www.mouotainmessenqer.com
The teekend
Paper for the Greenbrier Valley - Mountain Messenger
Mar. 1, 2008
1R
- " - -~ ~ ~ .4.
By Marti Marshall
At the Feb. 25 meeting of the
Lewisburg Rotary club, mem-
bers of the Rotary Study Group
Exchange who visited Japan
presented brief descriptions of
their experience in Japan as a
slide presentation was projected
in the background. The group
consisted of Paul Grist, Real
Estate and Auctioneering; Irene
Christian, Monroe County
Schools and a sculptor; Walker
Pogue, The Greenbrier; Regan
Rodgers, Administrator for the
WV State Fair; and Rotary
member Greg Johnson.
Tom Greenstreet introduced
the members of the group, and
introduced Greg Johnson as
the team leader. Johnson re-
marked that he and his wife
had considered trips to Various
locations in Europe, but had
never considered the Asian
countries. Johnson said that
travel in Europe was really in
their "comfort zone" but he felt
that the Japan trip was a little
outside that comfort zone, and
you notice and learn more
when you do leave that "corn-
zone" whatever your per-
sonal comfort level may be.
Greenbrier Episcopal School
is located in the
White Sulphur Springs Civic Center
off of Main Street in downtown
White Sulphur Springs.
10 Dry Creek Rd.
White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986
For Information Call:
304-536-3636
Shepherd's
Japan is a more formal and
structured society than ours.
While it is a democracy, they
are very aware of status. For
example, Paul Grist's family
owns around 2,000 acres of
land. In Japan, that makes him
a very important "Real Estate
Mogul." As the Japanese
Rotarians introduced the team
members they were presented
as celebrities. Greg Johnson
was formerly a social worker,
so he was introduced as a Wery
important social worker."
You don't see upper or lower
class distinction, and business
cards are always exchanged. In
order to be a Rotarian in Ja-
pan you must own or manage
a business. Their annual dues
are $4,000 per year, and
Rotarians there are mostly
from the upper middle class.
There is also a great deal more
international awareness than
we find in our country.
In Japan the group is more
important than the individual.
The collective interest is of pri-
mary importance.
"While they make the world's
best cameras, the Japanese
take the worst pictures," said
of brier
Valley announces Spring 2008
Adventures in Learning
Tai Chi Class at Shepherd's Center
A sure sign of spring is the
beginning of Shepherd's Cen-
ter of Greenbrier Valley's Ad-
ventures in Learning. Classes
began Feb. 28 and will con-
tinue Mar. 6, 13, 27, Apr, 3, and
I0. Classes are open to all ages.
Adventures in Learning will
continue some of our old stand-
bys like Current Evehts with
Cleve Benedict and Creative
Writing with Willa Izzo. There
will be two exercise options.
Terri McCroskey-Pyne will con-
tinue her Tai Chi class and
Barbara Price will lead a new
class of low impact exercises
adapted to all fitness levels
which focuses on flexibility,
endurance, breath control,
and relaxation. Rev. Sally
Woodard will continue her book
discussion this semester fea-
turing, among other works,
spiritual memoirs by people
who are not theologians or-
clergy. Rev. Jack Fox will lead
a study of the Psalms of the
Bible and. Rev. IRon Miller will
lead a study called "Confront-
ing the Controversies" which
are some of the "tough issues"
facing the church today.
Three new instructors to/~d-
ventures in Learning will share
their interest and advocacy
with us. Linda Comeaux will
present "Fresh Food Circus."
The class will be about grow-
ing, preserving and cooking
with fresh vegetables. Susanne
Williams will do a six-session
series called "Mental Illness:
Myths, Facts, and Families."
Bill Shifter will host a six-week
session called "Managing Your
Money in Later Years."
All of the classes will be held
at Lewisburg United Methodist
Church.
Finally, Shepherd's Center,
in partnership with New River
Community and Technical Col-
lege, will offer "Using Your PC,"
a computer class for beginners.
Enrollment is limited and will
be held in the NRCTC Annex
at Jefferson Office Park. Get
your registration in early.
There is something for every-
one in this lineup of classes.
Registration is only $25 for one
or all the classes. For more in-
formation and registration, call
the Shepherd's Center office at
645-4196.
WAN/1'0 YOUR NIAAMACY"
DadJ I1~,|IlL b%b L lmjl~ R,I~.
TAKE I ART IN SOME GOOD NEWS!
According to a recent side effect to patients who carry
government report, for the first a high heart-disease risk,
time in nearly 50 years, theH1NT: Among the best-known
average cholesterol level in U.S prescription drugs for lowering
adults is in the ideal range, cholesterol are Lipitor (Pfizer),
According to a national survey Zocor (Merck), and Pravachol
that included blood tests, the total (Bristol-Myers Squibb).
Our pharmacy is pleased to
share this informative column.
Along with the full range of pre-
scription and over-the-counter
medications, we carry a full range
of home health supplies and
equipment including thermom-
eters of all types, medications,
and aids to daily living. We'll gladly
order anything special for you.
