NOV 23 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE THANKSGIVING 2014

President's Message THANKSGIVING 2014

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2014 to all Morning Star Rotarians, their families and friends.

We are all very blessed in so many ways – not least of which is our membership in the worldwide fellowship of Rotary International. Enjoy your celebrations and travel safely . . . and remember our next meeting is December 4 because we do not meet on Thanksgiving Day. 

At our November 20 meeting, PDG Mike McCarthy’s presentation on the Rotary Foundation and “End Polio Now” was both informational and inspiring. Key highlights included:

• Worldwide, there were 416 cases of polio in 2013 with 291 cases reported YTD 2014. In 2013, Somalia accounted for most cases; this year, Pakistan.
• Countries like Nigeria have made huge improvements going from 51 cases in 2013 to only 6 YTD 2014.
• Check our progress against polio by visiting the Global Polio Eradication Initiative website at www.polioeradication.org.
• Rotary’s efforts have been multiplied by others who believe in polio eradication, including the Gates Foundation’s commitment to match all Rotary Polio Plus contributions on a “two for one” basis up to $35 million per year for five years. So, if Rotary raises $35 million per year, then the Gates Foundation will match $70 million for a total of $105 million. Talk about leveraging Rotary’s efforts!
• The infrastructure built to eradicate polio is being used to fight other diseases. This is of particular interest to the Gates Foundation. In the long run, polio’s eradication and this infrastructure may be the lasting legacies of Rotary’s “Service Above Self” dedication to this humanitarian effort.
• Closer to home, Mike reported that Morning Star’s Foundation contributions have been $153,000 over our 25 year life as a Rotary Club. He also acknowledged how well we have used Rotary District Grants, including the Mom-N-PA Dental Clinic in September, 2014.
• Mike provided an update on progress toward MSR’s $6,000 2014-2015 Foundation goal – we have already contributed ~$2,300 – so we are about 40% of the way. Thanks everyone for keeping us on track to reach the goal.
• Mike also encouraged us towards our goal of becoming an EREY Club - “Every Rotarian Every Year” by having all members contribute some amount to the Foundation with our combined contributions averaging $100 or more per member.

We completed our Rotary Foundation Month celebration with our Foundation Chairman Tom Hartzell and Mike McCarthy awarding pins to the following Rotarians for achieving multiple Paul Harris Fellowship contribution levels: Tom Bailey, Ron Helmuth, Deiter Bender, Chuck Uhl and Mike Long. Congratulations and many thanks!

Our Thursday meeting was great, but the twenty Morning Star Rotarians who attended the Joint Thanksgiving Meeting on Wednesday November 19 had a good time too. When all the Rotary Clubs were introduced, the uproar from our assembled multitude was typically Morning Starish! It was great to see MSR’s outstanding support for our colleague club.

Please put the following MSR events on your calendars and find more details on our MSR website:

• Thanksgiving Day: No Morning Star Rotary meeting!! Enjoy the holiday with family and friends. Travel safely to your destinations and back.
• Rotaplast On Air Auction: December 6 starting 7PM at the WFMZ Studio and over the air waves. The auction really needs donated items – so please consider contributing.
• Salvation Army Bell Ringing: Saturday December 13 at Christkindlmarkt. Signup times available through Mike Long.
• MSR Holiday Party: Saturday evening January 3 for our holiday gathering / pot luck hosted by the Fellowship Committee at the Long’s house.
• MSR 25^th Anniversary Celebration: The committee has set the date for Saturday March 28. Details will follow over the next few weeks.

For upcoming meetings after Thanksgiving, we have quite a lineup:

• December 4: Dan Maher on Improvisation, the New York Scene and “how to”. Dan is Susan Burnett’s improv coach.
• December 11: Frank Romano, Immediate Past District 7430 Governor on “Membership Ideas to Attract and Retain Vibrant New Members”
• December 18: Morning Star’s Annual Holiday Meeting with music by the Liberty High School A Capella Singers and Maestro Rick Santee on accordion
• December 25: Christmas Day – no meeting.

The Dictionary Project is winding down, but check with Ellen Roberts if you would like to help finish it up.

Invite a friend to an upcoming meeting to do your part in our “Every Member Brings a Prospective Member” initiative.

If you are visiting Bethlehem or our website or 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