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At our April 10 2025 meeting, MSR Foundation Chair Tom Hartzell presented Mike Orbin with his PHS+6 recognizing his ongoing support of the Rotary Foundation. Congratulations and thank you Mike for your support.
On April 10, 2025, Morning Star Rotary welcomed Sichiv Sek from Sustainable Cambodia as our speaker. Sustainable Cambodia is a Rotarian-led nonprofit organization that empowers rural Cambodian families by helping them create a sustainable quality of life with safe water and sanitation, sustainable incomes, healthy food, and quality education for their children. Sichiv is an Educational Sponsorship Coordinator at Sustainable Cambodia, on the leadership team, and also a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Pursat. She was hosted by MSR Rotarian, Mike Orbin, who is on the Board of Directors of Sustainable Cambodia. Sichiv joined Mike and other MSR Rotarians at last week's District Conference.
CLICK ABOVE to view presentation.
.Morning Star Rotary members volunteered at the Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering on three evenings during the 2024-2025 winter months. Members served food, washed dishes, and monitored the showers for the guests. Our Rotary members are passionate about providing sustainable solutions to poverty, which is why we support the Bethlehem Emergency Shelter both financially and as volunteers. The Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering is located at Christ Church UCC at 75 E Market Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018.
A huge thank you to MSR Rotarian Justin Strasser for his exemplary work serving as Morning Star Rotary's coordinator for our service to Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering and to all the MSR Rotarians who volunteered their time to serve our community!
At our March 27, 20025 meeting, Scott Slingerland, Executive Director of CAT - Coalition for Appropriate Transportation of Lehigh Valley and MSR member Jennifer Cunningham, Vice President of CAT spoke to our members regarding the exciting work of their organization. CAT was the recipient of the 2023 Morning Star Rotary Community Grant in support of their efforts our community.
Scott discussed the organization's vision to support bicycling, walking, and public transit in the Lehigh Valley region highlighting the importance of human-powered mobility, emphasizing the involvement of people of all ages and the need for choices in transportation. Scott mentioned various resources and initiatives, such as mechanic classes, group bike rides, advocacy with local governments, CAT' "Bike to Work" Week, and the importance of pedestrian safety. He encouraged attendees to visit their bicycle cooperative and participate in their programs.
Jennifer discussed her preference for commuting by bike or walking, citing the benefits of mental health and cost savings. She shared her experiences of living close to work and adjusting her lifestyle to accommodate biking. Jennifer also mentioned her involvement with CAT and her desire to transform downtown Bethlehem into a bike-friendly area. She discussed various aspects of biking safety and road rules, emphasizing the importance of following the same road rules as cars, including stopping at red lights and stop signs. Jennifer also highlighted the significance of biking skills, such as using hand signals, making eye contact with other road users, and being aware of their surroundings.
At our March 27, 2025 meeting, MSR Rotarian Mike Orbin presented President Rodney Conn with banners from various Rotary clubs that he had visited as part of a recent Distirct 7430 Rotary Friendship Exchange Trip to Argentina. This exchange is all about building global connections, discovering new perspectives, and experiencing the magic of Rotary beyond borders.
On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School students competed in our club-level "Four-Way Test Speech Contest". Morning Star Rotary co-sponsored the club-level contest with the Bethlehem Downtown Rotary Club to send one Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School (BAVTS) student to the Regional Contest on March 22, 2025. The four competitors were from Freedom (2), Liberty, and Northampton High Schools. All of the students did a wonderful job. Extra congratulations to Joshua for winning the competition and moving on to the next level. The finals will be held during the District 7430 Conference on April 5, 2025.
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The Regional Four-Way Test Speech Contest was held on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at the Willow Lane Elementary School in the Macungie. Five students who had won their local club-level contests competed for a place in the finals at the District 7430 Conference in Hershey on April 5, 2025. Our local winner Joshua gave a fantastic speech, but did not advance to the finals. Congratulations to all of the contestants for their outstanding efforts.
