The Rotary Club of Catonsville - Sunrise, Maryland

Our ebullient President George Brookhart called the meeting, where we were greeted by Bruce, to order.  Russ offered a devotion. 

Ed was our guest again. He’s completing the application; once it’s submitted, there will be a vote. 

Old Business Update:  the new “classic red” Club shirts have arrived. Steve Dare has them. 

Jan. 10, 2007 will be our Unwanted Gift Auction. 4/07 will be our Book Festival. Bruce is collecting used books.

Treasurer’s Report:  We received thank-you notes from The Children’s Home, The Dictionary Project, Coldwell Bankers, and the YMCA. 

Happy Dollars:  George spent 4-5 days in St. Augustine with long time friends.

Richard is keeping all of the junk mail delivered to his house since 11/15/06 so that it can be weighed. He will email us a description of the most phenomenal evening he spent in Haverford PA sitting on Louis XIV chairs sipping 50 year old Grand Marnier and 100 year old Cognac.  

Steve Arum is pleased his daughter Keysia got the job she wanted with a design firm in Palo Alto where she will be living near her twin sister who resides in San Francisco.  Steve has been planning his next vacation to Turkey. He and Ester will be gone 3 weeks. 

Speaker:  Richard Hiteshew – Hemophilia – The Disease of Royalty

Richard has been a hemophilia since he was born even though he is not royal (well, maybe sometimes a royal pain…) Because the Royal families of Europe, including Tsar Alexander’s family suffered from the disease, it became known as the disease of royalty. Historians now believe that Rasputin was able to help the Tsar’s son by hypnotizing him.

The disease is a deficiency in the clotting factor caused by a genetic mutation. The liver is unable to produce the clotting factors such as Factor VIII or Factor IX. Richard suffers from the Factor IX type. The blood takes longer to clot without the protein normally produced by the liver.

Hemophiliacs don’t bleed “more”; they bleed longer. In medieval times, spider webs were sometimes placed on wounds to help them clot. Mostly, hemophiliacs suffer internal bleeds resulting in bruises. Such bleeds themselves are rarely life-threatening. Richard demonstrated how bleeds in his various joints have resulted in a significant loss of range of motion in his arms. Many strides have been made in making blood transfusions safer than was true when Richard was a child. Two of his brothers died of AIDS resulting from transfusions.

Scientists have learned to clone the proteins needed for coagulant. Richard provided audio visual aids to explain the genetics of hemophilia. Dolly the sheep was cloned as part of an effort to produce the proteins needed for coagulant  which is extremely expensive. A small vial costs $1000. So far in 2006 Richard’s medical care has cost about $160,000. 

Richard considers himself a most fortunate hemophiliac because he has all of his limbs at 65, unlike his brother who has lost both his legs. (Richard is one of 14 children.)  He talked about the cost of treating the disease, and a solution for this genetic disease. He also revealed one of his mutant superpowers. 

50/50 – John Galley was the winner. He did not select the Ace of Clubs. John Monck and Bruce both won Entertainment Books donated by George.            

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Souder, Secretary

Our industrious President George Brookhart called the meeting to order.  We were casually greeted by Russ.  Bruce  led a prayer requesting courage for us to do the right thing, offering thanks for our many blessings, and asking for wisdom in our leaders. 

1. GUEST – Ed submitted a membership package. Please respond to the request for votes.

2. Continuing Business: 

   A.  The regular meeting for Dec. 27 is cancelled.  There will be an informal breakfast reunion on the same date at 8:30 with Chris Jones.

B.  The First Annual Unwanted Gift Auction will be on January 10, 2007.

C.  Fourth (approximately) Annual Bull Roast has received many items for the Silent Auction. Please continue asking businesses, individuals, and groups of all kind for donations.

D.  Our Third (or so) Book Festival will be held in late April 2007. Please bring books to Bruce.

3. Treasurer’s Report:   Our generous Club has received thank-you notes and letters from The Children’s Home, The Dictionary Project, Coldwell Banker (helping with Habitat for Humanity fundraiser), and from the Western YMCA in Catonsville.   We can be proud that together we are making a difference in our communities. (This information is proudly repeated from last week.)

4. Happy Dollars:  Brent cheerfully donated $5 HAPPY Dollars – one was for Peter and the staff at YMCA where Brent has recently purchased a family membership;   a second was for Eric, his son in Chicago who produced a record for a school project;  a third for his middle son who has s Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism, and who now lives with Eric while he attends the John Marshall School of Law; and four and five were in praise of the prompt support of George Brookhart for his help in securing his sister-in-law from China for our speaker on January 3.

Good Old George is the proud grandpa of Penelope, a beautiful new baby in the Brookhart family.  George is treating himself well these days with his recent trip to FL, a new car, a trip to Ireland, and now he has acquired a Johnny Unitas autographed jersey.

Larry was greatly relieved when Tom Medicus provided last minute help with Larry’s anniversary gift to his wife.  Larry was also happy that George has approved extra credit.

Speaking for the crowd, Susan was happy to see Cal wearing his NEW “classic red” Sunrise Rotary shirt. (he was described as “pretty in pink” by several onlookers).

Richard enlivened the discussion when he announced he was happy to have “scored.”  Thereafter there was some discussion of pieces of silver.

