2021-01-12 Mayor Dominic Foppoli

President Bill rang the bell at 7:30, following some robust visiting of Rotarians, I think we all miss in-person greetings, & hugs,  

President Bill commented on our speaker from last week, Dave Humelburg, who got him and had him nervous at the beginning of his presentation.  He was happy it went well and enjoyed the presentation. 

Pledge of Allegiance: was led by Barbara McChesney 

President Bill may be avoiding COVID-19 but succeeded to get covered with Poison Oak!

After managing to get his Nurse and Doctor to dance to the coasters “Poison Ivy” while getting treatment for his itch, he decided it would be a good song to sing at the meeting, get everyone itching and twitching with him.  

The weekly Inspiration was presented by Doug Williams 

  •   “Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every person has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all have some.” – From Charles Dickens

At 7:35, we had 42 joining us!

We have no Visiting Rotarian today

Guest of Rotarians was our Speaker Dominique Foppoli, 

ROTARIAN OF THE MONTH: All members of the Rotary Club of Windsor, together the club completed FOUR projects in December.   Team effort!

Amazon Smile:  A painless easy was to contribute to the:  “Windsor Rotary Club Foundation” Once you have registered with amazon smile and chosen the charity of your choice Amazon does the rest.  I just checked my account and was surprised by the total for my 2020 shopping, every little bit helps.   Go to  smile.amazon.com 

Announcements:  

“Stimulating Windsor”                                                                        

  • COVID Relief for Windsor citizens and businesses
  • Identify seniors in need
  • Gift Cards,   Choose local restaurants,  use Door dash
  • Members find or pledge donations by Sunday 1/17/21
  • Donate at www.windsorrotary.org  “Donate Button” clarify designation on payment page
  • A short report by next breakfast meeting 1/19/21

Brainstorming session 

BUILD Construction Academy at Windsor High School

  • They are off and running 
  • Build Academy Video will be on our website
  • $4500 from WRC for Storage Container
  • $2000 WRC + $2000 District Grant for Tools ($4000 total)

Environmental Committee

Reported by: Carol Martin 

  • What is the Petaluma Sunrise Rotary Environment Committee and what do they do?
    • Philip Pasqual-Chair-Rotarian is passionate about addressing the crisis of climate change and finding positive solutions.
  • Joined ESRAG to work with Rotarians around the globe to address Climate Restoration.
  • In conversation with Petaluma mayor and Petaluma environmental action group. 
  • Host monthly meetings and movie nights aimed at education and taking action steps.
  • Participate in Rotary Climate Action Teams and Climate Action Commissions.
  • In conversation with Blue Planet and other companies providing low embodied carbon building materials to create projects.
  • Blue Planet has not been confirmed yet. They are formulating a reproducible project for 2021 that will have a multi-purpose, educational, and fundraising purpose. They are designing a table made of carbon-negative concrete to raise funds for Rotary, as well as educate people about Climate Restoration and lowering carbon footprint. It is the intention that this can be copied and reproduced by Rotary clubs in other cities and districts.
  • Overall goal-impact Rotary’s new 7th key area of focus which is supporting the environment both locally and globally.
  • Entering Rotary 2021 contest “I fix the planet”.

Upcoming events:

Monthly meeting of Petaluma Sunrise Environment Committee: Second Monday of the month-next Feb. 8 at 5 pm

Climate Restoration: Our Legacy for the Planet with Peter Fiekowsky-MIT physicist-Founder and Chairman

Foundation for Climate Restoration-Thursday Jan. 21-4 pm

  • Movie Night: 4th Saturday of every month

Membership 

It is all about the US, Each One Bring One   

President-Elect 2023 – 2024 

Interested in Leadership?  Experience the Rewarding position as   Rotary President?  

         Past President Steve Klick stated being president was a great opportunity for him to learn the passions of the club connect and impact our schools & community.  Steve added, Rotary trains incoming Presidents well; you are prepared in advance for your presidency.  

Contact

Clip Board Stuff 

Stimulation Windsor

  • Make your commitment for Gift Cards to local restaurants for seniors by this weekend!!! – Glenn Sugden

Rotary 

 Help Wanted:

  • Tom Boylan is looking for scribes, with the slides from zoom, not a difficult job; commitment for one month is desired.  Rotary@boylanpoint.com
  • Windsor Rotary President 2023-24 – Maureen Merrill is looking for candidates, past presidents wanting to do it again are welcome.  maureen@maureenmerrill.com
  • Song Leaders – Chris Landwehr     landwehr@sonic.net

Club Socials: 

  • Wednesday, Jan 13, 5:30PM – “Ladies on Line”

UPCOMING CLUB STUFF: 

  • Wednesday, Jan 13, 5:30 PM – Ladies on Line
  • Tuesday, Jan 19 – Andrew Gunther, Ph.D. – Climate Change – The Science and the Solutions
  • Thursday, Jan 21, 4:00 PM – Climate Restoration:  Our Legacy for the Planet – Rotary Climate Action Committee

Speaker:

JB Leep introduced Dominic Foppoli, Mayor of Windsor, co-founder, and owner of Foppoli Wines, Benevolo Wines, and Windsor’s own Old Redwood Brewing Company. He is also co-owner of Christopher Creek Winery.  Dominic is a member of the Active 20-30 club and was an Interact and Rotaract member.  Dominic is the youngest council member and Mayor in Windsor history; he is also the first mayor to serve three years in a row, and the first Mayor of Windsor to gain office through an electrical vote.  

