Monthly Meeting Schedule
First Thursdays - evening 5:30 pm IN PERSON
Second & Fourth Thursdays - 7:30 am ZOOM
Third & Fifth Thursdays - 7:30 am IN PERSON
Speaker listings - subject is followed by Live or Zoom as a reminder.
Welcome to our Club!
Please join us for this week's MSR ZOOM meeting, Thursday, January 13th at 7:30 am.
Our speaker will be Sue Burnett presenting Grant Funding 101 and Foundation Giving.
Some of you may have noticed last month that I will be the speaker via Zoom on Jan 13 and you may already be planning on skipping it because just last week we had a Foundation talk.
DON'T DO THAT!
My talk is totally different. I am going to give you an update on our grants!
Also, I am going to explain the difference between District Grants, the Hartmann-Hansen Grant (how we could combine them to do a super amazing project if we wanted) and Global Grants (and how easy they are to fund - hint, we have been funding them for over 25 years!!!!!)
Also, as many of you know, I am heading to Kenya in January with Wendy Ellsworth from the Saucon to check out the possibility of doing an amazing Global Grant. This trip is self-funded (thank you to my amazing husband!!!).
I could use a little bit of help with the Africa trip:
1. If you have any summer children/youth clothing that you would otherwise donate to Goodwill, I would take that with me (as much as I can stuff into my suitcases) and give to the children in the villages)
2. I really want to connect with the kids so I was thinking of bringing Pop Rocks! I reached out to Grandpa Joes on Main Street for a donation but have not heard back from them. I would really like to take about 100 or more packs with me. They are light weight and flat. Or, those little lollipops that come in a million flavors that every doc office and hair cuttery give out. If anyone would like to donate to this, I would really appreciate it. The Pop Rocks are 70 packs for $50 on Amazon or a $1 each at the candy store.
I leave Jan 17th at 11:15 pm so lots of time is getting short.
Ok, that is it for now. Cannot wait to see everyone Thursday!
Cheers,
Susan
Topic: MSR Weekly Meeting
Time: Jan 13, 2022 07:15 AM EST
Zoom starts at 7:15 am for Social time (meet & greet), with the regular meeting starting at 7:30 am.
Click to join Zoom Meeting (password is embedded)
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE ROTARY DONATIONS BEFORE YEAR END
A) The Rotary Foundation (TRF)
Last Thursday, Gordon Bigelow, District 7430 Area 2 Foundation Coordinator, presented an overview of the Rotary Foundation. The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
TRF is not for profit supported by our voluntary contributions which turns those gifts into service projects throughout the world. TRF makes judicious use of the gifts with 100% financial performance metrics and has continuously received the highest-four star rating-from Charity Navigator.
The Rotary Foundation now has 7 areas of focus:
1. Building Peace & Conflict Resolution
2. Disease Prevention & Treatment
3. Maternal & Child Health
4. Community & Economic Development
5. Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
6. Basic Education & Literacy
7. Supporting the Environment
There are three funds: 1. Annual Fund (primary) 2. Endowment Fund 3. Polio Plus. The efforts of TRF can be found from Bethlehem to Mumbai, India and beyond. Individual Rotarian Recognition can start as a sustaining member at $100 each year. A Paul Harris Fellow is achieved at $1,000, and multiple Paul Harris Fellows up to level 9.
Ways to donate:
Mail a check payable to The Rotary Foundation to Tom Hartzell 1341 Biafore Avenue Bethlehem PA 18017. Checks should be received by Tom no later than December 20 for 2021 tax deductions.
Donate on-line at the Rotary Foundation.
Rotary Direct (online) allows you to make regular contributions to Foundation on a monthly or quarterly basis.
If you have already donated to The Rotary Foundation this year, we thank you.
Please contact Tom Hartzell or President Shawn with questions or requests for more information.
B) Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Charitable Org.
Once again, Morning Star Rotary’s 2 largest fundraisers were disrupted by the pandemic. The 2021 Celtic Classic 5K had to be cancelled. Our Salute the Troops concert has been postponed from November 2021 (indoors) to May 2022 (outdoors), and the financial implications are not yet clear.
