Lunch speaker on May 17th will talk about Preserving memories
Join us this Tuesday as Dan speaks on the importance of leaving your life story behind. He will also share how he became an interviewer for Spielberg's foundation which interviewed Holocaust survivors, share parts of survivors stories as well as stories from seniors across the country. You will learn how to preserve your own physical memories.
Dan “The Video Man” Gelfond understands how special and important it is to preserve old memories of family and friends. Gelfond first found his passion for videography by working on a Steven Spielberg project from 1994-1998, and from there extended his services to videography, video transfers, drone videos, business videos and doodle videos. Since its birth in 1998, Keepsake Family Tree Video has sought to bring people joy, which is Dan’s favorite part of every project.
Dan Gelfond is a former interviewer for Steven Spielberg's project who currently owns 2 video production companies specializing in life stories, business videos and digitizing old media.
Celebration highlights include a special presentation and performance by Peace Ambassador Phenom and Emcee Skool at our Foundation Luncheon, plenary wrap up with
Membership Growth Expert Alex Johnson from Plano West Rotary and our Saturday Dinner keynote speaker Tom Thorfinnson, Chief Strategy Officer for Rotary International.
Be certain to join us Saturday night as we conclude festivities celebrating with our friends MellenCougar! (Hint - you don't have to attend the Saturday Dinner to join us for the party featuring Mellencougar at 8:30 p.m.)
The isolation of the past two years has spiked the need for mental health services and awareness.
As we notice green ribbons around town in support of Mental Health Awareness Month take a minute to find out what it means for you, your family, friends, colleagues, and the humans you encounter daily.
From their press room, “ARLINGTON, VA — Amidst a growing crisis, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is urging that we all come “Together for Mental Health” — NAMI’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Month in May — to fight stigma, raise awareness and advocate for a better mental health care system.
While the COVID-19 pandemic is ebbing, its effects on our collective mental health are proving severe and long-lasting, particularly among younger people and marginalized populations — effectively, a pandemic within a pandemic.
Some indicators are positive, such as the number of people who have been more open with others about their mental health since the pandemic started (52% in a 2021 NAMI survey).
But those statistics are far overshadowed by an undeniable and growing mental health crisis that demands both attention and action. Nearly 2 in 5 adults struggled with mental health issues in 2020, compared to about 1 in 5 adults before the pandemic. Among adults with mental illness, only 46% received treatment in 2020, a number that is far lower among Black Americans (37%), Hispanic/Latinx (35%) and Asian Americans (21%).
The crisis is especially acute among youth and young adults, as trends that had already predated the pandemic have turned even more ominous. In 2020, 75% of people aged 18–24 reported at least one mental health or substance use concern. In 2021, emergency department visits for suspected suicide attempts were 51% higher among adolescent girls than in 2020.
Between 2020 and 2021, calls to the NAMI HelpLine (1-800-950-NAMI, or 6264) about depression and anxiety increased by 80%, calls about suicide increased by 185%, and calls about mental health crises increased by 251%. Overall, the number of people the HelpLine assisted increased 79% from 2019 to 2021.
But there is hope. NAMI has responded to the crisis by extending HelpLine hours twice in 2021 alone, now operating from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time, Monday–Friday. It also added a new live chat feature. NAMI has put significant resources in early intervention to address the youth mental health crisis and the organization has been at the forefront of envisioning a new crisis response system as the nation gets closer the July launch of 988, a three-digit number for those in a mental health crisis.
“During this Mental Health Awareness Month, we want you to know that NAMI stands together with you as we confront this unprecedented mental health crisis,” said NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. “We are working harder than ever to meet people where they are — to offer education and support in ways no one else can match, with our 650 affiliates and 49 state organizations nationwide. It is a call we have answered every single day since 1979.”
NAMI’s Mental Health Awareness Month page features resources like shareable images and graphics, an Awareness Event Guide, a link to NAMI’s advocacy action center and personal stories about people’s own mental health journeys — along with the hashtag #Together4MH.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.
The Chamber’s Ukraine lunchtime event will be held via zoom on Wednesday, May 25 at NOON. Admission is free for Chamber and Rotary members, guests. We encourage you to share and invite others to hear about this issue.
We are working beside our partners in the international relief community to help provide resources to the more than 10 million Ukrainian refugees forced to flee the field of battle.
Debbie & Kathi had a Rotary space at the Village's Flamingo Friday event. Rotary gave out coloring sheets, branded to the club, including a Ducky one with our QR code. We had a Ducky sign, and tickets to remind families about the race! (FYI - there were requests of parents with young kids to return the Ducky Race to July 4th! Why? they mentioned it helped to make for a perfect family day-pancakes and the race....) We also handed out the 4-way test cards to adults and teens. This trio of young men heard about Roteract at school! Repeated messaging is important! These branding events help educate and remind people about Rotary!
Coming up is the June 10th Chamber Golf Hole Sponsor event. See Denis, Ron and Andy to volunteer.
Join Zoom meeting on the good old-fashioned telephone!
+1 312 626 6799 Meeting ID: 295 416 335 Password: 726580 for telephone only
Please note - Meetings are no longer recorded. If you do not attend on zoom or in person you will miss the fun! Meeting dates and times, or virtual access may change, always check our website for updates. In-person meetings are held at Hilton, 2855 Milwaukee Rd., Northbrook or other locations as announced, and the club Covid protocol must be followed.
