Committee Updates, Part 1
Friday, July 10, 2020
By Whitney Ashe Doll
Here are some July updates from several of our Committee Chairs. Look for additional updates later this month from other committees.
Here are some July updates from several of our Committee Chairs. Look for additional updates later this month from other committees.
Embassy Relations Committee
By: David Klaus
The Embassy Relations Committee (ERC) continues to meet once a month, now via Zoom on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. The next meeting will be on July 14, 2020. Here are some recent updates from our committee:
- The Permanent Representative of the Gambia to the United Nations will speak to the club on July 22. The ERC has recommended to the club's Board of Directors, when it meets on July 16, that honorary memberships for eight Ambassadors who spoke recently to the club be renewed for the Rotary year 2020-2021.
- Letters prepared by the ERC were sent recently to the Ambassadors of Cambodia, El Salvador, Guatemala, and India informing them that the club's International Service Committee, in its most recent selection, approved grants for nonprofit charitable agencies in their countries.
- The committee is working to prepare an Ambassadorial Reception at the Residence of the Ambassador of Tunisia. It was scheduled for October 22 but will almost certainly have to be postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The Tunis Doyen Rotary Club in Tunisia recently became a twin club of our club. The club recently sent ERC-prepared letters to all our twin clubs to tell them that we were thinking of them during this worldwide pandemic.
Community Engagement Committee
By: Khaled Sabah
I’m happy to announce the first Community Engagement Committee event of the new Rotary year. Rotary members will be invited to participate in Teens Run DC's QuaranTeens run, which is a virtual 5k (3.1 miles) to take place at any location and at any time between July 18 and July 26. Rotary members can choose to complete the 5k either independently or as a group (of 10 or fewer). Email invitations with more information to be sent out soon. For more information on Teens Run DC and their virtual 5k event, please visit https://www.teensrundc.org/quaranteens-run-dc-virtual-5k.
Grate Patrol Committee
By: William Kelly, Salvation Army Outreach Director
Grate Patrol is still operating successfully in the midst of the protests and demonstrations. We had to detour the route a few days, but we were still able to serve our homeless neighbors. I am planning on reinstating volunteers soon. The plan is for volunteers to drive their personal vehicle and drive behind the GP truck. This is to maintain social distancing. The volunteers (no more than 2-3) will then get on the truck to serve. I will be sending out an update soon.
Membership Committee
By: Catherine Pociask
"Calling all Rotarians" to join the Membership Committee. We need your participation! Let's start this Rotary year out with a bang and get you involved. If you want to get involved or have any questions contact us at [email protected]. Our next "Prospective Membership Orientation" meeting is July 13 at 6:00 p.m. And, our Membership Committee meeting is scheduled for July 16 at 4:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Programs Committee
By: Steve Liston
Until we can meet again in person – and maybe after that! – our virtual programs are proving to be a success, with people attending from around the country and the world. Thanks to all of you for continuing to provide us great speakers. We are booked almost through August at this point, but will need more speakers in the fall, so please get in touch with Steve Liston ([email protected]) if you have speakers to suggest.
Walter Reed Bingo Committee
By: Shelton Williams
Rotary USO Bingo has gone online! The USO reopening date is unknown, but the Rotary Club of Washington, DC, and the USO are now partners in hosting 98 persons in monthly bingo games on Zoom.