As we come to the end of 2020, I can't say how much I'm looking forward to this New Year. Hopefully 2021 will bring us a year that sees not only a reduction of COVID-19, but also a reduction in the anxiety that's been so prevalent during this past year. I believe that someday in the future we will once again enjoy the camaraderie and fellowship of in-person Rotary meeting and not just meeting on Zoom. I'm looking forward to getting together to participate on Community Projects and once again being visible in our communities.

That said, we need to have patience and continue to persevere in this current era of COVID-19; we can't just wish the future to be here today. We need to continue to make a difference in our communities, even if it's only by having a virtual presence. Remember, the money that we continue to raise and donate to the lifeline support programs that we are committed to support is not virtual and it does make a big difference!

I hope that you continue to help us help others as we work to support the life support programs like providing food for needy children, supporting the Food Bank of SLO, donating to help victims of the California wildfires, supporting Salvation Army, providing hand sanitizer to help our businesses stay open in our community and transporting fish to help feed folks in need. Remember, we do make a difference.

On behalf of the Rotary Club of Morro Bay I hope that you have a safe and happy New Year. Please continue to practice social distancing and aseptic practices until this pandemic is controlled; continue to stay strong and stay safe.

Jeff Jones

President 2020-21

District 5240 Challenge

Time is soon running out to Donate to the

Rotary District 5240

2020-2021

$52.40 Challenge

Donate Today!!!

https://www.rotary.org/en/donate

What is the $52.40 Challenge?

The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Annual Fund is the backbone of Rotary projects throughout the world. Contributions to the Annual Fund come back to our clubs in the form of District Designated Funds (DDF) that can be used to help fund local and international projects. Support for the TRF Annual Fund is an investment in our own clubs! In 2020-2021, to encourage support for the TRF Annual Fund, the District has created the $52.40 Challenge. Clubs that achieve a certain level of giving will receive special recognition.

How Does a Club Meet the Challenge?

Easy! Clubs need to do two things to successfully meet the challenge:

1. 100% Member Participation: Every active member of the club donates something – any amount, large or small - to the TRF Annual Fund by December 31, 2020; AND

2. Per Capita Minimum of $52.40: The per capita donation for the club is at least $52.40. This means that when all the member donations are added up, the average amount is $52.40 or more.

How Will Clubs and Members be Recognized?

Clubs that achieve the $52.40 Challenge will receive a special banner and recognition at the District 5240 Foundation recognition event later in the year.

How Can Members Donate to The Rotary Foundation?

Your club may already have a mechanism set up to collect member donations to TRF, so check with your Club Foundation Chair or President. You can also donate directly online at https://www.rotary.org/en/donate. Select the Annual Fund for your contributions. You can make a one-time donation or set up recurring donations that are charged to your credit card on a schedule you choose (monthly, quarterly, or annually). HINT: If you set up a recurring donation of just $83.50 each month, you will achieve a Paul Harris Fellow each year!

Welcome to the Rotary Club of Morro Bay’s 2020-21 year!

I’m looking forward to serving as the Morro Bay Rotary President and working with our members and our community during the upcoming year. One thing for sure, this Rotary year promises to be very different from the past! At present, our Club continues to meet virtually due to COVID-19 and are still adjusting to deal with the challenges that have resulted from this world-wide virus.

My hope is to focus our meeting so that they are relevant and fun. Meetings are at noon on the 1^st, 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays. We hold virtual socials at 6 PM on the 3^rd and 5^th Tuesdays. One of my goals is to keep our virtual Club meetings to an hour or less.

Come join the fun – I encourage you to “come” to a meeting or join us for a social. With everyone’s participation we will see that, “Rotary Opens Opportunities”.

Unfortunately, our major fundraisers during the spring of 2020 were cancelled and so were the ones previously scheduled for this fall. We recently adopted a Club slogan, “Help Us Help Others”. Please send me an email if you would like to make a contribution to our very worthwhile cause.

I hope you can join us as we look forward to a fun, productive, and rewarding year in Rotary. By working together, we can really make a difference in our community as we reach out with our efforts to Help Us Help Others.

Hope to see you at a meeting! If you’d like to attend, follow this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81332607919

If you have trouble, please send me an email and I make sure you receive a Zoom invitation.

Thank you!

Jeff Jones

President, 2020-21

805-471-3310

Smrb210@gmail.com

Community Projects

RCMB Community Projects

Members understood the value and need for hand sanitizing to protect both employees and customers of Morro Bay’s essential businesses. To date they have delivered more than 250 bottles to businesses throughout Morro Bay. In addition, members have committed individually to support local restaurants during especially during the Club's Zoom Socials on "Take-Out-Tuesdays"

Past-President Dan Costley accepted the call from Rotarian MB Fire Chief Steve Knuckles to coordinate Rotarian volunteers for the City of Morro Bay's CARES program. Rotarians assisted by delivering prescriptions and making daily welfare check phone calls to the homebound.

Several members have also participated in a Club-sponsored blood drive