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.
Our Morning Star Rotary Club WILL NOT meet on this Thursday, March 20th.
Instead, the meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 19th, from 12:30pm to 1:30pm at the
Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School Chester Ave. Bethlehem, PA 18017
We will join members of the Bethlehem Rotary Club for the local Four Way Test Speech Contest.
Morning Star Rotary is again partnering with the Bethlehem Downtown Rotary Club to send one Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School (BAVTS) student to the Regional Contest. 4-5 students from BAVTS will compete at a joint meeting of the Bethlehem Downtown and Morning Star Rotary on March 19, 2025 at the Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School beginning at 12:30 PM.
FYI - NO LUNCH WILL BE SERVED!
Please join us this Wednesday to support our local Four Way Test Speech Contest and the students of the Bethlehem Vo-Tech.
On March 25, 2025, Morning Star Rotary had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Christopher Jackson, Artistic Director & Conductor of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem along with Development Director, Cheryl Dungan, to our morning meeting. Dr. Jackson presented an informative and enjoyable presentation on a musical gem of our community since its founding in 1898, the Bach Choir of Bethlehem, its history, and its current activities, including performances, educational programs, and future plans. The choir is the longest-running Bach Choir in the United States and has a strong partnership with Lehigh University. The annual Bach Festival has been held at Packard Chapel since 1908. The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, led by a passionate former public school and university educator, has grown to 130 singers and now holds auditions year-round. The choir is a diverse representation of society, with a professional orchestra and soloists, and a strong sense of community. The choir merged with the Bel Canto Youth Chorus in 2019, now comprising 80 young people from grades 3 through 12. The choir relies heavily on volunteers and has a staff of 7. The choir's mission is to serve everyone through music, from a young age to end of life care. Thank you Dr. Jackson and Ms. Dungan for your service to the arts in our community. Click Here to view Dr. Jackson's presentation.
At our March 13, 2025 meeting, MSR Foundation Chair Tom Hartzell presented Rick Santee and Rodney Conn with their PHS+8 pins recognizing their ongoing support of the Rotary Foundation. Also, Wendy Ellsworth (via Zoom) was honored for achieving her PHS+4 pin. Congratulations and thank you all for your support.
Next Tuesday, the 25th, we have our last evening of serving dinner at BES for the season. We have a crew of 6 people signed up, andwe need 3 more volunteers.
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.
The BES Director of Volunteers indicated that the link can be used to create an account if someone is a new volunteer, or sign up for an evening (or multiple) if you already have an account.
After signing in or registering as a new volunteer, click the "View Opportunities" button which will open the BES calendar. On the calendar you can find our 3 nights, January 27th, February 24th and March 25th. Click on the openings on those days and enter your information.
A Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) is planned for you on Saturday, March 22, at DeSales University Center, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA. The sessions will start at 8:00 a.m. and run through
2:30 p.m.
Here's your chance to learn more about Rotary from trained facilitators and fellow Rotarians!
Get ready for an interactive learning experience as we offer parts I, II, III, and Graduate courses.
For only $125 or $50 for Rotaractors, you'll gain invaluable knowledge and skills to benefit your Rotary service. To encourage your club to attend, the club with the highest attendance will be recognized at the event, and each person will receive a gift.
To register for RLI, please visit our website, https://rlinea.org/ and register for our district event on Saturday, March 22, at DeSales.
**Message form Jane A. Meckes, Nazareth Rotary, District 7430 STEM-YEA Committee
Hi Everyone. Our district committee is busy planning for the upcoming STEMYEA program at Kutztown University. I am on the committee and in charge of gathering materials. I have created two ways that Rotarians in our District can help provide items that are needed. First is an "Amazon Wish List" if you would like to purchase materials that we need. Any items purchased would be sent directly to me. Second is a recycled material list. You can help us out at no cost to you! All you have to do is save the materials on the list and bring them to a meeting or event anytime. I already have a bin started for the items I have been collecting.
Anything that you could provide would be gratefully appreciated.
Message from Rod Seifert: Donated recycled items can be given to me at any upcoming meeting. I will be happy to deliver them to Jane at the District Conference.
Rotary President-elect Mário César Martins de Camargo revealed the 2025-2026 presidential message, Unite for Good on February10, 2025. "Rotary members are #PeopleOfAction. We don't wait for change to happen; we make it happen. And what do people of action do? We unite for good."
Join Rotary members from Districts 7390, 7410, 7430, and 7490 to Unwrap the Magic at our Multi-District Conference! This inspiring event will celebrate Rotary’s dedication to peacebuilding and address critical issues such as poverty, discrimination, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and the unequal distribution of resources. Our program and speakers will explore how we can make a lasting impact together.
Conference Registration Click Here for the full conference or the Saturday-only option. Hershey Lodge Hotel Reservation Click Here or call the Reservation office at 855-729-3108. Enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities while visiting Hershey, PA—the sweetest place on earth!
.png)
.
Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) is planned for you on Saturday, March 22, at DeSales University Center, 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA. The sessions will start at 8:00 a.m. and run through 
