Past District Governor BJ Metz came to talk to us about a very special baseball league. It was not about how a Yankee loving young boy got stuck on a little league team named the Red Sox.
Many of us grew up in an age when ‘special needs’ children were not really tolerated. Most can recall a child who seemed to always be inside and not allowed to participate in all the cool things the rest of us did. Fortunately that has changed. Special needs yes, but they are still just kids. Different sizes, abilities, even ages but kids. Kids like baseball and anyone can play!
BJ told us all about a project to build a ‘field of dreams.’ With the help of many committed people and the support of the Easton Rotary Club, construction of Easton Rotary Field took a few years. The Miracle League of Northampton County was born with opening day in September 2012. Location is in the Charles Chrin Community Center in Palmer Township, right off Route 22 with all the other athletic fields for the community!
That first year there were 65 “special” players. Now there are over 300!
To help with these players, a buddy system was established. Initially family and friends, this has evolved so that many youth teams come to each game to help and support the “special kids!” The “buddies teams” have already more than filled available games for the coming season. A wonderful synergistic benefit of this successful program is how all these young people are experiencing the positive benefits of volunteering and helping others. Some may be future Rotarians, but their communities and future families will benefit greatly from this process!
Please join us this Thursday, April 14th when our speaker will be our own Bernie Gardiner. Bernie will give what I am certain will prove to be a very interesting Classification Talk. 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.
“Well the District 7430 Conference ended Sunday. We learned how Rotary has impacted a number of former exchange students’ lives, how a club is planning a multi-year project and attracting members through the process, traveled to India for an NID (National Immunization Day), enjoyed fellowship in the photo booth, experienced how others are fighting hunger, learned more about ending Polio, raised money with cow pie bingo, heard from PDG Gilbert (Brown, RI President’s Representative from Dallas, TX) about how he involves his family in international projects, danced to The Mango Men, honored those who left use this year, learned unacceptable differences in stop and arrest rates among non-white citizens, saw five Rotex testimonials, heard five very personal Rotary moments. and said goodbye to old and new friends.
The Conference exceeded every expectation we had. Mary and I are tired but very happy.
With 8 members in attendance, the Morning Star Rotary Club was well represented. With a whole bunch of Rotarians we helped in the Outreach food project to fight hunger – we assembled 15,334 meals in 2 hours! The really great part, 2,376 meals came back to the Lehigh Valley for distribution to New Bethany Ministries and the Hispanic Center. The balance of the meals went to food banks in the 7430 District.
There was a very impressive group of Exchange students both incoming and outbound for next year. The five finalists for the Rotary 4 Way Speech Contest were amazing! All these young people are truly gifts to the world. The future looks bright.
MSR was a pretty solid hit with the “Service Above Self” bartender crew at the Hospitality in the Fireside!
Think ahead to next year – Conference May 5-7, 2017 in Lancaster PA. “Step outside the box” of our MSR and learn more of the incredible Rotary world of which we are all a part.
Thank you for all you do for Rotary – and the World!
All of us have men in our lives that we care about. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer for men (after skin cancer). Deaths due to cancer among men in the US is the second highest cause of deaths ,while heart disease remains number one.
The question of when and if men should be screened for prostrate cancer is variable among medical experts, so what's a guy to do?!?
The Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) US Preventative Services Taskforce recommends (May 2012) the prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening blood testonce symptoms of prostate cancer are present. Symptoms include but are not limited to difficulty starting urination, weak or interrupted flow of urination, frequent urination, especially at night, difficulty emptying the bladder, pain or burning during urination, blood in the urine or semen, pain in the back-hips-pelvis that doesn't go away, and painful ejaculations. A health provider examination finding of potential prostate cancer is an enlarged prostate gland based on digital rectal examination (DRE) by the examiner.
