Highlights of August 26 Meeting

President-Elect Pam Cohen opened the meeting by asking Jeanie Morgan to lead everyone in reciting The Four-Way Test of the things we think, say or do (which was displayed on the screen):

 

first...

second...

third...

fourth...

 

The invocation was offered by Dick Myren, and Polly Cady led the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Pam made note of the fact that August 26 was National Women's Equality Day - the 101st anniversary of when women were given the right to vote in the United States.  She asked the women present to stand so they could be applauded.

 

 

 

First a tale about Jeane's tail.  Wendell and Ray always pick Jeane up to take her to Rotary.  Ray called ahead to say they would be running late and that she should be watching for them.

 

Jeane responded that she would be waiting at the door with her tail wagging.

 

Ray expressed his doubt - since she is not a dog and does not have a tail.

 

Jeane proved him wrong. . .

 

Jeane's lesson in words was to explain the difference between evoke and invoke.

 

Invoke - is more of a "call upon"

while

Evoke - is more of a "call to mind."

 

 

 

 

Chuck explained that the stub of each $5 ticket purchased had been placed in the hat.  The holder of the ticket drawn would win the small pot of $45.00.  They would also win the right to try to draw the Ace of Clubs from the deck of cards, with would make them the lucky winner of the large, accumulating pot of $315.00.  Should they draw the joker, they would win $20.  Any card drawn - other than the Ace of Clubs - would be destroyed.  Each week the large pot gets bigger and the number of cards to draw from gets smaller.  

 

Dan Lamborn was asked to draw the winning ticket, which was held by Steve Ross.  Steve drew the joker, which he exchanged for a $20.00 bill and Chuck destroyed the joker.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wendell Jones introduced Erica who has lived in the valley for over twenty years.  After fifteen years working in the Medical Transcription industry, she retired and began her work in administration for the Mesa Public Schools.  She is the Principal's Secretary at Patterson Elementary School.

 

An adventure outside of her work in education played a pivotal role in the direction of Erica's life.  On June 26, 2015, she was diagnosed with what appeared to be a cancerous tumor.  Two weeks later, following surgery and biopsy, she learned she had stage three colon cancer.  After seven months and twelve rounds, she finished chemotherapy in February, 2016.  

 

The following month, Erica was named 2016's Arizona Mother of the Year and was invited to Washington DC to participate in the American Mothers Conference.  Unfortunately, a compromised immune system and complications with infections led to more surgery and she was unable to attend the conference.  As Arizona's Mother of the Year, she committed to serve her community, but had to put that on hold.  She did, however, manage to complete her college degree in April, 2016.

 

After taking a year to get her strength back, Erica honored her commitment to serve the community.  She reflected on one small moment which occurred right after her cancer diagnosis.  A friend who had battled breast cancer visited her.  She brought Erica what she called a "cemo bag."  It was stuffed with a warm blanket, a water bottle, socks, journal and a pen.   Erica took that bag with her to each chemo treatment.  It became her lifeline for comfort, hope and job.  She decided to hold a chemo bag drive to honor this precious gift and in February, 2018, 80 chemo bags were assembled thanks to family, friends, and the generous community.  The bags were donated to Banner MD Anderson...the same cancer clinic where she received her treatment.

 

That summer, Erica and members of her family formed the nonprofit There's No Place Like Hope, Inc.  The organization is dedicated to helping patients face cancer treatment comfortably with a positive and hopeful attitude.  Since that time, Hope Totes (chemo bags) have been donated to Ironwood Cancer Center, Phoenix Children's Hospital and Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

 

Erica enjoys serving cancer patients throughout the valley, but her best and most precious moments are with her family.  She has been married to Doug Anderson for twenty-nine years.  They have four children and a very handsome dog.  She and her family reside in San Tan Valley, Arizona.

 

When Erica began speaking, she shared that she was really nervous.  She said she normally is not intimidated by public speaking, but she knew she was talking to a group of people who know what it means to serve.  She was very emotional early in the meeting when the club recited the Pledge of Allegiance.  She said when she first started with the school system, her first principal did not say the Pledge.  They were the boss and she did not question it.  Her current principal starts every day with the Pledge of Allegiance.  Erica said she cried every day for a month.  For her, it is a very precious thing.

 

In talking about her cancer journey, Erica began by saying there are three main types of cancer treatment.

Surgery is either an initial procedure or after chemotherapy to shrink the tumor.  Recovery time from surgery can range from days to weeks.

 

Chemotherapy sessions can range from minutes to days.  In her case, following four hours of chemo, she had to wear a bag and continue the chemo treatment for days.  The frequency varies as does the length of time.  Four to six months is common.  The average number of hours is 48.

 

Radiation treatments are typically ten to 30 minutes.  They are repeated several times a week and can range from a few days to weeks.  The average time is ninety minutes.

 

Cancer patients have a lot of time to "just sit there thinking..."  In those circumstances, the mind can go to dark places.

 

Erica wanted to focus on that idle time.  

 

After incorporating in 2018, it seemed like they were barely getting started when COVID interrupted.  She was able to confirm with a single question that all present could put a face on cancer because all had either had cancer or had a loved one who had experienced cancer.  She wanted to focus on doing something that would bring hope.  They spent a lot of time talking about their name.  They chose to use the word hope because it is typically used in a much deeper and more assuring way than other similar words such as "wish."  They decided to overuse hope, but use it correctly.

 

Erica shared what was in the bags - they have Hope Totes for adults and Totes for Tots as well as Totes for Teens.  The average cost of a bag and its contents is $40.  Everyone involved works as a volunteer.  There are no paid employees.  They plan to stay that way.  

 

Ways to help:  

To visit their website, CLICK HERE  To send an e-mail, CLICK HERE