Rotagram for Wednesday, Apr 22, 2020

President Mike Cochran started today’s meeting with these messages:

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Fullerton. This is Zoom meeting number three and we don’t know how many more there will be. We are lucky that we can least meet by way of the wonderful technology that has been developed. Today is Earth Day and while we humans are suffering through the coronavirus pandemic the earth seems to be enjoying the respite. The air is cleaner, the beaches are cleaner and rivers and seas are enjoying their time. Many pictures have been posted of animals enjoying the lack of humans by wandering in areas where they normally would never go.

Club News: We currently have four new Rotarians waiting to be inducted. That will bring the number of Rotarians in our club to 99 not counting our honorary members. Please continue the great work you’ve been doing on membership and let’s all strive to get one more member and make it an even 100, as we get ready to go into a new Rotary year in July.

Apparently India has ordered 1 billion face shields and Dan Ouweleen has been selected to head up that project so if there’s anything you want to say to Dan or if he should owe you money now would be a good time to take care of that.

Things in a COVID-19 World: Six tourists who tried to hide out in a cave in India after the country went into lockdown due to the coronavirus were rescued Sunday. According to officials the group of tourists four men and two women moved to a cave in northern India on March 24 when the country was locked down. The group was found Saturday after authorities were alerted by locals. They discovered the six with their belongings in a cave where they had moved after they ran out of money to stay in a nearby hotel

Iceland forest rangers are encouraging citizens to hug trees during the quarantine.

A Long Island gang member who was released over coronavirus fears was returned to federal lockup for ignoring social distancing restrictions.

A North Carolina farm is offering to spice up Zoom meetings during the COVID- 19 pandemic by renting out animals including a miniature donkey to participate in the teleconferences. Mambo the eight-year-old mini donkey will attend your zoom conference calls for the price of $50. I am thinking of having mambo run the next board meeting.

The German government and the city officials of Munich have canceled the Oktoberfest celebration, which has been going on for 139 years.

In case you haven’t driven by the Coyote Hills golf course recently there are signs on several of the oil wells saying oil well for sale, make best offer.

Pledge: President Mike Cochran held up our flag and did the honors of leading us in the pledge of allegiance

Invocation today was led by Allyn Lean whom gave a prayer for our nation and those at the front lines during this pandemic. No song master today unfortunately! It would have been interesting to see everyone trying to sing on their computer screens.

Guests Joining us today on the zoom meeting: Gale Cochran, Rob Jahncke, Monette Velasco

Rotary announcement: Susan Ouweleen announced that the Rotary Face Shields Project is a huge success. We already met the 25,000 facemask goal! Overall we raised over $22,000! Thank you to everyone that participated and donated to assist in this project and a special thank you to Dan and Susan Ouweleen for putting together and leading this amazing project! If anyone is interested in donating funds to this project please contact Susan or Dan Ouweleen or Cathy Gach for check title and mailing information. If anyone is interested in purchasing any face masks, please contact Susan or Dan Ouweleen. There will also be another weekend of facemask making this weekend. It will be in Placentia, for details of this volunteering opportunity please contact Dan and Susan Ouweleen! President Mike Cochran also mentioned that Gale Cochran was able to turn Mike’s old rotary t-shirt into a reusable face mask. If anyone is interested in getting one too, please drop off your old shirt at Mike and Gale’s house with your name and phone number. Gale graciously offered to make them for our Rotarians!

Recognition master From Mount Olympus itself … Bill Mathy recognized many Rotarians today with a happy birthday music playing in the background to wish everyone with upcoming birthdays.

Happy Birthday To: Greg Hickman’s Wife Roxanne, Mark Zane’s Wife Sharon, Laura Rubio, Travis McShane, John Phelps, and Mike Cochran’s Wife Gail.

Happy Anniversary to: Chuck and Jolene Munson (52 years)

The fine for recognition today is by our fine master at 1million dollars! But don’t worry since we don’t have access to the net you’re all safe

Today’s speaker is our very own Scott Dowds. Scott and his team at the Farmers and Merchants bank has been working tirelessly to get loan documents approved for small businesses around town. Many of our Rotarians that banks with Farmers and Merchants all gave praise to the speed and attention they received during their loan application process. Thank you Scott and your team for all your hard work! Scott gave an in-depth description on the process and details of how to obtain the payroll protection loan and how to prepare for the forgiveness part of the loan once loan has been approved for you. If anyone needs help or is looking for a payroll protection loan or is looking for a bank, please contact Scott Dowds.

Closing thoughts From President Mike Cochran: Remember that there is nothing stable in human affairs; therefore avoid undue elation in prosperity, or undue depression in adversity. – Socrates

Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t. Erika Jong

It is surprising how quickly these Wednesday Zoom meetings have become important to feeling connected to Rotarians, friends and the world in general. It is a challenge for all of us to find a proper balance in these times. I found mine through these meetings. I have quit talking to the squirrels and birds incessantly. Stories come up about a number of the things that members of this club are doing in the community. Reaching out to touch the lives of others in the way that Rotarians do. This is a good day to be a Rotarian for the COVID-19 may have prevented us from doing things in our normal way but we as people of action have found other ways and other means to continue to impact our community. Take care of yourselves, take care of your families and continue to wear your masks and wash your hands. Above and beyond that continue to be good people and be even greater Rotarians. Thank you all for joining today!


25,000 Masks produced the first 3 weeks, and still going. . . Dr. Oats at Kaiser Permanente is thanking Rotary