THE DOVE helps readers climb “learning curve” in Rotary such as Page 27. Official e-Newsletter of the Rotary Club of Holy Spirit
The Dove August 27, 2021
Rotary Club of Holy Spirit Club No. 69935 RI District 3780 Philippines
Vol. XIV No. 3
RC Holy Spirit continues signature project TechnoAid to help young service partners sustain academic excellence under the “remote learning” system In pursuit of the purpose of Project TechnoAid (Tulong Para sa Online Learning) which was launched during RY 2020-2021, LCP JL Torre turned over to Rotaractor Argielyn Espiňa on August 5, 2021 a pre-owned HP Pavilion 13 touch-screen laptop to help with her on-line classes. Rtr Argielyn is an incoming 3rd year student of BSBA-Marketing Management at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila. She finished the second semester of her 2nd year with a general weighted average of 1.39 qualifying her to be in the President’s List. The President’s List distinction is bestowed on undergraduate program students who exhibit a commitment to academic excellence and is for students with a general weighted average of 1.5 or better. Rtr Argielyn is orphaned. She also lost 2 older brothers one after the other a few years back. She lives with her 12-year old brother who is in Grade 7 and an uncle. Argielyn is an active Rotaractor who joins service projects when circumstances permit.
She uses a phone for online classes but often has to rent a gadget at a computer shop for assignments. The laptop turned over to her was sponsored by an avid supporter of RCHS, Ms Myrna Callao-Bernabe based in California. Argielyn is very grateful for the laptop and promises to study harder. Earlier, RCHS turned over two (2) prepaid wi-fi gadgets to Interact Adviser Ma’am Beth Auxillo for deserving Interactors. This was on July 22, 2021 during the
turn-over of Brigada Eskwela donations to Holy Spirit National High School. Ma’am Beth also received from RCHS a GOMO sim card with 30GB load for her own use. It was learned that, aside from students, teachers also have difficulties with internet access. The GOMO sim card comes with a relatively large data allocation, and Ma’am Beth could use that data and convert it to call and text allocations, and use for Zoom and Google Meet sessions.
Holy Spirit and partners support nutrition program for the impoverished community to help save lives of undernourished children and their mothers On July 23, 2021, RC Holy Spirit led by LCP JL Torre, IPP Martin Mariňas and Service Projects Chair PP Marcia Salvador held a dialogue with Fr Alex Nolasco MGL of St Benedict Parish to plan a 3-month nutrition for 180 children aged 0-10 years old from poor families in selected informal settler areas inside Don Antonio Heights in Barangay Holy Spirit. The plan was to launch the nutrition program during the first week of August 2021. However, with the declaration of the rigid enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila effective August 6, 2021, the start of the nutrition program had to be postponed to September 2021. Without doubt, the ECQ restrictions will take its heavy toll on poor and vulnerable households who, even during lesser strict quarantine classifications, have been struggling with low takehome incomes. This translates to higher hunger levels for poor families. It was decided that even before the formal start of the nutrition program in September, supplemental help will be given to the undernourished children. A detailed review of the list of the children initially included in the program showed that only 163 of them qualified to be enrolled in the nutrition program. This was composed of 84 children aged 3-10 years old found under-weight, and 79 children aged 0-2 who were automatically enrolled in the program. For the infants, breastfeeding among mothers is promoted; feeding will thus be focused on the mothers.
Brief, heartwarming notes of appreciation from beneficiary mothers
2
Nutrition program for undernourished children To support the program, RCHS gave 168 tetra bricks of Magnolia fresh milk and 6 cartons of Alaska fortified powdered milk to Fr Alex on July 28, 2021 and August 11, 2021, respectively, to benefit both the underweight 84 children and 79 mothers. The powdered milk is expected to feed the beneficiaries 10 days, with daily consumption.
thanks to RCHS through Fr Alex.
On August 13, 2021, Fr Alex and community volunteers went around distributing the fresh milk and powdered milk to the beneficiaries, together with 1 kg rice, some dried fish and little vegetables. The mothers sent messages of
Meanwhile, PP Marites Nepomuceno solicited 100 packs of powdered milk from her friend, Mr Marty Panganiban who owns a trading company. This will be turned over to Fr Alex around August 22, 2021.
The fresh milk was donated by Rtn Kent Valderrama, while the 180 packs of powdered milk came from PE Joy Peralta, PP Ped Condeno, PP Beth Sy, PP Marcia Salvador and Rtn Joey Peralta.
Rtn Kent Valderrama turned over supply of fresh milk to Fr Alex.
Fr Alex received supply of fortified powdered milk from PP Angel Castro, PP Linda Palattao and PP Marcia Salvador 3
ENJOYING THE ROTARY EXPERIENCE. RC Holy Spirit celebrates Rotary through virtual Membership Night attended by nearly 70 Rotarians, Rotaractors, prospective Rotarians and RCC partners August 20, 2021 was a special night for RC Holy Spirit. An audience of nearly 70 Rotarians, Rotaractors, RCC members, and prospective club members got together via ZOOM to listen to an esteemed guest speaker, IPDG Anthony “Tonipi”
Paruňgao of D3800. Gov Tonipi give a talk on “The 10 Commandments in Rotary” which speaks of things members should remember to enjoy the fullness and richness of the Rotary experience. IPDG Tonipi mentioned that these 10 commandments were culled from his Rotary jour-
ney since he became a Rotarian. IPDG Tonipi is with RC Marikina North D3800, a sister club of RC Holy Spirit. IPP Greg Galayson of RC Marikina North, classmate of our IPP Martin Mariṅas was also present. His talk was followed by an interactive discussion with RCHS members. August is Membership Month, a time to celebrate our Rotary club, our members and the good that we do in our community and around the world.
