12/3/25: Today, our guest speaker was Matthew Milliner, Ph.D., Professor of Art History at Wheaton College.

• The existence of divine miracles and the historical debates surrounding their veracity, including Our Lady of Cicero at the St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Cicero. See: https://www.stgeorgechi.org/about/our-lady-of-cicero/
• The history of Roosevelt Road from the Field Museum on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago's South Loop to the suburbs with a focus on the architecture of the churches and mausoleums on or near Roosevelt Road. Originally 12th Street, the road was named after TeddyRoosevelt in 1919. There are dozens of churches ranging from storefronts to magnificent buildings. Notable or well known among the latter are: Old Saint Patrick's Catholic Church, Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Church of the Holy Family, and the Queen of Heaven Catholic Mausoleum.   

•   See: https://dupagemuseum.org/architectural-cultural-history/
•   See: https://dupagemuseum.org/parties-rentals/

• Identity theft and telephone scams
• Burglary to motor vehicles and motor vehicle thefts  
• Ruse burglaries and home repair fraud

• It can take many forms including theft of your wallet or purse
• What should you NOT carry in your wallet or purse:
  • Social Security card
  • Medicare card
  • Personal checks
  • Numerous credit cards
  • Birth certificate
  • Bank account numbers
  • Large amounts of cash
  • Spare keys  

• Posing as an attorney or as a police officer, the scammer calls and identifies some one you know as being in trouble, or being hurt, or otherwise needing help requiring immediate financial payment from you. 
• Posing as a representative of the IRS, the scammer advises that you owe money to the IRS and must pay immediately via charge card or wire transfer.
• Posing as a representative of the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Service to sell you bogus insurance or claim that you are owed a sizeable refund. To process anything, you are to provide your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier or Social Security Number. With this information the scammers will pretend to be health care providers and submit fraudulent claims to Medicare or to obtain opioid drugs. 
• Posing as a security expert from Microsoft, the scammer advises that you computer/laptop is infected with a malware virus and that you need to grant them remote access to your device to remove the malware. This requires immediate payment. By granting access, they then install malware and access your personal data. 
• Foreign Lottery / Prizes / Free Gifts scams: You receive a letter, call or email claiming you won something. To receive it, you need to pay for taxes or a processing fee. You never receive a prize or gift. 
• What can you do:
  • Hang up the phone  
  • Do NOT give out your personal identifying information.
  • Resist the urge to act immediately, no mater how dramatic the story.
  • Call a family member at a phone number you know is genuine.
  • Check out the story with family or friends even if you have been told to keep it secret.
  • Do NOT wire money send a check, or buy a gift card of any kind. 

• Criminals will pose as employees of the city or utility companies and give an excuse to get inside your house. They work in pairs with one stealing your money or valuable items while you are being distracted by the other.
• What you can do:
  • Never let anyone inside your home without prior notification and identification.
  • If anyone claims to need access to your property, tell them to wait outside while you verify with the company they work for. Do NOT use a phone number they provide. 
  • Keep all your doors and windows locked

• Common Types of Repair: seal coating, chimney work, car repair, roofing and siding 
• Always say they are doing work in the neighborhood. 
• Try to sell you on a cheap price with work to be quickly completed 

• Facebook: The choir has their own Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/wnflight/
• YouTube: Videos of many of performances can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=wheaton+north+high+school+show+choir+Flight

• Finding a local food pantry: https://solvehungertoday.org/get-groceries-resources/#find-a-local-food-pantry
• Who is eligible to receive food? Pantries receiving food from NIFB set their own eligibility guidelines. At the majority of food pantries, eligibility is based on self-attested need. There is no need to have a referral, and income is not a factor to receive food. Call ahead to ask a pantry about any eligibility or documentation requirements they might have.