Dominic serves on the Mayors’ and Councilmember’s Association. The Town of Windsor was the Chair City of the Mayors’ and Councilmembers’ Association of Sonoma County for 2020. The Mayors’ and Councilmembers’ Association meets on a bi-monthly basis to connect and plan for the future on matters that affect the cities in Sonoma County.  In addition, Dominic has conducted weekly zoom meetings with the other 9 mayors in Sonoma County.

 Dominic grew up in Windsor and always wanted to be mayor of Windsor.  His term in office has been anything but uneventful, he has dealt with floods, lawsuits, fire, more lawsuits, and more fire. He said in 429 days he will be 40 and join Rotary. 

Dominic remains enthusiastic and honored to represent the Town of Windsor.

Questions & Answers:   Mayor Dominic Foppoli

  • Q  1. Can you tell us about the open seat with regards to appointment versus a special election? We hear it was recently decided to have an election on May 5.  I believe you were originally on the side of “appointment”. Could you talk about these issues and how you feel?
    • A  1. The appointment would save tax dollars; however, it was clear the residents want a City-wide election to fill the vacancy.  If interested in running for a vacancy you must be a Windsor resident, a US citizen, and 18 years of age, 
  • Q  2. A large family will use more water, & utilities, which can easily put them into a higher more expensive tier for services. What steps are you taking to make Windsor a place families can afford to live? What efforts have you personally made to require the town to consider the size of the family living in a home?
    • A.. Dominic stated this is something he is aware of and has been bringing up to town, specifically with water usage.  There is the conversation as to how the town can implement billing, taking family size into consideration, to avoid family being billed at a higher tier rate.  He said this tier system was initiated to deter water abuse and high landscape water use.  Dominic noted her presence and comments at a Town Meeting would be very welcome & helpful.
  • Q 3. Timing on Civic Center Project?  How many years to re-locate town offices & finish new development?  Is the developer having financing problems, probability of downtown development?
    • A  3 Developer for residential project lost property, the town is looking for a developer to take over, it is shovel ready.
    • The town will be meeting with developer Robert Green for the presentation of 1st phase shortly. The town would like phase 1 to include City Hall, Library, School District & City Offices.   I understood Dominic to say 2-3 years before completion and moving on to phase 2.  This is a major project envisioned for the Town of Windsor from the beginning; it does require the support of the residents of Windsor.  
  • Q  4.   Drag racing on Shiloh & Windsor roads late at night, as well as car-related activities like burning rubber.  This leads me to believe we lack protection in the evenings & nighttime. What is the level of Police protection after 9 pm daily?
    • A  4. Windsor has 24hour protection; Windsor also has the lowest crime rate in the county.  Traffic enforcement is a priority in the town and suggests if you hear or witness such activities report to the sheriff’s department, he is confident you will get a response, if not call or email Dominic directly.  
  • Q   5. Is there a strategic plan to promote and roll out the vaccines in Windsor?
    • A  5.  Meeting with Dr. Mase on Thursday, they will determine the place people can go for the vaccine, and the amount to be received.  Communication has already begun with CVS & Walmart in Windsor. 

Covid update:

1/12/21:

 Total Cases:        21,463  (last week 20,015) 

 New Cases:            Fri     315                 

                                   Sat    197

                                  Sun   199

           Mon is not reported

This is a total for 3 days of 711 (compared to 960 for 3 days??)

Deaths:  218     (last week 196)

Hospitalized:   97 confirmed and 11 suspected    (last week 98 confirmed and 0 suspected)    These are alarming numbers of hospitalized patients with COVID and we are seeing this Statewide;  Southern California is beginning to ration oxygen and care! 

 People continue to travel and leave the area despite our Shelter in Place order and neither quarantine before or after their trips.

 We have tested a Total of 422,807 and 15,689 recovered   (last week 400,410 in our county with 13,860 people recovered)   

Still seeing the largest number of cases in the Latinos (66% and whites are only 27% )    

Still seeing the largest level of positivity in Service and sales, with education climbing to 15.6%, then those unemployed and home care (my industry) at 2.8%

.  Close contact (meaning close family or friend spread) is at 40% and 53% is still under investigation.  We are seeing in our own employee’s positivity in our Latinos/Hispanics and being exposed by family members working in other industries or ignoring travel or gathering warnings.  

 Public Health Officer Mase extended our county shut down for another 4 weeks because of rising numbers in hopes to decrease the need for admission to facilities and to stop the spread.      

Despite this, we continued to see people not taking this seriously. 

 Vaccines were begun….  As of Jan. 10th, 11,631 residents in Sonoma County have received the vaccine.    Vaccination rollout continues to be slow and nowhere where we hoped they would be by now.    Our Agency has offered to help inoculate people starting with our staff and then giving the public their injections.   We continue to wait for direction and notification. 

Outbreaks continue in our senior facilities.   Inoculations in the senior facilities are a priority now that acute care hospitals have been completed.

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 do not let your guard down; even receiving the vaccine means until we have the majority of our community vaccinated we will need to continue to wash our hands, wear our masks and watch our closeness!   I realize it is out there on the horizon; do not let COVID fatigue get to you and get sloppy in protecting yourself and those that you love.   Let’s really become SONOMA COUNTY STRONG AGAIN and concentrate on taking precautions, sacrificing now – we can beat this!

Thanks

Di

Closing remark:

President Bill thanked Dominique for his presentation and quoted Mark Twain 

“Always do right.  This will gratify some people and astonish the rest”

The meeting was adjourned @ 8:30 am