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Bret Bradigan,Editor |
January 27th, 2012 |
January is Rotary Awareness Month
Upcoming Programs and Events
February 3rd-Viktoriya Nelson and Russell Kun-Get Acquainted Talks
February 10th-Jacqueline Winspear-Maisie Dobbs Mystery Series
February 17th-Jerry Camarillo Dunn Jr.-The Swashbuckling Life of the Travel Writer and Editor
February 24th-Nordhoff High School Musical Preview-Beauty and the Beast
In the Beginning.....
June-like weather glittering outside this January noon-time gave Rotarians a warm welcome as they strode purposefully into the Soule Park Clubhouse for the weekly meeting of great minds and great causes.
The banquet was adorned with the gonfalons and banners of the club's farflung adventures, all artfully arranged by Terry Beckett and Colin Jones.
Greeting this assemblage was Kay Bliss and Don Reed.
Kay led the flag salute, while Don Reed gave a stirring invocation from a surprising source - Mr. Rogers of eponymous neighborhood fame. Peter Bowen got his cardio workout for the day toting around the roving microphone.
After ringing the meeting to order at 12:30 p.m. prompt, our President, Dave Watson, opened the floor for club business ...
Visiting Rotarians and Guests
Visiting Rotarians, there were none.
Guests included Misti Henderson, Dr. Tim Williamson, one of the Ojai Living Treasures, Josh Henderson and Pam Henderson, parents of Haiden Henderson, our PEP student of the month, along with his teacher, Janis Duncan. Mike Sacidi, the new CFO of the Ojai Valley Inn, was the guest of Ian McLean. Our program presenter, Dr. John Hill, was escorted in by Dr. Marty Pops.
Announcements:
• Prez Dave said that supplies - especially portable size shampoos, skin cream and sunglasses, were being sought for Dr. Skankey's club-sponsored Niger trip coming later this spring.
• Kay Bliss talked about her coming trip to Ghana, Feb. 6-29, with other Rotarians from our district, as a continuation of the Ghana Street Girls project. The project provides single mothers, many involved in the sex trade, with shelter and vocational training.
• Living Treasures: Dr. Fauvre said that ballots would be distributed far and wide in the next several weeks. He urged people to come up with nominations of worthy candidates for people who make a significant and positive difference in the Ojai Valley.
• PEP Student: Dr. Fauvre introduced Janis Duncan, a teacher at Meiners Oaks Elementary, who had named a sixth grade student, Haiden Henderson, as the school's PE student of the year. "He is an energetic, academic and athletic student who serves as a role model for many peers in his grade," she said. "He is also a gifted artist and with this talent creates beautiful projects." The very well-poised student said, "Thanks for helping me succeed to do the things I love to do."
• Dr. Tim Williamson, Living Treasure, talked about his nomination for Parenting Magazine's "Peds (pediatrician's) Doing Good Deeds" program. If he won, he would have received $5,000 for the charity of his choice. A pediatrician with a specialty in developmental issues, Dr. Williamson is a well-known figure around town, and the first and foremost provider of medical services for newborns in the community, which "includes 24/7 emergency room coverage for kids," he said. He's been very active on many local boards and projects, including being one of the driving forces behind the Nan Tolbert Nurturing Center, the Ojai Education Foundation and the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation. He also focuses on childhood nutrition needs and obesity issues.
President Dave presented his parachute award to Allan Jacobs for the great work and the work of his committee in scheduling such great programs this year.
Fining:
The inimitable Colin Jones wrested a generous sum from unsuspected and unknowing members, with his deft questions about "This Date in History." Questions included, "What year did the Challenger space disaster take place?" (1986), and when did Chubby Checkers "Let's do the Twist!" come out (1962). Those taken in included Bill Prather, Ron Wilson, and Nic Frank (and many many more).
Program: 
Dr. Pops introduced colleague Dr. John Hill, one of the area's leading orthopedic surgeons, who took us through a tour of the anatomy of the athletic "weekend warrior." Using medical diagrams, he surveyed the bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments that are commonly injured through trauma or repetition - such as tennis elbow. "You can tell what kind of tennis player they are by where they are hurting," he said.
He also talked about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and how the surgical fix is very simple - just cut the band that encircles the nerves - the Carpal Band - to give the afflicted nerves more room.
The knees were a particular area of discomfort for many aging athletes in attendance. He explained the intricate and delicate machinery of the knee, and the variety of injuries it suffers. One of the main sources of injury, the doughnut-shaped meniscus, like the padding between the leg and calf, has no blood flow and does not repair itself. But with advances in arthroscopic surgery, meniscus tears and related debris can easily be mended, and patients can be back on their feet within a week, and back to normal within six or so weeks.
The main message, he said, was that "With time, most of these injuries abate and resolve themselves without surgery."
During a spirited question-and-answer session, Dr Hill said that the growing prevalence of football injuries, at all levels, was a major cause for concern. His advice for NFL pros, "Make your money really fast."
In answer to a comment from veteran veterinarian Dr. John Lyon about the efficacy of Hyaluronic Acid for treatment of arthritis and joint afflictions, he said. "We don't know why it works, whether it's nutrition or lubrication, but it does seem to have some benefit."
Final Thoughts
After Dr. Hill's timely and well-received talk by the gimpy and arthritic weekend warriors among us, Dr. Watson closed out the meeting with a couple of Abe Lincoln quotes:
"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy."
"A woman is the only thing I am afraid of that I know will not hurt me."
