Our Greeter today was Tom Friday and he did a marvelous job.
President Amir Famili rang the bell at 7:30 A.M. to open the meeting and welcomed all. Then Chuck Ehninger gave a very nice invocation including a special mention for Ronnee Klotz, Bill Weber, and Gil Keller.
P-E Ralph Witcher began the meeting having the members recite The Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. Then he led us in reciting the Four Way Test.
Pres. Amir reviewed some of the upcoming events. And P-E Ralph had our two guests introduce themselves and say a few words.
GUESTS:
Brad Maier, and Keith Hoffman both guests of Murtaza Jaffer; Hilda Lewis, wife of Al.
NEW PAINTING PROJECT:
Pres. Amir said that Gail Micca reports that the work crew began painting doors at the Center for Vision Loss in Allentown on Thursday and Friday Nov. 21 and 22. We need more volunteers for the final session. See separate article.
LOWHILL FOOD PANTRY:
This great group still depends on cash donations from AW Rotarians. And volunteering for the produce pick-up and distribution on Saturday mornings is a very satisfying thing.
AWRC HOLIDAY PARTY:
Friday, December 6th annual Holiday Party at the Brookside Country Club in Macungie. Seth Witcher again will entertain us.
THURSDAY EVENING SCHEDULE:
December 12 at 5:30 PM at the Holiday Inn, in The Pub.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
December 11 at Luther Crest with Gary Heller as our Greeter. Our program will be Kim Schaffer telling us all about The Community Bike Works.
NEW MEMBER INDUCTION:
Brad Maier came forward with his sponsor, Murtaza Jaffer. Gwenn Carr conducted the induction ceremony and gave Brad his pin and certificate. Welcome, Brad.
Pres. Amir introduced Sgt.-at-Arms Mitch Huston who conducted the drawings and collected Happy Dollars.
The door prize donated by Tom Friday was won by Geoff Legg.
The $74 pot of the 50:50 was not won by Dan Crane’s ticket being drawn followed by a white marble. Six marbles will be back next time.
HAPPY DOLLARS
Mustafa Jaffer proudly showed off his very special red shoes from Run Polio.
Chris Blechschmidt paid a dollar to have Herb Klotz read a joke from his supply he copied from a restroom wall.
Herb Klotz did read two jokes (?).
Herb also happily reported that the district 5K End Polio race income yesterday was at $58,000. BUT last evening he was at one RC where he was presented with a check for $1,000 for PolioPlus.
Brad Maier is pleased to be inducted today as a member.
Valerie Downing, today’s speaker, is happy to be with us today.
Bill Palmer is happy to have 16 family members at his home for Thanksgiving dinner. Yvette’s daughter, Kim, did the cooking.
Gwenn Carr was happy to see their Granddaughter perform in the Nutcracker. AND it seems that her younger Granddaughter at Thanksgiving told the joke of the horse going into a bar and being asked “Why the long face?”
Ralph Witcher is happy that Brad is a member. And Ralph is happy to be a first time Granddad.
Dan Crane told the horse joke --- again.
Al Lewis is happy to say that wife, Hilda, is a graduate of Cedar Crest College. Al said that they had a great Thanksgiving, and he is happy to see David Haight back with us and feeling better.
Geoff Legg reported that he and his college friends used to get dates with the girls at Cedar Crest College.
David Haight is happy to be back.
Tom Friday is happy.
PROGRAM:
Murtaza Jaffer introduced Valerie J. Downing. Representing Cedar Crest College to provide an overview of Cedar Crest College – strategic areas of focus, demographic make-up & academic programs.
Valerie is in the Institutional Advancement (IA) department as Executive Director of Development. Valerie brings eight years of experience in fundraising leadership to the position, along with 19 years’ experience leading strategic marketing and communications initiatives. The following is from her PowerPoint presentation:
HISTORY:
The College was established on September 5, 1867 as the Allentown Female College. It operated out of Allentown’s Zion Reformed Church. It started with nine young women.
