November 9, 2020

President Mindy Sehon opened the meeting at noon with 30 participants.

  • We first broke into small groups for table talk time- Discussion of the day… stories of veterans in your life
  • Brian Hall Eureka Rescue Mission will be our speaker.
  • Jay Reed – provided our inspirational thought of the day.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • A certificate was received in mail from the Rotary Foundation for our support of End Polio Now. Thanks to everybody who supported Polio last year.
  • Jennifer Budwig introduced our newest member: Colby Smart.. Colby is the Assistant Superintendent at the Humboldt County Office of Education.  He, his wife and 3 children live in Eureka.  He has a Bachelors Degree from HSU, a Masters from Pepperdine University and a Doctorate from the University of New England. Colby said thank you for the welcome he’s received.  His passions are around community service and international education.
  • We are raising funds for our annual Turkey Drive for Eureka Rescue Mission. Please consider sending a check or making a donation online.  On the memo line please write turkey drive so we know where to designate the money. President Mindy pledged $50 to kick it off. By the end of the meeting over $500 had been donated.
  • Don Leonard’s 50th year anniversary in Rotary is this month. Don started Rotary in Iowa and joined the Rotary Club of Eureka 47 years ago.  A certificate was presented to Don and will be dropped by to him.

Birthdays- Ted Loring, Brad Mettam

Recognitions: 

  • Veteran’s Day- Mindy had asked for photos of veteran’s in uniform. Darus Trutna was the only one who sent a photo.  He was in the Army and sent a photo of himself climbing a rope during a competition in Egypt.
  • Mindy shared a photo of Dennis Hunter with his Great Grandson Ryder.
  • President Mindy attended a 2nd birthday party for her niece in Sacramento.

PRESENTER: Brian Hall.  Covid, covid, covid.  Interesting few months for Eureka Rescue Mission.  Very challenging situations in a short amount of time.  They had to shut the thrift store which created money issues but they ended up having time to renovate the interior and repaint.  The thrift store is open 5 days a week now.  Their donors really came through to help; St, Joseph Hospital, City of Eureka, Humboldt Area Foundation and more. The shelter had 68guests when COVID started and the count lowered to 30 at the low time, it is now 119.  For their Thanksgiving meal they will hopefully be eating outside in the parking area so people can socially distance. Brian said there’s definitely an increased demand for holiday food boxes. Thanks to Rotary for all of the support. Turkeys are really needed so whatever support you can give will be so appreciated. They are in the process of planning a renovation of the women’s and children’s shelter. It will cost $800,000 to complete but will triple their capacity.  They have had people needing help who lost everything in the fires.  Their meal count has greatly increased. There has been no COVID-19 at the mission at this point.  Masks are required. Temperatures are checked prior to entry.  If they do have a temperature they have a plan to get them to the hospital. The recent extreme weather has increased demand.

The meeting was adjourned @12:48pm.