Rotary Log for February 4, 2016

Rotary log for Meeting of February 4, 2016

by Dr. Al Lantinen

Photos by Jim Rini

President Bill opened our meeting by welcoming guests and visiting Rotarians. He invited everyone to consider attending the World Peace and Understanding Dinner in South Portland February 20. There’s a sizable Portsmouth contingent going.

Ramona started announcements by reminding all that this Thursday’s meeting is your last chance to bring in peanut butter. All of those jars will help local food pantries.

Next, Sara Treacy encouraged us to sign up for dinner shifts at the Salvation Army soup kitchen…The Valentine’s Day Orange “Crush” can sale is underway. You can pick up yours Thursday. Finally, Rotary Leadership Institute is holding classes March 19 in Wells. All are urged to consider this opportunity.

There were lots of happy dollars. It seems becoming a grandparent in contagious.

Our speaker Susan Tuveson started Cacao Chocolates in Kittery back in 2000. She operated the store for nine years before opening Acorn Kitchen. She delivered a history of chocolate and explanation as to why it makes a great Valentine’s Day gist.

Cacao was a New World product unknown in Europe until the era of explorers Columbus and Cortez. Today more than half of the stuff is grown in Africa. Back then it was consumed as a drink often mixed with cornmeal. Cornmeal was supposed to leach away its bitter taste. Sugar was not added until the concoction was brought to Europe. In Mayan culture, it was the drink of the elite. Warriors felt it brought about spiritual wisdom not to mention physical and sexual prowess. The coca bean was also used as a form of currency. It had a value similar to gold.

After Cortez returned to Spain, chocolate drinks became popular in Europe. Especially when sugar and other flavors began to be added. As it spread throughout Europe, numerous claims that chocolate benefited health increased its popularity. There actually is some truth in this. Many flavonoids in chocolate have antioxidant properties. More to the point of Valentine’s Day is the theobromine in chocolate. (This is the substance which is toxic to dogs.) Theobromine activates dopamine release which can be a stimulus to the pleasure centers of the brain.

Just one more reason to consider the gift of chocolate this Valentine’s Day!

Respectfully submitted, Dr. Al Lantinen