President Bill Bolster rang us up at 7:30 with 25 present.
We revisited last week’s meeting that focused on Black History Month and featured our own Lamar Collins along with several of the Black Student Council members.
We had a thank you from Pres Bill to everyone in the club who have gone over the top to participate in meetings and planning sessions.
Pegi Ball jumped in and offered us a pledge of allegiance that would make us proud to be Americans.
Glenn Sugden shared a message offered by Arch C. Klumph the 6th Rotary International president and father of the Rotary Foundation, proclaimed:
“The Rotary Foundation is not to build monuments of brick and stone. If we work upon marble, it will perish; if we work on brass, time will efface it; if we raise temples they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds…we are engraving on those tablets something that will brighten all eternity. a couple of Rotary quotes , including the Rotary Foundation was built not to be brick and stone, but … 6th president of Rotary
Heather Cullen mimicked Little Eva with a rousing rendition of Loco-Motion. Everybody’s doing it.
Visiting Rotarians were none
Guests of Rotarians included Kate Smith the Windsor Rotary Outbound youth exchange student. Sprichst du Deutsch?
Mike Friedman dropped in again and is asking about the opportunities to join us on a regular basis. Renee Hyde is ready to bring him in.
March Rotarian of the Month is Sue Nelson. Sue was recognized for her inspirational efforts and for her photography.
Covid Vaccine Access Project is underway and coordinating educating seniors and assisting them to find their vaccine shot. In addition we are working with Circuit Riders to shuttle seniors to and from appointments for their vaccine. Club members who have been vaccinated are asked to consider becoming volunteer drivers for Circuit Riders. You must have completed your vaccination before you can volunteer.
Any one willing to be a volunteer driver for Circuit Riders to offer rides to seniors who need transportation to and from the vaccine clinics – please contact Sue Nelson at 838-6964 or email jsnelson1@comcast.net to let her know you’re interested.
Nurse Diane Brabitz shared some of the frustrations with the vaccine distribution and how we are going to be diligent in remaining active to make this program a success.
Michael Juric let us know that the fundraiser is moving along and we can expect a full report during next week’s meeting. He asked Sandi Krutz to share a few of the items collected so far, including artwork and a skydiving adventure. There are donor forms available. Contact Sandi or Michael for access.
President Bill asks that we each offer to bring one item to the fundraiser, at least. Sandi let us know you can offer a $100 bill to her and she will do the footwork.
Carol Martin gave us a report on the District Matching grant that allowed us to purchase tools for the new construction program being offered through Windsor High School. Wally Krutz has been spending time cutting out pieces for students to build their own tool box, where they can place the donated tools. Wally will be doing a zoom class with the children to show them how to build the toolbox.
Heather Cullen introduced an opportunity to participate in a student from Windsor Middle School’s COVID Relief Project. Heather also asked that we participate in the Redwood Empire Food Bank’s need for volunteers to pack food and help in the distribution of the food to waiting cars… and people. There is also an opportunity to get involved with the Choice’s program. They need presenters to talk about the benefits of staying in school through their high school years.
Program: Nick ZoA Micronesia
JB Leep introduced Nick Zoa, world traveler who wound up marooned in Paradise during the Pandemic. Nick has visited 158 countries and is in the process of writing a book about his adventures. He is coming to us live from Kosrae Federated States of Micronesia, where it is 3 am his time.
We found out there are “esia’s” that caught his interest specifically a country in Micronesia, versus Melanesia, or Polynesia. I suggest you Google it because it was an interesting description of what the names all mean. We learned that his adventure was supposed to take him on a much longer journey, but a pandemic got in the way. He first landed in Kosrae on March 6th 2020. The island is known as the island of the sleeping lady. Although he had plans to depart on the 8th of March, he found out that his next destination was closed due to COVID, which wound up allowing him to take up residence.
We learned that there were numerous countries that laid claim to the island, but possibly the most long lasting effect on the culture of the island came from an American missionary group that set up shop in 1882. The effects of that mission changed the culture and the language. The island is all of 42 sq miles.
We were treated to a series of photos showing Nick’s apartment location, and the school where he volunteers his teaching skills. We also found out a haircut is all of $6. The island is under protection from the US and that means there is a post office and if needed, a military presence to protect the island. Infrastructure is minimal and it helped that we were having our ZOOM conference at his 3 am time. Few interruptions.
The US has provided vaccine to the island and the entire country has managed to be vaccinated. Moderna rules in Kosrae. The island is 100% free of COVID. Although most of the islands in the region are COVID free, there are patches of the pandemic in some neighboring islands due to travel of students to the Philippines.
Life on the island is a paradise and activities include kayaking and swimming, and nature hikes. Nick is a geologist and appreciates the rock formations found across the island. It turns out there are few trails to hike on so they walk through streambeds, and often are amazed by the sheer beauty of an occasional waterfall. The temperature hovers between 78 – 84 degrees thanks to the trade winds.
