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| Volume 82 Issue 43 | Wed June 7, 2023 |
Rota-Scribe: Gerardo Chagolla |
Dub Drees with the St. Jude Foundation Report
Meeting was called to order by club President Joe Lins, “Happy Wednesday”. President Joe Lins starts off our day with a great joke. “So, I am looking to join an antisocial support group. So far, I haven’t found anybody to meet with.” First one up, first one down. “You asked for it, right? How about this one? Some guy maybe named Randy submitted 10 different puns to a joke contest, sponsored by the local newspaper. He hoped that at least one would make it to the final round. Unfortunately, no pun intended.” Great jokes by club President Lins.
In sports, the PGA, the Professional Golfers Association, agreed to merge with LIV Golf on Tuesday, in a shocking new deal. In a press release by the PGA, under a bold headline that said it would “merge commercial operations under common ownership.” For the Los Angeles Angels, who are nine games behind for the third place in their division. The Los Angeles Dodgers are one game back behind the first place Arizona Diamondbacks, as of Wednesday. “So, John Phelps, this is for you, for the ‘who cares category,’ On This Day, The American Association began to allow pitchers to throw overhand, 138 years ago today.” President Lins took the time to say hello to past president Joe Arnold, “It’s good to have you in the house, dude.” Also, in 1982, Steve Darby became the fifth major league player to play in 1000 consecutive games. “You guys know he’s considering running for Senate?” In 2007, Joe Torre became the 10th manager in Major League history to get 2000 victories. Lastly, last year after losing 12 straight games, the Angels fired Joe Maddon and replaced him with locals.
Club president asked Theresa Harvey to come up and be recognized for doing an amazing job hosting the CIA Awards, “I have a lovely gift for her. I just want to say thank you.” Congratulations Theresa Harvey!
For our Commencement Ceremonies, Carl Camp led us in our Invocation. Carl led us in prayer. “Thank you for today. Thank you for Rotary, and the friendships that we have here. And thank you for the year Joe’s had and that it’s almost over. We appreciate what he’s done and that he can still use better humor than his jokes. So, thank you Lord, thanks for all that you’re doing here in the club and how we can serve each other in the community, in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Howard Minkley led us in our Patriotic Moment. “You guys are probably aware that 79 years ago yesterday was D-Day. Today, we have hundreds of thousands of men and women working and fighting for our freedom. I’d like to pay homage to those Patriots for our freedom that they achieved in Europe, the Pacific, Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan by saluting our flag with the pledge of allegiance.”
Jordan Garcia, today’s Songmaster, led us in our traditional Rotary song, Smile. Good job to our Commencement Speakers. President Lins announced that if anyone is interested in becoming the club’s new Songmaster, please get a hold of him or president-elect Jim Ripley, “we’d be happy to let you do be the Songmaster. There’s really no interview or prequels or any of that.”
Today’s announcements, Scott Dowds announced the “Outstanding Student Awards” at the junior high graduations. He asked those who participated to please stand and be recognized, “these people dedicated their Friday to representing the club. If you would like to give them a round of applause.”
Dick Ackerman announced the Fukui Exchange, which is starting up again, next Summer of 2024. “I’ve already sent out notices, anybody who said they had interest in sending their kids, grandkids, wives, husbands, whatever you want to send.” Please contact Dick Ackerman for further questions.
Giselle Monterrosas announced JOYA Scholars, Grad Celebration and Fundraiser, on Saturday, June 24th from 2pm to 4:30 pm. If you need more information, please contact Gisselle. “We are going to celebrate nine wonderful seniors this year. Most of them are first generation going to Cal State Fullerton, Vanguard, and Fullerton College. So, if you guys love tacos and want some Mariachi music from group, Mariachi Titans from Cal State Fullerton. If you want to party a little bit, and vibe with our neighbors and families, please join us.”
Jim Williams announced the 100th Annual Demotion Night on Wednesday, June 28th at 5:30 pm at Coyote Hills Golf Club. “Do you want to get rid of him? Some of you are waiting to give us your RSVP, which makes it very difficult for us. Someone said they are waiting until they start scalping tickets on the internet. I’ve heard those are going for double the value.” If you are interested in attending, please RSVP with Jim Williams.
Club President Lins announced the birth of Christian Esteban and wife’s amazing baby boy. “Congratulations to Christian!”
