Meeting of May 6, 2014 - HEADWAY: Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson's Centre

Recorder:  Lori McLeod

See below for information on this VERY distinguished award

President Pete gave a warm welcome to all.  He noted that the cheque presentation assembly at McCauley Elementary was fun and energetic.  He encouraged club members to come to the school assembly when the document reader, donated by our club, arrives.

Our national anthem was sung sans accompaniment.

John Jordan delivered a heartfelt grace:  “We are thankful for peace, health, wealth and the trust that through gratitude, we will find the happiness we seek.”

Lynne Murray introduced visiting Rotarians Steve Sharlow and George Zeman and Guest of the Club, Barbara Gilmore.

Mary Canty reported on the health of the club:  Jacqueline got on her plane Saturday albeit bruised, sore and in a wheelchair.
Don O’Coffey is in good spirits wishing he could be at the meetings.  He’s undertaking his next round of chemo.

Joan Firkins introduced the guest speaker.  Barbara Gilmore (left) is the Executive Director for the Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Centre.  She was educated and trained in the field of behavioral sciences in London, Canada and spent several years in epilepsy-related work battling stigma, advocating, promoting health and epilepsy literacy and finally pharmaceutical clinical research with new drug trials for epilepsy and bipolar disorder. Barb completed a master’s degree in public relations/communications; and has diplomas in counselling and mental health and adult training and assessment.  She is keen to bring neurology education and promotion back into her day-to-day life with the Victoria Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Centre.

Barb started by introducing us to the HeadWay Victoria Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Centre which is dedicated to enhancing the quality of lives of people with epilepsy or Parkinson’s.  Although epilepsy and Parkinson’s are very different, the two groups got together about 30 years ago to share resources in an effort to support people.  Sharing resources to help more people just made sense and HeadWay Centre was born!

A diagram of the brain was displayed on the big screen; Barb walked us through the different areas of the brain describing how brain function is important in the diagnosis and treatment of both diseases. She then went on to explain each disease separately.  Parkinson’s, she noted, is a slow, progressive, degenerative disease. A lack of dopamine means a lack of ability by the brain to transmit messages. Some common symptoms to look for when determining whether or not to get checked for Parkinson’s are:

• ·       Rigidity
• ·       Tremor
• ·       Slowness of movement
• ·       Stooped shuffle gait
• ·       Balance impairment
• ·       Handwriting and other hand coordination changes
• ·       Speech and/or swallowing changes
• ·       Anxiety and/or depression
• ·       Changes in memory and thinking

Once you receive a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, HeadWay Victoria Epilepsy & Parkinson’s Centre can help you manage the symptoms and the diagnosis. By talking to their counsellors, participating in their exercise classes and small group programs, clients and their families can learn how to best manage the disease to enhance quality of life.

Epilepsy, Barb explained, means seizures.  People who experience two or more seizures are diagnosed as having epilepsy. Different parts of the brain affect and effect different kinds of seizures. She noted that temporal lobe surgery is a procedure that we often hear about because if the part that triggers the seizure is removed, it will often stop the spread to other parts of the brain. Barb then briefly described the different types of seizures and what affect they can have.  She explained that it is important to undertake the following should you witness someone having a seizure:

• ·       Turn the person on their side
• ·       Place a pillow (or something soft) under their head
• ·       Don’t put anything in their mouth (you can’t swallow your tongue)
• ·       Stay with the person and time the seizure
• ·       Call ambulance

Barb noted that the HeadWay Victoria Epilepsy and Parkinson’s Centre is a non-profit society offering support to clients and families to help them manage the physical, psychological and social effects of Parkinson’s and epilepsy. Support groups and talking to clients’ and families can really help. Exercise groups are also a ‘big deal’ and can really lengthen life.

In closing, Barb, listed a few of the ways we can help:

• ·       Support
• ·       Care
• ·       Gather knowledge
• ·       Donation network
• ·       Relationship network

The Centre is located at 202 – 1640 Oak Bay Avenue.  Website:  www.headwayvictoria.com   Tel:  250-475-6677. They also have a golf tourney on June 13^th:   www.headwayvictoriagolf.com

Heather Aked thanked Barb for reaching out to our club and coming to speak.  Heather was grateful for the clear, concise talk and presented Barb with the coveted Rotary mug.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Neil Rawnsley & George Zeman (from the Victoria club) displayed a visual aid for the car raffle ‘care movement schedule’. No excuses now – as we were walked through how to ‘accidently’ volunteer your fellow Rotarians for shifts! To sign up for your shifts, visit:  http://rotaryraffle.ca/signup2014/ or just call Neil Rawnsley!

Wynn Taylor invited club members to join him for the annual spruce up at Carnarvon Water Park this Saturday (May 10^th) from 9am till noon.   

Wynn announced the next meeting of the Community Services Committee will take place immediately following next Tuesday’s (May 13) club meeting.

Tom Croft invited fellow Rotarians to attend this year’s final Memory Café at Oak Bay Lodge tomorrow night (Wednesday, April 7^th) from 6pm till 8pm.

NEW MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENT: Steve Sharlow. Joan Pegg’s made an announcement on behalf of the Membership Committee.  She noted that Bill Sharlow’s son, Steve, has applied to join our club and that the board has approved.  Members have 7 days to lodge any concerns and info will be sent to all members in this regard.

Joan P. also noted that the first installation for our Flag program is next weekend (May 19^th Victoria Day Holiday). Tricia Timmermans is collecting money and entering info into the database and Jim Force is in charge of installations if you have questions or if you have new subscribers. We need to sell more flags, so please get your subscriptions in ASAP.

Late Breaking News: John and Toni will be holding a plant sale on Saturday, May 17, & Sunday, May 18 from 10 - 2 for the support of widows and orphans projects in Rwanda.

Lorna Curtis put on her Assistant District Governor’s hat and proudly announced that our club was recognized at the District Conference in Whistler.  Congratulations everyone….here’s what we were awarded:

·       Rotary Club Central Award – for clubs who set a minimum of 15 club goals in Rotary Club Central. Congrats to President Pete for filling that in…and to the board and membership for undertaking all those goals.

Prez Pete

·       Presidential Citation Award – for achievements in promoting Rotary growth and impact.  Both the Victoria Rotaract Club and the Oak Bay Interact Club were presented with this award.

·       2013/2014 Presidential Citation Award with Distinction.  Only two clubs were presented with this award…both Lorna’s clubs incidentally. 

·      

Lorna and Joan

Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award – is the highest service recognition for exemplary service to the Rotary Foundation.  Less than 50 Rotarians are honoured each year and considering there are over 1.2 million Rotarians world-wide…this is a HUGE accomplishment.  Congratulations to Joan Firkins on being our very own ‘one in a million’!

…..the bulletin recorder had to dash out so I missed the Celebrations Master.  Guess I’ll get fined for that next week. 

Editor's Note: I seem to remember President Elect Jim Force drew the right (is it white or black) marble (from the draw last week) and won about $97. The next draw was won by Richard, but he was not quite so lucky. Many fines from CM Heather. She's tough! 

The meeting ended with a Mardi-Gras-Get-In-The-Mood-For-Saturday-Night song - the Mardi-Gras Mambo, which had a few of us swaying. Here it is if you missed it.