We had a chance to view some of the produce of the island, including fresh coconut, vegetables more. We were treated to seeing the fish market, where Nick shared they eat turtles. It is fairly common for people to attend church services on a regular basis, and they do have Easter egg contests. The island has 20 plus choirs and 6 churches.
It looks like a fascinating place and you can explore more of Nick’s adventure by going to 2019b.zoa.com.
We found out that a good friend of Nick’s, Doug Dunlap, dropped in to the meeting and let us know he was sitting in 5 degree weather and the program was literally heartwarming. Something tropical.
At the conclusion of this presentation we had 42 people in attendance.
Covid Update
3/2/21
Latest information on COVID from your Rotary Nurse
(last week 27,774)
New Cases: Fri 62
Sat 66
Sun 39
Mon 42
This is a total for 4 days of 209 (last week was 271 and week before was 361)
Deaths: 298 (last week 295) – seeing more deaths in general population and not necessarily in facilities – most of our vulnerable seniors in facilities have been vaccinated. Here is Sonoma County, we have had 2 deaths in the 35-44 age group, 20 in the 45-54 group, 33 in the 55-64 age group, 55 in the 65-74 group and 185 in the 75 and higher ages. But, please be aware that we have actually had 7 kids under age 5 years, and 4 in the age group of 5-17, hospitalized.
Hospitalized: 29 confirmed and 1 suspected (last week 37 confirmed and 1 suspected) 14 Available ICU beds so we are seeing less hospitalized patients with COVID. This is quite a drop in hospitalized individuals and number of available ICU beds, but we do continue to see people practice unsafe habits. Unfortunately we continue to see COVID fatigue and behaviors being practiced as unsafe as well as the vaccinated individuals thinking that masks can be removed, they can hug others and begin to socialize or travel. Remember obtaining the vaccine, even 2 doses does not mean you cannot transmit the virus or still come down with it; however it will prevent real illness and possible need for hospitalization and death. Until 85% of our population is vaccinated, we do not have herd immunity and we continue to have several other stronger strains of the virus that has been detected here in the US. And we continue with a percentage of our population that are anti-vaccines.
We have tested a Total of 545,084 with a 6% positivity rate and 25,791 recovered (last week 530,887 in our county with 24,065 people recovered)
Still seeing the largest number of cases in the Latinos (65% with them only being 27% of the populations and whites are only 27% with them being 63% of the population )
Still seeing the largest level of positivity in Service and sales (18.3%), then those unemployed and home care (my industry) at 2.4%.
Close contact (meaning close family or friend spread) is still a great risk as with household exposure and unknown being high. We are seeing in our own employees positivity in our Latinos/Hispanics and being exposed by family members working in other industries or ignoring travel or gathering warnings.
All medical experts are encouraging all of us to continue to get tested even if you have had both of your shots. It helps to determine new variants, exposure and will help to decrease our numbers with
Higher testing so that we can move out of the purple tier.
Vaccines were begun…. As of Feb. 28th, 146,196 residents in Sonoma County have received the vaccine (last week 118,641). Fully vaccinated individuals now at 9.5% (last week 6.39%) and adults with at least one vaccine dose is at 26.05% (last week at 22.47%). Vaccination roll out really came to an abrupt halt as the severe weather stopped the delivery of vaccine and then our allotment seemed to shrink. Add to that the priority seems to be southern California, not our area, and lastly that the Governor signed a contract with Blue Shield for them to take over roll out of vaccinations. The County will not be running clinics any longer and have kept enough doses to ensure that people could get their 2nd dose but canceled all first time vaccines. There is still available vaccine in the private clinics but the waiting time to get an appointment does seem way out there. Optum Serve seems to still have some appointments as does CVS and Safeways along with the rural clinics around our county. I continue to work with Public Health and as the new system with Blue Shield begins I hope to be able to access and continue to help people obtain appointments.
Remember, outside family members or close friends are not part of your bubble and unless they have been tested and isolated for 10-14 days before being with you and you the same, it can be risky. And if you see others from outside our county, have them and you quarantine for 10-14 days after. We cannot be too careful! The County continues to ask that we stay home and practice the 3 W’s – wash your hands, wear your mask and watch your distance. And, they continue to request we not travel where we can become exposed at restaurants, restrooms, hotels even if it is outside activities. There are many other variants of this virus that have now been identified and until we have enough immunity, it is best for all of us if we stay home.
Please do not let your guard down; even receiving the vaccine means until we have the majority of our community vaccinated we need to practice safe habits and stay in our bubbles. Remember it does take time for any antibodies to form and only one vaccine only promises about 40% efficacy. Efficacy is greatly increased with the second dose and we need to strive for “herd immunity”. Once you have had both vaccines you can begin to socialize with other people who have also had both vaccines and can add those people to one of your safe “bubbles”. But, do not let COVID fatigue get to you and get sloppy in protecting yourself and those that you love. And do not think this is still not serious. Please become a believer – the life you safe could be someone dear to you!
Thanks
Di
