CASHE Kickoff Breakfast..I.C. Jun 4, 96
I attended IC under the leadership of that wild-eyed liberal, L.Vernon Caine. We were told it was our mission in life to graduate then spend the rest of our lives tithing 50% of our income back to Illinois College. I mean, God only required 10%. Dr Caine... not especially proud of me. My yearbook picture...just up the hill from here... The Illinois College Young Democrats...all three of us...one was my brother,Keith. He was a freshman. I told him he had to do it....the third guy thought we were shooting an ad for Klines. Dr Caine... convinced that liberals were a communist plot somehow connected with chlorinated water and LSD.
Doing Quilters at New Salem this week.. Violinist: Carol Newberry... South Carolina. “Nothing but pines. I’d been to J’ville early in my life and I remembered the big open sky, the crickets at night, and the joy of living in a town with two colleges.”
Why do so many move back here to retire...? Pride...a genuine love for the community... Huge number of J’ville people who graduated from IC and MacMurray... without a hometown college, this would not be possible.
Sure..there are local embarrassments...people whom we’re embarrassed to say graduated from IC or Mac...(look around the room.)...John Power...__________ ________________ ________________... but on the whole, we can be proud...
Vern Fernandes...one of the greatest money-raisers I’ve ever met. Not the L Vernon Caine method of showing up just before the moment of death with a blank will in hand... But...Vern truly believed that whatever he was promoting, the giver would be better for having given.
Dean Eldred....Lucas Memorial Hall...Lower Sturtevant.... “I can’t imagine you being a fund-raiser.” “I’m not. I did it for the joy it brought the family.”
Yes...I was aware of MacMurray. I’d spent my grade school years planning to go there. Two dreams: Go to MacMurray and become an Undertaker.. both got sidetracked. My family: the Orrs of Orr Hall... “Free tuition...for all the Orr women.”
The IC - Mac streak off. First student down the street was a former student of mine, a fresh freshman from Triopia.. He came down as the stark-naked hood ornament on a 1972 Buick. He’s now a Psychologist for the Lutheran Church... a liberal arts education does change a person.
And I hope you have a good time out there today.. You can find joy anywhere you decide to look...Dr. Probacker..checkup I.P.
Greatest leaders I’ve known, were servants: And you are playing the role of servants today. God blesses giving and the giver.....
Although presidents Pfau and Mitchell haven’t given their official OK to this idea, the fact that you’re working together for youth today is even more important than the money you raise.
Athletic Boosters...meals 8th grade nursing home project I know a church...huge endowment...spirit of church stopped once they stopped struggling and giving NHS..used to party...now, service
Giving Centers us on what’s important... Jim Kern: Mrs. Brown There are other things you could be doing today. Instead, you have chosen what’s important.... I encourage you to believe in what you’re doing then simply go out there and be yourself. Dad... farmed the hard way. Kids wouldn’t play at our house. Today, you have chosen to do what’s important.
Giving heals our community, our nation, and our children.
Nearly every time you deal with the problems of youth, you’re too late. In the past two weeks I’ve ---met with a group of worried citizens on how to prevent another KKK rally in Fulton County. ---tried to discourage a talented young man from considering suicide ---wrestled in the bushes with a young man so high on marijuana that he didn’t know he was hitting his favorite teacher.
...Gangs will meet the needs of youth.... ....Drugs & Alcohol will meet the needs of the lonely and depressed ...Hate groups will meet the needs of the fearful.. YOU ARE NOT SIMPLY ASKING FOR MONEY FOR ILLINOIS COLLEGE AND MACMURRAY... YOU ARE GETTING THERE FIRST. And to those who care little for the kids themselves, FROM THE MERELY FINANCIAL STANDPOINT, YOU ARE SAVING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TRYING TO FIX THE PROBLEMS OF YOUTH AFTER THEY OCCUR.
IC and Mac... two of a very small number of schools who make service and volunteerism a part of their instruction.
IC and Mac... two of the most respected schools in the state and the nation..
IC and Mac.. Jacksonville’s two greatest assets... Today, we have an opportunity to go to bed tonight, knowing we have influenced future generations. I could not have afforded Illinois College were it nof for those who went before then cared enough about me to give generously.
And...don’t worry if you don’t receive much reward...Conway Twitty