Please join Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary this Thursday, September 10, 2026, for our Live/Hybrid Meeting.Our meet & greet starts at 7:15am with the regular meeting starting at 7:30am.
Our speaker will be Sandra Gillen, Chairperson, Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission
The Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission is a group of volunteers appointed by The Mayor of Bethlehem and Bethlehem City Council who advise the City of Bethlehem in matters concerning fine arts, including maintaining and furthering fine arts [the arts] in Bethlehem; and encouraging a cooperative cultural enterprise in the community. The Commission offers a broad selection of exhibitions, educational programs, public festivals, and events, all with community involvement at the forefront.
A large number of Morning Star Rotarians, including a few members of the Bethlehem Downtown Club, came to the Artisan Wine and Cheese Cellars on First Thirstday, September 3rd for drinks, food, and fellowship, with music provided by The Grumpy Old Men, a musical duo including Rick Santee and Ted Rewak.
A donation bucket—strategically placed at the exit door—resulted in contributions to the Morning Star Rotary Club’s Charitable Organization totaling $282.00. In addition, $150.00 was pledged by members and friends unable to attend the gathering, resulting in a total contribution of $432.00.
Our club is seeking sponsors for the Celtic Classic 5K Race. Sponsorships are the primary way that we raise money to distribute throughout our community. Please share the sponsorship form below with any potential sponsors to make our 2026 race a success.
Once again Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary is partnering with the Monocacy Creek Watershed Association for their annual Fall Stream Clean-up on Sunday, October 11, 2026 from 9-11:30 AM. The meet-up location is at Sand Island Park, 56 River Street, Bethlehem 18018. Meet at Tennis Court Parking Lot.
In September, we as Rotarians take a moment to consider access to education for every child around the world.
Many of our clubs in the district contribute to their local schools through supply drives and book donations. We recognize exceptional students, provide educational opportunities through our STEM YEA and Camp Neidig Programs.
We support Interact programs at local High Schools, and opportunities to compete in our Four-Way Speech Contest.
We support a better understanding of the world for young people through our youth exchange program.
Globally, it has struck me that access to clean water in many places is the key to education. When families have access to clean water, young people can spend their days in school getting educated, rather than "fetching" water. Rotary has a variety of programs that support clean water supply in underserved communities.
If your club has a vibrant youth service program, keep up the good work. If it does not, consider supporting one of our many district programs, or starting your own.
ShelterBox is responding to devastating flash floods that have struck the Rasuwa District of northern Nepal, near the border with Tibet. The scale of this disaster is staggering. At least 389 people have been killed, and reports indicate more than 1,000 people are missing. Entire villages have been inundated, homes and buildings swept away, and roads, bridges, power, and communications infrastructure badly damaged.
The sudden surge of water was reportedly caused by a glacier collapse, sending mud, ice, and rock crashing into the Bhote Koshi River and through communities.
Our response is underway. Our team is working with partners in the region to understand the rapidly evolving situation, determine how many people have been affected, and identify the emergency shelter and essential supplies displaced families will need.
Reports suggest thousands of people may have lost or damaged homes, and with villages scattered across remote mountainous areas and critical roads and bridges destroyed, reaching families in need will be challenging.
We know Nepal well. ShelterBox responded following the devastating 2015 earthquake, when an avalanche of ice, snow, and rock destroyed Langtang village in the same region and killed more than 200 people. We returned to Nepal again in 2017. That experience and our relationships in the region will help inform our response today.
And Nepal is not the only emergency where families need help. Right now, ShelterBox is responding to disasters and conflict around the world, from devastating earthquakes in Venezuela and Colombia, to severe flooding in Bangladesh, to families displaced by conflict and crisis. The need is immense.
Please make an emergency shelter gift today.
Your support can help ShelterBox provide emergency shelter and other essential aid to families who have lost their homes in Nepal, and help us remain ready to respond whenever disaster strikes next.
Thank you for standing with families when they need it most.
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