Newsletter Date: May 31
Meeting Date: May 18
Reporter: Erica Busillo Adams
INSPIRATION : Ron Hoak
“If you only take care of yourself, you’ll always be poor. When somebody shares, everybody wins.”
ANNOUNCEMENTS, Etc.
This week’s online club meeting will feature member profile talks by Liz Messier and Nondas Voll. Login info is:
Time: Monday, Jun 1, 11:45 – noon Social Time;
12:00 – 12:45 Meeting
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82156162339?pwd=VW9USzBMZXhCMWRzWFNYY1Q1VXludz09
Meeting ID: 821 5616 2339
Password: Club22
Joining by phone, call +1 929 436 2866 US
Meeting ID: 821 5616 2339
Password: 561294
Jim and Rita Williams wrote to say thank you to the board and club for making Jim an honorary Rotarian. Jim has had a series of strokes and is currently in hospice care at their apartment in North Providence.
Stanley Sorrentino’s daughter, Polly, sent a wonderful picture of him. Stanley is at Tockwotton and doing well. Stanley has been a Providence Rotarian for almost 50 years.
Think for a moment how much money you’ve saved on Rotary lunches since we stopped having in-person meetings ten weeks ago. Rotary International is asking you to donate a chunk of that saving to help End Polio NOW. Your gift will be matched two-for-one by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and will help keep our promise to the children of the world! Make your gift now at
www.EndPolio.org/donate.
Harry Kizirian Elementary teacher Christine Poland delivered gift bags including three books, pencils, a pen, crayons and a pad donated by the Providence Rotary Club to her Kindergarten students. In total, over 200 bags were delivered to 104 Kindergarteners, plus 17 siblings and 91 first graders – all part of the club’s Childhood Literacy Initiative.
HAPPY BUCKS
Jim Gilcreast: Has a buck, he’s happy!
Don Saracen: Is happy that his granddaughter has been named to her university’s Dean’s List.
Wendy Marcus: Has a sad buck that turned into a happy buck. Due to the pandemic, Wendy’s youngest son’s company went under. However, he applied and was just accepted to an MBA program!
Barbara Kenerson: Has a happy buck for eating with a friend in an actual restaurant (in Florida!).
Christy Clausen: Has a happy buck for half a million meals served to Providence children since the pandemic began.
PDG Bill Tennant: Has a happy buck for Stanley Sorrentino. Bill remembers that Stanley used to pay for a cocktail party for district members attending Rotary’s international conference every year for 20 years.
WE’RE ON A GOOD – BUT LONG –
TRACK TO BEATING COVID-19
Dr. Peter Simon, former medical director in the Division of Community, Family Health and Equity at the Rhode Island Department of Health and Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the Brown University School of Public Health, gave us his views on the state’s progress in fighting the pandemic. Some key takeaways from his presentation:
- It is difficult to predict the virus’s behavior and it will continue to be seen in our community for as long as we give it the opportunity. We’re slowly learning about the pathology of this virus and how it enters the body.
- Contact tracing is key and will decrease transmission rates and make it much harder for the virus to spread. Rhode Island appears to be in a decent position to do this well. Tools—including apps--that help you to keep track of your contacts should be utilized.
- Herd immunity will be achieved when enough people have been vaccinated or have had the virus, recovered, and thus acquired immunity. If the virus cannot find other people to infect, it can be stopped. Usually at least 70% of a population needs immunity for herd immunity to be achieved.
- Antibody testing will be helpful and is currently being vetted. Proper vetting for tests is essential.
- Mental health is a major concern during a pandemic and needs to be addressed in tandem with physical health.
- It is good to look towards opening up, but it is imperative that we do this safely. Crowds remain a serious risk. Social distance is key to a safe reopening.
- It is important to be wary of bad information and not allow fear to cloud our judgment.
- The entire world is looking for a vaccine—this is cause for hope and optimism!
