We are experiencing unprecedented life events - our own families, our community, our country, and our world are impacted in a way no one has experienced previously. The key word in the first sentence is “our.” As we have ownership in this, it is “our” obligation to act appropriately and remain positive on whatever will be the eventual outcome.
As Rotarians, we have a responsibility to provide service - however - at times like this our families may have to come ahead of what others may need. That is not selfish, it is cautious, it is practical, it is realistic, it is being safe and keeping our loved ones safe.
Clearly, with restaurants being closed, we will NOT be meeting for some time at Valentino’s. However, we will be considering having some type of on-line meetings. In any event, our board will keep in contact with our members so that you are in the loop on what is occurring. Our board will be making decisions that are in the best interest of all of you, our speakers, and our guests.
Here are some of the things we have done, and other considerations for what Lincoln East Rotary can do, as we look at our purpose and our priorities:
RYLA has been cancelled for now. The Salute to Business is delayed until June 30th. Instead of having President Elect training in Omaha, it was completed by Sue on-line. Our Foundation Board will be considering a request for $500 for hospital beds for a hospital in the Bahamas. Also pending is the awarding of scholarships for graduating high school seniors. We are close to meeting our annual goal for Polio Plus. Also, we can still recruit members, if we continue to do service projects, others may see the benefit of what we do and want to join us.
We can continue to work toward our service goals as we need to complete a few more of our service projects. On Wednesday nine of us went to the Food Bank and packaged over 5,000 pounds of produce. This food will be distributed among the citizens of the 16 counties the Food Bank serves. (The team of Jerry, Dick, Lyle, Greg, and Emma from Pius High School, out performed the team of Sue, Duane, Minnie, Chuck, and Denny, in a vegetable packing contest)
We may have other chances to help the Food Bank or deliver meals via Tabitha’s Meals on Wheels. I will get more information soon. There may be other volunteering opportunities for us as a club or individuals. Donating blood may be one option for individuals to do.
No one needs to feel the need to go out and do these service projects, your health and your family are the most important, but if there are things we can do, while keeping an appropriate social distance, please consider the opportunities. Also, in our social circles there are many people who feel isolated. Someone in your neighborhood, a family member, someone from church, or another Rotarian. Reach out with a phone call, check on them, cheer them up, we can win this!
As we sit home during the pandemic, isolated from the places we usually go to and are unable to enjoy the activities that have done in the past, we have had to look to those things that we did when we didn’t have the resources we do today. As a child our family didn’t go out to dinner much, we didn’t have television or cell phones, didn’t have the Lied Center and couldn’t travel much for lack of funds.
As a kid we played hide the thimble, board games, cards and fought with our siblings and did what was readily available to entertain ourselves.
In the 40s when polio was present, we didn’t know what caused the illness, but we weren’t allowed to go swimming and my moth, a nurse wouldn’t even allow us to run through the sprinkler. What a bummer!
During medical school, my wife and I lacked both the time and money to go, out, so we had folks over to eat popcorn and play cards.
Well, to deal with the current crisis, my wife and I have gotten out the board games, Trio minos, Sorry, Mexican Lottery and yesterday a puzzle. We take walks away from crowds. We have left our frenetic lifestyles. Not all bad.
Now that I have touted the superiority of the old-fashioned stuff, I will have to say the our technology does enable us to communicate with family and friends at distant locations. We have e-mail, cell phones and now we can do video calls with such things as Skype, FaceTime and Zoom at little or no cost. We love to see our 18-month-old grandson on Face Time demonstrating his latest development milestone. He can recognize my wife and I and wave and show off. Since he lives in Silver Spring, MD, this is a real joy. Some you may have to enlist your grandchildren or local experts, but it is worth learning how to use this new technology.
However, I’m not staying home entirely. Wednesday, I joined a small safe group of Rotarians who packed vegetables at the Food Bank to give to needyfolks during this pandemic. It was a great feeling to be with Rotarians who were practicing “service above self”. I love Rotarians. It was fun and we hope to continue a similar service as needed in the near future. Thanks to our President, Dennis for arranging the event.
This all is a reminder that wealth does make for happiness, it’s the simple things in life that matter.
On 2 June 2019, Lee Harman and Bill Ward set off from the Great Wall of China outside Beijing. Their destination, the Place Vendôme in Paris, lay 9,779 bumpy, muddy, dusty miles away. Their vehicle: a car built before either of them was born. This was Day 1 of the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, also known as P2P, a classic car rally that re-creates a 1907 race famed as one of the first automobile endurance events.
There were nine members of Lincoln East Rotary Club at the Food Bank on Wednesday, March 18th who packaged over 5,000 pounds of food for distribution. 
On 2 June 2019, Lee Harman and Bill Ward set off from the Great Wall of China outside Beijing. Their destination, the Place Vendôme in Paris, lay 9,779 bumpy, muddy, dusty miles away. Their vehicle: a car built before either of them was born. This was Day 1 of the Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, also known as P2P, a classic car rally that re-creates a 1907 race famed as one of the first automobile endurance events..png)
ellness Chairman Greg Schnasse has requested information in regard to any illness by club members and/or their family members.
