Please join Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary this Thursday, December 12th, 2024 for our Live/Hybrid Meeting.Our meet & greet starts at 7:15am with the regular meeting starting at 7:30am.
Our Program will be the Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Community Grant Award.
You will have the option of joining us IN PERSON or via ZOOM. Please see Option details below:
IN PERSON LOCATION DETAILS:
The Flat Iron Building (5th floor)
301 Broadway, Bethlehem, PA 18015
Metered street parking is available on Broadway and on 4th Street. Meters begin at 8AM. Additional parking is available in the tenant parking lot along 4th & Wyandotte Streets and the Cathedral Church parking lot.
ZOOM Detail:
Topic: Bethlehem Morning Star Hybrid Meeting Time: December 12, 2024 07:15 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 857 4423 0490 Passcode: MSRotary One tap mobile +16465588656,,85744230490#,,,,*91891155# US (New York) +13017158592,,85744230490#,,,,*91891155# US (Washington DC)
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 Chorus.
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.
For breakfast planning, please let President Rodney know ASAP that you are joining us and if you are willing to subsidize LHS students’ breakfast. (President Rodney' s E-mail).
Announcing the 2024 Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Community Grant Recipient!
We are thrilled to announce the 2024 recipient of our annual Community Grant: The Teen Experience Improvement Project by the Bethlehem Boys & Girls Club. This year's grant is $10,000. Funding for this grant is provided through the Hartman-Hansen endowments at Lehigh Valley Community Foundation &The Rotary Foundation, as well as our Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Charitable Organization.
Each year, this grant is awarded to a local organization that aligns with one of Rotary International’s seven areas of focus. This year, our committee prioritized initiatives emphasizing education and economic and community development. After carefully reviewing applications from 16 organizations, the Teen Experience Improvement Project was selected for its transformative approach to supporting youth development in our community. The review committee members were Sheila Seifert, Robin Metzler, Taylor Breinich, Rodney Conn & Susan Burnett.
About the Teen Experience Improvement Project
This initiative is designed to enhance the educational and life skills of teens by addressing three critical areas:
Technology Access: The grant will fund the purchase of iPads, Apple Pencils, and a desktop computer, giving teens the tools to explore digital art, coding, and other creative pursuits.
Life & Career Preparedness: Programs such as financial literacy and career planning will empower teens with essential skills for their futures.
Food Security: Funds will also support regular meals and snacks for club members, addressing a vital need for many families in our area.
Why This Project Matters
The grant application highlighted significant gaps in resources for teens, including technology access, life skills training, and food security. The staff of the Bethlehem Boys & Girls Club received input from teens, staff, families, and local schools, emphasizing the need for more tailored support. Programs like Career Launch and Money Matters were shown to have a positive impact, and this new initiative builds on that success. With 79% of club members qualifying for free or reduced-price school lunches, the application underscored food insecurity as a critical concern. This project is designed to address these challenges, paving the way for a brighter future for our community’s youth.
Sustainability and Future Impact
The Boys & Girls Club is committed to sustaining this project through partnerships, regular evaluations, and strategic planning. By demonstrating early success, they aim to attract additional funding and expand the program’s reach.
Together, we are creating lasting change—one grant at a time!
Morning Star Rotary is working at the Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering on three evenings during the 2025 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.
We would like to give a big MSR thank you to all of our "Salute the Troops" Concert supporters. The leadership is trying to finish the final finance reports from the concert so that the Board of Directors at its December meeting can determine the amount of this year's grant to Victory House. A brief reminder to all MSR members....any members who need to submit ticket money should mail a check to our MSR Treasurer, Jean Searfoss at 1409 Bogie Ave., Allentown, PA 18106. Our hope is that all members will pay for their ticket allotment so that our annual grant to support Victory House can be as generous as possible.
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