Clubnews

ROTARY: WHY BUY RAFFLE TICKETS

by Al Blake

There are still tickets left for the Valley of the Moon Rotary Club’s big raffle. The lucky winners will be drawn on December 18 at the club’s Holiday Dinner. There are many reasons to buy tickets and all are invited to do so. Here are the reasons:

Really good prizes: The main prize is a two-week all-expense paid trip to Europe featuring a Danube river cruise plus two days (three nights) in Vienna, air fare and cash for incidentals. Optionally, the lucky winner can choose a prize of $10,000 instead of the cruise. To add a little interest, the second and third prizes are $500 and $250. Go for the prizes.

Better chance to win: The club has limited the number of tickets to 1,000, but there are tickets remaining and it is unlikely that all will be sold, making the chance of winning a prize greater. Take advantage of the numbers.

Support of Rotary’s good causes: The club is dependent on the proceeds from its fund raisers to support its charities. The salient reason to buy raffle tickets is to provide these funds so that the club can continue with its charitable activities. All of the proceeds from the raffle are earmarked for local projects, which include assistance to:

•R (recovery) House, a residential counseling and high school for teens with dependency problems.

•The Sierra Youth Center, a residential treatment and vocational training program for female adolescents.

•Books, tutoring/reading and home literacy programs for three elementary schools.

•St Joseph’s Mobile Health Clinic, providing vaccinations and health treatments to farm and service workers throughout Sonoma county.

•Academic and vocational scholarships to high school students entering college and SRJC students entering four-year colleges and universities.

To find out the details of the raffle, log on to the club’s website at www.valleyofthemoonrotary.org, scroll down and click on the ship. To order tickets, fill in the ticket application form and mail with a check to “VOM Rotary Foundation” to Valley of the Moon Rotary, 6572 Oakmont Drive, Suite A, Santa Rosa, CA 95409, or see any Valley of the Moon Rotarian.

In these days of financial troubles, the various agencies the club helps are more and more strapped for funds; please contribute by buying tickets and at the same time help yourself with a chance to win the grand river cruise (or $10,000) or either of the two cash prizes.

ROTARY HEARS ABOUT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE

by Al Blake

Recently the Valley of the Moon Rotary Club heard an informative program about Alzheimer’s disease from Noelle Thrill, who is a knowledgeable counselor and help provider with the local Alzheimer’s Association.

Dementia can take many forms, most of them progressive, although some are reversible. Alzheimer’s comprises about 60% of the progressive forms and is the most prevalent. In addition to Alzheimer’s, the common dementias are Lewy Body (associated with Parkinson’s), Frontal Temporal (atrophy of the front part of the brain), and Vascular (often occurs after an adverse reaction to medications, infections, brain tumors, sensory loss and nutritional deficiencies.)

Described as the onset of gradually progressive degenerative brain functions, Alzheimer’s causes loss of cells in nonspecific parts of the brain, development of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (don’t ask), and depletion of the way neurons talk to one another. There is a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s; however, other risk factors include aging, stroke and head trauma (football players beware). Sometimes people fear the suspected onset of Alzheimer’s, needlessly worrying about forgetting where they parked their car or where they left the car keys. This is normal forgetfulness.

A careful and thorough diagnosis of Alzheimer’s includes an exam for mental status, a history of illnesses, blood tests especially to check B12 and thyroid functions, CT or MRI brain scans, testing for memory and language loss, and screening for depression. The disease lasts between 2 and 20 years, but the average is 8 to 10 years; the progression of Alzheimer’s is unique to each individual. As treatment, it is important to include the Alzheimer’s patient in the family activities and to ensure that he or she is mentally stimulated. There are also drugs available that slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and/or improve memory.

The Alzheimer’s Association is a national organization, with a Northern California chapter located in Mountain View. The Association funds research, aids Alzheimer patients and their families with a helpline, and conducts early stage counseling programs, family care planning, community and family education, support groups and professional training. To obtain more information about the Alzheimer’s Association, log on to www.alz.org/norcal or call 1-650-962-8111.

CRAB FEED NEWS: The crabs are scurrying around the ocean floor to find the best pots. At the last minute to insure the best freshness, they will happily jump into their preselected pots for the club’s annual crab feed on February 20.

To find out about the Valley of the Moon Rotary Club, call Fred Polkinghorn at 538-3738 or log on to frednlaverne@yahoo.com or call Gordon Freedman at 537-0202, or log on to irenegor@pacbell.net.

