MONIQUE HAMMOND: A SILENT EPIDEMIC
Monique was a hospital pharmacist who lost her hearing in 4 short hours, triggered by a “noise assault”, a loud noise that occurred at a church fundraiser she attended. She wrote a book to share her story and help educate people about hearing loss and prevent the disabilities that come with it.Monique shared some statistics about the prevalence of hearing loss. 1 in 5 people age 12 and older have a hearing loss that impacts communication. For people aged 60 to 65, the frequency drops to 1 in 3, and half (1 in 2) people aged 70 or over have hearing loss. Loud noises prematurely “age” our hearing, and the cells that allow us to hear do not “reproduce” or grow back. Noise induced hearing loss is permanent, cumulative, and preventable. Your ears do not get used to loud sounds—they are damaging to your hearing. Hearing aids can help, but they simply help you use the hearing you have left. Hearing loss is a silent injury that leads to disability.
The symptoms of hearing loss often begin with a “dullness” or a feeling of “fullness” in your ears—kind of like when you have a cold. Sound is a pressure wave and as it gets louder the pressure gets too high and it hurts the cochlear area of your ear, the nerve and the cello, which are the cells that allow hearing.
Hearing loss impacts people socially, emotionally, professionally and financially. The ability to communicate is diminished which can be very isolating. People need to be aware of the importance of protecting their hearing. Turn down the volume, and wear ear plugs at events like concerts where the noise decibels will be higher than is safe.
Announcements
*Next Tuesday’s meeting, February 26th, is at Feed My Starving Children, for our annual meal-packing event.
* Swallowship will be held on Thursday, February 28th at Tavern 4 & 5.
* There is a need for a few more mentors for the STRIVE program at EPHS which works with 11th and 12th grade students. We currently have 47 mentors, and Superintendant Josh Swanson said the mentoring programs at CMS and the High School are going strong.
* Jenifer Loon reminded the club that PROP’s Empty Bowls fundraising event is today, Tuesday, February 19th . Lunch service begins at 11 a.m. and goes until 1:30; dinner begins at 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., held at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie.
* PG Narayanan announced that this year’s gala for the Eden Prairie Community Foundation will be held on April 27th at Bearpath.
Spotlight on Pastor Rod Anderson
Pastor Rod Anderson was the pastor at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie for 34 years. Larry Anderson, who became a good friend to Pastor Rod, brought Pastor Rod to Eden Prairie, and invited him to join the Rotary Club, because we “had good speakers.” At that time the club met at Mr. Steak, which is where the current Buca restaurant resides in town. Pastor Rod oversaw great growth of St. Andrew’s over the years. The first worship space was built in 1980, followed by a second space in 1985. In the early 1990’s, the “Walter Carpenter farm” site was sold to the church, and in 1993 a 650 seat worship place was completed. In 2000, the church completed their master plan with the addition of “Spirit of the Pines” camp.Pastor Rod retired from St. Andrew’s when his wife needed a liver transplant, and his grandson had double cochlear implants—both very successful. He then served for two years as the chaplain for Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. His good friend, Larry Johnson, who introduced him to Eden Prairie and to Rotary, passed away six months ago, but Pastor Rod and his wife remain close to Larry’s wife Pat. During the holidays they enjoyed attending a performance of the Church Basement Ladies with Pat.
Happy Fives
- Pei Ling Jamison was happy that she has been in the EP AM Rotary Club for 5 years, and recently took a trip to Disney with her daughters.
- PG Narayanan just returned from a trip to India. It was very hot (unlike Minnesota of late) and got PG thinking about the place of his birth. He noticed the strong family values and emphasis on the importance of education.
- Mark Weber put in a plug for the State of the City presentation that will be hosted by the EP Community Foundation on February 28th at the City Center. Free appetizers and cash bar, come hear presentations by the City Manager, School Superintendent and EP Chamber of Commerce President.
- John Crudele leaves for a 3-week mission trip to the Philippines on Monday. He will be there with the founder of FMSC, which feeds 1 million people a day in impoverished countries around the world.