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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 Cedar Creek Farms in Allentown 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
 
              Oct 2  --  D7430 Purple Pinkie 5K race
 
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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:
 
 
Painting project at Lehigh Valley Zoo, June 7th 10 to 4
 
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
Date: Saturday morning June 12th
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 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 26, 2021
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MORE FACE-TO-FACE
MEETING MEMORIES
 
 
 
 
 
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           QUOTE of the WEEK --
 
     “If we people become more helpful to others, there will be much less tragedy in the world!”
               ― Mehmet Murat ildan
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DID YOU KNOW?
 
The NSF has estimated that our brains produce as many as 12,000 to 50,000 thoughts per day depending on how deep a thinker we are.
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AWRC'S MULCHING TEAM
 
Dennis Houser, Len Salines, Jeanne Shipe, Gail and Ed Micca worked happily to spread mulch at Rodale Park on Saturday, May 22nd..  A good time was had by all!
 
 
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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 26 2021
 
Today was a Zoom meeting with  33  people on line. After some conversations President Ralph Witcher opened the meeting at 7:30 A.M. 
 
GUEST ON LINE:
DG Janet Kolepp, Bethlehem MS RC; DGE Bob Hobaugh, Kutztown RC; DGND Diane Donaher, Bethlehem RC; Capt. Nick Millward, Rotary Peace Fellowship winner, calling in from Japan; Michelle Jones, guest of Gail Micca; Andrea  Tinianow; Ethel Drayton-Craig; Brittany Friday  and Tom Kolepp.
 
HAPPY DOLLARS AND COMMENTS:
Ernie Boll and Bill Palmer have a new assignment from Gail Micca to assemble stories from our past almost 60 years to share with today’s member.
 
Our speaker, Jean Gaddy Wilson, was on early and said that she had been listening during our last two meetings to learn about us.
Jean also said that it is very difficult to say “No” to Ralph. To which Ron Coleman said “Be careful, Gail Micca is Ralph2.0”.
 
Race Director, John Scott, said that the D7430 Purple Pinkie 5K Run / walk race will be held on Saturday, October 2nd.
 
Nick Millward said that in two weeks he heads back to the U.S. Over the following months he will leave the Marine Corps, and he will be in the area and will visit us all.
 
Marlene Heller was most happy last weekend when her daughter celebrated their 15th anniversary. The two grandkids were with Marlene and Gary with lots of hugs and fun.
Marlene also is happy to be celebrating her Mother’s 100th birthday this Saturday. Marlene has put together a detailed memory collage of photos for Mom.
 
Kathy Ott is happy to be at the Jersey shore in Avalon.
Tori Morgan said she also is in Avalon.
 
Nick Millward is happy that they recently connected with another Orphanage in Mongolia with 24 kids and he has photos of them opening the “Goody Bags” that were sent there.
 
Amir Famili just returned from the Dominican Republic where, to his surprise, he DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. And they plan to go again.
 
Tom Friday is happy that they are celebrating their granddaughter’s third birthday. AND another granddaughter is due in July.
 
Marlene Heller is happy to report that Bill Palmer’s perseverance with ClubRunner has stopped our e-mail blocking problem.
 
Tori Morgan, calling in from the hotel lobby in Avalon, is most happy that their son, Sam, has been graduated from Muhlenberg College and is headed to Law School.
 
Ralph Witcher is $10 happy that son, Seth, will be interviewed by ABC Action News today, and then by CH 69 TV.
 
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.
 
 
WELCOME GUESTS:
Chair Tom Friday welcomed our guests on line. DG Janet Kolepp, said that AW Rotarians inspire her.
 
Pres. Ralph again said “The world needs more Rotarians.”
 
FOUR WAY TEST:
Pres. Ralph showed  the upbeat musical video featuring the Four Way Test and then read the items to us, including Marlene’s Four Way TOAST add-on/
 
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 article.
We need your help to insure our programs can continue into 2022. Go to https://allentownwestrotary.virtualraffle.org to purchase a raffle ticket  --  or three.
 
ONE TIME GUESSING GAME:
In recent weeks we updated our RC records with many missing data. Now we have the birthdates of 60 of our total of 64 Active members.
 
So for a free raffle ticket Pres. Ralph invited members to give us their best guess as to the Average Age of those 60 members.
Jean Masiko was the winner with an estimate of 63.3 years vs. the official average of 62.9 years. Congrats, Jean.
 
