Rotarian Jeff Gilbert presented the 2021 slate for the Board of Directors and additional leadership positions. See Jeff's email from 1/12/21 for the entire slate. The membership present at the Zoom meeting on 1/14/2021 voted unanimously to accept the slate of candidates. Congratulations to the 2021 Board and leaders. Thanks for stepping up! 

The Community Service Team is looking at our next quarterly service project. Rotarian Dave Super sent email to membership to send project forms to local non-profits to come up with projects for our service days, January 30 and February 6. So far, we only have two projects - Painting at Meals on Wheels (1/30) and deck replacement for Habitat for Humanity at Pocono Country Place (2/6). If you have a project, please get information to the Community Service Team so we can schedule accordingly.

The District 7410 Virtual Fundraiser is a stay at home auction. The district is requesting donations of goods and services to be put up for auction and sponsorships. Across the district the usual localized Club fundraisers that people attend in large groups have been severely reduced and so we are working together to fundraise with a Silent auction between February 1, 2021 and March 14, 2021. The auction hopes to raise $110,000 for The Rotary foundation Annual Fund and $30,000 for the Polio Eradication Fund of Rotary International. Any success over and above our goals will be used in our local clubs to match funds for local projects in our communities. The auction is live now so visit  trellis.org/rotaryauction to place your bid on some exciting items - something for everyone! Our Stroudsburgs reps for this event are President Cleo Jarvis and Rotarians Stacy Rodriguez and Ann Super. Be sure to visit often because new items will be added until right before the auction closes. Many exciting opportunities!

 

 

Dr. Foglia, Infectious Disease Specialist at Sanofi, Bridgewater, presented a very informative, indepth understanding of the COVID-19 vaccine from concept to development to application. She stressed that vaccines work and have been instrumental in controlling and eradicating various diseases. The manufacturing process is complex and there are various stages in the development and approval process ensuring a check and balance system to protect the patient. The vaccine looks to replicate messenger RNA so the body can make certain proteins to make neutralizing antibodies to neutralize the virus. Sanofi is working with Glaxo Smith Kline on a recombinant protein vaccine approach. Minimum is 50% effectiveness but the results are much better than that for this vaccine. Monroe County is currently in the 1A distribution stage, inoculating health care providers and individuals in nursing homes that are over 75. Be wary of scams. To get accurate information, visit health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus. Site includes an informative dashboard. The phrase confidence level 98% indicates that 2% are not completely protected. Surveillance systems  will be active to determine how frequently vaccine will have to be administered. Parting advice: WASH YOUR HANDS!