Today was a Zoom meeting with 34 folks on line.
CHAT TIME:
Tori Morgan was first in this morning. She has a new position with the GLV C of C. And she will be our new AWRC Membership Chair.
Ernie Boll was on from Arizona and said he was warm.
Len Salines is healing and even is crutching around doing some dental work.
The early group decided that Len has to write a book. Its title will be “I Did It To Myself.” Then ideas began to flow about spies and intrigue.
Ron Coleman knows our speaker from way back. Chief Dorney confirmed that Ron wore hats back then too.
Pres. Gail Micca rang the imaginary bell to open the meeting at 7:30 A.M. And she welcomed us all.
GUESTS ON LINE:
Helen Papathanasion, almost a member; and Jill Kearney, almost a member.
OPENING:
Kathy Ott gave a very nice invocation.
Then Pres. Gail led us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the U.S. She then led us in the recitation of the Four Way Test to which we added “Is it fun?”
AWRC HISTORY STORY:
Past President, Chuck Ehninger, delivered today’s story about our History of holding weekly programs.
CELEBRATIONS:
Pres. Gail displayed the list of February member celebration events.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Tori Morgan is happy to see the S. Whitehall Twsp. Police Team with us today.
Katrina Sundstrom agrees with Tori, and she thanked the police for their support of Parkland C.A.R.E.S.
Karen Rodgers thanks the police.
Gail Micca donated $10 thanking the police.
Ron Coleman did $10 for the police also.
Ralph Witcher donated $10. He also is happy that son, Seth, launched his new album last week with 100 people at the Emmaus Theater.
Ralph also is happy that their daughter, Rachel, received special recognition last week for her military service.
Tom Friday is happy with the weekend football games. He also is happy that the new outer space telescope is in position and getting set up.
Katrina Sundstrom is happy that QB Tom Brady is NOT in the Super Bowl this year.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Karen Rodgers will lead the produce packing for Parkland C.A.R.E.S. on February. 5th.
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD DISTRIBUTION:
The following are the dates for the Kingdom Life Food Bank Drive through food distribution through June 2022:
February 12 March 12 April 9 May 14 June 11
SNACK PACKS:
Kathy Ott said that the next packing will be February 16 at Parkland H.S. Also that date will be snack packing at Northwestern Lehigh.
MEALS ON WHEELS:
Volunteers still are needed.
KINDERGARTEN KINDNESS PROJECT:
This new project will start to present books to kindergarten children in the Spring. Planning is going well.
STEM-YEA STATUS:
Gwenn Carr said that meetings with sponsoring RCs are on for today and tomorrow.
PAUL HARRIS AWARD:
Pres. Gail was pleased to report that Lori Peers at long last has received her PHF award.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:
Amir Famili announced that the construction site is now open for volunteer workers.
AFGHAN FAMILY SUPPORT:
Amir Famili said that AWRC is co-sponsoring an Afghan Family with groceries, and some needed pots and pans, and a phone. In two weeks they will go to a one bedroom apartment and they will need some furniture. Please help.
AWRC 60 YEAR CELEBRARION PARTY”
The event planning committee met via zoom. We are looking at April 28th at Brookside CC, OR April 29th at Madeline’s.
SHOWCASE TUESDAY:
Marlene Heller said that the Feb 8th Showcase Tuesday will be about the Rotary Peace Centers and we may see Nick Millward there.
D-7430 ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
Pres. Gail reminds us to register for this April event.
STATUS OF MORNING MEETINGS:
We will be meeting via zoom for the month of February. In March we plan to be back to meeting each 2nd and 4th Wednesday at our new location - the Parkland Community Library.
SERVICE PROJECT:
See the left side of this bulletin.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Wednesday February 2 via Zoom starting at 7:30 a.m. Come on at 7:15 and chat. Our program will be Nicole Mehta McGalla, Director of Community Relations and Development for Parkland to deliver her Classification Talk
MEETING SITE CHANGE:
Our March in-person meeting will take place at the Parkland Community Library at 4422 Walbert Ave, Allentown. This was arranged by Debbie Jack.
Stephanie Fenstermacher of the Buttered Crumb will supply some breakfast food.
We need some volunteers to set up a coffee station each time.
PROGRAM:
Program Chair, Ralph Witcher, introduced Glen Dorney, Chief of Police at South Whitehall Township Police Department.
Chief Glen Dorney is a 1990 graduate of Nazareth Area High School, and a 1995 graduate of the Penn State with a BS Degree in Exercise and Sports Science. He graduated from the Allentown Police Academy in 1995, and was employed by both Wilson Borough and Palmer Township Police Departments.
Chief Dorney was hired by the Allentown Police Department in 1997. He was promoted to Patrol Sergeant in 2005 and in 2010 he was promoted to Lieutenant of the 3rd Platoon, before being transferred as the Commander of the 4th Platoon Night Shift.
Chief Dorney was promoted to Captain in 2012. As part of this position, Chief Dorney was a member of various community organizations. He was promoted to Assistant Chief of Operations in January 2016 and eventually promoted to Chief of Police in April of 2017.
Chief Dorney is a 2012 graduate of the FBI National Academy Police Executive Program and a 2017 graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) Senior Management Institute for Police.
Chief Dorney retired from the Allentown Police Department on April 6, 2018 and was sworn in as the 5th Chief of Police for the South Whitehall Township Police Department on April 9, 2018. He strives to serve the community with the utmost respect with a strong focus on professionalism and community policing.
Glen had with him Lieutenant Steve Brown and Sergeant Jason Grozier on the meeting as well to help answer some questions.
Using a series of slides Chief Dorney told the story of how his Dept. has grown from 4 officers and a Chief, to the current staff of 40 officers. He showed pictures of various shoulder patches that were issued along the way.
Glen emphasized two very important points. First he noted that when a cop screws up it always hurts all cops around the country. His second point is that the trust of the community and their partnership is essential to successful policing.
Glen described many programs that now are operating in the area. One is a program to Mentor youth in the Parkland school district. Another effort they do is to allow officers on their beat to join in and play games with the youth as part of their travels and duties each day.
In 1983 they started a program that protects people who call in violations and complaints. The callers are absolutely kept anonymous.
The police help to collect food items and donate then to Parkland C.A.R.E.S. They work with Fire Depts., EMS groups, and the 16 different Police Depts. in the Lehigh Valley.
CLOSING:
Pres. Gail led us in reciting our motto “One profits most who serves best.”, rang the imaginary bell and adjourned the meeting.
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