And just like that, we're living in a very different world.
I've written about self-care here before, but let me state right upfront that this period of social isolation and uncertainty is HARD on everyone. ALL of us are going to have days where we feel okay and are able to lift others up. And ALL of us are going to have days where we are feeling depressed or anxious, even if we normally experience good mental health. On those days, we will be the ones who need encouragement and care. During this time, you MUST do what you need to do to practice loving self-care. You must take care of your mental health with the same vigilance you take care of your physical health.
What that means for Rotary is that we're going to try to be what you need us to be until we can meet in person again. There's no across the board correct answer here. For me, I need Rotary to go on as a positive creative outlet that lets me focus on something other than my legal work. For others, Rotary is a source of comfort and connection to the outside world. For others still, Rotary is just one thing too many on the radar. Whether your correct answer is to get more involved in service or step away completely, please do what you need to do. The more grace we can show each other, the better off we'll all be in the end.
Update on the "Meeting" Tomorrow:
Thanks to Rodney Gullatte and Trevor Dierdorff, we are meeting tomorrow by Zoom. You have been emailed instructions for how to join the conference. We will have a presentation from a speaker. We will have a time of sharing where we will "pass the mic." I will have some Rotary stuff to share that might give you something else to focus on for a while (if you need it). If meeting by Zoom works, we'll do it again next week. If not, we'll try something else. Above all, we're going to just focus on each day and week as it comes and only worry about doing the things that we can do in the present.
Update on the Small Groups:
I hope that by now you've made contact with your Small Group Leader. I did double and triple-check, and I think everyone is now accounted for in the groupings. If there are "friends" of Rotary that you'd like to add, please feel free. I've had some great suggestions from the SGLs, but let's just take one for now as a starting point. Here's a great suggestion from SGL Josh Slate...
The staffs at the hospitals (especially the UC Health ones at the moment) are beginning to feel the pressure. Community support by dropping off thank you cards, baked goods and other such things (think forest fire fighters during dry summers kinds of appreciation) would go a long way. Said items can be dropped at the front door with the request that they go to certain departments. I am going to make some baked good to send with Molly to her department for her and the other staff there. I suspect I could talk Molly into dropping this kind of stuff off at Memorial North and Children's when she works there.
Hospital Departments, both adult and pediatric, under most pressure from what Molly tells me:
Emergency Room
Intensive Care Units
Hospitalists
Primary Care Physicians offices are also feeling the pressure.
Director Prenzlow will update us on the health of the State's parks, and management of wildlife
THIS PROGRAM MAY BE RESCHULED LATER IN THE YEAR.
Dan has spent his career in the Division of Wildlife, which was expanded to Divison of Parks and Wildlife. Dan is uniquely qualified to discuss the status of the State's Park system and the health of the wildlife in Colorado Springs.
Due to coronavirus concerns and practicing social distancing, the community service committee meeting that was rescheduled to Tuesday, March 24th will be cancelled for the month of March. We will reconvene with a potential committee meeting in April, if possible. The Jared Box Project scheduled to take place on April 7th has been postponed for a later date to be determined for either May or June. Thank you for your understanding.
Looking for ways to spend your quarantine time? You've already written out all of your Christmas cards for December and the junk drawer is cleaned out and sorted. What next?
1. Call a friend or neighbor who might need your help. Offer to pick up their online grocery order, medications at the drive thru pharmacy, RedBox movie pickup or return, maybe they need to return some library books. (All libraries are closed but you can return books)
2. Facetime, Discord or Duo your friends or family. The lack of socialization may get very depressing for some and a visit with someone they can see without exchanging germs might be the best part of their day.
10. Time to do those home projects that you've been putting off like washing some curtains or detailing your car interior or maybe clean your garage.
11. Is there an art project you've been wanting to do? Or if you need inspiration, https://www.pinterest.com has a wealth of ideas!
12. One way to avoid letting yourself get down about being stuck at home is to make a Gratitude List. Be specific. Reading over this list and adding to it everyday will keep your spirits up!
13. Board game anyone? Whether you're a CandyLand Queen or a Battleship Master, break out those games that are surely dusty in the coat closet!
Did you know that more than 785 billion people don't have clean water close to home? When people have access to clean water and sanitation, waterborne diseases decrease, children stay healthier and attend school more regularly, and mothers can spend less time carrying water and more time helping their families. You can make a difference in their lives with a donation to The Rotary Foundation today!
On World Water Day, March 22, go to Rotary's social media channels and share our video about what Rotary is doing to help solve the water crisis by 2030. Learn more about how you can help Rotary provide clean water by visiting rotary.org/wash.
Rotary and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced on 22 January that their long-term fundraising partnership, which generates up to $150 million annually for polio eradication, will continue. Under the agreement, Rotary is committed to raising $50 million a year over the next three years, and each dollar will be matched with an additional two dollars by the Gates Foundation.
In a video address at the 2020 Rotary International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA, Bill Gates told incoming district governors that the partnership with Rotary needs to continue.
“The Gates Foundation’s longstanding partnership with Rotary has been vital to fighting polio,” Gates said. “That’s why we’re extending our funding match, so every dollar that Rotary raises is met with two more.”
He added, “I believe that together, we can make eradication a reality.”
The funding will support polio eradication efforts such as disease surveillance, technical assistance, and operational support for immunization activities.
The partnership between Rotary and the Gates Foundation has yielded $2 billion, and Rotarians have given countless volunteer hours to fight polio since Rotary started its PolioPlus program in 1985.
Be a part of the fight to end polio and have your donation matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Visit endpolio.org to learn more and donate.
