Poland and Ukraine
Substitute President: Past President Michael Ragsdale
Flag Salute: Tom Boylan
Song: Heather Cullien: God Bless America
Inspiration: From Joan Mora: Remembering the anniversary of 9/11, let’s recall President Obama’s words with regard to the immediate outpouring of charity and humanity following the terrible attacks: ““Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.”
Visiting Rotarians: none
Guests:
Cole Yoxall, guest of Alissa Johnson, is the new outreach coordinator for Windsor Resource and recovery. Welcome Cole.
Announcements:
-Kathy Williams is looking for traffic controllers for the Windsor Day Parade, on October 1st.
John Hackenberg gave a sad polio update: last year there were only 2 confirmed wild polio cases. This year there are 17 cases, including one in New York. Meanwhile, JB and Carol are in India giving “drops of life” (polio vaccines).
-9/19 6:00-7:30 Board of Directors Meeting at Barbara McChesney’s, home: 301 Jensen Lane, Windsor. You don’t need to be on the board to attend.
-9/28 Info night for Youth Exchange. We haven’t had a home grown rotary exchange student in a while (Beth joined after her daughter was selected and we are glad she did!). Contact Bill Bolster if you are interested in attending ([email protected]). The meeting will be at 6:30 or 7:00 pm.
-10/8 Octoberfest/District Foundation Celebration at the Reinhold Ranch, 1200 Oak Springs Lane, Santa Rosa, 3:00-6:30 pm. $50/person; please register by 10/2/22. To register please contact Jennifer Strong at 707-349-0815 or [email protected].
Pam Moulton introduced today’s speaker: John Namkung, a Sebastopol resident, who recently traveled to Poland and Ukraine where he helped transport families from the Polish/Ukraine border to cities in Poland. He also bought and delivered food to shelters in Ukraine.
John drove more than 5000 miles in two weeks, ferrying refugees from the border to safety. He was saddened to see families including young children standing in line for 6 hours in freezing rain waiting to get across the border. At least twice on his trip he was in need of help and out of nowhere help appeared. He called these helpers “Guardian Angels”. His wife questioned why he didn’t stay home and just send a check, and he said, “You can’t get a hug when you send a check.” He hopes at least one Ukrainian child will grow up remembering a 72 year old Asian man who lived 6,000 miles away who came to help his or her family in their time of need. John really showed the power of one person to help others.
Inspired by John’s efforts some neighbors in the Lone Pine Village area of Sebastopol sponsored a Ukrainian family to come and live in Rohnert Park for 2 years under a special program called United for Ukraine. If you would like to help the Lone Pine Ukrainian Family Aid you can contact:
-Type of Wood Charities (Umbrella Charity for this project) at 567 Polk St. , Twin Falls, ID 83301 or typeofwood.org (do NOT use the PayPal option rather scroll to the blue and white box that says “Choose amount” at the top. Write in Lone Pine Ukrainian Family Aid in the comment section.
-GoFundMe: http//gofund.me/13b185b0
Thanks to Kurt Mitchler for room set up, and Larry McCabe for AV set up and support.
Thank you to all who helped today!
Scribe: Monica McCabe
Update on COVID From your Rotary Nurse…..
COVID UPDATE…..
09/13/22
NEWS:
NEW COVID BOOSTERS ARE BEGINNING TO BE AVAILABLE IN SONOMA COUNTY!
Vaccines have been reformulated to address the subvariants causing the COVID outbreaks. Check in with your medical provider and get your appointment scheduled for the new booster before Flu season hits. And also consider scheduling your Flu vaccine too as we move into Fall and winter and
I would like to personally thank all of those that reached out to me to provide me with concern and well wishes on post COVID and to ask what they could do. It is nice knowing that so many people in Windsor and Sonoma County as large as we have grown can take the time to worry about others. I truly appreciate it and as I said to a fellow Windsor Rotarian this morning, as I nurse it is ingrained in me to give but I have a lot of problems asking for help.
It is so nice to know that others care………………. Take care of yourselves and I hope that you dodge the bullet of COVID. As Dr. Fauci stated “it is not a matter of if you will get COVID, but when!”. But for your sakes, I hope not. I have talked to others that have only gotten a slight cold, or congestion and others like our family that got really sick. But if you can avoid it, really try. Post COVID, we are finding “Brain fog, lack of ability to focus and the incredible fatigue!” But at least we are on the mend, feel much better, have tested negative more than once and feel like each day it is bit better.
Total Cases:
106,5673 (last week 106,553) Recovered: 105,192 (last week 104,884) Active Cases: 969 (last week 1157)
Deaths:
512 (last week 512) (****Please be aware that deaths do not get reported always promptly for a variety of reasons and this does not mean that all of these newly reported deaths
occurred in the past week. ****)
Hospitalized:
38 confirmed cases and 3 in the ICU (last week 43 confirmed and 2 in the ICU)
Vaccination information….
As of September 11th, 2022, 1,138,064 doses of vaccination have been given to residents in Sonoma County. (last week 1,137,809). We now only have 78% of our population 6 months and older who are fully vaccinated and 6% have had at least one (1) dose. With the newly reformulated vaccines now available for boosters, it is hoped that more people who are not fully vaccinated may consider getting vaccinated.
MASKS:
Consider wearing a good fitting mask when you are inside, in crowds or where you do not know many of the people. The ever replicating, mutating and changing virus that causes COVID is still with us, very infectious, easily spread and still causing illness. Even being outside with others does not make you immune from possible exposure from asymptomatic individuals. Masks are still being advised if in a group setting whether inside or outside. COVID infection it seems will continue to be with us just like the flu each year! Infections are still occurring, ER visits are up, and we continue to see hospitalizations. The goal of living with this virus is to try and minimize infection and need for hospitalizations so that our health care system is not affected. Care needs to be available for those suffering life altering illnesses or crises.
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. My Agency, At Home Nursing, is still available to provide you COVID testing if you need it (PCR) at no charge if you are having any issues finding an appointment. Just call my office at 707-546-8773 and make an appointment with us. We also provide FIT testing for a N95 mask at no charge so that it fits properly. We are able to sell you N95 masks. And we are always willing to answer any questions you may have. 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.
Be really aware of the activities you chose to participate but live life fully; just practice caution. Be aware of your surroundings and carry a mask at all times. Infections are prevalent, happen quickly and will sideline you if you test positive. We found that out in real time! Practice good infection control and stay safe! My wish is for you and yours to stay well!
Fondly,
Di