Jan awarded perfect attendance certificates to Russ Rainwater 2 years,  Jeff Long  1 year, and Bob Emrick 6 years.

 

 

Darrick Price returned to the podium for membership recognition. Dave Pfendler and Teresa Smith both celebrated birthdays.

Dave Pflender (right) made a challenge to Duck fans to put up $20 if they think Oregon can defeat his alma mater, Purdue. The challenge was accepted by Gary Eastlund (left) and Van Keck (not Pictured)

Bob Emrick, president of Kids on the Block, discussed a special fundraising event on Sept. 19 at Sokol Blosser Winery. Mike Strickland will perform, along with Diva and the Dixies. The event starts at 6 p.m.

Erin Stephenson announced that Partners in Progress will hold an event to celebrate the group’s history and launch the 36th annual campaign starting at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Jereld R. Nicholson Library in Linfield College

Caity Bernards announced that she is working on compiling a history of Mac High and she asked any graduates to help by providing photos and interviews.

Guest Shannon Thorsen discussed plans to create a new Saturday Market in the Granary District. She said the plan is not only to showcase art and food, but to act as a business incubator for local merchants trying to become established.

Jill Methven said that her vineyard will hold its last concert of the year on Saturday, Sept. 12, starting at 6 p.m. and encouraged member to attend.

 

Elva Salinas Garcia said that a flag was being flown at the state capitol in Salem in honor of her mother and 9/11

 

Jan reminded members to dig in their pockets to come up with “Pennies for Polio” the ongoing fundraising effort

MAIN EVENT

President Jan introduced Matthew Weed who presented the program, “An Enlightening Glimpse into Modern Optics.” Matthew attends the College of Optics & Photonics in Florida as a PhD student.

Optics is the study of light. Matt gave a brief dissertation on the history and study of light: 700 BCE, Assyrians invented the lens; 400 BCE, Plato concluded that vision is due to ocular emission; 100 BCE, Ptolemy defines refraction; 1609, Galileo/Newton designed the first telescope; 1600s, Descartes/Newton determined that the eye detects light. 1860s, Maxwell defined the EM wave theory; 1900s, Plank, Einstein and Bohr develop theories on light and the function of photos; 1960, Maiman demonstrates the first laser; Dirac began theories on Quantum Optics.

Matt continued by discussing how light functions and explained how knowledge of light has resulted in the development of fiber-optic technology. Knowledge of light functions has also resulted in the development of LCD and Plasma televisions, bio-medical engineering and laser technology.

What’s next? Nanophotonics, High Powered Lasers and Organic Photovoltaics.

Matt then answered questions from a very inquisitive membership.

One concern he mentioned is the fact that the “politics of science” is often directed by politicians who know nothing of science. Matt is interested in trying to bridge that gap.

The Board of Directors has approved the following for membership::

Todd Casebeer proposed by Dan Gardner for the classification "Auto-Dealer  Service". He will automatically become a member unless anyone objects in writing within ten days of  publication of this notice.