Today’s guest in attendance, Christian Panganiban, guest of Beverly Berryman at Crittenton Services and Student of Troy High School. “Welcome aboard Christian! Glad you are here today.” Sally Williams, guest of Jim Williams and soon to be member of the club. “She wants to join and we voted her in.” Today’s Finemaster/Recognition Master was Taz Stachelski. “In honor of the un-coronation of Joe Lins. And figuring that we have learned something from Joe’s dad’s jokes , here are some more.” Taz gave recognition to Joe Lins and his awesome sense of humor. She then began recognizing members, “Since Marty Burbank is celebrating his Rotary birthday on June 7th, the table where Marty usually sits will be filling the blank, ‘England has no kidney bank, but it does have what?’” Someone from another table answered correctly, costing him a $5 bank. The answer was Liverpool, as in the city of Liverpool, England. “Hey Nadia, our table is up. The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine last week is now in what stage?” Again, someone from another table answered correctly which costed them $5 and Nadia’s table also paid $5 each. The answer was “Fully Covered.” Taz, played dad joke trivia with all the tables during her finemaster segment, she had all the members laughing in stitches and helped generate a good amount of money for the club. Great job Taz!
| Proposed Member: Lisa Wozab, Sales of Window Coverings, by Leland Wilson Amy (Spyoung) Choi-Wan, North OC Regional Occupational Program. by Zoot Velasco Leilani Beck, Providence St. Jude Medical Center, by Joe Lins |
Today’s program at hand was introduced by Dr. Thad Sandford, Vice Chair on the Board of Directors at St. Jude Memorial Foundation. “It is my pleasure to introduce our speakers today. We have Dub Drees the Chief Philanthropist Officer at St. Jude Hospital. She is going to tell us what the foundation does. And Leilani Beck, Director of Community Services at St. Jude Hospital. They are both going to tell you a liitle bit about what they do and why it’s important.” Dub Drees took the stage and welcomed all the members in attendance, “I am delighted to be here. I want to share that both Leilani and I have both submitted our application for Rotary memberships. We are very excited to join this group.” She began her presentation by exclaiming that St. Jude Medical Center is excited with the partnership between them and the Fullerton Rotary Club, which goes back before their existence. Dub shared St. Jude’s story, “but I also want to acknowledge that there are many people in this room who have supported St. Jude over the years and in one way or another, when they are on Memorial Foundation or hospital ministry board, donating and volunteering.” She reminded members of all the volunteer work the Fullerton Rotary Club has done in the past for St. Jude Memorial. Dub began her career at St. Jude’s in 2019, “it’s a blessing to serve in the role of Chief Philanthropy Officer.” Dub says she grew up in this area and St. Jude was her family’s hospital, “it truly was a dream come true to come and work here.” St. Jude is a faith based nonprofit medical center, with 320 beds, an Acute Care Hospital, built in 1957 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange. With a campus of approximately 40 acres in size and a staff of more that 2600 caregivers, and 700 physicians. Major programs and services at St. Jude include cardiac care, stroke, neuro orthopedics, rehabilitation, oncology, emergency medicine, and obstetrics. St. Jude’s’ roots may have started out as a community hospital that serves Fullerton over the years; its service area has expanded. “We used to say St. Jude was the best kept secret. Well, that’s no longer true. We are bursting at the seams.” The hospital has grown to the point where more land is needed to continue its growth. St. Jude’s currently serves the communities of Fullerton, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Chino and Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, Placentia, Roland Heights, Ladera Heights, Walnut, Whittier, and Yorba Linda. Today, St. Jude is one of the most respected and technologically advanced hospitals, not only in Southern California but it is also nationally recognized in several clinical areas. With its five core values of compassion, dignity, excellence, justice, and integrity, which are the guiding principles of everything they do at St. Jude. The Sisters of Saint Joseph of Orange, the hospital’s founding sisters, came to California collectively between them had a total of 60 cents. They came to California to start schools, “in 1919, the Spanish Flu came along, and the sisters went to work. They rolled up their sleeves and they actually established their very first health care ministry in Eureka, California.” At St. Jude’s, they are steadfast in serving all, especially the poor and vulnerable. That last piece is really the heart of our mission.” The founding sister’s teachings is integrated in that last piece. “We don’t shy away from our Catholic identity, but we serve all who come to us without distinction.” Part of the job as Chief Philanthropy Officer at St. Jude, Dub’s job includes storytelling, “I love to tell this story of how it all began because this club is part of that story. The Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange came to Fullerton in 1931, when they acquired what was then called Fullerton General Hospital, which is still located where WTLC is now.” Dub said that by 1954, the hospital was no longer adequate to meet the needs of the community, so the sisters headed back to Orange to their mother’s house. “They had already established St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, which is our sister ministry. But there was a physician names Dr. Romero Fernandez.” Dr. Fernandez had a practice in La Habra, he convinced a group of physicians to get behind the Sisters to build a campus in Fullerton. He took a year off from his practice to lead that effort, which also saw him being the first physician. “Neighboring cities, businesses and residents all found ways to make money to make St. Jude Hospital a reality.” With the help from the community and fundraisers they were able to raise $750, 000 in just 6 months. Because of the strong devotion to Saint Jude, from the Fernandez family, their son Raymond Jude had been born with significant physical disabilities and had passed away