Today was a Zoom meeting with 42 folks on line.
CHAT TIME:
Gail Micca has traveled from North Dakota to Denver, CO.
Gwenn Carr and Gary Englehardt still are in St. Martin in the Caribbean.
Amir Famili knows today’s speaker through his working with Muhlenberg College. Amir arranged for him to be here today.
Ihor Fedoriw called in today as he was driving somewhere.
Bill Weber was on today still in Hilton Head. Sue was sleeping in.
Len Salines is doing OK and is building up the strength in his injured leg.
Marlene Heller is back home after two weeks in Arizona.
GUESTS ON LINE:
Ingrid Holder, Slatington RC; Chris Potter, Asst. Gov. D7450, PDG B.J. Metz, Easton RC; Mary Ann Pickell, future speaker; and Leilani from the Blue Bell RC. Mark ?, and Steve? Joined later on.
OPENING:
Pres. Gail Micca at 7:30 started the meeting.
Pastor Jean Masiko gave a very nice invocation.
Then Pres. Gail led us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the U.S. Gail then led us in the recitation of the Four Way Test to which we added “Is it fun?”
AWRC HISTORY STORY:
Past President, Barbara Kistler reminded us that In 2014 we teamed up with the Allentown RC and held a luncheon meeting with the U.N. Ambassador from Ukraine as the guest speaker for 200 guests.
Past President, Amir Famili, delivered today’s story about the many AWRC service projects. More will come next week.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Gwenn Carr is happy to report that so far D7430 RCs have pledged to finance 60 students to attend the STEM-YEA 4 day training event this Summer. We hope that more support will come in.
Also, we need volunteers to work those 4 days in any amount of hours you can.
Chris Potter is happy to be with us. He served in our district as an Asst. Governor some years ago.
As a PDG B.J. Metz is happy that he now has completed his third President Elect training sessions.
Amir Famili is happy that he assisted two Afghan refugees to get their driver’s licenses. Now they wish to attend LCCC, but need financial assistance to do so.
Leilani from the Blue Bell RC is happy to be here. She is from Hawaii and is a BBRC Past President. She will ask for some STEM-YEA support there.
While in AZ Marlene Heller spotted a special Rotary sign in a Visitor Center which reminded her that Rotarians are everywhere.
CELEBRATIONS:
Pres. Gail displayed the list of March member celebration events.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
ANOTHER MEETING SITE CHANGE:
We will meet at Madeline’s in Fogelsville starting on March 9th person to person on the second and fourth Wednesdays. A zoom connection will be on as well. The room is on the second floor.
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD BANK:
The next distribution is on March 12.
DISTRICT 7430 ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
Pres. Gail said that right now she, Herb Klotz and the Webers are registered for this event. Try it. You’ll like it.
AWRC 60TH CHARTER NIGHT PARTY:
April 29th at Madeline’s in Fogelsville. Registration instructions are coming soon.
HIGHWAY CLEAN-UP”
LET’S GO, ROTARIANS !
We still need a lead member to make this April OR May event happen this year. Please contact Gail Micca.
ROTARY DAY OF SERVICE -- APRIL 30:
AW Rotarians will work with members of the downtown Allentown RC to operate a day of “Shredding” at the Macungie Center on Brookside Road. Anybody can bring up to 4 boxes of items to be shredded.
Ingrid Holder of the Slatington RC discussed some projects about the Environment that are applicable for this day of service. Sustainability is important as we continue to protect the environment.
SNACK PACKS:
Pres. Gail will Chair this program for the next 3 months.
MEALS ON WHEELS_
Helen Papathanasion will Chair the M.O.W. program for the next 3 months. Please let Helen know if you will substitute.
PARKLAND C.A.R.E.S. FOOD DELIVERY:
This will be on March 5th.
R.Y.L.A CAMP NEIDIG:
Our 2022 Camp Neidig Youth Leadership Program will be held June 17th- June 20th at Camp Manatawny. AW Rotarians are needed to volunteer for this weekend.
SERVICE PROJECT:
See the left side of this bulletin.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Wednesday March 9 IN PERSON at Madeline’s in Fogelsville starting at 7:30 a.m. Come early and chat. Our program will be Arthur Rand, CEO at Baristi Coffee Roasters. Subject: A Cup of Coffee Solves Everything: Roasting the World's Finest (100% Colombian Supremo certified).
PROGRAM:
Program Chair, Ralph Witcher, introduced Dr. Mohsin Hashim, Director of Russian Studies at Muhlenberg College to discuss The International Crises in Ukraine: How and Why it Matters.
Dr. Hashim earned his Ph.D. at Penn State in 2000. He also holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Moscow State University. Dr. Hashim’s research focuses on post-Soviet Russian political and economic transitions. His publications have appeared in Communist and Post-Communist Studies and Problems of Post-Communism.
Dr. Hashim has lived and studied in three continents. He is fluent in Russian and Bengali. He is the recipient of the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching, 2007 and the Paul C. Empie Memorial Teaching Award, 2011. He is an avid cricket and football (soccer in the US) fan.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is the largest attack on a democratic nation since World War II. The global consequences are significant. Not only are more than 40 million lives at risk, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has serious ramifications for European and global security and the international economy.
During this presentation Dr. Hasim discussed the causes and consequence of this conflict. He gave some history of Russian leaders and their beliefs. Yeltsin in 1996 leaned towards the West, but said that Russia wants to be a leader and regain its status.
We agreed that the sanctions are good, but should have been deployed earlier to prevent the war. Now it seems that Putin underestimated Ukraine’s response to the invasion and now Russia is in a corner. Pulling back now labels the effort as a defeat.
Ukraine actually is not qualified to be a part of the European Union yet. But they just applied for an emergency admission. Similarly they are not qualified to join N.A.T.O. This is one issue that really bothers Putin.
That the sanctions have shut down the Russian stock market, and the interest rates in Russia have gone from 9% to 21%. It is possible that another Russian strongman may get Putin thrown out.
CLOSING:
Pres. Gail led us in reciting our motto “One profits most who serves
best.”, rang the imaginary bell and adjourned the meeting.
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