Welcome to Allentown West Rotary! 
Western Lehigh County    Club No. 5415     District No. 7430      Zone 32
 
Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
 
We’re glad you stopped by; we’re proud of our club and how we serve our local and international communities. On this website, you’ll learn a little bit about what we do, but the best way to learn about us is to see for yourself. We invite you to join us at any meeting or service project to learn more. Be our guest! 
 
Allentown West Rotary focuses on two main areas locally: food insecurity and building a better future by developing our youth through education and leadership opportunities. We invite you to learn a little more about us and what we do by viewing our service projects.

Our Service Projects

Allentown West Rotary Club is a community service organization that serves the Lehigh Valley and far beyond. But, beyond the satisfaction of service is the fellowship that comes from a worldwide organization that, despite cultural differences, delivers a sense of belonging to a community dedicated to bettering our world. See how we strive to make a difference.

View our Service Projects

A Long Time in Coming. Nick Millward Inducted as a Member of the Allentown West Rotary Club.

This past January 3, Nick Millward became an official Allentown West Rotary Club (AWRC) member at the home of Gwenn Carr and Gary Engelhardt. Nick was briefly back in the U.S. after having completed the one-and-a-half-year Rotary Peace Fellowship program at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. This temporarily made Nick ineligible for Rotary membership, having received the grant for the fellowship. All of this was set in motion in 2020 with the support of AWRC and District 7430.
 
This situation has now been put right, and we are happy and grateful to have him as an official AWRC Club member. Club members will know what I mean, as Nick was always present on ZOOM—whatever the hour was on his side of the world.
 
It was the feeling of all of us who inducted Nick into our club that he should read the new Rotary member booklet—even though he already embodies the desired qualities of a Rotarian. What impresses me about Nick is that having served as a Marine, he has shown a fantastic level of introspection and open-mindedness that has allowed him to embrace and internalize the idea of peace and de-confliction.
 
Nick says this about his studies:
 
"The academic program at the University of Queensland was exceptional. One of my professors was an Australian specialist on nuclear weapons and international security; she earned the Nobel Peace Prize. Another professor was a leading specialist and conflict mediator, focusing on Indigenous populations and their engagement with the state. I was also surrounded by Rotary Peace Fellows and students who had a tremendous amount of experience operating within the peace spectrum. Their perspectives and interpretations were significantly helpful in transforming my own perceptions and understandings of how I personally show up in the community and world. I couldn’t have asked for better professors, Peace Center staff, or fellow students throughout the program.
 
“This experience was only possible through the generosity, kindness, and support of Rotarians across the world, but especially District 7430. I cannot begin to express my sincerest appreciation to all of you for making this possible. The world is in a poor state of affairs currently; we could all do with a bit more peace in our everyday lives, and across the globe. While we all have varying perceptions and positions on current situations, we, as Rotarians, must continue to demonstrate our love and support through service. I am thankful to be a member and representative of an organization who demonstrates their commitment to Peace daily and globally.”
 
Semper Fidelis,
Nicholas H. Millward
Do you have a special someone for whom you have difficulty finding a gift? We have a great opportunity for you.
 
Plan to join us for a great afternoon of family fun and fellowship at the Macungie Memorial Hall on March 17, 2024, at 2 PM. The link to purchase tickets is https://www.irishbingo.org/  
 
You may use a credit card or your PayPal account to purchase tickets on the site. Our website is secure. All dollars go directly to the AWRC PayPal account. Please add the processing fee if you are using PayPal.
 
Your purchase entitles you to:
Entrance to this FUN raiser
A pad of bingo cards to use during the event
One raffle ticket for our fantastic baskets
 
Comedian Tim Conniff will be performing for us. He is a clean comedian who performs for community and service organizations
 
Bring your kids, your grandkids, and your neighbor’s kids for an afternoon of FUN!
Wear your best green and bring cash to purchase additional raffle tickets and bingo pads. There is an ATM in the bingo hall.
 
