Thanks to all those who joined us on Monday night for a social, catch-up meeting to check in on everyone. Although a short delay in starting up (for which Dan sends his apologies!), there was plenty of good discussion and solutions put forward to solve many of the ills of the world! (The wine probably loosened a few tongues... )
After the meeting Dr Dick shared a note to follow on from our debate about solutions to the COVID crisis.
The sobering note that follows was penned by Dr David B. Wilhelm, a physician with Greystone Internal Medicine and the Grandview Primary Care Network in Birmingham Alabama,.
Dr David B. Wilhelm
Dr. Wilhelm wrote:
"I've made a LOT of progress encouraging people to get vaccinated lately!!! Do you want to know how?
I'm admitting young healthy people to the hospital with very serious COVID infections. One of the last things they do before they're intubated is beg me for the vaccine!
I hold their hand and tell them that I'm sorry, but it's too late.
A few days later when I call time of death, I hug their family members and I tell them the best way to honor their loved one is to go get vaccinated and encourage everyone they know to do the same.
They cry. And they tell me they didn't know. They thought it was a hoax. They thought it was political. They thought because they had a certain blood type or a certain skin color they wouldn't get as sick. They thought it was 'just the flu'. But they were wrong. And they wish they could go back. But they can't.
So they thank me and they go get the vaccine. And I go back to my office, write their death note, and say a small prayer that this loss will save more lives."
Bunnings BBQ
Thanks, everybody! The Volunteer Sign up List is full! Well done, all!
This is a welcome opportunity for us to start to, once again, build up our cash reserves.
...and, of course, if you are in the area, especially with your family or friends in tow, stop by for a cheap lunch.
Proceeds as always, go to a worthy cause!
Meeting Next Monday
Next Monday's meeting will be devoted to planning for the Rotary Year 2021-22.
President Stephen and your elected members of the Board will lead a broad discussion about where the club is now and where it wants (or has) to be by the end of June, 2022.
Please think about the various challenges our club faces to remain relevant to the community and to our members and what strategies and initiatives we need to embrace to address those issues.
Remember this is YOUR club and you need to be actively involved in contributing to the conversation about future directions in the knowledge that you will also participate throughout the year in the planning, organising and delivery of agreed events and activities to achieve the needed outcomes identified in the planning phase.
This could be a pivot point for the club and this year, coming out of COVID with your help, can be one of the most exciting and productive years ever!
Meanwhile in WA
Malcolm was sorry he missed the Zoom meeting on Monday because, surprisingly, the Nanarurra Roadhouse did not have internet access!
He and Jane passed through Karratha and Dampier where they saw the “Red Dog” statue and went on an aboriginal rock art tour near the Woodside LNG plant.
They really liked Tom Price after 5 days on the Rio Tinto rail (dirt) road. They did a mine tour of the extremely large hole on the ground and plant. Then they travelled on to the very pretty and picturesque gorges in the Karajini national Park. The Hemesley Gorge, so far, was, for them, though, the standout favourite. Overall, they felt the Pilbara had more going for it than the Kimberley.
They only overnighted in Exmouth as it was very much a tourist centre catering particularly for the younger crowd but on Wednesday went on to Ningaloo for a reef tour and a snorkelling expedition before heading south to the Bullara farm stay on the way to Carnarvon.
Malcolm signed off because it was "Beer O’clock" but had time to extend best wishes to all.
Unusual Homes #2
Liu Lingchao, 38, carries his makeshift dwelling as he walks along a road in Shapu township of Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, China, on May 21, 2013. Five years before, Liu decided to walk back to his hometown Rongan county, Guangxi, from Shenzhen, where he once worked as a migrant worker. With bamboo, plastic bags, and bed sheets, Liu made himself a 1.5-meter-wide, 2-meter-high, "portable room" weighing about 60 kg to carry with him as he walked an average of 20 km everyday. To support himself, Liu collected garbage during the journey.
