Due to our weekly Thursday morning meeting catering deadlines, it is necessary to make a decision concerning any changes to either meet as usual (live/hybrid), or to switch to virtual only by 9:00 PM on Tuesday. These decisions will be done based on best available weather forecasts.
Please check your emails and the Morning Star Rotary website (morningstarrotary.org) on Wednesdays when inclement weather is forecast for Thursday mornings.
Thank you for understanding as we try to be fair to all concerned during bad weather.
Please join Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary this Thursday, December 11, 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 Hannah Votta Coleman, Chief Joymaker from Joyful Giving.
We have a special meeting planned where we will give back for the holidays, in true Rotary fashion. We will become official JOYMAKERS, where we will spread joy, build relationships and create lasting impact in our community!
Hannah Votta Coleman, founder and Chief Joymaker from Joyful Giving, will introduce us to her nonprofit and give us the opportunity for an easy, hands-on project great for all ages, stages & abilities. We will assemble gift bags for children at a local nonprofit. Joyful Giving is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization since 2022 that packages essential items that look and feel like gifts with the intention of creating joy.
LOCATION:
The Cathedral Church of the Nativity (Dining Room)
Morning Star Rotarians and guests welcomed in the Holiday Season on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at our "First Thirstday" gathering at the Wilbur Mansion. Attendees enjoyed food and drinks while enjoying warm Rotary fellowship at a beautiful location. Thank you to the Wilbur Mansion for their hospitality and complimentary hors d'oeuvres. The service and food were excellent.
Our annual Holiday Meeting will be held at The Cathedral Church of the Nativity on the corner of 3rd and Wyandotte Streets. The meeting will be located in Sayre Hall where we will ring in the holidays in our usual MSR style and be entertained by the Liberty High School A Capella Choir and our resident accordionist, Rick Santee.
We will have approximately 40 students performing for us this year. Please consider sponsoring a student(s) breakfast at $10 per student. We will have a sign-up sheet at this week's meeting or you can notify Sheila Seifert (Sheila Seifert E-mail). In addition, to assist in planning catering, please RSVP to Sheila indicating your intention to attend and # of people attending.
Parking is available at the church with lots accessible from Wyandotte (upper lot) or 3rd Street (lower lot). You may also park at our usual Flatiron lots for a short walk to the Cathedral. The parish hall is accessible from both parking lots with elevator access from the lower lot. The hall is on the same level as the entrance from the upper lot.
We are deeply saddened by the death of John St. Clair, a charter member of Morning Star Rotary. His friendship and service to Morning Star Rotary will be deeply missed.
"A service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem and a burial at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Club (Youth Exchange Program) or First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem. Online condolences may be offered at www.connellfuneral.com."
Obituary - Morning Call, December 7, 2025
John Beidler St. Clair, 91, of Bethlehem, PA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 9, 2025, at Moravian Hall Square in Nazareth, PA. Our beloved Uncle John, known affectionately as JB, led a life filled with youthful energy, humor, travel, lasting friendships, and a deep connection to family.
John, the younger of two sons of Gladys (Beidler) and David “Pete” St. Clair III, was born on July 28, 1934, and raised in Bethlehem, PA. John was a graduate of Liberty High School and a 1957 graduate of Cornell University where he was active in the glee club and the Delta Phi fraternity. He served as an officer in the United States Army from 1957 to 1959, primarily stationed in Korea. Following his service, John returned to Pennsylvania and built his career as a product specialist at the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, retiring at the young age of 50.
John was a charter member of the Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Club, where he led the Youth International Exchange Program for many years, creating meaningful exchange experiences for hundreds of students and host families locally and abroad. He forged lifelong friendships with these students, some of whom stayed connected to him through long stays, shorter visits, calls, letters, and emails literally until his passing. His commitment to youth development continued after retirement as he coached the Moravian Academy girls’ tennis team and the Freedom High School boys’ tennis team. Being around young people was the secret to his own enduring youthfulness and joie de vivre.
Due to our weekly Thursday morning meeting catering deadlines, it is necessary to make a decision concerning any changes to either meet as usual, hybrid, or to switch to virtual only by 9:00 PM on Tuesday. These decisions will be done based on best available weather forecasts. Please check your emails and the Morning Star Rotary (morningstarrotary.org) website on Wednesdays when inclement weather is forecast for Thursday mornings. Thank you for understanding as we try to be fair to all concerned during bad weather.
Morning Star Rotary will be volunteering at the Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering on three evenings during the 2026 winter months. We will serve food, wash dishes, and monitor the showers for the guests at the shelter. The Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering is located at Christ Church UCC at 75 E Market Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018.
MSR at Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering
Approximately 4:30 - 9:00 PM
Monday, January 13, 2026
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Thursday, March 10, 2026
**Please note: We are still determining whether we will be cooking the food or having it catered. Stay tuned for more announcements.
Thank you for the many thoughtful messages and warm congratulations on my selection as your District Governor Nominee. I am truly honored by the confidence you have placed in me, and I look forward to serving as District Governor for the 2028–2029 Rotary year.
I am grateful to the Nominating Committee for their time, care, and commitment throughout this process, and to District Governor Mary Cook for her leadership and support. I am excited to begin learning alongside the DG Line and to contribute wherever I can in the months ahead.
Most of all, I am looking forward to working with each of you. Our district is filled with dedicated Rotarians doing remarkable work in their clubs and communities, and it will be a privilege to support and celebrate that service. I am eager to listen, collaborate, and help strengthen our impact together.
Thank you again for your encouragement and kindness. I’m excited for the journey ahead and for all we will accomplish as People of Action.
Yours in Rotary,
Loretta Ottinger District Governor Nominee Designate Rotary District 7430 Fleetwood Rotary Club
HAVE YOU MADE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ROTARY FOUNDATION THIS
ROTARY YEAR?
Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary will match member contributions to Rotary Foundation with club points during the 2025-26 Rotary year. A minimum $100 contribution is required. For contributions of greater than $100, the club will match a maximum of 200 points. This will help newer members achieve their first Paul Harris Fellow quicker, and encourage other members to contribute at a higher level. Major donors not eligible for points. Points will be given for contributions retroactive to July 1, 2025 and continue through June 30, 2026.
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.
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