MEETING OF NOVEMBER 29, 2001
By Clyde Noel
Editor - Dick Blanding
Webmaster - Steve Gruber
We were on our good behavior last Thursday because we were honored with the presence of GAYLE TULLY, District Governor 2001-2002. National Anthems were played or sung smartly including the holiday favorite "Jingle Bells" with RICK GLAZE leading,and BRUCE CANN quoting an inspirational thought by Sir John Templeton who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for philanthropy.
MONA ARMISTEAD read the list of double sustainers and GAYLE TULLY provided Rotary pins to the following:Kris Casto, Amy Chamberlain, Bob Adams, Roger Eng, Sam Harding, Hardy Jones,
Marge Gratiot, Jack Higgins, Paul Conrad, Steve Gruber, Dick Henning, Harriet Heebink,
Chuck Lindauer, Pat Farrell, Roy Lave, Cindy Eberhardt, Bill Rewak, John Sylvester,
Bill Walters, Bob Fenwick, Jerry Moison, Dennis YoungJOANNA MEDIN introduced Donna Peterson's four children who formed CHUMS (Children United Morally and Spiritually) as an interfaith youth group whose goal is to promote the education and understanding and acceptance of each other's faith. The youth group represents Islam, Christianity and Judaism on a card that is representative for the holiday season. All proceeds from the sale of the cards will be donated to America's Fund for Afghani children.
JOHN CARDOZA gave his five minute talk in four minutes because someone was standing close to him, but not for encouragement.The Modesto native name dropped film director George Lucas' name as being a Modesto native, and in high school John was a member of the Kiwanis Key Club.
As John became more aware of the world he came to Stanford University and majored in electrical engineering. Spent time flying with the US Air Force, where he saw the first two manned rocket launches.
After working for Hewlett Packard in the marketing and product management for years he is now working for PEI in Cupertino. He expects to retire in 6 months and look for volunteer work with the Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club had the privilege of listening to the General Consul of Nicaragua, Maritza S. Rosales Granera. After a short welcome she turned over the podium to Dr. Roger H. Brarda who discussed the country.
Nicaragua is a small country with large dreams. It was settled as a colony of Spain in the 1520s and gained its independence in 1821. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979.
Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, and again in 1996, saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 even though the weather is the same in summer and winter. The difference is - it rains in winter.
The Population is 4,918,393 (July 2001 est.) and is the size of the state of New York. It is one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces low per capita income, flagging socio-economic indicators, and huge external debt. While the country has made progress toward macro-economic stabilization over the past few years, Managua will continue to be dependent on international aid and debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative.
Donors have made aid conditional on improving governability, the openness of government financial operation, poverty alleviation, and human rights. Nicaragua met the conditions for additional debt service relief in December 2000. Growth should remain moderate to high in 2001.
"We look forward to a continuation of democracy and economic development," said Brarda.
We finally arrived at the point where the "to be announced" guest was announced and it turned out to be one of our own Rotarians since 1986, Dr. ROBERT F. CATHCART III
With a private practice on Second Street in downtown Los Altos, the Stanford graduate physician spoke about massive doses of Vitamin C and curative diseases.
As a physician of Orthomolecular medicine, described as the practice of preventing and treating disease by providing the body with optimal amounts of substances which are natural to the body. The term "orthomolecular" was first used by Linus Pauling in a paper he wrote in the journal Science in 1968.
Dr. Cathcart said he had frequent colds in 1969 and hay fever. He took a spoonful of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and his hay fever went away and it was a month before he caught a cold. He made a discovery that Vitamin C can treat infectious diseases by destroying the free radicals.
Many medical and scientific researchers have become increasingly concerned that the presence of uncontrolled free radicals in the body is the direct cause of a number of health problems.
A free radical is an atom or molecule with an unpaired electron.. Unpaired electrons make for very unstable, highly reactive atoms and/or molecules. A free radical is a species bearing an unpaired electron.
Our bodies have a defense system against free radicals, which employs specialized substances called anti-oxidants. Although the body will produce anti-oxidant defenses, it also makes use of nutrients and minerals, such as the well known vitamins C and other vitamins.
"Vitamin C is like a bucket carrying electrons," Cathcart said. "A very complex reaction occurs when the vitamin C joins the electrons and helps boost the body's natural defenses."
High doses of Vitamin C can cause a number of serious health consequences such as diarrhea if the bowel tolerance is low, and possibly a formation of kidney stones. Cathcart said he has only seen two cases of kidney stones.
In regards to a question on HIV, Cathcart said oral vitamin C will prolong an AIDS patient's life, but the demise will eventually arrive.
"Because of HMOs, I won't see AIDS patients," Cathcart said. "If I can't treat them properly I won't treat any of them anymore."
BOB ADAMS has a request. Each year the Alta Vista High School leadership class has a party for K1 (Kindergarten) children and Santa Claus at the high school. The party is from 10 a.m. to Noon, Dec. 19. Bob asks that Rotarians bring a $5 to $10 gift in the next two meetings to be given to the KI children.PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Our past presidents, having run many Rotary meetings, are quite aware of the time constraints one must deal with in running a Los Altos Rotary meeting. But to the audience, and also to the presenters listed on a meeting agenda, this may not be so obvious. So, today I'd like to give an explanation in this column.
Below is a typical Los Altos Rotary meeting agenda:
The Rotary Club of Los Altos
Meeting of
November XX, 2001Opening by President 12:25
Pledge of Allegiance 12:26
Thought For The Day - XX 12:27
Song by XX 12:30
Visiting Rotarians and Guests - Mary Prochnow 12:32
Announcements 12:36
Misc. announcements - 3 min.
Mona Armistead & DG Gayle Tully- Rotary Foundation. - 2 min.
Member XX - 2 minutes
Consul General of XXXX 12:43
New member 5-min talk 12:48
Finemaster -XXX 12:53
Introduction of speaker 12:58
Speaker XXXX 13:00
Adjournment 13:30Even when we start the meeting at 12:25 PM, assuming everyone takes up no more than their specified time, 11 minutes are already used up by the time we get to the announcements. Thereafter, as you see, every single minute is accounted for, and of course at 1:00 PM it is time for the speaker to take the podium.
These meeting agendas are planned, and some are set 3-4 weeks in advance. I feel every person on the agenda has probably spent some time to prepare. And she/he is entitled to have the podium for a given length of time. To be able to extend equal respect to everyone, those who have the floor must yield, once they have used up their time. Since most of us are not professional public speakers, this may mean we will have to yield before we finish. However, if we do this, we are really being courteous to others, and that is how the club will view it.
I'm confident that all of our fellow Rotarians want the Rotary meetings to be cordial, fair, fun, fast-paced, and on time. As your president, I do try to give you what you want. If cordial, fair, fun, fast-paced, and on time meetings are indeed what you want, then I will need your help and understanding. Please think of the Norwegian bell as the chair's attempt to treat all participants with fairness and equal respect.
Thank you for your continued consideration and cooperation.
-Firooz
Programs
December
December 6 - Consul General Popov of Russia "Russia Today"
December 13 - Mary Hiland, CEO of Alliance for Community Care, "Combatting stigma in mental illness."
December 19 - Rotary Holiday Party at the Jesuit Retreat House
December 20 - Main Street Singers
December 27 - No Meeting
"Information in this newsletter is intended for the exclusive use of the members of the Rotary Club of Los Altos to facilitate the work of the club and to promote club fellowship. It is not to be used for any commercial or outside, unrelated, non-profit purposes. No publication of material in this newsletter should occur without the express permission of the club President or the Editor of the Rotator."
Copyright 2001 The Los Altos Rotary Club
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