Hi everyone. Thank you for participating in last week's first ever Zoom teleconference edition of our regular weekly noon meeting. Quite a turnout, 25+ members participated in the meeting and we had over 30 if you include the delightful cameo appearances of children, grandchildren and new puppies.
It was so great to see and hear all of you and for updating us on your current status. And yes for some of you we saw more than we anticipated during the national anthem. Mental note to adjust your screen angle when standing to attention. Nuff said.
Thank you Luisa for the update on our Exchange Students, both in and outbound and that they are safe and well.
We also had some very sad and moving moments. We offered our condolences to John Digby and his family on the recent passing of his mother-in-law and to Jerome Dawson on the loss of his Aunt.
We also heard first hand how COVID-19 had touched our members directly. Rita's brother in New York has been infected, John Lomax's good friend in Milton has passed away from the disease. My Dana, who works in a Dr's office as an MOA, is dealing with this first hand. We heard from Past Pres Steve Robinson on the heroic efforts and challenges at our local hospitals and the urgent need for supplies.
We also shared our frustration that this state of emergency is preventing us from being Rotarians. It is hard wired into our Rotary DNA to want to DO SOMETHING during community emergencies like this. We want to come together to package something, deliver something, bring comfort somehow, yet this state of emergency prevents us from doing "something" safely in one place without putting ourselves and the community in danger.
You shared that we did not want to try to duplicate initiatives that other better suited organizations and charities were already doing on the ground. You shared also that you want to do something big - but not sure how or whom to support. Local versus focusing on the "I" in R.I., that is to say "International". Editorial comment - why can't we do both.
We at the RC of B are not an ordinary Rotary Club, we are the 2nd largest in the District, and as some of you have pointed out, we are a wealthy club with assets that could be used or redeployed. So let's discuss.
Today's meeting, (yes we will be Zoom meeting again ), the above will be the major topic of conversation as I believe you will be hearing from a number of members on some big proposals for us all to consider.
I have sent you the codes etc for today's meeting and I will update you all on the hard decisions that have been made by several of our event committees in recent days (e.g. 80th Anniversary and Rib 'n' Roll).
Please forward this message to anyone you think may not be receiving it (e.g. members who have their ClubRunner email address set to their work emails and with offices being closed might not be receiving this email at home).
Stay Well, Stay Safe and Stay Strong.
President David