Supervisor James Gore – Update on Sonoma County Issues
Our Pledge of Allegiance was led by Monica Mcabe
President Pam started the meeting by asking all members to proudly acknowledge the successful results of our Spark Success fund raiser – that generated just shy of $70,000.00. Take a big bow Rotarians!
JB found his Rotary Moment at a Rotary Convention – Hearing Bill Gates passionately extoll the great partnership of Rotary and the Gates Foundation in teaming up to eliminate polio from the face of the earth – and how he “had” be part of such an organization – to our respective good fortunes!
Song Leader: Heather Cullen put a smile on our “Baby Faces” — to start the day as she can do so well!
President Pam enthusiastically Welcomed our sole visiting Rotarian, speaker for the day and star supervisor for the 4th Supervisorial District James Gore – who was accompanied his assistant Keith Roberts (who is currently seeking a Rotary Club home in Santa Rosa!)
Supervisor Gore discussed a broad range of local issues with specific emphasis on emergency services, energy delivery issues & insurance, the ongoing drought and water resource challenges and very local issues of proposed Tribal casinos – and appropriate tribal connections!
Renee Hyde reminded us that we were on track to create the New Member Passport where Club and Rotary information can be easily located and accessed.
Wally & Sandy Krutz are hard at work creating a resource of needs in Ukraine that can be easily accessed to provide support for those in need in that area of global conflict and tragic carnage.
President Pam reminded all that they should take advantage of the good fellowship and critical information that is available at the Ukiah District Training Assembly – this coming weekend – April 1 – 2 – And there is a Rotary Reward to the best club party venue on Friday night! (Do we have such a team?)
Closing thought (by President Pam): Remember our District Conference – is May 14th & 15th …at the River Lodge in Fortuna. Sign up now!
And lest you forget…We are looking forward to participating in the Windsor Day Parade on May 7th (10am to 12pm) with our super-sized Rotary Balloon!
COVID UPDATE FROM DIANE BRABETZ:
42% OF AMERICANS HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 UP FROM 27% IN LATE JANUARY. VACCINATIONS AND BOOSTERS HAVE KEPT FOLKS OUT OF HOSPITALS HOWEVER AND OFF VENTS!
Total Cases: 83,717 (last week 83,396) Recovered: 82,338 (last week 81,871) Active Cases: 892 (last week 1041)
Deaths: 487 (last week 484)
New Cases: 83,396 total cases as of March 20, 2022 in Sonoma County!
Hospitalized: 21 confirmed and 1 ICU cases (last week 15 confirmed and 3 ICU cases)
Vaccination information: As of March 27th, 2022, 1,014,970 doses of vaccination have been given to residents in Sonoma County. (last week 1,013,260). 81% of our population 5 years and older are fully vaccinated and 7% have had at least one (1) dose.
MASKS: Regardless of vaccination status, masks are no longer required in most public settings, although Public Health Officials strongly recommend masking in public indoor settings, especially in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces. It does remain the safest choice for an individual and does protect those who are medically vulnerable or those who cannot be vaccinated such as our youngest children. 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 outbreak or new surge.
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. Enjoy our relaxation of mask mandates, but keep others safe please.
TESTING: Go to socoemergency.org to learn more about free COVID-19 testing in Sonoma County. Look for COVID-19 Testing and Tracing in Sonoma County. In addition, my staff at At Home Nursing still are 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 to schedule an appointment. 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.
Thanks so much for all you have done to help in this pandemic and take it so seriously. You have been instrumental in helping our community!