• 96% of the Food Bank’s resources go to programs that feed neighbors in need
• NIFB provides 250,000 meals a day and each week nearly 1,000 volunteers help to evaluate, repack, and distribute food

• (https://www.girlscouts.org/en/activity-zone/grade-levels.html)
• (https://www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/en/get-involved/join.html)

• https://www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/en/cookies.html

Drawn by national curling and youth baseball contests, crowds of athletes flock to the small town of Summerside on Prince Edward Island. Townspeople, however, aren’t content merely to be spectators. Each winter, local curlers contend in a tournament that’s been sponsored by the Rotary Club of Summerside for nearly 20 of the event’s 36 years. In March, 36 teams vied in a friendly meetup that raised about CA$40,000 for Strive, a program that provides scholarships and Rotarian mentoring to high school students. “In curling, [a tournament] is a bonspiel,” explains Paul Power, a past president of the club. “We call ours a ‘funspiel.’” Participants, including about a dozen club members, “love their curling,” says Power. “It’s not competitive whatsoever,” unless you count the points awarded to the best-dressed Mardi Gras-themed team. “It’s basically all hands on deck” — and on the granite stones players slide across the ice once the games begin.

       United States

Students learned to become environmental “solutionists” at a Maryland Rotary club’s youth summit, organizing battery and plastic recycling drives and teaching peers about growing trees. Teens at the environmental summit, the second hosted by the Rotary Club of Southern Frederick County (Urbana), joined a coalition of Interactors and other young people who volunteer to rescue uneaten school cafeteria food and compost waste. The students advocate with school leaders and state lawmakers, backed by Rotary members who support the expansion of the Lunch Out of Landfills initiative. The summit’s goal is to give students skills and confidence to push for change in their communities. “Young people bring an incredible energy and urgency to climate action,” says Mary Jo Anderson, the club’s president.

• https://chicagolandsportshalloffame.com/hall-of-famer/ken-popejoy/
• https://ballotpedia.org/Kenneth_L._Popejoy
• https://www.dcba.org/mpage/judgePopejoy

• In Illinois, the circuit court is the court of original jurisdiction. There are 25 judicial circuits in the state, and in DuPage County this is the 18th Judicial Circuit Court. 
• Each circuit is administered by a chief judge who is elected by vote of the circuit court judges of that circuit.  For the 18th Judicial Circuit Court the Hon. Bonnie M. Wheaton, is currently the Chief Judge. She is the successor to Judge Kenneth L. Popejoy. Circuit judges in the circuit elect one of their members to serve as chief circuit court judge. The chief circuit judge has general administrative authority in the circuit. The chief judge can assign cases to general or specialized divisions within the circuit.
• There are two types of judges in the circuit court: circuit judges and associate judges. Circuit judges are elected for a six-year term and may be retained by voters for additional six-year terms. They can hear any circuit court case. Associate judges are appointed by circuit judges of that circuit for four-year terms. An associate judge can hear any matters deemed suitable by the chief judge or designated circuit judge.

• 24,000+: the estimated annual number of individuals in Illinois who are victims of trafficking.
• 1,600: the estimated number of beds in the U.S. available for women victims of trafficking.
• 70% of female trafficking victims are involved with the sex industry including prostitution, porn, and stripping.
• 100% of Naomi House residents experience addiction and other mental health disorders associated with abuse.
• 85% of of women helped are victims of child abuse. 

• Mission: To help every woman who has suffered from commercial sexual exploitation
• Impact: Since 2016 Naomi House has grown from serving five women through the Reside residential program to serving hundreds of women across the Chicagoland area. In 2024 over 250 women received services from Naomi House. 
• Programs
  • Reset outreach drop-in centers: victims are welcomed to “come as they are”. The Naomi House team offers immediate support, a listening ear, and even a care plan outlining steps to a different life to every woman who walks through the door.
  • Reside is the long-term, 24-hour residential program for women who are ready to build a life free from sexual exploitation . Here, they find the safety and comfort they need to exit survival mode and face the trauma of their pasts.
  • Rise: This day program is for survivors who have already done extensive work to heal from sexual exploitation and seek continued growth. Accountability, continued education, job-skills training/placement, and counseling are provided as they begin to live independently, pursue healthy community and relationships, and rebuild connections with family.

