Meeting Program:
(Pictured below: Dr. Marilyn Spencer introduces Dr. Rajan)
Introduced by Dr. Marilyn Spencer, Dr. Magesh T. Rajan was the guest
speaker for the week. Dr. Magesh Rajan joined the faculty of Texas A&M
University-Corpus Christi in 2009, where he is the Director for the University’s
Plasma Engineering Research Program and is Associate Professor in the
Department of Engineering.
Dr. Rajan received his PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and
he was a lead engineer at GE in New York. His research has been funded
by the Department of Defense and other government agencies. He has
published two books, 6 book chapters, 25 journal articles and over 100
conference publications.
Notably, Dr. Rajan is the recipient of Mayor’s Corpus Christi 40 Under 40 Person of the Year
Award and TAMUCC excellence in research and scholarly activity award, among several others.
(Pictured below: Dr. Magesh Rajan)
Dr. Rajan said his area of specialization was with cold plasma. Cold plasma, which is an energy
source occurs as a fluid in gaseous state, and is naturally ionized. Plasma can be seen in nature where
there is significant differences in energy such as in lightning or the Aurora Borealis, Nebula and the
Solar corona.
According to Rajan, plasma can also be man-made as seen in plasma used for welding and plasma
televisions. Today, he says, they have taken plasma research to the next level by bringing down the
temperature to create cold plasma (which is plasma at room temperature).
Cold plasma is being used today in sterilization chambers - used for treating bacteria in hospitals and
food. It is also used in plasma needles - which are used for dental cleaning, and to treat bacteria in raw
oysters.
Rajan said that they are currently working with Driscoll Hospital and Christus Spohn Hospital to test
cold plasma sterilization for treating medical and surgical supplies. While his research team believes
that plasma can be used effectively in restaurants, since it has been shown effective in treating supplies
and food for E.coli, MRSA, Bacillus and Salmonella, they are not able to test the chambers in restaurants
yet due to community resistance.
Rajan further said that with his research group, they are also looking at tumor control and cancer treatment
with cold plasma in the future, since it has proven to be successful in the treatment of leukemia.
For his presentation, Dr. Rajan received a Tacks Shelter from Suzanne Guggenheim, on behalf of the club.
The Tacks Shelters are designed and made by club member, Rod Vaughn.
(The introduction was submitted by Dr. Marilyn Spencer)
SPECIAL MEMBER RECOGNITION
(Reposted from previous week's bulletin):
The following are the recognized Southside CC club projects
and events in 2015
- Rotary Foundation Contributions
- Polio Plus Contributions
- Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Scholarship - $1,000 minimum
- Rotaract Club of Texas A&M University
- Rotary Youth Leadership Awards - RYLA
- Four Way Test Contest - John Paul High School
- Supply Our Students - Rose Shaw Elementary
- Christmas Giving - Rose Shaw Elementary
- Academic Student of the Month
- Flag Project with Boys Scout Troop 232
- Boys Scout Troop 232 Food Bank Drive
- Flags for Eagles
- Cub Scout Troop Support
- Girl Scouts Contribution
- Adoption Awareness Picnic
- Ramp Project
- Unsung Hero - City of Corpus Christi
- Salvation Army Christmas Bell Ringing
- Hometown Hero Event
- Administrative Professional Day Event
- International Project - Yearly Selection
- Early Act First Knight Program - Rose Shaw Elementary
- Interact Club - John Paul High School
*****
THE CLUB RECOGNIZED PAUL HARRIS FELLOWS:
Jennifer Smith-Engle (PH+1)
Gary Blum (PH)
Tom Cron (PH)
Richard Espinosa (PH)
Nancy Foster (PH+1)
Betty Frantum (PH+8)
Angie Frost (PH)
Kyle Fuehrer (PH)
Henry Garrett (PH+1)
Michael Garrison (PH+2)
Suzanne Guggenheim (PH+7)
Fred Hayden (PH)
Dyke Henderson (PH)
Brian High (PH)
Deborah High (PH+7)
Joseph High (PH+5)
Gary Jeffress (PH+1)
Jim Kaelin (PH+1)
Michelle Maresh-Fuehrer (PH)
Erasmo Nava (PH)
John Owen (PH+1)
Edd Price (PH+2)
Don Ratcliff (PH+8)
Nancy Ross (PH+4)
John Seaman (PH+1)
Lari Young (PH)
David Walker (PH)
******
THE CLUB RECOGNIZED ROTARIANS WITH OVER 10 YEARS OF
SERVICE IN ROTARY
10+ YEARS IN ROTARY
Angie Frost (14)
Henry Garrett (18)
Michael Garrison (18)
Deborah High (14)
Joseph High (14)
Nancy Ross (15)
Norma Sanchez (10)
John Seaman (12)
Marilyn Spencer (17)
Anita Spreen (12)
John Thurston (15)
David Walker (15)
William White (13)
20+ YEARS IN ROTARY
Richard Espinosa (28)
Betty Frantum (21)
Gary Jeffress (24)
John Owen (25)
Edd Price (21)
Don Ratcliff (27)
Jennifer Smith-Engle (27)
Peter Volpe (28)
Lari Young (20)
30+ YEARS IN ROTARY
Tom Cron (34)
Fred Hayden (30)
Dyke Henderson (30)
Rendell Webb (39)
40+ YEARS IN ROTARY
Gary Blum (41)
Roberto Meija (46)
Clemens Struve (40)
60+ YEARS IN ROTARY
O B Vaughn
******
THE CLUB RECOGNIZED THE FOLLOWING ROTARIANS WITH
PERFECT ATTENDANCE:
Betty Frantum (5 Years)
Suzanne Guggenheim (2 Years)
Deborah High (12 Years)
Joseph High (2 Years)
Edd Price (20 Years)
Don Ratcliff (5 Years)
Marilyn Spencer (17 Years)
Rodney Vaughn (2 Years)
David Walker (1 Year)
Rendell Webb (39 Years)
(Please submit all corrections, stories, announcements and any information
you wish to share with the club, to Christine Udeani. Email udeani@live.com.
All stories received after mid-night (CST) on Saturday will be published in
the next week's bulletin).
