February 26, 2013 COG Meeting Notes

 Rotary Club of Castro Valley
2012-13 Theme

President Hafsa has chosen Environmental Advocacy under Clean Up the World's Global Campaign as our Club Project / Theme for 2012-13

Be sure to check our calendar frequently for event information and update. E-Mail Steve Ontiveros if you have an event or committee meeting you'd like added to the calendar. 

Welcome & Introductions

Singing with Ceta

Visitors

Hello Song 

 Getting to Know Our Fellow Castro Valley Rotarians
Breda Supple

 Membership

New Members

Blue Badgers

Red Badgers

 Castro Valley Rotary in the Community
Important Upcoming Events

After-Hours Networking Mixer
March 4th 5:30 pm
$5

District 5170 Conference
March 21-24

 Let's Go Fishing!
April 10th

Pancake Putt-Putt
April 20th 

Castro Valley Sports Foundation Crab Feed at San Leandro Boys and Girls Club
April 13

Chili Cook-Off
May 10th

Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade
May 11th

 Regular Reminders & Announcements

 Eden Hospital Project Update

 Access Your Club Information

Club Attendance 

Be sure to let our Club Secretary Jim Negri know whenever you attend any meetings associated with our club. 

Need to make up a meeting? Click Here to search for a club nearby. 

 Recognitions

Pay it Forward

 Announcements

CONGRATULATIONS, STEVE ONTIVEROS ON YOUR NEW BABY!  We passed the hat knowing that the Club would match the total . . . President Hafsa announced that we will be issuing a check to get the little gal’s college account started for $400!  Well done!

Program
Carrie Davis of Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics the United States’ leading provider of prosthetics and orthotics

Our speaker today was  Carrie Davis of Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics, the United States’ leading provider of prosthetics and orthotics. Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics help amputees and individuals with musculoskeletal disabilities and injuries improve their quality of life and regain their self-confidence. From artificial limbs to braces to orthotic shoes, Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics offer a complete range of products and services to get patients back on their feet again.

With a network of over 700+ Patient Care Clinics nationwide and hundreds of certified specialists and technicians who customize and fit prosthetic and orthotic devices, Hanger is by far the largest and most experienced P&O provider in the nation. Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics fit their patients with the most advanced prosthetic and orthotic technologies in the world, including the i-Limb Hand, C-Leg and WalkAide device. Each year they fit thousands of patients with the latest in prosthetics, braces and supports for a wide variety of conditions.

Working with Inner Wheel Clubs, fifty arms have been made and presented to fifty children!  And when the arm is outgrown, the parts are recycled to help other kids!  Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics staff donate their time and experience.

Carrie Davis was born and raised in Spokane, Washington; the perfect place for an outdoor enthusiast.  As a child, Carrie enjoyed a number of outdoor activities including fishing, camping, skiing, boating, and track and field.  In high school, Carrie was involved in numerous clubs and activities and volunteered with developmentally disabled students daily.  It was with those students where she developed a passion for teaching and service.

She went on to Washington State University and earned her Bachelor of Arts in English and minored in Speech Communications.  She also earned her Secondary Teaching Certificate, and upon graduation, returned to Spokane to teach high school English and to coach a national qualifying debate team.  After her first year, she was one of three teachers in School District 81 to receive the Sallie Mae Best New Teacher Award.  Two years later, she moved to California and continued her teaching career and then went on to Texas, where she left her teaching job in order to take on another job: motherhood.

In Texas, Carrie started working part-time for Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics, setting appointments for Upper Extremity Clinics and offering assistance to patients who were making decisions about prosthetics.  Over the last nine years, the position has evolved, and now Carrie functions as the National Upper Extremity Patient Advocate, combining her love of teaching and service with her passion to help others like her and as the Amputee Empowerment Partners National Coordinator, a group of over 650 trained volunteers who assist others transitioning into life after limb loss. 

Carrie was born with a below elbow congenital limb deficiency and has worn a prosthesis since she was nine months old.  She has tried every option available from the cable-operated prosthesis, to the passive prosthesis, to the technologically advanced myoelectric prosthesis, including the most recent addition to the UE market, the iLIMB.  Additionally, she uses a variety of specialized terminal devices, like a guitar adapter, weight lifting adapters, and biking and swimming TDs to assist her in attaining her goals.  She has participated in numerous sporting events like the CAF San Diego Triathlon Challenge and the NYC Nautica National PC Championship Triathlon and has been awarded First Place National Female Upper Limb Amputee Finisher twice. 

As part of her position with Hanger Prosthetics, she travels all across the country offering her experience and perspective to patients, therapists, prosthetists and doctors in her committed effort toward improving patient care.  She acts as a peer mentor and serves as the support group leader and assistant for Camp No Limits, a national foundation dedicated to helping young amputees realize their potential.  She also works with families of children born with congenital anomalies and advocates for all amputees, assisting those in need to find resources for funding, as well as through her participation in the ACA Peer Mentor Program and the ACA’s Lobby Day on Capitol Hill this year.

Carrie lives by the motto, “Life is not about finding yourself; it’s about creating yourself,” and strives to create the best life for herself, her family, and for the people and patients she serves, by taking an active role in life, regardless of limitations.  She believes that the only limitations we have for ourselves are the ones that we create in our own minds, and therefore, she chooses “no limits.”  She is grateful everyday that she is able to assist in the lives of others through her participation in patient care in the prosthetics industry.

Today, Carrie is the AEP National Coordinator and an Upper Extremity Patient Advocate. She provides peer training for other AEP members, writes articles about limb loss and the power of peer support for local and national publications and personally meets and greets all new Empowering Amputees members.  Join www.empoweringamputees.org

Visit www.hanger.com for inspirational stories and additional company information.