President Todd rang the bell and brought the meeting to order. Joe Carroll gave the blessing. I think as yes, I was late and paid Brad and Spencer.
Visiting Rotarians and Guests:
Visitors today included our speaker Michaela Gagne and Richard Cunic from the Heart Screen America.
Make Ups:
There were no make up cards reported today.
If you missed today's meeting, you have until January 23, 2008 to complete a makeup.
Fines and Happy Dollars:
Happy dollars were collected by Sergeant at Arms, Brad Swanson.
Janet Larson is happy about plans that are being put together, geared towards membership.
John Plate was happy for the information Bob Was provided regarding the wonderful world of health insurance here in the Bay State.
Once again Joe Long was happy for his daughter Courtney's Ipswich soccer team's defeat of Topsfield.
Todd Darling is Happy for the New Year.
Peter McAllister will be really happy if one or many can assist him in the arrangement of speakers for the remainder of the RI year.
Joanne Travers is happy over her daughter Tory's involvement in a "penny war" at the Ipswich Middle School which ultimately is a fund raiser for Rotaplast.
Linda Parker reports that her niece is doing much better and has had her breathing tube removed.
Bob Was was happy for the Windrush Farms receipt of another saddle for special needs people courtesy of the donations received for a few kind souls and those made in memory of Brian Connelly, Joe Long's father-in-law.
Harry Martin was happy for Linde and him getting their home back from the islanders that took over for the holidays.
Denver Wallace was happy to get his house back too after the infestation of grand children.
Raffle:
Peter McAllister and Brad Swanson could not find the Four of Spades.
Announcements
The TBM Board met today.
Linda Parker brought news about the upcoming RYLA event, May 16-18 at Camp Rotary. Stay tuned for clean up dates.
A winter fund raiser in the makings. A comedy night, less the snow hopefully, is being organized for late March or early April.
Our annual Golf Tournament will be held at the Ipswich Country Club on June 9th. Start thinking about sponsors and golfers!
Program:
This week we heard from Michaela Gagne, Miss Massachusetts 2006 and Richard Cunic who both told us about Heart Screen America.
Michaela told us of her own personal story in dealing with heart disease that has affected her life since her senior year in high school. She was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome which has been proven to be the cause of death in many children each and every year. All too often we hear of the 6 year old on the soccer field that collapsed and died as a result of an undetected heart abnormality. Or we hear of the 15 year old who collapsed on the basketball court, again the cause being an undetected heart defect.
HeartScreen America does what the doctors in old lives cannot do, they test using EKG technology and blood work to determine if someone has any heart related issues. These tests, if proved to be a potential problem, can be used by the medical community to take the diagnosis to the next level.
Michaela has used her celebrity status to make people aware of the need for diagnostic testing for heart defects. She serves as the American Heart Associations National Spokesperson; she is the Parent Heart Watch spokesperson and also represents Heartbeat International. She also pointed out that Rotary International also gets involved in doing screening for people in need. Check out this article relating to the RI involvement. http://www.twincities.com/allheadlines/ci_7836057?nclick_check=1
Google, rotary international heart pace makers, and check out the other related stories pertaining to RI and their help with pacemakers. We are in good company people!
Bottom line is the US does not do enough in the area of prevention and this organization can help. Italy requires all youth participating in sports to be checked regularly. All Japanese newborns are given EKGs to detect the potential of heart related problems. January 22 there is an open testing at the NS Vocational High School. Reservations are required and one can sign up at www.HeartScreenAmerica.com or call 866-722-8008.
