2021-05-21 Foreign Exchange Students Return!

President Bill Bolster rang the bell at 7:30, followed by a quick review of last week”s meeting.

  • 4 WAY Test at 7:31 by Maureen Merrill
  • Inspiration: Glenn Sugden- by Paul Harris– “One’s nativity is not of his own choosing, but whatever it may be, it is entitled to respect; and all nations have an honorable place in the world’s family.”
  • Song: John How – Happy Wanderer (Rotarian)

At: 7:56, we had 40 joining us!

Rotary Club Of Windsor

Doing More! with Less and Having Fun

Visiting Rotarians:

None

Guest of Rotarians

Katie and Emma Smith and Beth Smith’s husband

Satoshi Murayama – Former exchange student from Paraguay

Vittoria Castelli – Former exchange student from Italy

Claira Pattou – Former (2007) exchange student from France

Rotarian of the Month

  • Sue Nelson 

Membership – Everyone!!!

Rotarians at Work and Play

Bill Bolster – Green Hair at St. Patty’s Day Parade

Beth Smith and her husband – Painting the Auction Item Picture Wall

Barbara, Heather Cullen and Bill Bolster – Cleaning The 

Rotary Earth Day Happenings! 

  • Barbara McChesney – spoke about upcoming events. 
  • Tom Boylan told us if we wanted to see an excellent film go to:
    • Rotary5130.org: Film – Cooling of the Planet 7 – 9 PM 
  • March 20th –
    • Cleaned upon the Russian River in Northern CA
  • Garden Project: Garberville Rotary
  • Pollinator Project: Rotary Club of Healdsburg Sunrise
  • Laguna De Santa Rosa clean up: Rotary Club of Santa Rosa Sunrise
  • March 27th – 7-9 PM Movie night with Petaluma Sunrise -register in advance for this meeting :
  • March 30th:
    • Jake Runbenstein, Earthday.org, Plastic Pollution 

Windsor Easter Parade

  • Bill Bolster and Heather Cullen informed us of the parade.
  • A flyer will be available about putting a number on your car, and a link sent out.
  • 2021-03 Windsor Easter Parade Flyer

Upcoming Club Stuff!

  • Saturday, March 27th – 3:00 – 5:00 PM – Easter Parade around Windsor – Decorate your Car – Best wins a trophy.
  • Friday & Sat., April 16 & 17 – District 5130 Virtual Training
  • Saturday, May 8th, – Rotary Club of Windsor Virtual Fundraiser
  • Saturday thru Wednesday, June 12 -16, Rotary International Virtual Convention

Sonoma County Adopt a Road

  • Rotary Club of Windsor’s 1st (6 signs with “Rotary Club of Windsor”)
  • Pleasant Ave and Faught Rd.
  • Do you have a road you would like to Adopt?

“Our Best Shot” A virtual Fundraiser, Saturday, May 2021

Major Fundraiser Update

Michael Juric gave info on the Auction. Materials will be out soon.

Team members meet every Wednesday night (recording).

  1. Promote Sponsorship
  2. Broadcast Event
  3. Wine to Joan Mora
  4. Live and Silent Auction

SCORECARD GOAL

Sponsorships 0 $20,000 

Donations 0 $2,500 

Live Auction Items 2 of 10

Silent Auction Items 7 of 50

Wine Cellar 0 of 48

VIP Reception 0 Open-ended

Registered 0 7,423

Diane Brabetz donated a “Trip to Paradise”. 

Covid Vaccination Access Project

  • Windsor seniors – vaccination application and appointments
  • Financial support of Alliance Medical Center’s vaccination clinic
  • Onsite mobile vaccination clinics
  • Rides for Seniors to sites

Diane Brabetz said it’s been slow getting appointments as they are low on the vaccine.

Barbaras McChesney gave information on filming the project

WHS Band Says Thank You!

Windsor Rotary raised $12,000 two years ago at the Lobster Fest and bought instruments for the band. The band put together a music video thanking the rotary.

Windsor Rotary Clip Board: Call/email them or go to:/ info@windsorrotary.co

  • Song Leader – Chris Landwehr
  • Scribes – Tom Boylan
  • Video Editing and WRC Website – JB Leep needs HELP
  • Vaccine Registration – Diane Brabetz

Guest Speakers 

Sastoshi Murayama – A former exchange student from Paraguay

Victoria Castelli – A former exchange student from Italy 

Claire Pattou – A former exchange student (2007) from France

Maureen Merrill introduced Satoshi Murayama.

Sato told us what he had done in the past year and what was happening with COVID there. Unfortunately, his great-grandmother died from COVID, and our love and prayers go out to him.

