Due to our weekly Thursday morning meeting catering deadlines, it is necessary to make a decision concerning any changes to either meet as usual (live/hybrid), or to switch to virtual only by 9:00 PM on Tuesday. These decisions will be done based on best available weather forecasts.
Please check your emails and the Morning Star Rotary website (morningstarrotary.org) on Wednesdays when inclement weather is forecast for Thursday mornings.
Thank you for understanding as we try to be fair to all concerned during bad weather.
This January 2026, Loretta Ottinger, Fleetwood RC, and District Governor Nominee (DG 2028-29), Amy Sheller, Kutztown RC, along with our own Morning Star Rotarian, Mike Orbin travelled to Cambodia coordinated by Sustainable Cambodia and the Rotary Club of Pursat.
Thank you to Amy & Loretta for sharing their experiences for this article.
MSR Rotarian Mike Orbin exchanging banners
with the Rotary Club of Pursat.
Amy Sheller, Kutztown RC
Loretta Ottinger, Fleetwood RC
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"If you've ever wanted to travel with purpose, connect deeply with a community and have a lot of fun...this trip is open to you. Rotary member or not."Amy Sheller
There are 4 upcoming trips:
2026: Post-Rotary Taipei Convention: Jun 19 to Jun 28
2026: Nov 7 to Nov 16
2027: Jan 23 to Feb 1
2027: Feb 20 to Mar 3 (Rotary E-Club of Global Travelers)
"If you’ve ever thought about traveling on a Rotary‑led trip, just do it. It will change the way you see service, partnership, and the impact we create when we show up together. Experiences like this stay with you long after you return home." Amy Sheller
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Loretta Ottinger
"My trip to Sustainable Cambodia was truly life changing. Seeing firsthand how Rotary has impacted so many children and their families changed the way I view the world. I am not sure what I expected before the trip, but I returned home profoundly changed.
When we visited the schools, we stepped off the bus to find children lined up along the road, waiting to greet us. One by one, they approached with cards they had made or flowers they had gathered. Boys and girls alike welcomed us with joy—wide smiles, open hearts. They took our hands, wrapped their arms around our waists, and looked up into our eyes—not with sadness, but with hope. That hope touched my heart deeply, and in that moment, I knew I was meant to be on this trip.
We also visited villages without running water and others that now have wells and pumps. The contrast was like night and day. Although the villagers live with extraordinarily little, they greeted us with warmth, smiles, and love. They shared their stories with us—stories filled with deep hardship, but also with gratitude for clean water and education made possible through Rotary. Experiencing their resilience and hope reinforced for me just how powerful Rotary’s work truly is.
This experience reminded me that Rotary matters because it turns compassion into action and hope into lasting change."
Amy Sheller
"My experience on the Sustainable Cambodia trip was deeply moving, impactful and fun! It offered a firsthand look at the impact Rotary creates through long-term, community-led partnerships. I was especially impressed by the confidence and joy of the students in the Sustainable Cambodia programs, and I loved chatting with them, playing games, and trading dances from our cultures. The people truly made the trip, seeing the care, passion, and dedication of the teachers and staff was inspiring, and it’s clear how deeply they believe in the work.
One of my favorite moments was celebrating with a local village that recently received a Rotary Global Grant supporting sustainable living for roughly 425 families, over 2,500 people across three villages. Our own District 7430 was a major partner in this effort, contributing $15,000, which leveraged an additional $12,000 from the Rotary International World Fund. Thanks to this grant, the community now has 133 rainwater harvesting containers, 249 water filters, 35 deep and 15 shallow wells, 72 toilets, 90 home gardens, 18 cows, and 8 community ponds that support agriculture and food security. The change is transformational, and standing alongside the families as they shared their progress was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when Rotary and local partners work hand in hand. Together, we transform.
Thank you to Rotary and Sustainable Cambodia’s community development program for making this kind of lasting impact a reality."
Morning Star Rotary is volunteering at the Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering on three evenings during the 2026 winter months. We are serving food, washing dishes, and monitoring 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.
MSR at Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering
Food Preparation 2:00 - 5:30 PM
Serving Meals/Showers 5:30 - 9:00 PM
**If volunteers wish to stay longer, you are welcome to sign-up for both shifts.
Due to our weekly Thursday morning meeting catering deadlines, it is necessary to make a decision concerning any changes to either meet as usual, hybrid, or to switch to virtual only by 9:00 PM on Tuesday. These decisions will be done based on best available weather forecasts. Please check your emails and the Morning Star Rotary (morningstarrotary.org) website on Wednesdays when inclement weather is forecast for Thursday mornings. Thank you for understanding as we try to be fair to all concerned during bad weather.
HAVE YOU MADE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE ROTARY FOUNDATION THIS
ROTARY YEAR?
Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary will match member contributions to Rotary Foundation with club points during the 2025-26 Rotary year. A minimum $100 contribution is required. For contributions of greater than $100, the club will match a maximum of 200 points. This will help newer members achieve their first Paul Harris Fellow quicker, and encourage other members to contribute at a higher level. Major donors not eligible for points. Points will be given for contributions retroactive to July 1, 2025 and continue through June 30, 2026.
See Foundation Chair, Tom Hartzell for information on making your contribution. You can send your contribution on-line or give your check (payable to Rotary Foundation) to Tom. You can also mail a check to Tom Hartzell, 1341 Biafore Avenue, Bethlehem, Pa 18017.
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