• The in-prison youth ministry utilizes Bible based ministry materials in small groups. 
• Discipleship House: Male youth who have participated in the in-prison ministry and shown a desire for growth can apply to become residents of the Discipleship House. The selected youth engage in a family life-model that aims to modify their behavior in five key areas: spiritual, personal, financial, educational, and occupational. The ministry’s main objectives are to break the cycle of incarceration and make disciples.

• Tricking you to give personal information through the mail, by phone, by text messaging and by e-mail. Very common is text message phishing scam claiming recipients owe money for road tolls. 
• Fake websites,
• Social media scamming,
• Stealing credit card or debit card numbers (skimming)
• Stealing checks

• Guard your personal information,
• Don't respond to unsolicited requests,
• Verify any request for your personal information prior to providing it, 
• Protect your mail,
• Sign up for direct deposit,
• Carefully and regularly review your financial accounts,  
• Protect your devices (install a firewall and anti-virus software)

• Katelyn will be graduating from Wheaton Warrenville South and will be attending the University of Michigan majoring in Biology and Public Policy.
• Vivian  will be graduating from Wheaton North and will be attending Purdue University majoring in Biology.

• EV Charging Stations: HCS provides EV infrastructure solutions for commercial properties and fleets: planning, design, products, and installation 
• EV Charging Software: The HCS network is wirelessly, this being vital for commercial applications as it allows both station owners and drivers to track driving and charging sessions.
• EV Charger Maintenance: As EV charging stations are exposed to the elements and other sources of wear and tear HCS provides (1) twice yearly inspection and preventive maintenance to reduce downtime and catch emerging issues before they become problems, and (2) outage response  service.

• EV ownership is concentrated in Cook, DuPage, and Lake counties. While exceeded by hybrid vehicle ownership, the growth of EV ownership creates a significant need for public charging (https://www.autosinnovate.org/posts/press-release/2024-q2-get-connected-press-release#:~:text=EVs%20represent%209.96%20percent%20of,market%20share%20contracted%203.83%20percent.). 
• EV Charger building standards for residential developments:
  • New construction of single-family and small multifamily housing (MFH) must include a minimum of one EV-capable parking spot for each residential unit that has a designated parking space. New single-family homes or small MFH that qualify as affordable housing must have one EV-capable parking space per dwelling.
  • All parking spaces at newly constructed or renovated large multifamily dwellings must be EV-capable.
  • Building permits for affordable single-family developments and MFH must meet the following benchmarks to support the development of EV-capable parking spaces:
    • Beginning January 1, 2026, 40% of parking spaces must be EV-capable;
    • Beginning January 1, 2029, 50% of parking spaces must be EV-capable; and,
    • Beginning January 1, 2034, 70% of parking spaces must be EV-capable.

• Social & Emotional Development: Having your child attend the same preschool program throughout his or her early years allows him or her to develop relationships with the adults and children in that environment, which provides a sense of security.
• Cognitive Development: Consistency in the preschool program can significantly impact a child's cognitive development. High-quality early childhood development programs that provide developmentally appropriate curricula, enable children to develop specific cognitive skills at the appropriate age.
• Language Development: Language development occurs at a rapid pace in children between the ages of one and five years old. Children who are secure in their environment and with the people around them are more likely to engage in frequent, age-appropriate conversations. Currently, there are in excess of 30 languages used by children attending the school. 

• Developmental screening
• School-Based Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapy is concerned with a child’s ability to participate in daily life activities. Occupational therapists are part of the preschool team. Occupational therapists support the achievement of developmental and learning outcomes for children with and without disabilities. In the school setting, children participate in the occupations of play and school related tasks (e.g. writing, coloring, cutting, and physical movement). A child may have difficulties and/or disabilities that interfere with the child being successful in school.
• School Based Physical Therapy: Physical therapists are members of a multidisciplinary school team that ensures a free and appropriate education for students with disabilities to prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.
• School psychologist: School psychologists help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. They collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community for all students.
• Social Workers: The School Social Worker is a member of the diagnostic team involved in initial evaluations for special education. The School Social Worker meets with the parents gathering vital information about their child’s social and emotional development.  As part of that process the School Social Worker helps parents to understand the various special education services that we offer in early childhood. The School Social Worker also participates in the educational planning for the student.
• Special Education Services: Jefferson Early Childhood Center in District 200 provides services to meet the needs of children who are 3 & 4 years old who experience educational challenges and are found eligible for special education services. Students are found eligible for special education services following an evaluation if they exhibit deficits that impede their learning. All children who reside in District 200 (including private school students) are entitled to evaluation and special education services if found eligible.  

