Leukemia & Lumphoma on the 20th at WVRC
We began with the Pledge, led by former member and visitor today, BOB YONKER. The Song was shepherded by LENNY and RICK, and they done OK. MARK ROGO handled the Invocation, “Service Above Self reminds of the bountiful wonders that have blessed our lives, and reminds us to do our part to make the world a better place.” He gave special thanks for his father, who attended with him today. Nicely done, MARK.
We had two Visiting Rotarians with us, Gunnar and Annacarin Thomer, from the Old Town Rotary Club of Stockholm. As President DON pointed out, they appear to be related, and both are marketing consultants. In addition, it would be hard to miss Annacarin, a real Nordic blonde. I snuck forward to announce that I was seeking someone to represent WVRC at the UCLA Army ROTC Awards Presentation, which will be on May 10th, Wed, at 2pm. We provide a sword to one of their outstanding cadets, and both SANDY SANDERSON and GORDON FELL said they might be available. We also provide awards to the Air Force and Navy ROTC’s, and if you want to join me at either of these, you would be most welcome. PP STEVE SCHERER introduced our former member, and one of our Most Important guests, BOB YOUNKER, who is enjoying retirement in Lincoln, California (bet you don’t know where that is!). MARK ROGO more formally introduced his Dad, Mort Rogo – it was his first Rotary meeting. CANDICE DANESHVAR brought along two fellow Retractors, Vice President Seema Patel and Nikkole Valdez.
Announcements
PAULINE and JACK HARRIS have been in a serious auto accident They were turning into Manning off of Wilshire and were broadsided. They will both be OK but their car was totaled. Sorry I don't have more details.
ANN SAMSON tells us that the Memorial Service for WALLY FISCHMAN will be at the Westside YMCA on Wed, May 10th, at noon. There will be a luncheon afterward, also at the Y. RSVP to ANN, please.
Our Westwood Village Auxiliary is visiting the Huntington Library by bus on May 9th. The bus leaves the parking lot at Westwood United Methodist Church at 10:30, and should be back in Westwood by or before 5 p.m. Cost is $13.00, and checks should go to Marge Downie.
On that Auxiliary subject, the officers for this upcoming year will be Janice Dea, president (for a second term), co-vice presidents sally Phillips and Judy Wessling, corresponding secretary A.J. White, recording secretary Roz Nelson (probably related to President DON), treasurer Margie Downie (also a second term), Thought-for- the-Day chairman Kathi Gauld, while Eloise Siskel and Pat Anderson will be advisers.
MIKE GINTZ announced that the coming Rotary District Directory is accepting ads, from business card size on up. Deadline is May 20th, and MIKE has the forms. Having delivered that ‘bombshell’, his next notice was that our District Assembly would be held that same May 20th, breakfast until noon, in Carson. This really is a good opportunity to get some background and learn about Rotary – and MIKE has all details.
It was further announced that GORDON received two unsigned makeup’s earlier today – and the culprit turned out to be none other than PP JOHN SINGLETON.
The Rotary Club of Culver City is holding a giant Garage Sale on April 22nd and 23rd, at Washington near Barrington.
El Segundo Rotary is featuring a Bowlathon on April 30th, at Michaels – 8731 Lincoln Blvd in Westchester, at 2pm.
If I may editorialize here (which, you must agree, I seldom do) I think we should have a provision here that anyone who attends MUST give us a report on the event at our meeting following…
President DON reminded us of the upcoming Primary Election on June 6th – the County is short some SIXTEEN THOUSAND Poll Workers, and we as Rotarians are urged to step forward here. Several of us are doing this already, and it is a significant Community Service. They even pay $80.00, and DON has the forms.
We had a note from long-time member BILL BAINES. He reported that his wife, Harriett died in her sleep on March 26th. You can reach BILL at 28315 Murrieta Road, Sun City, CA 92586.
