Meeting Recap - May 17, 2016

Posted by Jeff Benson 
on May 17, 2016
 
Mary Stewart opened the meeting with the Pledge and Invocation.
 
John Risdall, subbing for President Dana, noted that Paul Fournier's heart surgery has been rescheduled for next Thursday.  Mike mentioned that his hip replacement is scheduled for this Monday and Cor just returned from her hip replacement, which went very well. Perhaps we should see if we can get a volume surgery discount.
 
Next week's program will be Dorothy Fleming. Her topic will be " Heroes and Heroines - The Movies That Tell Their Stories"
 
Don't forget the Board meeting next Tuesday, May 24th at 11:00AM.
 
John Risdall reported that over 700 Rotarians and 70 Youth Exchange students participated in the Joint District 5950/5960 Conference this past weekend at Mystic Lake Conference Center. He noted that the Conference voted to change the By-Laws to make it easier for clubs to attract new members. Gerry Tietz sent me the photo below.
 
Jeff Benson thanked Dave Hoel, Dana Rebelein, Jason Slama and Nils Friberg for their help with the joint 2nd Harvest Heartland/U.S. Postal Service food drive. Together we were able to almost fill a semi- trailer with donated food for area food shelves.
 
Sue Ager reported that her youngest son was married recently.
 
John Risdall announced that his daughter Lily graduated from the UofM this spring and that his wife Tina is continuing her post graduate studies.
 
Bev Aplikowski introduced our speaker, Jo Tolck, Executive Director of Human Life Alliance. Human Life Alliance is a pro-life organization with the following mission (from their website):
"Human Life Alliance promotes awareness of the inherent dignity and personhood of human life, born and preborn, without exception or compromise. Human Life Alliance proclaims and defends a culture of life and chastity through education, social and political awareness and life-affirming alternatives to abortion, infanticide, assisted suicide and euthanasia. Human Life Alliance accomplishes its mission in a spirit of prayer and non-violence."
Jo was here today to speak in opposition to Physician Assisted Suicide Legalization. Human Life Alliance's understanding of proposed Physician Assisted Suicide legislation prompts the following concerns:
  • The definition of terminal illness is too broad, and could be construed to include those who require medication to live (i.e. diabetics).
  • Doctors are not infallible. Incorrect diagnosis of terminal illness, though not common, does occur.
  • The definition of "intractable suffering" is to imprecise.
  • Psychological evaluation is not required.
  • The proposed 15 day waiting period is too short to allow for solid decision making about complicated medical issues.
  • There is no required follow-up after dispensing the deadly drugs for assisted suicide.
  • Post-suicide reporting by the physician is not required.
  • The Death Certificate doesn't list suicide as the cause of death.
  • The legislation doesn't take into account the untoward effects of Physician Assisted Suicide on the patient's loved ones and the treating physician.
Bev Aplikowski took the podium to explain how her unlikely survival after premature birth at 2 1/2 pounds and the circumstances surrounding the death of her husband and mother, have resulted in her strong opposition to physician assisted suicide. Bev's support of human Life Alliance is more than verbal; she's listed as President on the Human Life Alliance website. You can check out their website by clicking here.  Jo, Bev and John Risdall are shown below.