December 2, 2008

Here are his comments:

It has been a difficult time with the state being behind on its budget payments which has resulted in holds, cutbacks and difficult times for every state. WIU's budget is being reduced by several million dollars and the way we are meeting that new figure is to use our emergency reserve.

Even with those difficulties, we've made some great progress. Our national recognition is improving and we are still in the top tier of universities. WIU has been chosen as one of the best midwestern universities. It was cited for great student support. New degrees are starting to be issued including ones for a nursing program and an emergency management program. The university is continuing to meet the needs of its students, staff and faculty. There has been great success with fundraising.

Facilities continue to remain a big concern to make them remain effective. A new building, supported by student fees, is being built. There's a new environmentally sound multi-cultural center, the student side of Hanson Field has also been improved. We hope to have another fundraiser to update the other side as well. We're making progress on the Performing Arts Center and upgrades to the Quad Cities campus. We're rehabilitating Memorial Hall, asbestoes has been removed and renovations are underway.

We've also made significant technology improvements. The campus is completely wireless and computers are being updated as money becomes available and we've doubled the amount of bandwidth for high speed internet usage. The WIU website is being improved. We get a lot of questions and input on our university website from all over the country. A key issue facing us is the university telephone system which is becoming outdated.

The campus is working on new recycling bins, and other efforts to improve the environment that includes replacing old light fixtures and chemical free alternatives to melting snow and ice.

We're trying to be good citizens in the community. The Quad Cities campus is primarily being used for non-traditional students and there are no plans to move the Macomb campus to the Quad Cities. I'm always being asked about campus security in light of past shootings at other universities. We have implemented a campus emergency alert system to get the word out about winter weather shutdowns, and threats on the campus via text messaging and email alerts.

Next week: December program chairman Don Mathis will introduce Jan Rockwell who will speak on Ponca Indian artwork.

President Tim Moss presided.
John Moon led us in singing "Boost Kiwanis"
Chuck Nicholson gave the invocation.

Guests included Jack Beard (a friend of Don Mathis) and Tim Fitzgerald (welcome back!) brought along his wife Kelly.

Tim says we will vote in December on updating our club bylaws. The big change is going to seven directors instead of five and staggering their terms.

On behelf of Jeremy Benson, Tim reminded members that "Breakfast with Santa" is Saturday, December 6, at the Macomb High School commons. Everybody's help is needed to cook and serve pancakes and sausage. There's also two Christmas programs going on at the school that day. Help is needed Friday afternoon at 4:00 to load up grills and equipment to take to the high school. Tim says to meet behind Citizens National Bank downtown. Saturday morning we start setup and cooking at 6 AM. Serving begins around 7:30. All help is appreciated.

***UPDATE 12/6/08*** We had a great "Breakfast with Santa!" Click here to see a photo album from the event. You'll see people lining up for pancakes, Kiwanis members making and serving pancakes, kids talking with Santa, WIU mascot Rocky visiting with kids, one of Santa's helpers (also known as club Secretary Sue Dexter) and WIU cheerleaders lending a helping hand. More pictures are coming.

Hassan Esbahbodi said Kiwanis Childrens Christmas Shopping at K-Mart is proceeding on schedule for Saturday, December 13. He said We will have 40 children to pick up, chaperone, and help pick out and wrap presents. Hassan will have information on the children and assignments at next weeks meeting. Each child receives $25 to spend on presents for their family courtesy of Macomb Kiwanis and Citizens National Bank.

Debbie Vandemark had sign up sheets for Salvation Army bell ringing and food basket distribution. She said both sheets are filling up nicely.

There will be a club board meeting Thursday, December 11, at Tim's house. It starts with sandwiches at 6:00. All interested club members are invited, just be sure to contact Tim ahead of time so there can enough for everybody.

The official Governor's visit is December 13 in the Quad Cities and Tim is planning to attend. If anyone else would like to go, just let him know.

The club Christmas meeting will be held at the Sapphire Lounge and Ruby Restaurant, 127 E. Carroll St., Tuesday, December 16. Social begins at 6:00, dinner at 6:30. The dinner will be buffet style and the final cost will be announced at next weeks meeting. Special guest speaker will be State Senator John Sullivan with musical entertainment to follow.

Tim says a decision has been made and there will NOT be club meetings on December 23 and 30 due to the holidays. "The meal money for those meetings will be allocated to the meals for the Christmas dinner on December 16. Any costs for gifts or entertainment at the Christmas party will be taken from the Special Events committee budget" he said.
Tim also announced "in place of the regular meetings on December 23 and 30, I am making arrangements for Round Table meetings on the same days at about 6:00 PM. Round Tables are not formal meetings, just opportunities where we can meet together socially and catch up on any Kiwanis business that needs to be discussed. Meal costs for the Round Table meetings will be paid for by each person attending and not by the club. Attendence will be counted as attendence at a regular meeting. For December 23, I have asked Ponderosa to reserve a table for about 12. I have not made any arrangements for the December 30 meeting but was thinking about the Red Ox" he concluded.
More details at our December 9 meeting.

The new 2008-2009 club directory/membership roster was distributed. Thanks to Hassan for his work in getting that organized. They look nice.

• Gary Sash - happy he had "proper bell ringing training" from Owen Thompson.
• Joe Vandemark - happy he is not only retired but his office is cleaned out.
• Herb Butler - had a wonderful time at Thanksgiving.
• Tim - had a confession.  He was supposed to ring the bell last week and forgot.  However, he was happy that Ted Pawlias filled in.
• Owen Thompson - happy to announce the Macomb Salvation Army red kettle total is already over $12,000!  Their goal is $60,000 by Christmas Eve.  Owen said people are being very generous.  He was also happy to have Elaine Goldfarb and John Hallwas helping out by ringing the bells.  Owen initially thought it was Al Goldfarb, instead of Elaine, and made the signs based on that.  He was immediately corrected.
  
• Hassan - happy for everyone that has signed up to help with Christmas shopping at K-Mart.
• Ken Harp - invited everyone to attend the McDonough Choral Society performance at 7:30 Monday night, December 8, at Wesley United Methodist Church.

John Moon won the 50/50 Drawing and donated his share to the Salvation Army.

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