Dear Rotarians and Friends,

This Week:  5:30pm Social via Zoom
Lexis LaRue - Masked Warriors

Carolyn Inglis has been talking about Masked Warriors and making masks herself in recent weeks.  We are supporting the project and are looking at hosting a drive-by mask giveaway in the coming weeks. You may have read Nevada County volunteer team makes masks during COVID-19 pandemic in the Union last month "...where the thread meets the fabric, private Nevada County residents have already been making — and donating — hundreds of masks to hospitals, first responders, essential workers and high-risk people. So far, more than 1,000 masks have been distributed."  Lexis LaRue will share about the Masked Warriors project locally and around the world.

Our phenomenal local historian President Cathy has been diligently organizing lots of memorabilia for a Club presentation ... she will whet our appetites on more to come!

Read on for exciting news!

Each week as the time to put together the Rotario rolls around, I wonder what I can say that will be of importance to the Club. What will be interesting or encouraging or exciting or relevant. I admit that some weeks it is a struggle. But this week, I’m hoping the Rotario will be a source of all those things and more.

Last week - Cindy Wilson, Nevada County Director of Public Health Nursing

First, if you missed the meeting last week, you missed a really good presentation by our guest speaker Cindy Wilson, the Nevada County Director of Public Health Nursing. She brought us up to date on the COVID-19 status in Nevada County in a clear, concise way. It seems we all have questions as we try to wrap our heads around this pandemic, and she answered a lot of them for us. Unfortunately, some have no clear answers. Like when things will get back to “normal.” When we will be able to meet in person again and if it is safe to have family and friends visit yet? Those answers remain to be seen right now but, it was encouraging to hear that Nevada County is entering Phase II with stores and restaurants reopening under County guidelines. She gave good insights on how to weigh and mitigate risks in making choices around right action.  Will we still be meeting via Zoom for a time? – probably yes! Will the County Fair take place this year? – who knows! Will we still be a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Rotary Club – YES, definitely!

Creative thinking needed...

PE Tom is encouraging us all to do some out of the box thinking of fun, simple, socially responsibile ways to raise money to support the good work our Club takes on each year.  Noodle your thoughts and share them with PE Tom and fellow Rotarians.  To that end, Michael has called a meeting of the Hungry Games team for 4:30pm Thursday via Zoom just ahead of our 5:30pm meeting ... Same Zoom access for both meetings. 

Rotary memorabilia - Connecting the World!

When we had to move from The National on quick notice, Tom Ryan and I had one day to get ALL the Rotary stuff out or the new owner was going to take it to the dump. We zipped down and loaded our trucks with various items; some used at each meeting and others that hadn’t seen daylight in decades. The items and boxes of miscellaneous stuff that we didn’t use weekly (or ever) made their way to my garage. Now with new-found time on my hands I’ve been enjoying going through it.

Then our storage unit fees were quadrupled. So, last week, Robin and I closed out our storage shed.  Some stuff went straight to the transfer station (dump to most of us) without passing Go or collecting $200.00 dollars. The rest made its way to be reunited with other Rotary memorabilia in my garage. Yippee! More stuff to sort through. It’s been fun and it has brought me to the realization that Rotary really does Connect the World. We are a small Club, but we have made a tremendous impact through the years. If you log in to our Zoom meeting next week, you will see a slideshow sharing what we have done through the years and all the fun we have had along the way. Some pictures date back to the 1980’s (wish I had some earlier ones, but I don’t) and some are more current. Join in as we take “A Stroll Down Nevada City Rotary Memory Lane.” 

New Members

We have some really exciting Membership news to share with the Club. We are going ahead with planning a date for induction for Dana Milner, who was accepted into our club but everything shut down just before he officially became a member. Dana has patiently been waiting and since it seems we’ll be Zooming our meetings for the foreseeable future we will go ahead with our first ever socially distanced Zoom induction! We are experiencing a lot of firsts as we try to navigate the “new normal.”

PDG Doug and Karen McDonald

Adding to our excitement, Doug and Karen McDonald have requested a transfer to our Rotary Club. Karen has gone back to teaching fulltime and our Club meeting schedule works ideally for them. The Membership Committee has met with them (safely socially distancing) and the Board has unanimously made a motion to recommend them for membership. They have attended more than the three required meetings, so the one week "considerations" window has begun.  We look forward to inducting them with open arms -- even if through Zoom. It already feels like they are members! All three are long-time Rotarians, Past Presidents of other clubs and, with Doug in the club, we will have two Past District Governors. But, just like PDG Dave Denney, he won’t get any special treatment from us and undoubtedly, he’ll get his share of ribbing also. See, I told you I had exciting news for this Rotario!

Also note, Karen serves as District Training Chair and was a mastermind creator of the Leadership Learning Assembly.

From District 5190 - Leadership Learning

Have YOU checked it out yet?  The purpose of the Leadership Learning Assembly (LLA) is to prepare our club leaders, board, and all our club members – new or seasoned - for the 2020-2021 Rotary JOurneY ahead!  It is sure to be exciting! This year’s theme Rotary Open Opportunities challenges us adapt to a changed and changing environment and affirms continuous learning and continuous improvement as the way to stay on top of the wave of change around us. This virtual program is self-paced and requires self-motivation. You can choose the modules you want to take! Learn more at Leadership Learning Assembly.

My Nevada County helps us stay informed about COVID-19

Learn the latest on how to get tested and what Stage 2 reopening includes and other Nevada County updates through https://www.mynevadacounty.com/2924/Coronavirus The County published a helpful Shelter in Place FAQs by the County of Nevada

Cindy Wilson, Director of Public Health Nursing (our ZOOM speaker for May 14) is interviewed in this video 10 minute on what is Corona Virus? What can I do to protect myself? What do I do if I have symptoms.  You may find it informative: https://www.mynevadacounty.com/2964/About-COVID-19

Stay connected and informed

Robin monitors our news@ncrotary.org email. You can direct questions to that email or to me.  As we learn more and to stay in touch, we will send out regular or more frequent Rotarios.

Thank you all again for your hard work and dedication to our Nevada City Rotary Club. Be patient and be safe.

Your President,

Cathy W-B

Upcoming Events

May 21: Social Lexis LaRue - Masked Warriors and Memories from President Cathy

May 28: Lunch  Debbie Thomas - A Peace Corps Volunteer’s Experience in Albania

“Save the Date” for June 18^th for Cathy's Demotion Party.  Not sure just what it is going to look like but it will be fun and mindful of social-distancing!

To be rescheduled: 

• Christina Giffin, Nevada Co. Sup. of Schools Office  “Career Pathways Partners”
• Randy Arnold, The Barefoot Spirit - with goodie bags!

To Be Determined:

June 18:  Cathy's Demotion Dinner - Save the Date!!!

July 19 : Hungry Games, Miners Foundry - (TBD)

August 12 - 16:  Nevada County Fair (TBD)

August 20: (Lunch/Social TBD)  DG Roberta Pickett Visit

Canceled

July 17: The Children's Festival, CANCELED

Special Dates

Club Leadership