THE SENIOR MEN'S CLUB OF NEW CANAAN
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of April 9, 2010
President George Perkins opened the meeting with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance with 121 of 491 members present.
NEW MEMBER(S): None
GUEST(S): Joe Busak was introduced.
MINUTES: Don Hudson read the minutes of March 26, 2010, which were recorded by Harry Hitch. (There was no meeting on April 2nd – Good Friday.)
MEMBERSHIP ASSISTANCE: George reported that Art Nichols is at Waveny and Bill Pierson is in Norwalk Hospital.
ANNOUNCEMENTS were made: Dues are now due. Next week’s meeting will be at the Presbyterian Church; the officers for next year will be announced. The annual meeting will be held on Friday, May 7, at 11:30 AM, at the New Canaan Country Club; $45 per person; $50 at the door.
Special recognition ceremony for World War II Veterans will take place on Thursday, May 27.
The status and plans were reported for various activities and couth trips:
ACTIVITIES: 4F Luncheon – will explore a new restaurant for 4/23. Bridge – sign up. Amateur Chefs – Next meeting will be 4/15; few openings. Photography – Looking at a trip in May to either Lee Memorial Gardens or Muscoot Farms (at Routes 35 and 100). Paddle – (9-9-12); Annual party will be Monday, May 24 at 6 PM at Waveny; $5/pp; bring hors d’oeuvres or an appetizer. Racquetball – (4-?-?). Golf – 4/25 at Ridgefield; 5/10 at Fairfield; sign up. Trailblazers – Central Park walk on Wednesday, 5/5; 8:49 AM train. Cyclists – Getting ready for Spring.
COUTH: Wednesday, 4/21, Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty trip; three openings; photo ID required. New York Botanical Gardens is scheduled for 5/20; sign-up.
HUMORIST: Mike Law described a gas station in Dublin, that was providing free sex with a fill up.
SPEAKER: Vice President Paul Stein introduced Dr. Richard C. Frank, a hematologist / oncologist and director of cancer research at the Whittingham Cancer Center at Norwalk Hospital. His recently published book, Fighting Cancer with Knowledge and Hope – serves as A Guide for Patients, Families, and Health Care Providers.
By way of introduction, Dr. Frank explained what you need to learn when first diagnosed with cancer -- the type, stage, extent, cure expectancy, prognostic factors, treatment options, and side effects. He explained a diet’s impact on cancer and described the molecular biology of cancer: its unlimited capacity for growth, ability to spread from site of origin, and the inability of cancer cells to die, and noted the controversial impact of screening.
In describing diagnosis, staging, and curability, Dr. Frank cited the importance of maintaining quality of life and said the focus should be on the cancer, not merely the side effects of the treatment.
The Q & Q session addressed: clinical trials, the impact of ObamaCare, medical fraud (especially in Florida), the expected decline in Medicare benefits, the value of Nurse Practitioners and Physician’s Assistants, cancer tracking registries, lung cancer and smoking, PSA testing/screening, radiation, nuclear stress tests, CT Scans, alternate imaging techniques, the predisposition to cancer, and DNA / gene therapy.
Roger Langevin, Assistant Secretary