As of June 2020, IACRF Seniors continue their Covid-19related lockdown and do not meet weekly as they used to till March 2020. However, they have found out alte
ative routine as the time and situation demands and continue to meet weekly on Thursdays on Zoom Meetings. Besides, there are satellite programs for Antakshari and women’s group meeting on Monday and Wednesday and keep interacting and exchanging their ideas.
Covid 19 Updates: Dr. Prakash Kotecha updated the members of rising cases of Covid19 in the state, in the country and in the city. What is worrisome is not the rise in absolute number alone, but the steady rise in test positivity rate which is touching 20% plus now as compared to only 5% when the Gove
or had a
ounced opening up the city and markets. As of June 19, highest number of cases reported touched 3246 with a positivity rate among cases screened jumping to 21.6%. Seniors are advised to remain home, wear mask every time and all the time when they have to go out, restrict going out to medial reasons or inevitable shopping. He also updated members with India data that are also steadily rising and the matter of conce
is the lack of use of masks by many members when they are going in to the public places.
Free Mask Distribution: One of the Senior Group member Mike Mali offered with his friends to provide masks to those who need them and have not procured them yet. He extended his generosity to all the members who need them and promised to get them posted to their residence so that they do not need to move out of their house.
He distributed 100 plus masks to all the requests received by him from our members and members were pleased to receive them. IACRF Seniors convey a big thank you to Mike Mali for his goodwill gesture.
Birthday Celebration: Like we regularly meet and celebrate Birthdays, we continued to celebrate birthday of our members. Dr. Raskibhai Patel tu
ed 80 years on June 15th 2020 and being a mile stone event, we celebrated his birthday by specially arranging a zoom meeting for this celebration where besides our members, his family members and in laws also joined. Everyone shared their birthday greetings and wonderful feelings that they had for Dr. Rasikbhai Patel.
Dr. Rasikbhai has been a silent and very sincere personality always ready to help everyone at any time and with all the resources that he possesses. Among IACRF meetings he is found wherever help is needed. Managing kitchen supply and helping in kitchen is natural to him but he would be ready to help anyone with desk, collection of membership fees or anything else. He is a fine player of Ping-Pong and enjoys it very well be it at the Community Center or at other places.
Other discussions held during Zoom meeting:
We wished Champaben Patel’s birthday too on June 16th 2020. She has been always ready to sponsor lunch when needed and invariably sponsors lunch on Mother’s Day being so motherly herself. However, we missed this time Mother’s Day lunch from her since we do not physically meet these days due to Covid 19 scenario in the city
We reviewed Covid-19 situation in Metro-Phoenix and Senior Community’s safe practice in rising positive cases in mid-June 2020 time frame. We concluded that it is not safe for us to start Senior Group Thursday Gatherings at the Community Center in near future. In August, we will evaluate timing of startingthe Thursday Gatherings.
We discussed recent developments regarding Police Brutality, Defund Police, Alte
atives to police force, etc. Dr. Pinakin Dave cited examples of a couple of American cities where they have dismantled the existing police force.
Our virtual hiking group Zoom met on Mansarovar and Mt. Kailash Yatra 2007 was attended very well by members and we have a request to reschedule the same topic with latest information – stay tuned for the scheduled date.
Dr. Kanubhai Patel shared a few Slokas from Gita with Hindi translation and Vinod Shah shared a joke too! RamuRamkeshavanmentioned a need for a program to encourage youngsters to volunteer for giving back to the Metro-Phoenix community.
Antakshari Meetings: Pradyumna Kshatriya has been conducting regular weekly Antakshari meetings on every Monday afte
oon and interested members attend, enjoy and look forward to this weekly event with lots of enthusiasm.
Women Special Meetings: Meena Kotecha coordinated women special meetings on Wednesday afte
oon where they discussed various recipes and also enjoyed discussion of their interest that included visits to religious places and playing games.