4
This page of The Dove e-bulletin serves as home page of the “virtual website” of ROTARY CLUB OF HOLY SPIRIT Rotary International District 3780 Officers & Chairmen
Members
About the Club
Service Projects
Gallery
What is Rotary?
Club Bulletin
Pres Jl Torre leads Rotarians and service partners in celebrating membership in Rotary through service for less fortunate others..
Right now, everyone has been facing difficult challenges brought about by the Covid19 Pandemic since March 2020. Some of our youth partners in Rotary service are having difficulties adjusting to the new requirements of on-line learning, while some other members of our community are losing their means of livelihood or access to basic needs, among others. These challenges, we believe needed immediate attention, and thus the Rotary Club of Holy Spirit took action. During trying times like this, it is now more than ever that we, as Rotarians shall continue to serve despite the Pandemic and we will not allow Covid-19 pandemic to prevent us in lending a hand to those who needed it the most.
RC Holy Spirit is on . .
D3780 Website
Watch THE BOYS OF 1905 History of Rotary International 5
Presidential message Shekhar Mehta ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
President 2021-22 August 2021 As we focus on membership in Rotary this month, I ask you to help make history this year. For more than 20 years, our membership has stood at 1.2 million. Rotary is a vibrant organization with a 116-year history, members in more than 220 countries and geographic areas, and a rich legacy of work in polio eradication and other humanitarian programs. Rotary has changed so much in our own lives and the lives of others. As we Serve to Change Lives, don’t you think Rotary could have an even greater impact on the world if more people were practicing Service Above Self? My vision is to increase Rotary membership to 1.3 million by July 2022, and the call to action is simple: Each One, Bring One. This year, I want every Rotarian and Rotaractor to introduce a new person into their club. We are a membership organization, and members are our greatest asset. You are the ones who contribute so generously to The Rotary Foundation. You are the ones who dream big to bring good into the world through meaningful projects. And of course, you are the ones who have put the world on the brink of eradicating polio. As we make membership a priority this year, let us focus on diversity by reaching out to younger people and especially to women. Every club should celebrate its new members, and every Rotarian who sponsors a member will be personally recognized by me. And those who are successful in bringing in 25 or more members will be part of our new Membership Society.
Even as we share the gift of Rotary with others, let us be sure to engage these new members, because an engaged Rotarian is an asset forever. And remember that engaging our current members and keeping them in our clubs is just as important as bringing in newcomers. Let us also be ready to form new clubs, especially flexible ones. I am very bullish on clubs that hold virtual or hybrid meetings, and satellite clubs and cause-based clubs can also be very effective ways of growing Rotary. As you grow more, you will be able to do more. Let us keep empowering girls through our work in each of the areas of focus. Scholarships for girls, toilets in schools, health and hygiene education — there is so much we can do. Projects focused on the environment are also attracting interest the world over. Do participate in these projects locally and internationally to make this world a better place for us and for all species. Each of you is a Rotary brand ambassador, and all of the wonderful work done by Rotarians around the world needs to be shared outside the Rotary community. Use social media to tell your friends, colleagues, and relatives the stories of Service Above Self. Finally, I’m challenging every club, during the coming year, to plan at least one Rotary Day of Service that will bring together volunteers from inside and outside Rotary and will celebrate and showcase the work of your club in your community. Visit rotary.org to find out more about all of these initiatives, along with other ways to Serve to Change Lives. 6
Be a role model for
Each One, Bring One
Posted on August 3, 2021
SERVICE ABOVE SELF
The Four-Way Test OF THE THINGS we think, say or do
1) Is it the TRUTH? 2) Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3) Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4) Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Rotarian’s Pledge I am a Rotarian I will always uphold the TRUTH. I am a Rotarian I will always strive to be FAIR in all of my dealings with my fellowmen. I am a Rotarian I will always endeavor to build GOODWILL and UNDERSTANDING in my community, among my countrymen and people of all nations. I am a Rotarian I will always seek to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of people in the spirit of ROTARY SERVICE. I am a Rotarian I will always uphold the Rotary International Motto, SERVICE ABOVE SELF.
