At our Club meeting this week we heard from Dr. Ernest Chivero with the Nebraska Center of Substance Abuse Research at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Chivero had a fascinating presentation about the research they are doing into the actual mechanisms of substance abuse, and the interrelationships between substance abuse and HIV. Dr. Chivero and the UNMC researchers have learned that drug abuse can significantly exacerbate the neurocognitive problems created by HIV, and vice versa.

Substance abuse is a tough and expensive problem which costs our society an estimated $740 Billion per year in crime, lost productivity and health care expenses. The hope is that through better understanding of the actual mechanisms of substance abuse, and potentially finding compounds which can help to alleviate or protect against damage from substance abuse, we can have more effective tools for cutting into this problem.

Thanks to everyone who volunteered to provide club service at our meeting, and to the folks who fill these positions week after week. After some struggles in recent years scheduling and filling these positions ahead of time, we are trying a new system in which we simply call on folks who are at the meeting to fill these roles. This includes invocation, song leader, and greeters. If you are called on and have not prayed in front of people or led singing before, proceed with gusto! Remember that you are among friends and Rotarians and we will support you – as long as we see you are giving it your best shot.

As part of the new system, we are asking the first two Rotarians at the meeting each week to serve as greeters. I think this is a great idea and a great opportunity for more of us to get involved in club service. If you happen to arrive early next week and have the opportunity to greet, please do so. Greeting is a great way to see folks you know and meet new club members. Please enjoy this fun opportunity to serve and interact with other Rotarians.

Thanks to Todd Murphy who served again as club secretary while Camille is away. Todd, what can I say? This may be one of the only times in her life that Camille has a tough act to follow! But I know she is up to the task.

In Good News:

Judge Laurie Smith Camp let us know that she’d recently had the pleasure of performing her son’s marriage to his new bride. Congratulations Laurie, and best of luck to the newlyweds.

Joe Mancuso told us that Nebraska once again has a lineman in the hunt for this year’s Outland Trophy: offensive tackle Nick Gates. Go Big Red!

John Sage introduced us to his wife Ruthie, who finally had the opportunity to join him at a Rotary meeting. Bring Ruthie back every week John!

There’s still time to sign up for our tremendous District Conference, August 11-12 in Omaha. We’ve cancelled our club meeting that week (Wednesday, August 9) to encourage you to attend all or part of the conference. More information below. I hope to see you there!

Our speaker next week (July 26) is Katie Broman, Executive Director of the Omaha Community Playhouse. Don’t miss it!

See you next week!

Bill