Dear Rotarians,
Time seemed to stand still in the past month.
It became quiet on the street, very calm and quiet, very quiet. We heard the chirping birds. The sky was blue, without condensation streaks.
Many were forced to stay at home by the newly imposed rules of seclusion.
Meanwhile, most have adapted to this quarantine and social distancing. But every crisis creates opportunities.
Many Rotarians are very creative.
The contacts go by phone, via Whatsapp, Face-Time and video encounters.
Clubs invite guest speakers and club members connect via video conferences, other clubs “gather” behind the screen with an aperitif and discuss possible projects and “service” during this corona time.
Keeping in touch is very important in these times and I believe one here wonderful challenge for the leadership of a chairman, or secretary. We need to keep in touch to spend this bizarre time together
come.
Many clubs have also already shown their solidarity.
As a proud governor of the 2170 district, I provide an overview of the projects of which I was informed, and which the other clubs may still be able to inspire:
- In the zones of Flemish and Walloon Brabant (zones 8,9,10,11,12,13) there was collected +/- 80,000 € by the clubs to buy respirators for the reference hospital CHU ST Pierre in Brussels.
- In zone 11, a further € 12,000 was collected for this blood transfusers and 18,000 € for non-refundable but extremely necessary medication.
- Another club in Brussels supports the organization “clapandact”.
- In Namur, rest and care institutions are supported by the local clubs.
- In zone 15, a club sponsors several 3D printers to do this full face screens. . The club bought equipment to make 6000 masks and also some 3D printers. From April 4, they will be able to do tens of masks every day produce for the health workers in the Dinant area. They also fund volunteers who take non-Covid patients to the hospital Transport St- Vincent for ambulatory care.
- Zone 13 raised +/- 40.000 € for the hospitals of Namur and Auvelais and in front of the local Red Cross center.
- The director and Charity Officer, of a motor club and also ADG of Rotary also donated € 5000 for the hospitals of Namur and Auvelais.
Congratulations for so much solidarity!
From zone 8A and 8B, we learn that a club bakes cakes for it caring staff from the local hospital and for the lonely single people of the region.
Another club has created a “club disaster fund”. With this the club help to set up a relaxation area for carers. She also support local merchants through them, at the expense of the club, a have flowers, pastries or fruit delivered to the local nursing homes, they also collect laptops and give them to local schools, they bring Easter gifts to institutions.
In Zone 7, a club board decided after a video meeting at a local plant breeder to buy and sell plants For every sold one is donated to the Imelda medical staff hospital or St-Maarten hospital.
In the same zone, laptops are also purchased in a joint venture with other city service clubs for a school in Lier.
From zone 1 a club reports to me the extra support for poverty organization for distributing fresh products.
From zone 3 we learn about making mouth masks and supplying air purifiers to residential care centers for the rest areas of the nursing.
That is what I heard from the clubs so far and this list is for sure not limited!
The idea is to thank these clubs for their efforts and others inspire clubs.
I would also like to encourage all clubs to post their actions on their website place!
Service above self, will not only be our slogan during the COVID period but also afterwards Rotarian service will remain important because of the expected economic downturn !!
In the meantime, many fundraisings have been postponed and there are many events canceled. Hopefully this will not cause too many financial problems guarantees and the like. Delayed has not been adjusted.
Special thanks also go to the organization of the Youth Exchange.
Every year about 80 students from all over the world stay for one years in our district and as many Belgian students stay “All over the World ”.
Due to the corona crisis, the stay of these young people had to be brought forward be terminated. The Chairman and all his team do everything in their power to repatriate them all safely to their country of origin. Also many Belgian students were repatriated. An entire organization with one great responsibility. Thanks to them for handling this so efficiently.
My club visits were also abruptly canceled.
Since the lock down can take some time, I organize now video meetings with the President of the clubs and with the Assistant Governor. A challenge once again!
Of course I miss the club ambiance and the nice dinners, but the conversations are always very pleasant.
I would like to make a plea for the 4 non-profit organizations that are affiliated to Rotary Belgium and Luxembourg. You know them all: NVSG, R4D, Shelter box and ZZG.
ZZG has been collecting medical equipment from our hospitals for many years other continents. At the request of the Belgian hospitals, a twenty ventilators have been loaned again, 60,000 masks and 4,000 aprons were donated to these hospitals.
This week a fully loaded truck left for Italy with field hospital equipment.
This also deserves a round of applause and even more, maybe the clubs can this year make an extra effort to support this non-profit organization.
You will find a flyer attached.
Dear Rotarians,
The last conference of the 2170 district will be held on June 13. It may become a virtual meeting but hopefully a physical one gathering under a beautiful spring sun.
If you want to enhance this event with a video of an “extraordinary moment ”of your club you can forward this to my email address.
Are you doing it? We make it a party with respect for the corona measures insofar as they will still apply!
Nice regards,
Elisabeth van Alsenoy
DG 2019-2020 D2170.
