Virtual meetings to resume through September

My fellow Rotarians,

We continue to face uncertainty as COVID-19 cases surge in our community once again.  In May, we returned to the Wildhorse for hybrid meetings, with safety protocols in place to protect our members who choose to meet in-person.  Given the surge of the Delta variant, our ad hoc Pandemic Response Committee created last year, met Friday to revisit our hybrid meeting structure. The Board pf Directors approved the recommendation of the Committee to move to a fully virtual meeting format beginning August 30 through the month of September.  It is our sincere hope to resume the hybrid format in October.

In the interest of continuing to provide a sense of community for our members, we are altering the format of virtual meetings. For this all-virtual period, all participants (rather than panelists only) will be visible in our Zoom meetings.  Although it still pales in comparison to meeting face to face, we hope the updated format will make this unexpected transition more pleasant.

  • September 13th:  Dr. Michael Eric Dyson and Marcia Dyson
  • September 20th:  Cordell Peace Forum with Dr. Paul Stumb
  • September 27th:  Retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen Scott Brower on Afghanistan

Additionally, we will continue to serve our community with the following opportunities for engagement on the horizon:

  • September 13th:  Book’em training for Rotary Volunteers
  • September 17th:  Backpacks at Second Harvest Food Bank
  • September 24th:  Fall Build with Habitat for Humanity

As President Harry said in March of 2020, “these are challenging waters to navigate, for sure.  But we will get to shore, together.  For me, the Four Way Test proves as a powerful reminder and touchstone: Is it the truth, is it fair to all concerned, will it build goodwill and better friendships, will it be beneficial to all concerned.”

Thank you for your grace and understanding.  While this may feel like a step back, we will be doing our part to move forward safely, both for our members and for the greater Nashville community.

Yours in service,

Lauren Lane Payne
Rotary President 2021-2022