Rotarians,
I feel like the whole world has changed since our last newsletter was published. Back then we thought we would be welcoming a District Group Study Exchange Team from District 9210 in Africa on April 1st. We thought we would be having a District Conference at the end of April at the Lake of the Ozarks. We were still rushing into stores to buy inexpensive shoes for the Shoes for Orphan Souls caravan in April. Our clubs were still meeting face to face, eating meals, sharing stories, planning projects and enjoying Rotary fellowship with one another.
- ZOOM was something that you saw in a balloon on a comic strip that indicated speed.
- Sheltering in place was for people caught in the middle of hurricanes who did not evacuate in time.
- And social distancing? Well I remember a Nun at a CYO dance long ago explaining it to me. But that is as close as I can get.
Yes, things have really changed in a very short time and there is no end in sight to the impact it may have on our lives, our families and our Rotary Clubs.
I am very proud of the way I have seen clubs adapt to these new realities. We now have at least 13 clubs, that I know of, having virtual meetings. They are listening to speakers, joking with one another, paying fines, and planning for the future. They are utilizing these virtual tools the way it fits their club and their club’s culture. I have seen clubs say the Pledge of Allegiance, recite the Four Way Test, sing patriotic songs and pray. They are keeping Rotary alive in and for their communities. If your club is not meeting right now and you want to make use of ZOOM or some other platform send me an email and the District team will help you find the resources to do it. It is not expensive!
We need to find ways to help our communities through this crisis. They will remember us for that. I have seen clubs make lots of contributions to food banks as well as packing meals for school children . I have heard of clubs sewing mask covers for their local health care workers. I have heard of clubs delivering supplies to shut ins (I guess we are all shut ins now). A lot of good work is going on with more to come I am sure. Write me an email with what your club is doing so we can collect and write them up for next month’s newsletter.
And be patient. We will reschedule the Shoes for Orphan Souls caravan. Our GSE team has been selected and will leave for Africa this summer. The GSE Team from Africa will be here for our Foundation dinner in November. Our Four Way Test speeches and Teacher of the Year Awards are still moving forward to their normal conclusions. We postponed our District Conference until August; more on that later. And, we need to are giving you more time to complete your District Grant projects and get the final reports into the District. Rotary will get back to the new normal; whatever that is, soon. Remember; Rotary Connects the World!
Yours in Rotary Service.
Marc Horner
