NEXT MEETING: March 31, 2017

Medicine, Ethics and the Boundaries of Control

“We all want to feel we’re in control of our own existence. In some ways, we are, in other ways, we’re not. We are ruled by the forces of chance and coincidence.”

Nowhere is the truth of Paul Auster’s observation more obvious than in the timing and circumstances of our death. This Friday a longtime member of Kaiser’s Ethics Committee, Dr. David Rosen, will share with us a few stories about end-of-life decisions, and the difficult choices that can arise when a patient’s advance directives and a family’s wishes collide.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Alan Baer announced that the annual Bocce Ball tournament will be held on May 20 in Martinez. The courts are in the park across from the train station.

MEETING OF March 24, 2017

Welcome

Connie Tritt called the meeting to order. Simon Ellis led the Pledge and Herb Cole led the invocation. Provocative as usual, Sid Chauvin gave us his thought for the day, quoting from Oscar Wilde, “Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same.”

Visiting Rotarians and Guests

Today’s guest was Marianne Haas.

Recognitions and Happy and Sad Dollars

• Simon had a happy dollar to announce that he had won a small poker tournament, though the winnings weren’t quite enough to get him out of the hole on his trip to Las Vegas.
• Henry Moe was pleased to announce that the Salesian Golf Tournament will take place on May 1.
• Our guest, Marianne Haas, shared that as a Lion she collects eyeglasses. The donated frames are used to provide prescription glasses.

PROGRAM

A Club Conversation

In lieu of a speaker, Connie Tritt, the club’s next president, conducted a discussion based on questions raised by the new President of Rotary International. First, he is asking that members keep track of their volunteer hours. Connie asked those present for suggestions on the best way this could be done. Most agreed that yearly reporting was adequate and practical. Anything more often was likely to prove burdensome and go ignored. A second request focused on the goal of recruiting new members, especially women and those under 40.

A conversation ensued on how the club has changed over the years. People observed that the club is much smaller than it was in the 70s and 80s. This reflects both the changing demographics of Richmond (and West Contra Costa) as well as the departure of many small businesses. On the positive side, many noted that people join for the opportunity to be of service to the community, and they remain engaged for the friendship.

In response to a few specific questions, the group felt that the amount of club time and member energy devoted to fundraising was about right. They recognized the need to get help for Stacey in planning speakers (David Cole volunteered), and they would welcome more social events. People would also be glad to participate in more service projects. Henry Moe suggested that smaller projects, those that could be completed in 4-5 hours, would attract more participation.

- David Cole, Rotating Editor