Today was a face-to-face meeting at Madeline’s. There were 22 of us in the room, plus 11 more on line.
Our superb Greeter was Ron Coleman, and S-a-A Mitch Huston handled Registration, Happy Dollars and the 50/50.
GUESTS:
PDG Janet Kolepp, Bethlehem Morning Star RC; and Kazi Jahanara, guest of Helen Papathanasiou.
OPENING:
Past Pres. Amir Famili at 7:30 rang the bell and started the meeting. He noted that Pres. Gail Micca was out of the country and may have lost her visa.
Murtaza Jaffer gave a very nice invocation with special mention of Kathy Ott and Dave Dries.
Then Amir led us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the U.S. Amir then led us in the recitation of the Four Way Test to which we added “Is it fun?”
AWRC HISTORY STORY:
Area 1 Woman of the Year, Gwenn Carr delivered the today’s story about the STEM-YEA project and its history and where we are today.
PP Amir asked us to consider volunteering to help for some of the 4 days in July to make the STEM-YEA event a success.
AWRC RECEIVES MULTIPLE AWARDS:
PDG Janet Kolepp asked Immediate Past President, Ralph Witcher, to join her at the lectern. Then Janet read off a lot of awards that AW members had earned in the 2020-21 Rotary Year. And she gave the citations and banners to Ralph.
The awards were for:
AW received a check for bringing in some new members.
We received the Governor’s citation for multiple achievements.
We received a citation for EREY – Every Member Every Year.
We had 100% Rotary Annual Fund giving.
Thanks to Marlene Heller we re-branded AWRC to the new RI brands and improved our Public Image.
Janet gave us some lapel pins, and Ralph has the banners and citations.
WELL DONE, AW ROTARIANS !
AWRC LEADERSHIP NEEDS:
Amir reviewed the b.o.d. and committee chairs elected for 2022-23. And he asked folks to step up and fill some needs:
Vice President
Fundraising Comm. Chair
Co-Chair for the Service Comm.
PERSIAN NEW YEAR:
Amir explained that March 2oth celebrated the Persian New Year. Nowruz is the Persian-language term for the day of the Iranian New Year, also known as the Persian New Year. It begins on the spring equinox and marks the beginning of Farvardin, the first month of the Solar Hijri calendar.
Amir told us of the parties involved.
CELEBRATIONS:
Past Pres. Amir displayed the list of March member celebration events.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
FOR UKRAINE:
Ukraine needs our help. Please contact Gail Micca to donate.
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD BANK:
The next distribution will be on April 9th. Volunteers are needed. Contact Jean Masiko.
HIGHWAY CLEANUP PLAN:
The Highway clean-up project is back !!
Sharon Goldner will lead the event and needs volunteers. Good donuts and good coffee are served.
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:
Please register.
ROTARY DAY OF SERVICE -- APRIL 30:
Jeanne Shipe now has a sign-up sheet. She will lead the AW Rotarians who 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. Volunteers are needed for 10 A.M. to 1 P.M.
PARKLAND C.A.R.E.S.:.
More work this Saturday.
SNACK PACKS:
Pres. Gail will Chair this program for the next 3 months.
Wednesday, April 27th is the next packing event.
The Northwestern Interact students once again are helping make this happen.
MEALS ON WHEELS_
Helen Papathanasiou will Chair the M.O.W. program for the next 3 months. Please let Helen know if you will substitute.
This program is going great.
AWRC GREEN THUMB GARDEN:
Our April 20th in-person meeting will be held at the Parkland Community Library. It will be followed by a tour of the AW Gardens. Bring your family and friends. Food will be by the Buttered Crumb !
HAPPY DOLLARS & 50-50 DRAWINGS:
S-a-A Mitch Huston had tickets drawn. Helen Papathanasiou won the $28 50-50 prize. And David Haight won the $10 door prize.
Gwenn Carr is $25 happy for the Emmaus RC Woman of the Year award.
Herb Klotz has some special Tee-shirts to donate.
Janet Kolepp is happy to be with us today.
Amir Famili said that the Community Bike Works needs bikes.
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.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
March is a five Wednesday month.
Wednesday March 30 via Zoom starting at 7:30 A.M. Come on early and chat. Our program will be Megan Fox, Refugee Coord-Episcopal Church of Med. To discuss The Global Refugee Crisis: A Pathway for Local Community Impact.
PROGRAM:
PP Amir introduced our newest member, Ben Long, Owner Lehigh Valley Water Systems, to give his Classification Talk.
Ben said he has placed some stress squeeze items on our tables so we can relax as he talks.
Ben was born in 1993 in Allentown, PA. He was graduated from Parkland H.S. in 2012 and from DeSales University in 2016. Ben’s Father served on the Parkland H.S board. Ben has two older sisters, both married now.
Ben and family live in Orefield. Ben was a charter member of the Whitehall Area RC.
In 2016 Ben ran for the PA State Representative office. He said that it was not fun. In 2017 he started a new career. Then in 2019 he met his future wife, Nicole, and they got married in June of 2020 during covid and had a small wedding. And in the Fall of this year they are expecting their first child.
Ben joined the family business as a Partner in 2020. His management and marketing skills were put to use.
Ben lists his core values as:
Faith-
Hard Work-
Authenticity-
Ben’s business is Lehigh Valley Water Systems. He describes this as:
To impact every neighborhood in the Greater Lehigh Valley for good, by providing better quality water; all while living for a higher purpose.
They provide local water softening and water filtration expertise.
Ben then showed us a video about his fami;y and his company.
Ben noted that he lacks talent so he has to work really hard.
CLOSING:
Past Pres. Amir led us in reciting our motto “One profits most who serves
best.”, rang the bell and adjourned the meeting.
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