Oct 1 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Posted by Tom Kolepp 
on Oct 01, 2014
 

President’s Message October 1:

Could we be any busier here in Morning Star Rotary during September? Three days of the MOM-n-PA Dental Clinic on the heels of official approval of our District Grant . . . 5K / 10 K Race readiness including race bag stuffing, sponsor recruiting, t-shirt design contest, food preparation, course layout, chip timing setup . . . Red Badge to Blue Badge ceremony . . . member sponsor awards . . . race bag pickup . . . and finally . . . RACE DAY . . . including setup, successful event and cleanup. Just writing that run on sentence tired me out!!

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At our September 25 meeting, Dr. Charlie Incalcaterra provided a rundown on the results of the MOM-n-PA Clinic which he described as “exhausting, but exhilarating”. Most impressively, the two day clinic served 2,047 patients and provided dental services in excess of $1 million in value. The 2015 clinic has already been scheduled for next May. Charlie reported that MSR was well represented by our volunteers, including Charlie, yours truly and the following folks:

  • Ginny Wolkoff
  • Dee Elliott
  • Barb Seifert-Sigmon
  • Rafael de la Hoz
  • Lynn Milet
  • Jean Searfoss
  • Ron Searfoss
  • Val Walk
  • Janet Sipple
  • Ron Helmuth
  • Charlotte Hartmann- Hansen
  • Cheryl Baker
  • Susan Burnett
  • Janet Kolepp
  • (If I missed anyone, let me know)

Last Thursday, we officially “Blue Badged” six of our members - Shawn Deiter, Jan Chicka, Janet Westlund, Alex Shnaydruk, Iryna Levytska and Steve Bajan. Membership Chairs Jessica Elliott and Rick Santee splurged on a bit of the bubbly for all the new Blues in recognition of Steve Bajan’s almost eternal Red Badge status. Congratulations to our new Blue Badges – we look forward to “lighting Up Rotary” with all of you!

The Membership Committee also honored those MSR members who have sponsored members over the last year with new pins with colored backers signifying the number of members sponsored. Honorees and number of members sponsored included: Jean Searfoss (4); Ginny Wolkoff (2); Tom Kolepp (2); Charlotte Hartmann-Hansen (1); Ellen Roberts (1); and Tom Mohr (1).

On Friday and Saturday, the plethora of activities being coordinated by Race Director Jeff Kicska, Assistant Race Director Wayne Achey and the various committee members was mind boggling. Friday morning the tents went up next to Old York Road and in the afternoon race packets were being picked up by the Illichs Mill pool. By 3AM, Rotarians were making coffee and assembling the “stuff” needed to host 600 runners. By 5 AM, the race site was filled with Rotarians engaged in setup activities. By 6:30 AM, race participants began to arrive. At 8 AM, the starting pistol sounded and the chip timing team was on-line. By 11AM, we were done – awards given, site cleaned up, trash in the bins and tables and chairs going back to Leisers.

Whew !! What a whirlwind. The list of contributors to making this race a success is too long to include in the bulletin. You all know who you are. Please accept my heartfelt thanks for the outstanding Service Above Self required to successfully complete this great annual event.

While we catch our breath before plunging headlong into our Dictionary Project and into ticket sales and sponsorship acquisition for the Salute the Troops Concert on November 9, please join the club for our October Fellowship Event on October 22. It’s the Annual Sipple lecture at Moravian College and this year’s topic of “Human Trafficking” should be of interest to every Rotarian as we strive for peace. Please see the Fellowship Committee announcement on the website for all the details.

Please join us for our October 2 meeting to hear Melinda Stumpf, Regional Affairs Director at PPL, tell us about “Improvements to the PPL System.” It should be a great opportunity to reflect on how essential reliable electrical service is to our modern lives. (The 5K / 10K Race “Coffee Team” and “Chip Timing Team” both know that their job is impossible without circuit breakers that stay on!)

Looking forward to this weekend, those of you attending RLI (Rotary Leadership Institute) in Harrisburg should have your registrations in by now. We will huddle on Thursday morning to arrange ride sharing.

If you are visiting 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

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