Past President Leslie Lewis “Fines Away”!

Past President Leslie Lewis takes over our meetings and “Fines Away!

Pledge of Allegiance – given the issues in Ukraine, this had real meaning this morning!
Song: JB led us in our song and my only comment is “we need to keep our Day jobs!”
Rotary Moment:
Past President Leslie shared with us two of her Rotary moments….. she attended her first Rotary meeting with her Dad, John (Founder of our Windsor Rotary Club) at age 9 and still remembers a huge cake rolled in and a scantily clad women jumping out… that is a visual!

Second Rotary Moment was joining our Club and becoming involved in the Exchange Program which she ended up becoming our Exchange Student Coordinator – did you know she and Nirmal hosted 12 students from various countries for us??? Leslie says she still loves the saying that she heard early on in the exchange program – “IF you know someone somewhere it is hard to go to war against them”. How very true….
Visiting Rotarians: None
Guest of Rotarians:

Beth Smith introduced her family – husband Donnie, and daughters, Kate and Emma
Kelly and Greg Mortenson and their daughter, Rebecca
Glenda Sales – our very own Past President and former Exchange Student Coordinator introduced her husband, Sergio
Domingo – our adopted son from Chili
At some point in here, Past President Leslie fined John How $5 for talking out of turn!

Rotarian of the Month:
Dev Sodagar – thanks for all that you have done already for our Club!

Rotary International:
John Hackenburg let us know that RI has earmarked monies to go to the relief fund for Disaster Response in Ukraine. Donate through Rotary and ensure your monies go to the relief and make a difference. You can go on DACdb – go to Donate – then choose Disaster Response Fund and make your contribution. Tom Boylan, District Governor Elect also let us know that we would be getting something from our District with this information to make our donations easy to make.

Fund Raising Event:
Co chair, Bill Conklin reminded us that our event is Saturday, March 26^th. We are suggesting that we all gather wherever you will watch this at 5:30 pm and the Auction will begin at 6:30 pm. On March 12^th, the Silent Auction items will open to the public to begin bidding. Bidding closes on Sunday, March 27^th (you have another day after our event) at 5 pm.

Catherine Hanron, who is handling Silent Auction items reported that we have 77 items totaling $23,000 right now but she needs us to get up off our butts and get her more!!!! We have a goal of 100 items so she needs everyone to find more silent auction items. If you have an idea but are hesitant about contacting someone to ask, let Catherine know. She will help…

Scholarship Committee:
Terry Andreachhi, has taken over the Scholarship Committee. Thanks Terry…. We have $10,000 to give out in scholarships this year and already have about 15 applications from students. Terry asked for volunteers to be on the committee and help decide who should be awarded. The following members did volunteer:
Di Brabetz, Pam Moulton, John How, Carol Martin, Dev Sodagar, Bill Bolster, Mitch Grandi, Bill Arnone, and Mike Merrill. If this scribe missed anyone, please contact Terry to let him know you are interested.

PETS Training: (President Elect Training Seminar)
Seems a group of ours knew “their way to San Jose….” Brian Ling (President Elect), Tom Boylan (District Governor Elect), and Sandie Krutz (Assistant Governor elect) went to San Jose – I cannot stop singing that song…… and they returned bearing gifts for our President Pam. They shared there were about 400 people there and they got to meet and hear Jennifer Jones, who will be the First Woman President of RI. Her theme come July will be “Imagine” We have a heavy presence in our District with so many Past District Governors and our own Michael Juric is the District Trainer and very involved. Windsor has a huge impact and we should be very proud!

April 2^nd the District Assembly will be held in Ukiah 8am-3 pm with a Social the evening before (April 1^st)
May 21-22 will be our District Conference in Fortuna.
Did you know our Windsor Rotary club is 35 years old???? YAY

Exchange Program:
Beth Smith shared with us this will be our first exchange program in 2 years because of the pandemic. Glenda Sales, Pegi Ball, Renee Hyde, Bill Bolster and Sandie Krutz who have all been involved with the Youth Exchange program along with Leslie Lewis welcomed our 2 outbound students and introduced them and their families. They were each presented with a flag from the country they will be going to because our District was not able to hold the ceremony where current exchange students from their country they get would wrap them in the country’s flag and present it to them.

Rebecca Mortenson will be going to Sweden and she shared her thoughts of going away and thanks for being selected.
Kate Smith has tried to go several times and each time COVID stopped her program. 3^rd time is a charm and she got Japan this time which was her first choice. She is thrilled!
Past President Leslie shared her thoughts on the program and encouraged them to cry in the shower, but enjoy every experience.
Di Brabetz whose daughter, Melissa, was our Club’s first exchange student to Sweden shared what a life changing experience this was for Melissa. She encouraged the students to participate fully, enjoy every experience they could and live each day to the fullest.

FINES:
And then we turned Past President Leslie loose to fine……….. there is no one like her!!!

