Our Greeter today was Ron Coleman, 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 and Herb Klotz.
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 introduced our guests.
GUESTS:
PDG Cindy Hornaman, Emmaus RC; Dee and Gary Rohrbach, D7430 Friendship Exchange and Emmaus RC; Tom Friday, about to be inducted; Dave Dries, Spring Township RC: Patricia Witcher, wife of Ralph; Judy Ehninger, wife of Chuck; Lisa McDonald, guest of Murtaza Jaffer; AND SEVEN Rotarians from D5110 in Oregon.
FRIENDS FROM OREGON:
Each visiting Rotarian from various RCs in Oregon introduced themselves and each different RC exchanged their Banner with one from AWRC. Their district has 68 RCs and 3,200 members.
SNACK PACKING AT PARKLAND IS TODAY.
YVETTE PALMER PURPLE PINKIE 5K RACE: RESULTS
Race Director John Scott said that the race was run on Saturday Oct 12 at LCCC. There were 140 runners and walkers plus 30 AW and Interact volunteers that made it happen. The participation and sponsorship from all 45 RCs in our district meant that over $55,000 was raised for PolioPlus. The Gates Foundation will match this with an additional $110,000.
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD PANTRY:
Pres. Amir thanks all who helped on Friday evening, Oct. 11th. See separate article.
ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY:
Saturday October 19th at 8:00 a.m. this new project will experience our first effort. Please let Gail Micca know if you will help.
MIRACLE LEAGUE HALOWEEN PARTY:
Barbara Kistler asks for members to donate appropriate fruit snacks -- BEFORE OCTOBER 23rd -- to be distributed to the kids with the help of our Northwestern Interact club students.
DINING OUT IN OCTOBER:
Jean Machamer says Dining Out for October will be at Stony Run Inn on Thursday, October 31st, at 6:00 PM. Put your costumes on and come on out for a howling, fun-filled evening! 🎃 Hope to see you there! The signup sheets will be going around at both meetings. Bring a friend!
MEALS ON WHEELS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:
Dottie Bloom asks for volunteers to help deliver meals on Veterans Day Nov. 11th, as we do each year. “New” volunteers will have to fill out some forms. Prior vols do not.
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.
THURSDAY EVENING SCHEDULE:
Oct 24 -- at the Holiday Inn at 5:30 P.M. District Governor Herb Klotz will be the program.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Oct 23 with Dan Crane as our Greeter. Our program will be Dr. Pritesh Patel explaining the ABCs of Composites.
NEW MEMBER INDUCTION:
Tom Friday, sponsored by Ralph Witcher was inducted into AWRC. Gwenn Carr conducted the ceremony. Welcome, Tom!!
Pres. Amir introduced Sgt.-at-Arms Mitch Huston who conducted the drawings and collected Happy Dollars.
The door prize donated by Ron Coleman was won by Dave Dries.
The $31 pot of the 50:50 was not won by guest Lisa McDonald’s ticket being drawn followed by a white marble. MANY marbles will be back next week.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Cindy Hornaman is happy to see Dave Dries here, and to be visiting the _____ best RC in the district.
Sue Weber welcomes our new Oregon friends. And she noted the recent celebration of life for the late PDG Jerry Friedman, a former member of AWRC.
Ralph Witcher is happy about John Scott’s Purple Pinkie race results. AND he announced that Pat and he will have their first Grandbaby later in October.
PROGRAM:
Chuck Ehninger introduced our program today, Rev. Dr. Larry Pickens, Ecumenical Director of Lehigh Conference of Churches.
The Rev. Dr. Larry D. Pickens, Esq. is the ecumenical director of The Lehigh Conference of Churches; he is a native of Chicago, growing up in the Englewood community. Larry has served The United Methodist Church for over 30 years in ordained ministry. He also enjoys dual standing with the United Church and serves as the interim pastor of the St. Peter’s United Church of Christ.
Dr. Pickens is married to his wife, Debra and they have a daughter, Jessica, who is a therapist at the University of Maryland.
Larry is also an attorney, licensed in the State of Illinois; he is concerned about merging justice and mercy as a framework for ministry and social engagement; this is the cornerstone of his ministry. He believes that all of God's people have been "fearfully and wonderfully made" and therefore have a unique contribution to share with the world and the church. Larry believes that change is effectuated by addressing the systemic causes of injustice.
Dr. Pickens began with the statement:
The Lehigh Conference of Churches (TLCC) -- Driven by faith to bring healing, housing, and hope to the Lehigh Valley’s most vulnerable.
