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Executive Club Newsletter

September 2008

How Does Your Garden Grow?

September Program

Thursday, September 18 Champaign Country Club 
11:30 a.m.:  Registration and Networking
11:45 a.m.:  Buffet Opens
12:15 p.m.:  Mtg/Program

Learn how to use gardening as a tool to abate life’s stress, enhance the environment, develop individuals, and build communities. For the individual, gardening provides exercise, stress reduction, and relaxation. For many, it provides a creative outlet, a sense of accomplishment, and the gardener’s personal link to nature.

Kaizad Irani is an Associate Professor of Horticulture at Parkland College. Born and raised in India, Irani’s love for design began at an early age with the study of vastu shastra, the study of space and architecture that focuses on creating environments which promote physical and spiritual well-being.  


Registrations are due by noon on Monday,September 15. Please indicate if you are bringing a guest.  Contact the Treasurer with questions about registration.  Register online now!

Pre-register online and send a check for $15 to ECCC, P.O. Box 61, Champaign, IL 61824-0061 OR pre-register online and pay on day of luncheon.

 

*Remember, there will be a $5 late fee for reservations received after the Monday Noon deadline.  Attendees with late or no reservations will be permitted to attend as seating is available.  

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Letting Your Hair Down

President’s Message

by Jayne DeLuce

I remember the saying about “letting your hair down” and never really thought about what it meant (especially since I’ve had plenty of short “dos” in my life!)  But lately, I find myself using that term when I speak of ECCC.  I googled it and the phrase means to “behave in a free or uninhibited manner.”

We all have a lot going on in our lives – family, work, home, volunteering, the list is often endless.  Like loose hair, we need a scrunchie to keep it all together!  On the third Thursday of the month, it’s refreshing and downright fun to walk into the CCC among friends (and future friends) and let the scrunchie go by the wayside.

 

There’s no formal obligations with ECCC, just a chance to network, hear great speakers, attend fun and unique social events, participate in a book club or other interest group – it’s up to you as how much you get out of your ECCC involvement.  If you haven’t been to an ECCC lunch lately, though, try to make the time.  Or attend an event after work – it’s worth it! 

 

So the time has come to turn over the scrunchie for Hope Wheeler to lead ECCC.  She has been a terrific vice-president and will make an outstanding president.  Kudos especially on taking on the details for the upcoming bus trip.  Thank you, Hope!

 

And to Jeannette Beck, it’s a good-bye and hello.  She’s outgoing program chair but incoming vice-president.  There are so many details behind the scenes that go into arranging program speakers, and we’ve had an extensive menu of choices.  Thank you, Jeannette!

 

To Laura Frerichs, you have been wonderful at outreach!  The new member reception at Radio Maria, the Japanese tea Ceremony (still being talked about!) and many are looking forward to the Parkland Art Gallery on September 11.  Thank you, Laura!

 

To Sandy Moore, thank you for keeping track of our logistics, often a challenging job!  It makes me smile every time I go through the line, wondering whether it’ll be fish or chicken!  Thank you, Sandy!

 

To Amy Fruehling, your work with social events & networking is greatly appreciated!  The Leighton Lecture, getting a new book club started, the happy hours, attending “Five Kinds of Silence” at Parkland Theatre – just to name a few! Thank you, Amy!

 

And last but not least, to Janey Adams, who I appreciate as a resource in her ex-officio role, especially at a time when we transitioned mid-year.  Thank you, Janey!

Hope to see you at the September 18 luncheon, and leave your scrunchie at the door!

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Changing of the Board

 President                                        Hope Wheeler

Vice-president                                    Jeannette G. Beck

Secretary                                            Julie Roth

Treasurer                                           Debra Reardanz

Membership                                       Jacqueline Phillips

Programs                                            Ellen Schmidt

Social Events and Networking         Kathryn (Kathy) Reeves

Newsletter                                          Jody Elder Littleton

Outreach                                            Andra Bez

Operations/Logistics                         Sandy Cirillo Barnes

Ex-Officio                                           Jayne DeLuce

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Membership Reception at Parkland Art Gallery

September 11, 2008

There is still time to register for this event!   Register online now!
or by contacting Laura Frerichs at
lauraf@fox-companies.com.

 

ECCC invites you to a reception and educational event on Thursday, September 11, 2008 from 5:30-7:00 pm at the Parkland Art Gallery.

 

The event begins with appetizers, pastries and coffee to be enjoyed in a handcrafted ceramic mug that you choose.  These ceramic mugs were created by a Parkland art student or faculty member. Carolyn Baxley, Owner of Cinema Gallery in Urbana, will discuss being in the business of art and how to collect art for your home & office. Lisa Costello, Parkland Art Gallery Director, will discuss the gallery and current exhibit by faculty.  

 

The cost is $25 (this includes your mug!) for ECCC members, and you may bring a prospective new member for FREE. Please Register online now!
or by contacting Laura Frerichs at
lauraf@fox-companies.com.

 

The Parkland Art Gallery is located in the center of the campus. We suggest using the M parking lots. Enter through any door and follow the ramps uphill to the highest point, where the gallery is located.  For a map of the parking lots go to http://www.parkland.edu/welcome/maps/parkinglots.pdf.   Using this map go between the M and P buildings past the outdoor fountain and into the building.  Make a left when you come into the building and the gallery is on the left.  The gallery windows overlook the outdoor fountain area.  