Sandi Krutz introduced Victoria Castelli. 

She spoke of the challenges she faced dealing with COVID lockdowns while schooling eight hours a day on video. 

Joan Mora introduced Claire Pattou. 

She told us that practically everything has shut down again. We also got to meet her three-week-old son. Both Victoria and Claire believe that they may not receive the vaccine (in their age group) until 2022 or 2023.

8: 28 Bill Bolster Closed the meeting with a quote by Paul “Bear” Bryant.

“It’s not the will to win. It’s the will to prepare to win.”

COVID UPDATE

Total Cases:        29,006  (last week 28,753)

New Cases:

  • Fri      32
  • Sat     29
  • Sun    38
  • Mon   25

This is a total for 4 days of 124  (last week for 3 days was 128)

Deaths:  308     (last week 308)

  • Here in Sonoma County, we have seen over 55% of our deaths coming from SNF’s and the remaining from the community.

Hospitalized:

  • 17 confirmed and 2 suspected    (last week 23 confirmed and 1 suspected)
  • 17 Available ICU beds so we are seeing fewer hospitalized patients with COVID.   Because we are seeing fewer people hospitalized and new cases down, we are also seeing unsafe practices.   People are traveling despite our health experts asking us not to – Spring Break in other States and in Mexico will cause another surge in cases and with other variants to have our health experts worried about what we will see in another 2 weeks or sooner.

We have tested a total of 589,089 with a 5% positivity rate and 27,019 recovered   (last week 573,591 in our county with 26,345 people recovered)

Still seeing the largest number of cases in the Latinos (65%  with them only being 27.3% of the populations and whites are only 27% with them being 62.9% of the population )

Still seeing the largest level of positivity in Service and sales (18.5%),  then those unemployed and home care (my industry) at 2.2%.

All medical experts are encouraging all of us to continue to get tested even if you have had both of your shots.   It helps to determine new variants, exposure and will help to decrease our numbers with higher testing so that we can move out of the purple tier.  They are also continuing to ask us and warn us to curb travel for vacations and get-aways as they are afraid of a surge of new cases with people traveling and the Spring Break Super Spreader events they are seeing. Despite this, our community continues to take vacations and travel outside of our county. Please listen to the health experts – we realize there are great deals out there for travel but our health experts are asking us to wait until the end of summer.    Just a bit longer to then keep us all much safer!

Vaccines were begun….  As of Mar. 21st, 238,867  residents in Sonoma County have received the vaccine (last week 197,319).    Fully vaccinated individuals now at 64,166 which is 21.2% (last week 11.51%) and adults with at least one vaccine dose are at 16.9%.   Only 16% of Latinos (27% of our population and most at risk for COVID) have been vaccinated.  We continue to have issues with vaccine availability to our County and no real rollout by Blue Shield yet that we can see.   What doses received here really have been used for 2nd doses with a push to finish agricultural workers and teachers.

As of Monday, March 15th the Federal Government has declared all persons 16 and above with physical disabilities or medical conditions eligible for vaccines.   However, with the shortage of vaccines and the other issues with people crowding the lines or showing up without appointments like has happened, it will be difficult to know if we are able to handle all those now qualified.  Another vaccine is in the works to get approved and there is hope that the President increasing production that we may finally get the doses needed to vaccinate our population faster.

Remember, the County continues to ask that we stay home and practice the 3 W’s – wash your hands, wear your mask and watch your distance.   The CDC has announced that socialization with vaccinated people in small groups is safe, but both parties must have received both of their vaccinations and it should be at least 2 weeks post 2nd vaccine.   The CDC and Public Health continue to request we not travel where we can become exposed at restaurants, restrooms, hotels even if it is outside activities.   There are many other variants of this virus that have now been identified and until we have enough immunity, it is best for all of us if we stay home, predicting that we will reach some percentage of herd immunity by summer.     It is hoped that our residents will continue to be careful and that we will not need to close back down as people get out more and more.

Please help us to educate others on the risks, the need to really consider getting the vaccine, the need to stay home but venture out slowly with other vaccinated individuals, but curb travel.   Variants of this virus are continuing to appear and we need to stay home – another surge of this pandemic will only task our resources and could kill many people.   We want to strive for “herd immunity”.    Once you have had both vaccines you can begin to socialize with other people who have also had both vaccines and can add those people to one of your safe “bubbles”.      Please become a believer – the life you save could be someone dear to you!    We continue to see deaths in our fellow Rotarians in Mexico as they are not fortunate enough to have access to PPE, vaccines, and even good medical treatment.   Treat those you care about with loving consideration!

Thanks

Di