Today was a Zoom only meeting with 22 of us on line.
We started at 7:15 A.M. with chatting as folks came on.
CHAT STORIES:
Marlene Heller’s background today was taken from her daughter’s Mothers Day card.
Ron Coleman is looking forward to “My sit on my Butt Beach Day” over the 4th of July.
Tori Morgan was drinking out of her AWRC 60th Anniversary mug this morning. Gail Micca saw Tori’s mug and went and got her own to use.
Ron Coleman served on the board of directors of today’s speaker’s Neighborhood Center from 2010 to 2015.
It turns out that Tori Morgan hates milk on her cold cereal, and eats it dry.
Tori Morgan told us about driving her Corvette to our 60th Anniversary Party. It seems that she forgot to lock down the hard top and it almost blew off.
Gail Micca discussed the fabulous soil in the Garden at the Library.
GUESTS ON LINE:
Just us today.
OPENING:
Pres. Gail Micca rang the bell at 7:30 and started the meeting.
Chuck Ehninger gave a very nice invocation.
Then Ron Coleman led us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the U.S. – we did it quite well. Pres. Gail then led us in reciting the Four Way Test, adding “Is it fun?”
CELEBRATIONS:
Pres. Gail displayed the list of May member celebration events.
AWRC ANNUAL CHANGEOVER:
Pres. Gail Micca announced that our changeover will be on June 22nd at Madeline’s in Fogelsville.
DISTRICT CHANGEOVER:
Celebrate our 2021-2022 Rotary Year under District Governor Bob Hobaugh and Welcome our new 2022-2023 District Governor Len Gieseler.
The Rotary District 7430 Changeover Dinner is on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, from 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location is Brookside Country Club, Pottstown, 850 N. Adams Street, Pottstown, PA 19464
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The 60th Party Hat Contest awards will be announced at our club Changeover meeting.
AWRC GREEN THUMB GARDEN:
Pres. Gail and Debbie Jack worked the garden on May 12 with 13 volunteers – some Interact students and friends. Each garden section has a theme.
Gail said we have a busy week ahead of us with planting the large garden. If you would like to help, please use the sign-up genius to find a date that works for you. You may also sign up to water the library garden that was planted last week. We can review the process.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904044faead23a1fe3-garden4
In addition to planting this week, we will need ongoing maintenance, watering, weeding and we have a few special jobs such as:
- building trellises
- laying down drip tape and setting up the water system at Cedarbrook
- filling water tanks
- seeding cucumbers and beans
FAMILY PROMISE:
Gail Micca went there and delivered some bananas. She found a need for seeds and returned with them and taught a family how to plant and care for them.
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD BANK DATE CHANGE:
The next distribution is on May 28th. After that the dates are:
June 11 July 16
August 13 September 10
October 15 November 19
December 10
PARKLAND C.A.R.E.S.:
Karen Rodgers needs volunteers for Tuesday June 14.
SNACK PACKS:
The next snack packing at Parkland H.S. is on May 25.
Diana Dunn and Clay Reilly will lead this starting in the next Rotary year.
MEALS ON WHEELS
Helen Papathanasiou is Chairing the M.O.W. program. Please let Helen know if you will substitute.
Ron Coleman served yesterday and said that the people are so grateful and appreciative of this work.
FIFTH WEDNESDAY MEETING:
Pres. Gail said that we will meet in the evening at The Green Thumb Garden and have a pot luck supper.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Herb Klotz is happy to say that his daughter, Kathleen, was married last Saturday in North Carolina.
Clay Reilly is $100 happy that their son just earned a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from U.S.C.
Ralph Witcher is happy that their son, Seth, is launching a new song of his own.
Also Seth is being interviewed in Nashville to join a touring group.
Jill Kearney is $5 happy about the new garden plants. She is most happy to be an AW Rotarian.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Wednesday, May 25 IN PERSON at Madeline’s in Fogelsville starting at 7:30 A.M. Come early and mingle and chat.
Our program will be an AWRC Assembly with President Gail Micca leading the committee reports and discussions.
PROGRAM:
Program Chair Ralph Witcher, saying that we have a real treat this morning, introduced Karen Berard, Exec Director at The Neighborhood Center, to discuss Keeping Kids Safe.
Karen’s Bio. -- “I graduated from Emmaus H.S. in 1982. After High School I went to NACC where I took Early Childhood Classes. Then I went to LCCC and took Criminal Justice classes.
“I went to work and then got married to Andre Berard in April 1987 and we have two children, Brittany and Bryson. Our children are both married and we have three grandchildren. I live in the center city of Allentown. I have a cottage at Waldheim Park where I spend my summers.
“When my children were a little older I went back to work in the Allentown School District as a para-professional at Lincoln Early Childhood Center. I decided to go back to college at LCCC and I got my Associate Degree in Education in 2003. Then I went to DeSales and I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Ed with a Minor in Criminal Justice. I graduated in June of 2006 – the same year my daughter graduated from William Allen High School.
“I’ve been the Executive Director for The Neighborhood Center since October 1, 2007. I started programming for the Elementary Program on November 1, 2007. That following year September 2008 I started a Pre-K Class for children who were four years old and a Teens Program. We were at 435 N. 7th St., with St. Luke’s Church.
“In October 2019, we started to pack up The Neighborhood Center and we moved to the back of the Salvation Army Building which is ½ block away from where we were at 344 N. 7th St. We started programming again on November 1, 2019.
“Our goal here at The Neighborhood Center is to help keep kids off the streets of Allentown, and to provide positive programming for the families that attend. We are in the Jordan Heights Area. All our families come from low-income households. We thrive on grants and donations. All our kids attend at no cost to them.
“I am on the Waldheim Park Board, and I run the pool. I like to swim and get a tan. I attend Horizon Church.
About The Neighborhood Center
Mission: Transforming the lives of children and their families in the Seventh Street community through education, leadership and positive choices.
With grants, fundraising, and corporate/individual giving last year, The Neighborhood Center continues to serve over 100 youths, ages 4-18, with programming including a Pre-K class, after-school programs, and summer programming. The guiding principles of all its youth programming are to: provide a safe haven, promote positive life choices, and promote and strengthen community relationships.
The Neighborhood Center operates with an employed staff of seven – an Executive Director, two Elementary Program Coordinators, a Pre-K Teacher and two assistants, a Teens Coordinator and an assistant – and a host of committed volunteers. Volunteers come from area colleges, local church and civic groups, and Lehigh Valley businesses and corporations; in addition, concerned parents and community members also volunteer.
The attendees are about 10% Pre-K, 80% 1st to 6th grade, and 10% Teens. Depending on the group, they are taught Art -- all kids love this – Reading, History, Math, and proper health issues.
Some children have unwashed clothing and smell a bit. They would like a small washer and dryer for the kids benefit.
They always can use volunteers as well as financial support. And they need help with their garden. They have Newsletters available to keep you informed.
CLOSING:
Pres. Gail led us in reciting our motto “One profits most who serves best,” rang the bell and adjourned the meeting.
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