The members of the Rotary club wish all a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays or whatever holiday greeting suits you.

ROTARY: VEGGIES AND CLEFT PALATES

by Al Blake

Two recent meetings of the Valley of the Moon Rotary Club featured diverse topics.

The first speaker was “The Veggie Queen,” Jill Nussinow, who has a Master’s degree and is a Registered Dietitian. For better health, Jill advocates that everyone eat locally grown vegetables and fruits and recommends shopping at farmers’ markets to get the freshest and best produce. Jill noted that to encourage their consumption, vegetables can be prepared in many interesting and tasty ways. She suggests that those who enjoy meaty, starchy dishes should limit them to 20% of their diet. Jill’s website, www.theveggiequeen.com, has information about her and her many services, including recipes and an offer for her vegetarian cookbook.

The second speaker was Angelo Capozzi, who is a plastic surgeon and a member of the San Francisco Rotary Club. In 1976 he proposed to his club a project to organize and send teams of doctors, support staff, supplies and medical equipment to poor countries to surgically repair cleft palates and related anomalies. The club accepted his proposal and Rotaplast was born. In order to attract more non-Rotarian funding and volunteers, in 1992 Rotaplast was established as a nonprofit charity and since then has conducted 145 missions and performed reconstructive surgery on almost 13,000 children, as well as a few adolescents and adults. Rotaplast missions are sent to developing countries in Central and South America, Asia and Africa. Rotary clubs in the target countries (except China, which has no Rotary) are enlisted to assist in the in-country logistics and the recruitment of staff.

Rotaplast depends on contributions to fund its missions and administrative operations. Support for Rotaplast comes from many sources in addition to direct contributions of funds from individuals, nonprofits, and firms. The medical and support staffs are volunteers, and firms and public and private medical institutions contribute medical supplies and equipment.

The benefit of Rotaplast goes beyond cleft palate repairs. The program trains local doctors in surgical techniques so that the medical procedures become self-perpetuating. The goal is to ensure that cleft palates are repaired automatically usually soon after birth as in America and other advantaged countries. Additionally, the participants are the best ambassadors for America and Americans. Dr. Capozzi told of several instances where local people changed their opinions about America when observing the generosity of time and money contributed by the mission participants.

To find out more about Rotaplast or to contribute funds, supplies or time log on to www.rotaplast.org.

Final Raffle Report: The culmination of Rotary’s big raffle and awarding of prizes happened last month. In order to confirm that the winning tickets were properly picked from the revolving drum, a disinterested third person drew them. And the winners are: 14 day river cruise, Hal and Renee Peters, $ 500, Jo Ann Pozzi, $ 250 Rich Irwin. The VOM Rotary Club thanks the all the contributors to its many charities who purchased raffle tickets.

Crab Feed: The crabs are getting more and more excited over the pending chance to jump into pots for Rotary’s crab feed on February 20. As always, only the choicest specimens will qualify to martyr themselves for the grand event. Tickets can be purchased from Todd VanDenburg at 370 3114 or from any VOM Rotary member. Don’t disappoint the crabs -- be there!

To learn about the Rotary club or attend a meeting, call Fred Polkinghorn at 538 3738 (email frednlavern@yahoo.com) or Gordon Freedman at 537 0202 (email irenegor@pacbell.net), or see any VOM Rotarian or log on to www.valleyofthemoonrotary.org.

ROTARY’S CRAB FEED SPARKS ATHLETIC CONTESTS

by Al Blake

It’s that time again when the Valley of the Moon Rotary puts on its outstanding annual crab feed. There is news that the crabs have become increasingly more agitated at the happy prospect of sacrificing themselves for the club’s event and supporting the club’s many charitable activities. All the crabs are clamoring to jump into the crab pots, but only the best, largest, most succulent are acceptable for Rotary’s feed. In order to determine the tastiest specimens, this year the crabs decided to have an athletic contest, with only those showing the most prowess and diligence allowed to compete.

Throughout the ocean floor many pots, festooned with garlands of seaweed and colorful shells, were designated to receive the winners. To make sure the crabs are the absolute freshest, of course, they cannot enter the pots until just before the time of sacrifice.

A select committee was appointed to referee the athletic contests. Since crabs promote gender equality, the committee was made up of grandfathers and grandmothers who are too old and tough for Rotary’s crab feed but who can, however, volunteer for other less demanding crab feeds.

