Michele and volunteer, Monica, took us to The Carelton Hotel in Oak Park. We arrived around 10:15 pm and we were all ready for bed by 10:30! The Carelton is a wonderfully charming hotel if you should ever have to go to Oak Park….I highly recommend it! When we entered our rooms Michele had prepared the cutest gift baskets with delights from the Chicago area! What a great idea as one very well appreciated!
The next morning, Marie Olmos of the Oak Park/River Forest Club came to pick us up with Michele to take us to our host families. I am guest of the outbound Team Leader, Ruth McLaren and her wonderful family! I have enjoyed their company (Ruth, David (her husband) and Suzanne (their daughter)). They have a beautiful 1920’s house with the most amazing architectural elements. I absolutely love their home and you would think that Ruth was an Interior Designer instead of a Banker.
On Monday, April 14, Marie Olmos gave us a fantastic tour of downtown Chicago and the Art Institute. We were able to see the show of Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer. What a treat! We were even able to see the Impressionist exhibit. The walking tour of the downtown buildings and their architecture (especially those designed by Bernham) was very imformative as well as fun! Marie showed us Millenium Park and the Cultural Center with its mother of pearl mosaics. You will soon see the photos on this blog. We were lucky to be blessed with beautiful blue skies.
April 15
Today was our first presentation at the Westmont RC. The Team did beautifully and I was very proud. We thought that our presentation would be too short but instead it was over 40 minutes! There was much humor within each talk and every team member was spontaneous. I honestly believe that the club was not bored. But as the presentation was a tad long we will work on shortening it.
Westmont RC is a great club with such wonderful members. Valentin Georgiev, the President of the club and Bob Blackburn treated us so well. We all had such fun! The press was there and they interviewed Fabio and Luana. The food was excellent as well as meeting all the Rotarians. Art Davis, the Governor, was there with his wife Sandy as well as the Governor Incoming and Past Governors. We were awarded the Key to the City by the Mayor Bill Rahn. We are all honored.
In the afternoon we were able to take in some shopping at the Oak Brook Mall after visiting the design showroom of Irv and Ruth Kaplan. It was such a joy to speak with them about their experiences in the interior design business. They have done the interiors of some of the greatest sports heros in the Chicago area. Very impressive and yet, they made us feel as if we were the most important people they had ever met.
The evening concluded with a trip in a stretch limo to downtown to the Kingston Mines Club for some real R&B! This was a great experience for the team members to see something very unique and something particular to American culture.
April 16
Off to a tour of Oak Park to visit the homes designed by Frank Lloyed Wright. We saw his earlier homes that experiemented with Japanese influence to the later Prarie style homes for which he is famous. We didn’t realize that there were so many homes still existing and still being lived in today. Before our presentation to the Oak Park/River Forest Rotary Club we visited Unity Temple. It is a fine example of the ideals of the Unity thought. One can really see the japanese influence on the inside. It is one of the most spectacular architectural works I have seen. I have heard that there is no need for microphones because the design of the cieling is such that sound carries throughout. Amazing!!!
Well, were able to shorten the presentation to the Oak Park-River Forest RC to 20 minutes which allowed for questions. There were a few directed to Fabio and why he’s not married yet! We all had a good laugh.
Here we are with the President, and GSE TeamI was able to make some good contacts within the club for possible future projects. Ruth, my host and outbound Team Leader, is from this club. We’ve discussed the possiblility of our two clubs doing a joint project. The Oak Park club has an ongoing project called “Temple Solar Project“. It involves the supply of solar ovens to areas where population growth has gradually consumed available fuel and where days are spent looking for firewood. The use of such scarce wood in order to bake the basic staples such as bread wastes 60% of the fuel and creates many health problems. The project has its origin in 1994 and is named in honor of the Past District Governor William F. Temple, who brought the concept to RI District 6450. The project has facilitated the startup of over seventy micro bakeries with the help of over 300 clubs and districts in 20 countries and five continents. This is what Rotary is about!!! I’ve got the information to bring back to our club.
In the afternoon, Marie took us on a tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright house and study. The house was started when he was 22 years old and was a work in progress. His house became the study of his different designs and evolving methods.
April 17
Today was vocational day for all. Luana visited with Werner Huget’s advertising agency and McMaster-Carr Distribution Center in the afternoon. I went along and I enjoyed Werner’s insight into the world of advertising. We all enjoyed seeing McMaster-Carr. It is over 300,000 sq meters! The operational aspect just blows my mind!
Fabio went to Vandercook College of Music where he spoke with the students there. This was coordinated by Oak Park Rotarian Clarmarie.
Marbara visited the Children’s Memorial Hospital with George Olmos and Isabelle Deplaen, MD.
Silvia’s day was coordinated by Nicholas Kantas (former GSE team member) to the Cook County Juvenille Court Clinic and meeting with foresic psychologists.
The evening concluded with a GSE Reception at CANS Bar and Canteen. Dinner was with our hosts or with friends. I was able to have to long awaited Chinese food with Ruth and David. It was so good and a real treat!
April 18, Friday
Today was a visit downtown with Charles Wells and Marie Olmos to visit the Chicago Symphony Orchestsra. The tour was headed by the Director of Education. We were able to hear some of the violin solists practicing.
After lunch we were taken to Rotary International Headquarters by Michele Thorton in Evanston. What a treat! We saw a remake of the office (with original furniture) of Paul Harris from 1905. We visited the office of RI President and incoming President. It was very inspiring to see where some of the greatest ideas coming from business and professional leaders to help in humanitarian service and build good will and in turn, contribute to world peace, comes from. We all realize that a trip such as this is a once in a lifetime opportunity but we also realize how lucky we are and that the responsabilty we have to promote a better world. One voice cannot be heard above the roar but many together as one can indeed move mountains.
