RioSaladoRotary

Weekly Meeting Guest Speaker Sunu Varghese, Kerala India

Members present: Terry Mickelson, Eileen Schioppa, Sylvia Schweihs, Patrick De Haan, Kent Hendricks, Jim Dillard,  Corey Bruggeman, Martie O’Connor, Geof Pashkowski, Jan Snyder, Ben Eubank, Dona Eubank, Ron Freeman, Corey Brueggeman, Sue Strebe, Jim Lemmon.

Visiting Rotarians: Gary Law, District Governor – Elect,  Tempe South

Guests: Sunu Varghese, Kerala India

Call to Order:   President Terry Mickelson called the meeting to order at 8:10 am MST.

Invocation:      Ben Eubank        Pledge & 4-Way Test: Terry Mickelson

Happy Dollars:  Corey Bruggeman

Today’s Speaker: Sunu Varghese, Exchange Teacher from Kerala, India

Sunu Vargese is a math/Science teacher from Kerala, India.  She presented our rotary club with a flag from the Rotary club in her area. Kerala is located at the southwestern side of India on the Indian Ocean.  Kerala is a state whose geography includes rain forests, mountains and 360 miles of sea coast. With many channels, lakes, rivers and estuaries.  Her school is a private Catholic school.  All classes are taught in English and students must speak English in school.  Students receive a well-rounded education including didactic classes and physical activity.  In Kerala the native language is Hindi.  Each State in India has its own language and it is possible to go from one state to another and not understand the language, but English is spoken in most places and is mandatory in schools.

Kerala is principally Hindu, followed by Islam and Christianity as the major religions.  Tourism is important in Kerala, and the phrase ‘god’s Own Country” is the advertising slogan. An

Sunu Varghese will be in the Phoenix area for a full month and is scheduled to visit schools in Maricopa County.  Sunu is being hosted by  Susan Seats, Jan and Clarice Snyder,  Martie O’Connor, Sylvia Schweihs, Mr. and Mrs. Gary Law, Penny, a Rotarian from Carefree, Eileen Schioppa, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Lemmon, Dr. Ramakrishna and Rotarian Robert Hoge. She will leave Phoenix May 3 to return home to Kerala, India. Tomorrow Sunu will attend the Tempe South Rotary breakfast meeting.

Announcements:
•    A Board meeting follows the regular meeting.

Adjournment:  There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by President Terry Mickelson at 8:05 am MST.

Tempe Rio Salado Rotary

Members present: Eileen Schioppa, Sylvia Schweihs, Patrick De Haan, Kent Hendricks, Jim Dillard, Geoff Pashkowski, Susan Seats, Corey Bruggeman, Jan Snyder, Sue Strebe, Terry Mickelson, Martie O’Connor, JimDillard, Jim Lemmon.

Visiting Rotarians: Dr. Suhdi Jasser, Phoenix 100 

Guests: Yuri Hardzeski -exchange student from the Ukraine
       Sunu Varghese -exchange teacher from India

Call to Order:  8:  05 am

Invocation:  Corey Bruggeman        Pledge & 4-Way Test: Jim DIllard

Speaker # 1

Yuri Hardzeski:  TRS Exchange Student from the Ukraine

The Ukraine is located in Eastern Europe and is the biggest country in Europe at 6.37 thousand square kilometers.  The Ukraine borders Russia to the north-east, Belarus to the north, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, Romania and Moldova to the south-west, and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south. Kiev is the country's capital. The Ukraine dates back to the 10th century. The Cossacks rose to power in the 16th century and were the “National Warriors”.  In 1775 the Cossacks were destroyed by Catherine (Russia)

During WWI I 1915-1916 Lenin became the dictator until Jan 24,1929 when Stalin took over. During the period of 1931 to 1933 millions died of starvation under Stalin.  WWII was bloody and most battles were fought in the Ukraine territory. Three major battles were the Battle of Moscow, the Battle of Stalingrad and the Battle of Leningrad, the rest were fought in the Ukraine. Stalin died 1953, Brezhnev & Khrushchev took over and things began to improve and for the first time the Ukrainians could talk about what had happened.  On August 24, 1991 the country became independent.

Recent political competition led to the Dioxin poisoning of now president Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko.

Yuri will continue his presentation another week.
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Speaker # 2

Dr. Jasser (phoenix 100) spoke on the State of AZ Health Care.  Dr. Jasser is in Internal medicine.  He discussed the disappearing Doctor-patient relationship, AZ Medical association the Dr/pt relationship.  Health care is 14% of GNP but the front lines are not getting the care, he reported the issue is related to free markets and quality care. The reimbursement process needs to be fixed, doctors and patients need to work with insurance He suggests we learn to “work outside the box”, which will mean higher deductibles, and medical liability reform. 

Many doctors leave AZ for states with better medical liability reform legislation. Malpractice is an issue.  Elder abuse liability reform has passed, disaster preparedness in the county and state are not well integrated and Phoenix (AZ) is ripe for a disaster. He advocates a partnership between the patient and the doctor.  Arizona has the “Axis project” for the uninsured.  Dr. Jasser mentioned the idea of “universal health care” for low income individuals.  Medicate and Medicaid is also available.