Announcements from January 30, 2018 Meeting
Polio Plus: President Brad reminded us of Rotary International’s goal to eradicate polio worldwide. The number of cases has declined from a few hundred to less than twenty. There was no new polio case this week reported. However, there are 2 new suspected cases are being investigated in Afghanistan. Brad also shared a story of 2 females who lost their lives in Pakistan delivering oral polio vaccine drops when Gunman opened fire killing them. There are 110,000 teams in Pakistan.
2018 Polio Case Breakdown by Country (Green Numbers are 2017 Totals)
Endemic Countries –0 Pakistan (2017-8), 1 Afghanistan (2017-14),
0 Nigeria (2017-0)
Christopher Dean noted the event is this weekend! The WDM Rotary Club is joining all the DSM clubs in the area for their annual Polio Plus fundraiser at the Iowa Wolves basketball game on February 3, 2018 at 7 PM. It is $2/Beer night throughout the game and Rotarians are encouraged to meet at the Bud area gate 124 for socializing with other Rotarians. Would like to have two per club as volunteers at the event. If you are interested in volunteering let Christopher Dean know or show up and volunteer to help!
Tickets are discounted and approximately half of the ticket price is donated to the Rotary Polio Plus Project. Promotions that night include Hoops and Hounds where people are permitted to bring their dog to the game and that there is a special half time performance by K9’s in Flight. Tickets cost $16.00 each of which $8.00 goes to the Polio Plus Project.
It was noted that if you would like to donate your tickets but cannot attend, you can make arrangements with Doug Hillman and the tickets will be donated to Mosaic which will allow intellectually challenged adults to attend the game. We have 17 tickets left to sell of the 75 tickets. These tickets were returned after the meeting today by Chris.
Website Updates: If anyone is interested in learning and would like to help keep our website updated please reach out to Amy Fetters. Would be nice to have more than one person know how to keep our website up to date.
Exchange Student: Chris Nelson reports that we have a host family ready for a student. In order to proceed with the project, we need two positions from our club - a counselor and coordinator. These are important positions and we need to have a commitment soon. Krisanne Colby has stepped up to fill the counselor role. We still need a Coordinator to step up. This position typically will take four to six hours per month to meet with the student and ensure the State Department Requirements are being met. There is an online open book test that this person would need to take. There are some home visits and photo requirements that are 1 to 2 times per month. Tom N and Chris N. both filled this role while working in the past. This will need to be filled by the end of the month to move forward with an Exchange Student. If you would like to know more about this, you can talk to Chris Nelson, Tom George or Tom and Carol Narak, all who have been involved in this project in recent years.
Speaking of Exchange students, Tom Narak reported that on May 12th, exchange students from all over the district will be coming to Des Moines to attend an Iowa Cubs game and will need host families for a day or so. Tom was looking for someone to serve as a coordinator of the host families. If you have any interest in helping with this project, please see Tom. So Far no one has stepped up. There is one person in the club that has volunteered a sleeping room. The students would likely be at your house that evening after the game around 9:30 p.m. or 10:30 p.m. and then their parents arrive in the morning to pick the students up.
West Des Moines Valley Interact Club: The Interact Club is working on a food drive and a blanket making night. – There is a meeting today at Valley at 3:30 p.m. if you are interesting in attending the students meeting.
Literacy: No Update this week.
Bike Project: No Update this week.
Social Event: The next social event for February is currently being planned. Location to be announced!
Kara Sinnard was our Speaker at the Meeting on January 30th:
Kara Sinnard is an attorney with Whitfield and Eddy. She lives in Urbandale and teaches a Yoga Studio. She has a son that is attending New York University.Mindfulness – Being aware without judgement. Meditation is a way to be more mindful.
What is Mindfulness? - Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it we different; enjoying the pleasant without holding on when changes (which it will); being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won't) - James Baraz.
Think about your five senses: How does the “food” taste? How does the ground feel under your feet when you are outside walking?
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- Mindfulness is the ability to recognize what is happening in your mind without allowing yourself to get carried away in the thoughts.
- It is the non-judgmental observation and awareness of your thoughts in the present moment.
- Mindfulness is being fully aware of your body, thoughts, feelings, mind, and surroundings.
Why Mindfulness for Professionals?
- Self-care for mental and physical well-being
- Prevent burnout
- Improve relationships between colleagues, clients, adverse parties, etc.
- Success is measured by what we have done, the cases won, the games won, the deals made, the money made, etc.
- Health issues, chronic stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, sleeplessness, high blood pressure, weight gain (and non-health issues like divorce, etc.)
Adverse Impact of Stress
- Compromised immune system
- Cardiovascular Issues
- Nervous System Problems
- Increased Inflammation
- Increased Negative Mood
- Increase Adrenaline and Cortisol
- Did you know that Cortisol leads to weight gain? Cortisol is caused by stress in your body. 80% of visits to the doctor are stress induced.
- Stresses impact on you can cause you to have errors, miss deadlines.
- Headaches, fatigue and sleep problems.
Positive Impact of Mindfulness
- Stress relief and anxiety reduction.
- Improve focus and concentration (reduce errors)
- Coping mechanism for dealing with stress
- Increased creativity (down time allows brain to assimilate data)
- Conscious interactions instead of reaction.
- Being present (at the gym, driving, at your child's game, at home)
- Health Benefits - reduced cortisol levels (lower Blood Pressure)
- Mindfulness will help you rebuild your grey "brain" matter - YES YOU CAN BE SMARTER! (as you age your grey "brain" matter gets thinner).
"Don't believe everything you think. Thoughts are just that - thoughts" - Allan Lokos
- Plan for the future but don't get carried away in thoughts.
- Think about past but don't get carried away in thoughts.
Reaction vs. Response
- Reaction = Immediate, emotional, no thought
- Response = thoughtful, logical, reasoned.
"If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath" - Amit Ray
- Experience feelings but not enslaved to the emotional reactions; more in tune with the physical reactions of the anxiety.
- Learn to respond not react.
- You will still worry, but not incessantly.
- Being perpetually busy doesn’t make you more efficient.
- Recognize that anxiety is natural.
Ways to Practice Mindfulness:
- Pause - take a break (do a body scan/check in with your breath)
- Breath/Meditation - focus awareness and calms the mind/body
- Some people struggle with meditation. Note: sitting by yourself is only tough if you are in bad company.
- Focus on a word or phrase ("let go" "I'm alright", counting)
- Movement/Exercise/Walking
- Journal
Key - Don't judge your thoughts.
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Recommended Apps for Guided Mediation (Smartphones/Android App Store):
- Headspace (learned of this from New York University as recommended for freshman).
- Buddhify
- Take a Break!
- Stop, Breath Think
- Isha Kriya Meditation
- Calm
Let's end with the Loving Kindness Meditation (use this for yourself, Partial Acquaintance; Person you don't like much - will help you see them as a person):
- May you be Happy
- May you be Healthy
- May you be free from all pain