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On March 25, 2025, Morning Star Rotary had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductor of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem along with Development Director, Cheryl Dungan, to our morning meeting. Dr. Jackson presented an informative and enjoyable presentation on a musical gem of our community since its founding in 1898, the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, its history, and its current activities, including performances, educational programs, and future plans. The choir is the longest-running Bach Choir in the United States and has a strong partnership with Lehigh University. The annual Bach Festival has been held at Packard Chapel since 1908. The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, led by a passionate former public school and university educator, has grown to 130 singers and now holds auditions year-round. The choir is a diverse representation of society, with a professional orchestra and soloists, and a strong sense of community. The choir merged with the Bel Canto Youth Chorus in 2019, now comprising 80 young people from grades 3 through 12. The choir relies heavily on volunteers and has a staff of 7. The choir's mission is to serve everyone through music, from a young age to end of life care. Thank you Dr. Jackson and Ms. Dungan for your service to the arts in our community. Click Here to view Dr. Jackson's presentation.
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At our March 13, 2025 meeting, MSR Foundation Chair Tom Hartzell presented Rick Santee and Rodney Conn with their PHS+8 pins recognizing their ongoing support of the Rotary Foundation. Also, Wendy Ellsworth (via Zoom) was honored for achieving her PHS+4 pin. Congratulations and thank you all for your support.
 | Morning Star Rotary President, Rodney Conn, welcomes former member, Cheryl Baker, and presented her with her new membership badge at our February 27, 2025 meeting. Welcome Back Cheryl! We are happy that you have returned to Morning Star Rotary! |
Sandra Bieber, Manager of Operations and Community Development for Discover Lehigh Valley was our guest speaker, via Zoom, at our February 27, 2025 meeting. Sandra introduced us to the Lehigh Valley Ambassador Program which is a free community with exclusive perks, deals, and experiences. "A Lehigh Valley Ambassador is a person who loves and cares about the Lehigh Valley and how it is represented. An ambassador is a true advocate for our region." Sandra explained the steps to sign-up as a LV Ambassador and enroll in the full Lehigh Valley Ambassador Course. She encouraged everyone to take advantage of everything the program has to offer.
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A Lehigh Valley Ambassador (LVA) is someone who loves and cares about Lehigh Valley and how it’s represented. LVAs are lifelong learners who make an effort to learn
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By joining our community, LVAs become experts in showcasing our beautiful region to visitors and locals alike. This creates a ripple effect that bolsters the region's
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As part of our tradition, new members are invited to share their story with the club. Formerly known as the “classification talk,” this is a chance for us to get to know new members better. Their stories are an essential part of our club’s tapestry, and sharing it helps us understand your journey, passions, and the unique perspectives you bring to our community. We believe that every member’s story enriches our collective experience and strengthens the bonds between us. Hearing their insights and experiences will inspire and connect us, fostering a deeper sense of fellowship and collaboration.
A recently inducted member of Morning Star Rotary, Mike Orbin, who transferred to MSR from the Allentown Rotary Club, told "His Story" at our February 20, 2025 meeting. Mike has been a Rotarian since September, 2018. Prior to his retirement, Mike was a Principal Business Intelligence Senior Analyst with LSI Corporation (a Broadcom Company) formerly Lucent Technologies. He spoke about his background, family, education, career, and his "Rotary Story". Mike highlighted his Rotary experiences including being instrumental in the formation of the STEM-YEA program in our district along with involvement with International Projects in Mexico, Zambia, and Cambodia. Mike's Rotary Moment happened on a trip to Cambodia in 2020. That experience made him aware that Sustainable Cambodia was the project he wanted to support and be involved long-term. We are thrilled to have Mike as part of our Morning Star Rotary family. Click Here to view Mike's presentation.
