Northstar- May 11, 2023 (May 01, 2023)

Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North

Information.

Meeting location is at Dixboro United Methodist Church at 5221 Church Street Ann Arbor, MI 48105 View Map.

Go to the Upcoming Events section on this website,

for the meeting you want to attend, to find the

Zoom link.

Day of the Month	Event	Time
First Monday of the Month	Board Meeting	07:00 PM
Second Thursday of the Month	Meeting with Program	12:00 PM
Third Thursday of the Month	No Meeting
Fourth Thursday of the Month	Meeting with Program	12:00 PM
If Month has Five Weeks	The first week will not have a meeting

Web-Site: http://www.rcaan.org

E-mail Address: rotaryclubaan@gmail.com

Phone Number: (734)224-4130

RCAAN Luncheon: Steve Fine, Melanoma Ed Foundation
Dixboro United Methodist Church
May 11, 2023 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

RCAAN Luncheon: Jeff Lichty, RI Foundation
Dixboro United Methodist Church
May 25, 2023 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

Zoom Board Meeting & Club Assembly
Zoom
Jun 05, 2023 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

RCAAN Luncheon: Jan Turosky, MI Lighthouses
Dixboro United Methodist Church
Jun 08, 2023 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM

President's Night
Carlisle
Jun 29, 2023 6:00 PM – 9:15 PM

View entire list

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Steve Fine Talked About Melanoma At The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon.

Posted on May 11, 2023

At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon on May 11, 2023, Steve Fine from Melanoma Education Foundation (Second website for MEF) talked about Melanoma.

Steve said, "melanoma is a common but serious skin cancer which, if not removed early while it is thin, spreads internally and is usually fatal. It is often ignored until too late because, in the early stages, it may look harmless and cause no discomfort. Many people don't realize that something small on their skin can kill them if not treated promptly."

Although it is uncommon in children under 10, melanoma occurs in every age group after puberty. It is the most common type of cancer in the 25 to 29 age group and second only to breast cancer in women ages 20 to 39.

Overall, melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in males and sixth in females. The US incidence of melanoma is nearly triple that of new HIV infections and is increasing at an epidemic rate; 196,060 new cases were predicted for 2020.

Most new melanoma patients have no family history of the disease; it can strike anyone regardless of health, physical condition, or skin complexion. On the average, there is a melanoma death in the US every 56 minutes.

The good news is that melanoma is easy to detect yourself at an early stage while it is thin and is curable by simple, painless removal in an office setting. All it takes is a ten minute monthly skin check. This site shows you how to check your skin, what to look for, and how to decrease your risk of melanoma.

The first step in learning about melanoma is to learn about moles, common pigmented skin lesions that can be flat or raised.

There are two types of moles: ordinary and atypical (the medical term for atypical moles is dysplastic nevi). 10 to 15 percent of the white population have atypical moles.

Ordinary Moles have all of these features:

Round or oval shape
Sharp, even borders with skin
Uniform color (usually brown)
Less than 1/4 inch wide

Atypical Moles often have one or more of these features:

Irregular shape
Uneven and/or fuzzy borders with skin
Two or more shades of brown or pink
1/4 inch wide or more
Cauliflower or smooth surface
Flat edges with "fried egg" center if mole is raised

In most cases, melanoma is easy to self-detect at an early stage while it is curable by simple surgical excision. Although the visual appearance of a skin lesion (a growth or mark) is often an indication of melanoma, you cannot always rely on this alone. You should also be aware of the history of your skin lesions—any changes that occur in them, as well the onset of any new ones. The only way to develop this awareness is by regular self-examination of your skin.

Warning signs of Melanoma are any of these should prompt an immediate visit to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon:

Any change in a mole, blemish, freckle, birthmark, or pigmented area
A new mole or freckle that appears out of the blue or is growing rapidly, especially if you don't have many moles, or the new mole or freckle looks different from those you do have
A mole or other growth that has any of the ABCD properties or all of the EFG properties
A change in surface texture or in the way a mole feels to the touch
A new "freckle" that is dark, dry, or scaly
A pigmented area or splotch that is new or that you don't remember seeing before
A new spot that is black, even if very small
A mole or other spot that looks or behaves differently than those around it, even if it seems otherwise normal
A mole or other spot that itches and/or bleeds
Redness, other color, or shadow extending into the surrounding skin

There are two types of melanoma: radial and nodular. Radial melanomas are easier to self-detect because they grow in diameter near the skin surface before growing downward through the skin. Radial melanomas usually have two or more of the ABCD properties.

