We had our first ever Zoom lunch meeting without the lunch but 17 club members in attendance. Everyone got thru the Zoom process without too much trouble though some were not able to make it work so PP Craig Essex has offered to hold a training session for those who want it.  If the number is low, then he will do it in individual sessions with him. If there are lots, like the 11 who did not get on, then he will do a class. Please contact Craig if you are interested.

 The biggest news from the meeting was the straw vote with all members at the meeting voting to cancel the golf tournament. Gary Frisch will send that information to CommonGround Golf Course by April 3^rd so the club can avoid losing 25% of the guarantee, over $2,200 and we can move on. There are many very good reasons to cancel and those in attendance felt  it was the right decision as we manage everything financial around us. Members also wanted to take a cautious approach to spending money the next three months to the end of the Rotary year. If the club does spend money, we will do so only for those entities we already have relationships with now like Comitis, Century Elementary or Gateway Domestic Violence Services.

The Club Board voted Tuesday to spend $1,000 of club money to match a Covid 19 grant from District 5450 to help purchase a large refrigerator for Comitis. Our money will come from the raffle account which has close to $4,000 and must be spent on community projects.  Comitis is the only shelter open 24/7 in Aurora so they serve a large number of meals each day. They need to expand their cold storage capabilities and need a large refrigerator. The grant was submitted  to the District 5450 grant committee and we should hear this week if it was approved.

I had a long conversation with Joe Taylor at Century Elementary and right now they are so busy helping students, parents and faculty that they don’t have time to make an assessment on needs. Give them some time into next week and we will have another conversation around needs.

Some really good news. Bill Maclay is out of rehab and back home. He is fighting boredom so give him a call with his home phone number, 303-680-8190. Al Horton was on the Zoom meeting Monday and has less that a week before the head can turn and he can follow all those good looking gals. Talee is still in Spaulding Rehab Center and would like a card or email. She responded today to the vote on the Comitis money so I know she reads her emails.

April Fools' Day began in the 1500s when the Gregorian calendar took over from the Julian. Those who forgot the change and attempted to celebrate New Year's (previously celebrated on the 1st of April) on the wrong date were teased as "April fools."

Monday April 6^th 12:15pm Zoom lunch meeting.  Use the link in this newsletter to join the meeting. https://us04web.zoom.us/j/7203171607   Make sure you use j before the last number. Jeremy Stern from Mile High Behavioral Healthcare, who spoke to the club, will be a guest next Monday on our Zoom meeting so say hi to him as he joins us.

 Invocation PP Betsy Jansen

 Susan Aubin

Susan’s last day with the club was on Tuesday. She is moving tomorrow to KC. Susan has been a strong contributor to Smoky Hill Rotary. She is also a great person and friend and has the most infectious laugh ever.  We will all miss her and her husband, Rich. Since we did not get a chance to say goodbye in person, drop Susan and Rich an email, a card or telephone them to let her know how much she will be missed.

Stay connected, stay positive and wash those hands. If you have anything you would like to see in the newsletter, please let PP Darryl Harvey know.

Thanks.

Hugh Radke, President