Rotarian Code of Conduct As a Rotarian, I will 1) Act with integrity and high ethical standards in my personal and professional life 2) Deal fairly with others and treat them and their occupations with respect 3) Use my professional skills through Rotary to mentor young people, help those with special needs, and improve people’s quality of life in my community and in the world 4) Avoid behaviour that reflects adversely on Rotary or other Rotarians
Editor’s note: Membership is the life blood of Rotary. Surveys have confirmed that members join because they want to connect with other people and take action to create lasting change. For Membership Month in August we have asked several experts to talk about how they reach out to prospective members, keep existing members engaged, and create an environment that allows
By Elizabeth Usovicz, Rotary International Director, Zones 30 and Rotary connections are powerful, for both current and future members. After 16 months of lockdown, online business and virtual Rotary meetings, I recently met a long-time client for lunch. The restaurant we chose was quiet that day, and the dining area was empty except for one table. Our fellow diners were two young men of different races. They seemed to be talking about business as my client and I were seated at a nearby table. We didn’t focus on their conversation until our ears perked up like hyperalert terriers when we heard one of them say, “Rotary.” Expanding the conversation My client is a past president of her Rotary club, and we both began to listen in on the young men’s conversation. One was explaining the motto of Rotary, Service Above Self, and the service projects of his local Rotary club. “I have to introduce myself,” I told my client excitedly. She laughed as I slid out of my chair and moved toward their table. They looked up, surprised, when I approached them. “Excuse me,” I smiled. “My colleague and I heard you say “Rotary” and we wanted to introduce ourselves.” I pointed to my lapel pin. “We are both Rotary members too!” Each One, Bring One – and beyond As it turns out, one of the men, Jeff, is a member of the Rotary club of Lee’s Summit, Missouri. He was discussing Rotary with Jordan, a prospective member. Jordan grinned in amazement at our Rotary connection, which happens every day for Rotary members across
the
globe. “Wow!” he said. “You mean people in Rotary just find each other like this?” My client, Jeff, and I each smiled. “We all serve,” I replied. “We are people from all backgrounds, all walks of life, and we all serve our communities.” That brief exchange was a simple, yet powerful moment of Rotary pride and purpose for three Rotary members. For Jordan, it was an impressive example of the strength of the Rotary network and our capacity to connect people across communities. Each one of us is a role model for growing Rotary Since that lunch meeting, Jordan has visited Jeff’s club twice and is on the path to becoming a member. Jeff’s support of the Presidential Initiative, “Each One Bring One” prompted me to reach out to three prospective members. What if each of us did the same? What if each of us encouraged the formation of a new club? By this time next year, our Rotary network and our capacity to connect people across the globe will be even more powerful. All we need to do, like Jeff, is to be a role model for Each One, Bring One. Find your Jordans and invite them to lunch. About the author: Elizabeth Usovicz is a member of the Rotary Club of Kansas City-Plaza, Missouri, USA, and Rotary International Director for Zones 30 and 31. She was a Rotary International Women of Action honoree at the White House in 2014. 7
Want to grow your club? Ask Rotary alumni I am often asked “How do I grow my club?” or “How do I find members for my new club?” I have a great answer – Rotary alumni. These past participants of Rotary programs are an oftenoverlooked source of potential members with a built-in understanding of who we are and a past experience with how we take action to serve to change lives.
Alumni represent an incredible network of leaders engaged in service around the world. Clubs sometimes think about inviting them as speakers or using them as extra hands for service projects. But if we take the time, effort, and willingness to remove a few of the barriers that keep them from joining, we can experience the benefits of their insight and talent to grow Rotary.
By Tom Gump
The International Rotaract eClub for the Environment The Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) with the help of Karen KendrickHands of Rotary District 5950, Twin Cities Rotary EcoClub, the Rotary Club of Edina / Morningside and club advisor Steve Solbrack, started this club from 12 different countries. We approached alumni who belonged to ESRAG, which includes 23 members experts in environmental engineering and other aspects of the environment who provide expertise to other Rotary clubs on projects. What many of the young professionals who belong to it really wanted to do is work on projects themselves. in only a few months with almost twice the core of 12 members that Rotary recommends. It now has To allow these young professionals to do that, we removed some of the barriers that often keep alumni from joining Rotary — high dues, inconvenient meeting times, and too many competing obligations. We created a causebased club around their common interest, which assured that their time would be spent pursuing projects in the area they were interested in. And we choose the flexible structure of an eclub. Most of the club’s communication is done over WhatsApp. Meetings are held on Zoom.
The Rotary eClub of Global Travelers Chartered on 23 April, this club already has 24 members with 18 associate members from 11 different states in the U.S. and several different countries. When a friend and member of my club, Paula Schwartz, moved from Minnesota to Florida, she discovered that the
club she initially joined there did not have the passion for international projects that she did. So I helped her form one of her own, again using alumni connections we both had. She focused on relationships that she had formed years earlier in a Group Study Exchange. I reached out to people I knew through having hosted six Youth Exchange students and having formed friendships with many other host families. A lot of former exchange students are looking for a way to re-engage with Rotary if we make it possible for them. Again, the e-club format made it easy for members to attend meetings. The club scheduled virtual exchanges with other countries including India, where they don’t just learn about the country, but immerse themselves in its culture. Members organized a virtual cooking class to learn how to cook Indian cuisine, and scheduled yoga and meditation classes. They offer short and long service project trips. Upcoming short trips include going to Pasadena, California, USA in January 2022 to work on the Rotary Rose Bowl Parade Float and to New York in 2023 for Rotary Day at the United Nations Day. Other destinations are planned all over the world.
The Rotary Club of Cultural Exchange Enthusiasts Five years ago, this club formed as an e-club, but decided to rebrand itself around a cause to address declining membership. The club president at the time had taken part in a Rotary Youth Exchange and was active in a Rotex alumni association – Rotary Youth Exchange alumni who act as intermediaries between Rotary
members and Youth Exchange students to improve their exchange experience. If you have ever been to a Rotary meeting that involved youth exchange students, you know the energy and fun they bring to meetings. In the past 16 months, the club has grown from five to 13 members tapping into this pool of Rotex alumni. The club publicizes w eekly speakers on Facebook and their website, encouraging members and non-members to attend the virtual meetings, which are recorded and posted for future view. The meeting vibe is low-key, friendly, and positive. Annual dues are kept affordable.
