Meeting Notes December 17, 2014
Our Greeter this morning was Herb Klotz who did an excellent job.
President Barbara rang the bell at 7:31 a.m. Pastor Jean Masiko gave a very nice invocation with special mention of Don Grammes.
GUESTS:
Murtaza Jaffer – Emmaus RC; Alicia Ruiz Orbin, Allentown RC. And honorary member Shirley Randall was with us today.
FOOD PANTRY:
A collection was taken to support the Lowhill Township Food Pantry that reached $191.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
President Barbara showed pictures of Rotarians attending the last Friday evening Holiday Party at The Shanty and the Civic Theater, Then she recognized the successful concert at Luther Crest last Monday evening featuring the L Tri Cees,
Barb thanked all for supporting the annual Rotaplast Auction on December 6th.
The next Snack Packing at Parkland will be this afternoon. Volunteers are needed.
Our annual effort to support ShelterBox, USA is underway. We hope to get donations to purchase a $1,000 unit, and suggest folks donate as gifts to others for the Holiday season. Checks can be made out to; Allentown West Rotary Foundation.
There is no meeting on December 24th.
The Greeter scheduled for the December 31st meeting is Jean Masiko. Our Youth Exchange (YE) student Roberto Reyes will talk to us. And there will be a vocalist as well.
RI FOUNDATION AWARDS:
RI Foundation Chair Jean Masiko introduced PDG Bill Palmer who reminded us that Paul Harris and three business associates created Rotary in 1905. Thus donations to the RI Foundation are recognized in his name. It truly is OUR Foundation. Rotarians plan and implement the projects around the world that save and change lives. Some of the money donated came back to our RC as grants that make our Snack Pack program possible. And our new $30,000 Global Grant for Sierra Leone resulted from prior donations.
Bill and Jean awarded Rev. Jeff Kistler a Paul Harris Fellow plus 4, and Don Davis a Paul Harris Fellow plus 7. Each increment of $1,000 is recognized by a new lapel pin.
Jean then described the club member’s idea to award Bob Nagle and Don Grammes an additional Paul Harris Fellow award in memory of their late wives, Gloria and Lorraine. These were funded by cash and recognition points contributed by our members.
RLI AWARDS:
Area 1 Assistant Governor Sue Weber called up Dan Crane and Herb Klotz and presented them each with a certificate from the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) that recognizes they have completed Part I of that training. AWRC budget pays for RLI attendance.
MEMBERSHIP MINUTE:
Herb described the plan to hold a Happy Hour cocktail vent on January 15th at 5:30 PM at the Holiday Inn in Fogelsville {Breinigsville) on Rt 100. He asks AW Rotarians to attend if at all possible, and also to provide names and contact information to him for possible candidates for membership that can be invited to join us.
Barb said that this event could lead to our having similar monthly Happy Hours going forward.
DINING OUT:
Our January Dining Out event will be on Friday evening January 23rd starting at 5:30 with a tour of the PPL Center. Note that there is a lot of walking involved. Then we will go to Chickie & Pete’s for dinner. Thanks go to Jerry Frank for making this tour happen.
GAMBLING:
The door prize gift of a bottle of wine donated by Herb was won by Joe Goll Then the $43 pot of the 50:50 was not won by Dale Heffner.
FINES:
S-a-A Don Davis fined Barb for late bell-ringing --- Barb said it was Sue’s fault. And he fined Alicia for coming late -- and she’s a guest.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Halyna is happy that their youngest child, daughter Mary, returned home safely from her semester in England.
Ray Stock is happy to report that Leslie Raymond Stock, their first grandson has recently been born.
Bill Weber is triply happy. First for Barb’s great Holiday Party; second for the Luther Crest Concert; and third for the picture of George Ikeda sitting on Mrs. Santa Claus’ lap with Santa -- played by District Governor Gary Fedorcha -- looking on. Bill is selling the photo to the highest bidder.
Gwenn Carr is extremely happy, as are we Rotarians, to present a check for $1,000 from Bamboula, Ltd. to go to The Healey Foundation for Ebola education work in Africa.
Murtaza is happy to be visiting the best RC in the Lehigh Valley. He also mentioned that this time last year was when he donated a kidney to his Father.
Al Lewis is happy for the great Holiday Party, and also for the Concert we made happen for the Luther Crest residents. Barb did a nice job explaining that Rotarians made it happen.
PROGRAM:
President Barbara introduced AWRC’s Gary Englehardt for his classification talk. Gary has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University as well as an MS in Dynamics of Organization from the University of Pennsylvania. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania. He has been involved in project work for over 30 years as a project engineer, project manager, Manager of project managers (PMO) and consultant.
Gary distributed mini-flashlights to us all. “Light Up Rotary.”
Gary began by making it clear that he has not overcome any real adversity in his life. So don’t expect that kind of story. The title of his talk is “What I Have Learned From Rotary.”
Gary says that “Project Management is where the action is.” His interest in project management grew from early experiences with complex projects employing multi-organizational project teams and the difficulties associated with planning and managing such undertakings successfully.
Gary and Gwenn started The Pegasus Organization International, Inc. in 2000. It is a project management consulting firm known for its ability to facilitate successful project management implementations. They have helped numerous companies in the utility, process, manufacturing and consulting industries establish project management programs or improve existing programs. Gary says it comes down to “Plan your work; Work your plan.”
As in most businesses, Ethics are very important. Gary finds that the Rotary Four-way Test is most helpful and is used frequently.
Another positive from Rotary is that no matter where you are in the world there is a Rotarian there to help if needed. He also mentioned being South Africa and working on a project to help Rotarians there.
Gary also has learned from working in AWRC projects, such as Rodale and Ontelaunee Parks, the LV Mall EXPO, where he finds Rotarians to be like-minded folks. Gary showed many photos of AW Rotarians at work and at play. He mentioned installing solar panels in Sierra Leone, and a Friendship Exchange to Morella, Mexico.
Gary also is involved with Engineers Without Borders (EWB), He served as the Lehigh County Chapter President just last year. His hobbies include sky-diving, SCUBA diving, and videography.
After mentioning the upcoming AW fundraiser, Tempting Tastes, Gary expressed his Thanks to all Rotarians.
CLOSING:
Barbara hit the right note to start us on a fair rendition of “God Bless America.” This was followed by the recitation of the Pledge to the Flag of the United States and then the saying “One profits most who serves the best.”
ocus on membership for our Club. 
