Letters (September 2008)

Early days of Route 66

Thanks for the great article “Greetings from Route 66” in the May issue. My father, age 86, tells of his trip from Chicago to Los Angeles, in the middle of the Great Depression, with his father and mother in their 1928 Pontiac, towing a small, two-wheeled trailer. Hundreds of thousands migrated west on this highway, taking their only possessions, which they packed in their cars or lashed to the sides and roofs. Each evening my father’s family camped along the highway and built a fire to cook dinner. The most difficult part of the 2,400 miles was crossing the Black Mountains north of Needles, Calif. Route 66 crossed these mountains over Sitgreaves Pass. The twists and turns in the road frightened some travelers, so they paid locals to drive them over. Those who traveled Route 66 in the early days are now passing away.

Donald R. Dillon
Long Beach, Calif., USA

Perfect attendance on Route 66

The article by Mark Mitchell on his trip on Route 66 brought back some real memories. In 1956, my father, who had years of perfect attendance in Rotary, took the summer off and loaded my mother, younger brother, and me into our 1955 Chevy station wagon (no air conditioning) to travel Route 66. It was a great trip, and we went through hundreds of small towns. We spent a day in Weatherford, Okla., at the town swimming pool because it was too hot to drive. We traveled the Turner Turnpike between Tulsa and Oklahoma City, [and it] was the first time we had ever seen a dual-lane expressway. We spent three days in Williams, Ariz., because my dad [wanted] to stay there until Rotary meeting day. It took nearly two weeks to drive from Chicago to Los Angeles, but we sure saw a lot of sights along the way.

Jack Henderson
Falconer, N.Y., USA

Rotarians en route

The Route 66 article in the May issue was a hit. What a great idea and an interesting way to depict Rotary and Rotarians across the country, along the famous Route 66 through the  heartland. It was interesting, entertaining, and well-written with great pictures. Thanks for a really special article.

Richard Liess
Goodland, Kan., USA

Another Rotary road trip

Just as Mark Mitchell visited with Rotarians in the article “Greetings from Route 66” in the May issue, I am on the road meeting Rotarians. I have taken a career break to travel and live in my motor home. In September 2007, I began my travels through the United States and Canada, and eventually I will make my way through Mexico and Central America. Along the way, I am attending weekly Rotary club meetings. I have exchanged banners with clubs from Pharr, Texas, to Saint Nicolas, Que. I have been welcomed into Rotarians’ homes and invited to talk about my life on the road. I hope other Rotarians will be inspired by my road trip and Mark’s to venture out to other clubs and add to their Rotary experience with fellowship, fulfillment, and fun. Folks can read my blog at http://glotours.blogspot.com.

Patricia Lonsbary
Greensburg, Pa., USA

“Don’t forget Winona” – and Joplin

I read with interest Mark Mitchell’s story about Route 66. But he said that while visiting Galena and Baxter Springs in Kansas, he had to go an hour away to Parsons to attend a Rotary club meeting. Just seven miles from Galena is Joplin, Mo. – the town in the song.  The town Route 66 goes through. The town with sights from the old days. And the town with two very active Rotary clubs.

Jack Parker
Joplin, Mo., USA

Editor’s note: The Rotary clubs of Joplin and Joplin Daybreak were unintentionally overlooked. Our apologies to these Rotarians.

What the world needs now 

The article “Difficult People” [Management, May] misses one important point:­ The world needs difficult people. Some of the great historical figures – Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Aung San Suu Kyi – have been described as “difficult” because of their devotion to their causes and their refusal to acquiesce to the many people urging them to back down. My wife and I run an environmental pressure group, and we are delighted to be called “difficult” because we aim to prick consciences and to ask difficult questions. The idea that the problems of the world are best served by harmonious action is a myth. The world needs difficult people. Sometimes, they are right  and you are wrong.

David Newberry
Kowloon, Hong Kong

Difficult situations 

As a Rotarian and licensed marriage and family therapist who provides training programs on stress management and conflict resolution, I might add one more suggestion to the many helpful tips in the article “Difficult People.” Instead of labeling the other guy a “difficult person,” try thinking of it as a “difficult situation.” This depersonalized approach can reduce defensiveness and enhance collaborative problem solving. Besides, it may also help us, as Rotarians, to be fair to all concerned.

Jim Huber
Wyomissing, Pa., USA

Push for media coverage

Most clubs overlook a publicity ally right in their neighborhood [“The Media Are the Messengers,” May]: community newspapers and local cable TV stations. We have found ours to be very receptive to the Rotary message and news on our club’s projects. Last Rotary year, our club was mentioned 31 times in two newspapers and on one TV station, all of which was free! We do it by giving the media what they want: complete stories professionally presented with quality photography. Our club readily partners with both local and international clubs on projects, and all of this activity produces many good story opportunities. Local awareness of our active club is higher than ever, which helps with recruiting, fundraising, and community participation.

Bryan Kelly
Delta, B.C., Canada

Challenge time

The Rotary Club of Indianapolis enjoys the regular attendance of Rich Vonnegut, born 20 February 1913. Vonnegut became a Rotarian in 1961, is a Paul Harris Fellow, and has been for many years a stalwart on the club’s history committee, from which he is not permitted to resign. Vonnegut has also achieved 31 years of perfect attendance.

Bill Ervin
Indianapolis, Ind., USA

Editor’s note: A December letter writer challenged readers to find the oldest active member. So far, Vonnegut holds the record.

Merits of proton beam therapy

The article “Choosing Wisely” [Health, May] was a good summary of options for persons diagnosed with prostate cancer. Unfortunately, it did not provide enough detail about proton beam radiation therapy, a possibly better choice for treating up to 50 varieties of cancer. It is available in 25 hospitals worldwide, including 5 in the United States. The treatment involves a stream of protons that is guided to the tumor with magnets more accurately than conventional X-ray radiation. In many cases, it is possible to provide more radiation to the tumor than with traditional treatments. I received 180 rems for 44 days, totaling about 8,000 rems. If this amount of radiation was received at once, it would be more than 10 times the lethal dose. The Web site www.protonbob.com can supply information and [names of] hospitals providing the therapy.

Paul Williams
Medina, Ohio, USA

Questionable treatment?

I have greatly enjoyed reading The Rotarian and have come to expect quality reporting and writing. I was therefore disappointed to read “Choosing Wisely” concerning prostate cancer in the May issue. It is good that you sought the input of two Rotarians who are practicing urologists. However, as someone with a background of 52 years in medicine, I was dismayed that the concluding “alternative” therapy recommended was self- determined to consist of colonic irrigation, herbs, dietary supplements, and vitamins, along with green tea and “oxygenated water.” I wish this patient the best and am happy that he falls into the category of “active surveillance.” However, readers may believe that the above treatment is applicable to them, when in fact it has virtually no credibility and falls squarely into the category of anecdotal evidence.

Spencer W. Myers, MD
Salinas, Calif., USA