• Cleve Carney Museum of Art
• Professional shows: the Performance Series, the Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, the New Phil harmonic, and the Lakeside Pavilion outside concerts
• College (student) shows: art work, music, dance and theater 

• https://wheatondentalsleepcenter.com/what-is-sleep-apnea/
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/symptoms-causes/syc-20377631
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sleep-apnea/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20377636

• Cub Scouts: boys and girls K-5th grade - Cub Scouting activities are designed for Scouting families to get in on the fun, and include exploring the outdoors, building projects, making friends, and developing a lifelong love of learning as Cub Scouts earn patches related to their grades.
• Scouts BSA: boys and girls ages 11-17 - Scouts BSA is where youth explore their interests and develop skills by participating in outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and canoeing. Scouts earn merit badges along the journey and work towards achieving Scouting’s highest rank—Eagle Scout.
• Venturing: coed  ages 14-20 - Venturers develop leadership skills like decision making, communication, and organization by choosing activities they are most interested in performing. Some of these activities include kayaking, volunteering at animal shelters, or designing robots.
• Sea Scouts: coed ages 14-20 - Sea Scouts—organized into units called ships—recognizes Scouts for activities they learn and do, including paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and even SCUBA. Scouts earn certifications in SCUBA, boating safety, lifesaving, CPR
• Exploring: coed ages 10-20 - Explorers step out of the classroom and into real-world work environments to gain hands-on experience and learn more about potential career paths.
• STEM Nova Award Program for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and Venturing - working with an adult counselor or mentor, participants use various modules to explore the basic principles of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

• Youth Development Programs: Nurture growth and academic success of students through mentorship, life skills training, faith development, recreation, and community services.
• Family Stabilization: Help families overcome financial crises and achieve long-term stability through case management and counseling. 
• Transitional Housing: A transitional housing program for single, formerly unhoused mothers, Jubilee Village serves single mothers between the ages of 18-24 and their child. The program addresses the myriad needs of its residents, many of whom come with histories of family discord and domestic violence, and without financial resources or job skills.
• Employment Training: This is a job training program designed to empower young adults (18-29 years of age) to pursue their employment and career goals. They can do this through paid work opportunities, coaching, supportive case management, and career exploration. 
• Counseling: Professionally trained therapists provide individual, couples and family counseling for emotional distress, family conflicts or parenting concerns, problems for children, couples’ relationships, Individual or family adjustment following divorce or remarriage, and support in the midst of major life decisions or transitions

• Staffing: seeking to add a new patrol officer
• Automated license plate readers (ALPR):  Readers (ALPR) are a high-resolution digital camera to capture images of vehicle registrations, make and color, and time the vehicle was at the location of the fixed camera. Some 20 Readers have been installed throughout the City to assist the Wheaton Police Department in quickly identifying license plates associated with missing persons, amber alerts, people in crisis, and felonious vehicles involved in criminal activity.  
• SAFE-T Act: Commonly known for the elimination of cash bail, operational changes include:  
• Police officers can no longer place a suspect under arrest for ordinance violations, petty offenses, and Class C or B misdemeanors unless certain additional criteria are met. Examples of class C and B misdemeanors include Disorderly Conduct, Assault, and Criminal Trespass.  
• Suspects charged with any misdemeanor offense (with the exclusion of domestic violence offenses, Order of Protection violations, sex offenses, and abuse crimes) will generally be released on their own recognizance and without cash bail.
• On many felony offenses, detention can only be imposed if the defendant poses a specific, real, and present threat to a person or has a high likelihood of willful flight. This translates to many felony offenders being released on their own recognizance.
• Neighborhood Roll Calls: These summertime neighborhood meetings serve to Increase citizen engagement in community safety efforts
• D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Program: This long time program has moved beyond the simplistic (and ineffective) "Just Say No." approach. The D.A.R.E. program is a 10-week program focused on reaching out to the elementary and middle schools in the Wheaton area. The program is geared toward 5th grade students and includes topics on: responsibility in daily lives, drug information for responsible decision making, risk and consequences, peer pressure, dealing with stressful situations, basics of communication, nonverbal communication and listening, bullying, helping others, and getting help from others. Additionally, the D.A.R.E. officer teaches online safety for middle schoolers and their parent
• Social Services: The department employs two full time social workers dealing with numerous situations the Department is involved with. See: https://www.wheaton.il.us/1079/Social-Services-Resources

