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The Rotary Club 13 Buzz Saw
This Week's Meeting
January 20, 2022
This week's meeting will be VIRTUAL.
Our speaker will be Jorge Coromac, Director, Westside Community Action Network Center
With twenty-two years of experience coordinating and leading humanitarian programs with nonprofit/profit organization at local, national and international levels, Jorge, brings diverse methodologies and resources which focus on promoting capacity building, leadership engagement, community participatory programs and sustainable initiatives.

Jorge currently is the of Westside Community Action Network Center and during his work in Kansas City and Latin America has led to establishing partnerships with organizations such as: KCMOPD, Irene Library, TACC/Park and Rec., Jackson County Outside Agencies, The City of Kansas City, Hispanic Nurse Association of KC, Rotary International, Red Cross, Vida Peru, Guayaquil Episcopal Church, Engineer Without Borders and various Universities that include KU, Park University, Xavier University, K-State, Mid America Nazarene, Washburn University, Temple University and others.
 
As a Guatemala native, Jorge earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications-Professional Journalism, a Master’s Degree in History and Social Sciences from Del Valle University, and a Teaching Degree in Physical Education. Jorge has also gone through FEMA training in the National Incident Management System and Incident Command System.
 
Jorge joined the Westside CAN Center 17 years ago as a volunteer and he became the Director in December 2014. Westside CAN Center unify efforts with several local social agencies to implement the welcome back to school, toys for tots, family fall festival, community orchard and the implementation of a community policing program.
 
Volunteerism is a strong commitment of Jorge and because his passion and work with volunteers, he was recognized in:
  • In May 2014 Rotary International awarded Jorge with the “Service Above Self Award” only a maximum of 50 Rotarians worldwide receive this award. The importance of Service Above Self has long been recognize by Rotarians who understand the power and reward of helping their friends and neighbors in need.
  • In July 2013 The Lenexa Rotary Club recognized Jorge as “The Rotarian of the Year 2012-2013”
  • In 2012 Rotary District 5710 of Kansas awarded Jorge with the Paul Harris Fellow for humanitarian work in Central America.
  • In 2011 Jorge received the “Guatemala Peace Ambassador Award” for his extensive work in the country leading a Water Sanitation, Hygiene and Access to Health Program and humanitarian efforts during natural disaster.
In his spare time he enjoys camping, swimming, reading, playing guitar, playing soccer and teaching Spanish. The greatest blessing in Jorge’s life is spending time with his family.
 
If you would like the Zoom link for this meeting, please email office@rotary13.org.
Last Week's Meeting
January 13, 2022
 
After a breakout session, we heard & saw the Whitney Houston video of America the Beautiful, as next Monday (1/17) is Martin Luther King Day.   President Tony Andresen called the meeting to order, led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.  David King provided our Invocation, ending with “If it is to be – it is up to me”. Tony welcomed guests and Club Members as “Zoomers” (attending via Zoom internet connection). For this meeting and at least the next two meetings, we are all “Zoomers".
 
The January Birthday Club 13 Rotarians are: Glenn Crawford, Michelle Biondo, Jim Porter, Rose Ryan, Paul Flucke, Tony Andresen, Mary Kingsley, Kim Beatty.
 
ANNOUCEMENTS:
.           ZOOM  meeting for the next two weeks (at least)
.           The Program Committee Meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb 10th
.           Geeks for Kids, Feb 5th is the Build Day
.           Shoes for Orphan Souls:  note  there are a lot of really good shoe sales happening now (buy a bunch and contribute). The official kick off will come in February.  We are also looking for storage space.
 
SICK  BAYJim Porter – update: Jim was transferred to St. Luke’s South Rehab. He starts a 3 hour OT/PT regimen. We are hoping and praying he will be home by or before his 80th birthday on January 17th. It was suggested that we each send Jim a birthday card with our best wishes for his recovery. 
 
TODAY’S PROGRAM
Joe Privitera and Tony Andresen introduced Dr John Cascone M.D. Dr. Cascone is an infectious disease specialist in Joplin, Missouri, with KC connections & roots, and is affiliated with the University of Kansas Health System, St. Francis Campus. He received his medical degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine and has been in practice for more that 20 years. Dr. Cascone updated us on the Covid-19 pandemic and where we are in 2022, especially in regard to the “new” Omicron variant.  Dr Cascone’s presentation was data packed.
 
As Yogi Berra said “It’s like deja-vu, all over again.” Dr Cascone with the aid of several slides discussed the Covid -19 virus mechanics with its “T-cell” receptors and how it laches onto respiratory cells, highjacking them.  We saw a timeline on major Historical Pandemics going back to the Bubonic Plague around 1350 and coming forward through Smallpox (1520’s), Cholera around 1820, the “Spanish Flu” of 1918, HIV/AIDS (1981 to current), and the Swine Flu (2009/2020). 
 
We have had prior outbreaks caused by “coronaviruses”, namely SARS (2002/2003) and MERS (2015 to present). We saw a very informative COVID-19 TIMELINE, starting on Dec 12, 2019 with the initial outbreak (Alpha variant) in Wuhan City, China and how quickly & seemingly systematically it spread & mutated thereafter.  The first reported US case was a little over one month later. The first human trail of vaccines began on March 17th, 2020. By May 28th, 2020 the reported US death toll attributed to Covid-19 was 100,000. By September 22, 2020 (5 months later) that total had doubled to 200,000.  By Dec 14th the US death toll was over 300,000 and one month later, January 14th, it climbed to over 400,000.  As of January 10th, 2022, the US has had 57.3 million confirmed Covid cased with 829,000 deaths. Worldwide those figures are 305 million confirmed cases with 5.46 million attributed deaths.  Confirmed cases in both categories are “undoubtingly undercounted”.
 
