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Rotary Club of
ALLENTOWN WEST
Pres. Ralph Witcher
Area 1 Asst. Gov. Barb Bottitta
District 7430 Governor
Janet Kolepp
 
MEETINGS:
ZOOM  MEETINGS BEGAN ON APRIL 1st, 2020.
Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m.
Hybrid meetings are planned starting in July 2021.
 
WEBSITE

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GREETERS

Pres. Ralph Witcher is  the Greeter while we are using Zoom. Our June 9 hybrid meeting needs volunteers.
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THURSDAY EVE MEETINGS
 
There may be Thursday evening meetings
starting in July 2021 either zoom or hybrid
 
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HAVE YOU MISSED A MEETING?
 
Missed a club meeting? Lucky for you, we record our Zoom meetings! Click the link and then choose which meeting you’d like to view. Use the slide at the bottom if you want to skip over the socialization part of the meeting. We open the formalities at 7:30 am, and presenters begin at 8 am. So even if you missed the meeting, it’s just like being there!
 
The AWRC Youtube.com channel link is:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClHOvGQzfK4z7CUgSQQGqHA
 
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CALENDAR of EVENTS
  
   
     
              June 9 -- Hybrid meeting at Madeline's 1250 Turnstone Dr in Fogelsville at 7:30 a.m.
 
             June 23  --  AWRC annual Changeover ceremony.
 
              June 29 -- Tuesday is the D7430 annual Changeover IN PERSON at Brookside CC, Macungie
 
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NEW TRIBUTE CARDS
   
Send Cards to Support the Allentown West Rotary Club Foundation
 
Send a Thank You, Condolence, Congratulations, Thinking of You, In Honor of, In Memory of, or Just Because card and make a donation to the Allentown West Rotary Club Foundation at the same time. 
 
Our new Tribute Cards are here and ready to send out! You fill in the reason for the card on the top lines and your name on the bottom lines, and mail it out. On the front is a beautiful photograph of a familiar farmhouse in the Lehigh Valley. Inside, recipients will see that the purchase of the card goes to fund the Foundation of our Rotary Club, and they are invited to learn more at our website. On the back is some information about Rotary and our areas of focus.
 
Cards are sold in packs of 5 for $25, plus shipping. To order, go to the Allentown West website at www.allentownwestrotary.org and scroll down to the Tribute Cards. Payment is by PayPal. 
 
 
 
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Please “Like” Us!
 
If you are on Facebook, and you have any sense of Allentown West Rotary Club loyalty, please show it by going to our Facebook page and clicking “Like” in the top bar, right under the cover photo.
 
You can also click “Follow” for extra "brownie points."
 
We are in a pseudo-competition with other clubs in our district, and right now we are in the lower half of the pack, with just over 260 likes. The top of the pack is over 500! You can also invite your friends and family to like us, by sharing any of our posts to your own FB page, and asking your own followers to like us! HELP US FLOAT TO THE TOP! We know how good we are; let’s show everyone else that Allentown West Rocks!
 
Marlene Heller
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Opportunities for Service
 
Your help is needed to:
 
 
Mulching Project Saturday May 22nd at Rodale Park at 7:30 a.m. Sign up with Dennis Houser.
 
Painting project at Lehigh Valley Zoo, TBD
 
Garden care. Contact: Gail Micca gailmicca@gmail.com
 
Purchase, pack and distribute produce on the SECOND SATURDAY of the month
Location: Parkland C.A.R.E.S. Food Pantry
Contact: Gail Micca gailmicca@gmail.com
 
Distribute produce at Lowhill Food Pantry
Location: 4695 Lowhill Church Rd, New Tripoli, PA 18066
Contact: Amir Famili familiamir@gmail.com
 
Distribute food at Kingdom Life Food Pantry
Location: 4333 Lime Kiln Rd, Orefield, PA 18069
Dates: Third Saturday morning of each month
Time: 8:30 a.m.
Contact: Jean Masiko masiko@aol.com
 
 
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CONTACT INFORMATION
AWRC  ACTIVITIES
 
Kingdom Life Food Pantry: Jean Masiko – masiko@aol.com
 
Parkland Snack Packing: Gail Micca – gailmicca@gmail.com
 
Lowhill Food Pantry and Northwestern Snack Packing – Amir Famili familiamir@gmail.com
 
