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Program Board
March 8, 2010 Mt Ararat Chorus
Notes from the March 1, 2010 Meeting
While traditional in one sense, we were highly unusual in another, owing to the absence of President Stan Primmer and President Elect Sue Chadima, it was up to VP Don Kniseley to lead the good ship Rotary. He did so with a moment of silence as befits the first meeting of the month, followed by the pledge.
Unusual again we were with Past President Dave Millar doing introductory duties. He found one visiting Rotarian in Carol Berger from Damriscotta/New Castle and one guest/prospective member in Ray Nagle. Our Welcome Song rendition was beautiful for a change, highly unusual.
Right back with the unusual, in that failing to espy Mark Alexander, we passed on humor, but were rght back to traditional with Keith Koehler as Sergeant At Arms, with him noting that it was indeed a great day in the great state of Maine. Scooters, badgeless, and pride for American Olympians were the fine drawers. Dave Dearborn led off happy dollars noting that he hadn't lost power. Cathy Lamb had a fistful of happiness, leading with two for a Quebecois visit, two sad dollars from the Chamberlains absence and a single for the enormity of Maine. Lennie Burke spent a buck to advertise the upcoming RPM on 3/11 at the Brunswick Inn on Park Row. Jim Pierce visited Vegas and made a couple hundred bucks. He only offered up one to Rotary. And on 3/11 he will be scuba diving in Cozumel. Peter Ladner made the rare visit and was happy Pat Forrestell wasn't present, given the Canadian Hockey triumph. And it was 37 years ago today that he moved to Brunswick. Dave Millar marvelled at the 5 feet of snow at Sugarloaf, where he skied with family. Doc Phillips went old school to remember Bill Koch, who up till these Olympics was the only American to win a medal in cross country skiing 34 years ago. No longer as these Americans have shown new found vigor for the sport. Patty Berg only lost power for two and a half hours (some were still without). Dave Nadeau recounted an encounter with a mother of an autisitc son who was one of our Outward Bound students, which effected a great change in his life. VIsitor Carol Berger advertised a D/NC club event at Sugarloaf to raise money for youth sports. Carol Taylor reported just being happy. Michael Todd was sad he is not living Jim Pierce's life. Ben Ford waxed poetic over Saturday night hockey, Bowdoin-Colby and a throw back to the olden days.
Dave Millar had announcements, most notably being that Capitol Steps tickets are on sale. Event is April 10. 7:30PM. Merrill Auditorium. Radio and TV ads are in full swing. Posters will be ready next week. Sponsorship available at $100/250/500 and $1000 levels.
Dave Nadeau returned to introduce our speaker of the day, Lynn Norgang, Executive Director of the Lincoln Home in Newcastle, Maine. While not a doctor or an expert, whe has been a Registered Nurse for 37 years, during which time she has accumulated a wealth of information on memory loss as a result of aging.
There are three aspects of memory; storing information, retaining information and retrieving information. There is sensory memory - an apple is an apple. There is short term memory, which the brain must decide whether to keep or not, and if so, to record it, from whence it goes into long term memory.
Demential is an umbrella term for a set of criteria which includes memory loss. Alzheimers is a condition where plaque builds up on brain cells and interferes with brain function. Curiously, the only way to definitively diagnose the disease is in an autopsy. Diagnosis otherwise is a best guess based on symtoms and behavior.
Vascular memory loss is caused by a lack of blood flow to the brain, frequently the result of a stroke and is a gradual onset. And there is loss of brain cells, kind of an osteoporosis of the brain, which manifests itself as confusion early on.
All of us have some sort of memory loss. But when is it a problem? You lost your keys, but you know you lost them. Not a problem. Forget to do something, but know you forgot? Not a problem. When what you forget begins to impact responsibilities, safety or ability to function, then it becomes a problem.
What then? You need a partner for the journey. It is a complicated process that is not done well alone. Medical help is the first step, and that should be with a neurologist or gerentologist, whose help is much more valuable than that of a primary care physician. There may be tumors or illness at the cause. And as you move forward, you build a team consisting of family doctors, nurses of all types, specialists and family, who will form a plan to move forward.
Home care is the starting point, but this can become tedious and hardest on the care giver than the patient. At home, there can be lots of memories that generate anxieties. At some point, it is no longer viable. Placement in a facility requires lots of homework. Beyond size and appearance, it is also how the staff interacts with patients and the overall demeanor of the place.
Once the choice is made and the move happens, the caregiver tends to become very sad. At least until they see that the adjustment has been made. Frequently, once removed from the home, the patient's anxieties disappear and they become very happy in the facility. Then it is a matter of monitoring the condition to look at whether they can continue there or need to move to custodial care.
In dealing with the memory impaired, it is important to meet the person where they are. There is no need to correct their mistakes all the time. It isn't important whether they think it is Tuesday when it is really Thursday, or whether their spouse is alive. That is their reality. And the intellect is not impacted. Judement, organization, etc are affected, but not the smarts.
Every person affected by memory loss is different and is affected differently. But there is still a delightful and valuable person there. And remember that humor gets us through the day.
We raffled and we were out.
Make Up Opportunities
Monday –
Yarmouth 7:00 AM Downeast Village Topsham Expresso 7:15 AM Border Trust - 2 Maine St, Topsham Waterville Noon Martin’s Manor Falmouth 4:15PM Portland Country Club
Tuesday -
Bath 12:15 PM Bounty Restaurant, Holiday Inn Bath Damariscotta/New Castle 7:15 AM Dam//New Castle Cong Church Lisbon 7:00 AM Mid Town Diner Fryeburg Area 7:30 AM Village Variety on Rt. 302 Westbrook-Gorham 12:15 Legion Hall
Wednesday -
Auburn –Lewiston 7:00 AM Methodist Church Biddeford-Saco 12:15 PM Wunderbar Brunswick Coastal 6:00 PM China Rose Freeport 7:00 AM Harraseeket Inn So. Portland-Cape Eliz. 6:15 PM Purpoodock Club
Thursday -
Augusta 7 AM Senator Inn Sanford-Springvale 7:30 AM 4th Floor, Fleet Bank Building Sanford Auburn-Lewiston Noon Ramada Inn Boothbay Harbor 6:30 PM Rotary Clubhouse 58 Townsend Ave Casco Bay Sunrise 7:15 AM Cumberland Club 116 High St. Portland Farmington 7:00 AM The Homestead Bakery/Deli Gardiner 7:30 AM Gardiner Masonic Hall Berwick 7:30 AM Berwick Community Center
Friday -
Bath Sunrise 7:00 AM United Church of Christ Portland 12:15 PM Portland Club Rockland 12:15 PM Samoset Resort |
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