On February 13, 2025 at the Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary weekly meeting, the MSR Green Team hosted a panel discussion with three Lehigh University students, moderated by MSR Rotarian Dr. Eric Obeysekare, Teaching Assistant Professor, Lehigh University Computer Science & Engineering, Office of Creative Inquiry, entitled “In Good Hands: Lehigh University Students Discuss Sustainability”. We heard from Paige D., sophomore majoring in Environmental Studies, Sophie U., junior majoring in Psychology and Health, Medicine, & Society, and John R., graduate student studying Catastrophe Modeling. The students discussed their perspectives on sustainability, some initiatives they are involved with on campus, and participated in a lively discussion with Morning Star Rotary members about sustainability and the environment.
On February 6th, Morning Star Rotarians enjoyed some quality social time on a chilly winter evening at the Flying Pig Tavern & Tap!
ROTARIANS AT WORK...serving our community! MSR members serving dinner and providing showers on January 27, 2025 for the guests at Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering. Morning Star Rotary volunteers at BES on three evenings during the winter months.
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Dr. Joseph Roy, former superintendent of the Bethlehem Area School District, was our guest speaker at our January 23, 2025 meeting where he shared his experiences volunteering at the Northampton County Prison since his retirement. He has created a discussion group to assist inmates prepare for reentry into society. Dr. Roy indicated that the prison's minimum security unit, where he is working, has limited resources and services for inmates, many of whom are in for parole or probation violations, drug and alcohol DUI charges and are awaiting adjudication of their cases. He highlighted the challenges inmates faced in maintaining communication with the outside world and accessing information about available resources. Dr. Roy emphasized the importance of inmates being productive while incarcerated to improve their chances upon release. He discussed the challenges faced by defendants in the criminal justice system, particularly those who are unable to bail out at arraignment, noting that 65% of defendants are unable to bail out, and the cost of bail can be prohibitive.
Dr. Roy shared his experiences and observations from working in the minimum security prison unit. He noted the unique culture among the inmates, who despite being strangers, worked effectively together and supported each other. They were willing to participate in discussions, reflecting on their lives and challenges. Dr. Roy emphasized the challenges facing the inmates for reentry into the community after being incarcerated, as lives were disrupted and inmates had to start anew. 80% of criminal cases are settled prior to trial, and the average number of days for a case resolution is 90 to 180. He emphasized the high recidivism rate of 65% and the difficulties faced by defendants in accessing resources such as cell phones, email, and housing upon release. Dr. Roy stated that the criminal justice system can be a vicious cycle, with defendants unable to escape the costs and restrictions imposed upon them.
CLICK HERE to see Dr. Roy's presentation.
PDG Herb Klotz
Rotary International Zone 32
Action Plan Champion
Regional Plan Lead 2024-2027
At our January 16th meeting, PDG Herb Klotz presented a program on the **Rotary Action Plan**. He spoke about the plan's four strategic priorities: Increasing our Impact, Expanding our Reach, Enhancing Participant Engagement, and Increasing our Ability to Adapt. PDG Herb provided insights and tools for Rotarians to actively participate in shaping Rotary's future by making meaningful, sustainable change.
Click Here to view his presentation.
This month, January 2025, Morning Star Rotary celebrates its 35th Anniversary. At this past week's meeting, PDG Janet Kolepp recognized the Morning Star Rotary anniversary of our charter members, the growth and work of our club throughout the years, and the progress we have made in our ongoing service to our community and the world.
At our initial Rotary meeting of 2025, Jennifer Cunningham, Youth Services Coordinator for Morning Star Rotary, presented "A Focus on Youth and Education", an overview of the programs that Morning Star Rotary, in coordination with the Bethlehem Downtown Rotary, offer to the youth in our community. Jennifer emphasized that our programs addresses three of RI's "Areas of Focus", Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Basic Education and Literacy, and Community Economic Development while adding value to our local clubs, enabling our members to engage with our younger generation, providing valuable inspiration, insight, and leadership training and opportunities for our youth from grade 8 through high school.
Click Here to view Jennifer's presentation. For additional information on our Youth Programs visit our New Generations Page.
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