Notes from our Noon Meeting
August 8, 2024
President Arthur welcomed us with interesting trivia as he always does. In this case, there are two points of historical importance. August 8th is the anniversary of the resignation of President Richard Nixon in 1974, and the 2009 swearing-in of Justice Sonia Sotomayor, our Supreme Court's first Hispanic jurist.
Without coordinating, our Inspiration was from Kim DeCoste who stayed on the historical theme with a comment regarding the times in which we find ourselves. We are so often in conversations fraught with strife over the current political division in our country. Kim offered a moment to reflect as she read what she termed "the greatest 272 words ever spoken by an American President". Kim offered her reading of President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and then led the Pledge of Allegiance.
We had visitors this week with our friend, Shelly, who was with us again from Belize. We had another visitor, Rose, who is a familiar face. Shrin had two visitors who were friends of our speaker and one, Padma, is known to our club. Her daughter was the student of the month a few months ago from Highlands Ranch High School and will begin her freshman year at Duke this fall. She was accompanied by a lady whose name we noted was Cal (so sorry we did not catch last names). Cal's daughter is being mentored by Dr. Venkataram, our speaker on this day.
Connie passed The Rock to someone she called "our Rock", Shrin! Shrin is one of those very special people who likes to be "behind the scenes". His devotion to our fundraising last year was extraordinary, he helps with the Club's foundation, and in so many ways most of us do not see. He is a living example of Service about Self and an excellent Rotarian! Thank you, Shrin!
Our pre-lunch announcements were as follows:
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Last Thursday was the last day for peaches and pears. Jan reminded us to get the final orders in. At the time of the meeting, Elizabeth led with 41 cases sold under her referral. Paul Campbell has sold 33 cases. The final tally will come after midnight and she reminded us that pick up will be next Saturday at Eastridge in the back of the lot (north side) between 1-5.
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There will be Rotaractors at the sale to help load/unload peaches and pears but volunteers can still join Jan to help.
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Please remember Western Welcome Week also!
Our speaker this week was Dr. Sujatha Venkataram, who was introduced by Shrin. She gave a fascinating, compelling, and emotional presentation. Dr Venkataram was presenting about her work in pediatric oncology and research specifically on childhood brain cancer. Her presentation was all the more touching because we learned in his introduction that she lost her own son to this awful disease.
The doctor walked us seamlessly through complex data with an easy-to-understand slide presentation. She explained methodically, the nature of the pathology of the illness she is focused on, and why this particular cancer is so insidious. It is an orphan illness, which is to say it is 100% fatal. By the time this cancer is diagnosed, patients and their parents have fewer than 11 months -- more often, tragically, less than 6 months of life remaining.
The room was pin-drop silent and there were few dry eyes at a couple of points. The questions were interesting and thoughtful. We got the sense that the doctor also is lifted, not only in her dedication to finding and FUNDING the medicine and getting it approved by the FDA, but by sharing her son's story. While the path is there, it does require an enormous amount of focused energy in a crowded research space where money is difficult to come by.
She and her colleagues at CU Anschutz are pleased to have identified a patent-pending cure that is working in the clinical setting and they are now in the process of funding the last round of testing (which must take place successfully with animals), then she will require approximately $5 Million to fund the solution. They are seeking the appropriate partners for the pharmaceutical partner. Because this is an orphan illness, FDA approval should be swift. We, of course, wish her all the very best with her important work which, Chip reminded her, is the legacy of her son's life.
For meeting announcements at the end of the meeting, President Arthur called people forward for the following:
Bright Futures has about one more month in its campaign to $125,000 OR MORE, and Shrin, Debby & Tom are working hard to get 100% participation. No matter the size of your donation, please contribute so they can meet these goals. We were sitting at $104,000 as of last Thursday.
We were reminded that we still need a chair for the International Committee. Please consider engaging in this key role and know your work will be interesting, visible, and appreciated. Please contact President Arthur if you would like to step forward in this way. Note, that we expect even more travel as people "get moving" and are ready to get back out in the world to make a difference and be the change they wish to see all over the globe. Together we Rotarians do many good deeds! Join us!