Conclusion Rotary alumni can help you grow your club, whether existing or new. You can use alternative club models to remove the typical barriers that keep many of these readymade potential members from joining. Then you just need to ask them. Try these strategies to attract qualified members for your club. If you’d like to connect with alumni in your district, email alumni@rotary.org. About the author: Tom Gump is a past governor of District 5950 and past president of the Rotary Club of Edina / Morningside, Minnesota, USA. He currently serves as the Zone 29 Innovative Club Advocate helping Rotary members around the world form new and innovative clubs. Tom’s
email address is: tagump@gmail.com. 8
Tips for learning a language in Rotary service Rotary Voices Posted on August 12, 2021
The author and other students in La Serena during his Rotary Youth Exchange to Chile. By Connor Kane
Learning a language can be a challenge — but it doesn’t have to be boring or frustrating. One of the greatest things I gained from my year as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student in Chile in 2009-10 was a deeper love of languages and a better understanding of how to learn them. Rotary members create lasting change in communities around the world. And this often involves travel to new places and cultures and/or working in different languages from one’s native tongue — either as an exchange student, in a scholarship program, or on a service project. Having benefited from my youth exchange, I wanted to pay it forward by sharing some practices I have found helpful in broadening my language skills in Spanish, Portuguese, French, and now German.
1. Don’t wait The ultimate goal is easy, confident communication with the people you are connecting with. You can reach that goal faster by building up (or improving upon) a good base in the language before you need to. The most important thing is to build a daily habit of interacting with your target language. Habit stacking, a concept written about by James Clear, involves adding a new habit to one already ingrained into your routine. For example, “Before I brush my teeth, I will open my Spanish notebook and study for 1 minute.” Or, “After I pour my cup of coffee, I will watch one YouTube video in Polish.”
About 25 minutes a day is a realistic
goal for most people. But even five minutes is better than nothing and helps reinforce what you’re learning.
2. Advance skills through your interests If you’re just beginning to learn a language, choose one resource designed for beginners and use it daily for three months. I love the Coffee Break Languages series, which has fun, free lessons, and affordable paid options for extra materials. The Rocket Languages series is also an engaging resource available in 14 languages. Once you’re past the beginner stage, find something you are interested in each day, and learn about it in your target language. YouTube is my favorite. If you love cooking, follow a cooking YouTube channel in your target language. If you love cycling, find a channel all about cycling. Spend 25 minutes a day watching one of those videos and noting a few phrases you want to remember. You can add those phrases to an app like Anki to review later. Don’t stress — by actively watching and listening, you’re absorbing more than you think.
3. Don’t think about grammar When you start, you might be tempted to memorize grammar rules. Don’t! Your goal is to communicate with people — not get an “A” in the classroom. Luckily, communicating with people is
also the best way to learn. You will make mistakes and sound silly sometimes, but native speakers will be forgiving of the mistakes you make. As you progress in the language, you’ll see and understand grammar in context, and it will be much clearer to you. And by also learning new vocabulary in context (“She ate an apple” instead of “The Apple”), you’ll learn grammar without realizing it. The more you read and listen to native speakers over time, the better you will intuitively grasp the language.
4. Start using the language If you’re in the amazing position of traveling to or living in a country where your target language is spoken, immerse yourself and start using the language daily. Embrace the culture and the unfamiliar sounds of the new language. Find music, comedians, and books from your host country. Learn some of the history. Learn to cook some of the cuisine. It might not all seem related to language learning, but it is. The more you connect with the culture, the more you’ll embrace the language and its differences. You’ll have a better accent and a better understanding of how people think. Listen, read, and speak as much as possible. While you’re doing this, your brain is absorbing the language. Then one day, a conversation will happen without any effort at all, and you’ll be amazed at your progress.
9
10
What should you do if you get a breakthrough infection? Our expert weighs in By Katia Hetter, CNN Updated 1833 GMT (0233 HKT) August 21, 2021
(CNN) Covid-19 vac-
cines are very effective against preventing infection, but no vaccine is 100% effective. Fully vaccinated people can and do become infected. It's not known exactly how many of these breakthrough infections are occurring, as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not collecting national data this comprehensive. Based on reports from 25 states that do keep track of these data, the Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that the rate of breakthrough infections is well below 1%. Many people have questions about what to do if they are vaccinated but test positive. To glean answers to these questions, we turned to CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen. Wen is an emergency physician and visiting professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. She's also author of a new book, "Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health."
CNN: What should people do if they get a breakthrough infection? Should they isolate from their household members? Does it matter if they have symptoms? Dr. Leana Wen: Someone who's vaccinated and tests positive for Covid-19 should definitely follow strict isolation protocols because we have to assume that the person is contagious and able to infect others. If that person is symptomatic, they should isolate for at least 10 days counting from the first day they started having symptoms, according to the CDC.
They can end the isolation as long as they haven't had a fever for more than 24 hours and other symptoms are improving. If the person is not symptomatic but still had a positive test, they should stay isolated for 10 days following their positive test.
wear a mask in public for extra protection.
Isolation means that they should not be going in public where they could infect others.
Wen: According to the CDC guidance, yes, as long as that person doesn't have symptoms, and they keep a mask on at all times and still get tested three to five days after exposure.
