Tattler Newsletter May 18, 2020 (May 18, 2020)

May 18, 2020 6th VIRTUAL MEETING

Opening :

Pre-meeting Kathie Hardy gave a short report on her latest book, How to Quit Smoking with Hypnosis and without Gaining Weight. Turns out it’s as easy as pie. No, I lied. Nicotine is a very addictive substance and not many can quit cold turkey. But Kathy has put together a book that will guide one through the trials and tribulations of nicotine withdrawal.

For the opening, another Kathy – President Cathy swung the gavel producing a not quite deafening tone from the bell. The Rotary Brass played the national anthem (recorded the previous weekend at Memorial Park).

Important Announcements and immediate attention needed:

The most notable announcement was that Frank King showed up – tardy again.

RCOB has now set up a Venmo account for ease in payment of Happy Bucks, Minister of Fun, Dues or donations to the club. Our account is @RCOB-Bellingham. If you do not have a Venmo account you can set up an account with your computer then download the app. on your phone (just Goggle "Venmo" and you will find all the information you need) You then attach it to a debit or credit card (a fee on your end) or attach to your checking account at no cost. Payment will be sent directly to the RCOB checking account. When you use it for the first time it may ask you the last 4 digits of the RCOB phone number which is 5532. Give Sandee a call if you need help.

All Rotary meetings will be held Virtually on Zoom until further notice due to Covid-19 social distancing. You can look for an email from Sandee each week prior to the Monday 12:30 meeting (you can start logging in at 12:15 for short socializing) with the link for that privacy protected meeting. If you have not done so please, download the Zoom app on your computer (you need a camera and microphone on it), ipad or phone. There is no cost to you. If you do not have either, you can also call in. On the invitation there are US phone numbers you can call and enter the meeting ID number also indicated on the invitation.

Major Project Proposals Needed - Deadline Extended to 7/31/20:

The virus has affected our usual process for getting our Major Project Proposals in. Hopefully this odd time has given you time to take a look around and see what needs to be done!

The Major Project selection committee would like to have all proposals submitted by 7/31/20. Major Project Criteria

RCOB Service Fund Grant applications:

Incoming President Gary is taking applications for Service Fund Grants of up to $1K each, up to $4K total remaining funds, for community projects. Applications are being accepted through May. These grants must have a Rotary Club of Bellingham sponsor the application. Here are the guidelines listed in our Policy Manual:

How A Grant Is Requested: Each grant application must be sponsored by a member of the RCOB who is not a paid employee of the requesting organization. The project should be part of an IRS-recognized not-for-profit organization’s program, but not necessarily limited to one. Only one request for a grant may be made by any one member in a Rotary year. Applications should be in the form of a one-page letter signed by a member of the RCOB, giving the full name of the organization, a single sentence covering the organization’s mission statement, the amount and purpose of the request, the relationship of the member with the organization and extent of involvement (including other members’ participation too) and name/phone number of a contact person at the organization.

How A Grant Is Presented And Reviewed: The member/requester should give the application to the chairperson of the Service Fund Committee who will then call a meeting of the SFC so the member/requester can attend and present the application in person. If the SFC endorses the request, the SFC then presents the endorsed request to the Board of Directors of the RCOB for approval. If approved, checks are issued by the RCOB or the RCOB Foundation as appropriate. If fund limitations preclude granting all fund requests, the SFC will give priority to projects that most comply with the current year’s objectives of the RCOB.

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Website and Phone App instructions:

Here is a tutorial on how to login for the first time. (Click here) In order to login you need to know your user name and password in your Clubrunner account. The user name is Yourfirstname.Lastname.264 unless you have changed it. Example: Sandra.Lindhout.264 The password is initially set by clubrunner at 264 unless you have changed it. Sandee can see your Username from my computer but not the password. She can also change your password for you from her computer at your request if you run into problems.

Once you have originally created your User Name and Password you can download the ClubRunner Mobile app on your phone:

iphones https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/clubrunner/id434696377?mt=8

Androids https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.doxess.clubrunnermobile

Here is a link for you to take a look at the app:

https://www.clubrunnersupport.com/article/1399-video-clubrunner-mobile-app-for-clubs-district

Please contact Sandee at 360-734-5532 or rcob@comcast.net if you run into any trouble.

Guests:

We were visited by Former members Don Anderson, Dale Rings and Chuck Farrell. So great to see everyone!!

Jen Moehl introduced her baby Chloe and sister Kristin Moehl, our speaker from last week.

Peter Theisen introduced Dan Haygeman from Spokane, our scheduled speaker June 8th "Mood & Effective Communication"

Program:

Peter Theisen introduced the speaker for today, Matt Benoit. Mr. Benoit has written for several regional publications. The topic for the day was the Spanish Flu of 1918-1919. His talk was accompanied by several photos of the day showing how Bellingham and the PNW dealt with the flu. The Seattle Red Cross made over ¼ million face masks for protection of the public.

He stated that the name is a misnomer. Spain got the credit because they were neutral in WWI. The only news out of Spain at that time was the flu. At least that’s the way I understood it. The disease hit in early 1918, quieted down in the summer and came in a 2^nd wave in September of the year. This flu hit the young adult population particularly hard. Healthy 20-40-year-olds seemed to be hit with “cytokine storms” and secondary pneumonia.

In Bellingham there were 928 cases of the flu in 1918. The town was closed in October. The police chief banned sidewalk spitting which I guess was a thing back then. As now there was a lot of misinformation. First downplaying the danger, then backpedaling. Streetcars, stores and soda fountains were mandated to keep the windows open. In Seattle, there was a “no mask, no entry” policy (similar to Costco today). And still it kept coming. In the week of December 21^st there were 15 deaths in Bellingham. 80% were in the ages of 17-30.

January to March 1919 was the third wave. It was so bad that the Stanley Cup was canceled. Too many skaters were sick. The series was tied 2-2, with one tie. Montreal forfeited, then Seattle as well resulting in the only season that there was no cup winner.

For the U.S. the death toll is estimated between 500,000 and 675,000. In Bellingham there was no official count.

Thanks, Matt, for a peek at a pandemic 100 years ago.

Gary Goldfogel gave a brief rundown on the Covid virus this week. Good news few cases in the county, and in the hospital. In his opinion an antibody test is still “not ready for prime time”. 5/18 update: Please note there are no patients in the hospital and no test results pending for the hospital. The fear and panic is irresponsible. Gary took time out of his motorcycle ride to report in the sunshine from Cle Elum(?).

Pres Cathy then rang us out shortly after 1:30…

Remember - No meeting next week!!! It's Memorial Day If you show up (especially at Northwood Hall) please, as Aramis says "put $5 on the table". We're counting on you.

Happy May Rotary Anniversaries!



Dewey Desler Member since 1987	Chuck Snyder Member since 1994	Del VandeKerk Member since 1998	John Macpherson Member since 2003	Phil Gubbins Member since 2004

Rud Browne Member since 2007	Mark Knittel Member since 2007	Arlie Norman Member since 2008	Lynda Hinton Member since 2014	Rich Bowers Member since 2016

	Andy Day Member since 2016		Garrett Jeffrey Member since 2018