Lee Jenkins Moss, Executive  Director of the Brain Injury Association of Mississippi and member of the Club, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson at the Club’s May 28, 2019, meeting about Fall Prevention. She presented many facts about falls and their prevalence in older people. Her first point was that whenever you work, you need a partner. The key fact is “working together prevents falls.” Likewise remaining active will prevent falls..Falls are the number one cause of death among seniors.

The following are other key points Ms. Moss made in her presentation.

Why do we fall:

• Lack of activity

• Lack of awareness of our surroundings

• Lack of routine

• Lack of Technology

• Medication affects

• Our living environment

How often do we fall:

• One-half of people over 65 have fallen

• 75% of adults over 80 have fallen

• Those who have fallen will fall again

• An instant response to a fall is critical for recovery

Falls cause head injuries:

• Falls are the most common cause of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

• TBI accounts for 50% of the fatal falls among older adults

• Adults 75+ have the highest rate of TBI related-death

Fear of Falling:

• Limited physical activity leads to reduced mobility and increased weakness

• Significantly increases fall risk

• Often leads to depression and reduced quality of life

• Can cause further loss of function, feelings of helplessness and social isolation

Consequences of fall-related injuries:

• Loss of mobility

• TBI

• Rapidly declining health

• Hospitalization

• Elevated near-term mortality

• Escalation to a nursing home

Why do we want to keep you independent longer:

• Nursing homes are not where you belong

• Nursing homes are more than double the cost of staying at home

• Abuses are regularly reported at nursing homes

• 60% of nursing home residents have no visitors each year

• Cognitive, physical function, and health rapidly decline there

• You live in a beautiful community at your home

• We care, and you deserve better

Clutter causes falls:

• If you are over 65, you are at risk

• There are numerous traps from cords, carpets, magazines and 24 categories of items that can cause falls

• You need to schedule a home safety inspection today.

Risks of _Poly-Pharmacy”

• Taking multiple medications

• Taking meds that aren't yours

• Purchasing your meds from different pharmacies

Vision problems -  you don’t see the hazards

A decline in hearing ability

The number one reason that people fall is due to a lack of physical activity that leads to loss of physical function. So why aren’t seniors more active? There are numerous benefits from physical activity:

• Increased health and disease prevention

• Bone, joint, and muscle strength

• Increased functionality

• Increased mental health and quality of life

• Those who state the lates have the most to gain

It is critical that we all increase our leisure and recreation, including increased physical activity and getting out more. Don’t just sit around watching TV. Health, happiness, and security are the Goal!.

When you fall, it is critical that you respond instantly to assure safety, recovery, and independence.

Remember: It’s not how long you live, but how long you live well!

We thank Lee for her presentation. It is critical to our Club with its large number of older members!

Amanda Fontaine, Past District Governor of Rotary District 6820, spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson about Families First for MS at the Club’s June 4, 2019, meeting about Families First for Mississippi. Families First for Mississippi (FFFM)  is headquartered in the Jackson Metro area and provides support for families in Southern & Central Mississippi. FFFM is a service provided by Mississippi Community Education Center & Family Resource Center of North Mississippi.

Over the past 20 years, Families First for Mississippi has successfully served the state of Mississippi by providing services to meet the vast needs of Mississippians that span over generations and cross-demographic, cultural and economic backgrounds. FFFM strives to support the family system to create successful employees, provide academic and social opportunities for all Mississippi students, and provide stability for families to flourish successfully across the state of Mississippi.

Services are delivered jointly by two community organizations: The Mississippi Community Education Center (MCEC) and the Family Resource Center of North Mississippi (FRC). The united efforts of both organizations strengthen families of all backgrounds and life circumstances by providing support and services - from parenting classes, educational opportunities, positive youth development, literacy assistance, and workforce and job readiness. Families First for Mississippi offers these services through seminars, workshops, classes and presentations held in schools, community centers, churches, and state agency offices. Families First for Mississippi works diligently to positively impact lives and create hopeful futures for all Mississippians.

