January 23 - Speaker: Chad Parker Field Manager Normal Cornbelter's

Parker began his coaching career as the head baseball coach at Brewton Parker College in Mount Vernon, GA. He started his professional career as the bench coach for the Macon Music (of the former South Coast League). The team finished with a league-best 63-33 record and finished runner up in the championship series. He worked as an associate scout for the Atlanta Braves in 2008 and joined the River City Rascals in 2009. The Rascals clinched a division title with a 56-38 record and finished runner-up in the championship series. He was later named Frontier League "Manager of the Year." In 2010, he joined the Joliet Jackhammers (of the former Northern League). He led the team to a 53-47 record, playoff appearance and was personally named "Manager of the Year" for the second consecutive season.

Chad said the this is a team (Cornbelters) that he feels can build on its past and sustain success. He is especially pleased to be playing for team owner, Steve Malliet, someone that he respects as a"super" owner. He has called and interviewed all of the players from last years roster and expects to sign 6 to 8 of them. These are players who have expressed interest in wanting to play here again. He is not interested in having anyone here that does not want to be here. Just like the players, that he is signing and trying to sign, Chad Parker wants to succeed and that means making it to the major leagues. He is recruiting player of good character and high standards. This is a busy time with plenty of contacts and looking for anyone dropped by the major leagues organizations. His job is to get players in the right frame of mind. He is looking for a good pitching coach with lots of experience. We wish the Cornbelters and Chad Parker great success. For Chad and his family, that means fulfilling their purpose in life.

January 16 Meeting - Andrew Sewell, IL Symphony Orchestra

Andrew Sewell was introduced by Roger Hunt. Andrew is a native of New Zealand and now a U.S. citizen. He began his musical career as a 10-year-old boy and never let his dream of conducting diminish. He actually conducted an orchestra at the age of 10. His first instrument was the violin, and soon he also began to play the piano. He was encouraged to play the violin as there are more chairs in the orchestra for strings. He also pointed out that there is only one position in the orchestra for a conductor. Andrew Sewell is one of the candidates for the conductor of Illinois Symphony Orchestra. He spent today visiting and sightseeing in Bloomington Normal. Tomorrow he will be at Central Catholic H.S. to work with the band and string ensemble. He will be conducting the Chamber Orchestra this weekend at Second Presbyterian Church as Guest Conductor.

The program is as follows: Scintillating & Sophisticated January 20/21, 2012 Conductor: Andrew Sewell Guest Artist: Karina Canellakis, Violin Contemporary composer Michael Daugherty's rhythmically sophisticated Strut leads into Grieg's piece based on eighteenth-century dance forms, the Holberg Suite. This scintillating concert ends with Vivaldi's Four Seasons concertos, featuring guest violinist Karina Canellakis.

Andrew was able to explain the differences between a full orchestra and a chamber orchestra during the Q and A, which is primarily size, but also dictates the repertoire available. Another question was about how to get the most from musicians, which he presented as people management, and getting the best out of those he works with.

Speaker January 9: Dennis Taylor - Journey of a Lifetime

A dozen of the people that Dennis escorted to Egypt, Jordan and Israel were in attendance at today's meeting including our own Ron Guthoff and Bob Starkovich. Ron introduced Dennis who has handled all the major WJBC Great escapes for the past 30 years. Taylor bubbled with excitement as he told of the adventures of this trip and others. The Egypt trip included the Egyptian Museum on Cairo's Tahrir Square, a close up look at Sphinks, Pyramids, and a luxurious Nile cruise. His experience of travel helps him know and properly consider safety issues. This trip continued to Petra in Jordan and Masada in Israel. On the first day of the trip, Dennis purchased a wooden cared Camel, which he named HA-BB-BEE (Phonetic spelling) which requires to be hand carried and special handling for the remainder of the trip. Some how it is always the first day of a trip when we find these priceless wonders. Dennis Taylor is an Assistant Professor, Assistant Dean of Humanities, Chairman of the Student Center and Director of Experimental Phonetics Lab and Coordinator for University of Illinois Study Abroad programs at the U of I , Chicago. The Taylors love traveling themselves and find joy and fulfillment in taking people which like to travel to all corners of the world.

New Member

We welcome Cranston Sparks into Kiwanis Membership. Cranston is the Business Development Manager for Mid-Illini Credit Union. Sponsor, Rick Glass

Lincoln Christmas - Guy Fraker, Speaker December 19

Barry Weer introduced our speaker Guy Fraker who agreed to speak to us about Lincoln's Christmases. He spoke of three times in Lincoln's life, the time in southern Indiana in the wilderness. In 1816 Lincoln moved from Kentucky to Indiana, a trip of approximately 90 miles, in the month of December. It is thought that they arrived in Pigeon Creek on December 11, 1916, the same date that Indiana became a state. Abraham would have been seven years old. They would have lived in a lean-to with three sides covered with animal skins. A fire on one side would provide the only warmth. In 1818, his mother died and his father went to find a new wife and mother and presumably that may have been his Christmas in 1918 when his father returned. Christmas in the wilderness would have been mostly survival, not celebration. There are really no details about Christmas in Kentucky.

Later, in 1830, when Lincoln moved to Illinois (Macon County) there were accounts of the "Winter of the Deep Snow." On or about December 1st, 1830 there was three feet of snow and six foot drifts. In an account of 1834 while in New Salem and a member of the Illinois legislature, it is documented that Lincoln voted NO to a motion to adjourn the Legislature for Christmas. During this period of time it was more common to celebrate by giving gifts at New Years rather than on the December 25th. The White House years provide more evidence of Lincoln's activity on Christmas. In 1863, between December 22 and 26th, Lincoln was busy writing about Daniel Linder, son of a friend, Usher Linder and sending him back to his father in Chicago. On December 25th, Lincoln received information on what had happened to Sherman and his Army. This was basically the end of the Civil War, and that evening there was a planned reception in the White House.

New Members

Larry Colvin joins us as a transfer from Dexter, Missouri Kiwanis Club. Becky Hines sponsored Larry. Reverend Colvin is the Interim Pastor for Centennial Christian Church.

Kate Sies is replacing Pat O'Dell at the OSF Foundation. Pat is retiring and plans to spend some time in Florida. Pat Sponsored Kate.