Rotagram for Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Mike Cochran opened the meeting with a welcome to our 6th meeting via Zoom.

Club News, We still have no date with respect to when Coyote Hills will be able to re-open and allow the use of their meeting rooms.

Remember that the billing statements for this final quarter have gone out. As outlined in the letter that was sent after the billing statements, adjustments will be made in July to your bills if so requested. One of the options you have is to make a donation to the Fullerton Rotary Foundation.

I received an email apparently by mistake concerning demotion night. One of the sites being considered is the Grand Canyon. It seems I am to stand on the bottom of the canyon and the members will line up along the rim and wave to me.

Things in a COVID-19 World With the new government recommendations that everyone wear a mask in public it has been commented that now the bank teller looks at you funny if you don’t look like a bank robber.

In the midst of the coronavirus epidemic, San Francisco has banned reusable grocery bags.

An August 8, 2019 news headline from WHO, warned that video game addiction is officially considered a mental disorder. Now the headline from April 1, 2020 reads WHO is recommending video games as an effective way to stop the spread of COVID-19.

And some interesting observations on one website: Justin Trudeau has banned foreigners, the Mexican government has demanded a crack-down on Americans crossing the border, city dwellers are fleeing to rural areas, and the Illinois governor labeled gun stores as essential.

Bill Mathy led us in the pledge to the flag of the United States.

Ken Kaisch led us in an invocation.

Our Guests for the day included Ray Sanford, former district governor; Gianna Richards, & Rae Shirea, from the district; and Johrita Solari, Vice President of Rotary International and our speaker for the day.

Announcements: Dan Ouweleen reported that our Fullerton Rotary Foundation received a $200 check from a non-Rotarian, who was impressed with our work on the face shields and wanted to show support. Dan also reported that we have now distributed all the face shields, with the last going to the Sunrise retirement facility.

Jeff Hutchinson was our recognition master for the day. He recognized Jim Vandenberg (58 yrs.), Mike Oates (23 yrs.), and Joyce Capelle (21 yrs.) for their long and faithful Rotarian service on the week of their Rotary anniversary. He also recognized Joe Lins, Cathy Gach, & Mike Cochran for wedding anniversaries; and Howard Minkley & Carl Camp for birthdays.

Our speaker for the day was Jorita Solari Rotary International Vice President for 2020 – 2021. She opened with a congratulation to Dan Ouweleen and our club for the work on the face shields, which included the participation of 31 district clubs and some 70,000 face shields. Jorita then updated us on the current activities for the Rotary International Board. The board has been conducting the meetings over the net, with good success, for it has enabled greater participation of board members from all over the world to meet with out long travel. And it enabled instant translation into native language for all board members. Several details of current business include: Rotary donated $4 million to the Covid 19 relief. Rotary is also using the Polio network trato assist in training and encouraging hand washing, tracing, screening in the many countries. Rotary has stopped door-to-door polio immunizations during the virus epidemic. Jorita Solari then closed with an excellent video which reminded all that we have seen many things in the past that led to fundamental change in the way we live, and the way companies succeed or fail. Examples include Uber, which fundamentally changes the taxi business, brick and mortar stores vs Amazon, and automobiles vs horse drawn carriages. Business succeeds or fails in how it responds. Those that fail to respond often fail. The Covid-19 pandemic will change many things in business and in our daily lives. Our challenge is to recognize that change will occur and think how to respond.

Several members asked to have a copy of the video. Susan Ouweleen promised to send the video link to all members of the club.

Closing Thoughts

Life has many ways of testing a person’s will either by having nothing happen at all or by having everything happen all at once. Paulo Coelho

A diamond is a chunk of coal that did well under pressure. Henry Kissinger

Wine is constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy. Benjamin Franklin

Last week we had the most informative speaker about the COVID-19 pandemic. We heard things that encouraged us and heard some things that may have frightened us. When they list the categories of people that are at risk one of the first ones is those over 65, which many of us may be. We are people of action and while we can do many things in this present world Rotarians want to be out and about engaging people, engaging our communities and helping those in this world who need it. It is all well and good the things that can be done with the computer but we look forward to the day when we can actually walk in the sunshine and go up and look someone in the eyes and say how good it is to be with you today.

The Rotary Club of Fullerton wishes you all the best. We hope that your family and friends stay well and safe and that your jobs and businesses come back and thrive again. Go out and be the good people that you are in a most difficult world and beyond that be even greater Rotarians for the world needs service above self so much so now. Again, thank you for zooming with us today.