Category: 2021 Jul-Dec

President Pam had a dilemma; begin the meeting with the pledge and song or go to the buffet line and get food.  The Pledge to the flag and Heather Cullen’s singing of Bing Crosby’s Accentuate the Positive won out.

We then got into the chow line and had a couple minutes to assuage our hunger.

Diane Brabetz was asked to share a Rotary moment with us.  She said that over the years she has had several very moving moments related to Rotary, but the one most prominent was one time when they were at their home in Playa del Carmen.

Her husband, Les, said that he wasn’t feeling especially well and decided to sit down on the sofa. When Diane came to check on Les, he was sweating profusely. Being a nurse, Diane related that Les wasn’t taking any medications at the time. She didn’t speak enough Spanish to be comfortable calling the local services for help, so she called their friend, Igor, 3 hours away.

In 20 minutes there were people to take them to the hospital where 8 doctors were at the door waiting for them and local Rotarians in the waiting room. Les had indeed had a heart attack and spent several days in the hospital all the while the Rotarians and their families were at hand 24/7 to help Diane and Les.  Igor came to Playa also.

Visitors today:

• Tonya Bruno
• Sarah Law
• Terry Andreacchi, from Forestville in the classification of education
• Scott Bonin, dentist who has taken over Kurt Mitchler’s practice
• Rodrigo Perez, Maverick Handyman services
• Edwin Perez, Rodrigo’s father from El Salvador
• James Gore, our speaker
• Jenny Chamberlain, assistant to James Gore

President Pam then announced the Rotarian of the Month for the month of August

wine lover, basket queen, photographer, gardener, etc. etc., Sandie Krutz

Announcements:

• JB
  • Waste Less Windsor is looking for volunteers to assist with recycling at the summer concerts.
• Renee
  • concerts begin at the end of August and will be looking for workers at the bar
• Pegi
  • Our club has completed and been accepted to receive Youth Exchange students in 2022
• Diane
  • mask mandate in Sonoma County went back into effect at 12:01 AM today
• Michael Juric
  • looking for people to power the world, i.e. assist with the Zooming of our hybrid meetings
• Joan
  • SCARC (Sonoma County Area Rotary Clubs) Windsor is in charge of the August meeting. It will be held at Tu Molé Madre, behind El Gallo Negro restaurant. Jennifer Strong will be the facilitator for a panel on the topic of Climate

Secret Greeter for today was Pegi. She said she forgot to say hello to the people Zooming into the meeting and would pay $5.

President Pam began the program segment of today’s meeting describing her and Sue Nelson’s project of photographing the homeless around Healdsburg a few years ago. And subsequent to their taking photographs, they gave the homeless cameras to capture how their personal day goes.

JB began to introduce our speaker, James Gore, in Italian because he learned that James also speaks Italian. And James thanked JB for the introduction in Italian!

James began by stating that there have been 15 disasters here in 7 years. And while he and his team continue to strive for progress, the process isn’t perfect but they are doing the best that they can.

He gave recognition to Rotarians for all they do in so many arenas including Covid and Polio.

We are going to have about 6 months of continued emphasis on getting vaccinated or getting regular testing. We can’t discriminate against the non-vaccinated .  Also if not vaccinated there will be no work travel.

He believes that there won’t be another economic shut-down.

The drought is SERIOUS, especially if we don’t get rain again this season. Lake Sonoma is 100,000 Acre Feet below normal and Lake Pillsbury is 7,000 Acre Feet down.

What’s most important is what each of us does to reduce our consumption.

Homelessness is down in the last 2-3 years and will continue.

There are no plans, at least to the end of the year, to purchase the Windsor Holiday Inn for homeless transitioning despite the fact that the state is offering a 75% match.  Currently there are 31 people at the Holiday Inn; 5 are now employed, 10 are moving into housing and 75%  are over 65 years old.

85% of the homeless have been homeless for over 10 years.  Outreach is needed. Services need to offer options and security

Current programs requires placement of the person before leaving the sheltering hotel.

And homeless encampments cannot be cleared without options in place first.

They are trying to deal with items as they arise.

The Safe Parking Program is a program to provide a safe and secure place that those with campers have a place they know they can park for a 1 month period.

And indoor/outdoor shelters at Los Guilicos need management.

In 2013 we were in the top 3 areas of homeless per capita

And to leave with another happy thought: We have a lack of affordable housing.  Our teachers cannot afford to live where they teach.

Until next week, think good thoughts!

---

COVID UPDATE

NEWS FLASH!!!!   Sonoma County mandates mask rules again as do other Bay Area Counties……… Effective today, Tuesday August 3^rd, everyone in Sonoma County is to wear a mask indoors, regardless of our vaccination status.

Total Cases:        32,880     (last week 32,325)           Recovered:    31,100    (last week  30,827)             Active Cases: 1450   (last week 1169) – this is 281 more than previous week a trend that we are seeing that is frightening!

New Cases:            We are seeing an increase in new cases and breakthrough in the vaccinated.    Breakthrough infections has doubled each month since April.   The Delta variant is prevalent and as long as we do not stop this virus we give it a chance to mutate and replicate.   Masking is the only way to stop the spread – this will stop transmission.   We owe it to our young to spare them by getting vaccinations, avoid super spreader events and by wearing your mask.

Hospitalized: 59 confirmed and 3 suspected    (last week 42 confirmed and 3 suspected)     This alarming increase in hospitalizations means we are taxing our hospitals, our ER’s and putting a strain on medical services that are needed by others not fighting COVID.   We have a labor shortage even in health care and we are seeing it in are health care settings with positions open, people not applying and those working on overwhelm.    Wait times in ER’s have increased dramatically due to COVID.

