Today was a Zoom meeting with 34 people on line. After some conversations President Ralph Witcher opened the meeting at 7:30 A.M.
GUESTS ON LINE:
Capt. Nick Millward, Rotary Peace Fellowship winner calling in from Japan; Sharon Goldner, almost a member; and Gisella Morelli, guest of Gail Micca.
HAPPY DOLLARS and MEMBER NEWS:
Ernie Boll is happy to report that it was 74 degrees there in Arizona yesterday.
Ralph Witcher was in Rhode Island and had some issues with the Internet connection.
Barbara Kistler when asked said she was not employed by LCCC, but now is a Trustee for LCCC.
Our prayers go out for Gail Micca’s Father who is in the hospital.
Amir Famili has learned how to make stairs as he volunteers with Habitat for Humanity.
Halyna Stegura called in from The Villages in Florida where they are enjoying warm weather.
Tom Friday is happy about the many beneficial scientific developments over the years. And he thanks his Alma Mater, Howard University.
Halyna and Mike Stegura are very happy that their son, Michael, just got married virtually in a chapel in Philadelphia
Gail Micca is happy that her neighbor, Gisella, is on line with us today. She helped with the fresh produce last week.
Marlene Heller is happy that her Mother got her first covid19 shot two weeks ago and now is scheduled for her second one. Mom is approaching her 100th birthday.
Herb Klotz is very happy to report that the last checks for the 2020 D7430 Purple Pinkie virtual 5K Race to eradicate Polio have been sent in. The total dollars raised across the district is almost $44,000.
Herb also is happy to report that in late March he will finish the last 110 miles hiking the Appalachian Trail. Herb has challenged AW members to donate money to the RI Foundation Annual Fund by sponsoring his hike in some way. An e-mail with details is coming soon.
Amir Famili is happy that soon Johnson & Johnson will be distributing their covid19 vaccine which needs no refrigeration and is 95% effective and requires only a single dose.
Dottie Bloom is doubly happy. She found that distributing food for Kingdom Life clients was amazing. And today she and Rick are celebrating their 42nd wedding anniversary.
Ralph Witcher is happy to say that he loves his wife.
Katrina Sundstrom is happy that one of their son’s school activities is over for another year.
Nick Millward thanks members for attending the webinar and viewing the movie. Also he is happy that he has received good pictures of the new shelter in Mongolia. And our speaker for our Feb. 3rd meeting still is a go.
Pres. Ralph gave a very nice invocation. Then he led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S.
CELEBRATION DATES:
Pres. Ralph displayed the list of January members and their celebration dates.
Pres. Ralph again said “The world needs more Rotarians.”
THE FOUR-WAY TEST EXAMPLE:
Pres. Ralph played the musical rendition video of the 4 Way Test.
Marlene Heller asked for -- but there were none -- volunteers to tell about a recent application of the 4 Way Test in their life.
MEMBERSHIP:
Chair Tom Friday noted that Gisella and Sharon were on with us today. Tom urges us to continue inviting more guests to work with us on projects, and to learn about Rotary by joining our Zoom meetings.
AWRC BOARD MEETING:
Pres. Ralph noted that there was a board meeting yesterday via Zoom and that any of us may attend.
Marlene Heller reported that a survey of 2020 Newsletters shows our % opened is 30 to 50%, with a good rate being 15 to 25%.
It is unlikely that we will get back to face-to-face meetings before July. Plans for these are underway.
LOWHILL FOOD PANTRY THANKS AW ROTARIANS:
Barbara Kistler reports that “I just received a lovely thank you note from Beverly Kistler from the Lowhill Food Pantry thanking us for the 70 Weis gift cards we donated in December and early January. She also says "Please know that the support we receive from the Rotary Club is truly appreciated not only by our Pantry but also the families we serve".
COMMUNITY BIKE WORKS UPDATE:
Here’s a picture of the kids using the tool kits we provided for Community Bike Works with our grant and club funds this year.
