Good Evening and Happy Sunday Fellow Rotarians! I hope everyone is gearing up to enjoy a fabulous upcoming Labor Day long weekend!

 

Unfortunately, this week our speaker was not able to make it at the very last minute. So instead, we enjoyed a good conversation with fellow Rotarians about current events and members' feelings on returning to in-person meetings. I was just as disappointed as everyone else that John Fitzgerald had not prepared a half hour long song to sing for us in the event that the speaker cancelled as someone had suggested, but I suppose we can let him off the hook for now! :)

 

Now, for anyone who missed this week's Zoom call, we had a great conversation about everyone's feelings on returning to in person meetings and some updates on the novel Coronavirus and its effects on our community. 

 

I know there are a lot of people who are ready and willing to return to in person meetings and there are others who may have underlying health issues, or may be caring for someone close to them who could be at risk, and therefore do not want to return to in person meetings. I want to assure you that the board is doing everything they can to find a solution that will work for both the people who would like to return as well as people who do not feel comfortable. 

 

The board has proposed ideas such as "hybrid" meetings, where there will be some people present at the meeting practicing proper social distancing protocol, and others will be attending via Zoom. There has also been talk of potentially meeting at a common outdoor location while the weather permits, and practicing social distancing protocols while meeting in a large outdoor space. No matter what the board decides to do in the end, please know that members' safety and well-being is of paramount importance. So, rest assured that everyone's comfort level will be taken into account before we return to in person meetings. 

 

The board has also sent out a survey to everyone's emails asking how they feel about gathering together again and what extra safety protocols/ideas people have to help us get back into the swing of meeting in person. The easiest way for the board understand your thoughts and help make the transition back to in person meetings as smooth as possible is if you reply to this survey! Janice did report in our meeting that we are still missing replies from about half of the club. This is the best way to make your voice heard! tell us how you think we can improve! Tell us how you would feel most comfortable returning in person to meetings!

 

Would you prefer to start trickling people back in slowly? Would you prefer to stay on Zoom? Would you prefer that we had color coded masks in the meeting with green being that a person is comfortable with closer contact and having a conversation closer together, or Red being uncomfortable with closer contact and to please maintain a constant 6 feet? The board will not know until you answer those surveys! The board wants to know what you think and this is your time to tell them! If you for some reason did not receive the survey, please contact Janice Holding at janiceholding@aol.com. She will be able to send you what you need in order to fill out the survey.

 

At the top of your spinoff (just like last week)  you will see a box saying "Click this....".   I have included a link to the recording of the Zoom meeting so that if you missed it, you can still catch up on the latest news about getting back together and seeing each other in person once again!  You will have to enter a passcode when you click on the link, I have provided it above on the link so that it is easy to see and write down. 

 

So now I challenge everyone to think about what would help you to feel more comfortable about going back to in person meetings with the club. Share your thoughts and feelings with the board (or me! I am here to listen!)  and let them know what they can do to help you during these crazy times we are living in! Everyone wants to see you at the meetings (whether it is in person or via Zoom) so respond to those surveys!

 

P.S. I have not received any submissions for a member spotlight yet!! I am having a hard time believing that no one can think of anyone who they would like to see highlighted in the Spinoffs! Send them to me by replying to this email or you may send it straight to stepinic101@gmail.com. Please format the subject of the email to say the member's name then "Member Spotlight", for example "Kathleen Grasmeder, Member Spotlight". 

 

 

-Danielle