They should also isolate from close household contacts. That means, if possible, staying in a part of the house away from others, in their own room. Essentially, once a person is infected with Covid-19, it doesn't matter for the purpose of isolation whether they were vaccinated — they could be contagious to others and need to follow standard isolation procedures.
CNN: If one person in the household gets a breakthrough infection, should everyone get tested? Wen: Yes. Close contacts should all be tested, with "close contact" defined as being within 6 feet for a total of at least 15 minutes over a 24-hour period during the potentially contagious period. The CDC differentiates guidance for those who are vaccinated versus those who are not. Those unvaccinated, if exposed to a close contact who has Covid-19, should quarantine for 10 days. They can shorten the quarantine to seven days if they have a negative test at least five days after exposure. During that quarantine period, they cannot be in public. On the other hand, those fully vaccinated, when exposed to a close contact who has Covid-19, do not need to quarantine unless they develop symptoms. They should still get tested within three to five days after exposure and
CNN: Does that mean a vaccinated person with a Covid-19 exposure can still go to work?
CNN: Do you need to test again before you're cleared to go back to work? Wen: No. Assuming you haven't had a fever for more than 24 hours and your other symptoms are improving, 10 days after the beginning of your symptoms is the isolation period as recommended by the CDC. After that, you can end isolation and go back to work and interact with others. CNN: Some people might be asking what's the point of getting vaccinated if breakthrough infections can still happen? Wen: We get vaccinated for two reasons. Remember that vaccination reduces the likelihood of severe illness — according to estimates from CDC data, by about 25 times.
Second, vaccination also reduces getting Covid-19 by about eight times. A vaccinated person is much less likely to get sick from Covid-19 and spread it, compared to someone who is not vaccinated.
11
Millions now rely on smartphones as a quick means of accessing the internet 10 Aug 2021
Millions have come to rely on their smartphones as a quick means of accessing the internet. You might well be reading this on your phone.
more data on their networks than they did before the crisis", according to the Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2021-2025.
And, according to a new PwC report, the pandemic has driven demand for internet access even higher - and boosted global data consumption as a result.
And, the report's authors say that lockdown measures saw consumers increase their time spent watching video streams and using subscription services.
Indeed, some telcos were "reportedly carrying up to 60%
Why internet access matters
The report's authors write that the pandemic made clear that access to reliable, affordable broadband is vital. Not just for "work, education, entertainment and accessing services" but also to help "governments apply socioeconomic policies aimed at supporting people and organization through the crisis". Whether for home-schooling or a shift to remote working, internet access was vital for billions around the world in helping them navigating the impact of the pandemic. And for many, the changes forced by the pandemic are now shaping their future working lives.
A change in working patterns? Globally, around 72% of urban households had internet access at home in 2019, but in rural areas this figure drops to just 38%. What can we do to close it? UNCTAD calls for new policies and regulations to ensure the benefits of digital technology are fairly distributed. The World Economic Forum's EDISON Alliance is also working to ensure affordable and accessible digital opportunities for everyone by 2025. As the alliance's chairman, Hans Vestberg, Chairman and CEO of Verizon, explains: "This is a critical moment for leaders across all sectors to join forces and recognize access and affordability to digital services as a top priority for recovery in every country." Written by Joe Myers, Writer, Formative Content 12
In pandemic, planning to reduce service standards could require time August 7, 2021 11:35 AM PST
U.S. Postal Service finalizes plan to slow some mail deliveries WASHINGTON, Aug 6 (Reuters) - The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on Friday finalized a plan effective Oct. 1 to slow down some first-class mail deliveries as part of efforts to cut red ink. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy proposed in March to revise existing one- to three-day service standards to one to five days for firstclass mail. USPS said on Friday that 61% of first-class mail will remain at its current standard. USPS said in a notice published in the Federal Register current standards require it "to rely heavily on air transportation, using air cargo transportation carriers and commercial passenger air carriers." Delivery standards will be slower for about 7% of periodicals. Airplanes, USPS added, are less reliable than surface transportation and costs much more because of "weather delays, network congestion, and air traffic control ground stops." The "addition of one or two days to current service standards for firstclass mail and periodicals would enable the Postal Service to convey a greater volume of mail within the contiguous United States by surface transportation," it said. While acknowledging "some uncomfortable changes," DeJoy defended the plan earlier on Friday at a board of governors meeting, saying it makes a commitment to deliver to "every address in the nation, six days a week, and strives for financial sustainability." USPS on Friday posted a $3 billion quarterly net loss, with a 1.1% rise in first-class mail deliveries to 12.1
United States Postal Service (USPS) workers load mail into delivery trucks outside a post office in Royal Oak, Michigan, U.S. August 22, 2020. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook
billion pieces. But "volumes remain lower than pre-pandemic levels and we expect continued secular declines," it added. For the minority of first-class mail affected by the slower delivery window "the standard would only change by one or two days (with most of such volume experiencing a one-day change)," USPS said. USPS added it has been unable to achieve existing "service performance targets for many years, and that these service failures illustrate the weakness of the current transportation model." In June, the attorneys general of 20 states asked the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission to reject plans to slow down some first-class deliveries, saying allowing that to happen could harm local governments' ability to fulfill essential functions. DeJoy unveiled a plan in March to cut $160 billion in predicted losses over the next decade with the changes in service standards a key part.
delivery performance over the past year, facing a huge boost in packages and staffing issues due to the coronavirus pandemic. It said Thursday that through July it delivered 89% of first-class mail on time, up 1.5 percentage points. Starting Aug. 29, USPS will raise prices of first-class postage stamps to 58 cents from 55 cents. Price hikes are needed because over the past decade, mail volume has declined by 46 billion pieces, or 28%, while single piece first-class mail declined 47%, USPS said. Congress is considering a plan to provide USPS with $46 billion in financial relief over 10 years, including eliminating a requirement that USPS pre-fund retiree health benefits for 75 years. The agency has reported net losses of about $90 billion since 2007. One reason is 2006 legislation mandating that it pre-fund more than $120 billion in retiree healthcare and pension liabilities, a requirement labor unions have called an unfair burden not shared by other businesses.
