Dear Emmaus Rotarians,
Let me extend my appreciation to last week’s presenters at our Club Assembly. There is a bubble of new things rising and I am sure it is not the last time you will hear from them:
Mike Waddell, “Czar” for the Fundraising Oversight Committee
Eric Loch and Sue Wenner for the Flag Subscription initiative
Sal Verrastro and friends for the Cornhole Tournament
Wade George for the UPutt Minature Golf Tournament
and
Roger Whitcomb and Gary Rohrbach
for the Centennial Celebration Planning Committee
I welcomed the question about whether or not the money we raised was being spent on outreach and projects that match our priorities or just accumulating in our bank account. This week, Jeff McElhaney, past President, will be our presenter to help us understand the long-term plan to build up an endowment fund for the scholarships we award graduating Interact students at Emmaus High School. Going forward, I hope to have a similar look at the Emmaus Rotary Club Foundation. Mario Cozzubbo is the Treasurer.
The families of both Bob Halsey and Paul Sarver have directed that gifts may be given in their name using the Emmaus Rotary Club Foundation for scholarships and feeding hungry East Penn Students, respectively. Both of these Rotarians did some pre-planning to further our outreach.
This week, I wrote a letter on behalf of Emmaus Rotary supporting the Emmaus Creative Arts and Innovation Center’s (now popularly known as JuxtaHub) request for a million-dollar federal grant. Our $10,000 grant money (which includes a match from District funds and Rotary International) is at hand and the current timeline is to install an accessible bathroom in their building within the next few months.
Both the Emmaus and Macungie Ambulance Corps have sent Emmaus Rotary thank you letters for the grant money we were able to forward to them for use obtaining PPE for their crews during this pandemic.
An Update:
Our outreach crew mobilized to eliminate food insecurity in the East Penn School District has found a new location. As we leave our digs at Bethel Bible Fellowship Church with gratitude for their hospitality, we look forward to a similar, strong working relationship with the staff and congregation at Faith Presbyterian Church which is tucked into a far corner of Emmaus. Here in the Trumpet, you can find more information about how you can help with the 3-day move! and with on-going packing and distribution. We are now handing out over 150 bags each week. Speak to Rick Zayaitz or Cindy Hornaman.
And one last little request:
Join the fun. Register for this year’s virtual Purple Pinkie, Race to Zero: Lets End Polio event on Saturday, October 24th. Sign up to be on Past District Governor Cindy Hornaman’s team for the walk (masked and socially distanced) to raise money. And, please, consider sponsoring your President who will be joining our club’s team on our walk along the Little Lehigh.
Yours in Rotary,
Lexa Shallcross
President of Emmaus Rotary
2020-2021