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD DISTRIBUTION:
Volunteers from Saturday, January 16 at Kingdom Life Family Center Food Bank: Gail Micca says “We had a good group from Rotary which included Ralph & Pat Witcher, Dottie Bloom, Ron Coleman, Kathleen Ott, RJ, Gail and Ed. Eight is a good number!”
MONGOLIAN RELIEF UPDATE:
Oyungerel Tsedevdamba, Member of Parliament in Mongolia on Feb 03, will be our AW speaker about The Green-Eyed Llama. She also is running for President.
YOUR SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:
P-E Gail Micca e-mailed the following project update:
Green Thumbs Garden Project: If you have a green thumb and like to grow plants from seeds, would you consider making some room under your grow lights for some plants for the garden?
If you or someone you know has the equipment to grow plants from seeds, but you aren't using it, would you consider donating it or loaning it out? This saves the garden budget a good deal. We are also looking into a small greenhouse set up if you know someone who has one.
If you like administrative work, please let Gail know as we can find a good fit for you.
Please take a look at this section on the left side of this bulletin.
SNACK PACKING:
Great effort by Kathleen Ott and Scott Hock to get the food picked up and delivered to the High School. Lori Peters led the Interact Club in packing 268 snackpacks. Thanks team!!
STATUS OF MORNING MEETINGS:
The AWRC B.O.D. has suspended all AWRC face-to-face meetings until further notice. Zoom meetings are now scheduled for each Wednesday at 7:30 A.M.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Wednesday January 27, 2021 starting at 7:30 a.m. We will use Zoom to meet. Our program will be Jane Mann, President Lehigh Valley Therapy Dogs whose topic is Therapy Dogs: a cold nose and soft warm fur are the perfect prescription for a smile.
STATUS OF THURSDAY EVENING MEETING:
No Thursday evening meetings are planned until after the pandemic..
PROGRAM:
Pres. Ralph Witcher introduced Alisha Tatem, Project Director at Freedom School to discuss The Power of Freedom Schools. She is a native of the Lehigh Valley, and serve as the Program Director of Congregational Leaders, engaging in interfaith dialogue and partnerships. She is passionate about working at the intersection of the arts, spirituality, healing and justice. She enjoys learning about new cultures and am committed to building bridges across differences.
Implemented in partnership with the Children's Defense Fund, The Jim Lawson Freedom School provides children and youth grades K-12 within the Allentown School District with a unique educational opportunity to interrupt summer learning loss experienced by many inner city children. The school provides summer enrichment through a research based and multicultural curriculum that support children and families around five essential components:
High quality academic enrichment, and nutrition, health and mental health. The school boosts student motivation to read, generates positive attitudes towards learning, and connects the needs of the children and families to the resources of their communities.
Alisha said that listening to our meeting was a wonderful way to start the morning. She has been with Freedom Schools since 2014.
Alisha introduced us to the word “harambee,” which is a work chant used on the E African coast, also a rallying cry used in Kenya. During the 6 weeks of Summer classes, they start each day with a Harambee. Alisha demonstrated one for us. They get the kids pumped up.
They recruit college students each year as interns to staff the classes. Their training days are long and run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. They teach the kids how to spell, read and write. They say “Knowledge is power.”
Freedom Schools were started in 1964 in Mississippi. A lot of the classes take place in Churches and outside. But it was 1995 when the idea really took off. Now there are 180 schools in the U.S.
Some days they have community leaders come to the classes and read to the students. They also take time to answer the kids’ questions, and questions from parents. The older students read material and then discuss what they read.
Other community leaders come in and teach special things. An example is one about therapy dogs. And they take field trips, e.g. to the DaVinci Center. And they have days of social projects, e.g. encouraging people to register to vote.
Over 150,000 students have had this experience since 1995. And 17,000 adults have been trained to be child advocates.
Some of the ways that we can help this effort are to volunteer our time in a number of jobs. They also seek $90 donations to fund books that each student may keep. Or you can come to class and read to the students.
CLOSING:
Pres Ralph led us in the saying “One profits most who serves best.”
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