July 17, 2009 Meeting

Inspired Introduction

In keeping the new meeting format set by President Bill, Deedee O'Brien expounded on the the virtues of the Four Way Test. Ten years ago, she "bought the farm" - Ironstone Farm that is. She faced the near impossible task for raising $100,000 in matching funds when a check for $50,000 magically appeared. The money, the good will and the farm are all great for all concerned.

Guests

Katherine Barr and Alice Koogan were back as their official club initiation draws near. Brian Mercer and Al Gettle joined speaker John Power as bonafide guests. The usual suspects included natural blondes Katherine and Caroline Buck.

Speaker - John Powers

Stories of doping by athletes generally invoke the MEGO reaction (My eyes glaze over). Boston Globe sportswriter John Powers believes that the gravity of the story, especially in baseball, still merits our attention and concern. Sadly the stories of iconic superstars falling off their pedestals when caught with performance enhancing drugs in their bodies show no sign of slowing down. A sizable fraction of Hall-of-Fame caliber players have doped just to bolster their edge.

Doping does not begin only at the professional level. In fact creatine, a legal over-the-counter dietary supplement, is taken in large quantities by high school athletes. Product names with phrases such as "XXX, Meta and Ripped" are all supplements whose safety when taken by aspiring athletes in large doses is in question.

Football players have used Human Growth Hormone (HGH) for decades and retired in their thirties only to face the rest of their lives with debilitating ailments.

Only the Olympics implements blood testing of participants at a frequency that is likely to catch cheaters. Still he believes that some substances escape undetected by these test. John brought up the case of two superstar competitors whose resurgence in mid-life leaves plenty of suspicion that hormones played an important role in their rebound: cyclist Lance Armstrong and swimmer Dara Torres. Dara is the oldest swimmer to win 5 medals--3 at age 41 and after 6 years of retirement. Though she volunteered to take several blood tests Power remains skeptical. Another older Olympic swimmer, Ireland's Michelle Smith, raised suspicions at the 1996 Olympics when she won 3 gold medals shortly after being ranked 41st in the world. Even more shocking are allegations that drug use pervades even the Special Olympics.

Perhaps the greatest problem created by the widespread use of PED's is that all great athletic performances are routinely greeted with suspicion. Our eyes may glaze over but we have a long way to go before we can safely celebrate great athletic performances.

Raffle

The pot was up to a tempting $300 and the number of cards was down to 24. John Colbert's Five of Hearts was bested by Diane Sollars' Queen of Spades.

Announcements

An organizational meeting held the day before in Peter Caruso's office laid out a bevy of great ideas for a packed event calendar. The Pancake Breakfast on Bowling Green is scheduled for September 26. In addition to flapjacks are activities and games for the whole family. Other events under consideration include: Ballroom dancing with instructor Steve White, Bowling Night, Holiday spree in New York, concert by a celebrity performer and a night devoted to the second annual Educator of the Year.

With this ambitious calendar heroes are needed to provide food and sponsors.

Fines and Hapy Dollars

Sargent-at-arms Howard Perkins segued from the speaker to fines by exacting a fine from all who have taken anything resembling a drug (including coffee and spirits). Kathleen Buck celebrated her wins at a swim meet (sans doping). Marie pitched a buck in for the planned fundraising. Sister Caroline was just happy to be at Wednesday night's Spinners game. Echoing these sentiments were the Sollars. David "Cat" Sollars was especially pleased with his feline makeover at the game.

Joan Johnson saluted our speaker. Jim Greeley saluted Deedee and the speaker. Kathy Enright tossed a couple in for the Eagles (I'm guessing the band and not the raptor). Also celebrating a perfect night at the Spinners was Doc Matt Gold. Paul Mercandetti rejoiced over the late arrival of summer. Arriving on time was all the reason Deedee needed to contribute, though her successful organizing of the Spinners Night was added incentive. Alan Michels returned from a family reunion in Baltimore and is looking forward to the Pancake Breakfast.

Our dedicated server, Tricia was happy to be amongst us. President Billrecognized the loyalty and great service provided by Tricia and Jack with checks and standing ovations for both. Bill ended the morning with a five for our upcoming fundraising activities.