Rotagram for Wednesday, May 5, 2020

Following some technical difficulties, and lots of chatter, the meeting was initiated with a thank you from Brian Helleland, CEO of St. Jude Medical Center for our coordination of manufacturing and distribution of face shields. In high risk areas, they are now being able to dispose of masks and protect themselves. Other individuals wash and reuse the masks. Through our generosity they are much safer. He was joined by members his leadership team. Members Dan Oweleen and Joe Lins were also on hand for the presentation.

Highlights included a recognition by Young Kim who also mentioned a donation of facemasks. She is encouraging people to donate to the effort. The presentation was captured on Facebook Live.

In addition to the shields donated to the medical center, equipment will also be donated to Park Vista, Morningside’s acute care facility, St. Jude Plaza building across from St. Jude Medical Center and St. Jude Heritage.

President Mike Cochran Welcomed visitors and guests to the Rotary Club of Fullerton. We are having our fifth Zoom meeting. Not much has changed since last week. The grocery stores seem to be out of the same things. If you want barbecue sauce the aisle is always well stocked and for that matter so is the cereal aisle. Taking a drive is fun for a bit but there’s really no place to go and get out of your car and enjoy where you are. 51 Individuals were on the call.

Club News

Last week we saw the induction of four new Rotarians to our club making it a great week for membership.

I was able to get into the room at Coyote Hills Country Club where we hold our meetings even though it was closed. The manager there let me in after I explained that we needed our attendance book. The sacred writings are back in hand.

Project shield has wrapped up as far as District 5320‘s largest combined project anyone has seen in quite a while. With the donations to Project Shield over 65,000 face shields were made. Let us give a great big Rotary thank you to Dan and Susan Ouweleen for their masterful management of this Rotary Project. Since this all began weeks ago Dan and Susan have slept a total of 7 hours.

Things in a COVID-19 World

This first item confirms some of my concerns about our Zoom meetings. Wearing pants has become optional for some people holed up indoors while obeying the stay at home orders. A police department in a northern Maryland town is reminding residents that’s not an option when they go outside. The Taneytown police department left a message on its Facebook page Wednesday morning telling residents to put their pants on when they leave their homes. Please remember to put your pants on before leaving the house to check your mailbox. You know who you are. This is your final warning the post said

An Idaho man who had way too much time on his hands on May 4 retook, meaning I guess he held it before, a Guinness world record by bouncing five ping-pong balls into 5 pint glasses in only 2.03 seconds.

Last Thursday the territory surrounding Australia’s capital city of Canberra has become the first of the countries eight states and territories to declare itself free of all known coronavirus cases. This is great news to hear for the entire world.

Coming under the heading of too much time on everyone’s hands Louisiana police are on the hunt for an aggressive chicken reportedly terrorizing bank patrons getting cash out at the drive-through and ATM amid the state’s coronavirus lockdown. The chicken had been terrorizing bank customers all week Police are on the lookout for the chicken, as it appears to have failed to engage in proper social distancing.

Last but certainly one of the more interesting items. French citizens are being asked to fulfill their patriotic duty and eat more cheese to help the dairy industry amid a massive surplus due to the coronavirus pandemic. Certain cheeses have dropped as much is 60% in sales since the cheese makers can no longer sell to restaurants and open air markets that were forced to close. Hopefully their wine stores are still open.

Pledge Winston Creel led the group in the Pledge

Invocation Matthew LeBouf

Guests: Doris Muschek, Norm Kredit, Patrick Walch, Doris Muschek, John Koos (Assistant Governor). John thanked us for letting us letting Brea Rotary be a part of being a part of the project. (Hopefully all were captured here)

Rotary Announcements

Gayle Cochrane, wife of Mike, is making Rotary Masks. Let Mike know if you need one.

Project Shield is finished, but you can donate to the Foundation designating to the project and have more made. There is also a dedicated link on the Fullerton Rotary website as well as GiveSome.com

Recognition Master Extraordinaire Marty Burbank

Allyn Lean, was recognized for his birthday as he turned 70
Scott Scambray, celebrated his wife’s birthday
Bill Mathy is celebrating his Rotary Anniversary – 24 years – happy and proud to be a Rotarian
John Phelps, celebrating an Anniversary – No comment on his plans for celebration
Dan Kiernan, Celebrating his birthday – marking 83!

Speaker

Today’s speaker is Dr. Hubert Wong the Director of the Emergency Department at Orange Coast Memorial Care Medical Center – AKA Frank Kawase’s son in law. Provided insight into these interesting times. Explained trends on national, state and local level.

Proper name of the virus is SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Thee novel coronaviruses – SARS-CoV, MERS - CoV, SARS-CoV-2

He explained the contagious nature of the disease and the mortality rate affiliated with the Virus – current mortality rate 3.4% -- estimated outlook 1% mortality rate or less. This is 5 to 10 times more deadly than a normal flu.

Symptoms include Cough and shortness of breath. Additional symptoms are often fever, chills, muscle pain, headache, repeated shaking with chills, sore throat, loss taste or small, diarrhea. Asymptomatic transmission can occur up to 48 hours before symptom onset. Carriers can possibly be infective for up to 14 days after recovery.

Risk factors for poor outcome include age (over 65), lung disease, hypertension, kidney disease, and to a lesser degree (conflicting data) obesity, diabetes and possibly health disease.

Flattening the Curve: California has not experienced the surge of infection that other geographic areas experienced. This prevented the healthcare system from being overwhelmed.

Dr. Wong continued answering questions after the meeting concluded. It was clear that the medical landscape continues to change, but precautions Orange County has taken will help our community reduce the impacts. The virus will continue to circulate in our community for months and possibly years.

Closing Thoughts

After Scott Dowds talk two weeks ago this quote seemed appropriate. The bank is a place that will lend you money if you can prove that you don’t need it. Bob Hope

By the time a man realizes that his father was right, he has a son who thinks he’s wrong. Charles Wadsworth

A man’s true wealth is the good he does in the world. Khalil Gibran

Peace begins with a smile. Mother Theresa

Closing remarks from President Cochran: When I went into the Coyote Hills Country Club the other day to get our attendance book I looked around the empty room and thought about just how much I missed the fellowship of actually sitting around and being able to talk to friends and fellow Rotarians.

Zoom meetings are fine and I’m so glad we can get together. But to be physically present Is something I think we are all yearning for.

I spoke to a longtime friend the other day and they have been self-quarantining. He said they rarely go anywhere at all but it’s OK because he likes his wife. I said that wasn’t really the important part it was did his wife like him.

As our community struggles to come back it is somewhat sad to realize that whatever the new normal is it won’t be what we had before. It’ll be a long time before people are comfortable getting into an airplane or onto a cruise ship or being in a crowded theater. I know though that as Americans we are strong people and we will come through this better and stronger maybe in new ways but I believe they will be good ways.

And what Rotarians have been doing here in our community and other nearby communities as well as around the world should make you all lift your head a little higher and feel a little better about yourselves in your world.

Please go out and be good people, wear your masks, wash your hands and above all be even greater Rotarians. Thank you for Zooming with us today.