Membership:  Tom Friday – fridaytl@gmail.com
 
Public Image: Marlene Heller  – marleneheller@mac.com
 
TT6:  Len Salines – lenmary3657@ptd.net
 
Dining Out:  Jean Machamer – jeanmachamer@ptd.net
 
Purple Pinkie Services: Barb Kistler barbara.kistler@rcn.com
                          
Purple Pinkie 5K at LCCC: John Scott – johnscottl@msn.com
 
Park Cleanup:  Dennis Houser – houserdah@gmail.com
 
Miracle League:  Barb Kistler – Barbara.kistler@rcn.com
 
Meals on Wheels:  Dorothy Bloom – bloomnbunny@ptd.net
 
Kids of Character: Gwen Pongracz – gwen.pongracz@gmail.com
 
Speaker suggestions:  Ralph Witcher – rwitcher@msn.com
 
Website Editor: Marlene Heller – marleneheller@mac.com
 
RLI:   website www.rlinea.org        
 
Speakers
Jul 21, 2021 7:30 AM
Club Assembly
Jul 28, 2021 7:30 AM
Downsizing & Decluttering Talk
Aug 04, 2021 7:30 AM
What is A Health Advocate and Why You Need One
Aug 11, 2021 7:30 AM
Membership Talk
Aug 25, 2021 7:30 AM
Teacher Mentoring in Rwanda
Sep 01, 2021 7:30 AM
2020-2021 Lehigh Valley 911 Hero's Run
Sep 08, 2021 7:30 AM
Pediatric Cancer Foundation Presentation & Overview
Sep 22, 2021 7:30 AM
Serve to Change Lives
View entire list
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THE WORLD NEEDS MORE ROTARIANS
 
 
Make it your business to share your Rotary story! When you meet someone who isn't aware of all Rotary has to offer personally, professionally, and to the world, it's an opportunity. Let them know you are one of the 1.2 million people in the world who make the world better by serving the community.
 
Offer them the chance to join us for an activity or a meeting to learn more. If you don't ask, they won't know! Be a Rotary Ambassador!
 
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PLEASE SUPPORT OUR
TEMPTING TASTES
RESTAURANT FRIENDS
 
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PHOTO  REQUEST
 
AW Rotarians do a lot of good things and take a lot of pictures. In order to maintain the best quality photos on file, it is requested that the original be sent first to Gary Heller, our RC Archivist at marmel735@me.com.
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AWRC
Board and Committee
 Members for 2020-21
 
 
President - Ralph Witcher
President-Elect - Gail Micca
Vice President - John Scott
Immediate Past President - Amir Famili
 
Secretary - John Scott
Treasurer - Chris Blechschmidt
Sergeant at Arms - Mitch Huston
Service Committee Chair - Kathy Ott
 
RI Foundation & International Grants Chair - PDG Herb Klotz
Fundraising Chair - Len Salines
Public Image Chair - Marlene Heller
 
Membership Chair - Thomas Friday
Youth Services Co-Chairs - Bill and Sue Weber
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SPEAKERS  WANTED
      Please suggest or request speakers and topics for future meetings and send your ideas to Ralph Witcher. 
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TELL  JEAN
 
     As you become aware of any member of our Rotary family who would benefit from our support with cards, flowers, or visits, please notify Jean Machamer at jeanmachamer@ptd.net
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Check out the AWRC
See Home Page link
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Bulletin Editor
Bill Palmer
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
ClubRunner Mobile
MAY 19, 2021
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MORE FACE-TO-FACE
MEETING MEMORIES
 
 
 
 
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           QUOTE of the WEEK --
 
      
      “The help we give to others creates the ripple of good feeling we give to ourselves.”
                ― Gina Greenlee
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DID YOU KNOW?
 
 
OUR ROTARY FOUNDATION GOT 4 STARS AGAIN
 
Measuring our impact ---
 
Last December, for the 13th year in a row, The Rotary Foundation received a four-star rating, the highest possible, from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the United States. Recently, Charity Navigator is augmenting its processes to also assess the impact of nonprofits.
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PLEASE BUY OUR RAFFLE TICKETS
 
 
 
 
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  ROTARY INTERNATIONAL ANNUAL CONVENTION
 
June 12 through 16, 2021
 
This year’s virtual convention will be better than ever, opening more innovative opportunities to learn and to engage with the family of Rotary!
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Zoom Meeting  Notes – May 19, 2021
 
Today was a Zoom meeting with 23  people on line. After some conversations President Ralph Witcher opened the meeting at 7:30 A.M. 
 
