The Wheel for January 10, 2019

by Jan 10, 2019The Wheel0 comments

The Wheel


Ron Fraass

Nuclear Power and Recycling

Ron Fraass had a 20 year career with the United States Air Force including duties as a C-130 pilot for Search and Rescue and Tactical Airlift; Assistant Professor of Physics at United States Air Force Academy, RSO and director of their teaching radiation laboratory; Technical Director of Misty Rain underground nuclear weapon effects test at the Nevada Test Site; helping create the Air Force war gaming Center; and Division Chief at HQ Strategic Air Command for nuclear survivability and vulnerability. He then served as a Public Health Physicist for state of Kansas responsible for radiation response to incidents and response plans for nuclear power plants; serving Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors as a member of initial E-6 Committee on Emergency Response and then a Board member of CRCPD. Following that, he became the Executive Director of CRCPD. He then accepted positions as Director of the EPA National Air and Radiation Environmental Laboratory and later Director of the EPA National Center for Radiation Field Operations. He retired in April 2016. Ron has a Master of Science degree in nuclear engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology in nuclear weapon effects.

Message From The President

Dear Rotarians,

This week we are reintroducing the Polio Pig to the club. I thought it would be appropriate to provide the club with some information about the poliovirus so that we can better understand what we are fighting to achieve.

Poliomyelitis (“polio”) is a highly infectious disease that most commonly affects children under the age of 5. The virus is spread person to person, typically through contaminated water. Polio can attack the nervous system, and in some instances, lead to paralysis. There is no known cure for polio other than Rotary International. While it is true we can’t actually cure Polio, we can, and we will, eradicate polio in the wild. Rotary International will continue to provide the safe and effective vaccines against polio at no charge. To date, we have been able to immunize over 2.5 billion children worldwide.

In 1988, there were an estimated 350,000 cases of polio that were reported to the WHO. In 2018 there were 29 reported cases of polio. Since Rotary International began its mission in 1988 to end polio, reported polio cases have been reduced by 99.9%. However, we have not eradicated it yet and last year there were 29 too many cases of polio reported to the WHO.

Presently, there are only three countries in the world where polio occurs in the wild, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. Why do we need to continue to fight against polio? Because unless we eradicate polio it will come back. Most people who contract polio are unaware that they have it because they only suffer from a mild fever for a few days. The WHO estimates that if we fail to reach our goal of eradication, within 10 years we could see as many as 200,000 new cases of polio each year as it will sweep through unvaccinated populations in countries that have been declared polio free. The disease is endemic in only 3 countries, but unless we reach every child with the vaccine, no child anywhere is safe.

Please make a donation this week to the Polio Pig and remember to bring a few dollars each week to help us make polio the second scourge (after smallpox) to be eradicated from Earth.

Jim Kohl
95th President
Rotary Club of Las Vegas

Member Highlights

Scribe – December 20, 2018

Las Vegas Rotary Club Meeting: December 20, 2018

President Jim Kohl called the meeting to order. Rosalee Hedrick gave the invocation. Stu Lipoff led the club in singing Hail To The Chief, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The Sergeant at Arms was Michael Cudiamat. The Palo Verde Choir provided holiday singing and Santa Claus came for a visit and a joyful round of Jingle Bells

  • There were (0) International Rotarians, (2) visiting Rotarians and (12) Guests of Rotarians introduced.
  • President Jim encouraged members to share the live stream of our meeting on social media to share our message and our Club with others;
  • Tom Davis of Howard & Howard presented a check in the sum of $5,500 to representatives of Foundation For Independent Tomorrow on behalf of the Las Vegas Rotary Club and Howard & Howard;
  • PP Tom Thomas discussed the importance of collaboration of funds moving in the right direction, naming some of the organizations LVRC has chosen, to make sure we are making a difference, and on behalf of LVRC, PP Tom and his wife presented a check for $25,000 to Pam Lang of Spread The Word Nevada and Pam Lang thanked LVRC for all of the volunteering, from Breakfast With Books to Books With Buddies, and for the generous financial support, showing the Flashlight video of the difference we make, and presenting a picture with plaque and special books to the Club;
  • PE Jackie Thornhill announced Amanda & PP Michael Gordon are new Major Donors, Level 1 ($10,000) presenting them with a crystal award and Paul Harris Fellows were presented to Matt Nelson +2 and Jordan Micev +2;
  • PP Karen Whisenhunt announced host families are needed for the German team for the Mayor’s Cup 2/14-2/19; Michael Williams encouraged participation in the Magical Forest 12/20; Principal Katie Decker introduced her super 5th Grade team and Principal Shannon Brown and Asst Principal Cheryle Trupp thanked the Club for the work of Santa Clothes and how important it was to the students; PP David Thorson’s daughter, Mya, thanked members of the Club for their assistance/support in RYLA and TLC; PE Jackie Thornhill announced the new fundraiser is a refreshed car show 4/27/19 – Cuisine & Octane – an indoor event, that will include meal and wine pairings with cars and much more, seeking sponsorships for the event and upcoming press release, with ticket prices at $60/PP
  • The weekly drawing began at $4,365 plus this week’s donations. The Ticket Winner was Howie Hopkinson, who received a prize of $10.
  • Former CCSD Superintendent Dr. Walt Rulffes introduced our program speaker, Dr. Jesus Jara, CCSC Superintendent. Dr. Jara emphasized the importance of literacy and the core business of CCSD is student success, providing details of his focus over the past 6 months, listening to the community, visiting >150 schools and attending 127+ community meetings and more, the need to change the weighted funding formula and to be accountable to student goals, providing every student with the same education opportunities, recognizing some students need more, and coherent governing, noting his intention to release his strategic plan after the holiday break.
  • President Jim presented our speaker with a “Share What You Can” award to benefit a veteran in need and Santa Claus adjourned the meeting.


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