About 20 percent of melanomas begin the dangerous vertical growth phase with little or no radial growth first. For these nodular melanomas the ABCD properties do not apply; instead they have three combined EFG properties.

E = ELEVATED- Early elevation above the skin surface

F = FIRM- Firm to the touch, not flabby

G = GROWING- Continues growing more than two to three weeks

Any of the following warning signs may indicate a nodular melanoma:

The start of a new bump in a mole, freckle, blemish, or birthmark.
The start of a thickness increase in a previously flat or slightly raised mole.
In otherwise clear skin, the beginning of a bump that looks like a blood blister, bubble, or pimple that continues to grow after two to three weeks, especially if you don't ordinarily have pimples and haven't injured yourself at the site of the blood blister.

Although a nodular melanoma can arise in a pre-existing mole, it is more common for one to develop spontaneously from normal skin, as in the four photos above. All of these were fatal. The colors of nodular melanomas are usually black, blue-black, dark brown, or brown-red. However, occasionally they are red (third photo from left), pink, grey, flesh-tone, or light to medium brown (far right photo, from the ankle of a 12-year-old boy). Nodular melanomas are typically dome-shaped and lacking in the ABCD properties, making visual diagnosis more difficult than with radial melanomas.

How Much Time Do You Have to Act?

Nodular melanomas can spread internally in as little as three months.
Most radial melanomas can spread internally within 6 to 18 months from the first noticeable change of a pre-existing mole or appearance of a new mole.
Radial melanomas that develop from age or liver spots (which typically occur in people 70 or older) can take as long as 10 to 15 years to spread internally.

Steve described to the club "how to find Melanoma."

What you'll need:

Flashlight
Two small chairs or stools
Hand mirror with a long handle
Hairbrush or blow dryer for checking your scalp
Large wall mirror, preferably full-length, in a well-lighted area

How to check:

Facing the wall mirror, examine your face including lips, ears, and eyes. Use a flashlight to check inside your mouth, nostrils, and ears. Check your neck, shoulders, and upper chest. Women should also check under breasts.
Using both mirrors, check behind your ears, neck, and upper back. While parting your hair with the blow dryer or brush, use both mirrors to check your scalp—front, back, and sides. Or have a partner or family member help.
Check your abdomen, front and sides. Use the hand mirror to check your mid- to lower back carefully. (The back is the most common site of melanomas in males.) Use the hand mirror or both mirrors to check all areas of your buttocks and genitals, including hidden parts.
Raise both of your arms and check all sides of your arms and hands, including between fingers and under fingernails. Then check under your arms and the sides of your upper body.
Sitting on a small chair or stool, prop each leg in turn on the other chair or stool. Check all sides of your legs from ankles to thighs. Check your feet, including the tops, heels, soles, between toes, and under toenails. (Legs are the most common sites of melanomas in females.)

Although the risk of developing melanoma cannot be eliminated, it can be reduced by minimizing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and from tanning lamps, especially during childhood and adolescence. This combined with a complete self-skin exam once every month to detect early melanomas would drastically reduce the death rate from the disease.

The sun emits several types of radiation, and much of it reaches the earth's surface. In the above animation, the energy of the radiation increases from right to left. Warmth from the sun is due to infrared radiation, while the light and colors we perceive are due to visible radiation. Neither infrared nor visible radiation is harmful under ordinary circumstances. Moving toward the high energy part of the spectrum is ultraviolet radiation, a known carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). Both UVA and UVB radiation reach the earth's surface. Exposure to either increases your risk of melanoma and other skin cancers. UVC radiation and X-rays have even higher energies, but are absorbed by the atmosphere and never reach the earth's surface.

Steve said, "If you want a tan, the only safe option is to use a sunless bronzer. Sunless bronzers contain active ingredients that safely tan the dead outer layer of the skin without the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation. Modern bronzing products produce tans that are indistinguishable from those resulting from unsafe UV exposure.

