banner
Rotary Club of
ALLENTOWN WEST
Pres. Ralph Witcher
Area 1 Asst. Gov. Barb Bottitta
District 7430 Governor
Janet Kolepp
 
MEETINGS:
ZOOM  MEETINGS BEGAN ON APRIL 1st
Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m.
 
WEBSITE
_______________
 
Here are the AWRC
Board and Committee
 Members for 2020-21
 
 
President - Ralph Witcher
President- Elect - Gail Micca
Vice President  -  John Scott
Immediate Past President - Amir Famili
Secretary -John Scott
Treasurer - Chris Blechschmidt
 
Sergeant at Arms -     Mitch Huston
Service Committee Chair - Gail Micca
 
RI Foundation and International Grants Chair - PDG Herb Klotz
Fundraising Chair - Len Salines
 
Evening Meeting Chair  -
 
Public Image Chair - Marlene Heller
 
Membership Chair - Mustafa Jaffer
 
Youth Services Co-Chairs - Bill Weber and Sue Weber

  ________________

GREETERS

Pres. Ralph Witcher is  the Greeter while we are using Zoom.
_______________
 
THURSDAY  EVE EETINGS
 
The next Happy Hour meeting will be Thursday evening July 23rd starting at  5:30 P.M.
_________
 
CALENDAR of EVENTS
 
 
      July 27  --  NEW DATE --  District Changeover VIA  ZOOM.
     
      Oct 24  --  Yvette Palmer 5K race to end Polio at LCCC in Schnecksville
Speakers
Aug 26, 2020 7:30 AM
20-21 District 7430 Annual Club Visit & Kickoff Presentation
Sep 02, 2020
Challenges and opportunites in running the Allentown police dept
Sep 09, 2020 7:30 AM
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Emotional Wellbeing of "School-Aged" Children in the Lehigh Valley
Sep 16, 2020 7:30 AM
Polio Truths
Sep 23, 2020 7:30 AM
Valley Youth House: Serving Vulnerable Youth & Families in our Region
Sep 30, 2020 7:30 AM
Vaccines Work: RI's Focus on Disease Prevention
Oct 07, 2020 7:30 AM
Creating the American Dream
Oct 14, 2020 7:30 AM
Classification Talk
View entire list
_______________ 
PHOTO  REQUEST
 
AW Rotarians do a lot of good things and take a lot of pictures. In order to maintain the best quality photos on file, it is requested that the original be sent first to Gary Heller, our RC Photographer.
____________ 
 
MEMBERSHIP  IS  EVERY  MEMBER'S  BUSINESS
 
Each of us should seek out good candidates for our Rotary Club. Ask them to breakfast or to our Thursday evening meeting.
 
 
___________ 
 
Excuse me, do you have her email?
 
Yes! And so do you!      If you are a member of Allentown West Rotary, you have a ClubRunner (CR) account, and your phone number and e-mail address are in CR.
 
Need to contact a member for any reason? Download the ClubRunner app – it’s free, of course – and sign in! If you don’t know your password and login information, call Bill Palmer, and he will walk you through the process.  Why Bill? Because everyone knows how to get in touch with him! (Hint: just reply to this newsletter!)
 
Why would I want to use ClubRunner?
 
ClubRunner helps to organize us as a club. It is the platform for all our communications, and offers members an opportunity to stay in touch on various levels.
 
Here are just some reasons people use CR:
  • To call a member on club business, such as to get a ride to a meeting, find out the logistics of an event, or ask for help in getting club business done.
  • To make plans for a social gathering.
  • To check on their birthday so you could send a card. Or their address, same reason.
  • To check on their address before you head over to their house for an event, meeting, or to drop something off.
  • To find their email or phone number. Or work address.
  • Because you’ve forgotten the name of their spouse and you were up all night trying to remember it.
  • Find out the proper spelling of a member’s name.
     
What’s your best use of Club Runner?
 
                            By Marlene Heller
__________ 
 
SPEAKERS  WANTED
      Please suggest or request speakers and topics for future meetings and send  your ideas to our President, Amir Famili.
_________
 
LOWHILL FOOD PANTRY:
 
Please remember that the Collection jar is at the registration desk for cash and check contributions.
_______________
 
TELL  JEAN
 
     As you become aware of any member of our Rotary family that would benefit from our support with cards, flowers or visits, please notify Jean Machamer at jeanmachamer@ptd.net
__________
 
CONTACT INFORMATION
AWRC  ACTIVITIES
 
Kingdom Life Food Pantry:-  Jean Masiko – masiko@aol.com
 
Parkland Snack Packing:--  Gail Micca gailmicca@gmail.com
 
Lowhill Food Pantry and Northwestern Snack Packing: Amir Famili 
 
Membership:     Mustafa Jaffer mustafa@ebclv.com
Public Image  --  Marlene Heller  --  marleneheller@mac.com
TT6:  Len Salines – lenmary3657@ptd.net
 
