President Mona started her the meeting with a Rotary Minute…......
ROTARY MINUTE:
District Conference – Mona and Keith attended the conference this past weekend. Keith, who knows little of Rotary enjoyed himself and learned so much about Rotary.
The purpose of the district conference is to bring together members and community leaders in the district to inspire greater involvement with Rotary, strengthen existing relationships, and to showcase the impact and outreach of Rotary in the world. The event recognizes accomplishments of members, clubs, and the district in order to give them a vision of Rotary beyond the club level and to provide a memorable fellowship experience.
We discussed the club paying for the President and one additional club member to attend the conference every year. It is a great experience and you get to see just how BIG Rotary really is.
QUOTE:
“Life is an echo – what you send out comes back.” Anonymous
GREETER:
Thank you Turner for greeting us this morning. Next week’s greeter will be....NO MEETING NEXT WEEK HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE
BIRTHDAYS: None
ANNIVERSARIES: Mona, 4 years on November 15th!!
STUDENT ROTARIANS: Megan and Mason from Hinsdale
Varsity girls Soccer lost their playoff game to Littleton so the season is done for them. Moving on to basketball, Girls first game is 12/3 and Boys first game is 12/10. COVID restrictions are in place and they must be masked up at all times on bench and on the court. There is also a 4 person limit on fans for each player per game. The National Honor Society is accepting applications for this year.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- December 13th Trivia Night is for Kids in Coats. Posters are available. Make sure to share the FB event.
- Kevin wanted to thank Will, Josh, Nick and Staci for picking up the empty slots for Project Feed the Thousands. We still have 3 days left at the end of December that need filling. Please go into the sign up genius to see what days are left.
- Discussion around a holiday party. Staci will sending out a Survey Monkey to see what members are interested in doing. PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE THE SURVEY!!!
CARDS: 4 of Hearts… Staci won $59!!!!
BRAGS: NONE- we ran out of time.
SPEAKER:
Justin was our speaker and he discussed his experience with having bipolar disorder because we tend not hear too many positive stories surrounding mental health disorders.
He was diagnosed at 16 years old with Bipolar type II.
There are several types of bipolar and related disorders. They may include mania or hypomania and depression. Symptoms can cause unpredictable changes in mood and behavior, resulting in significant distress and difficulty in life.
Bipolar I disorder. You've had at least one manic episode that may be preceded or followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes. In some cases, mania may trigger a break from reality (psychosis).
Bipolar II disorder. You've had at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, but you've never had a manic episode.
Bipolar II disorder is not a milder form of bipolar I disorder, but a separate diagnosis. While the manic episodes of bipolar I disorder can be severe and dangerous, individuals with bipolar II disorder can be depressed for longer periods, which can cause significant impairment.
Although bipolar disorder can occur at any age, typically it's diagnosed in the teenage years or early 20s. Symptoms can vary from person to person, and symptoms may vary over time.
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but several factors may be involved, such as:
- Biological differences. People with bipolar disorder appear to have physical changes in their brains. The significance of these changes is still uncertain but may eventually help pinpoint causes.
- Genetics. Bipolar disorder is more common in people who have a first-degree relative, such as a sibling or parent, with the condition. Researchers are trying to find genes that may be involved in causing bipolar disorder.
This disorder causes serious shifts in mood, energy, thinking, and behavior—from the highs of mania on one extreme, to the lows of depression on the other. More than just a fleeting good or bad mood, the cycles of bipolar disorder last for days, weeks, or months. And unlike ordinary mood swings, the mood changes of bipolar disorder are so intense that they can interfere with job or school performance, damage your relationships, and disrupt your ability to function in daily life.
Justin experiences something called hyper rapid cycles. As the common cycle for bipolar disorder is months, he can experience cycles in days and without medication it could be hours. He compares it to flipping a light switch.
He has a well-developed support structure who has stuck with him through years. Having had a couple of hospitalizations, one against his will and another at the Retreat for about a month. He now goes to therapy every week and takes his medication that coupled with the people in his life checking in on him has helped tremendously.
Justin tries to be open about his bipolar and is willing to talk about it. He says he is not an expert on it but just a guy that has been through it and is always open to questions.
Editor's Note: Sorry, I am sure I missed a lot of the information Justin provided us but I was so enthralled with his story I just sat and listened and forgot to write. Oops