Rotarians, I apologize that this newsletter was so delayed this week. Tell you what, I'm going to keep it super-short. You'll want to join us via Zoom in a couple of hours not only for the speaker but for a special performance by Peter Tuff!!
Some Brief Notes:
* Peter will be singing a couple of songs from classic musicals, so today's dress theme for the meeting is BROADWAY.
* It's also Rodney's birthday today, so come prepared to party! Bring along a "party item," and it's up to you what that means. It could be an adult beverage, but it could also be a party hat or a smoke machine or confetti.
* As you know, our district is offering $500 in matching funds to each club who comes up with a service project of some kind in response to COVID-19. The area Presidents and PEs met yesterday and determined that we would collectively like to give $6,000 to the Ronald McDonald House. The RMH needs the money right now because they are housing each family of a sick child in hotel rooms rather than in the facility itself to comply with social distancing requirements.
* Remember to reserve the evening of June 9th for a party/service opportunity. The community service committee will meet by Zoom the third Friday of this month (so today, in an hour) at 11:15 a.m., before the main meeting.
* Thank you for those who responded to the challenge to "bring" a guest to our meeting. Let's keep that trend going and make sure we keep putting service to the community above our own self-interest and self-isolation. I know it takes more of an effort than normal to do some of the things we're used to doing easily, but the effort is worth it. (That's a reminder to myself as much as anyone else).
Here are some of the great suggestions for service I've received from our Small Group Leaders:
1) Thank you cards, sent to those in the medical field who are fighting the virus on the frontlines. They could use our support and encouragement;
2) Buy gift cards from a local bar or restaurant to support local business. If you don't need the gift card yourself, donate it to someone who is out of a job because of the quarantine or to someone unexpectedly on the front lines (e.g. a checker at a grocery store). The club will be looking into ways we can show our furloughed servers at the Antlers our love and appreciation;
3) Folks are going for walks with their families. You can decorate your driveway or sidewalk with messages of encouragement with sidewalk chalk. Some neighborhoods are participating in a "bear hunt" where residents put Teddy bears in windows for passers-by to "find;"
4) We will collectively continue to pick up and deliver groceries or pharmacy items for any Rotarians who are housebound, but we can extend that offer to others in our neighborhood who may be too elderly to safely leave home right now;
5) If we are out and about on walks or in parks (and responsible maintaining a social distance, of course), we can pick up trash (with gloves and a claw... NOT with our bare hands);
6) We can clean out our closets and put aside items to donate when the quarantine lifts;
7) We can donate to a local food bank (like Care and Share) or blood bank;
8) Sew face masks. I understand Joann's is donating supplies to those willing to sew face masks for donation. Also, our local health providers don't need the homemade masks at this time, but they would make a good gift for Rotarians or neighbors who need to leave home.
Rotary expands access to quality medical care, sanitation, education and economic opportunities so mothers and their children can live and grow stronger.
We expand access to quality care, so mothers and children everywhere can have the same opportunities for a healthy future. An estimated 5.9 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation — all of which can be prevented.
Rotary provides education, immunizations, birth kits, and mobile health clinics. Women are taught how to prevent mother-to-infant HIV transmission, how to breast-feed, and how to protect themselves and their children from disease.
