Rotary Club of Casper WY
Meeting Summary
11/9/2015
President John Starnes called the meeting to order promptly at 12:25.
Inspiration, Pledge, 4-Way Test:
Mark Owens
Greeters:
Roy Cohee was the greeter today and introduced the members who brought guests:
- Bill DeGraeve introduced Dale Bohren (new CST Editor);
- Dennis Jack introduced Dr. Daniel White (Orthopedic surgeon);
- Dennis Lower introduced Dr. Michel Skaf;
- John Jorgensen introduced Greg Dixon (new Hilltop National Bank president);
- Robin Mundell introduced new City Manager, V.H. McDonald;
- Martha Rakestraw introduced the families of our Students of the Month – Jessica Brenton, Billy Brenton, Cidne Skavdahl, NCHS Principal – Shannon Harris, and Vice Principal – Larry Meeboer, and;
- Our fabulous exchange student, Elise, was welcomed by club members, as well as 4 of our great Interact students from Roosevelt high school.
President John then presented a video tribute in honor of Veteran’s Day. It was very moving. He passed the microphone around the room and asked each veteran in the audience to share their military branch, years of service, and rank. Next, Interact member – David Kinsley, offered a thank you to the armed forces and shared a letter from President Abraham Lincoln to a mother who had lost five sons in the American Revolution. It was a very thoughtful tribute.
Song and Merriment:
Dennis Lower lightened the mood and entertained us with a joke, and then Gary Pehrson asked us to, “Please Rise………” and led us in singing “God Bless America.“
Family of Rotary:
Angela Emery announced that PE Jim Ruble’s wife, Ann, was home recovering from a rollover accident near Medicine Bow last week.
Rotarians of the Week:
Dave McNulty nominated the parents and grandparents of military service people in our club and asked them to stand. Susan Griffith nominated Liz Becher for organizing the Paul Harris Dinner last Thursday evening, and the Interact students for providing the poppies at each place setting in honor of Veteran’s Day. Eric Easton nominated Brad Cundy for hosting the ski patrol social, and Brad nominated Eric for his long-time work on the ski patrol. Martha Rakestraw nominated Tim Havasi for checking on her during the Ridgecrest fire over the weekend. Brian Deurloo nominated Denise Prugh for preventing cavities in his daughter’s mouth by collecting and donating Halloween candy to the military. Tucker LaPrade nominated all of the Rotarians who had helped with the Chamber of Commerce membership drive which recruited 308 new members, and Jim Ruble for being named the “Godfather of Chamber Recruiting” and for receiving the Boy Scout’s “Award of Merit.” Way to go, Rotarians!!
Club Announcements:
- Liz Becher shared highlights from the Paul Harris Dinner. She thanked the Interact students for helping with registration, Tim Havasi for producing the programs, Victoria Ziton for the photography, Dennis Lower for the merriment, the club members who sot the pheasants, Mike Ward and his grandson, Dylan Stupak, for the presentation about Rotary Park, and President John for member recognition of their RI giving at the dinner. In addition, Liz announced that 5 club members had taken the challenge to become new Paul Harris Society members (committing to giving $1,000 each year to The Rotary Foundation). They are: Robin Mundell, Richard Schwahn, Barry Johnson, Dick Wimbish, and Charles Schoenwolf!! Dick Wimbish was also wearing the Rotary tie he won at the event that evening, and modeled it for the club members. The Paul Harris Dinner was a great success.
- President John announced that the Club will match contributions to TRF through the end of the year, up to $250 per member.
- The Club Fellowship Social will be Thursday, November 19th at 5:30 p.m. at Keg/Cork. Come enjoy a beverage and snacks with club members!
- Jim Porter announced that he is still working on the Rose Bowl Parade trip in January 2017. New brochures will be available next week. Club members can still sign up through December 15th.
- Five Trails Rotary is hosting a Wine Tasting Fundraiser this Thursday from 5:00 – 7:30 at Keyhole Outdoor Living. Handouts are on the tables.
Students of the Month:
Two neat students were introduced from NCHS this week by Denise Prugh:
Bryce Brenton, who wants to major in pre-med at the University of Wyoming and then attend the University of Washington medical school, and Caitlyn Skavdahl, who will play for the University of Wyoming golf team this fall, and wants to major in pre-law (just like her Dad).
Classification Talk:
None.
Program (Dr. Kevin Helling, Bariatric Surgery):
President Elect Jim Ruble introduced our program for today. Dr. Kevin Helling, a Casper native and MD at the Wyoming Medical Center, presented his program, “Bariatric Surgery – A Powerful Tool to Treat a Complicated Disease.” Dr. Helling started his program with a definition of obesity (excess body fat). Obesity is classified as a disease. It can attract diabetes and shorten life span. Twenty-eight percent (28%) of Wyoming adults are obese; thirty-six percent (36%) are overweight. Wyoming ranks #9 in the country for obesity; Colorado is #1. Obesity is a complex disease and has multiple causes – genetics, environmental, stress, lifestyle, and eating behaviors. Treatment is multi-disciplinary and can be a combination of exercise, diet, medication, and surgery. Surgery has three (3) options – 1) Gastric bypass, 2) Lap Band, and 3) Sleeve gastrectomy. Insurance covers all three options, and in recent years, sleeve gastrectomy has become the preferred procedure. Dr. Helling showed drawings of the surgical procedures, shared websites, and took several questions.
President Elect Jim Ruble announced that next week’s program will be our own exchange student Elise Verboomen, who will present her home country in a program called – “This is Belgium.”
President John adjourned the meeting at 1:30 p.m.
“Be a Gift to the World”
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