just before the hospital opened, “so in gratitude for the extraordinary support from Dr. Fernandez, the sisters of St. Joseph decided to name our hospital, St. Jude. And I always like to say that we were the very first St. Jude Hospital in the United States.” Over the next 66 years, the Memorial Foundation, which existed before the hospital opened and is the fundraising arm of the medical center, a total of $200 million has been raised and counting to expand the campus. “If you don’t know where our offices are, well, we are tenants in the Century 21 Discovery building. So, Joe is also my landlord as well as my friend.” At St. Jude, they work with an impressive roster of networks, “I think many people in this room have been touched by St. Jude’s Ministry and contributed to our success.” Dub showed photos of new projects and programs, and major technology at the hospital. “This is a brand new Linear Accelerator. This was a blessing for some of our board members.” Dub mentions a $2 million donation to their inpatient rehabilitation unit. “We are renaming it and blessing it. We pretty much bless every piece of equipment, anything that’s not nailed down. It really is part of our rich heritage and respect for our faith-based identity.” She credits many of their gifts come from grateful patients. Another thing worth mentioning is that St. Jude is running more clinical trials than any hospital within the Providence Health System. “51 hospitals strong and we’re very proud of that. We’re always looking to stay ahead of what’s next in medicine, innovation, and education. Staying current for our positions and caregivers is so critical.” Technology and nursing are other department St. Jude has the upper hand in, “we did see a lot of frontline caregivers leaving nursing during COVID. People started evaluating and Providence as a system recognized that there was a need to really wrap our arms around our caregivers and recognize the toll the pandemic took on everyone. We created wonderful programs and services to take care of caregivers like the Breakaway Lounge, a full gym, which had equipment donated to them by the Memorial Foundation. “We have a concierge program now that philanthropy is helping fund.” For 2022, the foundation has raised just under $9.2 million, “$4 million of that went to innovations in cancer care. $1.2 million went to guided imagery, robotic navigation platforms.” Dub says that she sees the hospital investing in more of these sort of robotic imagery platforms, “almost every surgery has gone minimally invasive, even open heart surgery. Groin surgery, with an incision, two stitches. Spine surgery, same thing.” This allows the patient to be out of the hospital much sooner and reduces pain with a faster recovery. Dub says that in order to recruit the best and brightest physicians from top medical schools, they need to provide them the tools and technology that compete with other top hospitals, “that’s the prime example, they had certain needs that in order to do these minimally invasive procedures, they need certain equipment and technology. We’re happy to do that because our community deserves that level of care.” St. Jude’s Hospital just bought new baby beds, bassinets for their labor ward department. Also, they will begin a new campaign called, “I was born at St. Jude” later this year. Dub really thanks St. Jude’s hospital volunteers, spiritual caregivers, its physicians, who are the heartbeat and the heart of St. Jude Medical Center, “Honestly, we couldn’t do our work without them, especially the physicians, who take time out of their days to sit with the donor and talk about what he does. It’s just so special for the donor, but also for the physician to directly connect the dots.” Dub says that it is St. Jude’s constant quest to be better and reach for the next thing. She thanks the endowed shareholders who are generally associated with academic institutions or higher education but are a powerful tool for recruiting hot shots in those positions and bringing the best and the brightest to St. Jude. They are also number 1 in the state of California in stroke care and an award she is most proud of, because it was given to the hospital by its own caregivers is, Best Place to Work. “It’s so great that they acknowledge that St. Jude is a wonderful place to work.” St. Jude is also a Magnet Recognized Hospital, where only 8% of the hospitals in the country achieve this designation. Before she ended her presentation, she spoke about volunteering at St. Jude Memorial Hospital, “I’ve left some of my cards on the table.” Leilani Beck took the stage. She has been serving at Providence for about 13 years. She started off at St. Joseph of Orange and is now at St. Jude’s, “I am very blessed to be here. I am heavily involved in outreach and community education as well.” As the Director of Community Services, she oversees the caregiver resource center of Orange County. This resource center also serves the senior community. She also oversees the Move More, Eat Healthy program, which focuses on obesity prevention. Lastly, she oversees the care navigation program, which is housed at St. Jude Medical Center. The main focus of that program is on the homeless patients in the community, and those with substance use and disorder. Leilani says that all these programs are free to the community because they are state and federally funded. “We have many programs that are available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.” Respite assistance is an important part of the caregiver resource center, “If you have been a caregiver you know that family caregiving is very hard. If we want to step away, we want someone to come in and take care of our family and our loved ones, this is where there are funds available for respite assistance.” At St. Jude’s, they have 14 program services for patients and a licensed counselor for Medicare. Because Leilani was short on time, she encourages people to reach out to her with any questions. President Lins presented her and Dub with their own highly coveted speakers award.
Last thing on the agenda was the 50/50 Opportunity Drawing worth $32. Lucky ticket holder number 6370360 is the winner. Matt Reekstin wins the money! Congratulations Matt. “Thank you for being here today. Next week we’ve got the highly coveted Craft Talk with Nadia on deck. Thank you for coming. We’ll see you next week. Meeting adjourned. Charge On!”