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2020: The Year in Review Covid-19, Masks, Social Distance and Zoom
January 1, 2021Where to begin! Challenges confronted each of us as we made our way through the year. For Rotarians, how to change our ways to meet the new realities of "Service Above Self" became our challenge.
As January and February evolved it became evident the Italian Night Dinner could not be held. By mid-March the shutdowns began and everything had to be re-imagined. March 27th was our first Zoom meeting and members began adapting to a different way of seeing each other.
But this lead the club to its first effort in serving others in COVID-19 times.
The "Cash Cow" drive to support the HEAL orphanage in Kenya was successful by raising sufficient funds ($1,800) to allow them to buy two cows in their effort to become self-sustaining.
May resulted in contributions of $300 raised for the GBICS Food Pantry Program, an evermore vital lifeline for the community. Club officers were made aware of a District 7870 Grant application for Covid-19 relief and diligently compiled the necessary information to complete the application and await results.
The Passing of the Gavel ceremony was held outdoors, masked and socially distanced, at Howard Park in Shaftsbury.
Dana Rozycki and Vicki Wilson were installed as Co-Presidents and took the reins from Beth Wallace after her excellent year of club leadership.
Carrel Moore took on the challenge of the Scholarship committee in complicated times requiring adaptations of the application process, evaluation and awarding of scholarships to include the shift of one scholarship to a first generation student attending post-secondary education to include assistance in the activities during their senior year.
With numerous precautions and limitations, Jerry Albert was able to continue the Rotary July 4th Bell Ringing event at the Town Hall.
Recognized this year as the 14th bell ringer was Lynn Sweet and the Mount Anthony Chamber Singers for their incredibly joyous performance of the Vermont State song on Zoom.
Later in July the club learned the final result of the grant application. The District 7870 Covid-19 Global Grant provided a total of $4,529 for face masks for SVHC. The power of the Rotary Global Grant program was demonstrated as $1,294 from the Bennington Club was matched by $3,235 from Rotary International.
The total contribution of $4,529 allowed 9,000 masks to be purchased by SWHC.
The suitcase project returned in August and September with the focus on school supplies for Pownal Elementary School. Collection of the items was a bit challenging but under the guidance of Cindy Hudson-Knapp, bags of supplies were delivered to the school in September.
During the course of the year, a number of Rotarians helped serve meals during Sunday Suppers at the Second Congregational Church under the guidance of Marsh Hudson-Knapp.
A very large shipment of protective face masks were made available to Rotary Clubs in New England and we secured some 2,000 masks for the Vermont Veterans Home in October.
As 2020 evolved, national events developed which placed a spotlight on social justice issues. Spearheaded by Beth Wallace and supported by Rotary club members the Bennington Rotary Club adopted a focused effort to become better informed on social Justice issues. The Diversity and Inclusion Task Force was formed and as the year progressed began a twofold objective: (1) raising awareness of social justice issues and (2) seeking ways Rotarians can address these issues through the Four Way Test and the Six Areas of Rotary International Focus.
The December bell ringing for HEAT to provide BROC funds (matched by GMP) for heat emergency needs in the winter was not to be this year. To partially fill this gap, the Winter Fundraising Auction was organized by Dana Rozycki with a major assist by Jennie Rozycki. Donations of items such as memberships, paintings and gift card by Rotarians served to entice people to bid on-line for the auction items. This will provide significant help to BROC which received 50% of the net proceeds and the scholarship fund the remainder.
As the year closed out, the last meeting focused on contributions of food items for the Head Star Feeding Families program and providing bingo prizes for the Veteran's Home residents. These were dropped off at MACC and holiday take out dinners were picked up. Rotarians then joined a Zoom meeting to exchange holiday greetings while looking forward to a better 2021 for all!
Author: Michael Day (Club Member)
Windmill
2020: The Year in Review Covid-19, Masks, Social Distance and Zoom
January 1, 2021Where to begin! Challenges confronted each of us as we made our way through the year. For Rotarians, how to change our ways to meet the new realities of "Service Above Self" became our challenge.
As January and February evolved it became evident the Italian Night Dinner could not be held. By mid-March the shutdowns began and everything had to be re-imagined. March 27th was our first Zoom meeting and members began adapting to a different way of seeing each other.
But this lead the club to its first effort in serving others in COVID-19 times.
The "Cash Cow" drive to support the HEAL orphanage in Kenya was successful by raising sufficient funds ($1,800) to allow them to buy two cows in their effort to become self-sustaining.
May resulted in contributions of $300 raised for the GBICS Food Pantry Program, an evermore vital lifeline for the community. Club officers were made aware of a District 7870 Grant application for Covid-19 relief and diligently compiled the necessary information to complete the application and await results.
The Passing of the Gavel ceremony was held outdoors, masked and socially distanced, at Howard Park in Shaftsbury.
Dana Rozycki and Vicki Wilson were installed as Co-Presidents and took the reins from Beth Wallace after her excellent year of club leadership.
Carrel Moore took on the challenge of the Scholarship committee in complicated times requiring adaptations of the application process, evaluation and awarding of scholarships to include the shift of one scholarship to a first generation student attending post-secondary education to include assistance in the activities during their senior year.
With numerous precautions and limitations, Jerry Albert was able to continue the Rotary July 4th Bell Ringing event at the Town Hall.
Recognized this year as the 14th bell ringer was Lynn Sweet and the Mount Anthony Chamber Singers for their incredibly joyous performance of the Vermont State song on Zoom.
Later in July the club learned the final result of the grant application. The District 7870 Covid-19 Global Grant provided a total of $4,529 for face masks for SVHC. The power of the Rotary Global Grant program was demonstrated as $1,294 from the Bennington Club was matched by $3,235 from Rotary International.
The total contribution of $4,529 allowed 9,000 masks to be purchased by SWHC.
The suitcase project returned in August and September with the focus on school supplies for Pownal Elementary School. Collection of the items was a bit challenging but under the guidance of Cindy Hudson-Knapp, bags of supplies were delivered to the school in September.
During the course of the year, a number of Rotarians helped serve meals during Sunday Suppers at the Second Congregational Church under the guidance of Marsh Hudson-Knapp.
A very large shipment of protective face masks were made available to Rotary Clubs in New England and we secured some 2,000 masks for the Vermont Veterans Home in October.
As 2020 evolved, national events developed which placed a spotlight on social justice issues. Spearheaded by Beth Wallace and supported by Rotary club members the Bennington Rotary Club adopted a focused effort to become better informed on social Justice issues. The Diversity and Inclusion Task Force was formed and as the year progressed began a twofold objective: (1) raising awareness of social justice issues and (2) seeking ways Rotarians can address these issues through the Four Way Test and the Six Areas of Rotary International Focus.
The December bell ringing for HEAT to provide BROC funds (matched by GMP) for heat emergency needs in the winter was not to be this year. To partially fill this gap, the Winter Fundraising Auction was organized by Dana Rozycki with a major assist by Jennie Rozycki. Donations of items such as memberships, paintings and gift card by Rotarians served to entice people to bid on-line for the auction items. This will provide significant help to BROC which received 50% of the net proceeds and the scholarship fund the remainder.
As the year closed out, the last meeting focused on contributions of food items for the Head Star Feeding Families program and providing bingo prizes for the Veteran's Home residents. These were dropped off at MACC and holiday take out dinners were picked up. Rotarians then joined a Zoom meeting to exchange holiday greetings while looking forward to a better 2021 for all!
Author: Michael Day (Club Member)
Windmill