• The Coverage Gap (Donut Hole) is being replaced with the Manufacturer Discount Program
• A payment plan is available for Out-of-Pocket prescription drug costs 

However, while Out-of-Pocket prescription drug costs are capped at $2,000 (presently $3,250) there are expected to be significant changes in Medicare Drug Coverage Plans: premium increases, and plan designs (including changes to formularies and the drug tiers).  

• Development of a downtown event area & open park, (much like Wheaton's Memorial Park) on the north side of the UP tracks across from the train station (https://gepark.org/downtowneventpark/)
• Population density in the downtown area
• Dealing with migrant buses (https://www.glenellyn.org/DocumentCenter/View/4275/Migrant-Bus-Transportation-FAQ) 
• Redevelopment of the Roosevelt Road hotel property (https://www.glenellyn.org/766/Roosevelt-Road-Hotel-Properties)

• Empower: With the goal of increasing the local food systems in the region to improve food security, TGW collaborates with food pantries, social service agencies, and community organizations to grow fresh produce for households facing hunger.
• Educate: TGW encourages the use of organic growing methods through education, resources, and training. Educational events are taught throughout the year, and TGW's Resource Center located at 2100 Manchester Road in Wheaton houses many of these trainings and Food Growers Network meetings.
• Support: TGW believes that local growers can make a significant impact on the quality of food provided at emergency food assistance locations with a collaborative effort. TGW encourages the donation of excess harvests to local food pantries, and the use of community gardens to nourish neighbors in need. 

• A. I. is in its infancy, and is rapidly evolving. As it is based on data available in the internet, A.I. will develop (learn/adjust) as more users make use of it. 
• A. I. delivers near instantaneous results, but is error prone. 
• A. I. can efficiently deal with routine tasks. For example: instructions and presentations being available in multiple languages.
• Plagiarism, copyright infringement, fake photos, and fake information are huge issues. 

• Secure an improved employment status
• Reduce debt and improve credit rating
• Teach clients how to better utilize resources through life-skills mentoring
• Improve the client's and their children's educational opportunities
• Secure and sustain permanent housing upon completion of the Program
• Break the cycle of poverty within the family unit

• 105 families were served (111 adults, 205 children)
• 45 clients found full-time jobs
• Median Debt moved from $15,661 to $1,500
• Median income moved from $2,286 to $3,284
• Median saving moved from $0 to $10,916
• 44 clients graduated from the Program

• West side
  • Intersection of Roosevelt Road and County Farm Road: In addition to the well publicized addition of a stop light for St. Francis High School & Marian Park apartments, the construction project will extend west to the troublesome Roosevelt Road /Schaffner Road intersection and the Winfield Creek bridge, and west to the Winfield Creek bridge near Marian Park.
  •  VASA Fitness having taken over the vacant Ultra Foods building in the Kohls/Target shopping center
• Downtown
  • The Liberty Drive - Hale Street - Wheaton Avenue block: The redevelopment of this block into a large scale apartment complex, all privately funded, is proceeding.
  • A new restaurant is planned at the corner of Front Street and Hale Street
  • Redevelopment of the vacant Sandberg store at the corner of Main Street and Front Street is underway
  • Numerous changes in commercial occupancies
• Roosevelt Road
  • NW corner of Roosevelt Road and Naperville Road: after much delay, development of the medical clinic and daycare center is proceeding
  • 800 Roosevelt Road: redevelopment of this site of the former Chrysler/Jeep dealership as a storage facility seems to have stalled. 
• Town Square: new occupancies including Nordstrom Rack 
• New car washes:  Everclean Car Wash on East Loop Drive and another going in on Butterfield Road at the former Cozamel's Restaurant site. 