USPS has struggled with poor 13
Book review during ECQ TOO BIG TO SUCCEED
What happened to GE? The fall of one of America’s great companies By Bill Gates June 14, 2021 GE is a mythic corporation. It was at one time the largest, most powerful company in the world. Its founding story includes the innovator Thomas Edison and financier J.P. Morgan. Its legendary CEO Jack Welch, who wrote five bestselling books on leadership, became a model for an entire generation of executives. When GE started using Microsoft software in our early days, that gave us a huge boost in the market, because GE was such a bellwether company. It turns out that the word “mythic” is the perfect word for GE. The corporation has come crashing to Earth in one of the greatest downfalls in business history. Its workforce has been hollowed out, from 333,000 employees in 2017 to fewer than 174,000 at the end of last year. Its share price has fallen precipitously. In 2018, GE was dropped from the Dow Jones Industrial Average after more than a century in the index. GE’s fall is not the result of innovators developing a better jet engine or wind turbine. It’s also not a case of outright fraud, like Enron. It’s a textbook case of mismanagement of an overly complex business. Only a few people saw it coming (including one, ironically, from J.P. Morgan’s namesake bank). I wish I could tell you that I was one of them, but I was just as surprised as most people. That’s why I was eager to read Lights Out: Pride, Delusion, and the Fall of General Electric, by the Wall Street Journal reporters Thomas Gryta and Ted Mann. I wanted to understand what really went wrong and what lessons this story holds for investors, regulators, business leaders, and business students. At times, it was a bit hard for me, as a former CEO, to read such harsh criticism of fellow leaders, including people I know and like. But I got a lot out of reading this book. Gryta and Mann gave me the de-
tailed insight I was looking for into the culture, decisions, and accounting that eventually caught up to GE in a gigantic way.
My first big takeaway is that one of GE’s greatest apparent strengths was actually one of its greatest weaknesses. For many years, investors loved GE’s stock because the GE management team always “made their numbers”—that is, the company produced earnings per share at least as large as what Wall Street analysts predicted. It turns out that culture of making the numbers at all costs gave rise to “success theater” and “chasing earnings.” In Gryta and Mann’s words, “Problems [were] hidden for the sake of preserving performance, thus allowing small problems to become big problems before they were detected.” Chapter 14 of Lights Out details many of the gimmicks GE employed to make the numbers look better than they really were. For example, Gryta and Mann report that GE would sometimes artificially boost quarterly profits by selling an asset (e.g., a diesel train) to a friendly bank, knowing that it could then buy back the asset at a time of GE’s choosing. There are a lot of ways a company can end up with a culture that rewards gaming the numbers. Although Steve Ballmer and I made our share of strategic mistakes, we were maniacal about making sure our numbers were rock solid and avoiding incentive systems where people could cram a lot of sales into a quarter in order to look good or meet some quota. Satya Nadella works the same way today. In many companies, bad news travels very slowly, while good news travels fast. We tried hard to combat that. A team member might send me mail saying “we just won a software design competition,” and “isn’t this amazing?” I’d typically respond, “Why am I hearing about this one? That’s not statistically representative. How many competitions did we lose?” I used the term “making bad news travel fast” all the time. I wanted to catch negative trends early, when we could still do something about them.
My second big takeaway from Lights Out is that GE didn’t have the right talent and systems to bundle together a dizzying array of unrelated businesses—including moviemaking, insurance, plastics, and nuclear power plants—and manage them well. Investors bought into the notion that the company’s world-renowned training made it better at managing things than anyone else, and that GE could produce consistent profits even in highly cyclical markets. And GE successfully persuaded people that its generalists could avoid the pitfalls that had tripped up big conglomerates in the past. In reality, those generalists often didn’t understand the specifics of the industries they had to manage and couldn’t navigate trends in their industries. For example, the authors make the case that CEO Jeff Immelt didn’t have a good handle on its huge banking unit, GE Capital. “Making money from [GE Capital] seemed shockingly simple to him at first, as it had to Welch, but the balance sheets were treacherously complex, and deep risks lurked there and were not always easily spotted in the quarterly profits and losses,” write Gryta and Mann. One former GE executive told the authors that “Immelt struggled with basic concepts—the difference between secured and unsecured debt, for instance, which was fundamental to a lending operation like GE Capital.” This dynamic was not confined to Immelt. It was rampant throughout the company’s top ranks. As a result, the ability of top executives to understand what was really going on was quite limited. The only people who could actually dig down into the numbers and see what was going on were in finance. And as I mentioned above, the finance people didn’t have much incentive to bring negative news to Welch or Immelt. In my role at our foundation, I sometimes hear fellow philanthropists say things like, “I just wish my grantees could operate more like a business.” The story of GE, 14
SELECTED ONLINE PUBLICATIONS FOR WELL-CONNECTED ROTARIANS For readers of digital version of THE DOVE who are online, click “links” to view contents.
