President Amir Famili rang the bell at 7:30 A.M. to open the meeting and welcomed all. Then Ernie Boll gave a very nice invocation including a special mention for Ronnee Klotz and Bill Weber.
Secretary John Scott 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. John also reviewed some of the upcoming
P-E Ralph Witcher read aloud the names of members with December birthdays and we sang. Pres. Amir then read the names of members who joined in December.
GUESTS:
Dave Dries, Spring Township RC.
A SURPRISE ROTARY ANNIVERSARY:
Today we celebrated Ernie Boll’s 50 years as a Rotarian with an after meeting party and a special cake made by Nayyer Famili.
Pres. Amir asked Ernie to tell us three things that are significant to him. Ernie said Wife, Sandi; Their children; and being a part of Rotary.
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:
Jan 9 and 23 will be held at the Starlite Diner starting at 5:30 P.M. in the private back room.
HOLIDAYS:
There are no Wednesday morning meetings on December 25 -- Merry Christmas -- nor on January 1, 2020 -- Happy New Year.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
January 8th at Luther Crest with Murtaza Jaffer as our Greeter. Our program will be a Quarterly Club Assembly + Treasurer's Report
CHRISTMAS GIFTS GIVEN:
Pres. Amir presented 3 gifts from AW Rotarians to the staff at Luther Crest that take care of us all year.
Pres. Amir introduced Sgt.-at-Arms Mitch Huston who conducted the drawings and collected Happy Dollars.
HAPPY DOLLARS
Barbara Kistler announced that we are planning a Dining Out at Louie’s Italian restaurant for Friday December 27th at 6:00 P.M.
Bill Palmer is happy that his family will hold their 50th annual bowling party on Christmas Eve Day.
Herb Klotz is happy to report that the ShelterBox website has AWRC listed as the #1 donor at over $5,000.
Herb also noted that the discounts for early registration for OUR 2020 District Conference will end on Dec 31st.
Then Herb donated $20 as a minimum projection for 20 more years with Ronnee -- at least.
Ernie Boll, as usual, is just plain happy.
Al Lewis is happy about the AW sponsored concert with the Harmonizers at Luther Crest last evening.
Al also noted that he has 40 years as a Rotarian.
Gil Keller is happy to report that their granddaughter received a scholarship for college.
Geoff Legg offers congratulations to Ernie.
Gail Micca is happy to be helping a family, thanks to Rotary and Rotarians.
Ralph Witcher is happy for Ernie.
The door prize donated by Gail Micca was won by Chris Blechschmidt.
The $97 pot of the 50:50 was not won by Herb Klotz’s ticket being drawn followed by a white marble. FOUR marbles will be back next time.
PROGRAM:
Our program today was Al Jacobsen, Executive Director of the Allentown Symphony Association. Al, was born and raised in New York City, and has many education degrees. Al, a Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra executive, came to Allentown in October 2018.
Al is the Administrative head of the Allentown Symphony Association which operates the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, El Sistema Lehigh Valley, and acts as the owner/operator of the historic Miller Symphony Hall in downtown Allentown, PA. The Allentown Symphony Orchestra, was founded in 1951.
Al thanked us for asking him to speak today. He said his theme is “Why an Orchestra?” Using slides he began by telling the history of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra (ASO).
The ASO Association is a 501-C-3 foundation. Their mission is to provide a first-class symphony orchestra and Hall, quality performing arts, and cultural education in partnership with the community.
Each year, the ASO performs more than 20 classical, pops, educational, and family concerts. In 2014 and again in 2017, the orchestra received the national American Prize for “orchestral excellence.” With passion and finesse, the Allentown Symphony, led by Music Director & Conductor Diane Wittry, plays time-honored masterworks, newly commissioned world premieres, and intriguing repertoire.
Since joining the ASO in 1995, Music Director Diane Wittry is known for her innovative programming style, using video, dancers, subtitles, and other visuals that give her concerts a sense of occasion. She has been a stellar advocate for music education outreach for all ages and skill levels.
The ASO has received music commissioning grants from the National Endowment of the Arts, and from the League of American Orchestras in support of its El Sistema-inspired program for at-risk youth. The Symphony Association also annually hosts the National Schadt String Competition which attracts top young performers from all over the world. Participants usually do better scholastically.
Al discussed the ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY CHORUS which was founded in 2011 as a professional, auditioned chorus to perform with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra once or twice a year. The Chorus is comprised of approximately 50 voices and features paid Section Leaders and Assistant Section leaders, and a Scholarship Quartet drawn from area colleges and universities.
MILLER SYMPHONY HALL
Serving as a cultural destination for the Lehigh Valley and beyond, Miller Symphony Hall is one of Pennsylvania’s most historic performing arts venues. It serves as home of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra and as a performance space for a range of diverse artistic organizations, creating a vibrant cultural community for the entire region.
The Hall began its life in the 1800’s and was converted to a theatre in 1899 and renamed the Lyric. Today it is one of only a dozen of McElfatrick’s prized ‘Beaux-Arts’ theatres that has survived.
Once the home of vaudeville, burlesque and Broadway-bound theatricals, this beautiful theatre has showcased the comedy of Bob Hope, George Burns and Gracie Allen and many others.
In 1959, the Lyric was purchased by the Allentown Symphony Association (established in 1951) as a permanent home for its symphony orchestra and re-christened Symphony Hall. Since 1990, $12 million has been raised by the Allentown Symphony Association from public and private sources to improve the Hall and turn it into the leading performance venue it is today.
Re-named Miller Symphony Hall in 2012 in honor of the family who saved it and who continue to support it today, the Hall has helped catalyze the redevelopment of Allentown’s urban core. In the Fall of 2018, the Lyric Room -- a cabaret-style space for intimate programming and events, for donors to gather during orchestra concerts and for the public to rent -- was unveiled. Renovations to this historic theatre continue to this day with more plans for future projects.
Al reviewed some of the classical and pops performances coming starting in January again. He noted that there are currently 74 musicians in the orchestra, and they come from NYC, Philadelphia, and Wilmington, for example.
CLOSING:
Pres. Amir closed our meeting by our reciting the saying “One profits most who serves best.”
Photos by Marlene Heller
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