Field Trip to the WHS Vasconi Welding Facility
The Rotary Club of Windsor goes on a field trip! For most School Children, a field trip takes them anywhere but school. But for us – we head back to school under the watchful eye of former President – Sue Nelson, and the wonderful staff of Windsor High School – Brian Williams, Grace Curtin-Fiano, Marie Ganister & John Brito
Our meeting was called to order by Past President Sue who reminded us “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn” (Benjamin Franklin)
Pledge of Allegiance – John Hackenburg
Guests:
- John Nelson – husband of Past President Sue Nelson
- Grace Curtin-Fiano – Assistant Principle, WHS
- Marie Ganister – Culinary Teacher & CTE Coordinator, WHS
- John Brito – CTE teacher, WHS
Rotary Moment: “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn” (Benjamin Franklin)
Rotarian of the Month – Chris Landwehr. Congratulations Chris for all that you do and have done
Announcements:
- Wally Krutz – Castañeda’s Market is hosting a Paella Pick-Up on Jan 19th to support victims of the recent Boulder Creek Fires. Please go get some delicious grub and help some people going through pain many of us are all too familiar with.
- Ed Turner – $25,007.93 donated to Windsor Rotary Community Foundation from the estate of Carl Wiuff
- Sue Nelson – We will be returning to Zoom ONLY for at least the next 2 meetings.
Brian Ling told us how the lack of shop classes in Sonoma County ended up sinking his business, Reliance Trailers, Cotati – a business with 90 employees as a way of underscoring the importance of programs like Windsor High School’s Welding Classes.
Brian Williams gave us a rundown of how tax payer funds for schools are capped to get programs to the ‘essential’ level. This really impacts the ability of a program like Auto-Manufacturing to be able to get equipment and supplies needed to meet an industry standard that really puts students in a good standing to secure a well-paying job after graduation.
Marie Ganister highlighted how these classes are so effective at building collaborative and team working skills in addition to the technical expertise and safety skills needed in a professional environment. This is a creative skill that gives many students something to really be passionate about in their schooling.
John Brito gave the club a little of his background as an Industrial mechanic who moved to teaching for a more rewarding career. He’s been teaching at WHS for 8 years now teaching ~150 students per year and already has a wealth of amazing stories of the successes his students have had on graduation and entering the professional world.
John underscored Brian’s comments about the costs of maintaining a shop in the public school system – raw materials alone amount to more than the entire budget for any other program in the school. Having funds for doing additional facilities and equipment makes all the difference. Rotary will be bringing funds to allow the students to replace the gate and fencing around the shop area as well as tarmacking the outdoor space so that it is more functional and no longer presents the health and safety risks that it currently does in moving heavy equipment over gravel / mud.
John also highlighted that Rotary’s attention on the program helps give the program more visibility more generally and that is really important for the program’s ongoing success.
Windsor High School will be providing a gift basket of items made by the students to include in the auction!!! Items include a metalwork piggie bank with business card holder that the scribe was eyeing with envy and a bunch of wrought metal roses!
John gave us a tour of the shop including a demonstration of the CNC cutter that the shop has on which he cut out some rotary cogs as trinkets for the club!
01/11/22
COVID UPDATE:
******* 30 DAY BAN ORDERED ON LARGE GATHERINGS! Effective at 12:01 am Wednesday, January 12th all gatherings indoors of more than 50 people and more than 100 outdoors are prohibited by Sonoma county Public Health officials in a move to curb the wide spread of Omicron. This surge threatens to overwhelm local hospitals and medical services. This order does not apply to normal classroom or recess activities and schools remain open. Workplace settings, courthouse activities, places of worship, cafeterias or any venue that is open to the public as part of regular operations, including shopping malls, stores, restaurants and museums are exempt for now. It also specifies that gatherings of individuals who are at higher risk of severe illness from COVID must be limited to no more than 12 people, except for family gatherings. Sonoma County Health Officer has also issued a countywide appeal for residents to voluntarily stay home and restrict large gatherings. Check the new order online for its’ entirety…..
FDA has authorized boosters for youths, ages 12-15. FDA also shortened to 5 months the time required between 2nd dose and ability to be given the Booster.
OMICRON cases in Sonoma County are averaging 121.4 new daily cases per 100,000 people! This equates to about 600 new COVID cases per day and we are seeing about 16.5 % of COVID tests coming back positive compared to last winter’s surge of only below 10%. We have also seen a spike in the number of people hospitalized with COVID in our county hospitals, going from 30 a week ago to 76 on Sunday. It does not mean that these patients entered the hospital because of COVID but it does mean they have tested positive for COVID.
Our State is now requiring masks to be worn indoors. California is also recommending travelers who visit or return to California to get tested within 5 days of their arrival and the Federal government is imposing stricter regulations for testing when flying. Testing can be difficult to find, but check for pop up clinics daily and I do offer testing at my office with an appointment. Call us at 707-546-8773 if you are having any issues finding a test site.
We do remain vulnerable to the coronavirus with more travel happening, large gatherings occurring and people letting down their guard.
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.
Total Cases: 54,199** (last week 46,745) Recovered: 43,661 (last week 43,136) Active Cases: 10,117** (last week 3191) ***Please note this spike in numbers!!! We continue to climb***
Deaths: 421 (last week 418) Please continue to honor those we have lost by encouraging those you know who have not become vaccinated, to get their COVID shot, get a booster and their flu shot.
Do your utmost best to shelter at home as much as you can and help our community stop this current surge! Do not go to an Emergency Room (ER) unless it is truly an emergency as you are impacting medical care for those who really need it and you do chance exposure.
New Cases: 2832** cases this past week (last week 1994) – this is a huge increase and demonstrates how infectious Omicron can and is.
Hospitalized: 76 confirmed and 2 suspected (last week 29 confirmed and 3 suspected)
Vaccination information…. As of January 9th, 2022, 938,476 doses of vaccination have been given to residents in Sonoma County. (last week 917,953). 78% of our population 5 years and older (5-11 year olds have now been approved and are counted in the population vaccinated or not) are fully vaccinated and approximately 8% have received at least 1 dose. Providers in Sonoma County are giving shots to our 5-11 year olds and are also providing Boosters for anyone over 18, but we are not seeing large numbers seeking vaccinations yet.
MASKS: Please do not use your cloth masks – Omicron is highly contagious and will get through. Switch to surgical mask, KN95 or the N95. If you must continue to use your cloth masks, then please use two and double up. This will help with the spread of this fast spreading variant. Fortunately it does not seem to attack the lungs like the Delta variant but instead causes more of a respiratory illness.
There are now new requirements on testing before flying – our government has mandated within 24 hrs of a flight and more countries are requiring testing to travel in or out. If you are traveling, please ensure you check with your airlines to see what the requirements are before you leave. The State is also suggesting that anyone traveling when you return to test 3-5 days after your return. Isolation requirements for those positive but asymptomatic, fully vaccinated and boosted have been decreased to 5 days, unless you are still symptomatic on day 5. If you are then you should continue to isolate or stay home for the full 10 days.
Get your booster if you are eligible! It is highly recommended to give your immune system a boost. Also get your Flu vaccine as we do not want citizens coming down with the flu. This not only compromises their immune systems, but can also weaken their lungs. We need to keep our beds hospital beds free to those really sick and help our limited medical staff ready to help those with COVID and not have our county residents admitted with the flu.
Stay home if you are able and stay away from groups as much as possible as this Omicron goes through our community. Be cautious, Mask up, get your booster, your flu shot and just be careful as we learn to live with this virus……..
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.
Thanks
Di