President Karen Dennis greeted our guests and members. We recited the pledge of Allegiance and the Four Way Test.
A Note for Wednesday's Meeting:
Our speaker, David Sweet will be attending via Zoom. His book, "Three Seconds in Munich" is available on Amazon. Click here for the link . David asked that I mention he has books at home he can sign and deliver for holiday gifts by e-mailing him at dafsweet@aol.com
Interact News from Ida Fiore:
Day of Giving 2021
Day of Giving originated at Elm Place Middle School in 2011, when students and staff collected donated food, clothing, toiletries, and winter gear for local families.
To continue the important tradition that benefits over 150 families in Highland Park and Highwood, Northwood Middle School is proud to host the 11th Annual Day of Giving on Saturday, 12/11. All students at Northwood Middle School will be participating in a Service-Learning focused afternoon on Friday, 12/10, with activities designed to prepare and support Day of Giving. HPHS Interact members will be supporting the event as student advisory leaders and preparation volunteers. Students will not be in attendance on the actual Day of Giving due to the confidentiality of our recipient families.
The success of Day of Giving relies on the generosity of the entire community. Please see the attached wishlist to see the items being collected. To select an item or make a donation you can visit Day of Giving SignUpGenius or visit the Amazon Day of Giving 2021 Wishlist.
More Volunteer Opportunities!
MLK, Jr. DAY OF SERVICE Plans are already in the works! We will again be collecting for PADS.
Watch this space for the list of needed items.
Northern Illinois Food Bank and Moraine Township Food Pantry are looking for volunteers. Click here to sign up.
Volunteers Needed at Bernie's Book Bank The start of the school year is right around the corner and we need your help! Volunteer to sort, sticker and pack books for under-served children throughout Chicagoland at Bernie's Book Bank in Lake Bluff. Sessions are limited to 25 volunteers. Visit their website for more information
Wanted!
Updated information and headshots for the directory!
Mike Mills has convinced us that it is time for a new directory. So pictures will be taken (if you want a new one) and an update form will be available at the next meeting. If you have professional pictures or information you want updated, you can send it to Mary Beth at hphwrotary@gmail.com. Our goal is to publish in 2022!
This week Club members were happy for: Jim Berardi was happy to win the raffle - the first time he ever won was when he came to a Rotary meeting for the first time as a guest! Ron Borden was happy to be getting away to warmer climates and will joins us via Zoom when he can. He wished all of us wonderful holidays. Dale Mugler was happy to be meeting with Siemens this week regarding another one of his projects. Also, he is leaving for South Carolina soon and wished us all a very merry holiday. We wished both Ron and Dale safe travels!! Len Tenner was happy to return his unexpected winnings; Mike Babian was sad that we had to cancel the holiday party, but was happy that Fred Orkin's wife Sylvia is already coming up with great ideas for a party in the spring! Eric Ephraim was happy the Nominating Committee has been hard at work and will have a slate for the club to vote on next week; Jack Diamond was happy to be celebrating his granddaughter's birthday; Mary Beth Bretzlauf was happy to share with the Club that her poem, "Confessions of an Old Shoe Dog" published this spring by Highland Park Poetry, was nominated for a Pushcart Prize! (More on Pushcart in This and That).
You don't have to wait until meeting day to share your happiness! Click on the yellow box below, donate your happy dollars and then email Mary Beth at hphwrotary@gmail.com and tell her what you're happy about!
Program Chair Paul Clements introduced our speaker, Dr. Cynthia Plazas, a social worker with Highland Park Police Department. Cynthia has worked as the social worker for the HP Police department since 2014 responding to calls that come in regarding many issues that affect the quality of life for residents. These calls can vary from domestic or child abuse, elder care issues, and mental health crises. Her role continues to evolve as the needs of the community evolve.
Cynthia shared with the Club that the City of Highland Park is a certified Dementia Friendly Community - a part of Dementia Friendly America. DFA is a national network of communities, organizations and individuals who seek to ensure that communities across the U.S. are equipped to support people living with dementia and their caregivers. DFA communities foster the ability of people living with dementia to remain in their communities, engage and thrive in day to day living. These Dementia Friendly communities are characterized by:
an understanding of dementia
less fear and avoidance
inclusion and support for people living with dementia and their families
concerted efforts to raise awareness about dementia, transform attitudes and move people to action
improved quality of life for persons with dementia, their families, and friends.