Vaccination information….  As of August 2nd,  626,035  residents in Sonoma County have received the vaccine (last week 619,721).     70% of our populations 12 and older are fully vaccinated and approximately 78% have received at least 1 dose.     Because of the hold out among groups and parts of our County that will not consider vaccinations, we are beginning to see employers notify them of deadlines to become vaccinated.   The Governor has issued a mandate for all state government employees and all public and private sectors in health care to become vaccinated beginning August 2^nd and implemented by August 23^rd

Please be aware that effective Tuesday, August 3^rd, the State Public Health Officer did issue a directive to wear masks indoors regardless of your vaccination status.   Sonoma County and most Bay Area counties have adopted this and have made this mandatory.  Vaccinated people are protected against severe illness, hospitalization and death from COVID but they can be carriers especially of the Delta Variant.    A layer of protection such as a mask on everybody in public settings is very important.   We need to continue to be cautious while you are enjoying our new freedoms of getting out, socializing and feeling like we can live again.   Vaccination is still a personal choice but if you do not do it for you, do it for others!   We have children, frail elders and immunocompromised individuals who could be spared if we could just get everyone vaccinated.   Think about it and act!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks

Di

---

today’s meeting

President Pam Moulton rang. The bell at 7:30 and turned to guest Scott Bonin to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

John How took us out to the ballgame and we all got to root root root for the Giants!

Wally Krutz gave us a Rotary moment letting us know his “ah-ha” moment, that moment that makes you look at life in a different kind of way. For Wally it was a Rotoplast trip to China to take care of children with cleft palate. The ability to be in the presence with the team of physicians and nurses, and the children made the trip inspirational, but it was one of the last patients of the day, when a young child was being taken to recovery when the child’s parents rushed him and he was caught off guard. What he initially thought were screams of anger, became excited cries of joy. Handing the child to the parents made him feel the power of his Rotary moment.

Rotarians on ZOOM:

• Heather Cullen, John LeCave, Mike Freedman, Chris Landwher, Beth Smith, and Karen Ricketts.

Visitors to our meeting:

• JB Leep welcomed Rodrigo, and Sarah Keiser, our speaker for the day.
• Barbara McChesney welcomed Terry Andreschotti from Forestville.
• Dr. Scott Bunin was introduced by former dentist Kurt Michener

Pres Pam gave us an update on the Board meeting. A lot was discussed and it shows how hard the Board has been working. Here are the notes from the whirlwind presentation:

BUDGET (Carol and Ed)

• All Good!

YOUTH (Pegi)

• Great Chance for Interact to start up – Community Based model for 12 – 18 year-olds
• Both LONG TERM and SHORT-TERM student exchange paperwork is in – start in 2022
• Dictionary Project is ON and will be held in February 2022
• GOLF TOURNAMENT in Arcata (9/25/21) to support fund for clubs and students in Youth Exchange
• SERIOUS consideration for Youth Exchange to hold Golf Tournament in May in Windsor (stay tuned!!)

CLUB OPERATIONS (Chris)

• All is good with calendar that Chris sent out with assignments – if you CAN’T do what you are assigned – Please get a replacement.
• We are including ZOOM meisters to assist on a weekly basis to support MJ and JB

RECOGNITION (DOUG)

• LOTS OF options to recognize our local First responders – banners? Meetings? Coffee vouchers?
• Maybe a program related to what goes on with our Fire Fighters when they are deployed
• OUR Veteran’s Day event will be on NOVEMBER 16th – looking at options to honor Vets

FOUNDATION

• NO NEW POLIO CASES

Club Culture (Joan)

• Socials are being discussed once SCARC is over, including a hike in Jenner, a Social at Barbara McChesney’s home, a trip on the Smart Train, a Strolling Social, etc.

COMMUNICATION (John LeCave, Wally and JB)

• DACdb is where we will hold all our documents , including calendar, etc
• Some of you need to UPDATE your PHOTOS PLEASE
• Please use BCC when emailing many in the club so as to conceal personal emails
• Website is likely to go live around SEPTEMBER 10th

ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE (Barbara McChesney)

• Monthly calendar on DAC will detail upcoming events for volunteerism/education

SERVICE (Sue Nelson and Susan Cole)

• both Local and International Committee mtgs scheduled (8/24/21 and 8/31/21)
• highlighting International history of Windsor Rotary Club

FUNDRAISING

• Board to start discussion of Fundraising issues/needs etc at special meeting
• Steve Klick shared there is a September 11th chili cook off to support families of First Responders. He needs people to serve… above self, and talk to others about Rotary.

Barbara McChesney gave us an update on ESRAG. She is now the chair for the District ESRAG committee, or as Pres Pam alluded to, the Queen of the environment.

On the 26th of August JB Leep needs a few volunteers to help at the “Summer Nights on the Green” to help recycle those drink cups we plan to be selling, and more.

Pegi Ball let us know that Tina Castelli let her know there is a Mimosa Booth being manned by Lions, but their license is out of order, so Rotary is being asked to take over the booth for Sundays in August, September, and October… It turns out we are all tucked in at home enjoying Mimosa’s.

Bill Bolster invited Maureen Merrill to the front and center so he could recognize Maureen’s year as the president of our COVID club. She brought us ZOOM, and kept us together.

Renee Hyde stepped forward and invited Mike Rausch to stand and be recognized as a returning member. Rotary is what he does when not running the Windsor Police Department. Brian Williams is back and offering Rotarians tickets to the September 3rd Windsor High football game.

The secret greeter for today was Barbara McChesney… she quickly sent notice that there were only three people were not greet full and that is $5 each.

JB Leep took over the mic to let us know that he had to change computers and that gave him an opportunity to promote Wasteless Windsor, by manning the booth, conveniently located across from the Windsor Bar.

program

After the commercial, JB introduced Sarah Kaiser, with Wild Oak Hollow natural soaps and more, but her other business and the topic for the day was presented as the director of the Penngrove grazing program that places sheep in grassy areas around Sonoma County to help reduce the risk of wildfires.

Sheep and goats together are called a fled, which consists of ruminants (cud chewing) animals.

Wild urban interface is the target for the program and placing the right animal in the right setting is key to its success. Sarah let us know that her roots in the Midwest gives her a background of community support. She started her current program seven years ago.

Animals are the best way to knock down fire fuel, because fires typically start with mowing machines, whereas animals can benefit the land with their ability to provide soil benefits with their droppings and their urine. We also learned that the hooves of the animals tend to allow for aerating the land.