April 21
We are now in Bourbonnais/Kankakee Illinois area. The people here are so friendly and it is really beautiful here. This morning, Brenda and Jim took us to Good Shepherd Manor; a home for disabled men in Momence, Il. Founded in 1971 by a group of concerned parents and the Brothers of the Good Shepherd, it serves 122 developmentally dispabled individuals in a residential environment. Average age is 56 but ages range from 22 – 77. It has over 160 qualified staff including the Brothers and some lay missionaries. The gentlemen put on a show for us before we were given a tour of the site.
After Good Shepherd we went to visit a local dairy farm where we were able to visit with the cows up close and personal! 
April 23
This morning we visited KCC (Kankakee Community College) and listened to the discussion on “Sustainability” in honor of Earth Day. It was very interesting. I will write more on it in the next few days.
The afternoon was free so some of the team decided to do their part for the American economy and go shopping. Fabio went to hit a couple of buckets of golf balls and play a 9 hole game with his host. I went to the gym and had a good workout. (The clubs here gave us a week pass to the gym here) It was great!
The dinner hour was spent at the “Four Way Test” Honor Program. There were elementary, middle school and high school students who were honored for their “Rotarian” spirit. Each was awarded a plaque and the high school students were awarded a monetary scholarship as well. The principals of each school gave a small speach on the merits of each student. It was a lovely ceremony.
After the dinner, a few of our hosts took us to Karioke nite downtown. It was great fun. I don’t sing but the team members did a great job and fun was had by all.
April 24
Today we had two presentations. Our first one wasn’t until the lucheon with the Kankakee and Bradley-Bourbonnais RCs at noon so we were able to sleep in a bit more. It was nice. I should’ve gone to the gym like I did yesterday in the afternoon. The team is getter better and better with their english. I am proud of them. The presentation was a success.
Jim Czerwionka, Governor incoming 2009, took us then shopping for an hour at “Donna’s”. It’s a great place and of course, we helped the local economy here too!
We then were off to New Lenox and a tour at the Lincolnway East High School where we met up with the local Interact Club. They are a great group of young folks very dedicated to helping others. They are all planning to continue on to Rotaract clubs once in college and then to Rotary. We were all very impressed with their dedication.
April 25
Today is Liberation Day in Italy. Buona Festa! Today we spent the day with the Channahon-Minooka Rotary Club. The club’s president, Chris Stadalsky picked us up. We visted the Rialto Theatre in Joliet. This is a beautifully restored theatre built in 1926. Some big names such as Bill Cosby and John Corbett have been here this past year. Fabio was given a chance to play on the Steinway piano onstage. For as good as he is he is sure to be back there one day as a paid performer.
After the visit we had lunch at Noreen Dollinger’s house at the Dollinger Family Farm. It is still a working farm but was famous for housing those who used to work on the I&M Canal. You can visit their web site at www.dollingerfarms.com.
The evening concluded with a dinner and lessons in line dancing. Have to admit that I had fun even though I was quite sceptical.
April 26
This morning we all got up bright and early for an introduction and photo shoot at the “Rebuilding Together” event. This event brings together many businesses and associations to clean up and touch up the homes of the elderly or disabled in disadvantaged areas of the city of Kankakee. We met with the Mayor and had photos taken with Illinois Senator Debbie Halverson and Lisa Dugan, Illinois State Rep and Rotary Past Pres.
May 1
This has been one of the best weeks for me I think and I owe it all to my host Andrea Luehmann! She’s a Rotarian from Rotary One Club and has been such a treat! We sat all evening talking last night and tonight with a bottle of wine, some cheese, pate’ and crackers and just enjoyed some wonderful down time. I will always remember this time and while I really miss my family, having a new friend with whom I can open up to is refreshing! From new friends to old, I was also able to see and have lunch with one of my best friends from Indiana. Lisa Deputy came up to see me while I had some free time and we just had so much fun….just like old times. Makes really miss the states. I’ll miss the downtown area that’s full of life but also relaxing while looking at the skyline.
Well, it’s time for bed and the computer is off to bed too….so….good night.
May 12
Well, the month is finally over….it is now time to reflect on our experiences. This past week we were in Naperville and enjoyed the hospitality of the very active Rotarian clubs in the area. Steve Odden, the coodinater, did a wonderful job making us feel very welcome and making sure that everything was just perfect.
We started out the week at the District Conference. What fun that was. The area is just beautiful…too bad the weather was no the best but that did not detract from having a good time. Our team further bonded with the outbound team on the two nights we were there. It was wonderful hearing all the speeches given by those who dedicate their time to good works.
Those from Naperville who were at the the conference took us back. The weather turned fine again and we had some beautiful days. My hosts, John and Allie Gush, were fantastic and I really enjoyed my stay with them. They hosted a beautiful day out at their river house with an evening barbeque. All the host families and coodinators were there. The team ejoyed singing after a few glasses of wine.
The following days were busy visiting the city itself as well as Fermilab. We met up with some of the Italian scientists there. I think this was great as the team was able to really understand what the lab was all about. We also visited the Arboretum. The day was cold but sunny. We were also made honorary citizens if Naperville!!!
Our time ended with us bording the plane to take us back into Europe. While relfecting on the month with the others, we realized that we had been given a wonderful opportunity that will stay with us for years to come.
Hi Lis ~ How exciting for you and your team! You are so close to home, now. Call me if you can (574) 855-3336.