• Background: The school is named, not after the 5th U.S. President, but rather James ("Jimmy") Howard Monroe. On Feb. 16 1967, Monroe, an Army medic, was treating wounded soldiers when a live grenade bounced into the foxhole where he was working. Without hesitation Monroe threw himself onto the grenade, saving the lives of his sergeant and a radio operator. For that selfless act, Monroe was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 1968. Within a year of Monroe’s death, the new middle school opened bearing his name. In May, 2011 his family gave his Medal of Honor to the school where it remains on display. 
• The Program:
  • Each department within Monroe nominates an 8th grade student who most clearly exhibits the six principles of the Medal of Honor: Courage, Sacrifice, Patriotism, Citizenship, and Integrity. Students who are nominated should also have a commitment for his/her academic achievement, dedication to the school’s values and outstanding character.
  • The nominated students, in turn, select a teacher from Monroe Middle School who has impacted them in a special way throughout their educational experience. The student and parent(s), along with the chosen faculty member, will be honored during a dinner at a banquet ceremony.
  • This dinner not only honors the students and their achievements, but also the teachers and parents whose time and dedication have helped to shape these young men and women.
• Recent Eagle Honor recipients Liz Kettleson and Hudson Dunlavy briefly addressed the Club members.
• Our Club is proud to be a sponsor of the honors dinner. 

• Matt Biscan: CUSD 200 Assistant Superintendent - Administration 
• Anthony Crespo: Monroe Middle School Assistant Principal - Administration 
• Mark Spehr: Trust Bank Wheaton Market President

• https://www.dupagecounty.gov/elected_officials/state_s_attorney/specialty_courts.php#:~:text=DuPage%20Pre%2DTrial%20Diversion%20Program,permanently%20entered%20on%20their%20record.
• https://www.dupagecounty.gov/government/departments/probation_and_court_services/juvenile_services/

• Unlawful possession of firearms
• Domestic violence
• Illegal drug possession/opioid epidemic 
• Offender flight when stopped by police

• This is a strenuous ascent and descent, with elevation acclimation and temperature extremes being prime considerations
• Sections of the climb are risky. See slides 30 (hug the mountain) and 34 (evacuation helicopter). While rare, there have been deaths, but none on their climb. 
• Climbs are very well organized with accommodations, meals, guides, and porters provided. 

 

• Impact of the COVID19 pandemic: While 87% of Illinois school districts showed learning losses (the average student lost half a year of math and a quarter year in reading), District 200 students achieved gains during this period. 
• The District is in the 14th year with a balanced budget, and has an AA+ S&P credit rating. At $14,446 per student, District 200’s operating expense per student has historically been below the State average and is the second-lowest among our six other benchmark districts. 
• Significant anticipated capital projects: Three of the four middle schools; Edison (built 1979), Franklin (built 1974), and Monroe (built 1982) are in need of updating to meet both current and future needs (including infrastructure & mechanicals, safety & security, lab science classrooms, classroom improvements, special education accessibility, student services spaces, library learning centers, indoor athletic & PE spaces, performance arts & music spaces). With the District's current outstanding bonds expiring in three years, it is expected that the tax levy associated with replacement bonds will be less than that of the current bonds. 
• For additional information: 
  • https://www.cusd200.org/
  • https://core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/3696/CUSD200/3001772/CUSD-Overview2022_FA_10-2022.pdf