Ruminants are shared by community, because the animals are herded from one neighbor to another. According to Sarah, these animals become the neighborhood ambassadors. The process of moving animals on the hoof is known as transhumance, which would allow animals to pass from one property to the next with a safe place for passage similar to pedestrian access.

A visual aid showed how the grazed areas on one side of a fence showed no impact from fire, while the other side of the fence showed the scars and blackened land where fire had taken a toll on the land.

Intersectional Land Stewardship is a program that develops recommendations to promote partnerships with multiple agencies to coordinate the work that has proven successful for fighting fires with grazing animals. The success of the program can be shared worldwide as we see the increase of fires due to climate change. For more information on this organic fire fighting method, visit Sarah’s website at Wildoathollow.com/community-grazing-cooperatives, or feel free to reach out to Sarah via email at Sarah.keiser@wildoathollow.

---

COVID UPDATE

NEWS FLASH!!!!   Huge increase in Sonoma county in hospitalizations of COVID positive cases (these are people, people!)    We have jumped to 84 confirmed cases of COVID and 1 suspected….. exactly one month ago, we only had 40-41 hospitalized and 6 weeks ago, it was only 20 people.    This is very alarming and means that we do have to be cautious, careful and get vaccinated.

Total Cases:       34,839    (last week 34,023)

Recovered:    31,969    (last week  31,439)

Active Cases: 2532   (last week 2247)

New Cases:            We are seeing an increase in new cases and breakthrough in the vaccinated –  be aware that you can still catch COVID even if you are fully vaccinated.   Protect  yourself and  others with good hand washing, wearing your mask indoors as mandated and ensuring you are around others fully vaccinated.

Hospitalized: 84 confirmed and 13 suspected    (last week 70 confirmed and 3 suspected)     This alarming increase in hospitalizations means we are taxing our hospitals, our ER’s and putting a strain on medical services that are needed by others not fighting COVID.   We have a labor shortage even in health care and we are seeing it in are health care settings with positions open, people not applying and those working on overwhelm.    Wait times in ER’s have increased dramatically due to COVID.    Many hospitals nationwide who specialize in care for children are out of beds as we are seeing the Delta variant strike children.    If they are under 12 they are not eligible for vaccinations   –   the only way to protect our children is to surround them in fully vaccinated people!

Vaccination information….  As of August 16th,  641,056  residents in Sonoma County have received the vaccine (last week 633,286).     72% of our populations 12 and older are fully vaccinated and approximately 80% have received at least 1 dose.     We are beginning to see large corporations put into effect hiring requirements that all are vaccinated and deadlines for current staff to become vaccinated.   The Governor has now issued a new mandate that all health care workers in the State must be fully vaccinated by Sept. 30^th and previously issued a mandate for all state government employees to become vaccinated beginning August 2^nd and implemented by August 23^rd

Please be aware that effective Tuesday, August 3^rd, the State Public Health Officer did issue a directive to wear masks indoors regardless of your vaccination status.   I realize that many people have very strong opinions on vaccinations and even stronger about mandates and requirements for hiring.   However, our children under 12 cannot get vaccines nor do our little ones wear masks; unless we surround these little ones in totally vaccinated individuals they are susceptible.   A vaccination is still a personal choice, but if you do not do it for you, do it for others!   We have frail elders and immunocompromised individuals who need us to mask up and get vaccinated.    We are probably going to see the need for boosters as our immunity wanes from the vaccination.   And right now boosters for those people immunosuppressed are recommended.   Please remember that this virus has not gone away and lies in wait for a chance to replicate and mutate!

Thanks

Di

Rotary Club of Windsor

Meeting Notes – Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Scribe:  Brian Ling

Pledge of Allegiance:  John LeCave

Song:  JB Leep, “I Can See Clearly Now”, by Johnny Nash

•     “It’s gonna be a bright bright sunshiny day!”

Rotary Moment:  Kurt Michler – Kurt has visited different Rotary Clubs throughout the world.  When you travel, check the Rotary app, and attend a Rotary meeting anywhere in the world.  Meet new friends that are all sharing

Guests:

• Mitch Grandi, retired long time Windsor resident and previous member of the Rotary Club of Windsor
• Domingo Paella, Exchange family guest from Chile.  Attended Giants and 49ers this past week. Along with a San Francisco tour with Cable Cars and Coit Tower.
• Esther Lemus, Windsor Town Council Member

Announcements:

• Rotarian of the Month for October:
  • Michael Juric – For everything that he does every month for our club and Rotary District 5130 and Rotary International.
• Global Grant:
  • Sandie Krutz.  Following the Atlanta Int’l. convention, we worked with the Rotary Club of Ituiutaba Brazil, to completely outfit a full surgical unit.  Multiple clubs including San Felipe (Mexico), Belmont, Healdsburg Sunrise, Santa Rosa, and Windsor participated in the Global Grant.  Our club’s participation was $3000 and along with the other clubs’ contributions, district matching, and RI Foundation matching, the total grant grew to $50,360.  The clinic has already performed 170 surgeries in the new center.  Great job Sandie and thank you for your leadership on this International project.
• Rotary Bar:
  • Renee Hyde.  $1100 on Thursday and $900 on Sunday on the Town Green.  One more Thursday to go and thank you to everyone that has volunteered this year.
• Zoom Hybrid:  Returning to hybrid format next week, Oct. 12.
• Club Social:
  • Joan Mora.  We’ll be taking the SMART Train on Thursday Oct 21.  5:30pm outbound, 8:15pm return trip, to Petaluma including a dinner at McNears.  Contact Joan if you would like to join us.  Guests are welcome.
• JB and Carol:  Recent travel to South Dakota and Las Vegas and shared some wonderful gifts with President Pam.
• Birthdays:  HB to Joan Mora who will celebrate with a contribution toward her Paul Harris account.
• Anniversaries:  President Pam reminded Doug Williams and Scott Bonin about their upcoming anniversaries.  Congratulations.

