President's Message Feb. 8

Posted by Ron Searfoss 
on Feb 08, 2016
 

Morning Star Rotary has established a very successful long-term relationship with the Allentown Band.
 
Thanks to an initiative fathered by Past President Gary Hartney, this past November we successfully conducted our 13th annual fund raising “Salute the Troops” concert featuring the Allentown Band.  The primary beneficiary of these efforts has been Victory House of the Lehigh Valley, which has received over $65,000 to help in their work with our Veterans.

The Allentown Band also qualified for a Community Development Grant from Morning Star Rotary to support their programs of Transforming Student Lives Through the Power of Music. We were honored to have Ron Demkee, ‘Conductor Extraordinaire’ present to educate us on these programs, and happy to meet Ron’s wife, Joan. Susan Hartney was also a guest. She is Gary’s wife and a former Morning Star Member; she also plays in the Allentown Band and was instrumental in establishing the long relationship between the band and our club!

 
YOUTH CONCERTS are designed especially for Elementary through Middle School Students, which are offered to schools throughout the Lehigh Valley at no cost. National Standards for Arts Education are addressed:
 • Listening to, analyzing, and describing music
 • Evaluating music and music performances
 • Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside of the arts
 • Understanding music in relation to history and culture 
 • By understanding works in context, students see ties between music and literature, history, visual art, and a variety of cultural influences.

 These concerts are inclusive of low-key, interactive teaching moments with the students. The concerts continue to grow and be fabulously successful.

SIDE-BY-SIDE CONCERTS have advanced high school students from the region participating in a public concert playing alongside members of the Allentown Band in a program of professional level music presented at Allentown's premier concert venue - Miller Symphony Hall.

This program commenced in 2005. A key feature in addition to the students having the opportunity to play is the inclusion of visiting top notch musicians from across the musical spectrum.  These visitors help instill an incredible level of musical synergy to the whole experience.

THE ALLENTOWN BAND MISSION
The Allentown Band preserves and advances the heritage of concert band music by providing quality, inspiring performances and education in partnership with the community and beyond.
www.allentownband.com

Thank you to Ron Demkee and the Allentown Band.  We look forward to your continued success and especially to our next Salute the Troops Concert in November 2016.
 

Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering Community Service Event on Feb. 18th
Morning Star Rotary Club will be providing dinner for the guests of the Bethlehem Emergency Shelter on February 18 at Cathedral Church of the Nativity.  We need your help in three ways:
 • Food donations (soup, salad, bread & dessert) and/or a cash donation.
 • Serve on the Setup & Cooking Crew 5 – 7pm.
 • Serve on the Serving & Cleanup Crew 6:15 – 8pm.

Feel free to invite any potential members for a hands-on Rotary experience.

Please see the sign-up sheet at the meeting and plan to support this event.
Contact Janet Kolepp if any questions, or if you can help but won't be at the meeting to sign up on the sheet. 484-241-1252 agjanetk@gmail.com

Thank you!
 

If you haven't already done so,
PLEASE REGISTER NOW!
 
 
District 7430 Conference             
2015 – 2016     
The Inn at Pocono Manor

April 8 – 10, 2016
Educational and a ‘real’ Celebration
Here's the link:   http://www.whythecow.com
 
 
Save the Date - May 17th!
RI President K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran of Sri Lanka will be coming to King of Prussia on Tuesday, May 17th, to recognize District 7430 for raising over $2 million for the Rotary International Foundation.  District Governor Doug Cook extends an invitation to all Rotarians. It is a very rare opportunity to meet the currently serving Rotary International President in celebration that evening. 
 

This Week's Meeting
 
Please join us on Thursday February 11th when Scott Gingold from Lehigh Valley Technology Company/Computer Troubleshooters. Scott will talk to us on Cyber Security.
 
 
Given their 10 years plus serving business customers in the area as well as law enforcement agencies including the Secret Service, FBI and State Police, this will be a very interesting and informative program. See you there!
 
 
If you would like to learn more about either Bethlehem Morning Star or Rotary International, please contact Ron Searfoss at rsearfos@ptd.net or 610-504-1460.
 
Remember to be a gift to your Lehigh Valley!
 
President Ron