There were many contests for the referees to judge. First the referees inspected the contestants to make sure they met Rotary’s stringent qualifications and were neither too old nor underdeveloped. Continuing the gender equality bit, there were both male and female events and each event consisted of several heats, ensuring that a large quantity of superior crabs would be available. First was the claw push. Here the contestants faced each other and after a friendly greeting by waving and crossing antennas, they raised their massive claws and tried to push the opponent on his/her back. Then came the pot jump where the contestants jumped mightily into pots from as far away as possible. This event was especially popular as it was good training for the final jump. Finally there was the aquatic glide. Here crabs would launch themselves from a precipice and glide as far as possible. Several crabs put on a demonstration by gliding directly into pots. All the winners were given a specially claw-marked pebble as recognition of each one’s athletic superiority and to identify them as being permitted to enter the decorated pots of champions at crab marshalling time.

Honor the champion crabs by attending Valley of the Moon Rotary Club’s ninth annual crab feed on February 20. The price is $45, but remember that a large portion goes to support the club’s charities. To reserve places, call Mike Isola, 539-4151, or contact any VOM Rotary member or log on to www/valleyofthemoonrotary.org. The crabs are proud and happy to contribute themselves so that the club’s philanthropic projects can continue; you too can contribute by coming to the crab feed.

To find out more about the Rotary club or attend a meeting, call Fred Polkinghorn, 538-3738, or email to frednlavern@yahoo.com, or Gordon Freedman, 537-0202, or email to irenegor@pacbell.net, or log on to www/valleyofthemoonrotary.org, or see any club member.

ROTARY HEARS ABOUT THE CCC

by Al Blake

The Valley of the Moon Rotary Club recently heard about the CCC, not the Civilian Conservation Corps of the Great Depression era, but the Children’s Cancer Community. The speaker was Michael Irvine, who has been connected with the CCC since 1996 when he was 16. He is currently the Director of Development and Outreach. Michael’s real job has been in the restaurant industry, but he now hopes for a full time career in the nonprofit arena.

The CCC concentrates its services for kids with cancer and their families in the North Bay counties - Marin, Sonoma, Napa, and Solano - but accepts any child under 21 with cancer. The CCC provides multiple services, including family support groups, cancer survival kits individually tailored to each child’s gender and diagnosis, post high school memorial scholarships for survivors, financial assistance to families, excursions to special sports and entertainment events, a lending library, and a bone marrow donor program, which deserves special attention. The CCC actively solicits bone marrow donors and has added over 700 volunteers to the international donor registry. Michael noted that advances now make donating easier and less threatening, as blood draws have been substituted by mouth swatches, and donations are a blood bank type procedure rather than complicated extractions.

To find out more about the CCC, to donate funds or bone marrow, or to volunteer services, log on to www.hopeforcancerkids.org.

Another Final Raffle Report: At the club’s January 15 meeting, Oakmonters Hal and Renee Peters, the winners of the gigantic raffle recently concluded, were presented with a check for $10,000 (less the inevitable taxes); see the photo. The Peters opted to take the money and run rather than the 14-day European river cruise. The raffle was deemed a success, so all the club’s friends and happy contributors to the club’s charities can expect a second annual raffle this year; keep in touch.

Crab Feed Report: Readers of these articles will recall the last edition that told of the great athletic events designed to select only the best crabs to be allowed to sacrifice themselves for Rotary’s charities. It can be reported that the events were successfully concluded and the champion athletes have been selected. They are all sporting their special claw-marked pebbles identifying them as champions and allowing them one last athletic feat to jump into the pots – but only at the very last minute because all the Rotary crabs are the absolute freshest. To honor these brave and dedicated crabs, be sure to attend Rotary’s crab feed on February 20. Reserve spaces by calling Todd Vandenburg at 512-5800 or see any Valley of the Moon Rotarian.

Attend a Rotary meeting and find out about the club. Call Fred Polkinghorn at 538-3738, email frednlavern@yahoo.com, or call Gordon Freedman at 537-0202, email irenegor@pacbell.net, or see any VOM Rotarian.

ROTARY LEARNS ABOUT “ROOTS OF PEACE”

by Al Blake

A couple of years ago the Valley of the Moon Rotary Club was told about “Roots of Peace,” which is a program to replace areas seeded with land mines with productive agricultural lands. This program is so worthy and successful that it deserves a second look.

Inspired by the catapulting recognition of land mine removal by Princess Diana, Roots of Peace started in 1997 when its founder and CEO Heidi Kuhn interested some 400 California vintners in a program “vines for mines.” It has since grown to be a multimillion dollar charitable, nonprofit venture with programs in Afghanistan, Iraq, Angola, Croatia, Cambodia and Viet Nam. Roots of Peace has been recognized by the UN, the US State Department and foreign governments, as well as by such luminaries as Madeleine Albright, Al Gore, Colin Powell, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Bush and many others.

