LITTLE VILLAGE ROTARY CLUB NEW OFFICERS
L. to R.: Ernest Espinoza, Club
President; Mike
Jimenez,President-Elect; Manuel Martinez, Treasurer
and Sheila Ryan-Henry, Executive Secretary.
GALA EVENT: Officers
and members of the Rotary Club Chicago Little Village celebrated
their 1st Inaugural Gala Event on Thursday, June 5, 2014
at Mi Tierra Restaurant. More than 150 Rotary members, guests and
friends of the Rotary attended the celebration. Special guest was
Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez. Mistress of
ceremony was Karla Leal, Anchor, WSNS-TV Telemundo Chicago.
FATHER James Gallagher
gave the meal invocation and Rotary President Rosa
Ibarra welcomed members and guests. Invocation of ceremony was by
Rev. Shando Valdez, Pledge of Allegiance was lead by J. N.
Settles Sr., and Mike Jimenez presented the reciting of Rotary
Four Way Test. Rotarian’s' Four Way Test of the Things We Think,
Say or do: [1] Is it the Truth [2] Is it fair to all concerned [3]
Will it build good will and better friendships [4] Will it be
beneficial to all concerned.
Ernesto Espinoza, Anita Alvarez, August Sallas |
NEW ROTARY MEMBERS:
Richelle Moreno, Robert Rentaria, Nivram Espinosa, Pilar Tejeda
Fabelo, Charles Hernandez, Blanca Sepulveda, Eugene Jao, Leonardo
Morales, Luis Mendoza and Joe Garcia.
BACK-OF-the-Yards
Folkorico dancers and Oro Y Plata Mariachi provided
entertainment. Many gifts were raffled. The next social event by the
Little Village Rotary Club will be held at Fedora's, 712 N. Clark
St., in Chicago. The event will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 26,
2014. For more information call 772/851-4813 or 214/907-9759.
ROTARY MEETINGS: The
Chicago Little Village Rotary Club meets every second Wednesday at
8:30 a.m. at Second Federal Savings Bank on 26th St. &
Pulaski Road. “We are looking to enrich Little Village through
service, education and empowerment,” said President Espinoza.
IN MEMORY: Two of my
good friends have passed away this month of May and June 2014. Les
Orear, 103, founder of the Illinois Labor History Society and
James Deanes, 66, activist and educator with the Chicago
Public Schools.
Les Orear |
BLUE ISLAND City
officials did not want us the paint the mural; and so I
called it the “Forbidden Mexican Mural of Blue Island.” The
Blue Island Building Commissioner said the mural was an
“advertisement” because we had the UFW black eagle depicted in
the mural. If we painted the mural city officials threatened to
arrest us. Muralist Patlan, asked me,”Augie what do you want us to
do?” I replied, “Start painting the mural.” The Blue Island
police never did arrest me or the muralists.
“THE CITY Council of Blue
Island voted to deny permission to plaintiffs [LAAC] to paint the
mural. The City Building Inspector originally told Blue Island police
to arrest anyone working on the mural and sent notice to the
building's owner that the proposed mural would be a violation of
local zoning ordinances” the lawsuit said. The mural was painted;
and it was a beautiful and a colorful Mexican mural. This was a
victory for the Mexican community that rally behind it.
LES OREAR's leadership
and the Illinois Labor History Society's backing helped the Mexican
community of Blue Island in this struggle. I was grateful for their
support. Les Orear will always be in my memory. Farewell my friend.
James Deanes |
MY FRIEND, James Deanes
[1948-2014] died in his sleep
on June 4, 2014. Jim represented the Chicago Public School
Local School Council office. His leadership helped Farragut Career
Academy Local School Council [LSC] in the selection of a new
principal Tonya Hammaker on
May 8, 2012. I served on Farragut Career Academy Local School Council
[three two-year terms], and I relied on Deanes' guidance and advice
in following LSC guidelines in the selection of a new principal.
DEANES was a skillful
negotiator and mediator; and we became good friends during the
process, and months it took to select a new principal at Farragut.
Deanes attended many LSC meetings at Farragut and shared his
experience and knowledge to us as an educator.
WAKE: James Deanes' wake was
held Monday, June 9, 2014. I paid my respect, and attended the wake
to express my condolence to Deans' family. He will be missed in LSC
circles and as my friend.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY