I hope you all had a restful and wonderful 4th of July week. Our freedoms were hard-fought and more of us enjoy the true meaning of celebrating them with each passing year, and that’s a great thing! I hope we won’t rest until everyone is able to enjoy the true freedom democracy and equality bring across the world. We contribute so much, as Rotarians, in the ability to shine a light on freedom in the spirit of service about self.
On the 29th, I had the distinct honor of following President Sharon Fontana’s able leadership of our club at our Changeover meeting. I was thrilled to have the ability to call up our new leadership to the podium and swear them in for the coming year. I will look forward to being able to move forward with great new ideas and excitement in this new Rotary year with the assistance of President Elect Janet Kolepp, Secretary Val Walk, Treasurer Jean Searfoss, Sergeant-at-Arms Russ Pacala and Directors Marianne Aronson, Rick Morrissey, John Oesmann, Ron Searfoss, Steve Kazar, Josh Mrozinski, Lynn Milet, and Gino Cantelmi. We have such a great group leading us, and I’m excited to see what the year will bring!
This past week we had our First Thursday evening meeting. Have you attended one yet? I want to share with you Robin Metzler’s comments about it from a few weeks back. He mentioned that he wasn’t sure what to expect from the evening meetings, but he finally went, and really enjoyed himself! I hope you’ll join us, too. We had more new people attend, as well, and they will be back, also – Eileen Dunn joined us, as did Mike and Terri Long! These meetings are actually a great opportunity to bring spouses – right, Rick Santee, Butch Macri, and Dee Elliot? Summer’s a great time for these evening meetings as it is; they’re a little more laid-back, although we do have some structure to the meetings now – they’re even allowing us to do Happy Dollars and 50/50 (in our new format), the Artisan is a great place to meet, and we’ve been able to share our Rotary experience with new people with each of the last 3 months of meetings – who will you invite to come August 3rd?
This week, we’ll be back at Moravian Village in the morning, and we’ll be hearing from one of our Camp Neidig campers. I’m excited to hear about the experience – the kids always get a lot from this weekend. I’ll also be handing out our new theme pins – Rotary: Making a Difference, and we’ll have flyers to distribute for members to order their “Rotarian at Work” T-shirts. We’ll be needing them soon, so get your order in quickly!
PLEASE BRING A DONATION FOR OUR FOOD DRIVE. In honor of Past President Sharon’s contributions we will be collecting all summer to make a gift, and a difference, for New Bethany Ministries.
Another Note: August 11th is coming up soon. Our district will be celebrating our 33rd Annual Rotary Strike-Out Hunger Night. What could be more fun than watching the Phillies take on the Mets? What’s more, our club will get $10 on every ticket we purchase, and tickets run from $20 to $47 each. The $10/tickets comes back to us as Foundation credits. A great night of baseball – it’s Phillies alumni weekend, and Pete Rose will be added to the Wall of Fame – a chance to strike out hunger (you’ll want to take a can for that food drive, as well) and a great way to add to our rolls of Paul Harris Fellows!
Questions? Call or email Gerry or Jill Long at 610-625-5105. How many tickets can we challenge ourselves to purchase for this event?I have it on good authority that our friends at Victory House would love to be gifted tickets to the game, and they do have transportation there and back. I think it would be excellent to help send some of them for an evening of fun! Paul Harris points are always welcomed!
Morning Star Rotary’s annual dues are $200 per year (or $100 per half year). Treasurer Val Walk emailed the 2017-18 Dues Notices in early June. The Rotary year starts on July 1, and club Dues are due on June 30 so we may pay Rotary International and District 7430 their portions on a timely basis.
Thank you to all our members who have already submitted payment! Checks received in June were deposited the first week of July.
If you have not yet paid, please give your check to Treasurer Jean Searfoss, or mail it to her at 1409 Bogie Ave., Wescosville, PA 18106.
Alternative: you can pay with a credit card via a link on our website - under Site Pages on the left side of our home page, click Pay Dues Online Here. Note: A small fee is added to cover the processing costs we are charged.
Your prompt cooperation will reduce the follow-up time needed, and be much appreciated. Please be "fair to all concerned" - we need to pay Rotary International in July. Thank you!
