Today was a zoom meeting. There were 19 folks on line -- including Nick Millward.
GUEST:
Nick Millward, Peace Scholar now studying in Brisbane, Australia; and Peter Wohlsen, soon to be inducted as a member.
NOTES FROM CHAT TIME:
Ernie Boll is here in PA, but their son now has settled in Arizona.
Tori Morgan was born in Arizona and visits there every year to be with her Father.
Gail Micca called in from North Dakota. She is in the basement and has a runny nose -- maybe an allergy.
Peter Wohlsen was in his Dining Room at home.
Gwenn Carr and Gary Englehardt called in from their N.J. home.
Nick Millward called in from Brisbane, Australia where it was 9:30 P.M. He attended his host family’s Rotary Club meeting. His classes start next week at the University. He has connected with the local Mongolian community of 500 to 600 people.
Nick said that the local RC looked up the AWRC Facebook and were very impressed with what we are doing.
Marlene Heller has prepared an article about our STEM YEA work and submitted it to RI for possible publication in the Rotarian magazine.
OPENING:
President Gail Micca at 7:30 started the meeting.
Ernie Boll gave a very nice invocation.
Marlene Heller led us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the U.S.
Then Nick Millward led us in the recitation of the Four-way Test, and added “Is it Fun?”
CELEBRATIONS:
Pres. Gail displayed the list of July member celebration events. It is shown below.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
AWRC ANNUAL PICNIC:
Once again this will be hosted by Sue and Bill Weber on their farm in Vera Cruz. The date is Sunday July 31st. Start time is 4:30 P.M.
So far 32 people have signed up. The 5 STEM YEA students we sponsored have been invited; so far one will attend with her parents.
FRESH FLOWERS FOR SALE:
See separate article.
STEM YEA UPDATE:
Gwenn Carr said that more positive feedback continues to come in.
Also the planning for the 2023 event has begun.
MEALS ON WHEELS:
Tori Morgan and Helen Papathanasiou delivered yesterday in about an hour and it was amazing fun.
Helen still needs more volunteers. They would be substitutes with sporadic assignments.
PARKLAND C.A.R.E.S.:
Their food pantry work day has changed from Saturdays to Tuesday evenings. They served 180 clients yesterday. Fresh produce from our garden helped make up the items.
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD BANK:
The last distribution was on Saturday July 16. Details will follow.
CASINO NIGHT:
This will be held on September 23rd at the Wheels Museum and is our critical fundraiser. It will run from 5 P.M. to 9 P.M.
You can use this link to get to registration:
https://allentownwestrotary.org/page/casino-night
Sponsors are needed. The brochure has been updated for the new times.
The next planning meeting will be on July25th via zoom at 8:00 P.M.
Before that at 7:3 0 P.M. there will be a meeting to discuss a possible October 19th Membership event at Stone Farm Cellars and Vineyard in Center Valley.
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT:
Tori Morgan reviewed the plan for an event that South Whitehall Twsp will run. AW Rotarians may be there and may sell hot dogs. Rotarians are asked to sign up for an afternoon shift. Details will follow.
Also we might be selling hot dogs at the Drum Corps event Aug 5 and 6.
AW VICE PRESIDENT WANTED:
An AW Rotarian needs to step up to be our President-elect for 2023-24, and then President for 2024-25.Try it; you’ll like it.
FOUR-WAY TEST SPEECH CONTEST:
We need a member to take charge of this once-a-year event. Please contact Pres. Gail.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY:
Amir Famili said that they now are constructing 8 town houses. More volunteers are needed for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and sometimes Saturdays. Please contact Amir.
MONGOLIAN BASEBALL:
Nick Millward showed a photo of the kids in Mongolia with the used equipment we gathered and sent to them. They had their first baseball tournament last week. And their next one is in August. Thank You AWRC!
YOUTH EXCHANGE THIS FALL:
We will be looking after a young man from Germany who arrives here in August. . Chris Blechschmidt and family will be his first host. Galilee will be his second host.
GREEN THUMB GARDEN:
Gail Micca showed a great photo of an arrangement of produce from our garden. We harvested 3 times this week.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Ernie Boll is very happy.
Gail Micca is happy to be spending time with her folks in North Dakota.
Ralph & Pat Witcher’s youngest son is getting married this weekend.
Nick Millward is happy with his Rotary host family.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Wednesday July 27th IN PERSON at Madeline’s in Fogelsville, starting at 7:30 A.M. Come early and mingle.
Our program will be Nancy Knoebel, Founder & CEO of Danny's RideWhat A Difference A Ride Can Make! - Substance Abuse Recovery Success Improves With Transportation.
PROGRAM:
Program Chair, Ralph Witcher introduced Rick Daugherty, Executive Director at LV Active Life community center to discuss The Secrets of Healthy Aging.
Rick is a local man who graduated from Moravian college. He has been operating this facility for 27 years. Rick served in the Allentown RC for 19 years.
About Lehigh Valley Active Life---
Mission: To provide resources, expert advice and programs to older adults, helping them to navigate changes in their lives.
If you’re dealing with changes at this stage in your life—and who isn’t—sometimes you need help navigating the bumps in the road or discovering fun, new opportunities. Lehigh Valley Active Life is here to make things easier for you and be an important part of your life. We are located at 1633 West Elm Street in Allentown, PA 18102 in a newly renovated facility in a quiet neighborhood with lots of parking.
As a well-connected and caring community organization, we provide:
Resources, expert advice and support that will help you move forward
Activities and quality programs that allow you to enjoy a full and active lifestyle
Opportunities to socialize and learn new skills
This is the best time in your life to explore new hobbies or indulge your passions—from cooking and gardening to ballroom dancing and going to the theater. Maybe you’re ready to take an exercise class, travel or join a band. Don’t hold back! Lehigh Valley Active Life provides an ever-changing variety of offerings, so you can spend more time doing all the things you want.
Rick explained that exercise, walking, and weight control all help us age well. But there are two significant issues that also affect our aging quality. One is loneliness. The other is Perception.
He noted that when we retire from working, we lose a large network of friends. He also reminds us that 50 years ago we met with many in a large network because there was no internet, etc.
Folks used to sit on their front porches to keep cool. Now with air conditioning they stay inside. Also we have TV that makes us think that we are connected.
Rick said that 18 to 29 year olds are the top lonely group. And 65 and over are the second most lonely group. Loneliness affects the body’s chemistry in a bad way, and it creates a higher level of alert. This means more worrying. We need to enhance relationships.
The second issue to address is “perception.” Increasing levels of activities will activate younger feelings. Age makes no difference. Attitude is the issue.
We can do physical things if we choose to. Think about walking upright and not bent over. Don’t give in to inactivity. Our society makes aging a poor image.
Rick says that their LV Active Life community center communicates with over 3,000 people to bring together folks with common interests. That is a huge network.
They have Rick full time plus 6 part-time employees. Their annual budget is $450,000 which is down since pre-pandemic, thanks to Rick’s streamlining.
We all are invited to visit the center.
CLOSING:
Pres. Gail led us in reciting our motto “One profits most who serves best” and adjourned the meeting.
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