When the new Police Chief took up his position, it was a goal of his to have Highland Park be designated as Dementia Friendly. In March of 2020, the City received national recognition. Every part of the community plays a role by working together to take steps to create a dementia friendly culture. Businesses, Banking support customers with dementia by accommodating cognitive impairment. Law enforcement and first responders recognize the signs of dementia and respond according, and health care systems promote early diagnosis and connect individuals with community services. Local governments plan and implement housing, transportation, public spaces and emergency responses.
But there are other community stakeholders that are involved - faith communities that are welcoming and have specialized programs and services, or accommodations. Community members learn how to interact and create networks of support. Restaurants, grocery stores and libraries offer services and support that foster access and independence. Employers support employees who also happen to be caregivers through proactive personnel policies. Residential care and community services offer a range of services to maximize independence and support ongoing community engagement.
Fostering a Dementia Friendly community comprises of an advisory board, community outreach and education, and business sector training. The standards for business sector training are to have at least 50% of the staff participating in the training, while management is required to attend. A team leader is appointed as a liaison and the business be open to discussion regarding environment changes to enhance safety. Once certified, the business agrees to an annual on-site follow up visits.
Of the topics she discussed, Cynthia has provided a few links to learn more about dementia, click here for a video: for more information about smart 911, click here; and for the City's website page on being a Dementia Friendly Community, click here.
The Pushcart Prize Anthology by Pushcart Press, was founded in 1976 by Bill Henderson and a group of founding editors including Paul Bowles, Ralph Eliison, Joyce Carol Oates and Reynolds Price. It celebrates the best work coming out of small, independent presses each year. Editors of the small presses may nominate up to six pieces in any genre from work that has appeared in their pages that year. A panel of previous Pushcart Prize winners and editors select the winners. Since the prize's inception, more than 2,000 writers and 600 presses have earned the honor. Among writers and editors, the Pushcart Prize is highly revered. It can also bring recognition not only to the writers who win, but also to the small presses that published the winners. - from an article written by Dana Sharvin for "The Writer" Magazine, published December 11, 2020
Confessions Of An Old Shoe Dog*
Being an old shoe dog, you can tell who we are – we have shoe horns
tucked in pockets, attached to key chains or belt loops
there is a faint trace of shoe polish under our fingernails.
We carry a stack of shoe boxes with one hand
so you know you have a plethora to choose from
We’ve stretched leather, made room for bunions
offered “genuine pleather” to the pickiest of customers
and solved problems for the narrowest of heels and widest of feet
don’t worry, we’ve got your size,
when a customer announces she is an eleven and half AA,
and she wants a navy and white spectator pump,
the gauntlet has been tossed and we shoe dogs are on a mission!
From Hush Puppies and Florsheim, to Nunn Bush and Dexter,
we’ve kept men’s feet protected and stylish
Women have several shoe needs – one of each in every color
Pumps, flats, loafers and oxfords, mules and clogs, open toe sling backs
Stilettos and wedges, kit kat heels and Cubans, too.
We brandished our Brannock devices, but could measure a foot
with our expert eye, and thanked the gods the x-ray machine was gone.
We straightened stock and fixed displays, took inventory and
wrestled rambunctious kids for that thumb’s width of room at the toe
all day long just waiting for our turn on the sales floor and make that sale
*An endearing term used by other old shoe dogs (at least where I worked)
Mbbretzlauf 4/21/21
published by Highland Park Poetry, A Muses Gallery Anthology, "Shoes: Poems about Footwear" (2021)
Good news!AmazonSmile is now available in the Amazon Shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones. You can use the copy and assets below to share the news with your supporters.
AmazonSmile customers can now support Rotary Club of Highland Park- Highwood in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations.
Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into 'Settings'
Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process
If you do not have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app, update your app. Click here for instructions.
You can help raise money for our club by simply shopping on Amazon!
Everyday is a great day to get something special for yourself or someone you love and also give our club a boost by reminding you to shop at smile.amazon.com, and Amazon will donate to Rotary Club of Highland Park- Highwood when you shop!
Shop at smile.amazon.com and AmazonSmile donates to Rotary Club of Highland Park- Highwood at no cost to you!
Click on the link below:
#StartWithaSmile at smile.amazon.com/ch/36-2957334for your holiday gifts and Amazon donates to Rotary Club of Highland Park-Highwood.
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