5. Speaker:  Bruce Van Dervort educated us about the history, purpose and status of The Children’s Home (TCH) on Bloomsbury Avenue in Catonsville.  For a couple of months, Bruce has been in charge of Fundraising for TCH including an ambitious capital campaign, grants and identifying individual donors. Ten years ago Hillary Clinton published the book, It Takes A Village.” When a family unit does not exist, for whatever reason (and there are many) or where the family is so dysfunctional and children are at risk, it definitely takes a village to care for and raise the child.  TCH provides that village. 

The State provides funds for care of the children.  Fundraising is needed for field trips, clothing, movies, and other special projects and activities.

TCH is responsible for about 100 children: 50 of which are on site, and 50 of which are in foster families.  On TCH property there is an administration building, 3 large residential cottages, a Shelter for girls in emergent circumstances, and a gym among some other small buildings.

TCH was established in Baltimore originally for German orphans created by the bloody Civil War in 1863.  In 1919 TCH acquired the Estate on Bloomsbury and the basic buildings were constructed in the 1920s. 

The current capital campaign seeks to help pay for the substantial expansion and renovation of the main buildings as explained in detail by Bruce. He used maps and charts to underscore the current construction and other projects. Written materials were also distributed.

There are approximately 100 persons on the staff at TCH. Most of the leaders have Masters degrees in Social Work and are Licensed Social Workers and/or Clinical Licensed Social Workers.  University of Maryland also provides interns and other professionals from the School of Social Work in Baltimore. 

Some of the children at TCH are orphans; many are not. The length of stay varies among them.  The majority of children are from Baltimore City and County.

6. 50/50 Winner was ? and he did not select the Ace of Clubs but he was “close.”

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Souder

Our illustrious President George Brookhart called the meeting to order.  Larry Aaronson offered the Devotion. 

GUESTS:  Joe Loverde, who generally likes to sleep in, visited us and announced that one of his 2007 goals is to get up earlier. We’re trying to persuade him to target Wednesday mornings first.  Joe announced another goal for 2007 to feed 100 homeless people for Thanksgiving 2007. He has made arrangements for 2 seatings at Café at The Grove on Nov. 22, 2007.  Volunteers will be needed to help serve the meals.  The Catonsville Times has agreed to be a media sponsor for the event.

Ed has been voted in as a new member. We are ordering new member materials, a badge, etc. and diligently planning an elaborate induction ceremony next year. 

UPDATED NEW BUSINESS:   The inaugural Unwanted Gift Auction will take place on January 10, 2007.

At the Board meeting (intentionally attended by Bruce) yesterday the Board approved donating the Unwanted Gift Auction proceeds to the CAN sponsored Westside Shelter for the homeless, and possibly also to a group of local students planning on working to building shelter for victims of Hurricane Katrina.  If we really make some money, there will be enough to make a contribution to Pet Rescue as well, as the Board approved.  M/S/P to donate the proceeds to the aforementioned charitable causes.

Plans are proceeding in excellent fashion for the Fourth Annual Bull Roast. Joe and Cindy Loverde have donated an overnight visit to the Inn at Perry Cabin for the Silent Auction. 

There will be NO MEETING on Wednesday, December 27, 2006.

Chris Jones will be appearing at the Café At The Grove on Wed. 12/27/06 at 8:30 AM for breakfast with old pals.

Steve Dare is still delivering the spiffy new shirts.

HAPPY DOLLARS:  Brent is triple-happy:  for the holiday season;  his sister-in law will be our distinguished speaker in 2 weeks; and  all of his sons are home together.  They assisted in picking up a real Christmas tree and his son doesn’t leave for Iraq until January.

Larry had a wonderful holiday celebration with faculty members at his house and he is happy about a certain picture in the Chamber View.

Susan was happy that Bruce attended the Club’s Board meeting on Tuesday. It was shameful that the rest of the Board forgot.

George was happy that his newest granddaughter, Penelope, is the cutest baby ever.

Russ is looking for reliable information on how to remove a spot on his Italian leather coat.

Bruce was happy that last week’s talk about The Children’s Home resulted in a couple of donations.

Richard was happy that Larry’s team got rid of Allen Iverson.

SPEAKER:  The Honorable Donald Murphy of Genn & Murphy, a lobbying firm.  Don described himself as a “recovering legislator”. Having served 8 years in the General Assembly, Don claims not to be competent to do actual work so he’s become a registered lobbyist representing some diverse interests.  A long-time conservative Republican, Don now represents the American Association for Nude Recreation. That group would like to establish more nude beaches in Maryland. Russ wants to know where the current nude beaches are located.

Don also represents a group which advocates for medical marijuana which is called Compassionate Access.  Don was the original sponsor of what became the Darrell Putman Compassionate Use Act which Maryland adopted in 2003.  Putnam was also a conservative Republican, former Army Green Beret, Viet Nam Veteran and farmer who turned to marijuana for medical purposes before his death at 49 of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Putnam asked Don to help with making the drug legal for those suffering from cancer and other terminal conditions.

Don related many amusing anecdotes regarding his entry into politics, life in Annapolis, and the current political climate in Maryland.   It was a humorous presentation which was informative at the same time. Thanks to George for inviting Don.

There was no 50/50. We really missed Tom!

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Souder

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