Mike Plenkovich - Invocation John Harris - Keyboard
Robin Halliday - Book Review Jodi Borrelli - Minister of Fun
January 3, 2022
Opening Welcome:
A mighty ring of the bell by President Peter Theisen started the year off with, it wouldn’t be a bang, would it? He asked for a moment of silence for Steven Griggs, son of member John and Donel Griggs who recently passed.
Book Review by Robin Halliday "Keep Sharp" by Sanjay Gupta, MD
Keep Sharp challenges common myths about cognitive decline. It offers pillars you can build on in your life to protect yourself as you age. Society has lead us to believe that we are born with a certain number of neurons, and our brain will only decline with age. However, neurosurgeon Sanjay Gupta believes the science says otherwise. Recent research suggests we can create new brain cells and build new connections by adopting evidence-based approaches.
Sanjay Gupta is an American neurosurgeon, medical reporter, and writer. He serves as associate chief of the neurosurgery service at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, associate professor of neurosurgery at the Emory University School of Medicine, and chief medical correspondent for CNN.
Dr. Gupta is known for his many TV appearances on health-related issues. During the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, he has been a frequent contributor to numerous CNN shows covering the crisis, as well as hosting a weekly town hall with Anderson Cooper. Dr. Gupta was the host of the CNN show Sanjay Gupta MD for which he has won multiple Emmy Awards.
"Keep Sharp” is largely a self-help book, but Dr.Gupta devotes the first 100 pages or so to the science of the brain (“what makes you you,” as he aptly puts it) and dementia. I especially appreciated the15 pages of research citations at the end of the book.
At the outset, he takes care to distinguish between dementia, which is a broad condition of functional impairment from cognitive decline, and the specific form of dementia known as Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for more than half the cases of dementia.
Dr. Gupta explores a number of explanations for “ways the brain begins to break.” Genetics are a possible factor, as are blood flow abnormalities in the brain, neurotoxins and metabolic disorders. As for the “amyloid cascade hypothesis” for Alzheimer’s disease, which dates back to 1907, when Aloysius Alzheimer first identified “senile plaques” in a woman’s brain during an autopsy, Dr. Gupta writes that scientists increasingly believe that the plaques aren’t the cause of Alzheimer’s disease but a consequence of it.
Thus, the book’s main thrust is prevention. Put simply, Dr. Gupta writes, “clean living can slash your risk of developing a serious mind-destroying disorder, including Alzheimer’s disease, even if you carry genetic risk factors.” Because dementia takes root decades before it is diagnosed, the earlier you start your prevention regimen, the better. To that end, Dr. Gupta lays out a 12-week “sharp brain” program, consisting of exercise, healthful eating, a bedtime routine, sound sleep, relaxation, intentional socializing, yoga, even a gratitude journal.
He ends the book on an optimistic note: “The key to treating dementia is prevention, & it just so happens that the same things you can do to reduce your risk of the disease are what you can do to improve your quality of life with the disease.” He also is optimistic about treatments & a vaccine (2019 study at U of New Mexico - mice developed antibodies that removed tau proteins from part of brain associated with memory & learning).
Club and Committee Announcements To help members maintain their Covid-19 records, Felicity Dye, pointed out that you can go to waverify.doh.wa.gov to show your status in the Digital COVID-19 Verification Record.
Major Project Co-Chair John Dunne presented a short video about the Middle School Sailing Team, which learn the basics of sailing in small sailboats (I couldn’t determine what kind). These boats are nimble so you have to be attentive or you can dump it. The kids learn how to fight a capsized boat, tie knots, and make the boat go fast. That involves heeling over and hiking out and the kids were all really enthused about that…
You will still receive an email from Sandee each week prior to the Monday 12:30 meeting if you are unable to attend in person (you can start logging in at 12:00 for short socializing) with the link for that privacy-protected meeting. If you have not done so, please download the Zoom app on your computer (you need a camera and microphone on it), iPad or phone. There is no cost to you. If you do not have either, you can also call in. On the invitation, there are US phone numbers you can call and enter the meeting ID number also indicated on the invitation. HERE ARE ZOOM INSTRUCTIONS.