• A retired high school social studies teacher, Brett has five years’ experience running a social services organization and 22 years in the software business . 
• In 2009, Brett made a volunteer trip to Dago, Kenya, and feeling compelled to encourage positive change in an otherwise poor village, he created the Weiss Scholarship Foundation.
• Dago is a tiny village in the far southwestern part of Kenya, not far from the border of Tanzania and Lake Victoria. The residents of Dago are all farmers, raising animals and cultivating plants to sustain their livelihood. The Village is home to around 3,000 people—virtually all of whom are among the poorest on earth with an average family income of less than $2 USD per day. They live in tiny mud huts with no electricity or plumbing. Very few residents are over 40 years old, and only a handful ever receive medical care. Food insecurity and access to safe water sources are major problems. Children also face additional challenges. Other than their school uniforms, children’s clothes largely come from charity. The government does not pay any of the costs to attend high school. For this reason, most children quit school around the fourth grade because they do not see the point in continuing an education that will not extend past primary school. Instead of attending school, they try to get a job working in the fields, making around $1 daily

Operation:

Based in Dago, WSF now has seven trained Kenyan educators in five communities working to increase the # of girls and boys completing primary school. WSF pays all expenses of their high school students. The scholarships cost $875 USD/year or $3,500 for all four years. Some achievements:

• 182 Scholarships Awarded up from 32 in 2017
• 101 students currently in high school
• 54 students have graduated high school.
• 4 students have graduated university.
• 16 students have graduated vocational school.
• 1 of the high school graduates is  attending Elmhurst University in the United States

For more information and to support their mission, visit their website: https://weissscholarshipfoundation.org/

• WDSRA programs are designed similar to traditional park district programs to provide something for every interest and ability level. Programs are available for individuals of all ages, designed to maximize each participant’s potential and offer opportunities that allow everyone to perform at their highest level of ability:
  • Adaptive sports/athletics
  • Athletic/Fitness programs, sports, and Special Olympics
  • Cultural arts, music, dance, and art
  • Day programs for adults 
  • Seasonal & Summer day camps
  • Social clubs and programs
  • Trips and special events
• WDSRA inclusion services allow individuals to choose to participate in programs offered by member park districts. 

• For frequent air travelers, he recommends the PreCheck program (as well as the Global Entry program for international travelers) to expedite clearance in airports.
• At the Illinois airports there annually are some 50 loaded handguns found in carry-on luggage.
• Pilots are encouraged to be armed.
• Dogs are great snifters for explosives. 
• TSA employees do not have arrest authority.
• Non-medical drugs in luggage: if it is illegal locally, TSA will notify airport or local law enforcement, and detain offenders. If it is legal locally, they will force you to dispose of it because it is still illegal federally.

• AFT has three priorities: protecting agricultural land, promoting environmentally sound farming practices, and keeping farmers on the land.
• AFT is the only national agricultural organization that approaches its work in this comprehensive, holistic manner.
• AFT recognizes the connection between the land, forward-looking farming practices, and the farmers and ranchers who do the work. 
• Initiatives in the Midwest include:
  • Argonne National Laboratory Perennial Bioenergy Project: Argonne National Lab and American Farmland Trust are partnering to promote and support farms in the implementation of perennial bioenergy crops on marginal land.
  • Vermilion Headwaters Watershed(VHW): The VHW Partnership is a collaboration of farmers, community leaders, government agencies, research institutions, and non-profit organizations, working to reduce the loss of nutrients from farmland in the VHW. 
  • Fall Covers for Spring Saving (FCSS):  The Illinois Fall Covers for Spring Savings program promotes regenerative agriculture practices in order to improve soil and water health in Illinois. 
  • Illinois Cover Crop Initiative: This program provides payments to farmers for incorporating cover crops, no-tillage, and/or emissions scoring into their operations. This is a dynamic program is keeping nutrients and
    carbon in the soil while keeping waterways cleaner for the whole community.
  • WI Farmland Protection Partnership is a collaboration of 19 land trusts, municipalities, academia, and state agencies aimed at permanently protecting agricultural land through agriculturalconservation easements and
    promoting the adoption of soil health practices on protected lands.

