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 DR.
ROSEMARIE TONG
DR. TONG
TACKLES HOT TOPIC OF STEM CELL RESEARCH
By: Marilynn Bowler
As
controversy over embryonic stem cell research continues to make
headlines even on Election Day 2004, Dr. Rosemarie Tong, PhD and
Professor for Health Care Ethics at the University of North Carolina
at Charlotte, captivated our Rotary Club audience today with a
clearly-worded, well-documented presentation that left our members
hashing-over the topic well after the meeting had ended. As soon as
Claude Lilly began to reel off Dr. Tong’s long and impressive list
of accomplishments during his frequently witty introductory remarks,
we knew we were in for a treat. Having earned her PhD in Philosophy
from Temple University in 1978, Dr. Tong is currently the Director
of the Center for Professional & Applied Ethics at UNC/Charlotte and
has been named CASE National Professor of the Year, has authored
fourteen books and published one hundred and twenty-five articles,
has made three hundred conference presentations, is now consultant
to and/or serves on the boards of several diverse and prestigious
organizations, and is the ethicist for Presbyterian Novant Health &
Northeast Medical Center. Dr. Tong is worth hearing …
“Polarization is the enemy of moral reflection and is the disease
that kills opportunities for moral consensus; for coming together to
solve the problems that concern us as individuals and as a nation
…,” commented Dr. Tong. Referencing Ronald Reagan, Michael J. Fox
and Christopher Reeve and the difficulties so many of us face in
watching those we love suffer, our speaker succinctly presented both
sides of the stem cell debate and fed us background information that
intrigued us. She outlined the sources of stem cells which
scientists have isolated and replicated and which biologists have
found in umbilical cord blood. She talked of embryos created during
in vitro fertilization and those deliberately created from donor
sperm and donor eggs. She spoke of therapeutic cloning and some
scientists’ fear of reproductive cloning. She told us, “Each stem
cell has the capacity to become any kind of human cell --- they are
nothing in particular and everything in general … and there is a
miraculous feel about them.” Most touching of all, among the list of
conditions that may be cured as a result of stem cell research are
Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, Diabetes, some forms of
cancer, and cardiac tissue damaged as a result of a heart attack.
Dr. Tong thoughtfully and respectfully presented the moral issues
and the political arguments. She closed our meeting by challenging
each of us to consider which approach to stem cell research is
better morally, scientifically, economically and politically, then
urged us to continue the search for insight.
The presentation grabbed our attention, tugged at our conscience,
and sent us away deep in thought.
Head Table:
Rich Campbell, Al Nikels,
Catherine Browning, Claude Lilly, Carol Hughes, Ed Turner
Visitors and Guests:
Phil Volponi; Song: Gregg Walker;
Invocation: Leroy Mayne
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R. Powell Majors is honored
at
tree planting ceremony at
Central Piedmont Community College |
 Powell
Majors, member of the Rotary Club of Charlotte since
1938, was honored for his service and commitment to Rotary
on the afternoon of October 28th as he helped Glenn Estess,
Centennial President of
Rotary International, plant a tree on the central campus of
Central Piedmont Community College. This event marks the
fifth tree planting ceremony for Powell, the first being in
1939 with International Rotary Founder and President Paul
Harris. Ten family members were on hand at the Rotary
Foundation Banquet later that evening, as Powell was
presented the District 7680 Service Above Self Award. |
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þ
Welcome new members:
Dr. Jim Pughsley, sponsored
by Tom Robertson and
Dee Dee Murphy, sponsored
by John Tabor.
þ
Herb Harris helped provide the muscle Monday
afternoon for setting up eight voting machines at Dilworth
Elementary School.
þ
Look for NFL Referee
Jeff Triplett at the
Oakland vs Denver game.
þ
Congratulations to
Tim Newman, as he moves
over to lead the newly formed Charlotte Regional Visitors
Authority. Newman was named as the first CEO of the
205-employee, $30 million-plus organization and will move to
his new position November 29. Mike
Crum, who has been the authority’s interim
leader, will become chief operating officer.
þ
Health Update:
John Johnson had surgery on
Tuesday to remove a tumor on his thyroid. He should be
released from the hospital on Wednesday or Thursday;
Bert Voswinkel’s wife,
Pat, had successful heart
surgery last week; Jeff Searcy
has been recovering from surgery and is looking forward to
returning to Rotary; and Dwight
Thomas continues to be a bit under the weather,
but looks forward to returning to the club as soon as he
can.
þ
Thomas Moore has written cover story articles for
two national Scholastic publications, Parent and Child and
Early Childhood Today. Thomas was also the keynote speaker
for Texas Elementary School Principals Association Fall
Conference in Arlington, Texas. And, he addressed the
Southwest Region Literacy Conference in Concord, NC this
week.
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SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING: Herb Harriss
announced the club will be ringing the bell on the Square
for the Salvation Army, November 29 through December 17. The
schedule is posted
HERE.
þ
To honor Rotary
International’s 100th birthday in 2005, all Rotary Clubs
have been encouraged to participate in the Rotary Centennial
Twin Club Program that links two clubs from different
countries. As previously announced, Charlotte Rotary’s Twin
Club is Arequipa, Peru. A group of people traveled to
Arequipa recently and Katie Tyler
had the honor on Tuesday of presenting their club flag and a
symbol of their community, which is a facade of the town.
The Twin Club project will focus on improving firefighting
through an exchange of training and organizational skills.
þ
CRISIS ASSISTANCE MINISTRY: warm clothing for
men, women, and children will be collected throughout the
month of November. Items may be brought to the Tuesday
meetings and dropped off at a designated area as you enter
the parking deck of the Adam’s Mark Hotel, or you may
schedule a time for home pickup through the Rotary office.
þ
NOTE that next week’s speaker (Larry Carroll)
has been rescheduled in order to devote an entire program to
the presentation of the World War II Centennial Project.
DVDs will be presented to twenty-five club members that
participated in the interviews. |
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Attendance
Record |
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11/02/04 |
11/04/03 |
| visitors &
guests |
5 |
16 |
| club
members |
185 |
195 |
| total
attendance |
190 |
211 |
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Wedding
Anniversaries |
10 Kris and Chuck Ambrose
10 Jan and Ron Kimble
13 Amy and Fred Parker |
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New Members | Resignations |
Dee Dee Murphy
Jim Pughsley |
n/a |
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| Roaming
Rotarians |
Ronnie Pruett, Florence, Italy
Peggy Wesp, Arequipa, Peru
Ralston Pound, Myrtle Beach, SC | |
| Birthdays and
Birthplaces |
09 Chip Scholz, Wheaton, IL
10 Mike Rash, Charlotte, NC
11 Robert Kirk, Maryland
12 Bob Boulware, Lakeland, FL
14 Frank Martin, Asheville, NC |
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