2020-12-15 Celebrate the Upcoming Holidays with Magic Zoom Rooms

The Club started congregating early to chat and enjoy some pre-meeting antics.  President Bill Bolster rang us at 7:30… a cacophony of Good Morning President Bill followed shortly.  For those who might have forgotten, President Bill reminded us that we had a great party… virtually… last Saturday night. He shared a few photos of the ZOOM variety including a couple of photos of Santa and his helper

Karen Ricketts offered a pledge and we all joined in.

Barbara McChesney offered an inspiration first shared by Reverand Martin Luther King Jr., “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”  

Tom Boylan felt inspired to be the scribe for the day!

Heather Cullen took us on a trip to a Winter Wonderland with the Heather Cullen Quartet. Gone away is the bluebird, here to stay is a new bird! This mute thing works very well!  

There were no visiting Rotarians or guests of Rotarians, so we were on our own.

Barbara McChesney got a shout out for her well-deserved recognition for all that she does in our Rotary world. That is why she is the December Rotarian of the Month.

Santa Rosa West is looking for recipes to add to their fundraising cookbook.  The idea is to share a recipe that has helped get you through the COVID experience, but incoming president Mae Heagerty -Matos is open to all sorts of recipes. If you don’t cook, send in your favorite cocktail recipe, or just a note on how you coped with COVID. An entry into the book will cost you $20, but you will be immortalized. You can contact Mae directly at (650) 773-6418 or email her at [email protected]. 

Carol Martin shared that we have a slew of toys and food donations for our annual Holiday food and toy drive. She let us know there is a need for volunteers to help pack food wrap toys and more. She reminds us that this is a safe spot for volunteers to avoid COVID. 

Who: Windsor Kiwanis, Windsor Rotary, Windsor Presbyterian Church Pantry, Windsor Chamber of Commerce, Windsor Oddfellows, Windsor Lions Club, Santa Tim, and more.

What: Drive-Thru Food and Toy Giveaway, photos with Santa Tim

Where: Windsor Middle School

Volunteer 2-Hour Slots – (masks + socially distanced):  

Mike Merrill let us know there was a lot of ringing in the ears of the community and the Dick Bishop Memorial Bell Ringing team. He and his helpers will be out again this weekend and could use a little help in ringing da bell. Sign Up By calling or emailing: Bill Bolster (707-843-6453 [email protected]) or Mike Merrill (707-484-0310 [email protected])

Windsor Rotarians were amazing when it comes to adopting families in the Town of Windsor. The Boys and Girls Club was in awe of the donations we made to eleven families to have a special Holiday with gift certificates for food, fun, and more.  The power of Rotary even added a couple of bicycles with a donation from the Windsor Bike Shop. Another community gem was Castaneda’s market which offered gift certificates emblazoned with our Windsor Rotary logo.  Sandy Krutz was on the edge of emotional tears in describing the generosity of our club members. Kudos to Sandy for coordinating this event.

We found out that Amazon Smile gave back over $3000 to the club because people chose to use the Smile versus the general Amazon sign in.  Signup at Smile.Amazon.com and be sure that you add Windsor Rotary Foundation for the charitable organization. 

Doug Williams handed out a lot of caffeine notices to the teachers in Windsor with our teacher appreciation coupons that were then handed out to the Windsor School District last week.  Ken Moulton, Tom Boylan, and Sandy Krutz received some extra credit from Doug for their efforts to keep teachers caffeinated and appreciated. 

Tomorrow there will be ladies gathering online

  • Tuesday 6 PM get a glass of wine or other beverage and get online to our special meeting. Don’t miss it because there will be a special guest.

Leslie Lewis took the lead on recognitions and immediately invited Karen Ricketts to pony up for her birthday dinner at her mom’s house with Amy. Karen opted to throw a donation to whatever Leslie decides is worthy. 

We heard from Tom Hassur that Brenda has undergone some fusion on her back and he has taken to wearing a nurse’s outfit. The Hassur’s have recently celebrated 30 years of marriage… and after a litany of great rewards he and Brenda have shared she went after Tom for a donation and he opted to pay off a few fines since he had no money left after buying a 2.5 lb Lobster for his bride.

Heather and Reg Cullen celebrated 17 years of wedded bliss and Heather opted to make a donation to the Rotary Club of Windsor’s Foundation.

Art Diaz was in the building… wherever that building is, but Art was offered a lot of accolades for being such a nice guy with immense talents and a commitment to family. Leslie suggested there is a price to pay for being such a nice guy. He offered a donation to the John Lewis Fund. 

After 17 years on the board of directors for the Windsor Fire District, John Nelson is stepping down. In Leslie’s special way she asked Sue Nelson to pony up payment for his freedom. 

The program turned to silence as our Zoom Master was having difficulty with his Mike (sic). Michael Juric having a problem with a microphone?  JB Leep stepped up and relayed what we were supposed to do as we entered into breakout rooms. 

President Bill suggested fruit cake is not a gift he is looking forward to receiving this year.  See you on December 22nd at 6 PM. 

