June 2020 Newsletter
- Did you know that on a per capita basis, there is more reported Covid on the Navajo Nation than in New York City?
- Did you know that the Nation has the densest outbreak in the country?
- Did you know 15,000 homes on the Nation are without electricity, accounting for 70% of all the homes in the country?
- Did you know that 86% of the homes have no natural gas?
- Did you know that 60% have no landline phone services?
- Did you know that the Nation lacks a 9-1-1 system?
- Did you know that over 30% of the residents of the Nation have no running water?
Dear Rotarians, We hope you had a safe and solemn Memorial Day weekend remembering those who sacrificed to preserve our way of life. Our thoughts are with them and their loved ones. As we move past Memorial Day and businesses are beginning to carefully re-open within strict parameters, we wanted to address the issue of when and how Rotary clubs (i.e. terra clubs) should consider re-convening their in-person meetings.
So when is the right time to re-open your club to in-person meetings? And how might the club alter operations to respect the concerns of all members while protecting the health and safety of Rotarians and venue staff? Recently a Rotary task force from the western 1/3 of the US (including a representative from the District 5495 Governor Line) prepared guidance about re-opening Rotary clubs. Ultimately each club will make its own decision based on its unique circumstances, but each club should give serious and respectful evaluation to the considerations and process for re-opening as outlined in the attached piece. Thank you for all you have done to support our communities at this difficult time. With warm regards, DG David Simmer DGE Elizabeth Mahoney DGN Bret McKeand DGD Larry Horton
Please read the following article for Zone 26 & 27 guidelines for restarting meetings! |
We appreciate the work you continue to do during this time and are looking forward to seeing the creative ways in which clubs achieve their goals. Clubs can still report their achievements as described in the Achievement Guide and use the Rotary Citation Recipients report on My Rotary to check their progress. Contact us at riawards@rotary.org if you have any questions.
A self-proclaimed ‘virus chaser’, Melissa has worked in all three polio endemic countries – Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria. She found inspiration in her first field job in Nigeria, where she realized the scale of the polio eradication programme and that she was a part of something tremendous in public health history.
“I was amazed and inspired when I first saw the efforts of the front-line workers delivering vaccines to the doorstep. It may seem simple to deliver a couple drops into a child’s mouth, but when you see it in motion for the first time, it is truly remarkable,” Melissa said.
To this day, Melissa remains in awe of the work required to make ‘reaching every child’ possible. From mobilizing financial resources, to getting vaccines where they need to be while keeping them cool. From the microplanning to ensure all children and their houses are on a map, to the mobilization of champions in support of polio and immunization. Along the way, the stewards of these processes play an essential role to deliver the polio vaccine.
The Scottsdale Sunrise Rotary Club worked hard to make sure that no child goes hungry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During April, Rotarians packaged and distributed $20,000 worth of food to Valley elementary school children and families who do not have enough to eat.
Prior to COVID-19, many students and their families qualified for free or reduced breakfasts and lunches. With school closures, however, meals were reduced to three days per week, leaving families scrambling and fending for themselves on the other days.
Rotarians have helped fill in the gap.
Scottsdale Sunrise Rotary first learned of the need through Brian Hay, principal at Mesa’s Keller Elementary School. Keller is in a low-income community where over 75% of students qualify for the free or reduced breakfast and lunch program, according to a press release.
Mr. Hay became concerned after hearing from several of his teachers that some of their students were struggling. Altogether, the teachers identified 17 families with a total of 71 children who were food-deprived and in dire need.
Seeking assistance, Mr. Hay reached out to his father-in-law Terry Kutzbach, a Rotarian with the Scottsdale Sunrise Rotary Club. When club members heard about the situation, they quickly raised $2,000.
I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it's not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa. For some, quarantine is optimal. A moment of reflection, of reconnection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis. For some that live alone they're facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest & time with their mother, father, sons & daughters. With the $600 weekly increase in unemployment some are bringing in more money to their households than they were working. Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales. Some families of 4 just received $3400 from the stimulus while other families of 4 saw $0. Some were concerned about getting a certain candy for Easter while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk and eggs for the weekend. Some want to go back to work because they don't qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break the quarantine. Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday. Some have experienced the near death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Others don't believe this is a big deal. Some have faith in God and expect miracles during this 2020. Others say the worst is yet to come. So, friends, we are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different. Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, actually seeing. We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey. Realize that and be kind.”
~ Unknown author