GUEST ON LINE:
Brittany Friday, friend of our speaker.
 
HAPPY DOLLARS AND COMMENTS:
Ernie Boll will transport David Haight and Wilmer Schultz (Emmaus RC) from Luther Crest to Madeline’s to attend our June 9th in-person meeting.
 
After 12 years as a South Whitehall Commissioner Tori Morgan is starting a new chapter of her life.
 
Ron Coleman came on and Marlene Heller immediately donned her hat and also a Zorro type mask.
 
Gail Micca came on as she was driving her car.
 
Our speaker for today was on early. And Brittany Friday came on as his friend. Brittany is the Witchers’ daughter married to Tom Friday’s son.
 
Katrina Sundstrom was on from their backyard enjoying the lovely weather.
 
Ralph Witcher is happy for Tori Morgan’s career change, and for  her induction today as our newest AWRC member.
 
Katrina Sundstrom is very happy to report that Parkland C.A.R.E.S. has received a $25,000 grant.
 
Jean Masiko is ecstatic to report that her first granddaughter was born about an hour before this meeting today. Her name is Isabella. Her photo appeared a bit later.
 
Murtaza Jaffer is happy to be participating in a corn hole tournament.
 
CELEBRATION DATES:
Pres. Ralph displayed the list of May  members and their celebration dates.  We applauded.
 
OPENING:
Pres. Ralph gave a very nice invocation with a special prayer for Al Lewis. Then he  led us in the Pledge of Allegiance  to the U.S.  Ralph really likes saying the pledge.
 
 
NEW MEMBER INDUCTION:
Membership Chair, Tom Friday,  conducted the formal, but virtual, ceremony that made Tori Morgan our newest member. And P-E Gail Micca arrived at Tori’s house at that time, gave Tori a big hug, and pinned the Rotary pin on Tori.
Congratulations and welcome, Tori.
 
Pres. Ralph said “What you celebrate, you elevate.”
 
WELCOME GUESTS:
Chair Tom Friday welcomed Brittany Friday, and encouraged us all to invite others to our meetings.
 
Pres. Ralph again said “The world needs more Rotarians.”
 
FOUR WAY TEST:
Pres. Ralph showed  a video “Why Rotary?” that ended with the Four Way Test words. Then he read Marlene Heller’s parallel Four Way TOAST which covered brad, butter, and color, etc.
 
OUR NEW FUNDRAISING RAFFLE:
AW Rotary has begun a fundraising raffle with the proceeds going to Enhance Education through our many scholarships and other youth programs. The winner s will be drawn on June 29, 2021.  See separate Ad. GO TO https://allentownwestrotary.virtualraffle.org to buy tickets.
 
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD CENTER:
Many AW Rotarians and friends volunteered to distribute food items last Saturday. Ralph showed many great photos  --  no masks on.
 
The next distribution will be on June 12th.
 
VETERANS MEMORIAL FUNDRAISER:
“Cake for a Cause” was held at Ontelaunee Park last Sunday to raise funds for our contribution to the new memorial planned. Many thanks to Kathy Ott for her baking contributions.
 
MULCHING VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED:
As we have done many times in the past, our club has been asked to spread mulch on Saturday, May 22 from 8am until the latest 11am at:
Bob Rodale Cycling & Fitness Park, 1148 Mosser Rd, Breinigsville, PA
 
- We meet in the parking lot at 8, Donuts and/or Bagels will be there, bottled water will be there
- Bring a rake!
- There will be piles of mulch placed at the beds by the Park Superintendent IN Advance
- After eating treats and conversing, we will spread the already deposited mulch into the beds.
- It typically takes less than 2 hours.
 
Please respond to Dennis Houser ASAP if you can commit to attending. Please call Dennis if you have any questions.
 
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:
Habitat for Humanity still needs volunteer painters on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Contact Amir.
 
