On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and in an instant our work lives, personal lives and Rotary lives changed forever.  I’m sure many of you can remember how the word “pivot” was the new catch phrase for virtual meetings and new ways of engaging with one another.  Store shelves were empty, hand sanitizer, if you could find it, was expensive,  Lysol disinfecting wipes were nowhere to be found, and my husband Rob used the sewing skills learned from his mother to make cloth masks which we delivered to friends and fellow Rotarians.  Among the tremendous fear, worry, and stress that came with the pandemic, also came an outpouring of care, and concern that Rotarians extended to their fellow club members and communities.   One group of people that stepped up in an extraordinary way was the District 7390 Safety Committee.   This committee was born from an idea I had as a nurse as I worked with hospitals and my own office to create COVID-19 safety protocols.  PDG John Anthony was District Governor at the time and when I approached him with the idea of creating the committee his support made all the difference in helping me and my fellow committee members launch district wide efforts to help mitigate the spread of the virus and be of support in dispelling myths and misinformation. 

 

After three years, the District Safety Committee had its last meeting as a committee this past week!  We decided that based on the status of the pandemic and other district and club priorities it was a time to “sunset” the committee but keep ourselves available on an as needed basis.  The District COVID-19 Safety Page on the District 7390 website will be changed to a District Safety Information page where health and safety information beyond COVID-19 will be shared along with Rotary mandated policies including a Crisis Management Plan.  Sincere thanks are extended to the original committee members who hung in there until the very end including those noted in the photo below:  Steph Acri (Mechanicsburg North), Paul Duryea (District Passport), PDG Anna-Mae Kobbe (Gettysburg), Rod Frazier (Carlisle), and AG Becky Zalit (Palmyra).  Other members not shown included Patricia Green Rodgers (District Passport) and Judith Clovsky (Mechanicsburg North).  Thank you Rotarians for truly living the ideals of “Service Above Self”. You inspired me with your kindness, compassion, and willingness to serve during a very dark time and for that I will always be truly grateful!