Rotary Club of Eureka, California

Meeting of the Rotary Club of Eureka
April 30, 2013

After the customary flag salute, Mike Leggins did the invocation and asked us to remember Steve Beckman in our prayers.  He had a fall, and is in the hospital.   

Student Guests

A couple  of Eureka High Students announced that Academic Day would be held at EHS on May 14^th.  Students will display their academic prowess and art skills.  

Larissa, our exchange student from Germany, has some tickets left for her fundraising dinner on May 11^th.  The money will help her to take a trip around California.   

Announcements

Several Rotarians, including Steve Justus, Stacy Lane, Gregg & Kathy Gardiner, John McBeth and Dave Hull, along with 51 Veterans were flown to Washington DC with free tickets provided by Southwest Airlines.  

Included in the group was our own Korean War Vet, Bob Palmrose!  They toured the various war memorials, got lost 7 times, and ended up at Arlington Cemetery, where they placed a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  On their return they passed through Denver Airport, where they received a spontaneous round of applause from the other passengers in the Terminal.  It was a very moving moment.  Thanks to Rotary, 221 Vets have taken the trip so far.  

Our Italian exchange student, Bibi, is also doing a fundraiser.  Carlton Nielsen auctioned off two of her Tiramisu cakes.  She can make more for $20 each.   

Bruce Smith, who bought one of the cakes, announced that he still needs drivers for the GSE visit coming up. 

 

Recognitions

President Dean then donned her top hat with paper sun emblem for a brief flurry of recognitions.   

Glenn Goldan got a rain stick for his trip to Hawaii.  

Murl Harpham hadn’t gone anywhere, but he could have in his houseboat at Trinity Lake. It goes 3-4 miles per hour.   He got his stick.   

Program

Our program was introduced by Christian Hill.  Doctor Mark Harmon of Saint Joseph Hospital’s Oncology Department, has been there for 20 years, and specializes in treating cancer patients with a linear accelerator, a machine which focuses precise bursts of radiation on tumors.  St. Joseph’s has two, but they are 15-20 years old, and need to be replaced.  

Dr. Harmon emphasized the importance of keeping up to date on technology.  It allows patients treatment without leaving the area, and having up-to-date machines means the staff will be well trained and employable in other hospitals.  Everyone turned their chairs in a cacophonous squeal to view the illustrations as Dr. Harmon related three case histories in which the patients were cured by the use of linear accelerators and chemotherapy.  In one case the patient was only hours from heart failure and was saved.  St. Joe's is hoping to bring a new machine in by August of this year, and would like the community to donate at least 2 million dollars to help fund a second machine.

Concisely presented by Hank Ingham