Our Greeter today was Dale Heffner and he did a marvelous job.
President Amir Famili rang the bell at 7:30 A.M. to open the meeting and welcomed all. Then Dale Heffner gave a very nice invocation with a special mention of Ronnee Klotz.
Secretary John Scott. began the meeting having the members recite The Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. Then he led us in reciting the Four Way Test. John also reviewed some upcoming events.
GUESTS:
DGN Robert Hobaugh, Esq., today’s speaker; and Laurie Grube, almost a new member.
DONATE TO POLIOPLUS:
Pres. Amir passed around a sign-up sheet seeking donations to match with $500 to total $1,000 for PolioPlus.
LOWHILL FOOD PANTRY:
This great group still depends on cash donations from AW Rotarians. And volunteering for the produce pick-up and distribution on Saturday mornings is a very satisfying thing.
DINING OUT -- SEPTEMBER:
Thursday, September 26th, at 6:00 P.M., at Madeline’s in Fogelsville
THURSDAY EVENING MEETING:
Sept. 12 at WEGMAN’S at 5:30 P.M. is our next meeting.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Sept. 4 with Bill Palmer as our Greeter. AWRC member Diana Dunn will tell us all about the upcoming Sierra Leone Global Grant Project.
PAUL HARRIS FELLOW AWARD:
DGN Bob Hobaugh asked Rev. Jeffrey Kistler to come forward. Bob explained how important the Rotary Foundation is around the world, and how it began with Arch Klumph. He presented Jeff with a PHF +6 award in recognition of Jeff’s generosity.
PAUL HARRIS FELLOW AWARD:
PDG Bill Palmer asked our District Governor, Herb Klotz, to come forward. Bill explained that our 45 club district donated $207,000 to the RI Annual Fund this last Rotary year. The Annual Fund sends half of this money back for our district to use for grants and other good works.
Bill also noted that Herb is a member of the Paul Harris Society that commits to donate at least $1,000 each year to TRF. Herb was awarded a PHF +8 recognition lapel pin.
Thank you Jeff and Herb.
Pres. Amir introduced Mitch Huston who conducted the drawings and collected Happy Dollars.
The door prize Panera gift card donated by Dale Heffner was won by John Scott.
The $43 pot of the 50:50 was not won by Bill Palmer’s ticket being drawn followed by a white marble. Seven marbles will be back next week.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Dale Heffner is happy to report that all of the new shelves now are assembled in the Threads of Change Container stored at the Holiday Inn. This means that the huge piles of donated children’s clothing for Foster Care now will leave Dale’s garage.
Bob Hobaugh happily announced that on September 22nd at the Kutztown vegetable garden there will be a harvest of the potato crop for the hungry.
Jeff Kistler is happy to recommend a book that has just been published.
Laurie Grube is happy that she soon will become an AW member.
Ernie Boll still is happy.
Marlene Heller happily reminds us to sign up for the September Dining Out at Madeline’s.
PROGRAM:
Pres. Amir introduced our District Governor Nominee, Robert Hobaugh, Esq., Rotary Club of Kutztown. Bob is an attorney practicing corporate, finance and commercial law in Berks and Lehigh Counties. He has represented and served on boards of nonprofit corporations for 37 years. He currently is serving as the D7430 Annual Fund Chair for TRF. Bob also is a member of theD7430 International Service Committee. He lives in Kutztown, PA and has been a member of the Kutztown Rotary Club since 1986.
Bob discussed the June 2019 RI Convention in Hamburg, Germany highlighting the fabulous experiences Rotarians and friends have at these events.
The presentation slides showed a picture of the City of Hamburg and a pictures of The World Water Summit that he attended. This is a Rotary Action Group (RAG) that Bob works with. Then there was a photo of the 110th Rotary International Convention opening Plenary session.
The theme of the early pictures is that the City of Hamburg had to rebuild its infrastructure and neighborhoods in an inventive way following WW II. At the same time Rotary International is looking forward to maintaining its best traditions while trying new ideas that will increase membership and diversity. Both the World Water Summit and the Convention had plenary sessions and elective breakout sessions.
The Summit began with presentations by RI President Elect Mark Maloney and prominent German officials who reminded us that $1 of infrastructure in global projects yields $5-6 of economic return.
RI now includes environmental sustainability in each of its 6 areas of focus. Attendees learned that 10% of project costs should go toward evaluation of the project; and that transparency and partnership are the best ways to avoid mistakes in implementing a global project.
The General Session of the Convention could be attended live in a massive hall, or in the “Inspiration Lounge” by video. The themes of the General Session were: (1) Capture the Moment, and (2) Leadership and Integrity; (3) Service; and (4) Diversity and Fellowship.
Bob also summarized breakout sessions on: (1) Rotary in the 21st Century; (2) Change Management; (3) Unconscious Bias; and (4) Telling your Rotary Story.
Bob showed pictures of activities attended with his daughter: (1) the ballet and classical music, (2) open top bus tour of the City, and (3) harbor tour. Other pictures included new and old acquaintances and friends from around the world. He also highlight the House of Friendship displays by Fellowships and Rotary Action Groups.
Bob noted that many of us have attended our district conferences over the years. There we have about 200 at the opening plenary. At the International Conventions there will be about 25,000 attending the opening.
Attending an RI Convention is a great way to stay current with Rotary issues, a great way to see parts of the world -- Honolulu next year -- and a great way to make new friends.
CLOSING:
Pres. Amir closed our meeting by our reciting the saying “One profits most who serves best.”
Good photos are by Gary Heller