Our Morning Star Rotary club and its board have been meeting regularly, and together we have helped the community and beyond with $6,700+ in grants so far this Rotary year:
- Game of Rent project awakened community leaders to the difficulties of finding affordable housing - $4,793.
- Holiday Hope Chest – members donated wrapped shoeboxes filled with gifts for underprivileged children.
- Audrey Rafferty Education Fund grants of $1,000.
- ShelterBox $1,000 to help those affected by natural disasters and manmade conflict.
2021-22 budgeted grants include Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering, Hartmann-Hansen Grant (to help establish a food bank), Victory House and PolioPlus. Funds from District grants and Lehigh Valley Community Foundation match club contributions, and The Edge fundraiser helped, too.
However, the shortfall in fundraising has caused our Charitable Account bank balance to decline significantly, and no donation has been given to Victory House yet this year.
We ask your support to allow us to help more.
Family comes first, of course – if money is tight, please take care of them.
If finances allow, please think about what would have been spent on Rotary (weekly meetings, concert tickets, etc.) and donate as you are able.
Two ways to donate
If desired, you can specify which project or event you are supporting.
BY CHECK payable to “Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Charitable Org.” - tax deductible since it’s a 501(c)3.
Mail check to Attn Jean Searfoss, 1409 Bogie Ave, Allentown, PA 18106
ONLINE – click the “Donate” button at www.morningstarrotary.org
For your donation be tax deductible for 2021, please submit by December 20.
Please contact Jean Searfoss (Treasurer) with any questions jsearfoss@cementemployers.com .
Thank you in advance for your consideration and help.
Morning Star Rotary Board of Directors
We had the pleasure of welcoming Beth Clausnitzer as a guest speaker on Zoom. She is a producer for A Channel of Peace, a movie production company founded by actor, writer, director and Bethlehem native Daniel Roebuck. Beth gave us great insight into the world of filmmaking. It takes a village of interns and volunteers, long 12-14 hour work days, and a lot of food to feed the crew for a 30 day production.
A Channel of Peace is a non-profit organization dedicated to producing and supporting films and other multimedia projects and endeavors that provide insight into the advancement of family, faith in God, and the values of love, forgiveness, good works, and gratitude. If you have seen "Getting Grace," you may recognize a number of Bethlehem sites used in the making of the film. Two of the organization's newest productions, "Lucky Louie" and "The Hail Mary," were also filmed locally with many Lehigh Valley residents as extras.
Follow their film journey at achannelofpeace.org or their Facebook page for updates and donation opportunities. If you are interested in getting involved in future projects as extras, volunteers, or to audition, send an email to be placed on one of the following lists:
Our District Governor, Bob Hobaugh, made his official District visit October 21, 2021. DG Bob reflected on 35 years in Rotary and how he learns something new every day. He went on to address our Rotary Theme "Serve to Change Lives" and the need to chart your course to achieve your goals. Rotary has given us tools to increase our impact, expand our reach, enhance participant engagement and increase our ability to adapt. Please look to the RI Learning Center, our new rules for Club information, Club meetings and Rotary Days of Service.
To Serve to Change Lives, we need to "Chart Your Course and Set Your Sails."
Think of these Four Questions - Rotary's Priorities:
How do WE Increase Our Impact?
How do WE Expand Our Reach?
How do WE Enhance Participant Engagement?
How do WE Increase Our Ability to Adapt?
As we address these questions it will benefit developing our action plans.
Let our service projects be transformational and let's be our best selves through Rotary!
Thank you DG Bob! We will endeavor to continue to succeed in Rotary seeking lasting change in our community and selves.
JUST a reminder - see the following link CLUBRUNNER MOBILE APP for a short video on the free phone app and all the information readily available to you right on your phone! Makes that little cell phone a very valuable tool for a gazillion of your Rotary needs! Enjoy! Give a yell if any questions.
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Service Above Self
2nd & 4th Thursday 7:30 am Zoom 3rd & 5th LIVE TBA
Bethlehem, PA
United States of America