<div dir="ltr"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">Hulsey Valerie L.</b> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:mailservice@dacdb.net">mailservice@dacdb.net</a>></span><br>Date: Fri, Mar 13, 2020 at 6:08 AM<br>Subject: Rotary - Corona Virus<br>To: <<a href="mailto:jghopper@gmail.com">jghopper@gmail.com</a>><br></div><br><br>
Dear Gary,<br>
<p>We are all wondering how to manage the current Corona Virus pandemic. Rotary International has not given a specific course of action. And it shouldn’t, as every club has a different set of needs and issues. What President Mark Maloney has said is if you feel the need to postpone or cancel an event, please do so. Our main focus here is the health and safety of our members and the general public. Also, we need to flatten the exposure likelihood of this virus to ourselves and others.</p>
<p>We know we don’t live in a vacuum. When we have a club meeting, it’s not JUST the members who are being exposed to a potential health issue. It’s the staff that feeds us, the facility that houses our meeting and the speakers that come to inform us. The bottom line is, if you feel that you should cancel your club meetings for a couple of weeks, please feel free to do so. There are other options. You can live stream the meeting on Face Book. You can set up a Go-To-Meeting or Zoom meeting. There are venues that won’t allow the club members to be 6 feet from each other due to the tightness of the venue. Maybe you can have your meeting outside when possible. </p>
<p>This morning I had a conference call with 20 of the District Governors in our Zone – Zone 26 and 27 and Director Solari. These Zones encompasse the western part of the United States. There are many states to juggle. We, in California, are very fortunate at this point because the cases of the virus are manageable. But this is a fluid situation. No one knows where we will be tomorrow. </p>
<p>If you have club members who are self-quarantined, please keep in contact with them. With all of the fear, misinformation and uncertainty that is going on, we need to be vigilant about our Rotary family so they are cared for and don’t feel isolated.</p>
<p>One suggestion that was made was to have a risk management team for your clubs. This would take the responsibility of managing this pandemic off of you, the president, and have others focus on the situation. I'm sure your club has an appropriate group of members to help you with this. There is A LOT of information out there. Not all of it is factual. We need to focus on the facts and make smart decisions that aren’t being governed by emotion. </p>
<p>I’m sure many of you are wondering what’s happening with our Youth Exchange students. So far, our outbound ambassadors are fine and well cared for. All but 1 student will be staying in their host country. It would be far more dangerous for them to get on a plane and fly home right now than to stay put in the arms of their host communities. Also – we found out today the cost to bring the kids home has become extremely expensive. This is no reason to deny a flight home. But if the student is fine where he/she is, why incur an outrageous expense? In some cases the increase is over $2,000. Our District Youth Exchange Committee has been in touch with the students, both inbound and outbound. They are communicating with the parents, as well. The consensus is to let the students stay where they are.</p>
<p>The last thought, we Rotarians are people of action. We are the ones who see a challenge and make it an opportunity. We will always rise to serve our communities. We should ask ourselves what we can do for our communities right now. I know there are a couple of urgent needs:</p>
<p>· * Food banks are short volunteers. How can we make sure the backpacks, etc. that we fill for our underserved families are being processed? Do we need to help out at the food banks to get the food where it needs to go?</p>
<p>· * Blood banks are being depleted. Can we, as a club, have a blood drive to help build up the supply?</p>
<p>· Look at your community and see how we can help.</p>
<p>Thank you all for being so flexible. This has been the year of opportunities – from the Kincade Fire and PSPS events to the Corona Virus, we District 5130 Rotarians are creating positive events from what others might deem negative ones. Our glass is always half full. I’m proud to be able to work with you.</p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Kathy</p>
<br>
<br>
<b>Kathy Flamson</b><br>
Rotary Club of Calistoga<br>
Rotary District 5130<br>
District Governor 2019 - 2020<br>
(707) 481-0840 (Cell phone)<br>
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</div><br clear="all"><br>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"> GO A's<br>Gary "Hoop" Hopper</div></div>