Today was a zoom meeting. There were 23 of us on line.
GUEST:
Peter Wohlsen, soon to be inducted as a member; Nick Millward, Peace Scholar calling in from Australia; and C. D. Pandya, guest of Laurie Grube.
CHAT TIME NOTES:
Halyna Stegura was on first today and our guest, C.D. was early and welcomed.
Nick Millward said that his classes started last week, and they are amazing.
We discussed the G. I. bill which Nick might use. Ernie Boll said when he got out it paid $90 a month. Nick said that today it pays $1,800 a month.
OPENING:
President Gail Micca started the meeting at 7:30 A.M.
Marlene Heller gave a very nice invocation about being grateful.
Ron Coleman led us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the U.S.
Then Chuck Ehninger led us in the recitation of the Four-way Test, and added “Is it Fun?”
CELEBRATIONS:
Pres. Gail displayed the list of August member celebration events. Gail noted the Webers’ anniversary of 57 years of marriage. The list is shown below.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
AWRC ANNUAL PICNIC A HUGE SUCCESS:
See separate article.
FRESH FLOWERS FOR SALE:
See separate article.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT:
Tori Morgan said this event last evening was a great success with $600 raised for Parkland C.A.R.E.S. We may have a new member because of our Rotary booth, ten of AW Rotarians there selling hot dogs, and Marlene Heller’s great new flyers.
MEALS ON WHEELS:
Helen Papathanasiou still needs more volunteers. They would be substitutes with sporadic assignments.
GREEN THUMB GARDEN:
Our garden is giving us great produce to go to food pantries.
PARKLAND C.A.R.E.S.:
Their food pantry work day has changed from Saturdays to Tuesday evenings.
Karen Rodgers needs help next Tuesday.
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD BANK:
WE NEED HELP -- JEAN MASIKO IS AWAY for the next distribution set for August 13th.
CASINO NIGHT:
The next planning meeting is on August 8th at 7:30 P.M.
There will be a tour of the Wheels Museum available to us on August 18th at 10 or 11 A.M.
Printed ad cards are coming for us to use to invite others to attend.
It's time to get seriously excited about making our annual fundraiser a huge success. It will take involvement from each member to do this.
We need sponsors.
MULTI-CLUB MEMBERSHIP EVENT:
On October 18th we will hold a cornhole tournament and get-together in Center Valley.
AW JOB OPENINGS:
Vice President
Chair of Four Way Test speech contest
Chair of Foster Parents club
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:
Amir Famili said that they now are paining two houses and volunteers are needed for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Please contact Amir.
Two houses will be finished in a week, and two more will be finished in a month.
D7430 POLIO ERADICATION EVENT:
This annual district-wide fundraiser will be managed by the Pottstown and West Reading Wyomissing RCs on Saturday, October 15th. More details are coming.
YOUTH EXCHANGE THIS FALL:
Chris Blechschmidt said last week that Sam is 16 years old and is coming here from Germany on August 26th. They will host first, and then Galilee Haviland will host.
NICK MILLWARD REPORT:
Nick said that the University in Brisbane is exceptional. There is an Asst. Professor from Iran that really is challenging him.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Halyna Stegura is happy for the great picnic last Sunday and her special Birthday celebration.
Ralph Witcher is happy that son, Seth, has four performances set for Musikfest.
Michelle Steiner loved serving hot dogs last evening and mingling with fellow Rotarians.
Gail Micca is happy that her Father now is taking walks.
Jill Kearney is happy that her daughter was here from Mississippi. And she is happy to drive to North Carolina with her youngest daughter for the IronPigs game.
Laurie Grube is happy that her guest, C. D., is here today. Also she is happy to be babysitting their granddaughter tomorrow evening.
Ron Coleman is happy that he saw his Fourth granddaughter two weeks ago. In South Carolina.
Marlene Heller is happy to report that we will have two articles about AWRC published soon.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Wednesday August 10 IN PERSON at Madeline’s in Fogelsville starting at 7:30 A.M. Come early and talk with each other.
Our program will be Arthur Rand, CEO at Baristi Coffee Roasters who says “A Cup of Coffee Solves Everything”: Roasting the World's Finest (100% Colombian Supremo certified)
PROGRAM:
Program Chair, Ralph Witcher, introduced Danilo Sanchez, Chaplain at Ripple Community Inc. to discuss The RCI Village: Proving Hope and Stability in Our Community.
Danilo thanked us for the opportunity to tell his story.
Ripple Community, Inc. (RCI) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was established in 2015. They are guided by their vision of Allentown as a community where everyone has a role to play, a diverse network of social support, and a connection to the place they call home.
“Our programs serve over 150 Allentown residents, including people experiencing homelessness or housing instability, people who are socially isolated, people living with significant histories of trauma and mental illness, and the working poor. “For our neighbors living with challenges like these, RCI is a source of friendship, support, and community.”
Danilo’s slides told us:
Ripple Community Inc
We’re in the social fabric business
Community Building Center
40-70 people a day
Drink and food, activities and games, a place to rest and be safe
Service Hub
Valley Health Partners Street Medicine team
St. Luke’s Parish Nurses
VAST
Muhlenberg Art Therapy students
Hair cuts
RCI VILLAGE: --
19 Apartments
Safe, permanent, affordable housing
Partnerships ---
Community Bike Works
Hays Elementary
Career Link
Lehigh County
Housing Issue ---
Paste copy
Our Model
In Allentown, many people are caught in an unending cycle between homelessness and temporary housing solutions that aren’t safe, don’t work, or don’t last.
RCI Village confronts that by providing a community-centered, permanent, affordable housing program
RCI Village places quality, affordable housing at the center of a web of related supports and services designed to bolster resident success and stability.
We partner with Center for Independent Living, CareerLink, Literacy Center, and the Lehigh County Mental Health Program in order that residents maintain stable employment, pursue educational goals, improve their food security, or move forward with other aspects of their lives.
WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
Donate to our mission
Give resources from our Needs List
Neighboring Volunteers from our Needs List
Volunteer at the Community Building Center
Contact Info
1335 W Linden St Allentown PA 18102 484-240-1231
Community Center Hours -- Tues, Wed, Thurs 1-5pm, Fri, Sat 11-3pm
Danilo Sanchez -- dsanchez@ripplecommityinc.org
484-240-1231 ext. 6
CLOSING:
Pres. Gail led us in reciting our motto “One profits most who serves best,” and adjourned the meeting.
.png)
.png)
