Newsletter - Current  Mar 24, 2020

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The Rotary Club of White River Junction, Vermont, USA

The River Log 

March 24, 2020

 Read "Business Casual"

                                                 The Rotarian, March 2020, p 48-53.

News Items:

 A message from District Governor Nancy.

     As I drove over to the center this morning (3-20-20) to use our computer instead of my laptop at home, I could count on one hand how many cars there were on the road.  There were no cars at any of our local churches - they, too have gone online.  There were no children outside playing.  Our schools are closed, our child care centers are closed, and our restaurants are closed.

     BUT our fire department is still operating, our police department is still cruising, our hospitals are still caring for patients, our school teachers are still teaching our children just through a different media AND our Rotarians are still giving and donating time and energy at a safe distance and observing all the precautions given to us through the CDC. 

To see the CDC precautions copy and paste the URL below:

(https://www.healthvermont.gov/response/infectious-disease/2019-novel-coronavirus)

     Five members of our club were at the various Hartford schools on Friday morning to help distribute food to the children in our community.  A special thanks goes out to each of you.  When the call was made for additional volunteers to be at the high school (the loading point) at 6:00am on Monday to help load the food onto the buses, six of our members immediately volunteered.  Again, let me emphasize, ALL precautions are being taken. 

     If any of you are in need of any assistance please let me know so that, you too, can be taken care of during this trying time.

WE ARE ROTARIANS!  This is what we do. 

Please be safe.  Stay in contact with each other. 

Prayers and love from

Nancy

March 24, 2020

     Greetings to all who read this. We hope you are well and are staying your 6 feet away from all people as you can.

     The White River Rotary will not be holding a physical meeting for the next month. Instead we will be experimenting with a virtual meeting on the internet. Some are experienced and will be helping those of us that have not had experience.

     It appears that our 10-100 and Silent Auction will be delayed until the fall. However, the weekly drawings of the 10-100 will take place and be reported in the River Log. Payment may be delayed until the process is worked out.

     White River Rotarians are encouraged to send items of interest to the Editor of the River Log. Items of service and items of health will help all of us keep up to date with each other.

Our Meeting:

 Our meeting today was by a Zoom conference. It was hosted and managed by our President PJ Skehan. The meeting was successful for a first run. We look forward to all of us being more tech savy for the next Zoom meeting on 3-31-20 at 5:30 PM. Thank you for your efforts PJ

     The meeting began with the sign in at 5:30. Ten White River Rotarians were able to connect.

     President PJ had distributed an agenda which put some organization into the discussion. The items on the agenda will be presented here one at a time.

     * Welcome and rules of engagement for video meeting.

          President PJ welcomed all and asked for all to speak one at a time when he called on them. There was, at times, a bit of background noise from the locations that each person was participating from. Rich made a good suggestion that all should mute their speakers until it was their turn to speak. However, because of a technical situation some of us were not able to access the mute button.

       * Silent Auction

           Chairman Ray had suggested that the Silent Auction be postponed until September. With agreement by all, Ray moved and it was seconded to postpone the Silent Auction until September. Ray asked that all continue to collect items and communicate with those already asked to contribute.

       * What can/should/will WRJ Rotary do to help those impacted by Coronavirus.

     Several updates and suggestion were given as follows.

     * Rich gave an update on the help Rotarians are giving to the distribution of breakfasts and lunches to students at the Hartford schools. In some cases the meals are being delivered to where the parents work. Initially there have been some lunches not delivered. These have been distributed to organizations that serve people.

     * Carson suggested making a statement of gratitude for the health care workers who are serving the sick. The suggestion was then expanded to send a letter to the editor on the topic. Someone will be asked to procede with that suggestion.

      * Carson also suggested we reach out to the elderly community to purchase groceries and run errands as needed.

      * Gayle supported the idea and added the following:  Followed up on HCC's assistance with the Hartford School District project to deliver breakfast/lunch bags to all District students, K-12, Mon-Fri, via regular bus routes.  Also assisting in delivering these meals to other sites after the students receive their meals.  These sites include LISTEN, Dismas House, Methodist Church, Shady Lawn, DCF, Riverbank Church, Comfort Inn, White River Inn and Suites.  If anyone knows of other sites we should be making deliveries, please let me know.

      * Ray said we should spend some of the Fun Fund money to provide lunches to the hospital.

      * Rich suggested we provide a pizza lunch to the VA Hospital. Carson is to gather data on what would be required.

      * Margo referenced to the call for the sewing of masks for the hospitals, particulary Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. Margo noted a scarcity of elastic for the masks but PJ reported he knew that Frank's Fabrics in Claremont was receiving a shipment. Also, it was noted that Joanne's Fabric was donating cloth squares to use in the sewing of the masks.

      * Editors note: DHMC has specific guidelines for the sewing of the masks. To see them:

Copy and paste the URL below:

https://www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/patient-education/sewing-masks.html?

      * Ken suggested individuals could contact the local hospitals to donate plateletes and blood. He noted appointments were needed and explained he was scheduled to give plateletes.

      * PJ noted that the Chamber of Commerce was providing information about the Virus on its website and social media.

      * David Saturley said he would repeat those postings on the WRJ Rotary Facebook page.

      * Rich reported that the brewery The Silo was producing hand sanitizer and was providing it for free if you took your own bottles.  The Silo is located in Windsor, VT in the manufacturing complex off

of Route 5.

Closing:       After a last call for comments and suggestions, everyone "left the meeting".
 

10/100 drawing:

  The winner is Skip Nalette with ticket 98 sold by Dave Landry. Drawing held by Dave Landry with two observers according to his bank rules.  

Announcements:

   See above and the Calendar.

Calendar:

   All meetings are in flux. Stay tuned for updates.

Anniversaries/Birthdays:

  None mentioned

Students of the Month:  Honored every month between October and May on the second Tuesday at the Hartford Area Career and Technology Center.

Service Above Self Awards:  Presented two or three times a year to high school students who have served their community in a vounteer program.

ENGAGEMENT:

   Members at the meeting:  Are highlighted below.

Ken Baldwin (Associate), David Briggs, Stephen Dotson,  David F. Ford,

Erin Fredieu, Jeremy Greeley, Brannon Godfrey, Phil Hammond, Scott Hausler,

Renee Hebert, Richard Hoffman, Margo Howland, Carson Hutchinson, David Landry,

Chip Lewis, Aaron MacAskill, Joe Major,Craig McCullough, Kipp Miller, Kelli Morneau, 

Skip Nalette, Gayle Ottmann, Heather Potter,Jim Rostron, Nancy Russell, Wayne Russell,

David Saturley, PJ Skehan, Ray Stanford, Lynn Towne, Brad Vail, George Wenz. 

                                                     10      (29 COUNTED) 

   Rotarians in Service to the community:

   The Rotarians who helped and are helping the food distribution in Hartford

   Community members helping Rotary:

    Gloria

   Rotarians at Rotary Social Events:

    Social events cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

   Rotarians we missed:

     Are not highlighted above

Attendance:

                                                         10 / 29 = 34% at the meeting.

Make UPs Reported

 Note the make up possiility below:

Missing Rotary?  Try attending an E-Meeting. 

Copy and paste below to attend a meeting at Rotary E Club One.

 https://www.rotaryeclubone.org/

The above copied from Lebanon, N.H. Rotary news letter.

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Notes by many members                                                  River Log Construction by Phil Hammond

Editing by Gloria Hammond                                              Keyboarding and Email by Phil Hammond