We've launched our social media project to show gratitude to essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In conjunction, we've also expanded our social media presence. You can now follow the club @SGRotaryClub on Twitter and Instagram in addition to finding us on Facebook. Here's how you can participate:
On your own Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter account (or all three!), share a gratitude message about an individual or a vocation that you want to recognize. Make sure your post includes "@SGRotaryClub #ServiceAboveSelfSG" so that it shows up on our club's feed as well and gets associated with the hash tag.
You can also go to the club's Facebook's page and type your message where it says "Write a post..". Still be sure to include the hashtag #ServiceAboveSelfSG.
If you're not inclined to use social media yourself, simply email President Brad your message and he'll post it as the club. Let me know if you want it attributed to you or if you want it anonymous.
Our meeting again this week is on Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/602710507. If you already have the Zoom app on your computer or mobile, you can enter the meeting ID directly: 602-710-507. This week...
We will hear Holly Jespersen's classification speech starting right at 12:10 SHARP!
After that, we'll proceed with discussions of opportunities to support causes delivering COVID-19 relief and support services. Do YOU know how many Rotary bucks you still have available? Allan Pawlowich can let you know. Our meeting on Thursday will be 90 minutes long.
I want to give you an update and plea to use the the People of Action (POA) bucks, and to encourage you to look for opportunities to serve and use our resources during the COVID-19 crisis.
People of Action Bucks Status:
Of the $37,000 budgeted, only $8,600 has been spent (23%). Another $8000 or so is allocated to approved projects. This means over 50% of our POA budget is still not committed.
The Board has decided on a deadline of April 30 to have all bucks ALLOCATED.
This means you have 5 weeks to donate to an already approved project or a new project.
A list of approved projects is attached, with contact info and some details. To donate to one of these, please inform the project contact person of the amount you want to give (and then mark on your paper bucks so that you remember what it's being used for).
New projects and COVID-19 response:
During this time of crisis, there are no doubt needs in our community that you may be aware of, which could be supported by our club. We encourage you to identify these needs to the club, so that we may respond through donations of our time or money.
To expedite new projects - please submit any new requests for POA bucks within the next two weeks - we will compile any requests that come in and present/discuss them at our April 9 club Zoom meeting. Right after the meeting, the projects committee will confirm their suitability for use of Rotary funds, and then the list will be distributed to all members.
Instructions for submitting new project requests is attached. Please send them to me via email, or call me if you have questions.
If you are aware of a non-financial need (eg: deliver to shut-ins), please share this with Me, President Brad, or the whole club as you see fit. We will provide weekly (or more if urgent) updates.
Thanks. We may be self-isolating or social distancing, but we can still serve our community collectively and individually during this time.
I have been in contact with my Canadian Blood Services (CBS) liaison, Olga, for over two weeks, when we first realized the world would shut down. (Note: We have a regular clinic on Friday, April 17. That’s the one that is at the Heritage Pavilion in Stony Plain.)
At first the CBS did not know whether we would have that clinic, but of course, the need for blood never stops. Olga and I spoke again this morning and here’s what I learned.
The clinic is “on”. They need the supply badly. However, they have put in place, as you can imagine, VERY stringent rules about the event. Everybody, including volunteers, must first be screened to determine the health of each individual entering the clinic.
They do want us to attend as volunteers, but Olga stressed that someone like me (70+ years ☹) should not attend. What they really need is someone who will wear a mask and wipe down the donor pamphlets after each use. She said that if we have no one there, they will certainly understand because their focus is on the health of their staff and volunteers.
Olga also stressed that regulations and decisions are changing every day, sometimes faster than that, so she will contact me one week before the clinic to confirm its location. As well, she will keep me apprised of any changes that we need to know.
Here’s what I think should happen:
I will contact our product donors and tell them that we will NOT collect from them on April 17. If we have members attend, it will not be for food distribution.
If you are interested in volunteering for a shift, you can sign up directly on the club's website by clicking here. We need only one person for each shift, but we are asking you to consider signing up to be an alternate in case the first person can't attend. Alternates will only be required to come if the primary volunteer can't.
I will ask you, closer to the date if any of you wish to go to the clinic to help. You would let me know and I would let Olga know. (If no one attends, CBS is okay with that.)
Let me know tomorrow at the ZOOM meeting what you think.
Finally, Olga also asked me to ask all our “healthy” members to consider a blood donation. BY APPOINTMENT, you can donate downtown in Edmonton, at the CBS building clinic by the U of A hospital.
Have a Rotary Story, pictures from a Rotary Social and/or information for the Rotary RAP?
Send me (Krista) an email: krista.mastaler@gmail.com by Sunday evenings at the latest so that I can include it in the weekly RAP on Mondays!
Thanks everyone!!!!
Although every effort is made to ensure that the content of this eBulletin is faithful to the Rotary Four Way Test, readers should be aware that this publication is not the official record of decisions made by the Rotary Club of Spruce Grove. The approved minutes of the Club constitute the one and only such record.