 Dining Out:  Jean Machamer – jeanmachamer@ptd.net
 
Evening Meeting :  Barbara Kistler  barbara.kistler@rcn.com
 
Purple Pinkie Services: Barb Kistlerbarbara.kistler@rcn.com
                          
Purple Pinkie 5K at LCCC --  John Scott --     johnscottl@msn.com
 
Park Cleanup:  Dennis Houser – houserdah@gmail.com
 
Miracle League:  Dale Heffner – dheffner@electrochemical.net
                             Barb Kistler – Barbara.kistler@rcn.com
 
  Meals on Wheels:  Dorothy Bloom – bloomnbunny@ptd.net
 
Kids of Character:  Gwen Pongracz – gwen.pongracz@gmail.com
 
Speaker suggestions:   Amir Famili
Website Editor: Marlene Heller  marleneheller@mac.com
 
RLI:   website www.rlinea.org        
 
Threads of Change - Foster care support --  Dale Heffner  dheffner@electrochemical.net
                         
____________
 
Check out the AWRC
Facebook Page
See Home Page link
__________ 
 
Bulletin Editor
Bill Palmer
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
ClubRunner Mobile
______________________  
 
MORE FACE-TO-FACE
MEETING MEMORIES
 
 
 
 
 
 
__________
  
         QUOTE of the WEEK --
 
“A life lived helping and serving others is always interesting and beneficial.”
               Eric M. Watterson
________________ 
DID YOU KNOW ?
 
What is the “plus” in PolioPlus ?
 
With decades of experience stopping polio outbreaks, Rotary and our partners have a critical role to play in protecting communities from the COVID-19 pandemic, just as we did with Ebola, yellow fever, and avian flu.  From Pakistan to Nigeria, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is supporting governments in their COVID-19 response efforts. This truly represents the “plus” in PolioPlus.
 
When we talk about PolioPlus, we know we are eradicating polio, but do we realize how many added benefits the programme brings? The ‘plus’ is something else that is provided as a part of the polio eradication campaign. It might be a hand-operated tricycle or access to water. It might be additional medical treatment, bed nets, or soap.
 
___________ 
 
A  GREAT  LOTTERY  RAFFLE !
 
Our 2020 Community Fundraiser
 
 
ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO FEED THE HUNGRY AND SUPPORT OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS AS WE DO EACH YEAR.
 
     THREE PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO THE WINNING TICKETS  --  $1,000,  $500,  AND $250.
 
 
          WINNING TICKET NUMBERS WILL BE DRAWN ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2020.
 
 
TAKE A CHANCE  --  BUY TICKETS ON OUR WEBSITE
 
The Community projects include:
FOOD SCARCITY
         9,000 pounds of fresh produce delivered to the Lowhill Food Pantry in 2019
         5,000 snack Packs for the Parkland School District & Northwestern Lehigh School Districts
         Meals on Wheels – provided coolers to keep food cold
 
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
         Post-Secondary School Scholarships – Northwestern Lehigh & Parkland School High Schools & Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC)
         Lehigh Valley Youth Leadership and Ethics Conference
         Camp Neidig – Youth Leadership Programs
         Community Bike Works
         Dictionary Project for Third Grade Students
 
INTERNATIONAL
         Engineers Without Borders – Sierra Leone – construction/ renovation of medical facilities
         ShelterBox – international charitable disaster relief International Youth Exchange Program
         International Educational Scholarships – Shinsen Children’s Orphanage – Japan
____________ 
 
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR
TEMPTING TASTES
RESTAURANT FRIENDS
_______________
 
Allentown West Rotary  Club
ZOOM Meeting Notes  July 8, 2020
 
Today was a Zoom meeting and there were about 30 of us on line. After 15 minutes of talking amongst ourselves our Greeter and President Ralph Witcher opened the meeting at 7:45 A.M.  Pres. Ralph  gave a very nice invocation;
 
GUESTS ON LINE:
Capt. Nick Millward,  a Peace Fellowship candidate calling in from Japan; Nick’s Parents were on too: DGE Bob Hobaugh, Kutztown RC; Jennifer Hollman, Supt. Northwestern Lehigh; and Nandine, Nick’s girlfriend.
 
Pres. Ralph began the meeting noting that wife, Pat, is still by his side after 37 years. He then had the members recite The Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. Then he put up a slide of the Rotary Four Way Test and asked Marlene Heller to take over.
 
 
Marlene suggests that instead of our members reciting the test each meeting, we ask for a volunteer or two each meeting to give us a current example of ethical behavior in their lives. We all seemed to approve. Marlene gave her own example relating to helping hospital workers with masks that do not rest on their ears.
 
 
 Pres. Ralph put up a slide and read aloud the names of members’ birthdays and anniversaries in July. Added to the list was that Marlene and Gary Heller are celebrating 45 years of marriage.
 
OUR NEW FUNDRAISER:
See separate article.
Dennis Houser reports that 46 Raffle tickets have been sold so far. Jean Machamer says she is waiting to get higher ticket numbers.
 
 
Pres. Ralph advocates that members buy raffle tickets each week in lieu of the breakfast that they did not buy.
 
MORNING MEETINGS;
The AWRC B.O.D. has suspended all AWRC face-to-face  meetings until further notice. Zoom meetings are now scheduled for each Wednesday at 7:30 A.M.
 
