Ronald McDonald House
The remaining dates for dinner service this year are:
April 26, 2018
President Mike opened the meeting by announcing our 54 years of Service Above Self and then we recited the Four Way Test. Dick Norfolk led us in the pledge and David King gave the inspirational message. Mike thanked all the volunteers for the day and announced that this is was Birthday Day so we had a delicious cake thanks to Shirley's for her efforts to pick it up and deliver it to BHCC.
The Interfaith Food Drive is finished and we far exceeded our goal of last year! Great job everyone. Several Rotarians met at Marine Corp Air Station Miramar last Sat. and where we weeded several areas to be planted and added new sand to area playgrounds. It was a joint effort with the Miramar Semper Fidelis Rotary Club and we hope to continue that association well in to the future.
A $1200 check was presented to Tender Loving Canines to build a fence around the grounds outside the building to give the dogs a safe place to romp around.
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There was also a $500 grant given to Palomar Health to provide an alert button, worn around the neck, in case of a fall where they can alert the provider and get help in case they can't reach a phone. Our contribution will give 3 people a 1 year service.
Then one of the most important events of the day was inducting our newest member, Alex Robertson. Don Glover is his sponsor and John Goodrich will be his mentor. Alex is coming over from another club where he was president so he won't need too much training as he has a lot of experience in Rotary already!
Jim Reid gave his "Who Am I" speech with a very detailed and well delivered power point. Although he didn't have enough time to show all his slides, he certainly filled us in on his very interesting life. His focus was on Japan where he was in the Peace Corp. He received many degrees, the biggest of which was his PHD from UCLA. His love for classical music and art of Asia kept him in Japan where he also worked on Business Development. He is fluent in Japanese, having worked in an area where he was the only one who spoke English! He was also our coordinater for RYLA this year which just happened 2 weeks ago. He is a wonderful addition to our club!
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Our Fine Master was challenged this week by Jim Hydahl who tried to start a Pink Shirt for Men Revolution
but John wasn't buying it. He fined Jim and all the men wearing pink shirts that day! Nice try though. Gary Saks shared some great news with us. Their son has PKD which is a rare from of kidney disease with no cure. He needs a kidney transplant and it turns our that his son's wife was an exact match! We pray this works out for them and he will go on to enjoy a happy and healthy life.
Jim Sommer introduced our speaker, Bill Turner, who oversees pharmacy operations at Palomar Pomerado Health. The title of his speech was "Don't be a Dealer", the Opioid Epidemic. It has become a major health and safety issue citing that 33,000 people died from over doses in 2015. In the mid 1990's, doctors were instructed to prescribe more pain medications for their patients. This led to over use and has resulted in a shorter life expectancy.
The highest concentration of abuse is in Ohio, W. Virginia and the surrounding areas which tend to be more prevalent in poverty stricken areas. This is a real crisis that continues to grow. There is a Data Base that now tracts prescription use that will help to identify who and how often patients are using these dangerous drugs.
Dan Barrios presented a Paul Harris plus two stones to our one and only fab president. Mike has only been in the club a few years and has already contributed $3,000 to his Paul Harris. Congratulations!!!
We also have a very SPECIAL EVENT AT 12:15 this Thurs. Joe Max is being surprised by a couple of ladies who represent the "Quilt of Valor" given to servicemen who were in World War II and Joe qualifies. This group makes all the quilts and then present them all over San Diego when they hear about a new recipient. Mum is the word but I hope you can all be there to witness the lovely ceremony.
Our speaker for this week will be Steve Weihe, a Recycling Specialist II, from the San Diego Environmental Services Department.
Yours in Rotary
Karen Stelman, Scribe
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L to R: Brian Zimmerman, Pres. La Jolla Sunrise RC; Athenea Luciano, Pres. Route 78 RC; Inductee Alex Robertson; Bobbi
Spinner-Flack, Pres. San Diego Downtown Breakfast RC; Max Gurney, member Torrey-Pines (La Jolla) RC