Currents
December 17,2019
Editor Marilyn Bedell
Reminder...No Meeting next week, 26 December 2019.
Next Meeting - January 2, 2020
Teri Eastman will speak about mentoring first year medical students.
Program
Speaker Jim O'hern, Psychotherapist who specializes in Addiction Recovery and advises the Grafton County Drug Court
O'Hearn shared his personal story of addiction to alcohol, and how his life path lead him to sobriety, and a commitment to help other working to recover from alcohol and narcotic addiction.
He shared a poignant story about his Grandmother, novelist Agnes Sligh Turnbull, a bestselling American writer, who was noted for her works of historical fiction based on her native Western Pennsylvania roots. She was nearing death one Christmas. During this time, Jim came home one night, very drunk. He remembers his grandmother calling out to him. He went to her bedside, and they talked for 10 to 15 minutes. Her insights about him helped lead him to sobriety. He shared that this was his last conversation with his grandmother as she died shortly after this.
He has been in practice for 15 years. He described himself as coming to this career later in life. He was in his 30s when he found sobriety, and then completed the education to be able to work with others as they were dealing with many of life's struggles. He reminded us of the importance of supportive relationships, and the need to constantly work to change behaviors to help keep a person on the path to recovery.
He went on to share the complexity of narcotic addition. He reported that using a medication called Suboxone can help a person in narcotic recovery.
He reflected on the long history of addition in many societies through out the ages.
Book given to the children's collection at the Kilton Library in honor of Jim O'Hearn was:
Doctor Esperanto and the Language of Hope by Mara Rockliff and illustrated by Zosia Dzierzawska
Our Holiday Party and Famous Yankee Swap
Photos from the Holiday Party will be coming in a special issue of Currents
********************
Happy Dollars
Tim Gauraldi thanked Ron and Marilyn Bedell for setting up for the meeting today as he was out in the cold surveying a farm for insurance coverage...burrrrr. He also sang the praises of heated car seats.
Hank Clarke enjoyed our annual holiday party and Yankee Swap. He is looking forward to Saturday night and being with his daughter, son in-law and three grandchildren for dinner at the the Fort prior to going to Claremont to see Christmas lights.
Bob Gasser was lamenting the high cost of a new eye medication...over $300/month.
Rudy Fedrizzi was happy to be with us again this week.
Willy Koppenheffer is going to a Penn State Bowl Gamr with his son. The Cotton Bowl... this will be his son's treat!
Ron Bedell thanked all who attended the holiday party at the Quechee Inn and thanked all who paid without having to remind them they owed him money.
Bill Secord thanked Ron for organizing the holiday party.
Paul Boucher shared that he, John Yacavone and Steve Christy represented the club at the the dress rehearsal for Clara's Dream. Linda Copp thanked the club for our donation that helped get kids to the event.
JoAnn Lemieux shared a scary tale of a candle that nearly set her home on fire. She reminded us all of fire safety when it comes to candles.
Forest Cole share that a ride back from Logan Airport took over 4 and 1/2 hours due to winter weather. The good news was that despite the length of the trip, it was a safe one.
Bill Babineau celebrated that he had #1 in the Yankee Swap at the holiday party.
Bruce Pacht shared news of his 98 year old aunt's birthday. She had been and actor and dancer. Bruce's new barbershop group were able to sing to her by phone.
*********************
Raffle
Shaun Mulholland pulled the 8 of Spades , as the hunt for the queen continues.
Marilyn Bedell won the car wash.
.jpg)
Prospective Member
Rudolph "Rudy" Fedrizzi, MD. He as been a member of the Elm Street Keene, NH Rotary Club. He is now working in WRJ, VT as the Public Health Services District Director for State of Vermont Department of Health.
Joy Gobin and Our Interators