     

5/3/23

Today, our guest speaker was Keith Wakeman. 

Based in Glen Ellyn, SuperBetter is a digital education and mental wellbeing company using the psychology of game play to empower people to overcome obstacles & achieve their goals. Playing SuperBetter means bringing a gameful mindset to everyday life. Players develop new skills, strengthen their whole-person resilience and track how their gameful strengths grow over time.

Over 1 million people have played SuperBetter. SuperBetter was invented by world-renowned game designer Jane McGonigal. Published scientific studies show that playing SuperBetter increases resilience and reduces anxiety & depression. The app is recommended by schools, colleges, employers, therapists & peers. 

For additional information:

• https://superbetter.com/
• https://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_the_game_that_can_give_you_10_extra_years_of_life?language=en

4/29/23

In honor of Earth Day, the Illinois Prairie Path corporation, in cooperation with the Friends of the Great Western Trails, DuPage County and other partner organizations, held its annual cleanup. Cleaning litter from all miles of the Illinois Prairie Path and Great Western Trails is a huge task, and cannot be done without hundreds of volunteers.

Our Club members have volunteered for many years. This year, we were assigned to neither the Prairie Path nor the Great Western Trail, but to the Carol Stream Community Park. In addition to the expected bottles, cans, plastics, and paper there were  the "litter treasures"  of a road sign, and a disassembled bicycle. 

4/15/23

• Bauer & Bauer Dentistry & Orthodontics
• Culligan of Wheaton
• Culver's Wheaton
• First Trust Portfolios 
• The Hearing Doctors
• Konlon & Associates / Rice Lake Square
• Robert F. McCormick Foundation
• NOW Foods
• The Oberweiller Foundation
• Pete's Fresh Market Wheaton 
• Rotary Club of Wheaton A.M. members

• French Market: construction is finally nearing completion  
• Former bank building at Roosevelt Rd.& Naperville Rd.: construction is pending for a health clinic
• Vacant car dealer building on Roosevelt Rd: property has been sold, and is to be developed as a storage facility
• Vacant buildings on Willow Avenue at Main Street: demolition in process was ordered by the City
• 214 W. Front St.: being developed as a restaurant
• Hale Street & Liberty Drive block: redevelopment was approved and construction is pending  

• Four collegiate awards of $1,000/year for four years, and
• Two vocational awards of $1,000/year for two years.

• Wheaton North: Ella Rodriguez will attend the University of Illinois
• Wheaton North: Sarah Rodriguez will attend the University of Illinois.
• Wheaton Warrenville South: Michael Macabobby will attend Nebraska*
• Wheaton Warrenville South: Ann Macabobby will attend Colorado State*
• Wheaton Warrenville south: Grace Macabobby will attend Minnesota*

• Wheaton North: Luis Lopez will attend the College of DuPage
• Wheaton Warrenville South: Nathaly Mora will attend the College of DuPage

• Today, our guest speaker was Ms. Mehret Asgedom. She currently teaches ESL Study Skills, ESL Reading, and ESL Government at Wheaton North High School. 

• Bauer & Bauer Dentistry and Orthodontics
• Cantigny Park/Robert R McCormick Foundation
• Compass Mortgage
• Culligan of Wheaton
• DuPage Medical Group
• First Trust
• Flood Bothers
• Haggerty Chevrolet
• Huck Bouma PC
• Jel Sert
• KIND Snacks
• ServPro Wheaton/Glen Ellyn
• Wheaton Bank & Trust Company
• Wheaton Center Apartments

Congratulations to Charlie Cooper of Naperville, This year's Winner of our Annual Car Raffle. Charlie has a choice of receiving a FULLY LOADED 2010 Chevy Cobalt LT with a sticker price of over $15,000 or $10,000 cash. The winning ticket was sold by Rotarian Brett Dale. Proceeds from the raffle support local agencies and not for profits, our educational scholarship programs and international projects that the Rotary Club of Central DuPage A.M.is involved in.