Terry opened the meeting with the pledge of alligence followed in prayer by Deacon Rom

He welcome guest for the membership drive and shared with them a few things about Rotary.

Terry shared a thought of the week: Aspire to be someone you would like to admire."

• Bill is looking for host families for 2011-2012 exchange student.  The student will be a teenage girl.  Please contact Bill if you are interested in more details or could recommend a family.
• Mark your Calendars for the Fish Race on March 27th!  Rick will be distributing tickets soon.  The fish race is set to support international efforts.  If you are passionate about a particular project; contact Maura.
• Look out for the Rotary billboard currently posted on old Rte 40 heading out of town.
• Mark your calendars for May 13th as a potential Progressive Dinner.

Gaye Michael has provided us with a new 10 menu rotation and three substitutes.  Below is new schedule!

• Baked herb Chick with a vegetable - rice primontese
• Pork Chops with au gratin potatoes and a vegetable
• Beef Stew wtih noodles
• Pasta with vegetable
• Grilled Chicken Breast with a vegetable and new potatoes
• Pork Loin with mashed potatoes & gravy, vegetable
• Mini meatloaves with mashed potatoes, vegetable
• Soup with assorted sandwiches, cheese tray (warmer months)
• BBQ Prok with Potato Chips & Soup
• Turkey with mashed potatoes & gravy and vegetable
• All dinners served with a salad bow, dessert, coffeee & tea
• Alternatives meals offerend every week:
• Grilled Chicken sandwihc with potato chips
• Michael's special salad
• Hamburger with potato chips

Currently Rotarians are working with HASCM to transport large donations.  Contact Kevin if interested in being included on this email list.

Carrie also stated the she needs two volunteers for the Pregnancy Care Center to finish installation covering on her office buidling.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS -  Holli Martin

Guests

Eric Rehkemper and a few others (sorry did not get all the names listed)

Birthdays:  None

Anniversaries: None

MakeUps:  None

Please let the following know that they were missed this week!  Dick Aten, David Daiber, Larry Deiters, robert Engelmann, Ed Ferguson, Dan Fieker, Mike Gould, Jeff Guillot, Tom Hill, Wil Holzinger, George Jones, Rich Knebel, Brian Knobloch, Mark Latham, Terry Leitschuh, Glenn Meffert, Greg Miranda, Robert Nagel, David Peters, Mark Reaka, Traci Riechmann, Bill Schaefer, Ron Schneider, Art Schuetz, Peggy Sebastian, Gordon Smith, Jennifer Whitten

$1490 in the 50/50 drawing with 12 cards left.  Senator McCarter showed a little luck by pulling his tables ticket and than a spade but the wrong one!

Happy Bucks given by Terry Lammers and Bob Luitjohan for the sunny, warm vacations to exotic places (not together :).  Henry also gave happy bucks for having so many Rotarians attending the national convention. 

James fined anyone who had not brought a guest this month.

Senator McCarter shared that he has been asked a lot recently if he felt that what was going on in WI (the picketing/mutiny at the state capital over cuts) would happen in Springfield.  He said that he thinks that people are just about fed up in Illinois and can see this type of thing happening here but hopes that it is the right people who show up.  He stated that people have a right to be angry right now after the the irresponsibility displayed by the IL government and the lack of respect shown at the recent lame duck session that passed another tax increase at 1am the last day.  He stated this a lack of respect because everyone in the state, individuals, organizations, businesses have adjusted to the recession, except the state of Illinois.  This tax increase makes the statement again that they are above everyone else and do not have to make adjustments and be accountable to our spending.  Again and again the government imposes higher burdens on its people without keeping itself accountable. 

Kyle shared that as a private business man, a wealth creator, he can see how difficult it is becoming to stay in Illinois with business, family, or to retire in.  If things do not change, he can see, many people and businesses moving out of the state.  He shared that he is committed to Illinois and does see hope for Illinois.  He is going to purpose a new budget in the next 2 weeks to put a plan into action to correct the deficit.  He stated that "Illinois is sick and the medicine is not going to taste well at first but it will get better."

He shared his plan is to put into place a budget the respects the poor while respecting the wealth creators who fund the programs of the poor, keep the economy healthy, and are generous supporters of local organizations.  He stated he does not believe that respecting the poor means giving them access to open-ended entitlement programs without accountability.  McCarter stated that there needs to be checks and balances put into place for pensions, medicaid, and workers compensation. 

Pensions the current stat is that 42% are under funded by 1.3 because the state is not paying their pensions while giving more money they don't have to education.  They are ignoring the actuarial tables that shows people are living longer and the fact that the rates of return are lower.  The IL gov't has been consistently telling people what they want to hear while not fulfilling their promises.  He stated they would be better off to admit the could not pay and set up a plan to pay them back with interest at a specific date rather than borrowing out and fueling China's economy (1/3rd of interest goes back to China).  He is proposing a SB105 to give people 3 options on their pensions stating that a modified pension is better than a program that is bankrupt without correction.  This will produce 1.45b savings in the first year.

Medicaid: Purpose an assets check on individuals in the medicaid program and those that can afford it to pay a portion of their premiums.  The size of the program is too large and accountability needs to be put into place.  Cuts to this program will produce a 1.2b is savings.

Workers Compensation Reform will help to produce revenues by lowering the cost employers pay by 1% with SB 1349, increasing the states revenue.  He recently asked for an investigation of the W.C. Commission because he feel that we are being robbed.

He believes that in 5 years there could be a 18b surplus going to fund pensions, capital plans, and keep a healthy cash flow for the state.  The Republican caucus is currently reviewing his budget but he plans to present it with or without their support.

He stated that he is voting like he has a 2 year career and not to stay in his position.  He finished by stating that he is privileged to represent his districts and will continue to fight for what is right.