Our Greeter today was Dale Heffner represent Wendy Weaver and he did a marvelous job..
President Mike Gschwendtner rang the bell at 7:30 A.M. to open the meeting. Herb Klotz gave a very nice invocation.
Pres. Mike began the meeting having the members recite the Five-way Test with the fifth question, “Is it Fun?” We recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S.
GUESTS: Our Speaker, Greg, from the Greater LV Chamber of Commerce
Pres. Mike showed pictures starting with last Saturday’s Threads of Change distribution of clothing and gear to 100 Foster kids. Dale Heffner explained that the Thursday Evening AW Rotarians have taken on this project. There is an empty container due to arrive soon at the Holiday Inn approved site. This will launch the western Lehigh County effort. And Wendy Weaver has sent in the application for the T.O.C. Foundation 501-C-3 status.
Then we saw a picture from our April 12th Thursday Evening meeting, followed by last week’s meeting at Northwestern. There were pics from Friday’s Kingdom Life work, the Lowhill Food Pantry volunteers, and the TT4 Planning Committee.
LOWHILL FOOD PANTRY:
Please remember that the Collection jar is at the registration desk for cash and check contributions.
VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED each Saturday to distribute produce. WE urgently need some of you to sign up to keep this effort going. The Produce will be there.
TEMPTING TASTES 4:
Pres. Mike showed a picture highlighting an expensive and exclusive Family Photo session that is a live Auction item.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR CLEAN-UP:
THIS Sunday, April 22nd from 1 to 3 PM the NWL Interact students need some AW volunteers to assist in the clean-up work in the Recreation Fields across from the Schools. Please contact Jean Machamer if you will help.
Jean Machamer says “It would be helpful if people brought either work gloves or latex gloves, rakes, and trash bags. Coffee or water and donuts would be very much appreciated, I’m sure! Any help at all would be such a neat way for our Interact students to relate to our Rotarians. “
WENDY WEAVER REPORT:
Halyna Stegura has been in touch with Wendy and reminds us of her unreported happy dollar on Wendy’s behalf . Wendy made it down to her new home in the Villages in Florida and is happy to be sleeping on a bed not just the air mattress. And on April 3rd she got WiFi so she is reconnected to the world. She misses all of us.
PAUL HARRIS RECOGNITION:
Foundation Chair John Scott presented a Paul Harris Fellow +5 recognition pin to Herb Klotz. John encouraged us all to continue our support of the Rotary Foundation as we usually do.
FRIENDSHIP EXCHANGE VISIT:
Sue Weber said that the 6 Rotary couples from Sweden will be attending the district conference. AND on May 2nd they will visit our regular AW meeting and be our program.
Sue extended our thanks to our members who will be hosting our Swedish visitors.
YOUTH EXCHANGE INFO:
Sue Weber noted that Ala, this year’s Y.E. guest loves to go out to dinner. ALSAO, Jeanne Shipe said that Marti, last year’s Y.E. student, will be visiting us next Wednesday.
MEMBERSHIP:
Herb Klotz reminds us to invite candidates for membership to be our guest at the TT4 event on May 6th. We still have openings.
DISTRICT CONFERENCE HOSPITALITY:
Herb Klotz has board OK for AWRC to join with the Emmaus and Fleetwood RCs and host a Hospitality room at the April 28th district conference in Wyomissing.
A PRAYER REQUEST:
Our friend, Chris Hornaman, is recovering from a serious heart attack. He is now home for a while, but may need surgery. All prayers are welcome.
SCHEDULE:
President Mike announces upcoming events at our meetings and a list of them appears on our website. A list of the appropriate contact information appears each week in the A-W bulletin.
THURSDAY EVENING MEETING:
April 24th at 5:30 P.M. at the Holiday Inn in Breinigsville is the next meeting.
NEXT WEEK:
Our Greeter next week will be Stephanie Fenstermacher, and the program will be a Tempting Tastes 4 update, and P-E Jeanne Shipe will conduct a club planning survey.
Pres. Mike introduced S-A-A Mitch Huston who conducted the drawings and collected some “Guilty” dollars.
The Door Prize bottle of wine donated by Wendy Weaver was won by John Scott who then donated it to our TT4 Basket of Cheer. A second door prize of peanut butter Girl Scout cookies was won by Dan Crane.
The $10 pot of the 50:50 was NOT won by Ronnee Klotz’s ticket. Ten marbles remain.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
John Scott is happy to report that his daughter now recovered from injuries took first place on the balance beam last week, and took 3rd place in the other events – the final competition this year.
John also is pleased that the Foundation he leads is involved in the rehab of the Americus Hotel in Allentown.
Al Lewis is happy that they went to the Parkland H.S. production of Beauty and the Beast last Friday. It was fabulous.
Dan Crane told the joke about his favorite bar. And he reminds us to bring guests to TT4. It is a great way to show what we do.
Len Salinas says we should go see all 12 of the area H.S. plays.
Bill Palmer was delighted last Sunday evening to attend his grandson Chris’ recital at Lehigh U.’s Zoellner Hall. Chris is completing a Civil Eng. Degree And a Music Degree. Chris’ Dad, Rich sang in the acapella choir that Chris conducted.
Herb Klotz is happy to report that last week he received a letter from Meals on Wheels addressed to “Mr. Allentown West Rotary.”
PROGRAM:
Our program today was Greg Yestrumskas representing the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. Mitch Huston introduced Greg.
Greg thanked us for the opportunity to discuss the C of C. He has visited other RCs and was pleased that we had so many members here.
Greg distributed a write-up describing the advantages of C of C membership. Our AW application to join was given to Greg this morning.
The handout list explains a dozen Advertising and Marketing uses of membership. He elaborated on:
Mailing Lists -- They can provide targeted lists for “snail mail” or e-mail use.
Radio time -- They can promote a cause on the Bobby Gunther Walsh radio show.
As a starter we will get a free business card sized ad in the Morning Call.
Business references for help with causes and sponsorships.
Monthly Mixer meetings are held, many with speakers.
Free event Blog and Community Calendar listing.
And we can put things up on their Facebook page.
Greg then asked for questions, the first explaining that our RC membership entitles ALL AW members to attend C of C functions, and use their services.
Greg said that the goal of the Chamber is to “Increase the Economic Vitality of the Lehigh Valley.”
When asked, Greg confirmed that we can get help from the Chamber in using Social Media. He explained that the “Greater LV C of C” oversees all of the local chambers. When we want some help we should start with the closest chamber. Any of them will point us to the proper person. And their new and simpler website will debut in a month or so.
CLOSING:
We closed our meeting by reciting the saying “One profits most who serves best.”
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