From THE WORLD BANK
Rotary magazine 2021
THE DOVE RC Holy Spirit D3780 July 30, 2021
15
Click on this link to view
Aug 21 to 31 MECQ for METRO MANILA, Laguna, Bataan (from Aug 23) ECQ for METRO MANILA Aug 6 to 20
Aug 1-6: GCQ with enhanced restrictions in NCR, Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal
July 16-31: GCQ with enhanced restrictions in NCR, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite, Quezon, Batangas, Laguna July 1-15: NCR + Bulacan + Rizal (GCQ with some restrictions) Cavite + Laguna (GCQ w heightened Restrict) NCR Plus: GCQ (with Heightened Restrictions) from May 15 to May 31 to June 15
MECQ from Apr 12 to Apr 30, 2021 to May 14
ECQ from Mar 29 to Apr 11, 2021
History of Quarantine Restrictions for NCR
GCQ NCR from Aug 19, 2020 to Mar 28, 2021
MECQ from Aug 4 to Aug 18, 2020 GCQ NCR from June 1 to Aug 3, 2020
ECQ Lockdown Entire Luzon from Mar 17 to May 30, 2020 16
New Zealand locks down the entire country ... over one Covid case By Julia Hollingsworth and Chandler Thornton, CNN Updated 2340 GMT (0740 HKT) August 17, 2021 (CNN) New Zealand's Prime Minis-
ter Jacinda Ardern has announced a nationwide lockdown after the country confirmed one coronavirus case -- the first locally transmitted Covid-19 case in the community since February. Ardern told a press conference Tuesday authorities were assuming it was the contagious Delta variant, although genome sequencing is still underway. An unvaccinated 58-year-old man in the country's largest city Auckland tested positive for the virus. The man had traveled to other parts of the country, and had no obvious link to the border, Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said Tuesday. New Zealand will be under the strictest level lockdown level for the next three days starting from 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, local time, Ardern said. Under level four lockdown, everyone must stay home and businesses are closed aside for essential services such as supermarkets and pharmacies. New Zealand was last under its most serious lockdown level a year ago, Ardern said. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media during a press conference at Parliament on August 17, 2021 in Wellington, New Zealand. Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula - an area of the country's North Island where the patient traveled -- are likely to be under a level four lockdown for a week.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media during a press conference at Parliament "We are one of the last countries in the world to have the Delta variant in our community," Ardern said. "We're in the position to learn from experience overseas, and what actions work, and what actions don't work." "Delta has been called a gamechanger -and it is. It means we need to again go hard and early to stop the spread. We have seen what can happen elsewhere if we fail to get on top of it. We only get one chance." New Zealand has been praised for its handling of the virus, which saw it close borders to almost all foreign nationals early, and impose strict staterun quarantines on incoming travelers. That approach has seen it avoid the devastating outbreaks seen in other countries, and, prior to Tuesday's announcement, life in the country had largely returned to normal. New Zealand has reported fewer than 3,000 Covid-19 cases
and only 26 deaths in a population of about 5 million. But New Zealand has been slow to vaccinate. According to data collated by CNN, New Zealand has fully immunized less than 20% of its population. Neighboring Australia, which was also previously praised for its handling of the virus, has been battling its own Delta outbreak for the last few weeks. More than half of Australia's population are in lockdown -- and the country's most populous city Sydney has been in lockdown since June.
Earlier this month, New Zealand announced plans to begin reopening its doors to vaccinated travelers from low risk countries from early 2022, signaling a tentative relaxation of strict pandemic border controls.
Central Auckland at midday on the first day of the August 2021 lockdown .
Covid-19: How day one of the latest lockdown unfolded 8:01 pm on 18 August 2021
More community cases have been announced today - including an AUT student and a woman with a link to the border - as Aotearoa's fight against the Delta variant continues. There have now been 10 community cases since yesterday, including the three reported earlier this evening. These three include a 60-year-old woman who has a connection to the border. The Health Ministry says interviews are underway to determine any link to existing cases.
