Program Update

Here’s what to expect at this week’s meeting…

During the Cold War…During the Vietnam Era…During a flare up in the Middle East conflict, our own Rotary Club’s Dr. Doug Smith was a Captain in the U.S. Air Force assigned to the Strategic Air Command. As a Nuclear Missile Launch Officer stationed UNDERground in the state of Montana, he was in command of more firepower than General Patton, and more than all other military commanders had ever used.*

Scary, huh?!?! (A moment needed to ponder those written sentences….)

Twenty years later he was soaking in mountainside hot springs with his Russian nuclear counterpart in Kam-chat-ka Russia, Doug’s former “ground zero” target region.*

How Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Medford helped him purge a few personal demons and deliver over $18,000,000 worth of humanitarian aid will be part of his presentation on Tuesday.*

I recall hearing Doug’s tale of the “red button“and a pickup truck parked above a nuclear missile launch site in his most recent “Who Am I” presentation he gave about 3 years ago. I was riveted to my seat! Please join me in an afternoon of Rotary camaraderie and hear a tale of the power of Rotary and its ability to rise above political obstacles on a personal level and make a difference in the lives of many.

There is more to this Optometric Physician than the eye can see!

Bill Singler of South Medford, Mike Mitchell of North Medford, and Jon Gettman of Cascade Christian High School Football coaches discussed their 2017 high school football schedule.

Mike Mitchell of North Medford reported that their year was off to a slow start with a small Senior Class (13 kids). But that he was hopeful for the rest of the season.

Jon Gettman of Cascade Christian High School reported that they had a big Senior Class (11 kids) this year and were working hard on helping teammates.

Bill Singler of South Medford reported that he will be retiring from teaching at the end of November. He’s working with his kids on understanding that life isn’t smooth and adjusting to the twists and turns is an important element of both the game and life.

They all discussed concussions and report that Heads Up Football is helping to mitigate any risk there for their team.

Our Club’s RYLA students: Preston Jerrigan, Emma Ward, Chad Moncus, and Hannah VanHolle shared their experience’s at this year’s RYLA summer camp.

Katie Hutchinson and Dana Preston shared about how to better engage Young Rotarians in leadership. Some of the takeaways include:

• Ask young people to join Rotary
• Understand that if joining is too long or too hard — they won’t finish the process.
• Engage new members and make them welcome.
• Ask new members to step into leadership.
• Keep asking new members to step into leadership.
• Understand that for younger members, a real benefit is the networking (even though that’s a dirty word).

Additionally, they suggested understanding:

• That younger members will accept traditions, but will also ask “Why?”
• That we need to all watch our narrative around Rotary. We don’t “Have” to go to our meeting — we “Get” to go to the meeting.

Randy McKay presented an update on the Holly Theatre Restoration Project.

Denise Stafford, of our club, and Jackson County Healthy & Human Services made a presentation to our club, along with Emily Mossberg about the services available in our region to train individuals on how to deal with Mental Illness. They shared a quiz — how many do you get right?

True or False

• Employers face up to $80-100 billion dollars in indirect costs annually due to mental illness/substance abuse. (T)
• Through a lifetime, there is a 50/50 chance of experiencing a mental illness or substance use disorder (T)
• Drinking alcohol raises body temperature (F)
• People who drink responsibly and in moderation tend to be healthier and live longer than those who either abstain from or abuse alcohol. (T)
• A mixed drink containing a carbonated beverage is absorbed into the body more quickly than a shot. (T)
• For almost all mental disorders, the median delay in getting treatment is 10 years. (T)
• The disability from moderate depression is similar to the impact of relapsing multiple sclerosis (T)
• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause for ages 44 and under (T)
• Asking someone about suicide increases the likelihood they will attempt suicide (F)
• 90% of those who die by suicide had a diagnosable psychiatric disorder (T)
• Men more commonly attempt suicide (F – men are 4x more successful)
• Verbal de-escalation methods never stop someone from becoming violent (F)
• Anger is a primary emotion (F – lack of power, fear, shame, and embarrassment are)
• Anger and aggression serve no purpose (F)

District Governor Claudette McWilliams addressed our club on August 15^th. As a Rotarian since 1999, DG Claudette explained how Rotary has changed her life. There was no Rotary “moment” – just a steady progression of inspirational events over the years that has given her both a sense of purpose and appreciation for how Rotarians work together toward a common goal to achieve big things.

Guy Tauer is the Regional Economist with the Oregon Employment Department covering the Rogue Valley. He has worked for the agency since 1999. He received a promotion to Regional Economist in 2001.   A native Oregonian, Guy holds a degree in economics and a minor in business administration from Southern Oregon University. Guy concentrates on labor force, economic and demographic data. 
 Guy shared unemployment reports with the club, indicating very low employment rates in Jackson County. In May 2017, the unemployment rate was 4.2%. The nonfarm unemployment rate change in Jackson County by sector, May 2016 – May 2017 are:

• Private education and health services – up 630 Positions
• Leisure & hospitality – up 460 Positions
• Professional & business services – up 440 Positions
• Retail trade – up 470 Positions
• Other services – up 170 Positions
• Construction –up 150 Positions (150)
• Manufacturing DOWN 100 Positions
• Government DOWN 200 Positions

During the past year, the Medford MSA (Jackson County) gained 2,060 payroll jobs, a growth rate of 2.4 percent. Industries with the largest employment gains over the year included health care and social assistance (+560), leisure and hospitality (+310), retail trade (+240), construction (+240), other services (+210), and wholesale trade (+120). Government employment declined by 240 jobs since June 2016 with declines in local government education (-140) and federal government (-60) partially offset by a gain of 80 jobs in state government.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate, estimated at 4.4 percent in June, remains close to record lows going back to 1990. A year earlier, the unemployment rate was considerably higher at 6.1 percent.

Many of Guy’s reports and studies can be found at qualityinfo.org, the Oregon Employment Department’s labor market information website.