For more than a century, Rotary has connected the world through fellowship and service. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered our daily routines and forced the cancellation of many in-person Rotary and Rotaract club meetings and events.  But even when we can’t hold our usual events, members have lots of ways to stay engaged, connect with one another, and serve their communities.
 
Below are some suggestions from some Rotary District 5890 (Greater Houston-Area) Rotarians about ways to help others:
 
Rotary Club of Katy update from: Past District Governor George Yeiter, and Past President Nick Schrader
"One of Katy Rotary’s best service projects is supporting high school students in Katy ISD Future Farmers of America (FFA). That FFA support allows Katy Rotarians to also support Food Banks (Katy Christian Ministries, & Hope Impacts) in the greater Katy community and our Vets with PTSD at Camp Hope.
 
The Katy ISD-FFA service project starts with helping financially disadvantage kids acquire animals so they can be in FFA. FFA is a tremendous teaching organization to build our youth. At the end of the year Katy Rotary then buys a lot of the animals at auction.
 
From this the FFA youngsters receive scholarships. Katy Rotary then pays for the meat to be processed and packed.
 
Next, is what you see in these pictures where the meat is delivered to 2 Katy area food banks and to Camp Hope.  Camp Hope helps veterans living there with their PTSD issues and how to fit back into society..Look at the picture with the truck. Katy Christian Ministries loaned Katy Rotary the truck to make the deliveries. Katy Rotary was also instrumental in buying this truck.
 
In addition to 4,000 pounds of various meats, over $4,000 of other foods to include starches, vegetables and condiments were given to Camp Hope.  Camp Hope feeds approximately 70 people each evening. Due to the corona virus, their receipts of cash donations and in-kind donations have been severely reduced. For example, about thousands of pounds of meat will not come from the Houston rodeo this year..Katy Rotary’s donated FFA meats and the other food stores given to Camp Hope, will go a long ways in helping feed our vets who are now in need of our community’s support.
 
A big thanks to all the Rotarians, those in these pictures making the delivery and those who worked the Katy Wild West Brewfest to generate the money to allow this to happen.Also, Thanks to all the many non-Rotarians who also helped Katy Rotarians support and make our community a better place for all of us to live and raise our families.
Rotarians cannot do this alone. Indeed, it takes a community of Volunteers to continue to build upon the community those before us passed on for our care.
Past District Governor George Yeiter, Member of the Rotary Club of Katy"
 
 
From Christine MacMillan, a member of the Rotary Club of West University:
Christine says..."I would like Rotarians to write letters to foster parents to give them some encouragement. 😊 Letter writing brightens my day and I always love getting a letter too! We would mail them to Houston Angels and they would redistribute them for privacy of the foster family.   Please consider writing a generic, encouraging letter to Foster “Mom”, “Dad”, or even have your kids get involved too by drawing pictures or writing letters to the kiddos! Think about when you had young kids at home and what would have been nice to hear during a rough time. Houston Angels will collect the letters for us and distribute them to protect the privacy of these families.
Please mail letters to :  Houston Angels, PO Box 420966, Houston, TX 77042
While isolation may feel like it’s keeping Rotary from connecting the world this is a small but meaningful way you can help from the comfort of your home. Houston Angels wraps community around Foster Families in the Houston Area and now more than ever, foster families are in need of words of encouragement.
Thank you for your support of Houston Angels and the Foster Community in Houston
 
We can also write letters or notes of encouragement to NURSES, DOCTORS, AND STAFF at your local hospitals, nursing homes, and senior care facilities!
 
