There’s a new sheriff in town! President Doug Person opened the meeting with a reflection on his attendance at the RI Convention. He compared Rotary values to the cowboy spirit, emphasizing community service and ambitious goals for the coming year. He noted the Calgary Convention event's scale, with 16,000 Rotarians from 140 countries attending, and noted the Western theme and emphasis on indigenous peoples.
After the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Jay Miller, Bobba Venkatadri asked Marilyn Orr to introduce his grandson, Vikas Bobba. Vikas presented President Doug with a shawl to thank him and Rotary for all their good works in the community and the world.
Reverand Paul Watermulder delivered the invocation focusing on character and commitment, noting the sign sitting in the front yard of his home which reads, “Character Counts”.
President Doug asked for the introduction of visiting Rotarians and guests. Frank Yoke of San Francisco Rotary #2 joined us.
Jerry Winges shared his takeaways from the Rotary International Convention, highlighting the global scope of Rotary with 1.2 million members in 220 countries and 40,000 local clubs. He discussed club trends, including more flexible club types and sizes, as well as membership growth ideas.
Jeff Krolik introduced Bret Johnson who is now our newest member. Welcome Bret!
Chamber president and Rotarian Susan Baker announced the upcoming Burlingame on the Avenue. It will be held on August 16th and 17th. We need Rotarians to help at the Wine & Beer booths, as we have done in the past. As a reminder, all the tips collected will be donated to our Club’s scholarship fund. So, sign up for a shift.
Program:
Jennifer Pence introduced our speaker, Dr. Alicia Zhou, CEO of Cancer Research Institute. The Cancer Research Institute, a nonprofit organization founded in 1953, focuses on funding cancer research through four main pillars: basic research, clinical trials, data initiatives, and patient education. Led by Nobel Prize winner Dr. Jim Allison, the organization has granted over $560 million to date, supporting academic research centers and clinical trials like the one that benefited Tom, a cancer survivor who found success with immunotherapy. The institute aims to increase its annual grant funding to $35 million and is launching a new data initiative to leverage AI and large language models for future discoveries. Additionally, they provide educational resources for patients to guide them through their cancer journey.
Dr. Zhou discussed current trends in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. She highlights the significant progress made in immunotherapy, with over 30 cancers now treatable and improved patient outcomes. The American Cancer Society's annual report shows breast cancer as the most common in women and prostate cancer in men, with lung cancer incidence decreasing due to smoking cessation efforts. Zhou noted an alarming increase in cancer incidence among women under 50, although overall cancer mortality is declining. She emphasized the importance of preventative screenings, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and understanding personal risk factors for cancer prevention. The doctor also discussed improvements in survival rates for various cancers, particularly breast, prostate, and melanoma, and stressed the potential to eradicate cervical cancer through vaccination and screening.
Dr. Zhou emphasized the importance of following established cancer screening guidelines and not relying solely on these new technologies. She then discussed various cancer treatment options, focusing on immunotherapy and its success in treating certain cancers, particularly when specific biomarkers are present. A recent study highlighted where patients with a specific biomarker were able to avoid surgery by using immunotherapy alone, demonstrating the potential for personalized cancer treatment approaches.
Dr. Zhou concluded her presentation on immunotherapy's impact on cancer survival rates and opened the floor for questions.
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