Our Greeter today was Jeanne Shipe and she did a marvelous job.
President Dan Crane rang the bell at 7:30 a.m. Rev. Jeff Kistler gave a very nice invocation, including a special mention of Mike Henry for a speedy recovery from his surgery.
Today we sang the National Anthem as we watched a video. Then we said the Pledge of Allegiance.
President Dan says that the word from the country is from John Wooden who said: “The main ingredient in Stardom is the rest of the team.”
GUESTS:
Steve LaPierre, Emmaus RC.;
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
President Dan showed slides of the December Student of the Month, the Dec 8th Happy Hour meeting, the Salisbury Elementary school Dictionary delivery, and Gwenn and Gary Englehardt and Bob Gordon in St. Marten, Caribbean.
President Dan noted that the Tri Cees concert at Luther Crest last Monday was great.
President Dan reminds us to refer to the Activities list that he e-mailed to us for volunteering opportunities and contact information.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
Past President Herb Klotz distributed paper ballots listing the members proposed for the AWRC 2016-17 Rotary Year as Officers and Directors. The ballots were processed and returned and counted. The following were elected:
President Mike Gschwendtner
President-elect Jeanne Shipe
Secretary Joe Goll
Treasurer Chris Blechschmidt
Sergeant at Arms Mitch Huston
Foundation Chair David Caccese
Service Projects Chair Gloria Zimmerman
Fundraising Chair Len Salines
Public Relations Chair Mitch Huston
Membership Chair Herb Klotz
Youth Services Chair Bill Weber
Congratulations and thanks go to each of you.
DATES TO REMEMBER:
The next Thursday Evening Happy Hour meeting is December22nd and it’s a party for ALL.
Dec 16th we volunteer for the Kingdom of Life Food Pantry.
Dec 28th Regular morning meeting will be devoted to fellowship.
Mar 8th, 2017 is a Women’s Day meeting.
Mar 11th, 2017 is the District Foundation Gala.
Foundation Chair David Caccese again asks members to send to him any ideas for District Grants for next year.
AND, of course, you can have your breakfast at our meetings sitting with Arch Klumph for a donation of $26.50 to the Rotary Foundation. Today the Webers did so.
NEXT WEEK our Greeter will be Gloria Zimmerman and our program will be Dan Crane, Bob Nagle, Chuck Ehninger and the AW Rotary Service Award Presentation.
LUCK of the DRAW:
Today’s breakfast door prize donated by Jeanne Shipe was won by Gloria Zimmerman. Then Marlene Ritter’s ticket was drawn and she selected a white marble and did not win the $60 in the 50:50 pot.
FINES:
S-a-A Don Davis -- recently returned from a shopping trip in Bavaria -- fined Marlene and the Webers for coming late today. Then he fined Joe Goll for messing up the sign-in sheet, and all Navy veterans for losing the football game.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Ralph Witcher is very happy to announce that their second daughter now is engaged to be married.
Dan Crane is happy to welcome back his IT specialist, Donna Beach.
Herb Klotz urges members to join the 12-22 Happy Hour meeting to party…………
Herb also noted that the January 26th Dining Out at Louie’s is scheduled for a Thursday evening so we can all participate. Bring family and friends. Ronnee Klotz is circulating a sign-up sheet.
Bill Weber said that the Tri Cees concert was great and asks that more members attend next time. We are most welcome.
LOCAL AUCTION:
Don Davis auctioned off a container of cookies that Gloria brought in that netted $45 for the Lowhill Food Pantry.
PROGRAM:
Dorothy Bloom introduced Pam Bechtel, our program today. Pam is the Executive Director of Meals on Wheels, Lehigh County. Pam is a Kutztown University graduate who 17-1/2 years ago changed her career direction to non-profits and joined Meals on Wheels (M.O.W.). . As Executive Director, Pam followed AW’s Anna Jean Henry. Dottie commended Pam for her integrity, honesty and leadership.
Pam said that M.O.W. has served Lehigh County for 45 years providing meals and other services to housebound seniors and folks who are younger but cannot get around. Until 2004 they got the meals from Cedarbrook Nursing Home. Then they switched to Northampton and were able to add 0weekend meals, more variety, good quality, and up to 50 special meal options for clients.
About 50% of clients are getting services, like shopping, and 50% also are receiving meals. Clients need the Visit itself as much as the food. About 65% live alone 47% see nobody for days, and 21% may go a week or more seeing no one. M.O.W. let’s people continue living in their own homes.
Pam showed us a short video that emphasizes how important these services are to their clients. She noted that some volunteers will bring their children to work as a way to give them the service experience.
The services provided are on a sliding scale based on the client’s ability to pay. And a significant benefit to having regular visits to clients is it checks up on them. Volunteers that do not have a response at a door, call the office and emergency services can follow quickly.
Pam described their “Blizzard Pack” which is provided to clients to use if weather prevents a regular planned delivery. This Summer they had 1200 packs made for inventory and delivered one to each of 450 clients in October. AW Rotarians gave M.O.W. a $500 grant to help cover the cost this year.
Their Kitchen starts hot meal preparation at 3 a.m. They even have Hot Soup available November through March. They also provide pet food, some Veterinarian services and even kitty litter in some cases. And at holiday times they get many things donated, such as table top Christmas trees, and distribute them to clients too.
They have 975 volunteers and use 66 of them every day. They deliver 640 meals each day. And they have delivered 6.8 Million meals since their founding. Their annual budgeted costs are about $650,000.
CLOSING:
We recited the saying “They profit most who serve the best.”
