, Cynthia Halverson, Debe Williams and Mary Weisiger for working hard in the “extra” US 150 cleanup last Saturday. This helps make Mahomet look great for this weekend’s Music Festival! Great job!
Bucket Bucks
The August Bucket Bucks are for Mahomet Rotary Club Projects. The good news from club members today yielded $53. June Holmes is “prepping” for her daughter’s wedding in two weeks! Bob Morrison is celebrating 62 years of marriage on 29 August. Congratulations! Nancy Domagala went on a “Women in the Outdoors” event last weekend. Colonel Peter Em has 24 fresh recruits in his Army ROTC program. Steve Ziegler said he has maximum job security since the University of Illinois is back in session. Ken Ingold is still holding his breath as the Cubs are 30 games over 500! Is this the year? Cindy Guthrie hopes that the use of her van is coming to an end as Mike is buying a pickup.. Doug Bosworth was back on his bike after a 2 month break after his mishap.. Mell Smigielski said the he like Groucho Marx “was not sure if he wanted to belong to anything that would accept him as a member.” John Alumbaugh celebrated his birthday. Ron Domagala visited a good friend in California last week. He said he would rather do this now rather than going to his funeral. Rich Lake shot a 38 in golf! Brad Bridges is ready for the UofI students to return to spend big money in his University Book Store! Mary Weisiger’s kids were all home last weekend….and then they all went home!
Greeter/Thought for the Day
Sept 3—John Alumbaugh/Camille Born
September 7—Camille Born/Mell Smigielski
September 14—Mell Smigielski/Brad Bridges
Future Programs
Sept. 3---Christine Strandquist (She loves to get up early!—Mahomet Village Board
Sept 10—Mark Herriott—Columbia Street Roastery
Sept 17—Speaker from Busey Investments
Sept 24—Pending
About Shelterbox
Tom Henderson (left), founder of Shelterbox.
The purpose of Shelter Box USA, Inc. is to provide victims of disaster with shelter, by supporting the efforts of the Shelter Box Trust. The function of Shelter Box USA, Inc. is, within the USA, to raise the money that provides the shelter for disaster victims. Shelter Box is a grassroots Rotary club project which has rapidly grown to an international level.
The Shelter Box project was conceived and developed by Tom Henderson, a member of the Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard, Cornwall District, in Great Britain as their Millennium Service Project. Struck with the urgent world-wide need for a self-contained emergency shelter unit when disaster occurs, Tom designed a tent, researched suppliers and, through trial and error, developed the Shelter Box. The international relief agency Feed the Children, has called Tom’s Shelter Box ‘the best disaster relief tool they have seen in their 20 years of experience’. Working primarily through UK Rotary clubs, Tom and his Rotary club succeeded in exposing the Shelter Box project to over 25 million Brits and, as a result, distributed provided shelter for approximately one-third of a million people in the last six years. In March, 2002, Tom approached the newly formed Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch (near Sarasota, FL) to become the primary Rotary administrator for the Shelter Box program in the United State, known as Shelter Box USA. This commitment involves promoting Shelter Box not only through the established US Rotary club network but to other community groups, corporate groups and individuals, as well. ShelterBox USA became a non profit 501(C)(3) organization, with a Board of Directors, in 2005. As a result of exhibiting at the 2003 Rotary International Conference, Shelter Box USA was responsible for initiating two other national affiliates: Shelter Box Down Under (in Australia) and Shelter-Box Canada. Shelter Box Japan is the newest global partner.
For more information see the website: http://www.shelterboxusa.org/
Live the Four Way Test!
President’s Note: ShelterBox USA is a direct way that Rotarians worldwide can “go” to disaster sites and provide relief. Each ShelterBox contains a tent and essentials for shelter and support after a disaster.