Program Presentation – Creating our Fundraiser

President Pam reminded us with a photo collage of all of our previous fundraising events highlighting all the great fellowship that we have had and the hundreds of thousands of dollars that we have been able to raise for the community.

Choosing a Beneficiary:  Sue Nelson and Susan Cole are leading the Beneficiary search and we have already received 5 completed applications and numerous more are expected to be received.  Beyond just choosing a beneficiary, we want to find one that will build passion within our club to put on the best fundraiser ever.  Having a great “Why”, is so important to having a successful event.  An easy volunteer opportunity is available for our members to participate in the application review and beneficiary recommendation process.

Date:  April 9, 2022

Auctioneer:  Senator Mike McGuire

Co-Chairs:  Kurt Michler and Bill Conklin

Identify your area of interest:  Venue, Auction, Sponsorships, Marketing, Promotion, Programs

The club separated into 4 thinktanks to start brainstorming for our fabulous event on April 4!

Closing Thoughts:

Not only must we be good – but we must be good for something!   Henry David Thoreau

---

COVID UPDATE

NEWS FLASH:     BOOSTER SHOTS ARE HERE!!!!!!!!!!    Pfizer and Moderna boosters are now available at many pharmacies and at clinics and Drs’ offices.   J and J has requested FDA approval for their booster.

Total Cases:

• 39,773    (last week 39,399)

Recovered:

• 38,031    (last week  37,209)

Active Cases:

• 1356   (last week 1806)

Deaths:

• 386 (last week 384)  Almost 56% of our deaths are now not a resident of senior living or skilled nursing facilities!

New Cases:

• 374 new cases this past week      (last week 324 new cases)

Hospitalized:

• 34 confirmed and 0 suspected    (last week 43 confirmed and 0 suspected)

Vaccination information….  As of Oct. 3rd,  698,952  residents in Sonoma County have received the vaccine (last week 689,159).     77% of our populations 12 and older are fully vaccinated and approximately 85% have received at least 1 dose.     Providers in Sonoma County have begun administering Boosters of both Pfizer and Moderna.  Booster shots are available if you were given either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine.    You are eligible for a booster if you received two (2) shots at least 6 months ago, are 65 years old, reside in a long term care setting, or are 50-64 years of age and have an underlying medical condition such as cancer, diabetes, asthma, HIV infections and heart disease, or obesity.  Also anyone 18-64 years old and at increased risk for COVID exposure and transmission because of occupational or institutional setting.  (for example – health care workers, teachers, day care staff and grocery workers)

With the FDA fully approving Pfizer vaccine and Moderna seeking approval, we continue to see employers as well as government entities and even private employers mandating the need for vaccinations.  The State of California has mandated that any provider who receives Federal funds requires that all of their employees be vaccinated by October.    They have also mandated all health care providers to become vaccinated or be terminated from employment.    All of this is being done to protect our health care workers and patients who are being treated.

Please continue to wear your masks, be aware of your surroundings and even outside, if you are in crowded situations, mask up!   Wash your hands frequently, use hand sanitizer and take precautions.    The Delta variant is out there, very virulent, ready to strike and given that we still have 15% of our citizens not vaccinated over the age of 12 and all of our young children, it still has “hosts” it can latch onto.   We need to try and manage this disease as we are not going to control it!  Consider getting your flu shot so that your immunity is up and your body is not susceptible to infection.

Thanks

Di

---

Windsor Town Green

SCARC Meeting

President Pam Moulton rang the bell at 7:30 and ask Bill Bolster to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance

Heather Cullen   inspired by Kermit the Frog lead us in her version of “Being Green”

 John Hackenburg shared his Rotary Moment:  John recalled his trip to Mexico with Festival of Brotherhood when he met a family all suffering from aids, unable to obtain vaccinations and treatment, and his trip to Africa where Rotary was providing clean water, toilets & education and witnessed the power of Rotary to change lives.  John stated thinking about his Rotary moment he had an ah ha moment and realized he has a Rotary moment over and over, every week as a Rotarian has the ability to change lives.

We had no visiting Rotarians this morning and our Guest was our speaker Clare Becker introduced by JB.

President Pam announced our September Rotarian of the month is one of our newer members, one that hit the club volunteering, and is in fact our present Club Secretary: Catherine Hanron definitely is an asset to our Club.

Renee Hyde announced the Rotary Bar made $906.00 last Thursday, she stated she has volunteers for this week; however, all are welcome to come by say hello & lend a hand.  Renee will be sending a signup sheet via email to Rotarians for sign up for the remainder of the Thursday night Rotary Bar.

Windsor Chili Cook Off:  Saturday September 11, 11am – 4pm   purchase tickets for tasting and chance to win a Trager BBQ       https://www.windsorchilicookoff.com/

September 23, 2021 will be the 34 Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Windsor; Joan Mora is putting together a social to celebrate on the Town Green Thursday September 23rd.

Rotary Youth Exchange GOLF TOURNAMENT

• September 25, 2021
• Register online at: ye5130.org/golf
• Questions: golf@ye5130.org or Haider at 707 499-6219

JB is looking for volunteers to work with waste less Windsor Thursday night on the Green; I was told it really is a fun rewarding experience.

Barbara McChesney announced a “Clean up on the River” Saturday September 18th. Contact Barbara for more information: barbsmcc@gmail.com

President Pam stated no secret greeter for the time being, just remember to say hello to all, keeping that safe distance, of course.  Air Hugs

Susan Cole presented our first community check this morning to Jamie Williams representing Windsor High School Girls Varsity Volleyball & Girls Varsity Soccer Team.

The Rotary Club of Windsor is sponsoring girls from both teams to attend a Leadership program, “Women in Conversation” at Sonoma State, presenters at this event will be:        Kristi Yamaguchi, Olympic, U.S. and World Hall of Fame figure skater,    Brandi Chastain, World Cup and Olympic soccer player and Kerri Walsh Jennings, World Championship and Olympic beach volleyball player.

Last year Girls Varsity Volleyball team was the top team, this year they are undefeated and look forward to participating in playoffs.

Jamie left tickets for Rotarians that would like to attend any of the sporting events @ WHS.

