President Karan gave the floor to Jeff Furest to give details related to the January 23 private tour of the new McLaren Hospital Tower.  Event will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.  Dana Camphous-Peterson was instrumental in setting up such a private event. Light refreshments and special accommodations have been made, so a good showing from our club is important.

 

 

Mashell Carissimi was presented with the honor of recognizing guests and visitors for this meeting.  

 

Guests & visitors included:
Makaya Gardner – guest of Steve Krankota
Amy Angelo – guest of Steve Krankota
Angie Lederman – speaker
Charlie Lederman – speaker's spouse
Christine LaTour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Larry Neal called out all the lucky folks with birthdays for the week.  

Member birthdays included: Nancy Dedenbach, William Furest Jr., Kolby Miller, Dale McNabb and Mary Bednar (a "fabulous" milestone birthday for her).

Jeff Furest announced that William Furest Jr. is donating $1 for each year of his age. A $83 donation was given to the Rotary by Bill.

 

Partner birthdays included: Terri (Glenn) Burton, Andrea (Gerry) Hanson and Donna (Dave) Meldrum.

 

Valerie Miller and Dennis Miller celebrated their 15th wedding anniversary this week.

 

 

Paul Woodring to Christine LaTour for being a vistor; Ken Steele to Ed Mastry for all of his help in setting up for the meeting; Steve Krankota to Amy Angelo and Makaya Gardner for being visitors to meeting; Ryan Murphy to Angie Lederman, who was the speaker for our meeting.

 

Ken Steele selected the music for the meeting. He chose #2- “America” where everyone was on the first verse, but took some effort from Gary to get folks to chime in on the second verse. Ken also chose #43- “Roll Rotary” with the one caveat that "people" be substituted for "men.”

 

 

No sunshine reports

 

 

Glenn Burton had some goodwill to share with the club members. He and Jeff Furest visited the Grosse Pointe Rotary to present details on the 100-year anniversary. Seven more reverse raffle tickets are now sold as well.

 

Sam D'Angelo asked Rotary members to keep an aide from Martha T. Berry in their prayers. She was shot and is in critical condition. To make matters worse, she is currently pregnant. Thoughts and prayers are needed.

 

Sam D'Angelo also noted that the archives are coming along well as they compile pictures of the past.

 

Jeff Furest announced that donors are helping to pay for the cost of the Jack Daniels Experience that will be from April 2-4. $750 per person covers all costs. Up to 10 members can attend.
 
Jeff also discussed the upcoming 100-year anniversary fundraiser event with various combinations that would be the biggest "bang for the buck.”  He noted Mashell Carissimi made a VIP reservation for the event.

 

Jeff also talked about the aggressive efforts of making local club presentations and updating the brochures to get the word out. Another big bonus for the custom golf driver prize is a full swing analysis and evaluation as part of the package.

 

Steve Krankota is visiting the Wyandotte Rotary Club on 2/18 at 12 p.m. to further spread news of the 100-year anniversary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sam D'Angelo had the honors of doing recognition. Bill Patterson was asked about his "percussion" skills with spoons during "Roll Rotary."  After some support of his musical talents, everyone was fined $1. Mashell Carissimi was fined $2 as the "The Most Improved Rotarian." Ed Mastry was asked how long he has been dating his girlfriend, Gigi. He said, "five months." Ed was fined $5 for each month. Julie Miller was fined $3 for her writing and presentation skills over the Christmas holiday.

 

Mary Bednar was asked what made leap year different from any other years. Sam made reference to the "Little Abner" comic strip. Mary had no clue.  Sam noted that leap year is when the women ask the men to marry them. Mary was fined $1. Paul Woodring bought raffle tickets, but Ray Glime had to find them for him. Paul was fined $4.

 

 

Angie Lederman, "Audiology and the Needs for Hearing Aids"

 

Ms. Lederman began the presentation by crediting colleague Julie Sterkins for providing the material being presented. Each Rotarian was given a hearing score assessment, card and pen.  

 

The presentation began with a descriptive figure and explanation of how the ear works and how the brain processes the sound waves to discernable and recognizable patterns. After this brief explanation, she showed a slide of a standard audiogram (hearing test) and the results of a normal hearing test.  Normal audiogram results of the understood consonants and vowels was also shown.  Ms. Lederman then discussed that most people experience high frequency hearing loss as they approach older age. High frequency hearing loss affects a person's ability to understand consonants, which is a concern because 80 percent of intelligibility of hearing is derived from consonants. Vowels are more important for intensity.

 

Types of hearing loss was then explained. Two types of hearing loss exist, sensorineural and conductive.  Sensorineural hearing loss is due to older age and noise exposure. Damage is permanent and it occurs slowly, where most people do not notice a difference until 7 years of onset. Conductive hearing loss originates from the middle ear and is due to excessive wax and fluid or bone damage. This type is typically temporary and can be corrected with surgery.  Ms. Lederman noted that getting older is the #1 cause of hearing loss.

 

Hearing loss affects a person's ability to listen and comprehend conversations and actions going on around them. A person affected by hearing loss asks others to repeat often, has difficulty following conversation, thinks others are mumbling around them, has difficulty hearing in noise and can answer incorrectly to questions.  Hearing loss victims have frustrations to them and others around them. Some issues include having to keep the TV and radio at loud volumes to hear, victims become annoyed when people cannot understand them and can become socially withdrawn with these frustrations.

 

One important statistic shared was that hearing loss and dementia can go together.  Thus, it is all the more important to have hearing checked as we approach an older age. Persons that are over 65 with hearing issues that chose to treat them with a hearing aid, have similar cognitive decline as people of similar age without hearing loss. Hearing aids do help!

 

Ms. Lederman then discussed how people can take action to address hearing loss. Finding the right audiologist and hearing aid are essential.  When taking action, it is important that the person finds out the degree of hearing loss, accurately informs the audiologist on the needs and lifestyle they live and that they have the consistency and motivation to positively impact them. Taking action in the early onset of loss is important. 1:4 people with hearing problems do something about it and 12 percent who do get hearing aids, use them on a consistent basis. Ms. Lederman stressed that people are going to notice your hearing loss than the fact that you have a hearing aid.  

Many different designs and options are available for hearing aids. Hearing aids are most effective in small areas and within a range of 10 feet.  Ambient noise is typically louder to people using hearing aids and some modifications are needed to accommodate on case by case basis. Some other measures are now available to expand range and effectiveness. Assistive listening devices, including looped configurations, help to augment hearing aids. Many public places have installed "loops" to enhance effectiveness of hearing aids.  These accessory devices broad cast sound wirelessly, require no separate device and are placed in inconspicuous places.  

Ms. Lederman concluded that hearing aids are a great benefit and some final recommendations given included: shop for the right provider, make sure the providers follow best practices in hearing aid assistance and that recommendations be given from the provider in writing so the right hearing aid type is prescribed for you.