Update on Ukraine by Dr. Curt Groninga
Good Day, fellow Rotarians and friends and family who are reading our weekly bulletin. Today’s minutes are from TUESDAY, March 22, 2022.
Pledge of Allegiance lead by visiting Past District Governor Doug Johnson.
INSPIRATION: Rotary’s 4 Way Test. The Four-Way Test of the things we think, say or do is a test used by Rotarians world-wide as a moral code for personal and business relationships. The test can be applied to almost any aspect of life, A Guiding Post.
SONG: Heather was unable to attend this morning and lead us in song, but it is JB’s Birthday so we blessed him with a roaring rendition of HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
VISITING ROTARIANS: Sandie Krutz introduced Past District Governor Doug Johnson from the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa
GUESTS OF ROTARIANS: Sue Nelson introduced Curt Groninga, Bill Turner, & her husband, John Nelson
Barbara McChesney introduced her husband, David Doht.
Rotarian of the Month: Dev Sodagar. Dev has been very busy behind the scenes preparing for our SPARK SUCCESS! fundraiser this Saturday. Thank you, Dev!
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Bill Bolster attended Salvation Army’s award banquet March 17, (with green hair) and received an award for the Rotary Club of Windsor for collecting over $1,100.00 ringing the Bell in December. I believe Bill said we collect the third highest amount!
- Bill also announced there will be a Choices Program at the Windsor Middle School in April; this program is aimed at keeping kids in school. Bill will provide more details, Please contact Bill if interested in participating.
- Renee Hyde has created a Passport to Success as a means for new members to get to know other members and learn more about our club and Rotary Service. Renee has set up a schedule of quick “after the meeting” meetings new or existing members can attend to learn about each area of Rotary in the passport. Meetings start in April and will posted at our regular Rotary meetings.
| Role | Person/People | Q2 2022 | Q3 2022 | Q4 2022 |
| President | Pam Moulton | 4/5 | 7/05 | 10/4 |
| Club Communications | Wally Krutz | 4/12 | 7/12 | 10/11 |
| WRCF | Brian Ling | 4/19 | 7/19 | 10/18 |
| The Rotary Foundation | Diane Brabetz | 4/26 | 7/26 | 10/25 |
| Treasurer | Ed Turner / Carol Martin | 5/3 | 8/2 | 11/1 |
| Club Operations | Chris Landwehr | 5/10 | 8/9 | 11/8 |
| Youth Services | Pegi Ball | 5/17 | 8/16 | 11/15 |
| International Service | Sue Nelson / Susan Cole | 5/24 | 8/23 | 11/29 |
| Community Service | Sue Nelson / Susan Cole | 5/31 | 8/30 | 11/29 |
| Service Grants | Sandi Krutz | 6/7 | 9/6 | 12/6 |
| Recognition | Doug Williams | 6/14 | 9/13 | 12/13 |
| Club Culture | Leslie Lewis | 6/21 | 9/20 | Dark |
| Membership | Renee Hyde | 6/28 | 9/27 | Dark |
- Wally Krutz (History Buff) has gathered boxes of documents belonging to the Rotary Club of Windsor and is looking of volunteers to help sort through the boxes and create a History book on the Rotary Club of Windsor and Windsor. [email protected]
- May 7, 2022 Windsor Parade: This has always been a fun event Rotarians have participated in, balancing the Rotary cold balloon as we walked the parade route. With the end of the pandemic, Windsor is wanting to make this a special event. Rotarians needed. Windsorrotary/[email protected]
- Catherine Hanron needs some folks to man the pickup for silent auction items, March 28 & 29. There is promise of donuts in the AM and wine in the PM, contact Catherine: [email protected]
SPEAKER:
Sue Nelson introduced our speakers:
Doug Johnson a member of the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa and Past District Governor.
Dr. Curt Groninga, a resident of Santa Rosa, retired administrator of SRJC. Curt was involved in many landmark facility development projects such as SRJC Petaluma Campus, the Public Safety Training Center in Windsor as well major improvements on the SRJC’s Santa Rosa Campus. Curt and his wife Vicki have traveled extensively around the world, achieving a broad understanding of both political and human conditions. Perhaps no place or people have impacted him more than Ukraine. Curt has traveled to Cherkassy and has hosted visits from Ukrainian citizens who have traveled here over the last 15 years.