Weekly Joke
President DON provided his weekly joke. The Native Americans on a remote reservation asked their new chief if the coming winter was going to be cold or mild. As an Indian Chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets, and thus he couldn’t tell what the weather was going to be. Nevertheless, he reported to his tribe that the winter was going to be cold, and they should collect wood to be prepared. A few days later, he had an idea, and called the National Weather Service. “Is the coming winter going to be cold?” he asked. The Meteorologist replied, “ Yes, it looks like it is going to be cold.”. So the Chief went back to his tribal elders and told them it was indeed going to be cold, and they should collect more wood, to be prepared. Later, he called the National Weather Service again, asked, “Is it REALLY going to be cold?” and was told that it was going to be a very cold winter. The Chief returned to his tribe and told them to collect every scrap of wood they could find. Two weeks later he called the National Weather Service again, asking “Are you absolutely sure that this winter is going to be very cold?” “Absolutely, the coldest winter ever”. “How can you be so sure?” “The Indians are colleting firewood like crazy”.
Our Speaker
SHANE WAARBROEK introduced our Speaker, Teresa Contreras. She is with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and is a Campaign Manager. Her experience includes working with the Light The Night program, plus being involved with the Team In Training activity. The Society was created in 1949, by a family who had lost their 16-year old son to the disease. Their goal is to find a cure for Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin’s Disease and Myeloma (all of which are related) and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Beginning in 1998, Bruce Cleland developed the concept of Team In Training – which has enabled more than 275,000 people to not only start, but finish a major endurance event – the marathon, 100 mile cycle ride or triathlon. Bruce was motivated to get this idea going in honor of his daughter, who was a Leukemia survivor. The first year 38 runners raised $335,000 for the Society – since then they have raised over six hundred million dollars!
Teresa spoke briefly about the Team In Training program. A team is composed of 50 to perhaps 100 individuals, and they have a coach, who guides them along the road to being able to complete an event. During this process, they are fund-raising, and they have found a lot of people who will contribute. Each person is assigned a target which they are to meet, usually from $2000 to $3500. The participants are housed together before the event, have a pasta dinner the night before, and a party afterward to celebrate. Question – do you have survivors who participate? Yes, each team has an Honor Teammate assigned. She named Virginia Garner, who planned to be with us today but her husband became ill, so she had to pass. She is over 80, and has walked five marathons!
Teresa next talked about the Light The Night walk. She is in charge of the program at UCLA, which will be on September 17th. This is a two-mile evening event, with everyone carrying lighted balloons – white for survivors, and red for supporters. People bring their kids – even dogs -, and there is food and entertainment provided. The event draws not only corporate teams, but family teams. Some of the corporate sponsors have booths to distribute their literature, and one sponsor always provides pizza. While this is also a fund-raiser, it is less formal than the Team In Training program (and of course it doesn’t last as long).
MARK BLOCK asked if there is a minimum age limit, and was told that you have to be eighteen for Team In Training, but the Light The Night activity welcomes all ages. What use is made of the funds raised? A major result has been the drug Gleevec, which was developed by Dr. Brian Druker. This often enables the recipient to go into remission.
Over $400 million dollars has been donated to various hospitals that are studying these diseases. There are now 67 individual chapters of the Society, including the newest one, in Canada. Their main office is in El Segundo, and you can reach Teresa at (310) 846-4724. Naturally, some wag (could it have been PP STEVE SCHERER?) wanted to know if they had any special programs for motorcyclists. Teresa replied that they could have a lead motorcycle instead of a lead car on their walks. EL GAULD wanted to know how many researchers are involved – right now, over 100. And they are finding that research on blood cancer often leads to drugs that work for other diseases. It has not been determined how these diseases are acquired, but the Leukemia group is still the number one killer of people under the age of twenty. Are these diseases hereditary? Apparently not. But they can, and do, provide some financial help to families in need of treatment. The good news is that the survival rate has tripled over the last forty years! Local hospitals that do research include UCLA and the City of Hope. The donations that come into the greater Los Angeles area are all given to local research facilities.
Thank you, Teresa Contreras, for your information and message.
To Ponder
When you steal ideas from one person, it’s plagiarism. When you steal from many, it’s research!