In 1893 it became Allentown College for Women. In 1914 it moved to the current site and renamed Cedar Crest College. They currently are celebrating their 152nd year
MISSION:
Cedar Crest College is a liberal arts college, primarily for women, dedicated to the education of the next generation of leaders.
Cedar Crest College prepares students for life in a global community by educating the whole student at all stages of life and experience
STUDENT POPULATION:
Total Head Count: 1,526
Breakdown:
Traditional Undergraduates 759
School of Adult and Graduate Education 693
Undergraduate Adults - 383
Graduate Adults - 310
Other Undergraduates (international/visiting) 74
STUDENT POPULATION:
Students come from 13 states, 4 countries outside of the United States. 16% of students are from Allentown, 25% of students are from the Lehigh Valley.
There is 36% Diversity on Campus. 38% are First Generation College Students.
For the Fall 2019 Class 207 First-year Undergraduates, 28 Transfer Students, plus 82 New Graduate Students.
QUICK FACTS:
84 Full-time Faculty
10:1 Student-Faculty Ratio
15,000+ Alumnae
275+ Students Employed on Campus
11 Division III Athletic Teams
$36.7 Million Endowment
$18.5 Million invested in Campus Improvements over five years
STRATEGIC AREAS OF FOCUS:
To be the Aspiration of Others
Academic Excellence --
Commitment, expertise and entrepreneurial spirit of the faculty
Meaningful ways to educate through new experiences
Building innovative educational programs
Academic Programs --
40+ Majors
Nursing
Business Administration
Biological Sciences
Psychology
Criminal Justice & Forensic Science
They also Offer:
Minors, Certificates, Graduate Degrees
New Academic Programs --
Established the School of Nursing
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA)
Nurse Practitioners (CRNP)
5-Year (4+1) Graduate Program Extensions
Master of Science in Integrative Exercise Science (launched 2019)
Master of Science in Crime Science (2020)
Modular Master’s (2020)
Master of Public Health (MPH) (Coming soon)
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (Coming 2022)
Transformational Student Experience --
Carmen Twillie Ambar Sophomore Expedition:
Named after Carmen Twillie Ambar, Cedar Crest College’s 13th President.
Every student should have the opportunity to study abroad, no matter their financial circumstance. It is open to traditional undergraduate sophomores, and the only cost to student – passport. Students must have a 2.5 GPA and be in good financial standing with the College.
The trip history includes Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2018 (100 students), Athens, Greece in 2019 (143 students), and going to London, England is planned for 2020 (180 students are registered). Costa Rica is planned for 2021.
Students participate in coursework related to the destination country preceding the trip.
Student Employment Center --
Provides guaranteed student employment on campus and is practical work experience and provides the ability to receive promotions and increases in pay.
This program provides professional seminars and experiences as well as career planning services with 244 positions available.
Closing the Gap --
This Initiative was created to help students through hardships. Efforts underway:
Resource Pantry Career Closet
School Supply Drive Thanksgiving Basket Drive
Winter Coat Drive
A focused endowment fund was created to assist in ongoing funding for this program. An emergency fund is also in place.
Investment in Tomorrow’s Education –
Honor our tradition and history
Reimagine campus spaces, educational resources and athletic facilities
Shape our students’ experiences
A College of Greater Impact –
Their Model focused on a civically engaged liberal-arts education.
Cedar Crest nEXt program:
Allows students to build a customized portfolio of skills, assists them in showcasing their work while in college and as they seek employment upon graduation. The Program categories include:
EXperience – Internships, Service learning projects
EXpedition – Sophomore Expedition and other study abroad
EXemplify – Campus resources and experiences
EXposure – Connections with faculty, research and large-scale projects
EXcel – Participation in national conferences and seminars.
Center for Diversity and Global Engagement –
Opened in January 2018
Center provides central location for students to connect with those of different backgrounds and nationalities. The first year open, 2,181 attendees participated in 94 events.
CLOSING:
Pres. Amir closed our meeting by our reciting the saying “One profits most who serves best.”
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