Our Rotary Club of San Antonio West program speaker for Tuesday, February 20th Club meeting, was about "Elder Law", and our speaker was attorney Carol Bertsch. The topics included estate planning, special needs trust, probate, and long-term care.
President Jerry Hardy began the Club meeting with a tribute (and a moment of silence) to long-time Club member, BG James R. (Russ) McCarthy, who recently passed.
Russ has been a long-term Rotarian, serving faithfully for over 34 years. He was also a Paul Harris Fellow with 4-Emeralds.
Russ retired from the US Air Force as Brigadier General, last serving as the Deputy for Strategic, Space, and Electronics programs at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
‘A patriot’: James ‘Russ’ McCarthy led massive 1972 aerial assault on North Vietnam. McCarthy led the largest B-52 raid in the history of the Strategic Air Command, earning the Air Force Cross for heroism. He later became a brigadier general. He died Friday, Feb. 16th at 93.
Air Force Brig. Gen. James “Russ” McCarthy played a key role in the last major U.S. military operation of the Vietnam War, a massive bombing campaign called Operation Linebacker II. McCarthy was the airborne mission commander of Operation Linebacker II, a 12-day, round-the-clock Christmas season bombing effort meant to force North Vietnam to agree to a peace settlement. It was the last major U.S. military operation of the war and one of the biggest bombing campaigns since World War II.
Our guest speaker was Ms. Carol Bertsch, Law Offices of Carol Bertsch, PC. The focus of her remarks centered on: a) Medical Power of Attorney and keeping your family and loved ones informed of your preferred terminal health care decisions, and b) obtaining the services of a "Private Care Provider" to assist with terminal care needs.
The San Antonio Alzheimer's Research Trust (SAART) Project, sponsored by Club 1907 continued to build funds with a successful "Draw the Q-Spades" split-the-pot raffle.
To date, The Club has raised well over $xxx,000.
The meeting had over 25 Blue Skies of Texas residents in attendance.
Club member attendance percentage was 65% (14 attended, 9 unattended).