Dear Rotarians and Friends,

This Week:  12:15pm Lunch via Zoom

Debbie Thomas - Peace Corps Community and Organizational Development Facilitator in Albania

After a 30+ year career in Silicon Valley in leadership and management roles, Debbie Thomas moved to Grass Valley last year to spend more time with her parents and become an active member in the community.  From 2015-2017, Debbie spent over 2 years serving as a Peace Corps Community and Organizational Development Facilitator in Albania.  Her assignment was living in a farming community and working in a local municipality with the Mayor, Vice Mayor, Development Team and with the young adult employees. This experience fulfilled her passion of cultural exchange and people development while helping develop capacities of young people. Currently, Debbie is doing some local consulting and coaching with Mountain Bounty Farm and Nevada County.

Inducting PDG Doug and Karen McDonald

We are especially delighted to be inducting Karen and PDG Doug McDonald as members of Nevada City Rotary. Karen is a Past President of the Penn Valley Club, serves as District 5190 Training Chair, and is the education chair for Far West PETS. Doug is also a Past President of the Penn Valley Rotary, is a Past District 5190 Governor, and serves on several district committees. He will chair the 2021 District Conference known as RALLYE. Join us for our first ever Induction via Zoom! 

Plus they are parents, grandparents, educators, Boy Scout leaders and so much more ... Join us as we welcome Doug and Karen to the Nevada City Rotary family!

It is hard to believe that this coming meeting will be our last meeting in May for 2020. As businesses are slowly beginning to reopen and people are trying to figure out what the “new normal” is we are facing new challenges. When will we be able to start meeting face-to-face again? How do we reopen Rotary without putting the health of our members at risk? If the Nevada County Fair is not cancelled, what will our participation look like? How do we stay vibrant and forge ahead into Tom Milam’s year if we aren’t able to hold our two biggest fundraisers? What will Rotary in 2020-2021 look like? All good questions with no clear answers currently. However, I want to reassure you again that your Rotary Board, whom you entrusted with the responsibility of our Club’s future, will carefully consider each decision made as we move forward. Tom is well-prepared to take the reins of leadership. He has taken hours of online training and, fortunately, was able to attend PETS just before the shutdown. He is aware of the challenges ahead and eager to lead us onward. I can assure Tom that our members will be with him every step of the way as we go down this new path together.

Did you know that we have a reputation? Yes, indeed we do! We have a reputation as a Zoomtastic club. Not to brag up our club too much, but word has it that we had the first Area 4 Zoom meeting(s) and the best meetings. Thank you all for being so willing to log on, dial in and participate. Our attendance has been great. You make the meetings fun and interesting and Chris and Nancy have done a fantastic job, as always, in providing guest speakers with programs that are particularly relevant to the times we are in. Also, Robin and Tom Milam have been the best tech support we could ever ask for. Yep, it bears repeating – Rotary Club of Nevada City Rocks!

Staying in Touch

This past week I have had the good fortune of connecting with a number of you via the old-fashioned telephone. The conversations have been uplifting, fun, humbling and thought provoking. Two of our members that have not been able to join us lately had encouraging updates to report. Both Dave Fluke and Greg Geare report that after several hard months, they are feeling and doing better and eagerly looking forward to joining in on an upcoming Zoom meeting and getting back into fellowship with everyone.

Additionally, continue to keep PP Tom Ryan and his family in your prayers as they are trying to get through these difficult days of loss. We will welcome him home soon as he is returning from LA today.

Lexis LaRue - Masked Warriors

Thank you to those who have generously donated personally to the Masked Warriors project. As noted in our special Masked Warriors of Nevada County Rotario, Carolyn Inglis is working with Lexis to determine the best way and location to do a community mask distribution in the next few weeks either at Dave's Auto or in conjunction with a farmers market.  Watch for details! 

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 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!

Save the Date for Rotary International's Free Virtual Event

"Now More than Ever, Rotary Connects the World: The 2020 Rotary Virtual Convention"
When: 20-26 June

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!!!

June 25:  Lunch “Dealing with the Covid Pandemic From Around the World” Cathy, Carolyn I, Carolyn F.

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