The whole family concept involves all ages as well as utilizes partnerships with state of Mississippi agencies and community organizations to fill any gaps and eliminate any duplications between services. Families First for Mississippi’s core services stimulate employment through job readiness, support family financial stability, promote literacy, increase graduation rates, support positive youth development, and promote parenting skills development. In an effort to provide students assistance who are at risk of not graduating, Families First for Mississippi offers courses in a flexible and hassle-free environment as an option to earn a high school diploma. Courses prepare students for postsecondary institutions, military, and employment opportunities.

We thank Amanda for her presentation, for her service and commitment to Rotary and to the families of Mississippi. Amanda is shown below prior to her presentation and following it with Club Vice President/President-Elect Greg Campbell.

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Mississippi State Trooper Mitchell Chappell spoke to the Rotary Club of North Jackson about his survival and recovery from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) at the Club’s May 14, 2019 meeting. Trooper Chappell was injured on September 11, 2016, while responding to a call about a wreck on Interstate 55 when his cruiser hydroplaned sending him into a tree-filled median. He was evacuated by MHP troopers, and taken to King's Daughters' Hospital in Brookhaven and ultimately transferred to UMMC in Jackson. Trooper Chappell suffered other injuries but the most severe was the TBI.

Following the accident, he remained at UMMC for 30 days after which he was transferred to the Select Specialty Hospital in Ridgeland to continue his recovery. Ultimately he was transferred to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, GA. Seven months after his injury, Trooper Chappell was discharged from the Shepherd Center and returned home to MS. Trooper Chappell showed photos of himself shortly after his injury at the Select Specialty Hospital and at the Shepherd Center. He still has no memory of the accident or of what happened before he arrived at the Shepherd Center. HIs presentation to the Rotary Club was his first public speaking engagement since his injury, nearly three years ago. Trooper Chappell is shown in the following photo with Club Secretary Lee Carney following his speech. We thank him for his speech and for his service to the citizens of Mississippi.

Tom Sheppard, Head of School, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, spoke to the rotary Club of North Jackson at the Club’s May 7, 2019, meeting. The subject of his talk was “Why St. Andrew’s Matters to Mississippi.” He started his talk by citing that the school’s students have an average composite  ACT score of 30, which on a national basis is the 95th percentile.

Mr. Sheppard came to St. Andrew’s in the fall of 2018 from the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ, where he was Dean of Enrollment Management. He is a graduate of Washington & Lee University and received his M. Ed.. from Lehigh University.

He presented three key points on why St. Andrew’s Matters to Mississippi: People, Program, and Partnership.

A key point is that PEOPLE are the key to St. Andrew’s, He emphasized the impact St. Andrew's graduates are having. For our state he cited  Robert Langford, Executive Director of Operation Shoestring in Jackson, Lucien Smith, head of the Mississippi Republican Party, North Jackson Rotarian Jack Allin, Principal Architect with Wier Boerner Allin Architects plus other graduates making a global impact including  Dr. Anita Goel, Chairman and CEO of Nanobiosym, Andrew Chatham with Google and Chief Engineer of Google’s Waymo subsidiary that is developing driverless vehicles, and Alexander Clark Founder and CEO of Technolutions.

Mr. Sheppard’s second point regarding St. Andrew’s was that the School’s PROGRAM serves as a magnet for making a difference. His final key point was that service via PARTNERSHIPS with others makes a difference to our community and the world. Examples of this service were the school’s partnerships with UMMC, The Piney Woods School, Jackson Public Schools, McWilllie and Boyd Elementary Schools. Although not included in the 3 Ps, the St. Andrew's Honor Code is a key factor for the school:  

"On my honor as a St. Andrew’s student, I pledge that I will neither lie, nor cheat, nor steal.”

We thank Mr. Sheppard for his presentation to our Club and for his commitment to Mississippi. He is shown below with Rotarian Lee Moss (left) who introduced him and with Club President Anna Powers.

Shown below are Mr. Sheppard (center), with Lauren McMillin, St. Andrew’s Director of Alumni and Public Relations, and Rotarian Erik Hearon (right).

Mr. Sheppard was accompanied by Jay Philpott, Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Stephanie Garriga, director of Institutional Advancement. Mrs. Garriga is shown in the following photo with Rotarian Jack Allin, a St. Andrew's alumnus.