Heidi talked mainly about projects in Afghanistan. Since 2003, Roots of Peace has worked in 17 provinces, has completed six projects and currently is engaged in nine others. In addition to clearing the land of mines, it is unique among mine removal efforts, as it tills the cleared land and plants mainly fruit trees for export. It even helps to market the product in India and neighboring countries. Heidi mentioned that the crops are two or three times more valuable than poppies. Sounds like a winner.

This is a wonderful, well-managed, universally recognized endeavor. There are many charitable projects that help and communicate with the grass roots in Afghanistan as well as other impoverished, often war-torn, countries spreading good will. One American in the field working with the people is more effective in winning the respect, friendship and trust of the people than any number of bureaucrats operating out of their offices. All these grass roots efforts can help turn back those that influence by terror and intimidation.

To contribute to Roots of Peace, log on to www.rootsofpeace.org.

Crab Feed Report: It is only a few days until the grand February 20 crab feed. The crabs are happily scurrying around the ocean floor singing joyfully with their little squeaky voices, because they know their efforts are not in vain as there are only a few tickets left for the crab feed. They can hardly wait to make that final jump into the pots to make the sacrifice to support Rotary’s charities. To see about tickets, call Todd Vandenburg at 512-5800 or see any Valley of the Moon Rotarian, or log on to www.valleyofthemoonrotary.org.

Know anyone who may be somewhat dysfunctional or needs help coping with life? The Rotary club has come upon a Rotary website that discusses many aspects of help for mental and emotional health, relationships, healthy living and aging. Be one of 12,000,000 who have logged on to www.helpguide.org/rotary/index.htm.

ROTARY GETS AN EARFUL ABOUT DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

by Al Blake

Valley of the Moon Rotary club member Fred Polkinghorn recently gave an illuminating PowerPoint presentation about being prepared to contend with the occurrence and aftermath of wildfire, earthquake or any other emergency. Fred pointed out that Oakmont is especially vulnerable to wildfire because of its closeness to Annadel State Park and to earthquake, since the Rodger’s Creek fault runs close by Oakmont. Fred also pointed out that Oakmont would be isolated and might have to make do on its own if Highway 12 were closed due to damage or fallen trees.

In Oakmont, the citywide preparedness program, Citizens Organized to Prepare for Emergencies (COPE), is organized and effected by OEPC, the Oakmont Emergency Preparedness Committee. Actually, the COPE program was initiated by OEPC and has become a model for other preparedness organizations. Oakmont is divided into 203 neighborhood support units, each of 10 to 20 residents. Currently about 75% of the Oakmont population is located in organized neighborhoods.

The OEPC is organized into two primary elements. First are neighborhood units. A leader and assistant have been appointed for each support unit. They meet with each household, where a form giving pertinent information is prepared. They also hold informational meetings with all the residents in their units. These meetings discuss such aspects as the location of the neighborhood unit assembly place when an emergency occurs; evacuation routes to places of refuge; the closest location for help; the locations of household utilities and how to shut them off if damaged by an earthquake; how to open a garage door if the electric power is shut down; in an emergency, parking cars on streets directed toward the best evacuation route (leaving streets clear for emergency vehicles); preparing a personal emergency response plan and a preparedness kit of food, water, prescription drugs (for two weeks), clothing, battery-powered lights and a radio. The neighborhood unit leader will transmit calls for assistance to the emergency centers and review each resident’s emergency contact list of family or friends, mobility and physical condition problems, available useful tools and equipment. Fred pointed out some other tips including making sure occupants know their escape routes out of their houses, know how to use a fire extinguisher and turn off damaged utilities (gas, electricity, water). Family records kept at home should be stored in waterproof and fireproof containers.

The other primary element in Oakmont’s emergency preparedness plan is the emergency support staff. Here medical, OEPC leaders and other professionals with useful experience congregate at the three emergency centers, which are the East and West Recreation Centers and the Berger Center. The support staff can be dispatched to various locations where help is needed or can treat residents when they appear. Each center has been furnished with emergency supplies and equipment.

The above is a capsule discussion of the many aspects of preparedness necessary for safety management. The City of Santa Rosa has published a guide for emergency preparedness that includes more detailed information and suggestions on the contents of emergency kits and what to do before, during and after the inevitable earthquake. Further useful information is available in the COPE publication, which can be obtained from the city at 543-3711 or at http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us.

