Today was a Zoom meeting with 31 folks on line.
CHAT TIME:
First on today was Ingrid Holder, Slatington RC, who will be on next week to talk about environmental projects.
Halyna Stegura was on from The Villages in Florida.
Gwenn Carr and Gary Englehardt were on from the Caribbean island of St. Martin.
Ernie Boll was on from Arizona where it is cool and rainy today.
Tori Morgan was on from her car as she drove to Fleetwood to attend a C. E. course.
Gail Micca was on from North Dakota where there is 8” of fresh snow and it is minus 6 degrees.
Nick Millward called in from Kyrgyzstan, where it is 30 degrees.
Wow, Zoom meetings are great.
Len Salines is doing well and now can put some weight on his bad leg.
GUESTS ON LINE:
Ingrid Holder, Kutztown RC; and Nick Millward, friend of the club.
OPENING:
Pres. Gail Micca rang a real bell at 7:30 to start the meeting.
Ralph Witcher gave a very nice invocation.
Then Pres. Gail led us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the U.S. Gail then led us in the recitation of the Four Way Test to which we added “Is it fun?”
AWRC HISTORY STORY:
Past President, Len Salines, delivered today’s story about the AWRC Summer Picnics.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Katrina Sundstrom and family are going to Arizona for fun.
Gary Englehardt is happy to be in St. Martin.
Nick Millward is happy to see all of us today. It has been a while.
Halyna Stegura said that 30 of the family members gathered in PA on January 14th to celebrate their son’s marriage held last year with no party.
She also is NOT happy about what is going on in Ukraine.
Gail Micca is $10 happy that the six new raised garden boxes will be installed today.
Ralph Witcher is happy to have joined 10 members of the Kutztown RC in Reading to hear son Seth perform at a brewery.
CELEBRATIONS:
Pres. Gail displayed the list of February member celebration events.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Gwenn Carr is the International Woman of the Year from Area 1 of District 7430. Her award will be at the Emmaus RC on March 10th. Please join us to honor Gwenn for all that she does.
ANOTHER MEETING SITE CHANGE:
We will NOT be meeting in person at the Parkland Community Library at all.
Instead we will meet at Madeline’s in Fogelsville starting on March 9th person to person.
STEM-YEA WEBSITE:
Gary Englehardt said that this website has been upgraded and made current. Go to https://stem-yea.com
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD BANK:
The next distribution is on March 12.
DISTRICT 7430 ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
Pres. Gail said that right now she and Herb Klotz are registered for this event. Try it. You’ll like it.
AWRC 60TH CHARTER NIGHT PARTY:
April 29th at Madeline’s in Fogelsville.
HIGHWAY CLEAN-UP”
LET’S GO, ROTARIANS !
We need a lead member to make this April OR May event happen this year. Please contact Gail Micca.
ROTARY DAY OF SERVICE -- APRIL 30:
ANOTHER LEADER NEEDED !
AW Rotarians will work with members of the downtown Allentown RC to operate a day of “Shredding” at the Macungie Center on Brookside Road. Anybody can bring up to 4 boxes of items to be shredded.
SNACK PACKS:
Pres. Gail will Chair this program for the next 3 months.
MEALS ON WHEELS_
Helen Papathanasion will Chair the M.O.W. program for the next 3 months.
PARKLAND C.A.R.E.S. FOOD DELIVERY:
This will be on March 5th.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH:
Ralph Witcher using slides gave an overview of this annual event. He gave ten examples of public figures who achieved much.
SERVICE PROJECT:
See the left side of this bulletin.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Wednesday March 2 via Zoom starting at 7:30 a.m. Come on at 7:15 and chat. Our program will be PDG Herb Klotz share his presentation on his Appalachian trail journey.
PROGRAM:
Program Chair, Ralph Witcher, introduced Abigail Goldfarb, Executive Director of The Lehigh Conference of Churches to discuss Exploring Homelessness and Its Causes.
Abby Goldfarb holds a bachelor’s degree from Kutztown University and a master’s degree from CUNY-John Jay College, both in Psychology. She has many years of experience in community programming and organizing. She has been with the Conference since 2009. Ms. Goldfarb is a Lehigh Valley native and an active volunteer in the community. And she is a Rotarian.
During this presentation Abby discussed::
• Homelessness in Allentown, PA
• What is causing homelessness
• What’s being done to address Homelessness
• How everyone can help
The goal of the Lehigh Conference of Churches is to inspire and unite communities of faith as ecumenical partners to Put Our Faith into Action to help those most in need in the community through programs directed to the homeless, the hungry, and people with mental health concerns.
Each year the Lehigh Conference of Churches links 7,000 people in crisis to community resources through their various programs.
Abby said that her group is dedicated to “Put Faith into Action”.
Abby led a discussion with us trying to define “Homelessness.” Issues such as no place to sleep were explained. Abby pointed out that the minimum wage is just about equal to the rent on a one bedroom apartment. Nothing is left for food, medical care, or transportation to a jobsite.
The Lehigh Valley had at least 2,250 people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in 2019, with roughly two-thirds living in Allentown, according to the Eastern Pennsylvania Continuum of Care. Jan 31, 2021.
On any given day, over 15,000 Pennsylvanians are known to be homeless and in the Balance of State areas, the more rural regions over 8,000 individuals including children were experiencing homelessness either being on the streets, doubled up with family or friends, or in shelters. ...
Abby said that the average age of a homeless person is nine years old. A typical group is a woman with two young children.
Abby noted that many cases of homelessness are temporary. The person or family was evicted, for example.
Abby explained that the area shelters do not cover 24 hours of occupancy that often are needed. Her Conference is open to all for a full day.
Abby said that one way we can help is to learn more about the issue and then share it with others. She said that there is no “Magic Pill” to fix this.
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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CHICAGO, IL