All proceeds go to our humanitarian projects. See examples at www.fightLVhunger.org
AWRC Named Bronze Hero Club for 2023-2024
 
In 2023, SHELTERBOX has helped more than 325,000 people (approximately 65,000 households). It is our second biggest year, behind the 420,000 supported in 2022, in terms of people reached since ShelterBox began in 2000.
 
We supported thousands of people in Türkiye and Syria after earthquakes devastated the region. In Morocco, where a powerful earthquake had caused widespread damage in the Atlas Mountains, our teams worked with our partner Association Le Grand Atlas, and Rotary District 9010 to distribute emergency shelter aid to around 20 affected communities.
 
East Africa has been victim to the worst drought in 40 years, causing millions of people to be displaced. We’ve supported thousands of people in Ethiopia this year providing essential household items, tarpaulins, and ropes for people who have been displaced. We also launched our first project in Somalia since 2011 and have so far been able to provide support for hundreds of people, with additional projects in the pipeline for 2024.
 
As the conflict in Ukraine approaches its third year, we are delivering our sixth project in the country supporting thousands more people with winter clothing, blankets, and stoves. We are continuing to support people affected by conflict in Syria with winterisation projects too, making sure people have thermal clothing, blankets, and tarpaulins to help make temporary shelters waterproof.
 
In Cameroon, we’ve supported over 100,000 people who have had to flee their homes due to conflict, the climate crisis, and poverty. Our latest project in the country has supported over 63,000 people with shelter.

Thanks to all of our club members who generously donated to SHELTERBOX!
Co-President Herb Klotz and Ron Coleman help out at the Food Bank at Kingdom Life Family Center.

The Food Bank at Kingdom Life Family Center distributes healthy food to an ever-increasing number of families in the Lehigh Valley. In recent times, the distribution has reached over 300 families in need. Given the increasing scale of the work involved, more volunteers are needed to help set up, help with the distribution, and help tear down.
 
Volunteering is a fulfilling way of providing service to those most in need. Let's see how many Rotarians we can send to be of service.

Donate & Happy $ to Allentown West Rotary Foundation
Speakers
Presidential Committee
Mar 27, 2024 7:30 AM
Increasing our impact - Rotary Action Planning
Presidential Committee
Apr 10, 2024 7:30 AM
Assembly
Lori Peters
Apr 24, 2024 7:30 AM
Parkland Interact Club
David Robertson
May 22, 2024 7:30 AM
Joshway
Mongolia 21.21 team
Jun 15, 2024
Fundraiser
Presidential Committee
Jun 26, 2024 7:30 AM
Changeover to 2024-2025 team
Club Information
Allentown West

Service Above Self

We meet In Person & Online
Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m.
Cedar Crest College, Tompkin's Conference Center
Adminstration Circle
Allentown, PA 18104
United States of America
We meet in person on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays. Elevator is available. Park in LOT C. Flex meetings/dining out first week of each month TBD, see calendar.
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Event and Breakfast Payment
Tribute Cards
Send Cards to Support the
Allentown West Rotary Club Foundation
 
Send a Thank You, Condolence, Congratulations, Thinking of You, In Honor of, In Memory of, or Just Because card and make a donation to the Allentown West Rotary Club Foundation at the same time. When you do, you will also be donating to the AWRC Foundation.
 
Purchase a pack of Tribute Cards to say congratulations, I'm sorry, best wishes, happy birthday, send condolences, or just because! You fill in the reason for the card on the top lines and your name on the bottom lines, and mail it out. On the front is a beautiful photograph of a familiar farmhouse in the Lehigh Valley. Inside, recipients will see that the purchase of the card goes to fund the Foundation of our Rotary Club, and they are invited to learn more at our website. On the back is some information about Rotary and our areas of focus.
 
Cards are sold in packs of 5 for $25, plus shipping. 
 
Upcoming Events
Mar. 19, 2024
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Mar. 20, 2024 2:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m.
Mar. 20, 2024 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m.
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