Keith Olson gave our invocation while Stan Carignan was our song leader. Stan introduced as his guest Paul Shol who serves on the mission committee at Federated Church. Our exchange student Pepe was present and we learned from Mary Pettit that he will be participating in the Dance and Dessert performances coming up in early December. Hopefully Pepe didn't break anything performing snow angels with his fellow students the morning of our meeting, a first time experience for him -- snow too. New member Brad Hoganson, sponsored by Dean Monke, was inducted into the club, with President Steve reciting the Four Way Test and the Object of Rotary.
We were all reminding of our rose sale fundraising effort, with appreciation expressed to Lori Larson, Dean Monke, and Pete Wasberg for having sold more than 20 dozen. The Rotary Minute was a repeat of a quiz about roses that was last administered in November of 2009, when we answered three of four questions correctly. This time we were 0 for 5, which must mean that everyone was so focused on selling roses that they just didn't want to be bothered with such trivial matters. Right?
During our brag and fine time, President Steve acknowledged the aforementioned Lori, Dean and Pete for their rose sale efforts; Mitzi Moe contributed generously for a Daily Journal sponsored 20 vacation give-away; Keith Olson recognized his wife retiring from 30 years at the phone company; Dave Peters followed up noting his 40th year in business; and Mary, Stan and this writer also contributing .
Mark Bring introduced our program, Stacey Vaughn, who talked about different adult programs being offered by the Y. Her principal focus was on their pre-diabetes fitness program, noting that one in three persons in our country are at risk for diabetes. In 2014, 21.9 million persons were estimated to suffer from diabetes, or 9.3% of the population, of which it is believed 8.1 million people don't even know they suffer from the illness. Health care costs associated with the disease amount to $176 billion a year. The YMCA offers a year long program that recognizes the best way to combat a person progressing to type 2 diabetes is to take small steps, with the intent that by the end of the year, a person will have lost 5 to 7% of their starting weight. In the first six month of the program the participants meet weekly, with monthly meetings more likely for the last six months. She handed out a self-administered seven question survey that was designed to help you identify your diabetes risk; if you scored 5 or higher you are at risk for type 2 diabetes. Stacey also referenced some other programs available through the Y, including a class to improve one's balance, and hi-chi (sp?) yoga and zumba offerings.