Four Points is now requiring a Contract thru March 2022. We will continue to evaluate other locations for a permanent location. Lunch will be $22 for a sit-down meal. We must notify them by Wednesday at 4:00 pm each week prior to the Monday meeting as to the number of members attending. We are sending out meeting “Invite's” weekly and members are asked to sign-up ASAP. You can also sign-up by going to the event section of our website at bellinghamrotary.org. If you sign up for a meal at the meeting, you will need to pay the $22 even if you don't wind up attending the meeting after numbers are turned in. If you plan to attend but not eat, PLEASE indicate that on your sign-up so we don't overorder meals and still make sure there is enough seating.
Four Points also will not collect the payment weekly, so the Club will collect payments prior to the meeting or at the door.
We urge members of the RCOB to set up a Venmo account for ease in payment of Meeting lunches, Happy Bucks, Minister of Fun, Dues or donations to the club. Our account is @RCOB-Bellingham. If you do not have a Venmo account you can set up an account with your computer then download the app. on your phone (just Google "Venmo" and you will find all the information you need) You then attach it to a debit or credit card (a fee on your end) or attach to your checking account at no cost. Payment will be sent directly to the RCOB checking account. When you use it for the first time it may ask you the last 4 digits of the RCOB phone number which is 0282. Give Sandee a call if you need help. 360-734-5532
Other payment options are to bring a check in the correct amount to the meeting made out to RCOB or cash in the exact amount to speed up the payment process. There is also the PayPal option as usual and we are set to take payments at the meeting. We have a QR Code that you can simply click on to pay thru paypal also.
Website and Phone App instructions:
Here is a tutorial on how to login for the first time. (Click here) Go to bellinghamrotary.org first. In order to login you need to know your user name and password in your Clubrunner account. The user name is Yourfirstname.Lastname.264 unless you have changed it. Example: Sandra.Lindhout.264 The password is initially set by Clubrunner at 264 unless you have changed it. Sandee can see your Username from her computer but not the password. She can also change your password for you from her computer at your request if you run into problems.
Once you have originally created your User Name and Password you can download the ClubRunner Mobile app on your phone:
Please contact Sandee at 360-734-5532 or rcob@comcast.net if you run into any trouble.
Guests:
Chuck Snyder joined us from Arizona.
Other members who were on Zoom: Robin Halliday, Corey Chaplin, Ken Marzocco, Doug Cole, Dick Tucker, Lynda Hinton, Ward & Shauna Naf, Dennis Williams, Jodi Borrelli, Sandy McIntire, Doug Cole, Fred Kaiser, Kathy Hughes and Loch Trimingham.
Presentation:
President Peter announced that Rotarians Chip Lauckhardt received his first Paul Harris Fellowship and Robin Halliday received her second Paul Harris Fellowship.
Doug Cole introduced the presenter today from a place far away. Doug was far away – not the presenter Andy Day. The program was how to save lives with CPR and AED.
Andy started off with a story about a physician who was saved 4-1/2 years ago by a combination of CPR and the use of an AED. The doc basically had a heart attack while riding up the grade from Lake Samish to the North Lake Samish interchange.
Fortunately, a couple of other riders were able to give CPR, call 911, and assist the emergency responders. But it took the Bellingham crew, with their kit of tricks to resuscitate the biker. Then two years later while on an exercise bike in Lynden, the physician had a second heart incident. This time the fire hall was one block away and assistance arrived in short order. Andy assured us the moral of the story is not bicycling is bad for us.
Cardiac arrest kills roughly 350,000 people a year. Most occur at or near home. 90% of those attacks that occur out of the hospital are fatal. CPR can double or triple the chance of survival. So, it should be a priority for us to know and be able to practice CPR. The basic component of CPR is chest compressions (2 – 2.4 inches) at a rate of 100 – 120 per minute. This must continue until help arrives.
As the club has bought an AED device, a video of how to use it was shown. This automated device delivers an electronic jolt to the heart to correct the rhythm.
A skillful cadre of players demonstrated the proper sequence of response to a cardiac event. Peter T. played the victim, Tim Farris was the rescuer, Steve Ban the AED guy and Paul Grey was the CPR relief guy. This troupe should have received a standing ovation, maybe even an Oscar, their demonstration was so remarkable. However, after all was said and done it was only Peter who got anything – a bill from Tim…
Covid Report:
Gary G. was not available for a Covid report today.
