Our Greeter today was Gary Englehardt and he did a marvelous job.
President Amir Famili rang the bell at 7:30 A.M. opening the meeting and welcomed all. Then Ernie Boll gave a very nice invocation.
Pres. Amir began the meeting by having the members recite The Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. Then he led us in reciting the Four Way Test. Amir then reviewed upcoming events. He noted the March birthdays and we sang Happy Birthday.
GUESTS:
Just us today.
MORNING MEETING LOCATION:
Pres. Amir noted that some RCs have had to move their meetings out of Retirement Communities. So we are checking our options just in case.
LEARN ABOUT ROTARY:
Pres. Amir noted that this event still is scheduled.
The Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) offers many levels of Rotary education. AWRC will reimburse the registration fee to members that attend the Saturday, March 28 session at DeSales University.
These courses are most worthwhile, especially to our newer members.
MEMBERSHIP MOMENT:
Gwenn Carr announced that the Rotarian of the month of March is Bill Palmer. She presented him with his very own stress relieving squeeze ball.
Gary Englehardt gave candy to the members who volunteered on projects last month.
COMMUNITY BIKE WORKS:
Community Bike Works is an organization which we have supported this year. They will have an open house next week, March 18th. Please, stop by and support their effort.
HIGHWAY CLEANUP IS COMING:
Project Chair, Gail Micca, says It's looking like the date with be Saturday morning, April 4th. Please check your calendars and let her know if you can make it.
PARKLAND C.A.R.E.S. FUNDRAISER:
Please support the March 28th fundraiser.
ENGINEERS WITHOUT BORDERS:
April 5th is the EWB annual fundraiser at DeSales University. Many AW Rotarians support EWB and attend this event.
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.
THURSDAY EVENING SCHEDULE:
TOMORROW, March 12 -- The meeting will be held at the Starlite Diner starting at 5:30 P.M.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
March 18th at Luther Crest with Katrina Sundstrom as our Greeter. The program will be Dr. Bryon Grigsby, President of Moravian College discussing the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of PA, make an impact in Pennsylvania. And we will honor the March Student of the month.
Pres. Amir introduced Sgt.-at-Arms Mitch Huston who conducted the drawings and collected Happy Dollars.
The door prize bag of Godiva chocolates donated by Gary Englehardt was won by Jerry Frank.
The $101 pot of the 50:50 was not won by Al Lewis’ ticket being drawn followed by a white marble. FOUR marbles will be back next time.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Gary Englehardt said that out of an abundance of caution today he sat at a table with people over 60 years old.
Mitch worked the room diligently, but that is all the happiness recorded.
PROGRAM:
The program today was all about OUR APRIL 24-26 DISRICT CONFERENCE. DG Herb Klotz noted that we now have 18 members registered for the conference. More still are needed.
Herb identified two areas of discussion for today, the Conference Program overview, and the AW volunteer areas to be covered. Herb noted that there will be no printed program. Instead the program will be loaded onto your smart phones. And sponsors will be advertised on various monitors around the event rooms.
First, the schedule.
Friday evening - Foundation Gala & Keynote Speaker, Alan Mallory (First Family to climb Mt. Everest). Then afterward is a DJ, and dancing, and hospitality suites by AWRC and by Pottstown RC.
Saturday morning - Breakout sessions including the District Training Assembly. Some Rotarians from D7450 to our south will participate. Then we will conduct the Four Way Test Speech Contest Final.
Saturday afternoon - The Summit where Rotary clubs and organizations will share their successes/fundraisers/projects. There will be an online scavenger hunt with prizes and lots of fun.
Saturday evening will be International Night with appropriate costumes. The Keynote Speaker will be Rotary Director Dr.Stephanie Urchick (Future of Rotary). The event will begin with the traditional Youth Exchange Parade of Flags. Afterwards will be a DJ, dancing and hospitality suites
Sunday – We will prepare a Service Project for the Homeless. and the Closing Program is the Memorial Service followed by the Conference Wrap-Up and video of memories.
The key volunteer needs for OUR conference are:
Sergeants-at-arms led by Barbara Kistler, the Saturday afternoon Summit led by Gail Micca, and the Friday and Saturday evening AWRC Hospitality room led by Dottie Bloom.
Barbara Kistler plans to call members and negotiate a specific volunteer assignment and time -- to provide guidance to attendees during the conference.
Gail Micca needs people to help set up the Summit, staff it for 2+ hours, and then put things away.
Our Hospitality Suite is on the 14th floor. Dottie Bloom needs help setting up and moving supplies, and bartenders for both Friday and Saturday evenings and hosts in the room each evening. She also needs donations of beer, wine, sodas, snacks and paper plates and napkins.
CLOSING:
Pres. Amir closed our meeting by our reciting the saying “One profits most who serves best.”
Photos by Gary Heller
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