Past District Governor Frank Romano kicked off our Rotary Foundation Month with a very busy program. He provided a recap of District 7430 activity over the last three years with 28 clubs doing 60 District Grants. Additionally multiple clubs were engaged in seven global grants while others are in process. Global Grants tend to take a long time.
The Rotary Foundation has been Doing Good in the World since 1917!
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The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
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The Rotary Foundation’s motto is Doing Good in the World.
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Foundation programs are supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.
It is not the Rotary Foundation that directs where this money goes. It is the Rotary Clubs and their Rotarians who develop the projects and apply for the funds. Some of these projects have grown far beyond the initial Club and District initiatives, such as Polio Eradication, thanks to the support from OUR Rotary Foundation!
Support, even from Rotarians, cannot be required. It is voluntary, attracted by the work Rotarians do, and their effectiveness in finishing the projects.
PDG Frank presented a special Club Banner in recognition of MSR as a 100% Foundation Giving Club, for clubs in which every dues-paying member contributes to The Rotary Foundation, and the average contribution is at least $100 to any Rotary Foundation gift designation. This was a milestone for MSR as it is a first time achievement for MSR. Past President Tom Kolepp and Foundation Chair Tom Hartzell accepted on behalf of MSR. A very special thanks to the TOMs team for this success!
PDG Frank also presented the Club with a certificate from The Rotary Foundation in appreciation of our financial support of the End Polio Now: Make History Today Campaign.
In addition to all the above, PDG Frank did the honors of inducting our newest member, Bernie Gardiner, to membership. We also recognized her sponsor, Ellen Roberts, with a Bronze Backer in honor of her bringing two new members to MSR.
On Saturday, Morning Star was very well represented at the Rotary Leadership Institute Training in King of Prussia. Sharon Fontana, Janet Kolepp, Tom Kolepp, John Oesmann, Jean Searfoss and myself ventured forth in search of ROTARY knowledge. By all accounts, mission accomplished.
Thanks to DGE Linda Young for the photo
Sharon and John participated in Level 1, while Tom, Jean and I were in the Graduate course and Janet was working to become a Trainer. Note: John Oesmann is setting the bar quite high for new members. He will be officially inducted as a member this Thursday. He has already been to RLI L1 and has stepped up to become a member of the MSR Board next year. (He also was a volunteer helping MSR at the Salute the Troops Concert on Sunday.)
Speaking of which, our annual concert in support of Victory House, Salute The Troops, played to a packed house on Sunday afternoon. The Allentown Band under the direction of Ron Demkee was excellent as always. The combination of the Allentown Band and the Northeast Middle School Band and Chorus has proven to be a major hit with the audience. The students have become an integral part of enhancing the concert.
Thanks to Chairperson Gary Hartney for marshaling our collective effort. Thanks to Cheryl Baker for the video presentation on MSR and Rotary International. Thanks to Jean Searfoss for the program book design and production. Thanks to all Rotarians for their sponsorships, ticket sales, attendance and volunteer contributions! We look forward to presenting the proceeds to Victory House after all the accounting is finalized.
Please save the date: The Annual Joint Thanksgiving Luncheon hosted by the Bethlehem Downtown Rotary will be held on Wednesday, November 18th at noon right here at Moravian Village. Sharon Zondag from the Laros Foundation will speak, and we will be joined by Rotarians from neighboring clubs. Please see the separate story below for more details. We hope you will be able to join us for this annual event that helps us kick off the Holiday Season.
We continue Rotary Foundation Month this Thursday when Foundation Chair, Susan Burnett and the Committee challenge the club with “Rotary Foundation TRIVIA THROWDOWN!" Hints for preparation: RI, District and Club websites, MSR Rotary Fun Facts, and PDG Romano’s presentation from last week.
November 11 is Veterans Day. Thank a veteran for keeping our country safe!
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