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Birthdays & Anniversaries
Member Birthdays
Jennifer Lynn
February 1
 
George M. Gardner
February 14
 
Chazz Fisher
February 20
 
Michelle Dixon
February 24
 
Randall White
February 24
 
Spouse Birthdays
Jill Garrison
February 24
 
Anniversaries
Michelle Hanks
Gary Hanks
February 14
 
Join Date
Virgil L. Umphrey
February 10, 1967
51 years
 
Craig Cather
February 18, 2011
7 years
 
Vicki Coulson
February 22, 2017
1 year
 
Doug Heins
February 23, 2001
17 years
 
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner
Stories
This Weeks Speaker
 
Kids Food Basket - Bridget Clark Whitney
Last Weeks Scribe
 
SL Rotary Scribes Report:  2/16/18
The noon meeting was chaired by PP Ed Grafton, as the Exec. Officers were all absent, and excused.   We were benefited by a visit by District Officers Susan Crain, an ADG along the Lakeshore area, from Muskegon and by her faithful pal Orville Crain, Membership Chair.  The announcements related to the District Conf. in Holland on May 17 to 19 to give DG Ed Swart the best sendoff of a DG, ever.   Please consider attending part or all of the events and meetings, as the Conference is dialed into Rotary International, and our local District Clubs.   For those who have been to a DC in the past, you know how rewarding it is to attend the sessions.  For members new to Rotary, the DC provides complete insight into the workings of RI and our District.   Every member of our own Executive Board should check their calendar to see if the short drive and ambience of Holland will fit your schedule.
Reports on the Success!! Of SNOW JAM were delivered by members.  The Raffle Winner was David Redeker, son of GH Rotarian Bill, (who happened to make up at SL).  David donated a portion of his winnings to the SL treasury, for our local youth and international programs!!  Also Jim Humphrey reported for son Brian, concerning the success of the Darts contest, and Megan Doss and David Rhem reported on the overall success of the efforts of members to present a mid-winter Fun event for All!
It is estimated that after expenses about $15,000 was raised for Club Service and Projects.  Bernie Wade led the way with the successful Hockey Game.  Any constructive comments about improving the events/program should be passed to David Rhem.  One suggestion was to provide the Sponsors with a summation of where the funds raised from SNOW JAM are being used to advance the Mission of Service by the members of SL Rotary!!  The Euchre Tournament had a great turn out, with lots of prizes.  Perhaps some summertime activities for not only the now indoor events could be included with the outdoor Heritage Festival activities.   Great comments and Ideas!  Thanks to all the efforts of our Members and Sponsors!!
The next order of business was the induction of Barbara Lee VanHorsen into the SL Rotary Club.  As has been revealed previously, Barb is a former member of Muskegon Rotary, who resides in our area of the District and leads a mental health focused group at the Momentum Building on Columbus Street in Grand Haven, plus discussion groups for therapy to advance the mental health of participants.  Barbara was a perfect inductee because not only of her enthusiasm and presence, but by reason of the speaker topic for the day:  Mental Health issues in West Michigan.  Welcome Barb, and thanks Stephanie Herder for sponsoring Barb, and Cara for leading us in the induction ceremony. 
The Program was presented by Michael Pyne, Director of the Community Mental Health Agency known as HEALTH WEST from Muskegon County.   He counsels people with mental health issues, and specifically matters of Suicide.   For those who have experienced Depression, or have family members and colleagues who deal with the mental health aspects related to Depression, the topic of Suicide needs to be brought to the forefront.   Suicide is becoming one of the top ten reasons of death on an annualized basis, and is the #1 reason for death of younger folks in the 14 to 27 age group.  It is not surprisingly also a major reason for the death of persons in the 40 to 64 age group.  Think of that.   There are lots of ways to die, but at one’s own hand is a very sad statistic.   Survivors of Suicide, whether the individual, or family or colleagues, is like a ripple in a pond after a big rock is thrown into the water.  People who contemplate suicide are usually under mental stress, such as depression, and internalize their malady.  Society tries to provide some avenue of treatment, however as an increasingly statistical reason for death, the methods of treatment are not succeeding.   The sadness involved with Suicide is that it may be 3 times more common than actually reported.   Unless a coroner has obvious signs of a self-inflicted wound, it may not be noted that the cause of death was actually suicide.  The societal stigma associated with suicide simply, according to the speaker, pushes the cause of death under the rug.   The #1 cause of death for a middle schooler is suicide.  That is our children and grandkids who are killing themselves.   We know the heartache of someone with a gun taking the life of children.  How about the issues also of a child killing themselves??
The point of the Program was to advise of resources, and the ‘WHY’?  of Suicide.   The act is not limited to the poor, wealthy, infirm, or ill informed.   It crosses all aspects of society, and perhaps has been exposed to greater media coverage, whether TV, I-phones, and various Apps that disseminate details.  Notwithstanding, there does not appear to be a simple answer.   There is little publicity of successful efforts to deal with people considering Suicide, because of the stigma, privacy rights, and lack of community awareness.
There are programs, which have proved successful statistically.  Suicide Safe Communities is a program that started at Henry Ford Health, and is advancing around the eastern side of Michigan.  It has not been adopted by many health care organizations in West Michigan.   There has been an 80% improvement in survival of those diagnosed with suicidal tendencies where the program is being implemented.   The Mercy Health System is trying to start a similar model where it has Health Programs, and it is beginning to show much better results.
Another effort to deal with Youth Suicide involves implementing a Prevention Alliance, primarily through school systems where trained personnel observe young people struggling with their own life.   Also, a referral of matters involving death by suicide to a Suicide Fatality Review Team providing follow up study of situations, reasons, circumstances, etc. is also being started.   Various efforts at legislatively dealing with the issues of Suicide have been introduced, but no real program or system yet exists to confront the problems of people dealing with Isolation, Despair, and Referral of Individuals for Intervention  seems to be in place.   One of the best approaches is to simply talk to individuals who exhibit Depression, or talk of harming themselves, or hopelessness in their life.
As the problems of Suicide become greater, some possible paths to take include learning what to do when someone needs help, or is perceived to be struggling with life’s issues.   Evidence based programs need to be available for families and schools to work in Suicide Prevention.  Do not be shy about asking someone if they are considering harming themselves.  Share resources, and reach out.  The most that can be responded to is a deflection, which is more telling than most answers.
All ages of people usually enjoy the presence of others, to share socially and creatively. Isolation is the great predictor.  Ask isolators if they want to talk, or refer them to a Community Mental Health counselor.   Write these numbers down:  800-273-8255 (A Suicide Prevention Hotline in GR); Text 741-741 (kids know what you are saying); 616-393-5698 (Ottawa County CMH); Take them to the ER or MD.
Life is short enough for those having fun and experiencing Love, Compassion and Empathy.   Mike Pyne, with extensive training and background in Suicide matters, says Rotary is a good example of a social and service group who enjoys life on life’s terms.   If we can, help others suffering to find the way to better mental health by listening, and giving some hope to them.   Please feel free to further inform ourselves, as saving a life is better than wondering later…
Your Scribe,  Tom Boven