In keeping with RI President Gordon McInally's focus on mental health for our Rotary year, our speaker this past Friday was The Bipolar General, Dr. Gregg Martin. Major General (ret.) Martin spoke about his personal journey with undiagnosed mental illness that led to his forced resignation as president of the National Defense University and ended his military career.
Our Rotarian audience sat in rapt attention as the General delivered his presentation via Zoom.
Gregg F. Martin, PhD, Major General, US Army (Retired), served on active duty for thirty-six years and commanded an engineer company, battalion, and the 130th Engineer Brigade in combat during the first year of the Iraq War. General Martin served multiple overseas tours, commanded the Corps of Engineers Northwest Division, was Commandant of the Army Engineer School, commanded Fort Leonard Wood, was Deputy Commanding General of Third US Army/Army Central in the Middle East, Commandant of the Army War College, President of the National Defense University, and Special Assistant to the Chief of Engineers. Martin holds a PhD and two master’s degrees from MIT, master’s degrees in national security strategy from both the Army and Naval war colleges, and a bachelor’s degree from West Point.
I grew up in Newport News, Virginia. Following high school graduation, I attended the U S Naval Academy for a year before transferring to Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. In 1975, I came to Milwaukee to work for six months as a student engineer for Waukesha Motor Company. After graduating in May 1977 with a BS in mechanical engineering, I began working for General Motors as a project engineer at its proving ground in Milford, Michigan. Taking advantage of the company’s continuing education program, I started night law school at Wayne State University in Detroit in the fall of 1977. After graduating from law school in the spring of 1981, I returned to Milwaukee. I began my legal career with Quarles & Brady, pursuing my goal of becoming a trial lawyer principally representing defendants. I accepted a position with Whyte & Hirschboeck in 1984 to represent General Motors in product liability lawsuits. In 1985, I elected to change focus and moved to Gillick, Murphy to represent plaintiffs in product liability and personal injury actions. Starting in 1987, I partnered with Tom Lyons and Tom Cunningham for eight years, continuing my representation of plaintiffs in various matters. On July 1, 1995, I established my firm, Cabaniss Law. I have tried many cases through the years, including product liability, personal injury, securities fraud, insurance bad faith, medical malpractice, and legal malpractice. After 38 years of practice, I was happy to close my office in March 2019 and take on a new life adventure: retirement. So far, so good, lots of travel, exercise(bicycling, golf, pickleball) and family activities. Service through our church, rotary, and non-profit have also been priorities. My wife Julie and I have enjoyed parenting our 17-year-old daughter Sara, and we look forward to watching her continued growth as she graduates high school in June and undertakes new challenges.
When: We meet Friday mornings from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM.
Where: We meet at the Mequon Public Market, 6300 W Mequon Rd, Mequon, WI 53092; (Entrance in rear.)
OCTOBER 20th
At our meetings, the Greeter will provide either the thought, a Rotary minute, share a family moment or a cultural tradition ... anything with which they would like to start off the day positive.
Upcoming "It's your Rotary moment" assignees:
Bob Blazich (10/20)
Bruce Carter (10/27)
Jim DeLillo (11/3)
Seth Duhnke (11/10)
Note: If you cannot act as an "It's your Rotary moment" assignee when scheduled, please arrange for your replacement.
Rotary has made tremendous progress since Global Polio Eradication (Polio Plus) was launched in 1985. Over 3 billion children have been immunized worldwide. In 125 countries where polio was endemic, it has been reduced to just 2-Afghanistan and Pakistan, with the virus contained in just a few districts. Worldwide, there has been a 99.9% reduction in cases caused by wild poliovirus.
Members are encouraged to bring their Polio "change jars" to the meeting on Oct. 20th or be ready to donate cash.
Day one of the Subnational Immunization Days in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, a weeklong campaign to vaccinate children against polio. Rotarians, Rotaractors, health workers, and other volunteers set up and operate more than 1,500 immunization booths in the area. 23 June 2019.