We look forward to the presentation from a few of the girls after attending the event.

John Hackenburg filled in for fine master Leslie Lewis today and recognized Birthdays in September:

• Michael Ragsdale plans to spend his special day with wife Barbara & Children and will do whatever they tell him to.
• Tom Boylan and his wife Melody are going to Little River End for the weekend.

 Diane Brabetz was recognized for some advertising, although the advertising was for hard to find staff, she made a donation to the Ken Moulton Scholarship fund.

Speaker:

JB introduced Clare Becker from Sonoma County Resource Recovery Clare graduated from Santa Clara University; she works closely with recycling resources at events and is working to further recycling efforts in Windsor.

Sonoma County Resource Recovery is the exclusive collector of garbage in Windsor.

Single dwelling homes in Windsor have dual stream recycle cans to separate recyclable items.  Windsor residents are also provided green waste containers for yard and food waste.

Trucks are equipped with dual compartments to keep recycle items separated.  Recycling is taken to facility where it is further sorted to prevent contamination, toxic leaching, plastic pollution and reduce landfill waste.

Green waste is transported to Cold Creek Compost in Eureka to become usable compost.

The big challenge starts with us the consumer, using less plastic and green gas pollutants and separating our waste and placing in the correct receptacle.

SB1383:  Reducing Short-Lived Climate Pollutants in California

•  SB 1383 (Lara, Chapter 395, Statutes of 2016) is the most significant waste reduction mandate to be adopted in California in the last 30 years.
• SB 1383 requires the state to reduce organic waste [food waste, green waste, paper products, etc.] disposal by 75% by 2025.  In other words, the state must reduce organic waste disposal by more than 20 million tons annually by 2025.
• The law also requires the state to increase edible food recovery by 20 percent by 2025.

SB 1383 will take effect January 2022

Clare stated recyclable items should have as much food wiped out as possible, not necessary to be completely cleaned.  Pizza boxes with oil are not recyclable.  Plastic bags are not recyclable.

Electronics are increasingly difficult and more expensive to recycle,

It is important we begin to rethink about the products we use before they become waste items.  Reduce Waste.

Resource Recovery is working on dual stream recycling for multifamily dwellings.

President Pam, thanked Pam for presenting and all the Rotarians that did set up, handled the zoom side of the meeting and to everyone for adhering to the mask protocol.

Next week Past President Susan Cole will conduct our meeting as this month’s President Rep. and provide an International Review.

Closing quote:

• “There is no such thing as “AWAY, When we throw anything away –           it must go somewhere!”

Meeting adjourned at 8:30am

Amazon Smile:  A painless easy was to contribute to the:  “Windsor Rotary Club Foundation” Once you have registered with amazon smile and chosen the charity of your choice Amazon does the rest.  Last week I purchased spreaders for the Wine

Sonoma County Resource recovery LINKS

PowerPoint PDF: Rotary Club 9-7-2021

Dual stream sorting video: https://youtu.be/ermJbOMHEeU

Recycling facility video: https://youtu.be/SK0-0C5373k

Compost facility video: https://youtu.be/Fw8H5nzl0Wk

---

COVID UPDATE

NEWS FLASH!!!!   FDA approves Pfizer vaccine for COVID 19!    Moderna also has a request in with the FDA for full approval and we should have an answer within the month.  Hopefully this will help to sway persons on the fence or were hesitant to get their vaccinations.   We continue to see huge increases in hospitalizations and are also seeing breakthrough infections probably most due to the Delta variant.   All of this at a time when testing sites are hard to find and most people felt they were safe from infection because they had gotten vaccinated!

Total Cases:

• 37,676    (last week 35,562)

Recovered:

• 34,436    (last week  32,604)

Active Cases:

• 3024   (last week 2875)

Deaths:

• 365  (last week 344) of our county citizens have died of this virus!   – this is a jump in 21 new deaths reported in only one week.   We need to realize that this is not seniors dying in nursing home any longer, but young people, middle age and people who are not vaccinated.  We are seeing kids filling hospitals and deaths of treatable diseases and conditions because they cannot access care due to ER’s and ICU’s being filled with COVID.   It is hard as a nurse for me to wrap my head around people dying because there is no care available and that this disease has become so political!

New Cases:

• 1178 new cases this past week (last week I was alarmed about 137 new cases) in Sonoma County!   We are not going to return to a normal or ordinary life but with the virus’ mutations and the refusal of millions of Americans to take the shots, there is little hope.

Hospitalized:

• 66 confirmed and 1 suspected    (last week 81 confirmed and 2 suspected)      We are seeing continued increase in hospitalizations in other parts of the US which are taxing our hospitals, our ER’s and putting a strain on medical services that are needed by others not fighting COVID.   We have a labor shortage even in health care and we are seeing it in are health care settings with positions open, people not applying and those working on overwhelm.    Wait times in ER’s have increased dramatically due to COVID.    We continue to do much better here in Bay area and Sonoma County but we are seeing breakthrough infections as we are well aware of.

Vaccination information….  As of Sept. 5th,  666,732  residents in Sonoma County have received the vaccine (last week 649,222).     75% of our populations 12 and older are fully vaccinated and approximately 83% have received at least 1 dose.     With the FDA fully approving Pfizer vaccine, we are already seeing large employers as well as government entities mandating the need for vaccinations and probably will continue to see more.

Please continue to wear your masks, be aware of your surroundings and even outside, if you are in crowded situations, mask up!   Wash your hands frequently, use hand sanitizer and take precautions.    We need to try and manage this disease as we are not going to control it!

Thanks

Di

Welcome:

Our meeting this morning was called to order by Acting President Susan Cole (and one of our Past Presidents….).   Susan’s Theme today was “The International Impact of the Rotary Club of Windsor”

Scribe:  Diane Brabetz, RN CPNP PHN

Flag Salute was led by Kurt Mitchler, DDS

Inspiration:

• Acting President Susan read us an inspiring quote by the Dalai Lama

Song Maestro:

• JB Leep in keeping with our recent remembrances of 9-11  (did you know many of us woke up to the news that fateful day and it was on a Tuesday, Rotary Day – we met, comforted by one another and listened to someone by phone in New York give us updates…..)   led us in “God Bless America”.    Never forget where you were, what you were doing and who we lost……..

