The Greeter this morning was Gary Englehardt filling in and he did a great job.
President Herb Klotz rang the bell at 7:30 a.m. AnnaJean Henry gave a very nice invocation.
GUESTS: Michaela Luzicova, Youth Exchange student; Amir Famli, guest of Mustafa Jaffer; Rod Coleman, Elaine and Len Zemeckis, guests of Sue and Bill Weber.
FOOD PANTRY COLLECTION:
Today was our monthly collection of cash donations to buy fresh produce for the Lowhill Food Pantry.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Last Wednesday we had volunteers snack packing at Northwestern Lehigh HS.
Wednesday and Thursday last week we volunteered at the Lowhill Food Pantry.
May 7th saw the Ontelaunee Park work gang clearing brush. Herb showed a video of the work area.
TODAY is snack packing at NWL HS.
TOMORROW, May 12th is the next Thursday Evening Happy Hour meeting at the Holiday Inn. Join us and bring family and other friends. Hear about Rotary Community Corps.
May 13th is volunteer time at the Kingdom Life Center -- volunteers are needed.
May 14th is the District Training Assembly at DeSales University. All new committee members are urged to attend. Registration is on-line at $31 each.
May 15th is Tempting Tastes 2. Buy tickets and also sell to others, please. Gwenn reported on the walkthrough and gave other info. See separate article.
May 17th is the Million Dollar Journey Dinner in King of Prussia. RI President “Ravi” is the keynote speaker. Tickets are $45 each.
May 18th -- DO NOT COME TO LUTHER CREST -- our meeting is at LCCC with our annual scholarship awards. Come to the Community Services Building -- the one whose bay windows look like silos.
May 18th is snack packing at Parkland HS.
May 18 and 19 is volunteering at the Lowhill Food Pantry.
May 21st, Saturday, is Rodale Park work party, probably mulching. See Dan Crane.
June 6th, Sunday at 1:45 P.M. we need at least FOUR more volunteers at the Miracle League baseball game. Try it; you will feel gooood.
At our June 8th and 9th meetings Herb and Dan will provide a financial review and plan for AWRC.
June 20th, Monday evening, is the annual Camp Neidig BBQ and closing ceremony. It always is great.
Next week AT LCCC our scheduled Greeter is Ernie Boll, and the program will be our annual scholarships award ceremony.
LUCK of the DRAW: --
Today, Gloria Zimmerman won the door prize breakfast. Then Mike Gschwendtner’s ticket was drawn and he pulled out a white marble and did not win the $217 in the 50:50 pot. The odds are getting better, folks- now only 3 marbles left.
FINES:
Substitute S-a-A Geoff Legg fined Dawn for no pin.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Dan Crane happily thanked his Ontelaunee work gang members.
Barbara Kistler, with great joy, announced that today she will give her last final exam and be fully retired from LCCC.
Ray Stock, also very happy, tells us he is now fully retired.
Sue Weber happily announced that guest Rod Coleman will be applying for membership in AWRC. And she is happy that their new neighbors, Elaine and Len, were with us today.
Bill Palmer’s granddaughter, Shaina, cut 19 seconds off her personal best time for the 5000 meter run for Johns Hopkins last Sunday and is the highest ranked Hopkins freshman female runner.
Bill Palmer’s grandson, Nathaniel, also a runner, will be graduated from William & Mary College Cum Laude on Sunday, May 15th.
Jerry Franks is happy that their granddaughter last evening played softball with Parkland vs. Whitehall and got 3 hits and scored a couple of runs.
Dawn Costello’s granddaughter’s track team in the Colonial League finished second in two relay races. She is the fastest.
Dorothy Bloom is most happy to have survived “Prom Weekend.”
MEALS ON WHEELS CITATION:
Dorothy Bloom presented President Herb with a special Citation recognizing AW Rotarians for donating 1,044 labor hours.
PROGRAM:
Area 1 Assistant Governor, Sue Weber, introduced today’s speaker, PDG Dr. Roger Whitcomb, a member of the Emmaus RC. Sue heard Roger speak on the middle east while visiting the Emmaus club and asked him to share his thoughts with us today.
Dr. Whitcomb is a Kutztown University Professor Emeritus in Political Science and International Relations and has specialized in the study of international conflict throughout his career. During his career he has traveled to 123 countries, especially those in political conflict with the United States. He has led groups of community leaders and academics to conflict zones during the height of tension periods in South Africa, Lebanon, the Left Bank in Israel, Nicaragua, Vietnam and Cuba. He has written several books on international relations based on the information gleaned from these trips.
Roger began by acknowledging that AWRC and Emmaus RC are the two best clubs in District 7430. He then gave some world facts as they are in mid-2016. It is his view that the U.S. can no longer dominate the world, nor can we lay back and do nothing.
After 1945 the U.S. found itself in a new situation with its soldiers on the ground in many countries around the world. For a long time the world stage was dominated by the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. which we called the “Cold War.” We had alliances and maintained power to keep the peace.
Then a new era began in 1991 with the collapse of the U.S.S.R. The U.S. became the world’s only “super power.” We started “Globalization” spreading democracy and nation building; all based on the rule of law. Imperial policing is a demanding task. It starts with persuasion and turns to force.
Third world countries questioned the U.S. interpretations. Newer countries began to assert themselves. And there were movements for self-determination. And up until 9-11 our political elite paid little attention to protecting or homeland. Then the Homeland Security Agency was formed. And we had a goal to bring the Islamic nations into U.S. norms. And war became seemingly ongoing, said Roger.
Roger explained that the U.S.’s financial needs at home with 5% of the world’s population we produce 20% of the world’s goods and services, and we pay for 40% on the world’s defenses. Thus we teeter on the eve of insolvency. Unbridled spending cannot go on forever, said Roger.
Roger also says that the human condition in many places does not support our ways. And we lack the resources to keep this going. Roger believes that we need to adjust to the realities of the 21st century world order where we play a lesser role. He gave six suggestions for actions we might take.
CLOSING:
Halyna Stegura hit the right note to start us on a nice rendition of “America the Beautiful.” Then we recited the Pledge to the Flag of the United States and then the saying “One profits most who serves the best.”
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