We're located at 370 Seneca Trail,
Fairlea, 304-645-1890. Our
Wellness Center provides free
services such as drug evaluations
blood pressure checks, and pa-
average cholesterol level
decreased to 199. {Experts
consider the ideal level to be 200
and lower.) When the survey
began in 1960, the average
cholesterol level was 222. Much
of the decrease is attributed to
the widespread use of cholesterol
lowering drugs among middle-
aged and older Americans.
Because high cholesterol levels
can clog arteries and lead to heart
disease, physicians have been
aggressively prescribing these
drugs, which carry few (if any} tient coHnseltng.
www. ltzsPharmKy.com
Johnson. They live with one foot
in the ancient East, and the
other in the West. Although
Christmas is gaily decorated,
it represents a commercial
holiday, rather than a religious
one. At Thanksgiving they cel-
ebrate on the Friday after the
Thanksgiving observance in
the U.S. Religion is a part of the
culture that is secular. To il-
lustrate, Johnson displayed a
Rotary Banner that had the
Buddah in the center of the
banner. "You would never see
that in the United States," said
Johnson.
Japan is a male dominated
society--although you might
find a Rotary club with two or
three female members, many
clubs have no female members.
Paul Grist related his expe-
rience of staying with a
Bhuddist Monk and his fam-
ily, who had owned some of
their land over 500 years. They
slept on tatami mats and
futons, and Grist remarked
that what we know in our
country as futons are much
more comfortable.
Irene Christian mentioned
that she thought the trip would
be life changing, but found it
more inspirational. Communi-
cation was mostly through
hand gestures and pointing--
and Christian was impressed
that communication was so
easy, with out a common lan-
guage. She also found one of
her host families, who were
younger, were more rigid and
strict with regard to customs
than the older families.
Regan Rodgers related that
this was her first international
experience. On a feminine note,
Rodgers remarked that she felt
the society was somewhat op-
pressive with regard to how
women are treated. Rodgers
also stayed at a Bhuddist
temple, and that the monk and
his wife were very welcoming
and sincere. Although she tried
to pick up the language, Paul
Grist seemed to picl that up
the best.
Walker Pogue, who is in the
hospitality business, mostly
stayed at hotels, rather than
with host families, so hiS expe-
rience was a bit different. The
most striking difference Pogue
noticed was, as he described it,
"group think versus individu-
alism." He related that he
learned a great deal about hos-
pitality from his host at the
Rose Hotel. From the sheer vol-
ume of meetings that lle at-
tended he has amassed reams
of business cards. After being
invited to attend a meeting of
about 250 people, and during
a question and answer session
which included prizes, Walker
kept raising s hand with an- ]Rotarians from Japan visiting
swers to th~questions that qour area in May, and they will
were being a~ked, and received Ibe recognized at a special meet-
several "prizes" (mostly small ling May 17.
dolls). After the third or fourth In other business, Joe
question, hellrealized that the ]McGraw, Club President, pre-
Q&.A was fo~pre-teens. That ,'sented Mitch Scott with a cer-
brought a h'~arty laugh from ltificate of appreciation for pro-
the audience, widing space for the club ar-
There wi 1 be a team fo mhives and records. McGraw
March 8
We invite y
of a Greenl:
yourchild.
expectation=
ative expre=
respect for (
is currently
School. Our
-4PM
to come explore the possibilities
rier Episcopal School education for
GES weemphasize higlh academic
, personalized instructiom, and ore-
sion. Our community values'" trust,
,thers, and service to malnkind. GES
ccepting applications for IPreK- High
students come from a wiide range of
communitie in Greenbrier and Momroe Coun-
ties. Financial Aid is available.
Greenbrier
missions,
race, color,
School does not discrimi~nate in its ad-
or financial aid policies om the basis of
or ethnic origin.
also asked for volunteers for
the "Burlap and Diamonds"
fund-raising auction coming
up on Mar. 29. Steve Hunter
will be the auctioneer. Ac-
knowledgment came from the
Greenbrier Valley Theatre for
support of the OMahoma pro-
duction.
i
e
"A Caring Community of
Lifelong Learners"
II
Before
If y
On The Road Again
Simple FRnancing
Finances All. of Our
With A
30-DAY UNLIMITED MILEAGE
the vehicle leaves o)ur lot, we fix all major mechanical items such as: Engine,
oension, Drivetrain, Tires & Battery, Steering, Radiator, Starting/Charging
Systems, Brakes, Cooling System, Lighting & Horn
)u should h ave a problem with your vehicle,
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Mike Zimmerman,
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Ashley Burns,
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we comtng
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Connie Hylmn, M.D an internal medicine
physician specializing in the prevention and
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staffof Alieghany Regional Hospital. Dr. Hylton
also supervises the medical care of patients
while they are in the hospital, working with
their primary and consulting specialty physicians
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Medical Degree: Eastern Virginia Medical School,
Norfolk
Residency: Internal Medicine, Pennsylvania State
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Board Eligible: American Board of Internal
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Jackson River Internists
One ARH Lane, Emmett Medical and Surgical Clinic
Suite 300 Low Moor, Virginia 24457
540-862-6710
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