Introductions:

• since we had no Visiting Rotarians or Guests of Rotarians, we moved on to…..

Announcements:

• Community Service:  led by Susan (Cole) and Sue (Nelson), Sue informed us that their committee is looking for a beneficiary or beneficiaries for our Fundraising Event on April 9^th.  (2022)   She sent out 56 applications to nonprofits last week, but if anyone has someone that they would like us to contact as a possible beneficiary, let Susan or Sue know.     Applicants will have a month to send in their completed application and then Susan and Sue will need a committee to review the applications.   (they will keep us posted).    Information about our Event and that we are looking for a beneficiary is on our website and on our FaceBook page.
• Brian Williams shared with us that Windsor High School Vineyard Academy along with some of our Windsor Rotary members helped the students to pick grapes this past week.   Taft Winery helps the students with making of the wine and it has been an extremely successful program.
• Leslie Lewis (along with Lexie her 4 legged friend) shared with us some sad news – Dr. Mike Stafford who was a member many years ago and a local veterinarian who opened Lakewood Hills Veterinary Clinic in 1982 and then went on to start Township Animal Hospital passed away recently.   Mike was an active member of our Club who helped us celebrate many of our successes and supported our work in the community.    He will be missed………………

Induction of New Members:

• Acting President Susan with all of the passion this scribe knows she feels, shared with us that there are 1.2 million members of Rotary International, 34,000 Clubs and 110 years of service which covers from Literacy, Peace, Clean Water and Health, etc. that Rotary provides.   She shared her strong feeling of the privilege to welcome 3 new members to our Club this morning to become part of this legacy.    She then turned the induction over to Renee Hyde, our Membership Chair.
• Renee shared with us that our 3 new members, Scott Bonin, Rodrigo Perez, and Terry Andreacchi….. are the first new members to get to use our new “Passport to Success” program.    (contact Renee if you have missed out on this new program which sounds wonderful!)
  • Scott Bonin, DDS is a Dentist who with 20 years experience has purchased the dental practice of our Kurt Mitchler who he says is being extremely helpful in the transition.    (Leslie Lewis – is there a fine there???)  Scott is sponsored by Kurt and is anxious to become more involved in our community.
  • Rodrigo Perez, sponsored by Art Diaz and is owner of Maverick Handymen.   Rodrigo is younger than most of us and brings not only his youth but exuberance to our Club and wants to make a difference.
  • Terry Andreacchi…… , sponsored by Renee Hyde (she shared she got to claim him because she is Membership Chair and he reached out to us).    Terry was 20 years in the insurance business and also an educator.   He has been a Rotary member with other clubs and a Past President.   Like Past Presidents, someone had to remove the microphone from his hand!   Hehehe
    • All 3 were welcomed into our Club, told they would never be alone and in the words of E. Marie …. “Tuesdays Belong to Rotary!!!!”

Rotary Program: “ The International Impact of the Rotary Club of Windsor”

Acting President Susan Cole shared with the Club that our Rotary Club of Windsor has had a presence on 6 of the 7 continents through our projects over the years.   Members have attended Rotary International Conventions, helped to hand out wheel chairs, worked at cleft lip and cleft palate clinics, Dental clinics in 3^rd world countries, Clean Water projects, Adopt a Village and provided much needed supplies and services to Orphanages around the world.   Using the flags of many countries on our tables, Acting President Susan had us make a visual impact by asking us to stand and take a flag and wave if it we had done any of these and more as she read them out !

It was very impactful to see how many of us have gotten involved outside of our local community to make the world a better place…..

Sandie and Wally Krutz were introduced and spoke about their attendance at RI Conventions, participating in cleft lip and palate surgeries, clean water projects, Fellowships, and even Ambassadorial Scholars.   Each talked on the impact these made in their lives and our impact on others.

Maureen and Mike Merrill were then introduced ….. both Past Presidents of their Clubs, and both past District Governors, they shared getting to participate in an International Immunization Day in India.   A Day for children under 5, it was a country wide immunization program and the impact that had on them.   Mike was a Captain in the Marine Corps serving our country in Vietnam – imagine him returning to Vietnam through Rotary for a clean water project that served 20 villages and sitting and toasting with Vietnamese that had been our enemies and they had fought against.    It gave me chills – but that is the impact of Rotary and World Peace……

Kurt Mitchler, DDS and Bill Conklin, DDS then got up to share their stories of doing a dental project in the back country of Nicaragua.   Before the picture show and talk, though,  Bill presented Past President and Past District Governor Ken Moulton with a check for $500 from he and his wife for Ken’s Scholarship Fund started in his name.   Thanks Bill and Julie!!!    Back to the trip to Nicaragua…….  Both Kurt and Bill along with 2 other dentists donated their time and dental experience (and supplies) for 5 days to bring dental services to people who badly needed it.  Traveling 1 ½ hrs each way each day from their lodge on a boat they completed 206 extractions, 56 fillings and saw 104 patients.   Along with some Optometrists, our Kurt and Bill made a difference for villagers who lined up and came because of word of mouth.  Young and old they were evaluated and treated.  Along with that project, they got to visit with Mother E who runs the Angels of Hope Orphanage who our Club has helped in the past.  We have donated a refrigerator, brought the girls clothes, backpacks, shoes and goodies.

These are just some of the kinds of projects that our Club has been involved in since we Chartered.  Giving to Rotary Foundation means we can obtain matching funds and do even larger projects and make differences in the world.   This scribe has had the privilege in my second home of Mexico to bring clean water to both Playa del Carmen and a Mayan school, as well as build the kids a cafeteria, bring them school supplies and toys at Christmas time (we have a large sign thanking the Rotary Club of Windsor in this Mayan School in the jungle), helped with monies to bring surgery and treatment to kids with spina bifida, sponsored a diabetic education program, and even given botox alongside a Dr. in Playa del Carmen for kids with cerebral palsy and seen them be able to walk afterwards…………..    Rotary made this possible!!!!