17
PH
12,067 New cases. Since Mar 2020: Cases 1,869,691; Recoveries 1,709,724; Deaths 32,264; Active Cases 127,703
Aug 24 Full Day4
MECQ in NCR PH
USA
23,078 New Since 2020 38.8 M
30.6 M
646,917;
7.6 M
Reported Cases and Deaths by Country & Territory Aug 24, 2021
WORLD Total 213.7 M
New: 458,977
Deaths 4.5 M
Recovered 191.5 M
Active Cases 18.0 M
18
PH
18,332 New cases. Since Mar 2020: Cases 1,857,646; Recoveries 1,695,335; Deaths 31,961; Active Cases 130,350
Aug 23 Full Day3
MECQ in NCR PH
USA
7,909 New Since 2020 38.6 M
30.5 M
645,103;
7.4 M
Reported Cases and Deaths by Country & Territory Aug 23, 2021
WORLD Total 212.9 M
New: 359,124
Deaths 4.4 M
Recovered 190.6 M
Active Cases 18.0 M
19
PH
16,044 New cases. Since Mar 2020: Cases 1,839,635; Recoveries 1,681,925; Deaths 31,810; Active Cases 125,900
Aug 22 Full Day2
MECQ in NCR PH
USA
5,493 New Since 2020 38.6 M
30.5 M
644,852;
7.4 M
Reported Cases and Deaths by Country & Territory Aug 22, 2021
WORLD Total 212.5 M
New: 392,977
Deaths 4.4 M
Recovered 190.1 M
Active Cases 18.0 M
20
PH
17,231 New cases. Since Mar 2020: Cases 1,807,800; Recoveries 1,653,351; Deaths 31,198; Active Cases 123,251
Aug 20 Full Day15 ECQ in NCR PH
USA
9,062 New Since 2020 38.2 M
30.4 M
643,190;
7.2 M
Reported Cases and Deaths by Country & Territory Aug 20, 2021
WORLD Total 211.2 M
New: 428,327
Deaths 4.4 M
Recovered 189.1 M
Active Cases 17.7 M
21
PH 8,127 New cases. Since Mar 2020: Cases 1,627,816; Recoveries 1,532,494; Deaths 28,427; Active Cases 66,895 USA 81,177 New cases 36.3 M 29.8 M 631,671; 5.8 M
Reported Cases and Deaths by Country & Territory Aug 5, 2021
WORLD Total 201.5 M
New: 570,811
Deaths 4.3 M
Recovered 181.3 M
Active Cases 15.9 M 22
PH 5,735 New cases. Since Mar 2020: Cases 1,572,287; Recoveries 1,488,437; Deaths 27,577; Active Cases 56,273 USA 83,591 New cases 35.6 M 29.6 M 628,461; 5.3 M
Reported Cases and Deaths by Country & Territory July 29, 2021
WORLD Total 197.3 M
New: 645,809
Deaths 4.2 M
Recovered 178.5 M
Active Cases 14.6 M 23
Confirmed Cases and Deaths by Country and Territory On 3-29-2020 the Philippines with its 110 Million population, exhibited 1,418 COVID-19 positive cases and 71 deaths, still remarkable “containment-of-virusspread” among nations (13 cases per 1 M pop)
24
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 31: A woman wearing a mask poses on May 31, 2020 in New York City. Government guidelines encourage wearing a mask in public with strong social distancing in effect. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
Face Masks May Be The Key Determinant Of The Covid19 Curve, Study Suggests 25
About THE DOVE THE DOVE is the official newsletter of the Rotary Club of Holy Spirit, Rotary International District 3780. The digital publication features “hyperlinks or web-links” which make it a true electronic newsletter/e-bulletin. Distribution: THE DOVE is published in 3 versions: printed, digital PDF, and online. PDF version sent by email to nearly 1,000 addressees, Rotarians and non-Rotarians in the club, in the district, in Philippine Rotary and outside. Posted on social media networks and groups Printed copies for reports
Club of Holy Spirit
First issue of THE DOVE: 4 June 2009 (Vol I, No. 1) Editorial team: Marcia Salvador, TORY 2018-19 Editor
Ric Salvador ,TORY 2013-14 Asst Editor
Contributors
Address: Don Antonio Clubhouse, Holy Spirit Drive, QC
TOKYO -- The Tokyo Olympics closed on Sunday, August 8, 2021, a year after they were originally scheduled to due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and three days after the host city for the first time recorded more than 5,000 new daily infections. Organizers said the 17-day sporting spectacle would show the world's defiance of the virus, but the contests were all held in spectator-free arenas and stadiums.
26
Rotary International Districts in the Philippines DISTRICT 3870
DISTRICT 3820
DISTRICT GOVERNOR JOHN MARK SARRAGA
DISTRICT GOVERNOR ANGELITA F. SUNIO
Baler, Batanes, Bulacan, Cagayan, Ifugao, Isabela, Kalinga, Apayao, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino
Aurora, Batangas, Laguna, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Oriental, Quezon, and the Bicol Region
DISTRICT 3780
DISTRICT 3830
DISTRICT GOVERNOR EDGARDO N. AYENTO
DISTRICT GOVERNOR MA. JOCELYN GENEVIEVE L. TAN
Quezon City
Las Pinas, Makati, Muntinlupa, Palawan, Paranaque, Pateros, Taguig
DISTRICT 3790
DISTRICT 3850
DISTRICT GOVERNOR WILLIE SARAFICA
DISTRICT GOVERNOR EDWIN T. GO
Abra, Bataan, Benguet, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Mountain Province, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Zambales
Aklan, Antique, Basilan, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Misamis Occidental, Negros Occidental, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay
DISTRICT 3800
DISTRICT 3860
DISTRICT GOVERNOR AUGUSTO SOLIMAN
DISTRICT GOVERNOR ANNA LOUISA ABANES BUMAGAT
Caloocan, Malabon, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Navotas, Pasig, Rizal, San Juan, Valenzuela
Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Biliran, Bohol, Cebu, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, General Santos, Leyte, Negros Oriental, Samar, Siquijor, South Cotabato, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur
DISTRICT 3810
DISTRICT 3770
DISTRICT GOVERNOR ROBERT KOA
DISTRICT GOVERNOR ARTURO QUE
Cavite, Manila, Mindoro Occidental, Pasay
Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin Island, North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Misamis Oriental, Sultan Kudarat
Source: Philippine Rotary Magazine 27
Contact Information ROTARY INTERNATIONAL offices based in Australia
28