From: Dwenzel [mayhavenpublishing@mchsi.com]

Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2007 8:03 PM

To: urbana rotary

Subject: Erepartee

Deb Rugg - President; Tom Conry - Vice President; Tom Brown - Treasurer;
Kermit Harden -Secretary

Board of Directors
 John Dee, John Haltiwanger, Pam Hulten, Gerri Kirchner, Mike McCuskey, Roscoe Pershing, Doris Wenzel

http://urbana.rotary6490.org/       Club # 3294

For July 31, 2007

Upcoming Program…             

August 7                                Ray Elliott will make a status report on the Malawi Well Project.            

Thought for the Day:             Bob Bender, with a little urging from Mike McCuskey, said we should appreciate the beautiful Rotary day.

Guests:                                     Bob Bender subbed, welcoming our guests at the door and at the podium again!            

Announcements:

Jon Liebman writes: The outage of the club website (along with many other District 6490 club sites) was due to the tardiness of a third party in making a needed change.  It was entirely out of the control of either the Urbana Rotary Club Communications Committee or our web host, Quasar Strategies, Inc.  The website is working properly now.

Anna Merritt announced that the Community Volunteer Committee would meet after lunch, and that if we wanted to  donate to the Blood Drive we should do so right away.

Steve Shoemaker from YMCA reminded us that they could use some volunteers to help sort, organize and tag items for the the Dump and Run sale August 20—25. He also said volunteers from the Lincoln Challenge were always there to help and were greatly appreciated. Last year the Dump and Run Sale raised $25,000.

Don Uchtmann provided Jim Quisenberry’s address for visits to him while James and his family are gone on vacation. Doris Wenzel visited late Friday afternoon and got to meet some of the friends he dines with. We all had a good visit and Jim said he enjoyed having Roscoe and Ann Pershing stop by earlier in the day.

Music: Willie Summerville tickled the keys while Roscoe Pershing directed us in singing Let There Be Peace on Earth. And I do mean directed. Surprisingly, it sounded pretty good, and carries such a great message.

Guests:             Tom O'Laughlin from Champaign; Bob Scully from Champaign West

Members with Guests:            Paul Luedtke hosted his wife Mary Ann  

Make-ups:             Barry Suits, Gail Rost and Ed Scharlau sneaked off to other clubs

Sergeant-at-Arms: We couldn't find the missing Rotarian so Carl Larson stepped up to the challenge.

Roscoe Pershing said he and Ann had a delightful 11-day cruise in Alaska and put $11 in the shoe.

Don Uchtmann announced he was completing his last day at the U of I and placed $33 in the shoe for the 33 years he had served.

Kathleen Holden Pecknold reminded those of us who belong to Ollie, to sign up for our classes.

Pam Hulten said the United Way Calendar and books are available and that Urbana Rotary was included as a sponsor.

Don Mason  thanked everyone for assisting with the shallow wells project and said  that we had exceeded the goal with $12,000 in contributions. He put $5 in the shoe in hopes that the budget will pass so they can send our representatives to Malawi.

Program:  General Donald W. Lynn — "The Lincoln Challenge Program"

New member John Maloney, a member of the Lincoln Challenge advisory board, introduced our guest, General (retired) Donald W. Lynn, a recipient of the highest  non-combat medal and a list of other achievements, not the least of which was his outstanding service to the young men and women enrolled in The Lincoln Challenge Program. In fact, General Lynn is the "father" of the program which is now active in 30 states.

The Lincoln Challenge Academy, established in 1993, is for young people "most at risk" and is meant to provide a doorway for young people, through which they may improve their knowledge, their skills, and an understanding of community service. First in the program, Illinois wrote the documents and the curriculum. It is fair to say all these young people have had, for one reason or another, a tough start in life. Sometimes poverty and other circumstances have created problems for them, sometimes poor  judgment and risky choices have created the problems. The necessary element is that all young people enrolled in the program are volunteers.

This program was initiated by a Washington "think tank" and sponsored by the National Guard and the United States Army though  there are no strings attached, and the statistics of success are impressive.

Though all enrollments are voluntary, participants become aware of the program through teachers, administrators, social workers, recruiters, and sometimes members of the law. Those applying must be drug-free, U.S. citizens, a resident of the state in which they apply, and they must be unencumbered by the court. None of these young people come to the program without problems—serious problems. Not all remain past the first cut. Those who do complete the two-phase program will have additional mentoring through the first year of their post-graduation experience. Nearly twice as many young people apply as can be  accommodated.

The program is rigid. There are 27 classes lasting twenty weeks. Participants have only Thanksgiving and one week at Christmas away from the campus, as part of the intent is to free them from an adverse environment.

After a recent 2-week pre-phase in Rantoul, only 420 of 600 remained to continue. The students’ area is tested for drugs once a month throughout their training, which is seven days a week, 24-hours a day and includes basic military physical training. Their education varies, from kindergarten levels through 12th grade and beyond. All certified teachers and counselors, and the staff—160 strong—supervise 24-hours a day. Testing takes place at Parkland College.

In general, Illinois participants are: 21 % female and 70% male; 53 % Afro-Americans, 16% Hispanic, and 3% are from other backgrounds.

In addition to their classes and physical training, the students assist with various community services:  maintaining churches and schools, constructing various community projects, assisting with highway care, and, of course projects like the Dump and Run.

Each student receives $15. a week which is deposited in checking and savings accounts (which they are taught to manage). In past years, they have also received an additional $2200 if they complete the second phase. Federal funds are to provide 60% of the funds and states are to provide 40% of the costs. However, in recent years Illinois has not been providing their share, so that amount has been lowered.

Former Governor Jim Edgar pledged $150,000 to start a college fund, and Representative Tim Johnson got the statutes passed to provide additional funds. One Lincoln Challenge graduate is now a surgeon, serving in Iraq.

General Lynn's goal for The Lincoln Challenge was a 70% success rate. Lincoln Challenge has consistently surpassed that goal, but there is much more to do. While the staff of National Guard members staff the program, mentors from the community are needed for the post phase of the Lincoln Challenge. Those interested may contact the Lincoln Challenge Program.

Doris Replogle Wenzel—217 586 4493 Cell Phone: 217 377 5051 Fax: 217 586 6330
mayhavenpublishing@mchsi.com <http://www.mayhavenpublishing.com>