More Social Distancing…..has only slowed down Rotarians’ activities…NOT stopped them!
A virtual meeting was held on April 8, via Mike Caruso’s ZOOM account [THANKS, MIKE!]. For technical reasons Yours Truly was unable to participate. HOWEVER…. Newberg Noon Rotary Club has a fantastic internal resource who came to my rescue…Paula Radich! Paula took notes during the ZOOM meeting and they ARE the newsletter for this issue….to wit….
Rotary Club of Newberg Zoom Meeting
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Call to Order and Flag Salute
President Corey Zielsdorf welcomed Rotarians and Friends of Rotary to the Zoom meeting at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, 2020. Corey lead members in the Flag Salute.
Zoom Basics
Brandy shared Zoom Basics e.g, how to raise one’s hand virtually, muting one’s computer, chat features and screen sharing.
Rotarians and Friends of Rotary
Zoom meeting participants: Corey, Mike, Brandy, Paula, Laura, Dan, Dale, Judy, Denise, Ann, Gene, Shannon B., Kim, Shannon K., Lynn, Kathie, Geoff, Auggie, Joe, Julie and Walter.
Thank You to
Mike for hosting today’s Rotary Zoom meeting!
Denise and Brandy for assisting members in connecting to the meeting.
Rotary Moment
Brandy participated in the Newberg Early Bird online Rotary Club meeting. It was Brandy’s first time as a visiting Rotarian.
Joe gave a “Shout out” to Service Above Self to Newberg School District staff involved in the distribution of meals to students. There are 16 meal sites across the district. In rural areas, buses drop off meals to neighborhoods. Rotarians who wish to assist the district are advised to call the main District phone number: 503-554-5000. Volunteer names will be added to the queue of volunteers.
Laura participated in Rotary District 5100’s Training Assembly attending four meetings.
Judy gave a “shout out” to Lisa, former helper for our Rotary auctions who reached out to the Newberg Mask Force with an offer of fabric from Newberg High School.
What’s Happening?
Denise, Rotarian and Field Coordinator with the Ford Family Foundation, is working with the Ford Foundation to push out $2 million in funding to rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gene reports that the Newberg City Council meeting went okay via Zoom. However, it is likely Gene enjoyed his family’s Happy Hour via Zoom more than the Council meeting.
Shannon B. simultaneously attended our Rotary Zoom meeting while working with Business Oregon. Small businesses have been hit extremely hard.
Newberg Mask Force
Judy: Fellow Rotarian and Newberg Public Library Director Will, connected with Judy and the Newberg Mask Force to involve library staff in helping to make face masks for those in need. Over 1,000 masks were given to support workers in healthcare settings e.g., Hospice, Visiting Angels etc. Judy reports, “we have sewists coming out of the woodwork to help.” Volunteers pick up supplies at the Newberg Public Library where Will’s team provides the kits.
Rotarians and Friends of Rotary can access masks for themselves and their families. Judy will send a link to Paula to share.
Are You A Sewer or a Sewist?
Are you a “sewer” or a “sewist”? Merriam-Webster cites the first usage of the word “sewer” meaning “one that sews” in the 14th Century. Over time, a variety of terms have evolved to describe those who sew garments. Sewer remains the dominant term, but sewist (combining “sew” with “artist”) appears to be gaining popularity, especially among sewing bloggers. Luckily, there’s room for us all, whether we identify as “sewers” or as “sewists”.
Ann: Friendsview residents are also participating in a mask project. Ann is one of Friendsview’s many “sewists.”
Laura: Judy sparked the interest in sewing masks so Laura called ladies from her church and initiated a sewing chain.
Do You Want to be a Sewist?
If you wish to volunteer as a sewist Email Judy at [email protected] and Judy will send you the video link. If you have your own supplies, please return completed masks to the Newberg Public Library Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Knock at the library side door when you need to pick up supplies.
How to Remove Gloves Safely
Auggie: provided tips on how to safely remove rubber gloves. Click on the link for instructions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTYioOo__6U
What Have You Learned About Yourself and/or Your Partner During This Time of Quarantine?
Brandy lead Rotarians and Friends of Rotary in a discussion as to what we learned about ourselves during this period of quarantine. The following are excerpts from member comments:
Auggie: We had to figure out how to isolate and quarantine in our house. Biggest takeaway—there are a lot of things we take for granted. When we slow down we can then appreciate.
Dale: I was supposed to go to Sudan in early March. During the period of time I would have been there travel was shut down. I am grateful to be at home. Our routines are not much different as we both work from home. We’re the lucky ones to have communication, a healthcare system and the ability to maintain our jobs.
Shannon K: I learned that I don’t tell the teachers that work with my kids often enough how grateful I am for them. My kids require engagement. I always thought I loved my job—I always thought I would want to work from home but I miss my customers and you. I’m practicing gratitude–being intentional about gratitude.
Shannon B. I’ve learned that I really enjoy our day to day interactions. I was out for a walk and saw Shannon Knight. I wanted to run up and hug her—I was happy to see someone I knew. Professionally, I’m in the right place at the right time. I feel useful in what I do.
