Dear Fellow Rotarians,
The inspiration I felt after last week’s morning meeting when past President J. P. Raynock presented awards to Wilmer Schultz and Dale Dries for perfect attendance over years and years and years of Rotary membership, lingers and sounds in my mind. I offer my sincere congratulations to both men. And I wonder, where you caught unaware when Raynock mentioned the set back Rotary faces in our efforts to eradicate Polio worldwide?
Sign. I wasn’t. I had heard this information 2 weeks earlier. It seems that the year 2020 has brought us a perfect storm of vaccination campaigns canceled due to the pandemic, the continuing distrust of the Taliban to these efforts, and the outbreak of a wild polio strain. I was heartsick when I heard this on the radio. I was so stunned at the time that my beloved companion canine Teddy came over to me to offer comfort and I truly saw the concern on his face.
It took me days. Then, I drew upon what I know about Rotary -- which includes Rotarians like Wilmer and Dale who are 100% all-in. Rotary is not just a club meeting at a country club. Rotary is a worldwide cause fueled by dedicated men and women who will work and give to make this world a better place. So we will go on in our fight to eradicate the dreaded virus Polio.
Our vision gives us resilience.
Resilience to work. There will be a community service project this Saturday morning at the Knauss Homestead to rake leaves. You can sign-up with Karen Hobson or Nicole Steirer. Talk to Cindy Hornamn or Rick Zayatiz if you can help pack or distribute food in our weekly efforts to ease hunger insecurity in our community.
Resilience to give. December 1st is Giving Tuesday. Last year in 2019, 27 million adults in the USA pledged over $20 billion to non-profits organizations on Giving Tuesday. Please consider making a commitment to the Rotary Foundation or the Emmaus Rotary Foundation. With your donations, earmark your intentions. Do you want to fight polio around to world? Or hunger among the families of the East Penn School District?
Resilience to show up. For now, we continue to meet both at Brookside Country Club and online using the Vox Tandem platform for our regular Thursday morning meetings. Each Monday, the executive committee-- your president-elect, first v.p and second v.p. -- will offer me their best council about continuing to meet in person and how to increase login attendance. Your presence counts. Do what you can to join us. Your voice matters. Contact me if you have questions, concerns, or problems.
This Thursday, there will be a Board meeting following our business meeting and program. Let me know if you have any items for our agenda.
And join me as I keep on keeping on. It will make my alpha male Teddy happy!
And it will build up our resilience!!!
Yours in service above self,
Lexa H. Shallcross
Emmaus Rotary President
Club Members in Attendance at BCC received their Perfect Attendance Certificates (Rick Zayaitz, Bill Erdman, Fred Herman and Lexa Shallcross) Members who attended via Vox Tandem were also Recognized. JP gave some close ups of their certificates. congratulations to all and thank you for your resilience!