FACE-TO-FACE MEETING DATE:
Wednesday June 9th at 7:30 a.m. AWRC members and guests will meet in person  --  at last  --  at Madeline’s in Fogelsville. It will also have a zoom connection for all who want to call in. The cost is $15 pp and it includes breakfast in a private room on the second floor.
 
AWRC CHANGEOVER:
The plan is to also hold a hybrid meeting at Madeline’s, but details are not yet confirmed.
 
YOUR SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:
Service Chair, Gail Micca, asks that you take a look at this section on the left side of this bulletin. New ones:
 
STATUS OF MORNING MEETINGS:
Starting on June 9 there will be hybrid meetings  probably twice a month, plus all-zoom meetings for two more Wednesdays each month.
 
NEXT  MORNING MEETING:
Wednesday May 26, 2021  starting at 7:30 a.m.  We will use Zoom to meet.  Our program will  be  Jean Gaddy Wilson, Futures Strategist to discuss History of Woman & Journalism.
 
STATUS OF THURSDAY EVENING MEETING:
Thursday evening meetings may be scheduled starting in July as one of the four monthly meetings.
 
PROGRAM:
Pres. Ralph Witcher  introduced Bass Samaan, Owner - Trees of Joy Online Nursery to discuss Growing Uncommon Fruit Trees in the Lehigh Valley.
 
 
During the day, Bass works with Apple, Inc. as an AppleCare Senior Advisor. In addition to raising fruit trees, Bass and his lovely wife are raising twin children!
 
Bass said he is excited to be with us today. This is his first time telling his story using zoom. He said that his site and greenhouse are located about a mile north of the ABE airport. And all are invited to visit.
 
In the backyard of an unassuming suburban home in Bethlehem, Pa., is a global cornucopia of botanical heritage. Almost 300 varieties of fig grow here, most of them with roots in Europe, Asia or Africa, and each one collected and propagated by Bass, who is a Lebanese native with an unusually green thumb and an obsession with figs.
 
Trees of Joy is an Online based Nursery located in a suburb of Bethlehem, PA  cold hardiness zone 6. They’ve been experimenting with growing many types of edible landscaping in their garden.  For the past 15 years they have evaluated different care free fruit trees that are uncommon for the Lehigh Valley area with the purpose of finding the best suitable varieties for the Lehigh Valley climate.  Currently, they have a large collection of Fig tree varieties along with many other different fruit trees, such as Jujube, Pawpaw, Persimmon, kiwis. They also carry the rare Cedar of Lebanon trees.  They ship with USPS priority and UPS.
 
Bass used many photos as he described the characteristics of these trees. The fruits mostly were described as sweet or very sweet. The persimmons are common and do well here. The fig trees like dry heat and need protection in colder weather.
 
During the Q & A period it came out that Bass also is a beekeeper and offers great types of honey. He invites us to visit their website.
 
CLOSING:
 Pres Ralph led us in the saying “One profits most who serves best.”

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 Here is a link to our District Governor's
latest Bulletin

https://rotarydistrict7430.org/bulletin/viewsent/db8e42be-caaf-41e6-9bc1-f1f5202e7fb9/7b2d2723-0d68-474a-a997-12f5562f4154?mid=lrRfPpPdU0M5D2SE5rioU4lBgt4Tj6ZfagrHXOjgiMc=&type=m

 

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D7430  VIBRANT CLUB NEWS
 
The recent edition of the D7430 Vibrant Club News was just sent out and can be viewed at:
 
     https://clubrunner.blob.core.windows.net/00000050086/en-ca/files/homepage/vibrant-club-news---april-2021/Vibrant-Club-News-April-2021.pdf
 
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BIRTHDAYS
 
Gail Micca                           May 11
John Scott                          May 11
Katrina Sundstrom             May 11
Sally Frank                         May 30
Allison Blechschmidt          May 31
 

Anniversaries

 

Dawn & Bob Costello                   May 12 2010      11 years
Allison & Chris Blechschmidt       May 20 2000      21 years
 

JOIN  DATES

 

Ann Bieber                   1 year      May 19 2020
David Haight                3 years    May 23 2018
Shirley Randall            16 years   May 25 2005
Halyna Stegura           24 years    May 28 1997
 
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