Each November we set aside only one day to honor those who have given of themselves to serve our country. Throughout the year with compliments of the news, we are given snippets of Veterans who lived to tell the tale, We see our quiet neighborhood heroes stay stoic when bestowed the woefully delayed parade of thanks from family, friends and strangers. They remind us that bravery lies in each of us, the everyday man - but they are truly special because they were called and tested. Yet their facial expressions and body language tell us that in that moment they are being honored, it is not themselves they are thinking about, but the brothers-in-arms who fought and died beside them.

 

In our own quiet way (parades would only embarrass them), we honor our Veterans:

 

Cliff Bregstone   Bill Pigati

Skip Jacobs       Gerald Rudman

Henry Kohn       Burt Schmarak

Ted Less           Frank Schwermin

Herb Loeb         Francis Sheahen 

Mike Mills          Bill Siskel

Fred Orkin         Jack Soderlund

Joe Palminteri    Frank Vena

Dan Pierce         Pete Koukos

 

We thank you for giving of yourself to serve our country; to keep our flag flying, for the freedom in our blood and the air that we breathe. We are forever grateful you came home to enrich our lives with your gifts and talents, your laughter and knowledge, and to share of the lives of those who did not.

Here are some pictures from the Installation/Potluck Dinner at Paul Munk and Alice Peterson's home last Friday...

 

 

President Cynthia Plouché called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the reciting of Rotary’s “Four Way Test”. 

 

 

Elke Friedman of the Northbrook Club

Cokey Evans, guest of Mike Mills

Sylvia Aruffo, guest of Fred Orkin

Ramesh Kanapreddy, guest of Ghida Neukirch

Greg Dietrich, guest of Karen Dennis

 

50/50 Winners  

In addition to the many Happy Dollars given in the memory of our fellow club member Bernie Kaye, Ghida Neukirch gave in honor of the city's employees and the new police chief.

Fred highlighted three scientific breakthroughs in our lifetimes:

 

- The identification of DNA and its structure is among the most important discoveries of the twentieth century. The genetic instructions of DNA are used in every aspect of all living organisms: growth, development, functioning and reproduction.

 

- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique, invented in 1985 by Kary B. Mullis, allows scientists to make copies of a scarce DNA samples. This technique has revolutionized many aspects of current research such as diagnosing genetic defects in human cells. It is also used to link specific persons to samples of blood, hair by DNA comparison.

 

-CRISPR, invented in 2012, guides small RNA sequences to matching DNA sequences. Once the target DNA is found, an enzyme, Cas9 - produced by the CRISPR system, binds to the DNA, cuts it allowing changes to be incorporated into the gene.

 

The editing of a gene using this technique is the future of medicine because a defective genes can be repaired. The F.D.A. first approval of this technique happened last year. The ethical use of this technology will be the major issue of our future.