FEB 4 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Posted by Tom Kolepp 
on Feb 04, 2015
 

President’s Message for February 5, 2015

At our January 29th meeting, Rachael Scheffler from the Lehigh Valley Hospital Network outlined the “Community Canvas” program which we helped fund through a Morning Star Community Grant. We learned that “Community Canvas” is part of the Lehigh Valley Children's Hospital outreach to specific elementary school communities – students, parents and faculty. In collaboration with local, childhood education providers, LVHN presents four-week programs centered on health and wellness and/or healthy habits in nutrition, physical activity and behavioral health to five Lehigh Valley elementary / middle schools. Specifically, the Community Canvas portion is an innovative arts competition based on health-conscious themes. For more information, see http://www.lvhn.org/wellness_resources/classes_support_groups_and_events/community_programs/community_canvas.

At our February 5 meeting, we’ll hear from Ron Demkee of the Allentown Band. Ron is a long-time MSR friend. His support has enabled us to build our Salute the Troops Concert into a successful annual fund raiser. Morning Star has supported Allentown Band with a Community Grant this year and Ron will tell more about how the Band uses those funds to promote music education.

MSR Leadership Update: President Elect Ron Searfoss braved the ice to attend the second of President Elect Training Sessions (PETS 2) on Monday night February 2 in Quakertown. District leaders, including AG Janet Kolepp, were there to help prepare our District’s 2015-2016 President class. Talk to PE Ron about the upcoming training opportunities for all club members.

Foundation Update: At their January 29 meeting, the MSR Foundation Committee reported on our progress towards becoming an Every Member Every Year (EREY) club.  Half of MSR’s members have made contributions to the Rotary Foundation for the 2014-2015 year! And with ~ $6,000 collected to date, MSR will meet the average $100 per member qualification!! Now, we need to ramp up participation so that every Morning Star Rotarian donates something to the Foundation. The easiest way is to start contributing to the “Two Dollars Per Week” fund at our meeting sign in desk. Your weekly donation will be recorded and our Treasurer, Sue Reeps, ensures proper credit when MSR sends in the contributions. If you want to learn more about the Foundation and EREY, talk to me, Tom Hartzell (our Foundation Chairperson) or any member of the Foundation Committee.

Membership: Our other big goal this year is to bring in five new members. We have only inducted one (Lynn Milet) with one (Bill Hunter) on the induction docket. Our upcoming programs highlighting our Community Grant recipients are an ideal opportunity for guests to hear about MSR’s support for our communities. It’s a rare visitor who just shows up at a Rotary meeting - they need an invitation from a Rotarian – and that’s you.

Please be sure you put these club events on your calendar and see the MSR website for additional information:

  • MSR Bowling Night: schedule TBD in February by the Fellowship Committee
  • Four Way Speech Contest: Wednesday March 18 6PM at Bethlehem Town Hall. Speech contestants needed. If you have leads, contact Ben Tenaglia.
  • MSR 25th Anniversary Celebration: Saturday March 28 in the evening. $45 per person at the Goosey Gander on 4th Street in South Bethlehem. Food. Dancing. Memories.
  • MSR Spaghetti Dinner: Friday May 1 at East Hills Moravian Church
  • Golf Tournament: June 1 at Silver Creek Country Club

Here are District events of interest. More details are found on the District website.

  • District Foundation Recognition Dinner: March 23 at the William Penn Inn
  • District 7430 Conference: April 24 – 26 in Gettysburg
  • District Training Assembly: Saturday May 16 starting 7:30 AM at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell
  • Camp Neidig (RYLA) 2015: June 19 – 22 with closing ceremony & dinner on June 22

If you are visiting Bethlehem or our website or you want to learn more about Bethlehem Morning Star or Rotary International, please contact Tom Kolepp via email at tkolepp@gmail.com or via mobile phone at 484-241-1251.

Let's continue to "Light Up Rotary". Regards. President Tom

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