President Arthur brought our meeting to order last week as we were downstairs in the hotel, moving around each other like cars in traffic and trying not to trip the servers. Terre served as our greater and traffic control director, sending everyone in the right direction. The room was full in excitement as we awaited our speaker this week. Phil Clarke offered the inspiration with a tribute to health care workers as he recounted helping out with an emergency reenactment to teach Emergency Department Doctors how to triage extreme situations.
Our guests of honor included Martine Hyland, Dr. Ann Penner, and Dr. Meha Semwal Smith, our first Fellow in Pediatric Mental Health Care. We had visiting Rotarians including Shelley from Belize, and Win, of the Flyin' B Group. Our most special guests might have been Debby's grandchildren Ewan and Gwen. Ewan won the "best dresssed" competition with a sharp navy blazer! We also saw Gina and Dave Parker, who hope to join the club after a long bit of travel. A new prospective member named Jean was also with us. She is a book salesperson for public library services and heard of Rotary at a business conference from a Rotarian from Grand Junction. We are excited about these wonderful new prospective members.
The Rock was graciously passed to a well-deserving Sue Bramley.
This week's meeting was Special once again. Our very own Tamie Fennell, the current District Governor, was with us again to hear our speakers.
Dr. Smith was the Guest of Honor, but Dr. Penner took most of the questions. She began by explaining their pediatric focus. They typically see patients from the ages of 0-22 years old and the hospital is part of what is characterized as a "life span campus".
We should be so proud of the endowment we have funded! Dr. Penner further clarified that their campus puts forward approximately 7 Fellows annually. It is the ONLY program of its kind in Colorado focused on pediatric psychology and serves many rural areas and neighboring states.
Dr. Smith gave us insight into "a day in the life" for her, where she bounces between clinics focused on many different areas of need from "simple" evaluations to severe and serious pediatric psychological challenges. The doctors work with patients and often with the families to evaluate, diagnose, and treat complex issues that have enormous and long-lasting impacts.
Their job begins with "understanding the why" in these cases and then untangling the underlying issues.
Gaining a better understanding the practice of Psychodynamic Psychology was the goal of the doctors' time with us and we did get a nice view in to the world we are helping to change with our continued focus on children and family wellness. Kudos to everyone who helped with this enormous project and kudos to every member who has offered financial support. This special program of ours will change peoples' lives, which is, of course what Rotarians do all over the world every singe day.
Announcements:
The Board of Directors Nomination Process concluded and we welcome Alan Balfour to the Board by vote of members at lunch.
Jan Keyton was honored by Big John with her Paul Harris +5.
We were reminded to attend the District Conference last weekend.
The WASH Symposium is October 19th. Registration is online now.
The holiday party will be December the 7th.
For Family of Rotary:
Phil Calderbank seems to be improving again. Elaine remains optimistic.
Bob Larson plans to join us again in the coming week or so.
Please also keep Peter & Ellen Ulrich in your ongoing thoughts as they heal.
Ann Lester is traveling independently and feeling quite a bit better every day.
Connie was with us at the meeting and thanked everyone for their concern and help. The meals and calls and cards have been great and she is doing well.
We continue hold these people in our hearts and ask you reach out to them if you are comfortable doing so. We send each of them our very best.
Happy Dollars were fun and 50/50 went to Kyle this week.
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