The Rotary Club of Beaumont, TX, is a large and diverse fellowship of inspired business, professional, and civic leaders with significant community connections that foster the ideals of Service Above Self and high ethical standards.
Weekly meetings are being held using Zoom. Sign into the meeting between 11:30 and Noon and you can enjoy some social time with other members before the meeting starts at Noon.
PROGRAM PREVIEW
August 5, 2020
"The Impact of COVID on the Local Economy"
Jeff Branick
Judge
Jefferson County
Jeff Branick does not need an introduction. You would have to look very hard to find someone from the area who does not know who he is as he has been County Judge since January of 2011. Through hurricanes, floods, the Port Neches explosion, and now through the Covid pandemic, Judge Branick has been the person to make the tough calls as they were, and still are, needed.
When Judge Jeff Branick speaks to the Club this week, we look forward to learning a great deal about the economic impact of COVID-19 on our local economy. We will ask him what he envisions to be the key to economic recovery for our area. Join us!
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Head Table for August 5
Invocation:
Lynn Castle
Executive Director
Art Museum of Southeast Texas
Pledges to USA and Texas:
Lori Higgins
Assistant Vice President, Business and Communication Development
MobilOil Credit Union
Introduction of Guest Speaker:
Dana Timaeus
Managing Partner
The Timaeus Law Firm
If you would like to serve on the head table at a date in the future, please sign up online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054ba5a62fa3f49-head or phone chair, Mandy Clayton at 409-718-7056 or email arclayton@lit.edu
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BOARD ACTION
Club Secretary Jay Wilson reported at the July meeting of the Board of Directors, the Board members:
began to consider the work of the Strategic Planning Committee and the working draft of the plan they have designed;
approved submitting an application for a matching grant from Rotary District 5910 to fund our annual project of layettes for women and infants in Chinandega, Nicaragua;
approved of an opportunity presented to us to open a conversation with the advisory board of The 100 Black Men of Greater Beaumont (John Lee is leading the exploratory effort);
and
discussed when we will be able to return to in-person meetings. The restriction on large group gatherings is still in place simply making it not possible at this time. With caution and concern for every Rotarian's health and safety, we will continue with Zoom meetings as long as necessary. We are making plans for the protocols and procedures that will be necessary to keep everyone safe when we are able to meet in person again. We will continue the flag project and other service projects because those are things we can easily do in small groups and socially-distancing. We are also going to look at ways we might be able to safely have some small group socials for people who are ready to socialize a little bit. The Board will share more information and plans as they develop.
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CALENDAR OF ROTARY EVENTS
(Club events & opportunities for meeting makeups)
August
FOR THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR MEMBERS, CLUB MEETINGS WILL CONTINUE USING ZOOM UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
25
Board of Directors meeting; 11:30 a.m. using Zoom (contact Jacque Chapman for link)
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Sheree Pierce, 2020 Chair of Wine Down With Rotary, announced it is with great regret that the Board cancelled Wine Down With Rotary 2020 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. The annual event funds much of the Club's service work in the community and around the world, but this is not the time to ask our members, friends and neighbors to support this large community event.
The Board approved scheduling Wine Down With Rotary for October 7, 2021!
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Rotary Opens Opportunities! This is your opportunity to say "Yes, I'll serve!"
and be a part of one or more committees or projects in 2020-21.
President Cindy Cherry recruited chairs for every one of our many committees for the year, and each one is eager to get busy planning the programs/projects for which they are responsible. We were not able to meet in person for our traditional "Annual Assembly: Your Call to Service" meeting when we provide an opportunity for members to visit face-to-face with Board members and committee chairs about the upcoming events and projects, but we continue to offer you the opportunity to get involved in at least one committee. Complete the questionnaire by linking here: 2020-21 Opens Opportunities! (This signup form was created using Google forms but you do not have to have a Google account to respond to it.)
Come on, folks! We need you to become a part of the weekly meeting! Sign up for a role at the virtual head table at an upcoming meeting. Look at your calendar and select a date that is convenient for your schedule. Red Badges are strongly encouraged to volunteer for this opportunity so you can move closer to your blue badge and members can get to know you better too.
We send wishes for a quick recovery to our friends and fellow Rotarians who are ill, are anticipating or recovering from surgery, or just in need of encouragement, support and good wishes.
All Rotarians who are not able to join us using Zoom.
We miss you and look forward to when we will be able to meet in-person again!
If you know of members who should be added to this list, please advise the office staff at 409-842-1913.
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PROGRAM REVIEW
July 29, 2020
"Responsibilities of Employers Dealing with COVID-19"
Ashley D. Thomas
Attorney
Littler Mendelson, P. C.
by Marianne Laine
On July 29, 2020, Rotary welcomed Ashley Thomas, a Houston-based attorney from Littler Mendelson P.C., a nationally-recognized employment law firm. Ashley spoke about matters at the forefront of many of our members’ minds: the obligations/responsibilities of and potential liabilities employers face in dealing with COVID19.
Ashley spoke about various important aspects of how employers must address different issues during the pandemic including how to provide a safe working environment, how to deal with termination issues, and how to prevent or lessen the risks of civil liability. To that end, Ashley urges us all to closely monitor and follow all governmental health and safety guidelines, including those at the local, state, and federal level, as they change daily and, at times, hourly. She referenced several resources we can all look to when determining our best practices or dealing with a specific situation or question. Importantly, employers who diligently adhere to public safety guidelines and who communicate openly with their employees in an effort to make everyone feel as safe as possible, are much less likely to open themselves up to a lawsuit for, for example, failing to maintain a safe workplace.
Some specific examples of safety measures for employers to consider are: masks, temporarily closing gathering spaces, considering staggered work times and shifts and, of course, working remotely when feasible.
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