Acting President Susan Cole wrapped up this wonderful morning of sharing and highlighting our International Projects by stating “it is difficult to do war with someone you break bread with……”     Build World Peace!    Our impact is and can be huge……………

---

COVID UPDATE

NEWS FLASH!!!!   Federal Government will require Mandatory Vaccination!   A new rule will be released in October that will require entities which receive Medicare or Medicaid funds to vaccinate their health care workers for COVID-19.    Supposedly any private employer with 100 or more employees will be required to have their employees show proof of COVID vaccination or weekly testing.   Violations for employers who fail to meet these requirements of the mandate could be fined as high as $14,000 per incident.

Total Cases:

• 38,520    (last week 37,676)

Recovered:

• 35,152    (last week  34,436)

Active Cases:

• 3000   (last week 3024)

Deaths:

• 368  (last week 365)  – 87 Sonoma County residents under the age of 64 have died of this virus!    Almost 55% of the deaths have not been related to a facility or a senior – someone who is not vaccinated is much more like to succumb from this disease and it could be your family member, a dear friend or someone you know who could have been saved.

New Cases:

• 844 new cases this past week (last week 1178 new cases; however the new cases reported this week did not report any findings for both Sunday and Monday so they could actually be higher) in Sonoma County!   We continue to try and convince those not vaccinated to consider it as that is are only hope of keeping our kids under 12 safe and those people with underlying health conditions that either could not get vaccinated or are at risk of breakthrough.

Hospitalized:

• 57 confirmed and 3 suspected    (last week 66 confirmed and 1 suspected)

Vaccination information….  As of Sept. 12th,  673,365  residents in Sonoma County have received the vaccine (last week 666,732).     75% of our populations 12 and older are fully vaccinated and approximately 83% have received at least 1 dose.     With the FDA fully approving Pfizer vaccine, we are already seeing large employers as well as government entities mandating the need for vaccinations.  We are also beginning to see announcements from Stadiums and events that only those who show proof of vaccination may attend.

Booster shots are in the news but most Physicians are asking residents to be patient as we wait for more guidance.   Once it is decided it is wise to have one, they will be given to those people who are immunocompromised first to boost their immune system.

Please continue to wear your masks, be aware of your surroundings and even outside, if you are in crowded situations, mask up!   Wash your hands frequently, use hand sanitizer and take precautions.    We need to try and manage this disease as we are not going to control it!

Thanks

Di

---

Program Notes

Ring that bell, if you can find it. President Pam Moulton replicated the ding noise and we all got started at 7:30. Actually we all got started 34 years ago in a bowling alley in Windsor. Happy Anniversary meeting!

A moment of flag appreciation with a “live” flag. That was the reference of the mystery Rotarian that led us in a pledge.

When Pres Pam announced that Bill Bolster was the day’s song master, we all decided to play along and beat it, just beat it. Good reworking of the lyrics by Mr. Bill.

Pretty good photos by Sue Nelson, and words by Tom Boylan.

Introductions:

Larry & Monika (didn’t catch their last name) dropped by our Rotary Bar and decided to ask for more, so they dropped by our meeting. I think they appreciated that Champagne was being served.

Catherine Hanron introduced her Sista…

Katherine Williams came to the meeting with her son Brian Williams, who also introduced the speaker for today’s program, Steve Lehmann, President of the Windsor Historical Society.

Announcements:

Renee Hyde says the Rotary Bar is doing a bright business with a net of over $2500 to go towards our international projects. We have a chance to dance and serve at the bar on a special event on Sunday, October 3rd with Elton John in the early years providing the music.

Renee also told us that Franco our wayward skier with the youth exchange, who fell off a mountain but fell into many of our hearts, has sent his brother to visit with Renee and we need to entertain him. If you would like to have a fun conversation and have something fun to do, let her know.

Happy Birthday to Windsor Rotary, we are celebrating our 34th year… a long way from the bowling alley and a lot of great projects completed. Plan to attend the Rotary celebration social at the Rotary Bar on The Town Green Thursday, September 23rd.

If you can’t make the bar, plan to get social on the Smart Train October 21st. Ride the rails for a rally good time.

Patrick Dunn is starting a Wine Fellowship for Windsor Rotary and Rotarian’s beyond. It sounds like we might have a long list on the sign-up sheet.

Pres Pam made much to do of our Catherine Hanron, the Rotarian of the month.

Steve Klick was singled out for attending the opening game of the LA Raiders, in Las Vegas. He brought Pres Pam a special Winter cap for the Oak… LA Raiders. Steve got ahead of a fine by making a donation to the Windsor Community Foundation.

Susan Cole and Renee Hyde got a special thanks from Pres Pam for their stepping in to help the president by running meetings. It takes a village.

Pres Pam provided the highlights to all of the most recent Windsor Rotary Board meeting:

BUDGET (Carol Martin and Ed Turner)

• PLEASE PAY your dues – but basically all is GOOD!

We are doing REALLY WELL at the ROTARY BAR…. Please ALWAYS wear your Masks!

YOUTH (Bill Bolster for Pegi Ball)

• Board approved for TWO outgoing students for 2022-2023
• Rotary International likely to offer special program for students who did not get to go abroad – including Kate Smith!!

CLUB OPERATIONS (Chris Landwher)

• We now have 3 branches of service for morning set up – Zoom, AV and regular room set-up

CLUB CULTURE (Joan Mora)

• Looking to have the 3rd Thursday of the month for our Socials – SMART Train on October 21st…Artisan Alley on November 18th…..NEED to finalize the Holiday Party – date, and location

ENVIRONMENTAL (Barbara McChesney)

• Ambassadorial affiliation approved for RC Windsor, with international access to “End Plastic Soup” placing us as a Model/Leader club at an International level in supporting environmental issues
• Leader in field will be speaking to our club on January 18, 2022
• Collaborative efforts with WHS student group for becoming PLASTIC FREE”

SERVICE (Susan Cole and Sue Nelson,)

• Approval of funds for victims in Greenville, California
• Approval of funds for Water Catchment tanks in Peru and Haiti
• Encouragement for more collaboration with other clubs to support international projects

COMMUNICATIONS (John leCave)

• Well…still working on the website – but hoping that it will be done in October!