 
From Vicki Brentin, Chair of our Rotary District 5890 Harvey Disaster Recovery, regarding Post-Traumatic Stress associated with any disaster:
Vicki says..."I am asking that you make this information and amazing resource available to all Rotarians in 5890.  This opportunity is a result of the Harvey project that Rotary supported with Rotary DAF and District Charities Disaster Recovery funds to help address post-traumatic stress associated with any disaster.  The people our project trained are now offering support for the current pandemic under the umbrella of the Institute for Spirituality & Health (“(ISH”).
In response to the current pandemic, ISH is mobilizing the Greater Houston Healing Collaborative” to offer mind-body skills groups online, to relieve the “anxiety and isolation”  that many are feeling.  Based on a model used around the world for almost thirty years, these groups offer a safe space for social connection while teaching evidence-based skills that reduce stress and anxiety and support immunity and overall health and well-being. 
The offerings include opportunities for the general public as well as special focus groups.  For example, If you are a teacher, you might find this very helpful to be able to use these skills and techniques with your online classes. If you manage a team at work, you might find these techniques beneficial to share with your work group in regular online team meetings.
Rotarians, Please feel free to share this with any other Rotary leader/district, business, non-profit or individual that you believe would benefit.
Please feel free to have anyone interested contact me directly.
Blessings,
Vicki Brentin, Chair Rotary 5890 Harvey Disaster Recovery"
 
Want to attend a Rotary club's Virtual Online Meeting?  Here's an opportunity!
 
April 7th at Noon - Rotary Club of Richmond E-Meeting
We're back! Well, we're virtually back...or we're back online! Whatever you want to call it, we're going online on Zoom at 12pm next Tuesday (March 31) with our first Rotary Richmond, TX Video meeting via Zoom.
The link is below. Please tune in!  We will have an update on everything COVID-19 in Ft Bend County from Mike Dotson at AccessHealth.  We will also have our own Glenn Smith speaking on Business Continuity Planning in an Emergency Situation and how to Plan and Adapt for the Four Different Scenarios in this Current Economic Shutdown.
Here's the info:
Topic: Rotary Richmond, TX Weekly Meeting
Time: Apr 7, 2020 12:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 695 135 631
Password: 5890
Yours In Rotary, Eric Junker, President 2019-20, Rotary Club of Richmond, TX
 
From our friends at ShelterBox USA
From Bill Tobin, ShelterBox USA Rotary Relations Manager
"ShelterBox is working hard to provide families with shelter and other vital aid in global areas that are most susceptible to, and least prepared for, the covid-19 pandemic.  While this health danger is impacting all of us, people living in refugee camps or makeshift settlements are particularly vulnerable. Shelter is a critical need for people who are simply struggling to survive after losing their home to disaster or conflict. The pandemic adds several layers of complexity in our global relief efforts but ShelterBox is doing all we can to stay ahead of the curve.
Join ShelterBox USA President Kerri Murray for a live briefing to hear how our work is continuing during these difficult times
Wednesday, April 1, 2020 7:00 PM EDT or
Thursday, April 2, 2020 at 1:00 pm EDT
Reminder, ShelterBox staff and volunteers are also available to speak to your clubs, or districts online.
Here is a recap of ShelterBox activity this week.
Ethiopia – Due to the spread of the Coronavirus, Ethiopia has closed all borders, except for goods. It is anticipated our aid can still be imported. A shipment of aid to support 3,500 Households (HHs) with emergency shelter is due to sail from Dubai in the next few days. We continue to monitor for any further measures that might affect this response.
Somaliland – Following last week’s completion of the first phase, the second phase is underway to support 540 HHs. The aid for the second phase has arrived and is currently clearing customs. However, phase two of the project is currently subject to a 4-week delay, due to Coronavirus restrictions. We are working to mitigate the risks around Coronavirus to both aid workers and the affected communities.
Cameroon – A shipment of aid arrived into Cameroon at the end of last week. A further shipment of 223 tents is due to arrive at the end of this week, and additional tents are due to arrive in April.  Due to Coronavirus, the Cameroonian government announced that they were closing all land, air and sea borders, with some exceptions for freight movements. It is anticipated that our aid can still be imported, although some delays are expected.
Syria – Currently there has been limited impact on the project due to Coronavirus, but this could change at short notice. In Idlib, work continues with in country partners to build in contingencies and ensure their local staff are taking necessary precautions. We have stock currently warehoused in Iraq awaiting permission to enter Syria. There are some restrictions at the border, but it is not yet known how these will impact the project.
Thank you, stay healthy.
Bill Tobin
Mobile: 916.616.6973"
 
Interested in having a Zoom meeting for your Rotary club, business, or personally?  CLICK HERE for a link to Rotary International's "Best Practices for Conducting Online Meetings"