Spray booths are now available in many tanning salons and make the process of getting a safe, natural-looking tan quick and easy. There are also many sunless bronzers available for self-application. The key to getting a natural-looking tan without an orange color is to choose a product that is only slightly darker than your skin. Pretest a sample on an inconspicuous area of skin 24 hours in advance, then clean your skin and apply following product instructions.

Vitamin D is produced in the skin of all warm-blooded animals upon exposure to UVB radiation. There are several forms of Vitamin D; the form produced in skin is Vitamin D3, or Cholicalciferol.

The US daily recommended dose of Vitamin D is 600 International Units (IU) for individuals up to age 70 and 800 IU for those over 70.

For a white Caucasian in the Northern Hemisphere, sufficient Vitamin D3 is generated by incidental exposure to sunlight a few times per week in the summer, but not during winter. The maximum safe dose of Vitamin D3 is 4000 IU. Salmon, sardines, and tuna are rich in Vitamin D3. Milk and some orange juice brands contain added Vitamin D3.

Unless you are at high risk for skin cancer, it isn't necessary to be fanatic about avoiding sun exposure. Options for reducing overexposure (tanning or burning) are listed below. Using a combination of options is generally more effective than relying on one alone.

Minimize Direct Exposure:

Stay in the shade whenever possible.
Minimize sun exposure, especially during the peak intensity hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Avoid intermittent or sudden exposure of normally covered skin to strong sunlight. (See examples of intermittent exposure.)
Protect infants from sun exposure to their skin and eyes until they are older than six months.

Sunscreen:

Routinely apply a waterproof sunblock or sunscreen of SPF 45 or higher when going outdoors.
Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is the time it would take for the first skin redness to occur with sunscreen divided by the time it would take without sunscreen. For example, if your skin normally begins to burn in five minutes without sunscreen, a properly applied* SPF 30 sunscreen will extend the time to 150 minutes (SPF 30 x 5 minutes = 150 minutes).
SPF ratings of sunscreens are based only on UVB protection, and although most modern sunscreens also include UVA-absorbing ingredients, there is no rating system that allows consumers to determine the degree of UVA protection. The best UVA-protecting sunscreens contain micronized zinc oxide and micronized titanium oxide. An added benefit of these ingredients is that they don't cause allergic reactions like certain organic additives may.

Sun Protective Clothing

When going outdoors, wear sun protective clothing, including UV-protective glasses and a wide-brim hat.

Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) is a rating system similar to SPF, but for clothing. Some clothing is less protective than you may think. A typical T-shirt has a UPF of 5, not enough to prevent sun damage to your skin.

In hot weather, loose fitting, tightly woven fabrics offer good protection. Specialized sun-protective clothing is available from several retailers. Alternatively, a laundry additive called SunGuard makes ordinary clothing such as T-shirts much more UV-protective and is claimed to last through 20 washing cycles.

A wide-brim hat will protect your face, ears, and neck. Wraparound UV-protective sunglasses will protect your eyes. Glasses labeled as UV-protective do not not necessarily protect your eyes adequately or to the same extent. The darkness of the lens, color, or price is not an indicator of the degree of protection. Sunglasses that completely block both UVA and UVB will have one of these labels:

"UV 400"
"100% UV Protection"
"Meets ANSI UV Requirements"

Plastic lenses in prescription eyeglasses block 100 percent of UVB radiation and at least 90 percent of UVA radiation. Additional UV protective coatings on plastic lenses are unnecessary.

The nonprofit Melanoma Education began conducting free presentations on early self-detection of melanoma to Rotary clubs in June, 2022 and, since then, has conducted 115 30-minute Zoom presentations. The American Cancer Society predicts nearly 190,000 new cases in 2023; melanoma can strike anyone from preteen to elderly and is often fatal but, when found early, is permanently curable in a short outpatient visit without any need for follow-up chemo or radiation. For more information contact Steve by email.

Come Out To Celebrate An Ann Arbor Rotarian Becoming A District Governor.

Posted on May 06, 2023

I am looking forward to serving you in our new Rotary year together!

To "kick" things off- we will have our Meet the Governor event at the Jack Roth Pavilion (at the University of Michigan stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, overlooking 111,000 seats. We will get a chance to tour the locker room, and get out onto the field. We shall kick field goals for Polio!

