This week’s speaker, Frank Mack from the Utah Shakespeare Festival coincides with our annual Shakespeare Festival trip. William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest playwright of the English language. When collaborative works are included, Shakespeare is credited with 39 plays and 154 sonnets. Even though they were written over four hundred years ago, Shakespeare’s plays are required reading for high school English students and colleges and Universities continue to offer courses studying his works. Shakespeare’s plays have been performed around the world in almost every language.

What is it about Shakespeare’s works that resonate with us today, more than four hundred years after his death? The language of Shakespeare’s works are rich, the characters he created are complex and his themes – love, betrayal, war, valor, bravery and political intrigue resonate with audiences today. Shakespeare’s plays capture the human spirit, make us laugh and cry. We are able to see and examine our shortcomings when we look at the characters he created and compare their flaws to ours.

Shakespeare has become embedded in the fabric of Anglo-Saxon society. Although you don’t know it, you probably quote Shakespeare regularly. Phrases attributed to Shakespeare include “it’s Greek to me,” “green-eyed jealousy,” “stood on ceremony,” “tongue-tied,” “hoodwinked” and “in a pickle.” Shakespeare’s works are moving, funny and poignant. For that, we are all the better. If you want to attend this year’s Shakespeare Festival please contact Deb Granda.

James A. Kohl

Las Vegas Rotary Club Meeting: August 9, 2018

• President Jim Kohl called the meeting to order. Blake Myers gave the invocation. PP Russ Swain led the club in singing his favorite song, God Bless America, followed by President Jim leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance. The Sergeant at Arms was PP Steve Linder.
• There were (0) International Rotarians, (2) visiting Rotarians and (9) Guests of Rotarians introduced.
• President Jim encouraged members to open up their Facebook page and share the LVRC live streaming and web page to spread the word of Rotary and about our Club; Janice Lencke announced the success of sales of the fundraising raffle tickets, now up to $6,000, with at least four club members selling 5 or more tickets (PE Jackie Thornhill currently holding the record for 11 tickets sold)
• Jaime Goldsmith presented a check for $500 from her attendance at the Star Trek Convention to 25 Club President Luci Parodi as a kickstart to the 25 Club’s Annual Canned Food Drive (it’s never too early to start!)
• President Jim announced Rotary Essentials Training is scheduled for 9/8, and the upcoming Shakespeare Festival scheduled for 9/7-9/8, and to RSVP to Deb Granda for the Friday night dinner and Saturday cocktail party by 9/1; Janet Linder invited members to attend the New Member Orientation on 8/22 at 6 pm at the home of Jerry Sennes; Chris Bennett gave information regarding team formation for the 2018-19 Fantasy Football Season, $250 entry per team, with ½ of the winning proceeds going to LVRCF; Marie Walsh announced the kickstart of the 2018-19 Breakfast With Books at Beckley ES with the first event set for 9/11, with members requested to be at the school at 7:30 a.m. for setting up; Toni Kern announced the recruiting of Mentors for the 2018-19 Books and Buddies program organized by Spread The Word Nevada and other options/events of participating with STWN; member Janet Lee attended the weekly lunch after an 8 month absence, explaining she got married in the interim and did a lot of traveling for work
• The weekly drawing began at $1,706 plus this week’s donations. The Ticket Winner was Barbara Rodgick, a guest of Tina Bishop, who received a prize of $10 and the Lawrys Bucks Winner was Bob Barnhart.
• Tina Bishop introduced our program speaker, Dr. Marwan Sabbagh, the new Director at the Cleveland Clinic – Lou Ruvo Center For Brain Health. As a researcher and physician, Dr. Sabbagh presented an eye-opening talk with slides and statistics about Alzheimer’s dementia, noting 1 in 28 people over 65 get the disease and that the occurrence of Alzheimer’s has increased while the occurrence of death by cancer and heart disease have decreased. There are trials, studies, and medications that have allowed researchers to reach close to the point where Alzheimer’s may no longer be considered a terminal disease but, rather, a chronic one, by slowing down the process. Of import is a new area of research called RAGE that is exciting the medical community and Dr. Sabbagh, concluding his presentation by advising there are 7 trials currently underway trying to intervene in the disease process (which begin 20 years before observed symptoms) before the symptoms even begin and the future of research for Alzheimer’s is focused on prevention.
• President Jim presented our speaker with a “Share What You Can” award to benefit a veteran in need and then adjourned the meeting.