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THIS WEEK’S PROGRAM
 
Dartmouth’s Russell Muirhead and Charles Whelan will provide an overview of a course they recently taught at Dartmouth titled “The Future of Capitalism”. 
 
As was the case last week, here’s the format for the meeting: 
 
  • 11:45 AM– The Zoom Room opens. When you enter your video will be on but your microphone will be muted. I will be standing by (603-359-2636) if you need some technical assistance.
  • 12:00 PM– Liam McCarthy begins the official meeting, at which point we suggest that all mikes be muted and you consider accessing the “speaker view”. It may be helpful to go to gallery view when guests are introduced, birthdays are celebrated, and Happy Dollars are offered. During this time Liam will invite members to share any information on how the pandemic is impacting our region. 
  • 12:25 PM– Liam introduces our speakers, who will be accepting questions at the conclusion of their talk. 
  • 1:00 PM– The meeting ends. 
THE ZOOM LINK FOR THE MEETING
 
Topic: Rotary Club
Time: Apr 8, 2020 11:45 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
 
Join Zoom Meeting
 
LAST WEEK’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Liam McCarthy announced that the board met and decided to donate $20,000 to Listen, $20,000 to the Grafton County Senior Citizens Council, and $61,000 to other organizations to identified by the Philanthropy Committee. Liam emphasized that these contributions will virtually drain our treasury and encouraged members to make weekly contributions in lieu of the money we pay for meals (see section below). He thanked the Board members for their willingness to reach a quick consensus on the concept of applying our treasury to two key non-profits and thanks Heidi Postupak for her leadership of the Philanthropy Committee. 
 
Liam McCarthy inducted our first virtual new member: Casey Aldridge who was proposed by Heather Drinan. After her induction, she reported that the Dickey Center where she works is “in triage mode” trying to figure out how to handle Dartmouth students who are abroad and international students who are on campus. 
 
Stan Williams briefed the board on the pandemic’s impact on his business… which has been mostly salutary. ECFiber is deemed an essential service so his employees are out serving customers and given the increased demand for internet connectivity he is picking up customers. He thought he might get some financial relief from the Federal government for providing services to non-payers and students who would otherwise not have fiber.
 
Our two Florida snowbirds, Dennis Logue and Don Pasini reported on their state’s (ahem) unique approach to this emergency whereby the Governor delegated closure decisions to each county. This meant that beaches in Dennis’ part of the world were closed while Don’s county was contemplating allowing a cruise ship to land. It seems, though, that Costco remains open and is doing well in liquor sales. 
 
Nan Carroll reported that she has tidied up the office and home… a couple of times so far. Very few houses are moving and as of last Wednesday any showings in Vermont were forbidden and real estate agencies were not included as an essential business. She imagines that the Listen store will be swamped with materials once the pandemic subsides. 
 
Bruce Atwood asked if there were any volunteer opportunities for Rotarians… and Dave Allen responded in an email later in the week (see below).
 
LAST WEEK’S PROGRAM
 
Randall Balmer set a high bar for future Zoom presenters, offering a talk on the history of evangelical Christians on politics from the founding of the nation through 2016. Here are some things I learned from his talk:
  • 25-46% of the voters meet the definition of “evangelicals”, which combines the introspection of Puritans, the doctrinal precision of Presbyterians, and the pietism of various non-denominational churches. 
  • Evangelicals in the early 19thCentury advocated for helping those on the margins, for public education, for prison reform, for peace, and for women’s rights to vote. The movement started at Yale and also had movements emerge in the Cumberland Valley of Kentucky and in the Rochester, NY area. 
  • The Scopes trial in Tennessee led evangelicals to reject politics, but in 1976 they became a force when they supported Jimmy Carter. 
  • Since 1976, the GOP has used pro-life advocacy, “religious freedom”, and the “secular humanism” of liberals to motivate evangelicals to support them. 
 
I’m certain others picked up other new information and perspectives. 
 
DONATIONS IN LIEU OF MEALS
 
Last week you received an email from Club Treasurer Kevin Wengerthat included a link you can use to donate to Rotary in lieu of paying for a meal at Jesse’s. Club President Liam McCarthysent this message along to me to include in this week’s Newsletter: 
 
As we head together “zooming” into an uncertain future, I would ask that you all consider perhaps donating the lunch money we are saving to our Greater Giving Fund-link attached.  If half our members did this it would raise $750/weekly.  Happy dollars could raise a dollar or 10??  Any funds raised in this way will be earmarked for specific Covid 19 assistance.
 
Here's the link: 
 
 
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
 
Here’s an excerpt from an email David Allen sent earlier this week that offers an opportunity for Rotary Club members to provide their time as well as their financial resources:
 
The Red Cross need volunteers in many areas. The greatest need is helping with blood drives. The coronavirus crisis has not diminished the need for blood. Volunteers are needed to help staff blood drives (and donate!). The Red Cross works very hard to ensure volunteers and donors remain safe.
 
The Red Cross also needs volunteers for their disaster response functions. 
  • Disaster Action Team. When there's a house fire or other natural disaster, Red Cross often reaches out to help people with temporary lodging, replacing medications, clothing and other property; volunteers are needed to do this work. 
  • Sheltering. When an emergency shelter is opened, volunteers help staff and operate it. 
  • Finance monitors expenditures in large scale disasters, grants to not-for-profits who are helping with recovery, and performing reviews of assistance to make sure donor dollars are protected. 
  • Logistics manages supplies and deployment of vehicles and equipment trailers.
  • Government operations works with federal, state and regional disaster planners. It also staffs state Emergency Operation Centers to interface with government agencies and other partner organizations to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive response.
I have been a Red Cross volunteer since 2014 and have worked in all of the above disaster areas. I would be happy to talk to any interested Rotarian to provide further information. Call at me at 952/835-2009 or email me at david.allen5@redcross.org.
 
If you're interested, you may contact me or go directly to the Red Cross website to learn more. 
A FEW ZOOM REMINDERS:
  • You may have read about Zoom meetings being invaded by uninvited outsiders. Apart from Jed’s appearances in various masks, we have avoided intrusions because our link is only sent to a finite list of members. To prevent unwanted guests from crashing our meetings, please do not share the link below with anyone without first seeking Liam McCarthy’s permission. 
  • As noted above I've set things up so that everyone's mikes will be off when they come in but their videos will be on. 
  • Should you unmute your mike after entering the meeting bear in mind that everyone will be able to hear whatever conversations you are having with other Rotarians or family members and pets. 
  • The meeting invitation indicates an 11:45 start time but I've set up the Zoom site so that it allows members to log in earlier 
  • Once the meeting begins please mute your microphone.
  • Liam and I welcome your feedback on how this is working and welcome any advice 
FUTURE SPEAKERS:
 
Deuce Denison introduces David Celone Director of Development & Community Relations for Wet Central Behavior Health Services who will tell us how his organization is coping with the pandemic. 
 
The schedule shows Heather Drinan introducing the Hopkins Center’s Outreach staff on April 29.
 
As for May… we’re empty! I know Dave Bradley’s history of Hanover Rotary was cancelled and could be offered and… if we are REALLY lucky we can have a hand-shaking celebration of the end of our quarantine some Wednesday in that month. 
 
As always, ideas are welcome! Free Zoom tutorials are available for those speakers who have miraculously escaped the clutches of the small squares! 
 
Wayne Gersen
Russell Hampton
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