North Fresno Rotary

Meeting Recap 12/3/2009

by lou on 04/12/09 at 6:25 am

The 11:30 club and the exercise group was well attended by none other than the old guard, Scott Shewan, Steve “soon to be a resident of Bali” Bezzerides, Gordon Knott, Fred Biglione, Roger Anderson, Charlie Wadhams, Nick Smaldino, Tom Graves, Cliff Sp8, Stan Whaley and the Dales (Clydesdale, Airedale, Teasdale, Mondale and J&J) and et al. For those of you from the Law Firm of Dewy Cheathem and Howe, that means all the others.

The bell rang at 12:30 and our esteemed President Smaldino took control. Yes, yes I know I have lost it but if we hang on we can make it - June is coming and then we get the ever lovely Ms. Janet Powell. Speaking of Ms. Powell where is she? And then there is the missing Ms Keitges, Ms Siemens and Ms. McHenry. they either formed a foursome for bridge or the Tryptophan got to them (actually it’s the carb’s that make one sleepy).

The Invocation was given by Rod Gibson (eloquently, I might add). The Pledge to our flag was led by Jason Weber (quite proudly of course) and visiting Rotarians was announced by none other than Sir Charles Small. Sir Charles should have been a farmer - he was outstanding.

NFR TRAVELERS AND THEIR GIFTS TO HIS EXCELLENCY: Jason Weber, Rome Venice and Florence. He brought PresLou a wine bottle stopper. (Editors note: Kim wants Nick to have a wine stopper too.) Ted Marsella was in Stockton to present his three daughters each a Paul Harris Fellowship. And, he brought the Pres a - now listen up and get this y’all - “a CLASSY” bulletin from North Stockton Rotary.” Theodore L, being the eloquent communicator and all, explained to Patti O’Neill the virtues of having a “CLASS” program - something about a few “dead composers” - at the meeting. But that’s Stockton for you. Bernadette and Ken Hansen journeyed to Vietnam and something about launching a Rotary Club in Hanoi. Then on to Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore and Australia. Aboard ship were many other Rotarians from all parts of the world and a shipboard meeting was enjoyed by all. Sounds like a GREAT trip, Bernadette.

Roger Anderson proudly proclaimed the “Bell Ringing” board was filled. Good job Roger. Ringers were: Pat Bradley, Sherian Eckenrod, Paul Dyer, Patti O’Neill & Rich, Murr Barry, Dick Ellsworth, JulieKeitges, Paul Gibson, Dave Reuland, Scott Lowe, Tom Coleman, Nick & Kim Smaldino, Jim Clark, Charley Wadhams, Peter Scheer, Ted Marsella, Steve Bezzerides (X 2), Cliff Speight (X  2), John Leonardo, Mark Smith, Bernadette Hansen, Shannon and Joel Stiner, Steve Varvis, Scott Shewan, Don Henderson, Doyle Daniel, Dave McGlasson, Doc & Kathy Pad, Kevin Oflazian, Hagop Bedoyan, Rod Gibson, CarlosGonzales, Chris Wong, Gordon Knott, Tom Graves and Peter Bradley

Steve Bezzerides announced the dinner groups this year will be eight participants to a table - a much more manageable number. The drawing will be a blind draw.

(En 2: I, for one, find this part of our club quite, actually very, enjoyable.)

Erik Mayu announced that next Thursday is gift exchange at Lowell School. Make sure that you bring a gift for: a boy and a girl with the age ranges and get this to Erik before next Thursday’s meeting.

Scott Shewan has been installed as President of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association. And, Shannon Stiner is the C.E.O. of the Professional Exchange Service Corporation. A Call Center, Telephone Exchange, Event Planning and an Association Management wing.

John Krirorian is our Rotarian of the week: John grew up in Lebanon. John’s young years (see Dr Margolins comments) found him in high school and all, in Beirut. John’s leisure time found him keeping busy selling curtain rods and stuff. And, when his family moved to Fresno John attended Fresno City College and then on to Fresno State. John’s worst job was being a Lifeguard at camp - you see John kept rescuing all those pretty girls even though they did not want to be rescued, this could be humbling. John’s best job is being a Real Estate Agent.

Hilda Barret received her new badge. Welcome aboard.

 

“The BLOOD DRIVE has been postponed due to Lowell School,” so says, John Frost.

The winner of the drawing was, drum roll please, the same old bunch - Jerry Dale. And, no, he didn’t find any of the marbles that he has lost.

Patti O’Neill introduced our program for the day: David Margolin, M.D., PH. D. From the Margolin Brain Institute. Dr. Margolin is board certified in Neurology and a nationally known clinician and researcher. His topic: memory loss and the aging of the mind (I noticed Mark Brage sit up and pay attention). Care givers are crucial to the comfort of the individual. There are >5, million with Alzheimer’s today in the U.S. and by 2025 there will be >22, million who suffer this decease. By contrast there were only 3.8 million in 1990. The older an individual gets the greater chance for contracting the decease. Physicians are more comfortable with diagnosing cancer than dementia. 72% of the conditions are not diagnosed correctly leaving the family to bring it to the Dr’s attention. There are three areas: 1. A decline in mental functions; 2. A severity of age related difficulties and 3. A great interference with normal day to day activity. It is an incurable decease but there are medications that can slow the advancement. Research is progressing to help with the quality of life. On every table was a registration form for anyone who may show the symptoms and Dr. Margolin said for us to fill out the form. Well it appears that John Frost only heard, “fill out the form” so being the obedient Rotarian that he is and all he dutifully filled out every line. For Cliff Sp8 the word of the day is Anti-Amyloid. The decease begins in the Temporal or the Frontal Lobes - Nick said, “wow that sounds serious and just what is an Anti-Amyloid?.” Nick you are supposed to be listening.

Doc Pad asked the good Doctor about all of these big words like Pre-Clinical-Dementia and when he was going to become a lawyer? Murr Barry, in his own wonderful and gracious style asked, “ae;ihqendzn;earnj aonjad/naedol, dcvn?” And Dr. Margolin said, “it had something to do with “Cleavage.”

Well that’s all folks. Until we meet again I remain your faithful servant.

Terry Jon