Bring guests, your kids, grandkids, Interact and Rotaract members (that are in town) for fun!

Thursday, July 13th from 4:00-7:00 PM- tailgate food will be there!

Details for registration will be available after our May 5-7 District Conference with Bala!

Collyer A. Smith

District 6380 website

John Barrie Talked About The Mayan Power and Light Program On April 27th.

Posted on Apr 28, 2023

Today, April 27, 2023 the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North had the pleasure of listening to John Barrie speak about the Mayan Power and Light Program. John is a member of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor and is also the Executive Director of the Appropriate Technology Collaborative. ATC is based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The organization works with engineering professionals and university students to design appropriate solutions to common development challenges.

One of the projects they are supporting is the Mayan Power and Light Program in Guatemala. This program was funded by a Rotary Global Grant and is now 100% self-sustaining. The program focuses on Mayan women. The women are taught how to build, maintain and utilize solar power to meet some basic standard-of-living and health needs.

By learning how to build and maintain solar power units, Mayan communities that are far off the power grid are able to have access to lighting, water filtration and clean cook stoves. Without this solar option, communities essentially shut down at dusk. Children are not able to do school work and women are not able to do the weaving that helps sustain their families. Reliance on candle light, wood cookstoves and un-filtered drinking water pose significant health risks, especially to children. These health risks are reduced or eliminated through the access to solar power.

Thank you, John, for a very informative presentation!

Walter Hughes, Talks About The Ghana WASH Project

Posted on Apr 13, 2023

At the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North Luncheon on April 13, 2023, Walter Hughes talked about a project he is involved in called The Ghana WASH Project.

Walter said, "25% of the world’s population don't have clean water, and 45% of the world’s population have no functioning toilet."

The Ghana WASH Project works to improve rural and peri-urban communities in the areas of water, sanitation and hygiene by linking up with communities, local NGOs, government agencies, as well as international organizations working in the sector. Through a multi-level approach, the project worked to build the capacity of local communities and organizations, and not only improve water, sanitation and hygiene, but also empowered these actors to continue promoting development well after the project has reached completion.

The Project has educated the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club of the needs and benefits of local communities. So far the Project has provided clean water and sanitation to over 830,000 people in Africa, as well as assisting to build 10 schools in Ghana. Hughes partners with 184 clubs in 51 districts in eight countries.

When new wells and micro-flush toilets it is up to the communities to maintain them. No longer is charity offered to the communities where a new well is dug and then everyone leaves, leaving the well to be unmaintained and break or go dry. The Ghana WASH Project has found to be highly effective in their efforts, they must obtain assistance from the local leaders and educate local laborers with training and the knowledge necessary to maintain their own access to clean water. The locals fund the project, construct the project and maintain the project. It creates a change of empowerment, as well as creating a huge difference in sustainability and stewardship in the project.

Hughes traveled to South Sudan in 2013 and again during the civil war in 2015 to inspect Rotary’s clean water project. Rotary is close to eradicating the Guinea worm disease and polio.

The Ghana WASH project's new grant will result in the additional 50 new boreholes, 217 micro-flush household toilets and 265 micro-credit loans. It has a total cost of 200,000 and will impact more than 41,000 lives.

There are 3 Rotary Clubs involved in Rotary Global Grant (#22-38088):

The Rotary Club of Obuasi- Host.
The Rotary Club of Myrtle Beach- Project lead Walter Hughes.
The Rotary Club of Montreal (Canada)- Fundraising.

The grant will be submitted in September to TRF and fundraising will occur from Sept. 2022-Feb. 2023.

More information on clean water in Ghana by Rotary:

Walter Hughes via Zoom from Myrtle Beach

Kevin Lill From The Peace Neighborhood Center Was RCAAN Luncheon Speaker On Mar. 23rd.

Posted on Mar 23, 2023

At The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North's Luncheon on March 23, 2023, Kevin Lill from The Peace Neighborhood Center was the speaker.

Peace Neighborhood Center has programs for children, families, and individuals to promote self-sufficiency and positive community involvement. They are proud to report that since 1971, they have provided critical services and opportunities to more than 16,000 people in Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County. Through a wide range of comprehensive programs, Peace helps people discover options, enhance skills, and make choices that promote education, health, well-being, and fiscal independence.