MULCHING PROJECT DONE
Dennis Houser and his team spread mulch on Saturday, May 22nd. See separate article.
 
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD CENTER:
The next distribution will be on June 12th. Please volunteer to Jean Masiko.
 
SHELTERBOX, USA NEED:
Please consider donating to purchase a ShelterBox at this time of need. Some AW club funds also will be donated.
 
ZOO PAINTING PROJECT:
On June 7th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Lehigh Valley Zoo needs volunteers to paint.
 
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:
Habitat for Humanity still needs volunteer painters on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Contact Amir.
 
FACE-TO-FACE MEETING DATE  -- LOCATION SITE CHANHED:
Wednesday June 9th at 7:30 a.m. AWRC members and guests will meet in person  --  at last  --  at Cedar Creeks Farms Clubhouse AT 923 Tennyson Dr · (610) 336-8975 in Allentown.  It also will have a zoom connection for all who want to call in.
 
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 June 2, 2021  starting at 7:30 a.m.  We will use Zoom to meet.  Our program will  be  Andy Phillips, New Club Member Classification Talk.
 
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 Jean Gaddy Wilson, Futures Strategist, to discuss personal assessment as we look to the future.   Ralph has known Jean for about 10 years and says she is a Mover and a Shaker.
 
 
Jean Gaddy Wilson provides a Think Tank with senior leaders from a variety of industries and global pursuits. Jean's clients take a disciplined and imaginative look at current business reality so they may create organizations NOW that will survive the future onslaught of technology, culture change and chaos.
 
Revolutions hurt people. Jean inspires her clients get ahead of the revolution to ride the winds of change using some of the best futurist intelligence, global intelligence, breaking news, scientific, medical, technological and graphical innovation.
 
BACKGROUND
Former Pulitzer Prize Judge, Intelligence Work for The Department of Defense (TSSCI Clearances), Faculty Administrator at The University of Missouri School of Journalism, Lifetime Achievement Award from The University of Missouri, Crises Management Consulting, Media Think Tank Founder, Elected School Board Official, Political Campaign Manager, Created a Hydroponic Fresh Food Company
 
#1 BEST SELLING AUTHOR
Working With Words 9th Edition 2016 Answering the Call 2014
 
INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Delivered over 300 Keynote Speeches about “The Future and How You Can Possibly Fit in It” across the Globe in France, Panama, Tokyo, Australia, Greece, USA, Japan, Chile, Italy, Turkey and Canada
 
NON-PROFIT WORK
Founded three not-for-profit organizations: New Directions for News (Media Think Tank), The National Women and Media Collection and Journalism & Women’s Symposium. She also  was  instrumental on the International Women and Media Foundation
 
PERSONAL BEST
Climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2014!
 
Jean provided a very enlightening discussion on "From Beforeland to Tomorrowland - Your last totally Zoom Pandemic(maybe)."  During this discussion, we  learned  how we create a review of the future and how we  create forward. 
 
Jean said that this was her first time as a 100% zoom speaker. She also explained that she was calling in from the bottom level of a Feed Store about 15 miles from her home in Missouri.
 
Jean said that her Grandma Gaddy lived in PA and then migrated westward ending in Nebraska. Grandma lived to see the introduction of TV to the world.
 
Jean noted that she is from a Science family, but that she stumbled into a Journalism career. And she really does not like to write.
 
Jean emphasized that it is up to each of us to create our own future. To make us think Jean posed a series of questions we can ask ourselves.
First she asked each of us to write down three words that we think would describe ourselves.
 
2. Write three words that our Rotarian friends would say describes us.
Most of us have never examined what we bring to every interaction.
 
3. Write down what we were doing in January 2020 as we became aware of the covid19 pandemic.
Then add some details of you family and lives, and then save it. This pandemic was a pivotal event that fostered many changes in our lives.
 
4. What will you be doing in January 2022?
 
5. What are the FIVE new things that we will do before July 4th?
One idea would be to give energy to something. Another might be to say “No” to something.
 
Jean says that “The future is right on the end of our nose.”  We are in a “Jump” time with big changes. E-commerce has changed many things. Healthcare may be delivered by Amazon. And do not worry about predictions.
 
Focus on preparation. What can you do that no one else can do? This is an exciting time for us.
 
CLOSING:
 Pres Ralph led us in the saying “One profits most who serves best.”
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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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