Today was a ZOOM only meeting that began at 7:30 A.M.
There were 19 of us on line.
GUESTS:
Nick Millward, peace scholar in Australia.
PRE-MEETING CONVERSATIONS:
Ernie Boll in Arizona now is 3 hours behind us, but he was on. Yesterday he played golf wearing shorts in 76 deg weather.
Marlene Heller’s cousin in Tucson, AZ had snow last week.
Gail Micca got her speakers at home working for today.
Ralph Witcher recorded the student speeches last week.
Amir Famili and wife spent two weeks in Egypt and soon will be heading to California to visit their family.
Ernie Boll said that at last week’s meeting the camera only looked at the lectern. So when speakers wandered around only their voices were available.
Nick Millward is sad to report that his older cousin has passed away.
OPENING:
Pres. Gail Micca opened the meeting at 7”30 A.M.
Ralph Witcher gave a nice invocation noting the passing of our dear friend, Halyna Stegura.
Ron Coleman led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag.
Marlene Heller led us in reciting the Four Way Test, and added “Is it Fun?”
CELEBRATIONS:
Pres. Gail reviewed the members celebrations for March. See list below.
NEW MEMBER INDUCTION:
Bianca Rivera will be inducted at our March 22nd meeting at Cedar Crest College.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Bill Palmer is happy that Marlene Heller did a great job publishing last week’s A-W NL.
Bill also is happy that PDG Tony Jannetta, now living back in Scotland, visited with Bill here last Friday.
Amir Famili is happy that they celebrated his wife’s birthday with the 2 week trip to Egypt. They are going to CA to see their 5 week old new grandson.
Ralph Witcher is happy that Pat and he took care of both grandchildren…..and survived.
Marlene Heller is happy that Bill Palmer is back and healthy.
Gail Micca also is happy that Bill Palmer is back.
Diana Dunn is $5 happy that her Mother has moved to the assisted living section in her retirement home.
FOUR WAY TEST SPEECH NEXT COMPETITION:
The regional contest that Lily will be in is on April 1st in Emmaus.
NEXT QUICK FUNDRAISER -- MARCH MADNESS SQUARES :
THIS IS NOT A BRACKET. Buy & sell as many as you want - No limit!
We are now selling $20 squares just like our Superbowl squares, but with a twist.
Half time will pay out: $200 Final Score will pay out: $400
Twist - EARLY BIRD BONUS WINNINGS: $200
Since we don't know who will be playing in the final game, we are adding a bonus payout for anyone who purchases their squares before the second round, you can choose your top two teams if you purchase by Friday, March 17th. If your teams make it to the final game, this bonus option will be paid (split if there are multiple winners). You may not choose after the second round starts.
This fundraiser will benefit our hungry little friends who receive monthly snackpacks. One sheet will purchase snackpacks for one month. Selling all squares is a $2,000 gross, and $1,400 net.
D7430 ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
DG Len Gieseler tells us:
At one of our last committee meetings, we were pleased to pull the next upgrade winner for the Havana Tower suite. The link is listed below to see the reveal.
We are now 30 days from the registration deadline for our Casino Royal District Conference in Atlantic City, NJ at the beautiful Tropicana. Our team is working hard to bring you a great conference experience and we don't want you to miss out.
I am asking for your support by joining us at YOUR District Conference. We also have great opportunities to show case your club accomplishments and projects by getting a table in the House of Friendship. If you would like to promote your club or business, or send a message, check out the link for our program booklet.
Fun, Rotary and more Fun are in store for you and your family, but you need to be in Atlantic City
May 5-7 to experience it. Don't delay, register today.
AWRC GREEN THUMB GARDEN:
Gail Micca reports that garden planning has begun. “Pepper and tomato seedlings have begun to sprout under grow lights and more will be planted this week.”
The Green Thumbs Garden Project volunteer/friend group is growing too – would you like to be added to the list? This project brings out the best in all of us and is a great way to spend time outdoors with friends and family. Please contact Gail Micca at president@allentownwestrotary.org for more information.
DINING OUT – APRIL:
Dining out for April will take place on Monday April 3rd at Youell’s Oyster House. Contact Gail Micca, president@allentownwestrotary.org by March 26th. Up to 12 can be seated together.
SNACKPACKING:
The next Snack Packing event at Parkland is on April 12th.
If anyone wants to help, they should email Diana Dunn at dunndianas@gmail.com
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD DISTRIBUTION:
The upcoming dates for Kingdom Life Food Pantry Giveaway are:
All Saturdays – March 11 – April 8 – May 13.
