President Sandy opened up the meeting by noting that, unlike previous meetings, he was not wearing hat to mark a particular theme. We sang the National Anthem accompanied by a beautiful piano rendition performed by Nathan Conant. Doug Cole provided the Invocation noting our responsibility to Rotary and beyond.
Announcements:
President Sandy noted that our own Rob Olson has been appointed by the Governor to the Whatcom County Superior Court. Congrats, Rob!
HELP: It is time to sign-up to be a website sponsor for 1 year at a cost of $300.00 for a rotating ad on our home page. Your link takes people to your personal business website easily. There are 2 spots remaining. Contact Sandee Lindhout for more information.
Rotary Club seeking Major Project Proposals
The Rotary Club of Bellingham is seeking proposals for Major Projects for the coming year. The club has created a lasting impact in the community through major projects over the years, including Bellingham Food Bank, YWCA, Hospice House, BTC Fisheries Facility, Pickford Theater, Boys & Girls Club Kitchen, RCOB Foundation Scholarships, Lydia Place and many others. Over $1.2 million has been awarded to major projects in the last 10 years alone.
Club members are asked to provide Major Project Proposals now through August 17 for review by the Selection Committee. The basic criteria for Major Projects include:
Tax Exempt Organization
Capital Projects and Programing
Benefits Whatcom County (priority Bellingham)
Preference for Human Benefit, Youth-Focus
Hands-on Opportunities for Rotary Members
Public Recognition for Rotary
Ann Jones had a great thought, Could we do something about homelessness?
The 2nd Annual Rotary Rally will be held this Sunday August 19th. Carhappy members will again join in a fun afternoon of driving through the country side, with driver and navigator and we presume giddy passengers-all ending up at a restaurant somewhere in the county for a fun get together and dinner. Sign up sheet cites, Bentleys and Corvettes, but Fords are welcome too. Contact Jack Westford (In a note to this reporter, Joe Coons says, "Road rallies are a lot of fun. We compete in our plain everyday SUV. Nothing special is required except a car with an odometer and a watch. There is a great introduction on liner at http://www.mossmotoring.com/tsd-road-rallies-arrive-on-time/.")
Golfun is this Friday August 17th. We have a team consisting of Nathan Twining, Will Rice, James Pyles and Del VandeKerk...Good Luck!!!
Guests of Rotarians:
President Sandy McIntire introduced his daughter Amy visiting from Milan, Italy and guest Conner Darrington heading to medical school.
Joe Coons introduced Josselyn Winslow with Alzeimer of Washington
Gary Goldfogel brought Micki Jackson and April Metz with the Northwest Medical Society, Tessa Whitlock with Whatcom Alliance for Health Advancement and Meredith Murray
Bob Diehl introduced Charlie Hamlin
John Pedlow introduced his wife Joyce
Rick Kaiser introduced our Take a Vet to Lunch visitor, Bo Watkins
Felicity Dye brought our newest incoming Exchange Student Carla Serrat Anaya from Spain, Outgoing Student Ngoc Chau who leaves for Spain 9/9/18 and her mother Hang
John Inglis and Donna introduced Anne Rasmussen with Peace Health and Donna's mother Marnell Farley
Shauna Naf brought her husband Ward
Dennis Williams brought Erin Crisman Glass, estate planning attorney with Barron Smith Daughert
Presentations
President Sandy introduced our newest Rotary Exchange Student, Carla Serrat Anaya from Spain. At that time, President Sandy donned a Barcelona “futbol” hat from, no doubt, one of his favorite soccer teams. Carla spoke, briefly, how she d was looking forward to her stay in Bellingham and improve her English. No doubt, we will see more of her. Our other Rotary Exchange student, from Zimbabwe, was scheduled to arrive this week but has been delayed due to the conditions in Zimbabwe and the processing of a visa. Related to our student exchange program, Felicity Dye reminded the Club that we are still looking for two host families for this this spring.
Lisa Saar introduced Bo Watkins as part of the Club’s “Take a Vet to Lunch” program. Bo has been a Navy See Bee and worked as a combat engineer. He is skilled in general and construction based safety, logistics, lean process analysis, planning and estimating manufacturing, quality control and crew development. He’s been an active volunteer in for 22 organizations. (click here for Bo's resume)
Bob Diehl showed a video documenting the success and growth of the Whatcom Rowing Assn – an organization for which Bob was instrumental in starting – and the club provided important funding. A large rowing shell sat in the front of the room. The WRA has grown so quickly they have already filled their building could use double their existing space. YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqeDlz04f5M
Program:
Important request: Our "Contemplating End of Life" series continues thru October and guests are invited. If you are planning on bringing a guest, please inform Sandee Lindhout by the Wednesday prior to the Monday meeting at 12:00 to aid Northwood Hall in preparation of food.
Today's speaker was Dr. Catherine Bree Johnston M.D., MPH. Dr. Johnston is a Professor at Arizona State University and also on staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She spoke on the role of palliative care in our health care system.
Dr. Johnston began by noting “fear of death is a constant subcurrent in our lives”. She spoke of the critical importance that we should plan for one’s death. She noted the valuable gift her mother provided her when she was younger when her mother appointed her to be her Power of Attorney and explained that “she had lived a great life” and provided guidance about her end of life plans.
Dr. Johnston observed that 20 percent of all ICU (Intensive Care Unit) care was thought not to be beneficial to patients. Yet, patients received expensive and intrusive care even though the care was unlikely to restore a person to health. She explained that this unnecessary care occurs when patients cannot speak for themselves and the family has not been made aware of the patient’s end of life wishes. This failure to inform the family can be traumatizing to both the patient and the family.
Palliative care, Dr. Johnston explained, is for treating serious illness. The goal is to improve the quality of life. Palliative care can occur at any age and is not just for the terminally ill. Palliative care specialists speak with the patients and families about treatment priorities. She noted that medicine is fast paced and that palliative care experts slow the process down to have a thoughtful conversation with the patient and their families. Palliative care experts educate the health care providers on the patients' and families’ wishes. They talk with patients and families about their hopes for the future, what is important, how much are you willing to go through, what conditions are unacceptable to you and how much does your family know.
Dr. Johnson compared the three ways palliative care is delivered. 1) by Primary Care providers who are not reimbursed for palliative care, 2) by Palliative Care Specialists (who are reimbursed – though not well because it is not a “procedure”) who provide more advanced treatment of symptoms and 3) Hospice (which is reimbursed on a capitation model). She noted that palliative care is important because medicine has developed into “silos”, is “organ based” and can look at the ‘big picture”. Palliative care addresses the communication gaps that occur between patients, families and providers. She noted a study of patients with lung cancer who received palliative care lived, on average, three months longer. The idea was that if you feel better, you live longer.
Finally, Dr. Johnston noted that Northwest Life Passages Coalition in Whatcom County was engaged with the community to provide education to patients and families. Death, she observed, is part of life. She encouraged everyone to talk to their families, arrange for a Health Care Directive and consider financially supporting organizations that serve the goal of end of life planning.
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