Dr. Curt started his presentation stating that he soon will be 77 and remembers the air-raid drills in school, hiding under the desk at the sound of the siren, and stated this is a reality for the students in Ukraine.
Santa Rosa and Cherkassy became sister cities 1990 and an exchange between colleges was established. Dr Curt and Bill Turner traveled to Cherkasy in 1998, finding it to be more like what we knew in the 1950’s, and substandard living. The architecture and living had developed since that first visit.
Bill Turner’s host family the Lashchenko Family, both Doctors with two daughters, the girls interpreted for them while in Ukraine.
Dr Lashchenko is a charter member of the Cherkasy Rotary Club and very active in supporting the Ukraine people. He went to Chernobyl at the time of the melt down with nothing more than the equivalent of a N-95 mask. Many of the rescue team that aided in the Chernobyl disaster have since died of cancer.
Children were still swimming in the waters contaminated by Chernobyl and being diagnosed with cancer.
The Lashchenko’s established a medical center for those suffering from Cancer and TB.
Dr Curt’s presentation was filled with the relationships and love that had been created with the people of Ukraine, how the Rotary Clubs there (35 in Ukraine) have worked to assist the Ukrainian people and how this war has created a moral and very difficult decision for Doctors in Ukraine.
A Rotary Club in Germany has taken over funding for the Rotary Club of Cherkasy and continues their efforts.
The Lashchenko’s remained at the hospital in Ukraine until the bombing included medical facilities and were no longer safe. Dr. Natasha Laschenko’s health also required her to go to Poland to receive medication. The children were moved to Poland, however, difficult to resume needed treatments. The Laschenko’s daughters are safe here in the US, however, when asked if they thought their parents would join them here, they replied no, they did not think they would leave the people.
Medication and medical supplies are urgently needed. The best way for us to help is to donate to the Rotary
International Foundation.
Closing remark: War does not determine who is right – only who is left.
Latest COVID News from your Rotary Nurse, Diane Brabetz…. 03/22/22
COVID UPDATE: HIGH RISK COVID -19 PATIENTS MAY NOW HAVE NEW TREATMENTS AVAILABLE FOR HOME USE! These anti-viral medications can prevent people with health risks from getting sicker and filling up our hospitals if there is another surge. FDA has authorized the use of Pfizer’s Paxlovid tablets or Merck’s Molnupiravir capsules for use within 5 days of developing symptoms.
Total Cases: 83,396 (last week 83,110) Recovered: 81,871 (last week 81,224) Active Cases: 1041 (last week 1405)
Deaths: 484 (last week 481)
New Cases: 83,396 total cases as of March 20, 2022 in Sonoma County!
Hospitalized: 15 confirmed and 3 ICU cases (last week 15 confirmed and 3 ICU cases)
Vaccination information: As of March 20th, 2022, 1,013,260 doses of vaccination have been given to residents in Sonoma County. (last week 1,010,788). 81% of our population 5 years and older are fully vaccinated and 7% have had at least one (1) dose.
MASKS: Since our mask mandate was rescinded for the general population (health care personnel and settings are still required), employers and establishments can still require the use of masks inside. Please check before entering a building to see what is posted and always have a mask handy. If you have symptoms, please mask up! If you are going to be visiting or staying with someone who is immune-compromised, use a mask please. Testing is still required for those not fully vaccinated or boosted to ensure we do not have an increase in spread here in our County.
If you are traveling, masks continue to be a deterrent to the spread of COVID-19. They 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. Please be respectful of other’s who still choose to wear a mask whether it is mandated or no.
Vaccine sites are still open and offering vaccinations and boosters. 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.
At Home Nursing, my Agency is still available to provide you COVID testing if you need it (PCR), FIT testing for a N95 mask so that it fits properly or answer any questions you may have. Call our office at 707-546-8773. 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.