The meeting was called to order by President Bill Bolster at 6:07 pm
Our surprise guest was our very own District Governor Doug Johnson
President Bill congratulated the club for “knocking it out of the park these last few weekends” helping people who needed help: The Dick Bishop Memorial Bell ringing, the Windsor Community Food and Toy Giveaway, the adopt a family program through the Boys and Girls Club, and Gift certificates to all the Windsor Teachers.
Sue Nelson commented that it’s an amazing feat for a club that hasn’t been physically together for most of the year to have accomplished so much. She said the leadership our club has shown for each project is what made the results so amazing. “The Miracle of Christmas” will be on Christmas morning when all the families we have helped are blessed with toys for the kids, a meal, and gift cards that will make their lives better. Sue went on to honor President Bill for holding us together and keeping us moving in the right direction.
President Bill then introduced our special guest. An elf sent by Santa… District Governor Doug Johnson.
DG Doug: “It’s amazing across our district that Rotarians are finding ways to make an impact in their communities even during the COVID situation, and in the next day or so there will be a DG message going out to that effect.
The preview is in the theme for the year… “Be a Gift to the World.” He believes Rotarians give gifts, but Rotary understands the reality is that “You are the Gift”. You give Service above Self. Thank you, Windsor Rotarians, for what you are doing. “
DG Doug said “Tonight we are here to celebrate a Windsor Rotary gift to our district. The gift is our DG designate for the Rotary year 2023-2024; Tom Boylan. Cheers to Tom, and thank you for stepping up.”
“Normally we try to introduce the dignitaries like our past DGs, and a lot of them are here tonight. I am going to put all my past DGs to a test. I am going to recognize one ZOOM square (containing at least one past DG) and then you move on and recognize someone else and so on till we are out of past DGs.”
DG Doug shared that Windsor Rotary collects DGs like he collects baseball cards, and then chose Mike Merrill and Maureen Merrill, both past DGs and both members of the Windsor club to start a round of recognition with the following sequence:
Maureen recognized Michael Juric.
Michael recognized Ken Moulton who wasn’t present, so he went on to recognize Helaine Campbell.
- Helaine recognized Terri Clark.
- Terri recognized Dustin Littlefield.
- Dustin recognized Kathy Flamson.
- Kathy recognized Del Raby.
- Doug, on Del’s behalf, recognized Bob Rogers.
- Bob recognized Kevin Eisenberg.
- Kevin recognized Bruce Campbell.
- Bruce recognized Mike Merrill.
- Tom Boylan recognized Jennifer Strong and Jennifer recognized Jim Flamson.
Doug told Tom he is joining quite a crowd…find your passion and run with it. “Welcome Tom”.
Tom let us know he is truly honored and gave credit to Ken Moulton for getting him started working at the District level. Over the many years since Ken’s year as DG, Tom had an opportunity to work with numerous DGs and other District leaders and suggested he is looking forward to leaning on those individuals to find solutions we will need for the future.
According to Tom, “There are a variety of problems that Rotary will face in the near future, but with creative ideas and collaboration, we can turn any problem into a positive solution. As we come out of all of this pandemic it is imperative to focus on how we can grow Rotary. It’s going to call for a lot of innovation. Thank you to each of the people that took the time to join this meeting and especially to my fellow club members and to Melody.”
Tom shared that when he told Melody he was considering running for DG, she said “Oh Great,” because her father (Mel Montero), who had Sonoma Joe’s restaurant, was a Rotarian and he would complain because his club would meet at Sonoma Joe’s for their weekly meetings, but every time it came for a holiday party or something like that, they went off to some other restaurant. So, over the years all he could say was “Damn Rotary”. Tom said he has since won Mel over by talking about all the good Rotary has done since the old days of Sonoma Joe’s and Mel is delighted that Tom put his hat in the ring.
President Bill proposed a toast…Congratulations to Tom Boylan…here, here! Tom will become the fifth DG to come from our club, which puts us one ahead of the Calistoga club and their four DGs!
Tom was also recognized by PDG Bob Rogers for the role he played in this past September training focused on Polio Plus which he promoted throughout the two Big West Rotary Zones.
DG Doug said he heard the other day that an expert can share for one hour on a topic, but a past DG can share for four hours on nothing!
JB Leep acknowledged Tom for the weekly duties as Scribe for the club and teased him about taking notes tonight. Leah Hansen let Tom know he was off the hook for this evening’s Scribe activities.
Maureen suggested we let the club know what a DG does at one of our meetings.
President Bill closed the meeting jingling bells and wishing all a Merry Christmas!
The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 pm
Here is the latest COVID update from your Rotary Club nurse:
We continue to be 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! We are seeing more and more asymptomatic people who are testing positive all of which means more exposure in our community if people are not staying home, not traveling, and wearing masks. This is real, not political, not a hoax, and is so personal to those who have lost loved ones. My best friend lost her sister over the weekend that an ICU could not save. Please help educate people to take this seriously and do their part!
Total Cases: 16,706 (last week 14,859)
New Cases: Fri 169 THIS IS 682 over 3 days! (last week 691 – this was over 4 days)
Sat 302
Sun 211
Mon not reported
Deaths: 174 (last week 164)
Hospitalized: 66 confirmed and 3 suspected (last week 70 confirmed and 10 suspected) Statewide, the number of hospitalizations continues to rise and is at a crisis level. Hospitals are not able to handle the surge and are worried about a “surge on surge” with Christmas this week.
We have tested a Total of 359,276 and 12,351 recovered (last week 3134,774 in our county with 11,350 people recovered)
Still seeing the largest number of cases in the Latinos (67% and whites are only 27% ) Service and sales continue to be the highest level of new positivity, then those unemployed and home care (my industry) keeping it at 3%. Close contact (meaning close family or friend spread) is at 47% and 45% is still being determined.
Public Health Officer Mase issued a county shutdown on Dec. 12th in an effort to slow down the number of positive cases and need for admission to facilities and to stop the spread.
Despite this, we continue to see people not taking this seriously and out Christmas shopping, planning travel, and Christmas gatherings.
Vaccines 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. However, until the majority of us are vaccinated with 2 injections, we must continue to wash our hands, wear our masks, stay home (not travel), and social distance.
Remember, outside family members or close friends 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
Videos
Full version of President Bill Bolster welcoming about 10 Past and Present District Governors from Rotary District 5130 gathered to announce that Tom Boylan, Windsor Rotary Past President will serve as District Governor in 2023-2024. Includes additional comments and joking around!
//youtube.com/embed/luYLPI0srzU
Short version includes only PDG and Tom’s comments. No joking….
//youtube.com/embed/NJ1rzsSA-vU