Began in 1954 and here are Fun Facts about 1954:
Postage Stamp: $0.03 each
Gas: $0.21 / gal
Marilyn Monroe married Joe DiMaggio
“Rock around the Clock” is recorded
The First edition of “Sports Illustrated” is published
The first Burger King opens in Miami
Six pastors from Allentown form “The Great Allentown Council of Churches”
TLCC currently has 8 umbrella programs:
Soup Kitchen Rep Payee Services
Daybreak First Impressions
HOPE The Lazarus House
Coordinated Entry Pathways
The Soup Kitchen --- Since 1982, we’ve partnered with Catholic Charities to ensure that the working poor, homeless, elderly, children, those between jobs, individuals on fixed incomes, and those who have nowhere else to turn receive at least one hot, nutritious meal every day of the week. The LCC’s kitchen operates three days a week; Catholic Charities’, four.
Noon to 1 pm, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at Alliance Hall, 534 Chew Street, Second Floor, Allentown, PA 18102
Medical care is made available on a weekly basis by the LVHN Street Medicine Team and Sacred Heart Parish Nurses, who offer free screenings, referrals for follow up care, and assistance with health insurance enrollment.
Rep Payee Services are so you never miss a payment again. From your social security or disability check, we will make sure your bills get paid.
Examples include: Rent, Electric bill, and Fines.
The Daybreak program first opened in 1979. It Currently is at 457 W. Allen St., Allentown, PA. Daybreak, our weekday drop-in center, gives people living with mental illness or physical disabilities and those struggling with addiction or HIV/AIDS, as well as the neighborhood’s elderly, a place to belong.
Daybreak serves three balanced meals each weekday. Its Staff teach life skills and work with members to provide stability and help them reach their full potential.
The First Impressions for Men program Will provide men who are going on job interviews with suits and business attire. These are interviews by appointment only.
HOPE ICM Services Outreach and Positive-social Engagement (HOPE) Program provides a pathway to stability for homeless adults dealing with mental illness and substance abuse. It is accessible through insurance and uses intensive case management to get individuals back on their feet and reduce hospitalizations.
The program connects participants with treatment services and assists in areas including housing, employment, benefits, transportation, money and prescription management, and legal matters.
Case managers are available 24-7 to walk alongside participants, teaching them life and coping skills, helping them set goals, and giving them the support necessary to get their lives back on track.
Participants must have Magellan in either Lehigh or Northampton counties and must be referred.
The Lazarus House program offers shared housing for adults reentering the community following incarceration. The Lazarus House has proved successful in providing affordable housing, developing supportive relationships, and reducing the number of individuals who reoffend.
The Lazarus House does not require participation in any programs and there are no religious standards. Houses are presently in Lehigh County, Northampton County, and Berks County.
Coordinated Entry
The Linden Street location is the Allentown Coordinated Entry site. At least 25 social service agencies in the Lehigh Valley are partners on the coordinated entry system.
Pathways Housing Services are in Allentown and Bethlehem locations Offering a full spectrum of housing services designed for those who are homeless, about to be homeless, or in an unstable housing situation.
Case managers advocate on behalf of those in need, help individuals and families overcome obstacles through an innovative, coordinated, and personalized approach, streamlining what can be a confusing and time-consuming process for those seeking assistance.
We have over 14 different programs*, including Northampton and Lehigh county programs, HUD, FEMA, rapid rehousing, HAP, AIDSNET, Ryan White funds, Permanent Supportive Housing, and others. *not all programs run throughout the year.
Depending on what you qualify for, we may be able to help you with:
Toiletries (to supplement)
Bus passes for those staring a new job
Furniture (new/and or previously owned)
Back rent
First month rent and security deposit
Utility deposit
Shut-off utility notices
For current clients, we may also have:
Thanksgiving meal supplies
Christmas Hero program
Walk-in Hours ---
Allentown: 1031 W. Linden St. Allentown PA
Monday – Thursday 9:00AM – 11:00AM & I:00PM – 3:00PM
Bethlehem: 740 E. 4th St., Bethlehem PA
Monday & Thursday 9:00AM – 11:00AM & 1:00PM – 3:00PM
Tuesday 9:00AM – noon Wednesday noon – 3:00PM
Where We Are in 2019 ---
Postage Stamp: $0.55 each
Gas Price in the Lehigh Valley:$2.60 /gal
Homeless People Serviced in Northampton County-2019: 197
Homeless People Serviced in Lehigh County-2019: 206
Transitional Housing for People Moving from Incarceration
There is a Growing Need for the Development of Affordable Housing in the Lehigh Valley
CLOSING:
Pres. Amir closed our meeting by our reciting the saying “One profits most who serves best.”
Photos by Marlene Heller
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