The 60th Annual Macomb Kiwanis Club Pancake Day is Thursday, April 23, at the American Legion. Jeremy Benson announced we've received checks from 50 booster sponsors and Ted Pawlias turned in five more during the meeting.
Jeremy encouraged members to follow up with businesses to secure their sponsorship. A booster sponsor pays $75 and receives 20 tickets along with their name on the placemat.
Official Macomb Kiwanis Club Pancake Day Countdown Clock
March program chairman Ted Pawlias introduced our guest speaker Donna Twomey. That's Ted on the right presenting our customary Certificate of Appreciation and official Kiwanis coaster. Her program was on Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) which was appropriate because, as she later said, March is DVT Awareness Month.
Donna is a nurse with the McDonough District Hospital Anti-Coagulatory Clinic which opened in December 2003. She said "DVT is a common medical problem that can be life threatening." DVT is a blood clot that forms in a vein, sometimes in the arms, hips and pelvis. Clotting protects a wound from bleeding excessively. Veins carry blood from the body back to the heart. Clots form when the vein is damaged or when blood flow is restricted. She said the chances of developing DVT increases with age and doubles with each decade of life. Risk factors include sitting for long periods of time, inheriting a blood clotting disorder, prolonged bed rest or paralysis, an injury or surgery, pregnancy, cancer and heart failure.
She said many people don't know they have a DVT. A blood clot can either partially or totally block blood flow in the vein. A smaller clot below the knee may cause mild symptoms or none at all. 50% of DVT's produce minimal symptoms or are completely silent. Generally larger clots totally block blood flow.
If you develop signs or symptoms of DVT, contact your doctor for guidance. Treatments include Coumadin and Heparin.
Donna says you can reduce your risk by avoiding sitting or lying in bed for long periods of time, avoid tight fitting or restrictive clothing, sit with both legs on the floor uncrossed, drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
She passed out risk factor forms to take to fill out and take to your next doctors visit.
Next week: Dr. Dennis Samuelson will be the guest speaker.
President-elect Debbie Vandemark opened the meeting and, following the Pledge of Allegiance and Kiwanis pledge, John Moon led us in singing "I'd Rather Belong To Kiwanis" (mostly in the right key). Chuck Nicholson gave the invocation.
Joe Vandemark - Happy to remind everyone we're one week closer to
Pancake Day.
Debbie - Happy she and Joe had a good time at the Salvation Army
camp near Peoria. She even got to play with a chain saw and
fell from a vine while swinging. Unfortunately, she also picked
up poison ivy.
Jeremy Benson - Happy for the 50 paid sponsors for Pancake Day.
Pat Stout - Happy to thank the club for sponsoring his trip to the Mega Interclub last week. He brought along copies of the Ten Objectives of Club Leadership presented by Paul Palazzolo, 2009-2010 International President. Those Ten Objectives are: Have Meaningful Meetings, Focus On Service Projects, Focus On Membership, Utilize Club Board of Directors For Guidance, Foster Recognition And Fellowship, Be Aware Of Proper Financing For Your Club, Foster Leadership Development, Include The Kiwanis Family, Utilize Public Relations and Follow Up With Club Evaluation
The 50/50 Drawing was won by John Moon and he donated his share to the Salvation Army.
The latest edition of the Illinois-Eastern Iowa District "Illeiowan" newsletter is now online.
Have you ever gotten stuck when trying to answer the question "what is Kiwanis?" Here's a quick 30 second response direct from Kiwanis International.
"Kiwanis International is an international organization of member-volunteers who give more than 6 million hours and more than $100 million each year to help change the world one child and one community at a time. Any community need can become a Kiwanis service project, especially if the need involves children, who should have the help and the right to lead healthy, successful lives. We believe that helping a child helps the world."
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