The Delta variant originated (mutated) in India in December 2020 (one year later) and became the dominant US strain in January 2021 because of its increased transmissibility compared with the Alpha variant.  It also brought increased severity with increased hospitalization rate and death. The Omicron variant originated in November 2021 (eleven months later) in Botswana & South Africa. The first US case “occurred”  Dec 1st, 2021. By December 25th, 2021 the CDC estimated that Omicron accounted for 58% of all new US infections. The Omicron variant is now the dominant variant in the US. Omicron has an enhanced ability to enter cells. It has a replication advantage of being 70x faster than Delta!   If there is any good news, the Omicron variant may be less lethal versus the Delta, in that the Delta tends to go deeper down into the lungs, whereas the Omicron does not.  Omicron grows less well in the lung tissue than the other strains.
 
FACE MASKS: Here is a valuable take away. When you compare the four types of masking: none, cloth mask, surgical mask and N95 mask, the cloth and surgical offer slightly improving protection over no mask. The N95 mask provides 2.5 hours of protection against an unmasked person, versus 30 minutes in the next best mask alterative, which is 5 times the protection time. N95 masks each worn by two individuals provide the wears  25 hours of protection between each other! The “take away” here is get a “N95” mask & wear it.
 
VACCINES: If you are vaccinated, you are 5 times less likely to get infected. If you do become infected (“crossover”) you are contagious for a shorter period of time and are less likely to be severely hospitalized and possibly becoming a fatality. The “take away” here is clear.
 
COVID-19 TESTING: There are two general categories (1) Rapid antigen test (can be done at home), but is less sensitive than the PCR and (2) the PCR test which takes longer and requires a lab.
 
The Quote of the Day: “We may have all come over on different ships, but we’re all in the same boat now.”  Dr Martin Luther King JR.
 
President Tony Andresen wrapped up the meeting with the Four Way Test.
Geeks for Kids
Geeks For Kids design and build custom, electric ride-on cars for kids with movement limitations. We have the opportunity to continue our support of Geeks For Kids at the Build Event on February 5th. 
 
The Build Event is from 8:30am-4:30pm and is split into two shifts. You can sign up for 8:30am-1:30pm, 11:30am to 4:30pm or stay for the whole day. It is important that you are able to stay for your entire shift. There is a job for everyone regardless of skill level and lunch will be provided. 
 
The Build Event will be held in the Downtown Underground at 1501 W. 31st Street, Suite 419, Kansas City, MO 64111; the Downtown Underground cave complex is just west of Penn Valley on the west side of downtown and just off 1-35.

Please sign up via the following link. You will receive a confirmation email with additional instructions and contact information for the day of the event. Contact Eric Bubb at ericbubb@reecenichols.com with any questions.
 
We meet Thursdays at Noon
The Gallery
14 & Main
Kansas City, MO 
(Currently Meeting on ZOOM)
 
 @rotaryclub13
 
 @rotary13
 
 @rotaryclub13
Upcoming Events
Rotary Bowling League
Ward Pkwy Lanes
Jan 26, 2022 4:30 PM
 
Bagel Run
Jan 29, 2022
 
Rotary Bowling League
Ward Pkwy Lanes
Feb 02, 2022 4:30 PM
 
Bagel Run
Feb 05, 2022
 
Geeks for Kids Build Event
Feb 05, 2022
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
 
Women and Friends of Rotary
Pierponts
Feb 08, 2022
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
 
Board of Directors Meeting
Feb 09, 2022
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
 
Rotary Bowling League
Ward Pkwy lanes
Feb 09, 2022 4:30 PM
 
Program Committee Meeting
Feb 10, 2022
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
Bagel Run
Feb 12, 2022
 
View entire list
Speakers
Jan 27, 2022
Imagine Downtown KC 2030 - the Future of Downtown
Feb 03, 2022
Bringing Us Together
Feb 17, 2022
Feb 24, 2022
Mar 03, 2022
Losses & Victories: Her Story: Organ and Tissue Donation
Mar 17, 2022
View entire list

Rotary Youth Camp Update
Camp Usage in 2021
 
Even with the Covid restrictions, the Rotary Youth Camp was able to provide summer camping experiences to 375 campers and staff, serving 2104 meals.
The off season camper/staff total was 1,454 with 365 participants attending Rotary events at the Camp.
This summer we hope to serve closer to our typical number of 1,200 campers and staff for the summer and 3,000 during the school year. The camp is fully booked every weekend (and summer sessions) through October of this year.  Be sure to follow the camp on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with the construction and what else happens at your Rotary Youth Camp!
 
Construction Update
 
The plumbers and electricians are hard at work getting everything ready to close up the walls. Door frames are going in and more are on the way!

 
Bowling News
by Tim Tholen
 
Hello Rotary 13!
 
Week 2 is in the books and great fun was had by all who were there. There are a few teams who were not at full strength, but we hope to have everyone back next week.
 
200 games-
Peter Ho-225
Matt Ho-243
John Lawrence-201
 
Notable splits:
John Reynolds-6/7
Henrik Andersen-4/7/9
 
Have a great week!

January Birthday Celebrants
 

Glenn Crawford, 1/2

Michelle Biondo, 1/7

Jim Porter, 1/17

Rose Ryan, 1/18

Paul Flucke, 1/20

Tony Andresen, 1/23

Mary Kingsley, 1/26

Kim Beatty, 1/29


 
Sponsors