Today was a Zoom meeting with 26 people on line. After some conversations President Ralph Witcher opened the meeting at 7:30 A.M.
GUESTS ON LINE:
Capt. Nick Millward, Rotary Peace Fellowship winner calling in from Japan; Carolyne Jordan and Terry Reed, West Reading Wyomissing RC.
HAPPY DOLLARS AND COMMENTS:
Amanda Shurr, our speaker for today, was one of the first 3 on line today.
Gail Micca still is in North Dakota looking after her folks. Her Mom is getting better after having a broken hip.
Bill Weber confirmed that today is Sue’s morning to sleep in.
We discussed covid19 vaccinations. Many of us have had one or two, or are about to get them.
Ron Coleman gave an example of the crazy housing market. A house listed on Thursday had 10 offers on Friday and then 70 more showings the next week.
Bill Weber said that the same is true in South Carolina.
Herb Klotz said that the D7430 TRF people have asked that his Appalachian Trail hike fundraiser planned for AWRC be expanded to be district-wide to get funds for the RI Foundation’s Annual Fund. Details will follow. BTW AW already has raised $1,300.
Ralph Witcher is happy that their son, Seth, is being interviewed today by CH39. And Seth has just released a new single.
OPENING:
Patricia Witcher gave a very nice invocation. Then Ralph led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S.
CELEBRATION DATES:
Pres. Ralph displayed the list of March members and their celebration dates.
Pres. Ralph again said “The world needs more Rotarians.”
THE FOUR-WAY TEST EXAMPLE:
Pres. Ralph played a new video about the 4 Wat Test. produced by Rotarians in Nigeria as part of their anti-corruption campaign.
MEMBERSHIP:
Chair, Tom Friday welcomed our guests who were on with us today. Carolyne is the P-E for WRW RC.
PROJECTS:
Ralph showed us a photo of Sharon Goldner and Amir Famili painting a new house built by Habitat for Humanity. Amir said that more volunteer painters still are needed.
RESTAURANT SUPPORT:
The Buttered Crumb will reopen in New Tripoli. See separate article.
WHY ROTARY?
Pres. Ralph showed us a new video that explains how Rotary got its name and many facts about RI.
CAMP NEIDIG (RYLA):
Camp Neidig will be held in May. Our AWRC Mike Gschwendtner has been transferred and now we need a leader from our club to step up and work on this district-wide annual event for High School Juniors.
NEW MEMBER INDUCTION:
Membership Chair, Tom Friday, explained that we have added seven new members recently, but there was no formal induction ceremony. So today 3 of the 7 were formally inducted.
As their Sponsors Gail Micca introduced Michelle Steiner, and Ralph introduced Kathy Ott and Patricia Witcher. Ralph sitting next to Pat was able to present Pat with her Rotary pin.
NATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY:
On March 11th the Emmaus RC will hold a celebration to which we all are urged to attend. Our own Barbara Kistler will be recognized as a former winner.
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION:
On March 6th there will be a new member orientation session.
YOUR SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:
Service Chair, Gail Micca, asks that you take a look at this section on the left side of this bulletin.
STATUS OF MORNING MEETINGS:
The AWRC B.O.D. has suspended all AWRC face-to-face meetings until further notice. Zoom meetings are now scheduled for each Wednesday at 7:30 A.M.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Wednesday March 10, 2021 starting at 7:30 a.m. We will use Zoom to meet. Our program will be Cathleen Bannon, Lehigh County Community Garden Manager with an Update: Lehigh County Garden Plot Program
STATUS OF THURSDAY EVENING MEETING:
No Thursday evening meetings are planned until after the pandemic..
PROGRAM:
Pres. Ralph Witcher introduced Amanda Shurr, President & CEO, Lehigh Valley Zoo. Ralph said that it must be great to hang out with animals all day long.
Amanda thanked Ralph and said that it was an honor to be invited.
Amanda began by showing us a picture of two young Giraffes recently added to the over 300 various creatures they care for.
She explained the mission of the Lehigh Valley Zoo is to create a safe, engaging, and enlightening wildlife experience for guests of all ages as it demonstrates leadership in the cultural, scientific, and conservation communities.
History:
Founded in 1906 by General Harry C. Trexler, a local industrialist, the Trexler Nature Preserve has played a significant role in saving the North American bison from extinction by providing a place where both bison and elk could roam freely undisturbed. In 1935, the County of Lehigh took ownership of the Preserve and, in 1974, construction began on the Preserve’s 29-acre Zoo. In 2004, Lehigh Valley Zoological Society assumed management of the Zoo, as well as the daily management of the bison and elk heard and the palominos in the 1,100-acre Trexler Nature Preserve.
Overview
As a non-profit organization, Lehigh Valley Zoo is a relatively young organization, but as a treasured community landmark, our history spans over a century. Lehigh Valley Zoo, located in the heart of the Trexler Nature Preserve, is home to more than 325 animal ambassadors representing over 125 species.
The Zoo’s animal collection includes over 22 species collectively managed through the Species Survival Plan Program™(SSP), administered by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). As a means to share important conservation messaging with Zoo guests and contribute to field conservation, the Zoo contributes to, participates in, and initiates wildlife conservation programs at home and in the field.
The Zoo’s full-circle conservation projects spotlight: Spotted Turtle (local), Mexican Gray Wolf (national) and African Penguin (international). You can learn about the Zoo’s conservation efforts by visiting the Zoo’s Reptile & Amphibian Discover Center, watching a daily African Penguin feeding, and observing a Real Life wolf feed throughout the year. Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), and an institutional member of American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK), the Zoo hosts year-round family-friendly events and activities, educational programs, and camps.
Accomplishments
Lehigh Valley Zoo is proud to be listed as an educational improvement organization under the PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program (EITC). Over 35,000 students participated in our formal education programs. General attendance at Lehigh Valley Zoo grew from 63,000 visitors (2005) to over 200,000 visitors (2017).
Open year-round, the Zoo was voted Best Family-Friendly Outing in Lehigh Valley Style’s Best of the Lehigh Valley since 2009.
Additionally Winter Light Spectacular, an annual fundraising event that debuted in 2016, has brought another 341,000 guests to the Zoo, including 58,000 in 2018 and 57,000 in 2020. The event has been featured nationally by USA Today in “Holiday light displays worth traveling for across America” in 2019 and by Los Angeles Times in “‘Christmas City’ is a real place. And yes, it’s kind of like living in a Hallmark movie” in 2020.
The Zoo now is its own Foundation as a 501-C-3. They operate individually. Amanda said they were shut down for 2 months early last year. They got great videos of the animals so that they could conduct virtual tours.
Amanda showed a picture of George the Kangaroo. He has fathered 3 separate Joeys so far. Amanda said that they do not bring in animals from the wild. They do participate in a Species Survival program.
We viewed a map of the Zoo and Amanda pointed out the sections as you move from one geographic section to another. And one special feature is fording the Jordan Creek as you exit. You will see Elk and Bison on the other side.
They always can use volunteers to both maintain things like fencing, and to help staff some stations.
CLOSING:
Pres Ralph led us in the saying “One profits most who serves best.”
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