McHenry Rotary Club Meeting - May 9, 2013

    The May 9th noon meeting of the McHenry Rotary Club was opened by President Kathy Pelz at the McHenry Country Club.  It included the pledge of allegiance, recitation of the Four-Way Test, singing of "My Country Tis of Thee," and an invocation.  Guests were introduced and birthdays and anniversaries were noted: Lorraine Kopczynski (May3), Joe Zubrzycki (May 5), and the anniversary of Brian and Doreen Thomas (May 18th).
    Terry Hargrove noted that three local students were awarded scholarships: Makayla Mizson (East Campus); Danielle Feit (East Campus), and Demi Woods (West Campus).  He thanked all who helped with the process this year.
    President Pelz asked for reports from the committees assigned to secure sponsors for the Rotary 5K Run for Youth Leadership to be held August 3rd.  She noted that the goal is $30,000 and to date only about $1,000 has been raised.  Each committee was asked to report on the sponsors secured; and increase the effort to get sponsors.  She ended the review and her comments by saying: "GET OUT ON THE STREET AND GET SOME MONEY!"    Personally, I don't know how much I am worth on the street, but as a Rotarian, I'll have to give it a try!  How about you?
     The Kane County "Northern Illinois Rotary End Polio Now Outing" at tje June 1st game between the Kane County Cougars and the Cedar Rapids Kernels was announced and publicized.
     Marc, from the Algonquin-LITH Rotary Clubs announced the June 15th Rotary Challenge Cup Golf Outing to be held at the Terrace Hill Golf Club beginning at 1:00 P.M.  Persons interested may e-mail him at Mmarco@aol.com.
    The Kiwanis Soap Box Derby, June 8th, was announced and our club's two cars were noted and approved for $100.
     Phil Sweeney offered today's FUN and FROLIC which was "How Music Bands Got Their Names."  The most memorrable of the two questions per table asked was the UB40 Band.  After no answer came forth, Phil said it was taken from the code of the British Unemployment Form.  (Hope they made enough money to become employed!)
     Guest speaker, Toni Weaver, representing the Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG).  She spoke of her own personal struggle to adjust as a parent of a gay son and related the experience to a standard Rotary maxim—“The Four-Way Test.”  This quadri-question and answer formula briefly covers basic ethical issues:  “Is it the truth; is it fair to all concerned, will it build good will and better friendships; and will it be beneficial to all concerned.”  Toni explained that these principles are part of the process of helping parents work through the “coming out” statements of their sons and daughters.  PFLAG meets the second Tuesday of every month, 7-9 PM, at the Unitarian-Universalist Church, 5603 West Bull Valley Road, McHenry.  [The photograph above shows our Donna Schaefer greeting Toni as she arrived for the meeting.]
     President Pelz thanked Toni for her presentation and closed the meeting with a hit on the brass bell.