Each time we start at 7:30 A.M. and usually are finished by 9:30 A.M. Volunteers are needed.
PARKLAND C.A.R.E.S. PRODUCE DELIVERY:
The Pantry will hold its food distributions on the first Saturday of each month for all of 2023. The next one is on April 1st.
Three volunteers are needed each time.
Food collections for Parkland C.A.R.E.S. will be held the third Wednesday of each month at the Pantry on Kernsville Road.
MEALS ON WHEELS:
Takes place twice each week. Helen Papathanasiou and Tori Morgan worked yesterday. Helen says we are in need of substitute volunteers.
INTERACT BREAKFASTS ARE BACK:
We will hold these meetings on March 29 at NWL Middle School, and May 31 at the Parkland H.S. Library. These days are the fifth Wednesday of the month.
The NWL start time will be at 8:30 A.M. The March Student of the Month will be honored.
SPONSORS ARE NEEDED TO PAY FOR THE STUDENTS’ MEALS.
STEM YEA FUNDRAISER:
Please remember that the Second Annual Big Ticket Reverse Raffle (BTRR) will be held on April 15 at Brookside Country Club, in Pottstown from 5:30-10:00 P.M.
D7430 TRAING ASSEMBLY:
This is open to us all. It is on April 22 at the Bucks County Community College. Registration fee will be reimbursed by the club if you attend.
POSSIBLE FLEX MEETING:
We may go to the Penn State Lehigh Valley site to learn about “Pure Air.”
YOUTH EXCHANGE ISSUES:
Please work with Chris Blechschmidt to take our Y.E. student, Sam, to complete his “bucket list.”
ALSO, we need a family to take in next year’s Y.E. student. The Blechschmidts are not available for 2023-24.
MEETING SCHEDULE:
The first Wednesday of each month will be a Dining Out meeting, or equal. It might not be on a Wednesday.
The third Wednesday of each month will be a ZOOM ONLY meeting with a program.
FUTURE TOURS, ETC.:
All members are asked to make suggestions to Gail Micca about other tours, Dining Out events, etc. for future meetings.
NEXT MORNING MEETING IN-PERSON:
March 22 IN-PERSON at Cedar Crest College starting at 7:30 A.M. Come early and mingle. There will be a Zoom option.
The program will be Lin Erickson, Executive Director and CEO at The Da Vinci Science Center. She will give us a 2023 Da Vinci Science Center Update.
PROGRAM:
Pres. Gail turned the meeting over to PDG Herb Klotz for us to learn about Rotary Grants.
The deadline for AWRC to solicit grant money for RY 2023-24 is March 31, 2023.We will close out our current grant and will be eligible for two District Grants for next year. And we plan to seek a Global Grant for next year as well.
District Grants tend to be in the $2,000 to 10,000 range each one. They can be for local and international projects. These days our RC puts up 50% of the funds and the District awards the other half. There is some competition within the 46 RCs in our district each year.
Grants to be approved should be within the 7 areas of focus, and they should be sustainable. Rotary does not usually fund scholarships.
A Global Grant is at least $30,000 and up. They typically are for international projects, and they require one or more partner RCs. Our Global Grants tend to be in the $30K to $50K range. If a Global Grant is approved, our RC is expected to contact other RCs to donate to the RI Foundation Annual Fund Share to replace those dollars going forward.
Grants are funded by the Rotary Foundation. Donations to the Annual Fund Share are used by RI for three years. Then 50 % of what our district donated 3 years ago -- plus some earnings -- comes back to our district as “District Designated Funds (DDFG).” The grants that year are funded by those DDF assigned.
Herb noted that AWRC has a $10,000 goal this year for our donations to the AFS. YTD we are at $8,000.
Herb showed a list of 7 year history of our District Grants. We put up $$22,000 and proceed $47,000 of grants. Our Global Grants were partnered with Engineers Without Borders and the RC in Sierra Leone. Their total is $80,000 so far.
Right now we are considering 3 District Grant projects, but the third one is not detailed enough now.
First John Scott discussed furnishing protected signage units for $7,000 for local parks.
Gail Micca discussed the second one. It is working with the LCCC Foundation to provide support items for underprivileged students. The cost is about $10,000.
Herb will e-mail those present at this meeting seeking their preferences for the next b.o.d. meeting.
Diana Dunn described the Global Grant to be processed. It is for solar heating panels, computers and training for a much needed Vo-Tech school in Mattru, Sierra Leone. It will be in the $30K to $40K range.
CLOSING:
Pres. Gail led us in reciting our motto, “One profits most who serves best,” and closed the meeting.
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