Foghorn March 26, 2020 - ZOOM Meeting

Joe told how since the southern U.S. border was closed he had to cancel his tip to La Paz, in Baja California, where he'd planned to do volunteer Rotary work in a medical clinic and then go on a whale-watching excursion.  He'll try again next year, but he added that he will send club members a wish list of supplies for the clinic, which also needs cash. He got a refrigerator for it last year. He mentioned that former Half Moon  Bay Rotarian Eric Shapira had previously helped him in this work, and added that there have been some La Paz residents diagnosed positive since the coronavirus pandemic began. He said Ginger had helped him pinpoint likely dates for next year, i.e. mid-February to mid-March.

Conversation, fellowship and sharing good tips characterized the  rest of  the meeting. Sources for technical and mail services were recommended. Mitone recommended sanitizing things before entering homes. Joe recommended leaving packages delivered at home on the porch for a day to ensure that any virus on them is dead. Rosi said the  Moss Beach Distillery restaurant is doing takeout and delivery. 
Mary mentioned that local organizations like Puente, Coastside Hope and ALAS, and remarked to me later how times like these make you consider how we can be good Rotarians, how we can contribute to those in need in times of need. 

Ed mentioned that Senior Coastsiders is seeking volunteers, ideally not older people, to help distribute meals. 

Bill  asked about setting up $500 as a source from  which to channel funds to  Coaststside Hope or Puente, and Ed said that's possible.

Dave pointed out that one can make an individual commitment to help those who help us, including those who are on  the lower end of the economic scale. Ed said that these suggestions are possible, and  that he would  talk to Dianne and David Maahs about it and report back to the club. He noted that something like this could also help rebuild the club's resources, and that he would email club members to seek support. Mary asked, would this be like a Go Fund Me thing? Bill said no, it would be more a matter of people donating their own money.

Dave suggested putting up a chunk of Foundation  money which would support matching funds for any Rotarian who made a donation. Bill  suggested the idea of taking his own money, putting it into an account that he would publicize as a source of matching funds, and Ed said he would look into that as a possibility as a tax writeoff. 

Rosi asked about next steps, including getting the Foundation on board to seek donations, and Ed suggested tracking the development of such a fund. There was talk of approaching the Half Moon Bay Review about publishing a story about this, and Stacy will follow that up. A first step would be to establish a fund out of our own pockets. Since Dianne is so knowledgeable about these things, Ed will  contact her and email the club foundation board to get all involved.   
Rosi mentioned that it was good to see Rotarians' familiar faces again.

 

Mitone mentioned an upcoming community garden day in conjunction with Coatstside Hope which will probably be postponed,  and she and Susan Kealey will work to come up with an alternate date.

Ed noted that we're on hold for Magic of the Coastside. We don't need to cancel, just revaluate it at the next foundation board meeting, which is set for the first Monday in April. Will we go ahead with the planned with the June 13 date? Bill suggested moving it to September. Ed said he hadn't made any decisions yet, beyond the certainty that it must be postponed. 

The next Rotary meeting will  take place next Thursday at the same time, same online. Mitone noted that she wouldn't want us to miss a meeting, but just keep the Rotary momentum going. She would like to communicate to prospective new members as well as to the rest of the club that joining in an online meeting is not difficult. There's still a lot of social interaction potential. 

Mary spoke of students in our exchange program, of those she has been in touch with and how they are doing. Classes will not resume at Half Moon Bay High until May 1, and that there is ongoing discussion as to whether they should go home.  John chipped in to add that the current exchange students Jade from France  and Laura from Brazil  are doing fine here with their exchange families. He added updates on previous exchange students Andrea from Ecuador and Fie from Denmark.  Three students that have gone home include Rintaro from Hiroshima, Marurice from Belgium and Juan from Chile, recently sent home because of the pandemic. Local student Micah Warner-Carey, who went to Belgium, is now home.  There will be six incoming students this year.

  
Interact is not doing much at this time, as classes are now all virtual and online. 

EJ noted that former GSE visitors Diego and Francesca, say hello to the club. 

The meeting ended with laughter when EJ commented that he had had a hard time taking his usual photos.

Everyone, stay well and happy!!!