Peace Neighborhood Center services include: advocacy, emergency assistance, after-school programs, summer day camps, college and career preparation, individual and family counseling, and family enrichment.

Peace is most known for is their Youth Services:

Youth Service- Helping Youth Find Their Way To Success:

REACH After School Program: Peace has always had a focus on elementary youth and its REACH after school program is the cornerstone of all the Youth Services the organization provides. REACH offers an enriching and educational after school environment to nearly 100 children every school year.
Alternatives for Youth After School Program: The Alternatives for Youth (AFY) after school program mentors our middle school students in grades 6th-8th while offering them support through academic tutoring. AFY cultivates the development of leadership skills while helping to build self-esteem and self-sufficiency in participants.
Ninth Grade Academy: The Ninth Grade Academy is designed to aid with the difficult transition between middle school and high school in order to make sure the young people we work with don’t get sidetracked on their way to success. The program offers special tutoring assistance provided by a partnership with the University of Michigan’s Telluride House.
College & Career Prep Club: The College & Career Prep Club (CCPC) offers the support necessary for high school students to prepare for college or career training. This includes the guidance needed to take the proper courses in high school, maintain a good grade point average, and complete the proper paperwork for admission to a college or university.
Summer Day Camp: Summer Day Camp is the elementary-age component of Peace’s Summer Youth Services (SYS) that provides a six-week program of quality activities for over 100 young people throughout Washtenaw County each summer. Campers participate in structured recreational activities and enrichment groups focused on topics such as science, drama and music.
Leadership Development Camp: Leadership Development Camp (LDC) is the middle school component of Peace’s Summer Youth Services. Each summer, LDC provides around 50 youth with a well rounded, structured experience including organized educational and recreational activities designed to teach them the tools necessary to be positive role models to their younger peers and siblings.

Family Services: Discovering Options And Enhancing Skills: Peace Neighborhood Center’s Family Services are comprised of a number of programs that work together with Peace’s mission to help individuals discover options, enhance skills, and make choices that lead to self-sufficiency and positive community involvement. The support structures these services provide are capable of breaking cycles of poverty and leading individuals toward stronger, healthier and more productive lives.

Family Enrichment Program: The Family Enrichment Program (FEP) includes family events and outings as well as adult-only workshops. FEP is mandatory for parents who have children attending youth programs. On average, over 80 families each year participate in weekly workshops that address a variety of topics chosen to help strengthen and expand a parent’s knowledge and skills. The goal of the workshops is to help adults improve their parenting and management of their household.
Case Management: Case Management Services work one-on-one with families and individuals throughout the community who find themselves in situations requiring help. This program offers everything from financial to emotional support. Whether it was preventing a family’s heat from being shut off, advocating on their behalf with another agency or offering help with toys and food during the holidays, the Peace staff provides assistance to over 400 households in Washtenaw County each year.
Peace House Transitional Housing: The Peace House Transitional Housing Center provides temporary housing for families as they work to get back on their feet. While staying at Peace House, families meet regularly with Peace staff members to come up with an action plan to address their issues and attain self-sufficiency. Youth in the household have access to Peace’s Youth Services and adults have access to the Family Enrichment Program

Peace Neighborhood Center has an ongoing need for volunteers in many capacities, they would like to work with you to find a good fit with their existing programs. Click here to get involved.

Click read more for Peace Neighborhood Center Wellness video.

Video detailing Peace's Wellness Center Program that was launched in 2022.

The Wellness Center provides:

Wellness Activities

Low risk wellness activities like Yoga, Walk & Talk, Arts & Crafts, Journaling, and special outings are designed to engage parents, build community, foster important social connections, and improve physical health, self-care, and well-being.

Support Groups

Support Groups for Peace parents are designed to foster deeper discussions, build mutual supports and connections, and provide strategies to better manage stress and build resiliency. Our initial support groups have provided a valuable space for parents to share personal stories and discuss shared challenges and life experiences.

Individual & Family Counseling

Counseling support and with Peace’s two licensed clinical social workers offer more intensive trauma-informed care and therapy at a safe place our families know and trust. Being able to offer Individualized counseling support onsite at Peace helps eliminate current barriers to care, and helps our parents and families move forward toward healing.