NEXT  MORNING MEETING:
Wednesday July 15th starting at 7:30 a.m.  We will use Zoom to meet together with appropriate distancing. Our program will be  none other than our own Dr. Bob Gordon re "Researching telepsychotherapy during the pandemic and what can we learn about keeping our relations.”
 
HAPPY DOLLARS  and  MEMBER NEWS:
Pres. Ralph conducted this part and kept score on who owes how much money.
 
Bill and Sue Weber were on line and Bill says his surgery last week went very well. He got a “twofer” when his surgeon removed Bill’s gall bladder he also fixed an umbilical hernia issue too.
 
Within a minute of Bill Palmer’s picture appearing, it was noticed that he went from a ponytail to a crewcut hair style.
 
Brad Maier is happy that they got outside dining at Youell’s restaurant
 
Herb Klotz called in from Ashville, S.C.
 
Jeanne Shipe was wearing a Rotary shirt today.
 
Barbara Kistler said that she very much likes our updated AWRC website. Marlene smiled.
 
Jean Machamer waved a picture of Seth Witcher from his TV performance. Ralph smiled.
 
Sue Weber is happy that husband Bill is doing so well.
 
Ralph Witcher is happy for the Webers.
 
Herb Klotz is pleased to announce that on July 1, 2021 he will take on a two year stint as our Zone 32 Coordinator promoting membership growth. Congratulations, Herb.
 
 
Our speaker, Nick Millward was happy that his parents were on line with us today, and also his girlfriend called in from Mongolia.
 
PROGRAM:
Past Pres. Amir Famili introduced Captain Nick Millward to tell us about his Journey from Northwestern Lehigh Interact Club to United States Marine Corps. Amir says it is a wonderful success story with a NWL Interact student as a start.
 
 
Nick thanked his Parents, saying that they trained him by providing good examples. He mentioned that his Mother taught school at NWL.
 
Nick then thanked Gloria Zimmerman, former AW Rotarian, for getting him in touch with Amir  which lead to his current application to become a Rotary Peace Scholar.
 
As a High School Junior he was one of the early Interact students with club President, Christine Nagle, Bob Nagle’s granddaughter. Nick commends Rotary for its principles of service which are among those guiding his life.
 
Captain Nicholas H. Millward, United States Marine Corps, currently serves as the Executive Officer for Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Pacific. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 2014, with a degree in International Studies.
 
After Commissioning in the USMC, he was stationed at 2d Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He deployed with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and assumed Company Command upon his return.
 
He then requested to be stationed in Japan in order to increase his situational understanding of the dynamic area of operations.  While living in Japan, Nick was elected president of Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS), a non-governmental organization that promotes the study of strategic, diplomatic and legal issues affecting the Asia-Pacific region.
 
Nick has conducted extensive research on the subversion of ethnic minority groups in Central Asia and looks forward to authoring work in this field of study.
 
Nick spoke of his 3 months of obstacle training in the Summer that were the roughest ever. Only 60 of 114 completed the ordeal.
 
He also recounted his 170 days at sea out of 180 days assigned in the Mediterranean sea. There the ship was bombing Isis targets.
 
He also enjoyed his training assignment with Sri Lankan Marines. It went over Christmas and there was much celebrating for Christians.
 
Nick requested to be assigned to Japan. Since there he has traveled to 12 countries. And he has worked with many Embassies.
 
Nick’s experience with the Orphanage in Japan made him appreciate the problems of the single parents whose husband has left them to go home to another country.
 
Nick said he will be leaving the Marines next year. He believes that he can better serve others in civilian work, and plans to start in Mongolia. And at some point he will join a Rotary club.
 
Nick thanked us for the scholarship that we donated. And he answered  some questions.
 
CLOSING:
Pres. Ralph led us in the saying “One profits most who serves best.”

_________________ 

 Here is a link to our District Governor 's latest NBolletin

https://rotarydistrict7430.org/bulletin/viewsent/bb822a41-0000-4433-ba9b-31e6f3f9672d/1576d8d7-b97f-421a-b107-279505f3c4fa?mid=3lQWE6pTOj7vY2BIXMkb31I4ZOEQ2CGJayL+v1Sq0fM=&type=m

____________
 
BIRTHDAYS
 
Al Lewis,            Jul 01
Mustafa Jaffer   Jul 05
Gary Heller        Jul 21
Wendy Weaver  Jul 21
John Pongracz  Jul 26
Bob Machamer  Jul 28
Bob Costello      Jul 29
Halyna Stegura Jul 30
 
 

Anniversaries

 

Sandi & Ernie                       Jul 06 1956         64 years
Sukaina & Mustafa Jaffer     Jul 06 2001         19 years
ears

JOIN  DATES

 

Bob Nagle          28 years   Jul 01 1992
Jeffrey Kistler    16 years    Jul 07 2004
Lori Peters         1 year        Jul 12 2019
Amir Famili        4 years      Jul 20 2016
Mike Gschwendtner  10 years    Jul 21 20
 
 
ENDPOLIONOW_4p Image