Centennial Rotary Club Meeting Notes

For: Tue, December 19, 2006

Today we met in a festively decorated banquet room. It was complete with a Christmas tree and red and green table clothes and napkins. I must say they could have at least put a draidle or something on the table. Anyway everyone was in a pretty good holiday mood. That is until Barbara Medina passed out what we thought were holiday greeting cards. They turned out being our club dues statements.

We had our wonderful breakfast cooked to our specifications by Randy. I had a vegetable omelet and potato latkes ( alright, they were really hash browns but I can dream can’t I!!!). Kye put berry yogurt on her waffles. I’m not sure, but this has to violate the four way test somehow.

Mark Gale gave an invocation from the invocation book that was very touching. Kye led the pledge (inspite of the above mentioned violation) Of incidental note the ghost of Paul Horiuchi was the costodian today. Even though he wasn’t present today the room was completely set up and no one knows who did it. We suspect Paul was in earlier. What a guy!!

Kent gave the Rotary minute in which he discussed the passing of Maryanne Mays. She was a Highlands Ranch member, a past president and an assistant governor. Services will take place on Thursday, December 21, at the Columbine United Church located at 6375 South Platte Canyon Dr. in Littleton at 4:30. Kent also discussed Maryanne’s latest project she was developing, a matching grant project in Yetebon , Ethiopia. It will focus on helping working women become self sufficient. Donations for this project can be sent to:
Christine Hoyt 2518 S. Patton Ct., Denver, Co 80219. Put the notation Maryanne May/Ethiopia on the memo line.

Other Business:

The Madam- President announced that the University Hills Rotary Club is looking for nominations for the Pace Setter Award.

Laurie also passed around a proclamation honoring those that sponsored the light rail opening, which included our club.

At the next foundation meeting they will vote on money spending and also they will elect a new member for the one vacancy coming up.

Laurie also reminded us that next Tuesday will be dark. The next meeting will be 1/2/07 and the next board meeting will be Jan. 3rd at Cottrell Printing.

Barbara, our server, was given a holiday gift from the club as was Randy who prepares our breakfast for us.

Happy Bucks

• Frank gave $2, one for welcoming Piercy back and one for having the table to himself. It’s amazing what flatulence can accomplish. He also thanked Jennifer for offering to reach the tray for him.
• Ken Hope for having lunch with Mark Paller and Ken Preuss.
• Ben will be heading to Iowa to see his father.
• Randy wished everyone happy and safe holidays.
• Roxy will spend her holiday in Phoenix.
• James for Alexa coming home for the holidays.
• Kye for her husbands brother who is visiting from CA and will soon be married. She also going to see her sister and her father is doing better.
• Marc for Piercy’s return
• Barb wished everyone happy holidays.
• Jeff said it was good to see everyone.
• Pete wished everyone happy holidays.
• Hank was happy Jeff kept his food on his plate.
• Jen for Piercy’s return.

Program

Our guest speaker today was Cathy Grim the director of Jewish Family Services. This organization serves not only the elderly Jewish population but people of all backgrounds. They strive to keep the elderly in their homes as long and as safe as possible. They also serve young adults with chronic diseases such as MS and ADL (Lou Gerigs Disease). She gave some grim statistics. Currently one in eight citizens are over sixty years old. By 2020 it will grow to one in four. Those over eighty five are the fastest growing group of people. This age group is the highest with dementia.

At the point that our elderly population will double, our care giving population will only increase by seven percent. The elderly want to stay in their homes, in their cities near where services are.

Jewish Family services addresses ways to keep healthy with aging. They examine ways to keep the elderly in their homes and out of assisted living environments as long for as possible. Cathy feels that keeping people involved in their community is helpful and healthful. When people stop working they get a sense of isolation. She suggests that the elderly become mentors, volunteer in the community and even remain working (she calls this rehirement).

She suggested to us that we purchase long-term care insurance. To which Ben Dingman almost had a sexual climax (Well certainly there was a faint squeal of delight coming from Ben’s table). In addition, she recommended we all get last will and testaments and living wills. At this point Ken Hope emitted a small moan of excitement. Everyone else at Ken and Ben’s table looked a bit uncomfortable.

For those that plan on being care givers for their parents she warned of “toxic elders”. Meaning those that are impossible to please.

Cathy also gave a list of ways to age successfully:

• Continue to work (rehirement)
• Become a mentor
• Volunteer
• Exercise
• Eat well

She explained that the leading causes of dementia are obesity, adult onset diabetes and heart and lung problems . She also proclaimed Tai Chi as a great exercise for fall prevention.

Marbles

Mark Gale won the drawing but picked a clear marble. We all shamefully applauded.

Today’s note taker was Marc Garfinkel

King Soopers Coupons!

Don’t forget to see Kent Ostedgaard for your King Soopers coupons! The club makes 4% on every dollar we spend. Coupons are available in $25 units & are sold at face value.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO BUY SOME TODAY!

Nearby Club Locations for Makeup's:

Tuesday’s:
11:45 AM – Tech Center @ Glenmoor CC
Noon – Littleton @ Columbine CC

Wednesday’s:
12:00 pM – Englewood –
(Location Change ) *
Embassy Suites on Hampden, near Tamarac Square

Wednesday 's:
Littleton-Sunrise
7:15AM -- Arapahoe Community College, southernmost west entrance and west parking lot

Thursday’s:
7:15AM – Denver SE/ Cool River Restaurant
Noon – Highlands Ranch @ Lone Tree CC

24 Hours: www.rotary5450.org/eclub