FOUNDATIONS

• NEED to start to talk about Foundation and its impact, focus during November, Foundation Month

CLUB RECOGNITION

• Focus is being given to program to honor Fire Service
• Maintain continuity of program for the Teacher appreciation program in May
• We are good with the student of the Month Program
• NEW Veteran’s program is being constructed for November 16th, by Mike Merrill

HEALTH/COVID PROTOCOL

• Recommendation for some revision but essentially Board approved requirement that anyone who attends our meetings or social gatherings is vaccinated

CLUB BASED FUNDRAISING MEETING ON OCTOBER 5TH

MISSION STATEMENT TO BE REVISED/WORDSMITHED BY SUSAN COLE

Anniversary look back:

We were entertained with a blast from the past as we watched a slide show that took the club back to the beginnings… can you say Balloon Festival. I think at some point they started using pictures of members children, because it is hard to believe we were once that young.

Leslie Lewis was asked to relay her Rotary moment based on her father, our founder, John Lewis. According to Leslie, “He would have used the term fellowship as a founding moment, which continues through all these years.”

The many projects we have worked on to improve and enhance our community and communities out of our Country. Leslie let us know her dad would be looking on us and saying, “what a long way to have gone from a start in a dark bar in a bowling alley.”

Program:

Doug Williams introduced our speaker for the day, Steve Lehmann who kept on theme and provided us with an update on his work with The Windsor Historical Society. Steve is the Honorary Windsor Town Historian.

Steve appreciated that our club is becoming a part of the Town’s history. He went on to tell us the Historical Society was founded in 1998 and took charge of the “Cunningham House” which is the museum for the Town. There are big plans for the actual building with plans to raise it… literally up… and place a new foundation under it.

We took in a few slides that gave us a look at the Pomo tribe’s origins in the area. Back in the day we were called a Windsor Township, and had a much larger footprint than the Town today. The Township lost land that was edged away by Healdsburg and Santa Rosa.

Camp Windsor was a prisoner of war camp during WWII. According to Steve, the camp is a gift to the history of Windsor with visitors coming back to share stories of the past. Horst Leland, an actual prisoner held at Camp Windsor, is now a resident in Portland Oregon, and Steve managed to interview him to learn more about what happened to prisoners after the war. All had to return to Europe for a two-year period, but those that came back had a chance to learn more about the little township where they were held, under fairly hospitable conditions.

Residents of the day came to enjoy the interactions they had with the prisoners, albeit limited.

We were introduced to Sarah Myers Rich Latimer, a pioneer of Windsor who owned a ranch off Chalk Hill Rd. Sarah was a suffragette in the earliest days of the late 1800’s. In 1872 she became the first woman elected onto a school board, which made her the first woman elected to any position in the State of California. Ironically her own vote was thrown out because she was not allowed to vote.

One of Sarah’s children Lorenzo Latimer became a well-known painter, who became a member of the Bohemian Club and a rather well-known painter who made pilgrimages back to his roots to clear his head of the alcohol (and they didn’t have tasting rooms back then). One of those trips became the title for a remarkable painting titled ‘Near Windsor,’ that featured a small cabin home nestled among the giant Redwoods. Steve said the painting became a quest for the museum to purchase it for permanent placement in the museum. They succeeded and now have a total of five of Latimer’s paintings on display.

Severe Lewis was the first unofficial mayor of Windsor. We learned that the town’s first hotel became a notorious place as it was identified as a house of ill repute. Today we have the Round Table Pizza located on the former hotel’s footprint.

I am certain there was more discussed, but due to a commitment, the scribe had to leave at 8:30. I think there was enough information missing that it warrants a visit to the Town of Windsor’s museum. Sounds like a social in the making.

---

COVID UPDATE

NEWS FLASH!!!!  “ Pfizer says shot safe for kids”!   Pfizer’s vaccine for young children aged 5-11 has been shown to be safe and highly effective against the coronavirus and the hope is that the vaccine will be approved for use by the end of October.   We need something for young children as these kids now account for more than 1 in 5 new cases because of the highly contagious Delta variant.   ICU’s and Pediatric beds are full and schools have sent thousands of kids home who are testing positive.    Trials continue for children younger than 5 years of age and we are not expected to see results until the end of the year.

Total Cases:        39,075    (last week 38,520)

Recovered:    36,102    (last week  35,152)

Active Cases: 2595   (last week 3000)

Deaths:                378 (last week 368)  Almost 56% of our deaths are now not a resident of senior living or skilled nursing facilities!

New Cases:          555 new cases this past week      (last week 844 new cases)

Hospitalized:        52 confirmed and 6 suspected    (last week 57 confirmed and 3 suspected)

Vaccination information….  As of Sept. 19th,  679,380  residents in Sonoma County have received the vaccine (last week 673,365).     76% of our populations 12 and older are fully vaccinated and approximately 83% have received at least 1 dose.     With the FDA fully approving Pfizer vaccine, we are already seeing large employers as well as government entities and even private employers mandating the need for vaccinations.  As a health care provider and an employer we have been notified by the State of California that because we received Federal funds, all of our employees must be vaccinated by October.   We are also beginning to see announcements from Stadiums and events that only those who show proof of vaccination may attend.

Booster shots are in the news but most Physicians are asking residents to be patient.   It does appear that the recommendation is for those immuno-compromised, receiving cancer treatment and those over 65 will be the first to be offered the Booster.

Please continue to wear your masks, be aware of your surroundings and even outside, if you are in crowded situations, mask up!   Wash your hands frequently, use hand sanitizer and take precautions.    The Delta variant is out there, very virulent, ready to strike and given that we have 17% of our citizens not vaccinated over the age of 12 and all of our young children, it still has “hosts” it can latch onto.   We need to try and manage this disease as we are not going to control it!

Thanks

Di