Invitation to help neighbors: Niles Township Food Pantry food drive Oct 3

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This just in from Cathy Struzynski...

The Niles Township Food Pantry had an urgent need for cereal, toilet paper and shampoo this month. In response to that need, a group of 13 volunteers participated in the September food drive last Saturday, September 12, at the Jewel at Village Crossing in Niles. Our neighbors were generous and we collected more than 20 shopping carts full of food and toiletries, along with $217.00 in cash and a $100.00 check!

However, more than 1000 families use the Food Pantry and pantry director Cynthia Carranza explained that our haul would be depleted in just three days. To help keep the shelves stocked, the October food pantry drive is scheduled for October 3 at the Jewel located at 9449 Skokie Boulevard in Skokie. Volunteers are needed from 9:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. and we would like four people for each shift. Please let me know your availability for one (or two) one hour shifts and indicate your first, second and third choice for each shift. Once I receive responses, I will confirm your scheduled time. The shifts are:

9:30 – 10:30
10:30 – 11:30
11:30 – 12:30
12:30 – 1:30
1:30 – 2:30
2:30 – 3:30
3:30 – 4:30
The last shift will include assisting in unloading the food at the food pantry.

As significantly more people are using the food pantry in recent months our contributions are valuable. The response from our neighbors is positive and the volunteers from last Saturday expressed how good it feels to help others in our community. Volunteering for at least one hour is an easy way to help people who are experiencing hard times. Please respond with your availability, indicating the number of shifts you can cover and your first, second and third choice for each shift.

Thanks for your help and I look forward to hearing from you. Please contact me at cathystruzynski@yahoo.com.
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Ken Kring, NN '82, to talk about business strategy mapping Sept 28

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Given these perilous economic times, how can a company best utilize its resources in order to survive and even thrive? Wheeling author and corporate executive Ken Kring says seeing how all the pieces of the business fit and work together, and sometimes don’t work together, is key.

On Monday evening, September 28, Kring will discuss how anyone in business can draw a business strategy map and create workable, realistic strategic plans to operate from. Anyone interested can join in the discussion from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at Hackney's, 241 S. Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling. This book discussion and signing is free, but seating is limited, so reserving a spot soon is advised. For more information or to reserve a spot, contact Ken at kkring@businessstrategymapping.com.

“Especially in these times, superior strategy followed by decisive action will allow even small companies to overthrow larger ones and maintain a leadership positions,” Kring says.

Kring’s recently released book, Business Strategy Mapping: The Power of Knowing How It All Fits Together, offers clear and practical steps to understanding how any company works and how to use strategy mapping to adjust to the new business landscapes and succeed.

The stories offered in the book include people from senior managers to line employees and are geared toward a broad audience—entrepreneurs; CEOs; venture capitalists, middle managers; product managers; marketing, finance, operations and IT managers; and students of business.

Through true stories and “business fables,” the first part of the book discusses how “Kring Strategy Mapping” (KSM) was founded and how business flows from potential to profit. Part two discusses how to use the mapping to create plans and act on them while better connecting with other departments in the company.

My brother Ken Kring grew up in Morton Grove (where our mom still lives). He went to Hynes School, Golf Jr High (back when it was called a junior high) and Niles North, where he was on the swim team. He earned his BS in Business Administration from DePaul University and his MBA from Northwestern University where his focus was marketing, finance, management and strategy.

Odd Wo(man) In

From Live From Skokie

Make new friends, but keep the old
One is silver and the other gold

That song from my childhood comes to mind when I see this picture. I'm pretty sure it was not ever meant as a comment on hair color, but I think I'm the silver one in this picture.

Last month a few of us from the class of 1980 from Niles North congregated in Devonshire Park thanks to the efforts of Fran Horvath (nee Ruskin) and Mark Holtzman. We shared stories, passed around a yearbook and got acquainted and reacquainted...and made some pictures.

I'm in touch with many of the friends I had in high school. None of them were there. That's okay. My new friend Fran Horvath, who my husband only recently introduced me to, and her other friends were there. Fran and I were not friends in high school. This was not by deliberate decision, just the nature of things. We hung out in different circles. I was at least aware of her; she admits to having no awareness of me. I was aware of Toby Fisher too, as she was a Vikette, NN's poms squad, but we were not friends either. Linda, I didn't remember knowing, but evidently she was taking beauty school classes and was off campus a lot.

Are we friends now? We'll see. Crystal ball sees a visit to Linda's to discussed the silver in the near future.

Note to Niles North Class of '80: Maybe we'll have a 30th reunion, maybe not. There's no clear organizer(s) this year. Word is that at least Fran and Mark, who'd been involved in planning the 10th and 20th, can't do it this year. So, hope to see y'all next year, or maybe in '11, but surely in cyberspace.

Skokie's 4th of July Parade

One needed to know Skokie and its 4th of July parade to understand something was different this year. The weather was cooler than most years, so there was less concern about band members passing out, but any Chicagoan would have noticed that. Where were the temple teams? Where was Beth Israel? July 4, 2009 landed on a Saturday. Word was that many temples opted out of the parade in honor of the sabbath. July 4, 2010 is on a Sunday next year. It's a good bet they'll be back.

Pioneer Press' Mike Isaacs wrote about the pre-parade preparations.
SkokieNet's Eh re ca wrote about teen volunteers' work at the parade.
State Rep. Lou Lang's web page offers a bit about Lou's and Jan Schakowsky's infirmities.

Here's some simple snaps I made of the parade. I didn't catch everyone's name, but aim to fill them in as I learn them, so bring on the information. Love mob sourcing.

~ Karen Kring

George and Susan Van Dusen with friend.
George is Skokie's mayor.


U.S. House Rep Jan Schakowsky didn't walk the parade
as she usually does due to her bum foot.


This Jan of fan knows how to enjoy being in a parade.


Abbey Fishman Romanek is running for judge from
Cook Country's 9th subcircuit. Election is in February 2010.


Jesse Greenberg and other advocates for Abbey.




Having fun isn't hard when you've got...


a library card.


Roy Swenson.

Kiyo Shirataki.


Nola Penn.


Young Eldridge Shannon with Urban Beat Dance.


Two Rubinos.





Angeles "Jelly" Carandang






Illinois State Rep. Elizabeth Coulsen meets the Rubinos.


The parade is not over until the Refuse Collection
Division's trucks go by.

Niles North Class of 1980 Get Together

All alumni from Niles North Class of '80 are invited to picnic with former classmates at Devonshire Park, by the tennis courts, tomorrow, Saturday, July 18 from 4-8 p.m.

It is BYOF: Bring your own food, family, and fun.

Organized by Fran Ruskin Horvath and Mark Holtzman, there's a Facebook page for the event.