Today was a Zoom meeting with 43 people on line. After some conversations President Ralph Witcher opened the meeting at 7:30 A.M.
GUESTS ON LINE:
Capt. Nick Millward, Rotary Peace Fellowship winner calling in from Japan; and Nick’s parents and his Uncle; Nandin, Nick’s girlfriend; William Gruen, President of NWL Interact club; DGE Bob Hobaugh, Kutztown RC; and Ethel Dayton-Craig, long time member of the Allentown RC.
HAPPY DOLLARS AND COMMENTS:
Barbara Kistler said that it still is snowing in New Tripoli.
Bill and Sue Weber were on from Hilton Head and are enjoying warmer, snowless weather.
Marlene and Gary Heller, the Webers neighbors, said that the Weber farm got 3 feet of snow.
Ron Coleman got a discussion going about PA “Dutch” accents and how to pronounce Tripoli and Germansville (that was Ernie Boll.)
It was noted by Gail Micca that guest, Ethel Dayton-Craig, donated a water barrel to our garden project.
Kathy Ott lost her power in the storm.
Gail Micca had no running water for 4 days; due back tomorrow.
Geoff Legg lost his cable service and began watching old John Wayne movies.
Gary Heller is happy that they did not lose power.
Ralph Witcher is happy to see the Webers today.
Tom Friday is happy that the AstraZeneca vaccine reduces covid19 transmission once it becomes available.
Bill Palmer is happy that he received his first Moderna vaccine shot last Friday, and had no ill effects.
Amir Famili said that the Rite Aid in Allentown has vaccines and he went there for his first shot. Also Walgreen’s and CVS soon will be delivering vaccinations.
Marlene Heller said that Weis in Emmaus will be doing vaccinations too.
Marlene also noted that her son-in-law -- the Climatologist -- was seen smiling as the snow kept coming down.
OPENING:
Pres. Ralph gave a very nice invocation. Then he led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S.
CELEBRATION DATES:
Pres. Ralph displayed the list of February members and their celebration dates. We applauded in lieu of singing.
We discussed visiting Dave Dries for his birthday, until it was said that they now live in Wyomissing. Ron Coleman said that is why-he’s-missing !
Pres. Ralph again said “The world needs more Rotarians.”
THE FOUR-WAY TEST EXAMPLE:
Pres. Ralph played an all-new musical rendition video of the 4 Way Test created by the Rotary Club of Dar es Salaam, in Oyster Bay, South Africa .
Marlene Heller then read to us the 4 items and asked for volunteers to tell about a recent application of the 4 Way Test in their life. None today.
MEMBERSHIP:
Chair Tom Friday welcomed our many guests who were on with us today. Tom urges us to continue inviting more guests to work with us on projects, and to learn about Rotary by joining our Zoom meetings.
Bill Weber introduced their sister-in-law, Roberta Anderson, who now lives in Harrisburg, who spent the 1995-96 year in Mongolia doing Missionary work.
NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION:
Pres. Ralph announced that on March 6th there will be a new member orientation session.
MEALS ON WHEELLS UPDATE:
On Wednesday, January 27, President Ralph Witcher, along with John Scott and Gail Micca presented the $1,000 check to Vicky Coyle, CEO of Meals on Wheels. These funds were from the Lehigh Valley Aging in Place grant we received in December. Funds will be used to replace older heating bags that are no longer working. Vicky was very pleased to have this support and we were happy to help and grateful to LVAIP to make this possible.
COMMUNITY BIKE WORKS:
The check presentation picture with Community Bike Works. Thank you Gail and John for making this happen.
ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (RLI):
Please see the separate article.
AW GARDEN UPDATE:
Pres. Ralph showed a picture of some planted seeds getting ready for the Spring.
Gail Micca, Head Gardener, reports that they need grow type light bulbs. They have already planted peppers and onions. The fencing and gate are coming.
Gail has applied for some grants to help. Having these gardens lets us provide the freshest possible produce to our Food Pantry clients.
