Dear Seattle 4 Rotarians:
You have been in my thoughts every day during this public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Hopefully, you are well and my greatest wish is that you are taking good care of yourself. Please see the link above for best practices to protect your health as well as our government’s mandated activity with respect to public gatherings.
As you know, we cancelled our weekly meeting on March 11th due to the guidance of the King County Health Department and Governor Inslee’s subsequent directive under the State of Emergency. Although our meeting size is under the 250-person limit that prohibits meeting, there are several factors that make our weekly fellowship inadvisable. First, the Four-Way Test and specifically the tenet that states of the things we think, say and do –“Is it beneficial to all concerned?” Approximately 60 percent of our members meet one of the higher risk factors, age of 60 years or greater. Furthermore, Rotarians inside or outside this demographic may have other health conditions that would increase their risk.
Due to the conclusion that COVID-19 cases now include “community spread”, King County Health advises that gatherings of 10 plus individuals should not occur. Plus, at-risk populations and social gatherings are both directed to practice “social distancing” – meaning separation of at least an arm’s length or about three feet, with six feet the preferred distance.
To implement social distancing at our weekly meetings, we would seat three instead of ten people at each table with each table separated by at least six feet. While technically feasible in some, but not all venues, leadership has concluded that social distancing is the antithesis of what Rotarians have recently stated that they value most, fellowship. Social distancing does not eliminate the risk of infection.
Given these factors, the Four-Way Test, the guidelines and mandates of our government officials, it is not in the best interest of our membership to meet in person. Here is what we can do:
Online programming: Beginning on 3/18 and each Wednesday during the State of Emergency, you will receive an email with a link to a newly taped Rotary program. Next week, our program features Rais Bhuiyan from World Without Hate, an invocation you will want to see from Nick Anderson, and a very successful duet by two past Presidents, Bill Center and Todd Summerfelt.
Connecting with each other through phone calls: Fedva Dikman, Co-chair of Rotary Cares and her team will be making phone calls to Rotarians. The purpose of the calls is to stay connected with each other during this challenging time and to hear how you are experiencing this crisis. We also want to know if there is something that we can do to support you. Please contact Fedva if you are not part of the committee, but would like to make calls.
Connecting with each other through
volunteering: Seattle 4 is exploring opportunities for us to volunteer to support others, including our fellow Rotarians. We welcome your ideas for club and/or partnership projects.
Social media & technology: We will utilize social media to stay connected during this period. Following our online programs, we are exploring the option for interactive discussion using ZOOM meeting technology which is also available for other meetings and will be used for the Rotary Club of Seattle board meeting.
Impact on your prepaid meal plan and club finances: Seattle 4 has excellent relationships with our venues, however, policies regarding cancellation are not universal unless and until government officials state that groups of under 250 cannot meet. Therefore, in some cases, we will bear the full meeting cost when we cancel. We will still be guided by the same principles – the Four-Way Test and compliance with the policies of our state and local government. We are exploring a proposal to mitigate the impact of fees already collected from Rotarians on the meal plan and will keep you informed as that develops. Food from cancelled meetings will be donated to food banks.
In closing, my highest priorities are to safeguard the health of our members and to preserve the phenomenal community we call Seattle 4. Our club has survived many difficult times including World War I, World War II, the Great Depression and the Financial Crisis of 2008-2009. I am confident that together we will survive. Please share your thoughts with me or anyone in leadership, about what you think we should be doing to successfully navigate these times.
With sincerest wishes for your good health,
Kim
Kim L. Moore
President, Rotary Club of Seattle, 2019-2020