Our Greeter today was Chuck Ehninger and he did a marvelous job.
President Jeanne Shipe rang the bell at 7:30 A.M. to open the meeting and welcomed all. Then Chuck Ehninger gave a very nice invocation.
GUESTS:
Allison Blechschmidt, Chris’ wife.
Halyna Stegura was back after her 3-1/2 week trip.
Dennis Houser, a regular Thursday evening member came to hear Dr. Bob.
Pres. Jeanne began the meeting having the members recite the 4 Way Test, followed with our saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
THANK YOU CARD FROM A STUDENT:
Barbara Kistler read a nice thank you card she received for AW Rotarians from Sydney, one of the $1,000 scholarship recipients from the LCCC meeting.
ANNUAL DUES VIA CLUBRUNNER:
A few days ago using the ClubRunner software the AWRC dues statements for RY 2019-20 were sent out
. We ask that you each remit by mid-June 2019.
PAUL HARRIS AWARD:
Foundation Chair, Barbara Kistler, called Joe Goll up front and awarded him with a PHF+3 lapel pin and certificate of recognition. She explained how important it is to support the Rotary Foundation. Thank you, Joe.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION:
Barbara then read a list of AW Rotarians asking each to stand and be recognized. These folks each have donated at least $25 to the Rotary Foundation this Rotary Year. We still are seeking to meet the Every Member Every Year goal. If your name was not called, please donate before June 30.
PARKLAND SNACK PACKING:
On May 15, Allentown-West bagged the last snack pack of the Parkland HS year. From October to May volunteers packed 2400 Snack Packs for designated Parkland SD students to take home or retrieve from a snack closet. The bags are packed, counted out into plastic bins which are then transported by Parkland SD courier to various schools for further distribution.
Foods are purchased through Second Harvest Food Bank for reduced prices, as well as, discount food stores.
Volunteers lead by Allentown-West Rotarians join forces with Greenawalt's UCC volunteers, Parkland SD volunteers, Rotary's sponsored high school service group, and Interact.
After the last packing, Interact students presented Allentown-West Rotary Club with a $1000 check for ShelterBox USA which provided emergency disaster shelter and tool kits.
DINING OUT IN MAY:
TOMORROW Thursday May 23 at 6:00 P.M. is a Dining Out at the new Greenhouse Restaurant on Tilghman St. in Allentown.
The project with Second Harvest now is scheduled for June 8. Please contact Pres. Jeanne if you will be there.
THURSDAY EVENING MEETINGS:
The next one is the Dining Out TOMORROW at The Greenhouse on Tilghman Street in Allentown at 6 PM.
NEXT MEETING IS May 29 with Katrina Sundstrom as the Greeter. The program is Gwenn Carr + Gary Englehardt with a Rotary Health Check.
Pres. Jeanne introduced our Sgt-at-Arms, Mitch Huston who conducted the drawings and collected Happy Dollars.
The door prize bottle of wine donated by Chuck Ehninger was won by Bob Gordon.
The $49 pot of the 50:50 was not won by Joe Goll’s ticket being drawn followed by a white marble. Eight marbles remain.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Mitch Huston explained how happy he was to escape the traffic jam on Rt. 22 and arrive here
Mitch said that he is involved in 4 different events over this coming Memorial Day weekend. One special one is the “Taps Over Bethlehem” that uses 37 trumpets spread across the city.
Bill Palme bragged about his granddaughter being graduated from Johns Hopkins University tomorrow. She earned a degree in Bio Materials Engineering with a 3.4 GPA cum, and 4.0 this last semester.
Gail Micca is happy that they are going to Spain over the next weeks.
Halyna Stegura and Mike had a great time on their 3-1/2 week cruise trip. They especially liked the Dune Crashing ATV excursion that Amir Famili recommended.
Also Halyna picked up a British version Rotary magazine at the London Airport.
AND their daughter Kate made them grandparents on May 15 with a 7 lb. 6 oz. girl.
Dennis Houser is happy to be here for Bob Gordon’s presentation.
Bob Gordon bragged about earning 3 first place finishes in boat racing. He added that his boat was the only one in that class.
Bob expressed his enjoyment with his AW friends since he joined in 2007. He will miss us as he becomes a full time Floridian with his family. And we are invited to come visit. He has extra rooms and great amenities.
Pres. Jeanne presented Dr. Bob with a farewell gift from us all that looked suspiciously like a bottle of something good.
Dan Crane said something about an Erudition Guide.
Al Lewis says he is progressing, even at age 87.
Joe Goll said that with 17 school days remaining this year, they had a retirement party for Peggy.
PROGRAM:
The program today was Robert M. Gordon, Ph.D. ABPP. Dr. Bob discussing “Truth, Trust, and Tribalism.” Bob mentioned that he gave this talk last February -- Institute for Jewish-Christian Understanding.
Dr. Gordon reviews the neuroscience of the human brain which is prone to delusions and only perceives a small piece of reality.
Psychopathic leaders exploit this vulnerability often using religious and political tribalism to keep power by scapegoating and attacking others.
The best defense against the authoritarianism of psychopathic leaders is universal education and liberal values.
The “liberal values” referred to are not our current use of the word “liberal.” Rather they are what the framers of our constitution put forth about our inherent freedoms.
Bob emphasized the concept of “truth” as being in our minds. Everyone thinks that they own the truth. But truth varies from our viewpoints. Bob says “honesty is a virtue.”
Bob explained that all of us are an advanced form of the ape. Our brain evolved as a survivor mode. Our brains actually see very little reality, just enough to survive.
Beliefs make us feel secure, said Bob. We band together and form tribes for security.
Using some slides Bob gave some examples of attitudes and conflict throughout our history. He cited the 400 years of conflict between Catholics and Protestants, that seemed to change in 1998. He mentioned Adolph Hitler on the right, and Josef Stalin on the left as psychopathic world leaders.
Bob’s closing comment was “If you are humble, you can’t hate”.
CLOSING:
Pres. Jeanne closed our meeting by our reciting the saying “One profits most who serves best.”
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