The Night Before Christmas

Adapted from Clement Clarke Moore

A gift for the Rotary Club of Windsor, California

As written by Michael R. Juric

December 15th, 2020

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the town, Not a person was stirring, going back to locked down;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Fauci soon would be there;

The townsfolk were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of hugging friends danced in their heads;

Mom and I both, were wearing our gaiters, We sanitized again, not waiting for later;

Then out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I grabbed a new mask to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash, Yelling “six feet please”, I threw up the sash.

The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow, Gave the lustre of lysol to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But an Amazon delivery, I was hoping for beer,

Ah the little old driver, so lively, not grouchy, I knew in a moment it must be St. Fauci.

More rapid than eagles the injections they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

“Now, Pfizer! Moderna! Now, GlaxoSmithKline! On Merck and Sanofi!  A vaccine to find!

Six feet from the porch! The delivery, hands-free!  Let’s get the job done and then time to flee!”

Our community is strong, we’ve done this before, We’ll beat this darn virus, and settle that score,

Up to the house-top the doc and team flew, With the van full of shots – and St. Fauci too.

And then in a twinkling I heard in the town The prancing and party with everyone ‘round.

As I drew in my head, and was turning away, Down the chimney St. Fauci, with something to say.

He was dressed in a lab coat from his head to his toe, And his clothes were well worn, with wrinkles you know;

A bundle of shots he had flung on his back, And he looked like a godsend just opening his pack.

His eyes how they twinkled! his thoughts ever clear! His comments spot on, he calms away fear;

His mask had a sports team I won’t mention or post, As we all are so proud of the ones on our coast.

The list of our heroes he held tight in his hand, With trials and hard work they give all that they can;

He had a strong face and no sign of a belly He smiled, when he spoke, as we’ve seen on the telly.

He reminded today there was no time to stop; We must keep up our guard, our resolve not to drop.

Washing our hands and remaining apart, He taught me to know I had hope in my heart;

Our heroes don’t stop, their care is the best, And I knew I would listen because they don’t rest.

Then, laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose

He sprang to his van, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle;

I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, ‘Healthy New Year to all, and to all a good-night!’

This leads to the perfect segue… Our weekly COVID report from Nurse Diane Brabitz:

We are in a crisis situation in Sonoma County with our hospitals impacted, our nursing homes with no beds to put patients in, and home care starting to see our employees testing positive!

TWO AMERICANS /MINUTE IS DYING OF COVID IN THE USA CURRENTLY!     (This is doubled from 2 weeks ago…..sigh)

Total Cases:        14,859  (last week 13,439)

New Cases:    Fri 114  THIS IS 691  (last week 516)    NEW CASES OVER THE WEEKEND AND THE LARGEST SURGE TO DATE!  Sat 193, Sun 230, Mon 154, Deaths:  164     (last week 160)

Hospitalized:   70 confirmed and 10 suspected    (last week 41 confirmed and 1 suspected)    Statewide, the number of hospitalizations continue to rise has doubled since last month!    

Our hospital beds are impacted and nursing homes will not admit someone with COVID.    We tried to find a bed for a client who tested positive and the closest bed available was Fresno!

 We continue with 19% of our cases in the 25-34-year-olds and 17% in the 35-44-year-olds 

We have tested a Total of 334,774 and 11,350 recovered   (last week 315,727 in our county with 10,707 people recovered)  

Still seeing the largest number of cases in the Latinos (68% and whites are only 25%)    The biggest concern right now is the surge being seen from Thanksgiving and that most cases are coming from close community spread or close contact.    It is not so much work-related as it is family and events.

Public Health Officer Mase issued a county shut down on Friday night in an effort to slow down the number of positive cases and need for admission to facilities and to stop the spread.   

Public Health, the CDC, and most infectious disease Physicians are worried about the increase in cases (a surge on a surge!)   we will see because people did not stay at home and did travel; as well as the family /friend dinners that occurred locally with more than their own household bubble.   We are already seeing some of the Thanksgiving surges.

With Christmas coming, it is again being stressed to not travel, stay at home and limit your contact as much as possible.  If you traveled at all and got together with others, the experts are advising you to get tested.   The experts are also seeing it is taking up to 4 weeks, not just 2 weeks to see new cases or new positives because of symptoms not being reported, not seeking MD visits, and then getting test results back.   By the time a Case Worker or Contact Tracer gets involved, it could be weeks.  Public Health is working nonstop trying to contain this virus but it will take every citizen to do their part.

Vaccines are coming or have arrived in Sonoma County and will be used in our acute care hospitals to treat health care staff first.    Mase says she expects weekly delivery of the vaccine and will be given to other health care workers and support staff as it is received before going to the general public.  Our in-home care is expected to be in the second tier of those offered it.  

Stay safe please and practice avoiding crowds, staying home, wearing your mask even when taking walks (or at least have it with you to put on), and staying in your household bubble.   Outside family members are not part of your bubble and unless they have been tested and isolated for 10-14 days before being with you and you the same, it can be risky.   And if you see others from outside our county, have them and you quarantine for 10-14 days after.    We cannot be too careful!

Please each and everyone do your part in controlling this disease and keeps your guard up until the vaccine is available to the general public.   Let’s really become SONOMA COUNTY STRONG AGAIN and concentrate on taking precautions, sacrificing now so that we can have future holidays with our loved ones!

Thanks, Di