The Program
Our own Dr Marilyn Gowen introduced Dr Cynthia Romero. Dr Romero joined EVMS in 2014 as director of the M. Foscue Brock Institute for Community and Global Health. Dr. Romero previously served as the principal health adviser to the Governor, Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Virginia General Assembly and Board of Health.
Dr Romero started by recapping the epidemic from its start in the Commonwealth in early March 2020 through current day with hospitalizations increasing but the deaths decreasing. It also resulted in loss of businesses and livelihoods giving way to social disruption in the form of loss of support in our personal lives, our families, and our communities.
Some people lacked a dependable source of food depending on families and foodbanks instead of an income stream from a job. This further lead to malnutrition, especially among children. Health care was another unforeseen byproduct of the epidemic with everyone having less activity (virtual schooling for children to lack of access to gyms for adults) and putting on weight. In addition to all the COVID related causes, the country was dealing with racial inequality, political turmoil, and social unrest.
As we look forward to the future, we need to overcome the challenges that affect our health. The local, state and federal government is tackling the rebuilding of the economy and supporting the workforce. But the focus needs to include the mental health of the workforce. Each of us needs get back to scheduling preventative exams and required medical needs.
In addition, we need to eat better, increase our physical activity in order to reduce stress, and control alcohol consumption to improve ourselves. Higher education and higher income levels results in better health through an awareness of outcomes from our actions and access to health care. We need green space and a clean, safe and healthy environment for longer healthier lives. Violence negatively impacts our health.
The preceding information is summarized in Maslow’s hierarchy of needs since the basis of achieving self-esteem and self-actualization depends on having the basics: food, water, clothing and shelter. And then comes safety and security.
COVID has forced loneliness and isolation in order to stay safe. Zoom sessions in school to working remotely, we are having less human contact on a daily basis. Between June and September 2020 there was a large increase screening for anxiety and depression, with moderate to severe cases attributable to loneliness most often found in the 11-17 year olds.
What can we do? Care for one another, this affects all of us but the effects are different. Each of us needs to care for ourselves, maintain a schedule, stay involved in your network, and be positive. The National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) is a great resource for anyone wanting to improve their lives (www.nami.org).
The other resource is the Veterans Crisis Hotline (www.veteranscrisiline.net) for veterans in crisis as well as families and friends.
The Meeting
President Jim rang the bell at 12:32PM. Maintaining our singing club status, Pam Tubbs lead us in singing two Christmas favorites…Deck the Halls and Jingle Bells. This was followed by The Four-Way Test and Bob Healy’s fifth question, “will it be fun?”
Visitation/Introduction of Visitors
Barb Lipskis mentioned that Gus Stuhlreyer was in a Richmond hospital for fainting.
The guest was Stan Turbeville from TCC as he works to transfer from his North Carolina club to ours.
Club Business
The Paul Harris Fellows presentations were deferred with the absence of Past President Lorna. However, Past President Sigur mentioned there were several other members in the club that would be recognized in the near future.
With our in-person Christmas social canceled, a virtual Zoom social is being scheduled for December 22nd at 5:30PM with the goal of sharing our favorite cocktail recipes.
In place of Happy Bucks and Fines. President Jim held a holiday auction. Both Carlisle Wronton and Lisa Chandler had their family’s unique and secret 3-alchohol Egg Nog recipe and each was providing a quart of the holiday delight to the auction winners. Lisa’s (4 gallon batch never makes it past New Years) was won by Past President Pam. Carlisle’s (aged 3 years) was won by Clay Dills. This raised $125 for Norfolk Rotary Charities.
Chris Bugg introduced our Rotary newest member Clay Dills. As you might remember, Clay has a very successful architectural firm in Virginia Beach and has a long standing connection with Cox High School (since he attended a few years ago and now his son attends) and is following in his dads footsteps by joining Rotary. He is currently designing the “Garden of Tomorrow” at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens and appropriately enough Michael Desplaines is the mentor for Clay.