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New
member candidate: Michael Scott, proposed by Mike Hink
March 1,
2010
Bernie
Thompson and Art Towne led us in singing America the
Beautiful, the pledge and invocation by Art Towne. Art
specifically noted in his prayers the countries of Haiti
and Chile. Art and Audrey were host to Flo Torres
Larraguilbel in 1986. She wrote to Art that she is safe
in Chili even though she now lives in Spain.
Kevin noted he visited Arch Zarone in the hospital and
he is recovering from a fall. He is in room 323 and
seems in good spirits. Andy Tommelleo did the Rotary
Mission Moment by noting the building of wheel chair
ramps in Madison County, Georgia by Rotarians and said
they were a large help to the community. He suggested we
look into something similar.
The Rotary Recognition went to Joe Reagle, an unsung
hero amongst us. Joe has participated in virtually every
event we have had, from the Chili Open to Pancake
dinners, from lite up night to highway clean up, from
rebuilding the Carousel building to fireside chat
nights, from guest hosting of Scots to being everyone’s
friend at Rotary.
President Bill said the Board will meet the next day at
7:30 AM and said that one suggestion we will take on is
mentoring new members. He also said there will a end of
year dinner, the first of its kind, on June 7. It is for
fun and recognition, the cost being $10 and the club
will pick up the balance. Jon Solomon will be the
featured speaker and Gary Bruce and Bob McCart will work
on Paul Harris recognitions.
President Bill said that most of the club wants to keep
the pancake event and that the calendar program is in
need of discussion.
Gayle Young introduced our speaker, Ken Dressler, the
Program Director of Discovery House. He said that
Discovery House has 20 clinic locations in 6 states,
including Pennsylvania. Here we have a relatively new
one at 2710 West State Street in Union Township. It’s
mission is to provide comprehensive services for person
affected by addiction through community awareness,
quality and holistic clinical services in an efficient,
safe and fiscally sound environment.
He said he drives daily to New Castle from Westmoreland
County. The Discovery House is an alternative drug
program using methadone as treatment for addiction to
heroin and other similar drugs, including prescription
addictions. He said in PA there are 53 programs
including his and has seen this grow from 24 in the last
15 years. Each program has to be registered with the PA
Department of Health, the DEA and also become accredited
by the State.
There are two fold programs for the voluntary patients,
one medical and the other mental health. There are three
criteria to become enrolled. The first is 18 years or
older, the second that the person be addicted to an
opiate and thirdly, be dependent for at least one year.
No pregnant females can enroll. In New Castle they can
service 105 patients, while in Cranberry they are
servicing 580 and in the Hermitage are they service
about 550. The funding comes from medical assistance as
well as self-pay. The voluntary program includes
medication and counseling. The length of treatment is
about 9 months to a year but can be more.
He said their program of methadone helps in the
withdrawal phase and creates a sense of stability during
treatment. The drug also helps cut the craving syndrome.
It also blocks areas of the brain where opiates go to
treat the craving and hopefully prevent usages of
opiates and heroin.
Respectfully submitted,
Bruce Waldman |
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New Castle
Rotary Club #89, P. O. Box 1740, New Castle, PA 16103
Meets 12:10PM Mondays @ Jameson Hospital, South Campus,
1000 S. Mercer Street, New Castle, PA |