Mitch Grandi – recognized for his birthday which he says he has nothing planned fun – “Kaching” she fined him $5 – the hit him with another $20 for being out of our Club for awhile. Welcome back Mitch – we are happy to have you!
Di Brabetz – was at her house in Mexico using Past President’s Leslie’s hammock, soaking up sun and celebrated her Anniversary there and has a Birthday coming up – “Kaching” – Di made a $1000 donation to the Ukraine Disaster Relief
Carol and JB – took a trip to Savannah Georgia – $50 fine to Carol and JB will finish his fines…..
John LeCave – has a birthday but not there for Leslie to fine him
Bill Conklin – it is his wife’s birthday on the 13^th – “Kaching” – $500 donation to the Ukraine Disaster Relief.
Monica and Larry – $5 for not having a picture yet. And they went on a trip to Hawaii, sawy the volcano, and swam with Manta Rays…. “Kaching”… $100 for each to donate to the Ukraine Disaster Relief.
Leslie Lewis – Brian Ling suggested that because Leslie has missed meetings, under the 4 Way Test, etc. that she be fined and there was a chorus of Past Presidents that seemed to go along with this – so the fines were turned on Leslie and she agreed to pay $100 to her John Lewis Fund.
Renee Hyde – she was on the slopes skiing and won at Video Poker – “Kaching” $50 to the Ukraine Disaster Relief
John Hackenburg – seems there is new BMW that he and Jean are picking up back East and will get to go on the track. “Kaching” – he made a $1000 donation to the Ukraine Disaster Relief.
Sue Nelson – went to Grass Valley / Nevada City – Leslie asked if she drank?? – “Kaching” – $250 donation to the Ukraine Disaster Relief
John Howe – finished his John Lewis Fund and put $150 to Polio Plus
Do you realize our Club in a very short amount of time pledged $3000 towards the Ukraine Disaster Relief! We should be so very proud – thanks everyone….. This scribe was not sure she got all of the fines so please accept my apology…. Money flies around so fast when Leslie is President for the Day! It was hard for me to keep up!!!

WRAP UP:
Past President Leslie introduced herself to the new members she has not met and made sure to congratulate again our 2 outgoing Exchange Students, Rebecca and Kate. Have a great year!

ADJOURNMENT:
Past President Leslie thanked all for coming and allowing her to fill in. In an honor to Warren Buffet, she closed with one of his sayings…. “The most important thing to do if you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging”!

SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY…….

COVID UPDATE: BOOSTERS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO BE VERY PROTECTIVE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID!
MANDATES ON MASK WEARING HAVE EXPIRED AND THERE IS CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM THAT WE ARE ON THE DOWNWARD SIDE OF COVID HERE IN SONOMA COUNTY!

Total Cases: 82,921 (last week 82,449)
Recovered: 80,253 (last week 78,200)
Active Cases:2191 (last week 3775)
Deaths: 477 (last week449)
New Cases: 472 cases this past week (last week 661)
Hospitalized: 33 confirmed and 2 suspected (last week 32 confirmed and 2 suspected)

Vaccination information…. As of March 6th, 2022, 1,009,710 doses of vaccination have been given to residents in Sonoma County. (last week 1,006,076). 81% of our population 5 years and older are fully vaccinated and 7% have had at least one (1) dose.

MASKS: Dr. Sundari Mase, Sonoma County’s Public Health Officer rescinded the mask mandate on February 16th for all fully vaccinated individuals. On March 7th, she issued an Amendment No. 3 to the Order which allows (health care still required) to exempt from testing and face covering requirements for those fully vaccinated but not yet boosted. However, it does continue to allow employers to continue to require testing on non-boosted personnel, personnel with confirmed COVID 19 infection, or anyone with symptoms. Because our County has had a reduction in the number of COVID 19 cases and hospitalizations public health is shifting away from testing as testing materials are low in supply and difficult to obtain.

Unvaccinated individuals over age 2 will continue to be required to wear masks in all indoor public settings. Indoor masking is still required by the State for everyone, regardless of vaccination status in public transportation, health care settings, congregate settings (like correctional facilities and homeless shelters), long-term care facilities and in all K-12 schools and childcare settings.

Masks continue to be a deterrent to the spread of COVID-19 and are suggested where case rates are high or there are outbreaks occurring. They are also suggested still in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces and for protection around those who are vulnerable and for young children who are not yet eligible for vaccinations. When wearing a mask, ensure that it is tight fitting such as a N95, KN95, or use a cloth mask over a surgical mask . People can continue to choose to wear a mask whether it is mandated or not and we should respect other’s feelings.

We continue to encourage everyone eligible for the booster, to get one. We have seen the proof that this prevents disease and hospitalizations and those who still breakthrough have minor symptoms. As a health care professional I am optimistically positive that we have turned the corner, but we could encounter another variant, another outbreak and be asked to mask once again for everyone’s safety. Enjoy our relaxation of mandates, but keep others safe please.

Please know that I am always available to answer questions, help with scheduling appointment, providing a test or even FIT testing you for a N95 mask so that it fits properly. If you want to schedule either a booster or the vaccine, appointments can be found by visiting: https://socoemergency.org/events/category/pop-up-vaccine or call 707-565-4667. Do not hesitate to contact me OR my staff at my office (At Home Nursing) at 546-8773 if you need to be tested – we would be happy to test you. We are also available to FIT test you for an M95 mask and can sell those to you.