El Cerrito Rotary: The Wheel April 1, 2010

Editors:  Gary Buffon & Michael Dougherty
Week of April 1, 2010     
(www.rotary5160.org)

 President Elect Karen welcomed everyone to the Friendly El Cerrito Rotary Club.  Karen led the flag salute and Gary B provided the thought for the day.

Secretary John: Today’s visitors included Cynthia Fong, Eric Mai and Jessica Ong board members of the our Interact Club.

4-Way Test Presentation:    Not done today

Announcements:

• Gary B told everyone about the Interact Swim-a-Thon on April 24 and also the Interact Night  next  Thursday April 8.  Go have dinner and the Interact Club will get 25% of your meal price for their fund raiser.
• Cynthia gave an update on the Black and White dance scheduled for this Saturday evening and ask for chaperones and sponsorship donations
•  Marty announced the bowl-a-thon is on track
•  Karen is having a kickoff meeting for the 2010-2011 fund raising committee.  If you want to attend let Karen know.
• Demotion Dinner for Tracy –June 5 (Saturday evening 6p to 10p.  Members will attend free and guest tickets are $45 per person.  What a deal!!! 

Happy dollars:  Nobuko is happy she and Jon are going to Japan for a two week vacation.  Gary B is happy that Michael D is covering for the bulletin because he is going to Klamath Falls, Or to hunt ground squirrels.  Jack is happy he and Carol are going to NYC to participate in a Mike Huckabee show on Fox News.  Michael D is $10 happy his training for an upcoming marathon is going well.   Marty is happy he had a record month in March at his business.

Sgt at Arms Nancy:   Not on duty today

Today’s Program: 

Karen introduced our own Frank Lee to give us an informational update on long term care (LTC) insurance with emphasis on what it is, how it works and do you need it.  Frank warmed us up by giving us the Alzheimer’s reading test and also told us funny about Easter.  Then he got down to the important matter of Long Term Care Insurance. 

He began by sharing the six reasons people sign up for this insurance: 1) Not burden their family.  2) Access to quality care.  3) Aversion to Medicaid. 4) Asset protection.  5) Control of independence. 6) Feel secure.   With these in mind Frank took us through a few scenarios of ways to address each of these items with or without LTC insurance.  He briefly explained the California partnership program that allows a person to have insurance and keep assets through an insurance program.  Frank also pointed out insurance companies have websites that detail the costs of long term care in each state so one can get an idea of the costs involved in this situation.

Frank also addressed the need to discuss the issue of LTC insurance with parents to make sure families can deal with unexpected situations.    We were also given brochures providing a guide to LTC insurance.  At the end of his presentation, Frank fielded a lot of good questions that provided us with a lot of good information.  Thanks Frank for a quality presentation.

Frank Lee presents info on Long Term Care insurance

Today’s Lottery Winner:   Jack had his ticket drawn and won the bottle of wine, then drew a cats eye marble.   At our next meeting the jackpot is $85. 

Thought for the Week:

Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.

--Helen Keller