 

We hope you will be able to come to learn more about art appreciation, view a wonderful exhibit of artwork by Parkland faculty members and then take home your own piece of art.

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August Speaker Summary

by Jeannette Garinger Beck

Kathleen Holden, Director of the Illinois Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) was our August Program speaker.  Kathleen began her talk by telling her personal story.  She had a long career with the University rising to the office of Associate Chancellor.  She completed her BS and MS in Social Work as a “non-traditional” student after starting her family at an early age.  In April 2006 she retired from the University, a couple of months later she separated from her husband after more than 40 years of marriage, and was called back to work at the University to launch OLLI in that fall.  She found her world had changed dramatically and is grateful for the opportunity to be involved from the beginning of the Illinois OLLI.  Her general advice to women was to be open to change, keep your women friends, and every morning think a positive thought about your new day.

The Bernard Osher Foundation funded the first OLLI in 2001.  Now, OLLI is found on the campuses of 121 colleges and universities from Maine to Hawaii and Alaska. Each provides a distinctive array of non-credit courses and activities specifically developed for seasoned adults aged 50 or older who are interested in learning for the joy of learning.  OLLI is a member organization and the curriculum is established by the members.  The offerings must be intellectually stimulating and Kathleen has no problem gathering a wide array of topics of interest or finding qualified instructors in the community. 

The OLLI at University of Illinois is located in the Research Park in the State Farm building at 2021 South First Street, Champaign.  For more information about OLLI and its programs, go to http://www.olli.uiuc.edu/

 

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Member Profile

Amani Ayad

Amani Ayad, program coordinator for UIUC Graduate School of Library and Information Science, was born and raised in the land of the Pharaohs.  She has lots of wonderful memories of living in Cairo where she lived till her early 20s.  One of her fondest memories as a child is her family’s annual trip to Alexandria to spend July and August by the beach.  Summer days meant non-stop play with cousins building the giant sand castles, playing beach racquet ball, riding bikes, thousands of dips in the Mediterranean, while evenings were reserved for board games and cards. One of her favorite activities was taking walks in the morning and  enjoying nature around her.

 

Amani loves to travel and has lived on four different continents, Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.  Her oldest son was born in Edinburgh, Scotland - one of her favorite cities. She loves going to the movies and enjoy all kinds of music; Amani admits to still having a huge soft spot in her heart for the Beatles.  She has lived in Urbana since 1993 and her work as a program coordinator at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science is extremely rewarding as she interacts with students who are passionate about libraries, research and education, their passion is contagious - it keeps her feeling young.

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Member Profile

Rumana Alam

Next time you see Rumana Alam ask her which famous person she is related toJ 

 

Rumana grew up in Newmarket, Ontario, a small town just outside of Toronto.  Newmarket is famous for being the hometown of the band "Glass Tiger" (back in the 80’s) and Megan Follows went to high school there.  John Candy also lived nearby.  Amana remembers when Brooke Shields came to the opening of the new mall in Newmarket!  She and her friends walked from the high school to ask for her autograph! 

 

Now her activities revolve around her two small children but in the little spare time she has  she loves to sing and took voice lessons for many years.  She loves all kinds of music spanning from opera to pop music.  However, her favorite bands of all time are U2 and the Police.  She loves all kinds of movies and couldn’t pick one favorite - however, she admitted she could watch "The Sound of Music" and "The Wizard of Oz" over and over!

 

Some interesting facts about Rumana include that she is fluent in Bengali and reads and understands French. She was Valedictorian of her undergraduate graduate class. She has ridden an elephant! And the most intriguing is that Rumana is  related to someone famous.

 

Rumana works at Robert Dodd & Associates.  The thing she enjoys most about her job is the people she meets and works with.

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Member Profile

Shirley Anderson

Shirley works as a CPA both for Strategic Capital and for Daniel E. Holder & Associates.  She grew up in in a small Western Nebraska town, Bayard.  Bayard is 4 miles from Chimney Rock, a landmark on the Oregon Trail.  Bayard is also 40 miles from Wyoming and near the foothills of the Rockies.  She remembers the terrible storms this area experienced every summer.  Every few years, Baynard received a hailstorm that would leave six inches to a foot of golf ball size, or larger, hail on the ground.  Her father had an implement business with 300 small windows across the entire back of the building.  The hail would break out many of the windows, that would, of course, need to be replaced.  On the positive side of this story her father never had to have the windows washed!  Shirley has lived in Illinois for 40 years and does not miss those hailstorms one bit! 
She enjoys sports, reading and attending theater performances.  UI sports including football, basketball and volleyball consume much of the fall.   She recently saw "Jersey Boys" in Chicago and enjoyed it.  Shirley likes to walk, ride a stationary bike, and golf a little.   She claims some people tell her that what she does on the golf course is not playing golf but she refuses to let a small white ball stress her out.    Another fun but tiring activity is visiting children and grandchildren.

 

When asked what is one thing ECCC members may not know about you she said that her family did not have a television set until she was in high school, and then she got only one snowy channel - - and that was on a good day. 

 

She likes her job because it is challenging and has a lot of variety, while at the same time providing the flexibility in hours that are important to her.

Her favorite music includes music written by brass band master John Philip Sousa, show tune creator Andrew Lloyd Webber.  Movies that take her fancy are ones that do not take much thought and have happy endings like "Pretty Woman". 

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