YOUR SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:
P-E Gail Micca e-mailed the following project update:
Green Thumbs Garden Project: If you have a green thumb and like to grow plants from seeds, would you consider making some room under your grow lights for some plants for the garden?
If you or someone you know has the equipment to grow plants from seeds, but you aren't using it, would you consider donating it or loaning it out? This saves the garden budget a good deal. We are also looking into a small greenhouse set up if you know someone who has one.
If you like administrative work, please let Gail know as we can find a good fit for you.
Please take a look at this section on the left side of this bulletin.
NEW RC GROWING MEMBERS PROGRAM:
Pres. Ralph announced an all-new cash incentive District-wide program to help RCs bring in and retain qualified new members. There will be a $100 cash payment for each new RC member inducted during the 3 months of Feb-Mar-Apr 2021. More details will follow.
STATUS OF MORNING MEETINGS:
The AWRC B.O.D. has suspended all AWRC face-to-face meetings until further notice. Zoom meetings are now scheduled for each Wednesday at 7:30 A.M.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Wednesday February 10, 2021 starting at 7:30 a.m. We will use Zoom to meet. Our program will be Dr. Kevin Crosby, Asst Rotary Coordinator, discussing a Pilot Program for Membership Growth: "Levers of Change."
STATUS OF THURSDAY EVENING MEETING:
No Thursday evening meetings are planned until after the pandemic..
PROGRAM:
Pres. Ralph Witcher introduced Nick Millward and thanked Nick’s parents for producing such a fine son who always helps others. Nick then introduced Oyungerel Tsedevdamba, Member of Parliament, Mongolia, to discuss her book “The Green-Eyed Llama.”
Oyungerel has a Master’s degree from Moscow University, and one from Stanford U. She has written nine books, three of which are with her husband, Jeffrey. Oyungerel thanked us for the invitation.
Mongolia is land-locked, and has Russia to the North, and China to the South as its only neighbors. Since 1991 Mongolia has had Democracy. All religions are acceptable.
Oyungerel Tsedevdamba is the policy advisor for human rights and public participation to the President of Mongolia, Khaltmaagiin Battulga. Oyungerel is a member of the Democratic Party and former minister of culture, tourism and sports, as well as a former member of the Mongolian Parliament.
“The Green-eyed Llama is the best novel ever written about Mongolia.” (Jack Weatherford.) The first Mongolian novel ever published in the West! An Award-Winning, decade-long bestseller in Mongolia.
From the Amazon website:
The year is 1938. The newly-installed communist government of Mongolia, under orders from Moscow, has launched a nation-wide purge. Before it ends, nearly a tenth of the country’s population will be murdered. A young nomadic herds-woman named Sendmaa falls in love with Baasan, a talented and handsome Buddhist lama. Baasan resolves to leave the priesthood and marry Sendmaa, but her scheming neighbor persuades Baasan’s brother, Bold, to ask for Sendmaa's hand in marriage first.
Their love triangle is engulfed by tragedy when Mongolia’s Stalin moves to crush the Buddhist faith. Baasan is arrested. Sendmaa, Bold, and the other northern herders are branded counter-revolutionaries, and their herds are confiscated.
As the country teeters toward war, Baasan is sentenced to death as a class enemy. But an improbable ally, a lama turned “KGB” agent, intervenes in a way that reaches all the way to Franklin Roosevelt. Still, Baasan must summon every bit of his talent and ingenuity if he’s to survive the gulag, reunite with Sendmaa, and help save the Buddhist faith.
The Green-Eyed Lama is based on a true story. Nearly all of the book's characters are referred to by their real names. Written originally in English, it was published in Mongolian in 2008, and has been a bestseller in Mongolia for 10 years. The Green-Eyed Lama is the first Mongolian novel to be published in the West. In November 2017, the French publishing house Grasset Editions published the novel in French under the title Le Moine Aux Yeux Verts.
Oyungerel answered many questions as the meeting went until 9:00. It was a great presentation.
CLOSING:
Pres Ralph led us in the saying “One profits most who serves best.”
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