Dear Rotary Club of Los Angeles,
Thank you for your many expressions of support following the announcement of the postponement of Homecoming events. I share in your disappointment and I am committed to putting this event back on the calendar as soon as possible.
In the meantime, the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors are working to address the likely disruptions to club operations. In the short-term, we will cancel weekly Friday meetings through the end of March and then assess the situation. We are looking for opportunities to gather virtually and we remain hopeful that we can meet together in person sooner rather than later. More information about smaller gatherings that are currently scheduled will be shared as soon as decisions are made. Please review the Club Calendar before attending any Rotary activities. We will do our best to keep it up to date.
Next, we are committed to looking after the well-being of our members. Let me encourage you to reach out to those closest to you and check-in. How are they doing? How can we help? Use your best judgment to maintain member privacy while making needs known. Share them with me. I hope to establish a LA5 Care Team very soon.
Beyond our own club, we are looking for ways to support our community. It has become immediately apparent that this pandemic is hurting those who are already struggling the most. Rotary must be a part of the community response. I have reached out to the District to see what efforts are being considered so that we may join with other Rotary Clubs in our community. I assume there will be no shortage of ways we can be of support in the future.
For now, let me know how you are doing. This pandemic is impacting each of us in different ways. While I believe social distancing will flatten the curve of infections, I don't want to be so distant that we can't care for one another. We will do our best to keep you informed without over communicating. Stay well. Give each other a little space and a lot of grace.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Rick
