Our Greeter today was Dorothy Bloom and she did a marvelous job.
President Dan Crane rang the bell at 7:30 a.m. Then Pastor Jean Masiko gave a very nice invocation, including special mention of Stan Drabick, Dawn Costello, and AJ and Mike Henry.
Today we sang the National Anthem as we watched a newer video. Then we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
President Dan says that the word from the country is from George Burns who said “You can’t help getting old, but you don’t have to BE old.”
GUESTS:
Laura Long, new AWRC Honorary member; Alicia Ruiz Orbin, Emmaus RC; Tom Friday, guest of Ralph Witcher; and 3 members of Vern Fenstermaker’ s family.
VERNON’S 97TH BIRTHDAY PARTY:
Today we celebrated Vernon Fenstermaker having achieved the age of 97 years with his family of relatives and of Rotarians. We had a great cake that we shared and we sang Happy Birthday.
It also is the start of Vern’s 50th year in Rotary. We sang Happy Birthday again. Congratulations, Vern! President Dan showed many photos of Vern, including even a baby picture.
President Dan showed photos of last week’s meeting and of the Snack Packing volunteers.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Len Salines reminds us that the Tempting Tastes website is up and running and tickets are ready for purchase. Also we need donated items for the Auction.
Ginny Sandoval is asking for donations to prepare a “Basket” for auction at the March 11th D7430 Foundation Gala.
Ginny Sandoval asks that AW Members support the Sunday Jan 29th afternoon Networking & Board Game event. Help get the word out P.D.Q. See separate article.
President Dan reminds us to refer to the Activities list that he e-mailed to us for volunteering opportunities and contact information.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
The next Thursday Evening Happy Hour meeting is TOMORROW at Louie’s Italian Restaurant for our January Dining Out.
Jan 29th is the board games at the Trexlertown Fire Co.
Feb 20th we drive for Meals on Wheels.
Feb 29th is Dining Out at the Stoned Crab in Macungie. Must pre-order.
Mar 8th, is a Women’s Day meeting at Cedar Crest College.
Mar 11th, is the District Foundation Gala. See separate article.
May 6th -- Farm Fest at Ontelaunee Park
David Caccese has a signup sheet going around for volunteers to help look after our Ukraine visitors from Feb 12th to Feb 24th. Transportation is needed both to and from the airport, and locally to their training at Good Shepherd. This is our District Grant for this year. Host families are needed as well. And taking the visitors to some social events is appropriate.
Alicia Orbin explained the details of the March Cruise and Serve event. See the weekly bulletin.
Herb Klotz encourages members to attend the March 11th District Foundation Gala. This is a celebration of 100 years of the Rotary Foundation. Registration is open and it’s $55 per person.
AND, of course, you always can have your breakfast at our meetings sitting with Arch Klumph for a donation of $26.50 --- or more --- to the Rotary Foundation.
NEXT WEEK our Greeter will be Joe Goll and our program will be Rotary fun with members telling their best Rotary stories.
LUCK of the DRAW:
Today ‘s door prize donated by Dorothy Bloom was won by Dan Crane………….again. .
Then Jeanne Shipe’s ticket was drawn and she selected THE BLACK marble from among 3 and won the $150 in the 50:50 pot. Congrats, Jeanne. And the Rotary Foundation appreciates your donation of it.
FINES:
S-a-A Don Davis fined Ray Stock and Marlene Ritter for coming late, and Jeanne Shipe for no badge. Then he fined David Caccese for no badge because his was on the floor. Then Don cleverly collected a dollar from each member in honor of Vern Fenstermaker’s 97th birthday.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Dale Hostetter happily donated $97 in Vern’s honor and noted that Vern brought him into Rotary.
Gloria Zimmerman happily donated $97 to the Snack Pack program to honor Vern.
Geoff Legg happily noted that it was Vern that years ago nagged him to attend meetings every week.
Jeanne Shipe is happy to recognize Geoff Legg’s birthday last week.
Ralph Witcher is happy to acknowledge a newborn plus a two year old grandchildren of his guest, Tom Friday.
Ronnee Klotz is happy that their grandson took 2nd place in a pirate cardboard box race.
Dorothy and Rick Bloom are celebrating their 38th wedding anniversary, and also Dottie’s 60th birthday.
Al Lewis is happy that the Saranac Lake RC banner is on display.
Ginny Sandoval was fined by S-a-A Don Davis for having her picture on the front page of the Morning Call.
Birthday Boy Vern gave $200 to the Rotary Foundation for his birthday.
Gloria is most happy to report that she has received a $2,000 donation for snack packs from the New Tripoli Bank.
INDUCTION OF NEW MEMBER:
Laura Long, the about-to-be Charter President of the Whitehall Area RC, was inducted into AWRC as an Honorary Member. Chuck Ehninger conducted the ceremony; Herb Klotz is her sponsor. Welcome to Rotary, Laura!
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS VOTE:
Herb Klotz reviewed the changes made as described in his e-mail. We are adding 3 voting positions to our Board, for example. A motion to accept both documents was made by Geoff Legg and seconded by Marlene Ritter. There were no negative votes; motion passed.
PROGRAM:
Today’s program was our Quarterly Club Assembly. President Dan began with the Service Committee report by Gloria Zimmerman.
Gloria gave the history since July 1, 2016 of two items. We so far have donated 5,831 lbs. of fresh produce to the Lowhill Food Pantry at a cost of $1,623. And we have packed and distributed 851 snack packs at Parkland SD, and 1,124 in the NWL SD.
David Caccese, Foundation Chair, thanks the members for their continuing generosity, and noted that we have more to go to reach our 2016-17 Goal. Giving to the RI Annual Fund is what generates the funds we use for future grants.
He also said that he will tell any member where their giving level currently is in reference to their next recognition level. Just ask.
Mitch Huston, PR Chair, currently is promoting our April Tempting Tastes 3 Fundraiser. He sends out at least one press release each month on AWRC activities.
Ginny Sandoval, Membership Chair, reviewed the upcoming events that include recruiting new members. She mentioned the Board Games Sunday, The Women’s Day, and the Farm Fest. And a networking event is being planned for early June.
Wendy Weaver, on behalf of the Youth Services Committee, reports that our Youth Exchange student, Marti from Argentina, is doing very well. She loves to shop, but is studying hard right now.
Chuck Ehninger, Vocational Service Chair, thanks the members for their support in the 2016 AW Service Award that we gave to Don Christ. Soon we will be looking for candidates for the 2017 award.
President Dan Crane read to us a very nice thank you note from Don Christ.
Hope Pearson, Scholarship Chair, said that we will be giving out nine (9) $1,000 scholarships this Spring. Applications are due March 3rd. There is a committee that screens the apps and decides.
Herb Klotz, Thursday Evening Meeting Representative, noted that the format will change soon to one networking meeting each month at different sites; one service project meeting each month; and one Happy Hour meeting at the Holiday Inn as usual.
Dale Hostetter, Treasurer, did not report, but it is understood that everything is “Hunky Dory.”
CLOSING: We recited the saying “They profit most who serve the best.”
