Thursday, October 16, 2025 for our Live/Hybrid Meeting. Our meet & greet starts at 7:15am with the regular meeting starting at 7:30am.
Our speaker will be Khanjan Mehta, Vice Provost for Creative Inquiry, Lehigh University Impact Fellows Sierra Leone Maternal Health Project
In Sierra Leone, where maternal and infant mortality rates are among the highest in the world, access to quality healthcare remains a daily struggle for many. Medical infrastructure is limited, resources are stretched thin, and too often, preventable conditions lead to devastating outcomes. But amid these challenges, a group of Global Social Impact Fellows from Lehigh University is working to change the narrative - one solution, one partnership, and one community at a time.
Since 2019, students from Lehigh's Impact Fellowship program have traveled each summer to Makeni, Sierra Leone, to co-create sustainable health innovations with local partners. Their mission is to continue advancing healthcare-focused projects with the goals of sustainable, scalable impact on Sierra Leonean communities and families.
LOCATION:
The Cathedral Church of the Nativity (Dining Room)
321 Wyandotte Street
Bethlehem, PA
We will do the best we can in regards to hybrid Zoon streaming- cameras and microphones may be from laptops only. Thanks for your understanding!
Morning Star Rotarians, in partnership with the Monocacy Creek Watershed Association, participated on Saturday, October 11, 2025 in a Stream Cleanup along the historic Monocacy Creek.
Message from Rick Morrissey..."We rocked this morning! We were small yet mighty!... Let me tip my cap to all of you with a big thank you!"
On October 9, 2025, Morning Star Rotary welcomed Lena Barbieri, Chief Philanthropy Officer and VP Communications for Miller-Keystone Blood Center. Lena presented an overview of the organization's mission and operations. She explained Miller-Keystone serves eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey, collecting blood for approximately 35 hospitals. Lena highlighted the organization's commitment to quality customer service, discussed the importance of blood donation, and the various ways blood components are used to save lives, emphasizing that blood cannot be manufactured and is perishable.
Lena explained the national blood shortage and Miller-Keystone Blood Center's efforts to address it. She highlighted the need for young people to become regular blood donors and shared stories of how blood donations have saved lives. Lena defined Miller Keystone's operations, including their partnership with hospitals, blood collection and distribution processes, and various programs like "Thank the Donor and Adopt-A-Donor". She mentioned the organization's need for new bloodmobiles and other equipment to improve their services.
During the past few weeks you should have received at our weekly meeting or will receive shortly through the mail, six (6) tickets for the “Salute the Troops” concert. We strongly urge you to help support Morning Star Rotary by selling/purchasing the six tickets at $10.00 per ticket or by making a direct donation.
Thank you in advance for helping make our concert a successful fundraiser!
Bethlehem Emergency Shelter, in partnership with The Freezer Ministry and Garden Gatherers, will be hosting a Hut on Main Street in downtown Bethlehem in November and December to collect donations, and bring awareness about the unsheltered and food insecurity by handing out cookies. They expect to hand out over 5,000 holiday cookies and snickerdoodle bars this year. If you are interested in baking or sponsoring cookies, contact Cookie Coordinator Blake Messman at 484-894-3295.
This complimentary special event will honor ShelterBox’s 25 years of bringing shelter and dignity to families uprooted by disaster and conflict. Together, we’ll reflect on our shared impact, and prepare for the urgent work ahead.
Join ambassadors, supporters, friends, and family from around the world as ShelterBox shows you the frontlines of today’s most urgent crises. You’ll hear powerful stories of resilience and see how your support transforms lives where it matters most.
The Council on Resolutions just issued proposed Resolutions for action by COR Representatives this month. The proposals can be found at Council on Resolutions | My Rotary As your Representative, I have the opportunity to comment by October 8, and to vote by October 31, 2025. Please consider these proposals and share your ideas with me at RotarianBob@hometownu.biz. Thanks,
Join us for Rotary's Fight Against Polio: Global Progress and Updates from Pakistan 13 November 2025 | 12:00 Chicago time (UTC-6) Live on Zoom
Polio remains endemic in only two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, recent outbreaks in previously polio-free areas and detections of poliovirus in sewage across several European countries demonstrate that polio remains a threat to children everywhere. Fragile health systems and competing priorities continue to challenge eradication efforts, but Rotary and the Gates Foundation have renewed our long-standing partnership to fight polio with a joint commitment of US$450 million. Rotary leaders also recently visited Pakistan and met with government officials, who reaffirmed their commitment to eradication. Join us to hear the latest updates and learn how your support is helping make progress toward a polio-free world.
HAVE YOU MADE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ROTARY FOUNDATION THIS ROTARY YEAR?
See Foundation Chair, Tom Hartzell for information on making your contribution. You can send your contribution on-line or give your check (payable to Rotary Foundation) to Tom. You can also mail a check to Tom Hartzell, 1341 Biafore Avenue, Bethlehem, Pa 18017.