Mark your calendars and join us for the District Conference with our own Tamie Fennell at the helm this Rotary Year. We will meet on September 28th and we will have a table in the House of Friendship. Consider volunteering for a shift to help President Arthur and "First Lady" Terre ensure that we get the word out about all that we are doing!
President Arthur thanked everyone who helped at the Ronald McDonald House barbeque. Terre, Nancy, Maria, "Big" John and Mike Runyon were there to serve 40-50 people and celebrate the work we have done there.
In his Family of Rotary reminder, President Arthur updated us briefly that he is doing much better. He reminded us to keep Anne Lester and Phil Calderbank in our thoughts.
We found out we will be having a SUMMER SOCIAL on 8/29. Stay tuned for details. It will be a late afternoon event with appetizers and an adult beverage or two. More to follow.
Connie Golas reminded us Rotary Readers for Sedelia Elementary are needed again soon. Please sign up, 2 people per shift on Tuesdays feom 10:30-1:30. Bud's Bar for burgers is often an option after the volunteer work for a burger and "no damn fries". See Connie or sign up, please.
The 50/50 went to Jan Selenfreud this week. (That's lucky since a few minutes later, Jerry offer $100 happy dollars in honor of pediatiric cancer research!)
Finally at the end of the meeting, along with Happy Dollars from many people, Neil reminded us that our exchange student from Milan, Italy, Filippo, is here now. He will join us if he can next week and throughout the year. Please do keep him in mind as you and your family do fun things in/ around town and in Colorado. (Your Wheel Spinner "team", aka, Kim reminds you, speaking in the first person, that my Rotary Exchange Year way back in 1987 in Munich, Germany, was made so much more fun by the kind and generous inclusion of Rotarians when they and their families did fun, interesting, cultural things. Sports, music, skiing, hiking, downtown trips, local museums, The Olympic center down in the Springs... there are many things we can share with Filippo to help him experience the richness and the culture of our state. Please include him when you can!)
With that, the meeting ended...5 whole minutes early!
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Additional Committee Announcements and Reminders:
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Win sends word from Flyin' B on the last meeting for us.
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Members' quarterly dues are $60 & due now. Please leave them in cubbie 2301 for Bill.
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The philanthropic causes Wind Crest supports align well with the club. They are evaluating ongoing support of those.
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Win is heading the effort to reach out to Purple Heart recipients and their families. He does 25 calls/quarter.
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Help is needed for 8/22 at the Rotary Table from 10:30-1:00.
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Flyin' B will meet on 8/22 in the Aloha Feast room at Wind Crest at Windows Please let Maddie know if you plan to attend so the room can be set up.
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Also from Win, not related to Flyin' B but a reminder from an email from Bill Simmermon, there will be a 9/11 event on that day at Cielo in Castle Pines. Major General Jerry E. White will speak about the attack on the Pentagon. He was not in the building but in the vicinity and will offer an account. The meeting is from 7-8:30 and doors open at 6 and there will be refreshments. There is also a reminder that donations can be made to the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program associated with that event, but all are welcome. Win notes that he and the Major General were in the AFIT pursuing graduate studies at the same time.
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The last message we received this week was one of gratitude. From Jan Keyton from a RYLA "kid" who attends Valor, we got the following thanks, "It was great! The community was very kind and supportive, and always encouraged everyone to be themself which was fun to see how people are when they aren't scared about image. Also, all of the activities helped demonstrate different parts of leadership that I'm either good at or have room to grow in, so it's good to know my strengths and weaknesses there! Also, my SC and JC were so amazing and were always putting out fires very well. I am so glad I was able to go to RYLA, it was the best experience I've ever had."
Friends, Rotarians, Countrymen (and women) - THIS ^^^^ is why we do the work we do! Impacting our world, our community, our youth... that is OUR Rotary Legacy!
Thank you all. Each of you does so much good. We appreciate you. See you on Thursday!
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The final note is from your WS "team". We do try to get this out by 3 on Tuesdays... thanks for your patience and please reach out and make sure you put "FOR THE WHEEL SPINNER" in the subject of your email.
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