For many years, one idea has stood at the heart of all our service: sustainability. Sustainable service means our work continues to have a positive impact long after Rotary’s direct involvement has ended. We don’t dig wells and walk away; we make sure communities can maintain and repair those wells. If we build a clinic, we make sure that clinic has a way to keep running without ongoing support from us.
One way I’d like for you to contribute in our quest for sustainability is through my tree planting initiative. I ask that you have one tree planted for each member of your club sometime between now and Earth Day, 22 April 2018. The Environmental Sustainability Rotarian Action Group is a great resource that can help you get started. Share your progress online by using #pledgetoplant.
I hope that the result of this effort will be far greater than the environmental benefit that those 1.2 million new trees will bring, which is itself most worthwhile. I believe the greater result will be a Rotary that recognizes our responsibility, not only to the people on our planet—but to the planet itself on which we all live and on which we all depend.
During my six presidential conferences this year, environmental sustainability is one of many topics up for discussion. Each conference will focus on how peace relates to one of Rotary’s five other areas of focus. My hope is that attendees are inspired take action after attending a conference and will develop new initiatives. Learn more about each of the conferences and how to register.
As I mentioned to you all earlier this year, Rotary Peace Fellow Marie-Paule Attema has already begun her studies and has shared her first blog post, which you can read here. I’m pleased to report that my home country of Australia has welcomed her with open arms and we all look forward to reading her next post as her journey progresses.
Beginning this Rotary year, the Rotary Friendship Exchange program has been expanded to include both Rotarians and non-Rotarians, with an emphasis on including young professionals on exchanges. These exchanges are a unique chance for cultural immersion and interchange, as well as an opportunity to build global understanding and boost vocational and leadership skills.
As district governor, you will receive special recognition if 60 percent or more of the clubs in your district qualify for the 2017-18 Rotary Citation.
To earn this year’s citation, the following activities are required of clubs:
Pay your July 2017 and January 2018 club invoices on time
Report volunteer hours and service project contributions in Rotary Club Central
Please ask each club to accurately track the hours and the money they spend on their service, so we can get those important year-end numbers.
In addition, at least four club goals must be achieved in the following categories: support and strengthen clubs, focus and increase humanitarian service, and enhance Rotary’s public image and awareness. Download your copy of the 2017-18 presidential citation for more information. If you have questions, contact the Rotary Awards team.
Now that you have stepped into your new role as district governor, I hope you to take the time to reflect on why you chose to take on this position, and the impact you can have on the clubs in your district. There’s a great deal of work ahead of us, but it’s only when we come together that we are able to embody Rotary: Making a Difference.
Sincerely,
Ian Riseley Rotary International President, 2017-18
On behalf of the Board of Directors we want to thank everyone for their support this past year – President Fontana, all our members, volunteers, and the Board and Officers. Special thanks to those Directors completing their two year commitment on the Board – Jeff Kiscka, Robin Metzler, Geoff Wright and Stephen Kazar (who completed the year for Dave Cincera who resigned. Stephen now starts his own two year term – thank you.)
At our Board meeting, Wednesday evening, June 21, we evaluated the openings and needs of MSR for Officers and Directors. There were three open slots for Directors and a need for a Vice President. Janet Kolepp had stepped up to the current VP slot in January creating one Director opening for the next year. I will fulfill the second year of her director term as she becomes President Elect.
There had been one opening for a Director for the 2017-19 term. With the tragic loss of Audrey Rafferty, a second Director was needed. We are very happy to report that Lynn Milet and Dino Cantelmi have graciously come forward to serve in these roles.
That leaves us in need of a Vice President to become fully engaged in the service to Morning Star. Please give serious consideration to this need. There is much to be done by all of us as the club continues to expand in our community efforts. Please contact me or any Officer or Board member. The Four Way Test begins with Service Above Self.
Thank you.
Ron Searfoss
Past President
Club Information
Welcome to our Club!
Service Above Self
Thursdays
7:10 am Meet and Greet
7:30 Meeting Starts
Moravian Village
526 Wood Street
(Opposite Post Office)
Bethlehem,
PA 18018 United States