The American Urological Association (AUA) recommends (no date available) decision for PSA screening be made with the health care provider based on one's personal health history and current health status along with a clear discussion of risk and benefits of the PSA screening.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) states that early screening with a PSA blood test combined with a DRE can lead to early prostate cancer detection. Therefore the ACS recommends (3/11/16) that the client discussion of this with their health care provider based on available health information combined with one's own thoughts about the risks and benefits of early PSA screening be essential in screen testing decision making
The American College of Physicians (ACP) states (2014) that there are no current prostate screening test measurements endorsed by the ACP. The ACP recommends such a measurement be developed in the future.
The Sipple Recommendation (2016)
Considering family history, present symptoms if any, current health status history plus any client personal concerns or worries, get a PSA blood test along with a DRE to determine the next steps in heath screening.
You won't find anything, or exclude the presence of something, if you don't look for it!
The Morning Star Rotary Board approved the club Foundation Committee's recommendation to use some club "points" to help members achieve 1,000 dollars/points for their first (or next!) Paul Harris Fellow.
Up to $100 match for new donors this Rotary year. (Initial donors will be only new members, since everyone gave something last year.)
For any of last year’s initial donors who received under $100 match, the club will give an additional match this year, with the total match for the 2 years not to exceed $100.
A brand new points “RAFFLE / LOTTERY”!!!The names of ALL members giving at least $100 to the Rotary Foundation this Rotary year by May 19 will go in a hat. (Each name only once.) At our club meeting on June 2, five names will be picked and offered 300 points each towards their Paul Harris status (whether first or multiple). If a winner does not want the points, he or she can decide what to do with them. (Give to another member, or have the club retain for use in the future.)
Remember, it's NOT about the money - it IS about the wonderful work done with the help of The Rotary Foundation!
Per Tom Kolepp - BikeWorks Roundup of 2 WHEELERS will be conducted on MAY 7. Please notify Tom if you have a bike available. We will come to your place and pick it up!
As we approach the springtime holiday of Easter, what better time than to perform our own Resurrection – A BIKE RESURRECTION! A great way to "re-cycle" your bicycles!
We need stationary bikes and two-wheelers to support two of our projects –
STATIONARY BIKES for The Moravian College – William Penn Elementary School (WPES) “Reading & Riding” Program – promoting student health – physical & mental as they ride on stationary bikes while reading. This is an ideal opportunity to make that dust catcher and well-intentioned clothes rack do some good for our students at WPES. Per Janet Sipple, please just call Greer Hockmeier 610-694-0116 x19920 at WPES. Arrangements may be made to drop off any such delinquent you have seeking a new life! Janet says they will even come to your house to resurrect your bike!
Plus, BikeWorks Roundup of 2 WHEELERS herded by Foreman Tom Kolepp. This is in support of our District Grant which helped provide a van for use by the BikeWorks.
You will recall Morning Star Rotary partnered with Bethlehem and Allentown Rotary clubs to provide the van. Now this is our ‘sweat equity’ segment of the grant.
Through students participating in the program it
• Fosters relationships with caring adults
• Learn bike mechanics & safety
• Develop reading, teamwork & other job skills
• Lead & give back
And at the end, the successful student gets to keep the bike!
Per Tom Kolepp - BikeWorks Roundup of 2 WHEELERS will be conducted on MAY 7. Please notify Tom if you have a bike available. We will come to your place and pick it up!
Please help make this another successful resurrection!
They have lessons on Saturdays from 9 to 2, so it will be great if people come early for a tour with Cheryl Baker, CEO, the first half hour before you start your work.
Work from 10 am to 2 pm. We can break from 11:30 to 12:30 for lunch. You will be doing work around the facility to get them ready for their Kentucky Derby party the following week. Expect to be doing landscape work – weeding, fixing pavers on trails and drives, plantings, etc., and possible replacement of fenceposts/boxfencing on some of the pastures.
Rain or shine is fine; depending on the weather the work project list may change slightly. The more people, the merrier! We will have work enough for as many people as we can have here. In fact, we do have a major fence pasture project and if we get a critical mass we just might be able to get this done, which would be phenomenal!
Please everyone bring your own workgloves, bug spray, and sunscreen. We will provide water/sodas; Subway can provide the rest.
Look for the Sign-up sheet next week. If you need more details contact Bill Hunter wdh3@lehigh.edu or
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