OEPC constantly needs volunteers to be members of the support staff and especially needs neighborhood unit leaders. The volunteers are needed either as replacements for openings created by normal attrition or to organize the remaining 25% of unorganized units.

Crab Feed Notice: Since articles for the Oakmont News must be submitted two weeks before publication, a report on Rotary’s fabulous February 20 crab feed will be in the next issue.

Interested to find out more about the Valley of the Moon Rotary Club? Call Fred Polkinghorn at 538-3738 (frednlavern@yahoo.com) or Gordon Freedman at 537-0202 (irenegor@pacbell.net), or see any Rotary club member, or log on to www/valleyothemoonrotary.org.

ROTARY: ART AND SCIENCE OF WINE & CRAB FEED REPORT

by Al Blake

A fascinating presentation by Dr. Sondra Barrett on an unusual aspect of wine was the highlight of a recent meeting at the Valley of the Moon Rotary Club. Following an impressive career in immunology research at UCSF, Dr. Barrett developed an interest in the art of wine. She photographs microscopic images of all stages of wine development from all varieties of grapes, from the beginning of fermentation to the opening of the bottle. It might be thought that wines are similar in their molecular makeup. Not so! Dr. Barrett presented a series of photos of microscopically enlarged wine molecules that show great differences in images of shapes, sizes and colors. They are astonishing and stunning works of art, displaying the spectrally beautiful “art, science and soul of wine.”

Dr. Barrett’s photos have won awards from Nikon and Olympus and are hung in several Napa County wineries. She discusses her views of the spirituality of wine and has put her photographic images in a book entitled “Wine’s Hidden Beauty.” More information about her book is available at her website, http://sondrabarrett.com.

Speaking of wine, a generous amount was consumed at the club’s recent crab feed. In true Oakmont tradition, guests arrived early for a lively social hour. Dinner was served by teens from R-house, Sierra Youth Center and Maria Carrillo High School and included excellent fresh cracked crab accompanied by salad, pasta, bread and cookies. All but the crab was prepared by the Maria Carrillo culinary department, which produced a really tasty meal. During dinner, master of ceremonies Frank Sites introduced an experienced auctioneer to encourage guests to bid on many interesting trips, dinners and wine. The evening ended with many guests winning raffle and door prizes.

Organizing and putting on a dinner for 370 with a raffle and auction is complicated and time consuming. Kudos to the many members and friends of the club who worked hard on the advance planning and execution of the crab feed. The 33 teen servers and kitchen staff also deserve recognition and thanks. The club greatly appreciates the 47 firms and individuals contributing goods and services for the raffle, auction and door prizes. There are too many to mention each one, but the larger contributors merit special mention and include CDS Wireless, First Community Bank, Karen Sites of McBride Realty, Kendall-Jackson Vintners, Nicholson Ranch Winery, Olde Town Jewelers, Star Shots Photography, and Vandenburg Capital Management. Contributions to the live auction deserving acknowledgment include two authentic Danish Smorgasbord dinners offered by Karen Sites, a stay of four nights at a condo in Snowmass, Colorado contributed by Susan Hirsch, a 48-bottle wine rack filled with premium wines donated by club members, three nights at a beach house at Sea Ranch contributed by Dick and Lynne Carlile, three nights in an upper East Side apartment in Manhattan contributed by Charlie Schlangen, and a safari dinner contributed by eight club members who participated in an African trip.

Above all, the club thanks its many friends who attended the crab feed and generously participated in the raffle and auction, ensuring the club’s continued support for its charitable projects. And let’s not forget the crabs who rigorously participated in the prescribed selection process and sacrificed themselves, thus making sure only the most succulent jumped into Rotary pots.

One of the club’s main charities is the Sierra Youth Center, which is a residential treatment program for at-risk teen girls in Sonoma County. The Center is holding a spaghetti feed fundraiser that includes a silent auction and bake sale. Tickets are $20 for the event, to be held at the Santa Rosa Veterans’ Memorial Building, 1351 Maple Avenue, on Sunday March 28 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. For information and tickets, call Melanie Griffin at 565-7697 or e-mail at mgriffin@sonoma-county.org.

Want to know about Rotary? Visit a meeting? Contact Fred Polkinghorn at 538-3738, frednlavern@yahoo.com, Gordon Freedman at 537-0202, irenegor@pacbell.net, or log on to valleyofthemoonrotary.org.