Lynn: It’s nice to see everyone and connect with friends via Zoom. I think of myself as a homebody but realize how much I value seeing everyone. There is something about giving a hug or a High-5—being privileged to have a job. I think about students that I know have a hard time. We have a lot to be thankful. I’m happy that Rotary is active on a Wednesday. Stay Well.
Kim: I’m a pretty good preschool teacher. It hasn’t been easy to work at home. I get up super early then work, then work with my daughter on preschool things. I am so grateful for extra time with my daughter. We’ve even started our own little garden.
Kathie: I’ve gone from 70% in the community to being in my office 100% of the time. The majority of staff work at home. I am glad that I still love my husband and still like his company. Two of my children have moved back home but we’re surviving. On my vacation—I watched 20 hours of “How to Raise Chickens” on YouTube. I appreciated Shannon and Rotary calling everyone.
Geoff: I got a text from a friend who asked me how I was doing. I told him I was doing “extraordinary”. We are living in history. We are not looking back in time—we are in history right now and it’s up to us to decide how best to remember this. I was missing going to the gym everyday—so needed to retool into something positive. I’ve been going up and down the stairs—a new routine. I went to Jupiter yesterday and saw amazing pictures on NASA site. I’m really enjoying this time—looking forward to using this time to learn new things.
Joe: Now is an opportunity to do what we said was impossible before. Trying to do new things that you’ve never been able to do before. Totally break things and try to rebuild.
Gene: After a long life of serving other people we got hit by our kids that we are “older people and vulnerable”—having a partner who is immune compromised we’ve had to re-think how we do things. We take daily walks. Our 19-year old daughter is at home so we have distance in the house. This time is changing the relationship with young adult children. This time has helped our relationship about what really matters in life.
Walter: This is a new experience—a very interesting societal occurrence. One reason I married Julie–she was an excellent cook—we would share one of these wonderful biscuit contraptions with you. I’ve learned that I really miss my friends. After lunch, nap and check on the internet. We have a better understanding of ourselves—that’s what I learned.
Ann: the exercise I shared with Walter—it’s opening a bottle of wine. I, too, have been finding exercises on line—it’s easier than you think so there are no excuses. I learned that I can be a slob—I put the dishes in the sink and leave them. I’m willing to accept my imperfections a little more—settling into a routine was a little strange—it’s nice to have down time. I like to go to Excel Fitness three times a week and miss my exercise buddies. I also realize what we’re going through now we will be able to use in the future.
Laura: I realize how structured a person I am—I forget what day it is. We are going to have an Easter Service live online. Now I’m thinking of three kind things I can do each day. I want to make more time to paint, time to think and keep my mind busy.
Auggie: I think of a quote from the movie “Star Man”—about an alien that came to earth and took on a human form—observed that people in a crisis were at their best when things were at their worst. I could not have imagined how people have stepped up. There’s a Rotarian not here today—Matt and his company delivered lunch to our staff today.
Judy: We live out here on a little farm. I have a separate sewing cottage. Marv and I have been married 47 years. We learned that we love being at the farm together. The combination of my love of sewing has now made it possible to meet people when I deliver masks. We’re enjoying Facetiming our families and friends. I learned that you can be content within yourself in a situation like this.
Mike: We have five kids located in Dundee, Hawaii and New York. We had a Zoom gathering with them.
We started at 1:30 in the afternoon and finished up around 5:00 p.m. We decided to do it again last Sunday. It’s great to have an opportunity to connect. This time is what we make of it—it can be a very positive experience. Our children and grandchildren will have stories they can tell their grandchildren.
Denise: I arranged a Zoom meeting for our NHS Interact Club. Super fun to get together with teenagers. We learned a lot about where they were and what they were about. We were there to tell them that there are people out there to reassure them. The students really enjoyed getting together. We are meeting weekly now. My office mates are my three dogs. I gained a ton of time now as I don’t have to drive to work. I’m stressed and worried about the people who are invisible and left behind.
Brandy: I learned that I am 100% an extrovert. I enjoy being in a group of people—I just miss real life. I’ve learned that I picked the right husband. We are doing 5:00 Happy Hours every day. It’s been nice to recalibrate. I’m trying to make a 4:00 call to a different friend every day. I try to deal with my grief about not being around people all the time.
Meeting adjourned 1:30 p.m.
THANKS, PAULA!
ALSO….FYI…FLASH! The 2020 Forest Grove Rotary Concours d’Elegance has been cancelled. This would have been the F.G. Rotary’s 48th iteration of their primary fundraiser! SO…the 2021 event will be bigger and better! More information to come in a timely fashion.
Respectfully submitted by Rick Kaufman, Newsletter Editor…from my own “sequestration” in the hills north of Yamhill!…with many things on my “to do list” getting checked off! Everything, including new plantings [assorted veggie/berries/melons/squash] is growing great in my Japanese Garden, and the fountain/waterfall/koi pond complex is starting to take shape.
AND…of course…I simply could not resist adding a touch of humor…..”Lexophile” describes those who have a love for words, such as “you can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish”, and “To write with a broken pencil is pointless.” An annual competition is held by the New York Times to see who can create the best original lexophile.
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