What a wonderful blur this week has been! Thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve Emmaus Rotary as your President. So many of you have graciously guided and mentored me. Please - don't stop. I am still pedaling down the road on a bike with training wheels!
First, I want to give a big shout out to Team Resilience-- headed by Steve Gould with support and back up from John Chisca, Don Blose and Mike Waddell. These four got our meetings on-line and kept us going. Team Resilience mobilized at least 24 Rotarians to pack and distribute food bags each week to East Penn School District students and their families. Cindy Hornaman and Rick Zayatiz have been spearheading this on-going effort which includes a major fundraising push and our first GoFundMe campaign, designed by Meghan Reed and "Buskar Mom" Courtney Kennedy.
Do all these masked Rotarians also wear capes and tights?
Team Resilience took stock of where we were, strengthened and relied on our bonds of fellowship, and then practiced our core value of "Service above Self". We have set a good trajectory. Let's continue to assess how we can move forward in this time of global pandemic and during our national quest to live into the fullness of our founding documents which state all people are created equally. We can start by revamping what has worked in the past and by trying out new ideas. Stay tuned as a process is being designed for Emmaus Rotary to brainstorm!
This Thursday morning, we will meet again at Brookside Country Club. If you feel comfortable and healthy, grab your mask and come. This is a Club Assembly and we will be looking at goals and plans for the Rotary year 2020-2021. The meeting will also be live on our channel on VoxTandem. You can find the link to that live meeting here in the Trumpet.
We continue our weekly meeting virtually! There will not be an in person meeting this week but we sure would love to see your smiling face when you join us online! Stay tuned for updates next week as we prepare to meet in person at Brookside Country Club on Thursday, September 10, 2020. We will be sure to offer our members to join in virtually as well.
Please use the link below to join us this Thursday, September 3, 2020 at 7:30 a.m.
We still encourage you to invite a virtual guest to help introduce Rotary to someone who could make a great Rotarian. Simply share the link provided in the red section below with your guest. Ask them to please sign in as - their name (guest of) - in the name field so we know who they were invited by.
To enter the virtual meeting, just click this link or copy and paste it into your URL Browser. Please note that you will need Firefox or Google Chrome as your browser to join the meetings.
2) Scroll down on the sign in page and you will see the list of recorded meetings under "Public Room Recordings".
3) Click on the blue presentation button of the meeting you'd like to view. 4) Click on the triangle shaped play button at the bottom left of the screen to play the recording.
Our in person and virtual meetings continue this week at Brookside Country Club! We are practicing safe physical distance, appropriate mask wearing and hand sanitation at our in person meetings. You also have the option to participate by joining us through the Voxx Tandem platform. We will see you in person or online this Thursday, July 16th at 7:30am.
Please use the link below to join us this Thursday, July 16, 2020 at 7:30am. To join us on the Vox Tandem Virtual Meeting platform.
To enter the virtual meeting, just click this link or copy and paste it into your URL Browser. Please note that you will need Firefox or Google Chrome as your browser to join the meetings.
You can use your computer, laptop or smartphone to join the meeting.
If you had any difficulties or questions on how to log on please reach out to John Chisca johnc@voxtandem.com 610-400-0203.
The following safety guidelines will continue to be followed at Brookside Country Club:
Tables will be set 6 ft apart to observe social distancing and each table will seat only 5 people.
BCC is requiring guests to wear masks throughout the Clubhouse, though once in the ballroom or outside, masks are not required. Even though we are in green masks must be worn while entering and moving around the Clubhouse. Once guests are seated masks can be removed.
There will be multiple hand sanitizer stations located throughout the Clubhouse. We encourage guests to use hand sanitizer upon arrival and throughout their time at Brookside.
Buffets will now be served by staff of Brookside behind plexiglass (gloves will be worn by those serving food.)
Coffee will also need to be served (no station) and we will have to utilize single use packets such as salt, pepper, creamer, ketchup, and syrup.
It is imperative that if they feel sick or have contracted COVID - 19, you must stay home.
Please contact Mike, Meghan, Lexa or Steve if you have any questions. Please also review the Rotary District Covid-19 Guidelines in this newsletter.
To watch past meetings that you may have missed or just want to see again. Follow the steps below.
2) Scroll down on the sign in page and you will see the list of recorded meetings under "Public Room Recordings".
3) Click on the blue presentation button of the meeting you'd like to view. 4) Click on the triangle shaped play button at the bottom left of the screen to play the recording.
PLEASE NOTE THAT MEMBER ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ON A VOLUNTEER BASIS FOR THE TIME BEING. IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE TAKING A MEETING RESPONSIBILITY PLEASE TALK TO MEGHAN TO BE SCHEDULED FOR AN UPCOMING MEETING. DUTIES WILL BE POSTED WEEK TO WEEK.
Thank you for taking your turn to help Emmaus Rotary run a smooth, fun and friendly meeting especially as we return to holding in person meetings and do our part to follow safety guidelines.
July 9, 2020
Greeter - Meghan Reed (NO shaking hands to avoid spreading germs)
Sign-in-table - Rick Zayitz (Hand sanitizer will be available at the sign and EREY in table)
EREY- Bill Erdman
Invocation - Lexa Shallcross
Virtual Platform Moderator - John Chisca
Virtual Platform Live Feed From Meeting - Eric Loch and Steve Gould
COVID-19 is impacting us all in our personal, professional and Rotary lives. We must base our decisions about Rotary activities on the health and safety of our members and compliance with government and health regulations. Even though we may not be able to conduct the usual weekly in person meetings, many of our clubs are leading or participating in food and other relief programs in their communities. These efforts will likely be continuing through the balance of this Rotary year and into the future.
With this in mind, the following are guidelines for all Rotary District 7430 activities:
All guidelines set forth by the Governor, counties and other authorized persons in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the CDC should be followed.
Should any Rotarian be diagnosed with or have symptoms that they suspect to be consistent with COVID-19, that Rotarian shall:
Not participate in any Rotary event that involves a personal appearance at the event.
Report their diagnoses or symptoms to the Rotarian supervising any program in which they have participated in-person within fourteen (14) days before the diagnoses or occurrence of symptoms.
We also suggest that you adopt guidelines for your clubs that reflect the current health crisis.
Emmaus Rotary held its annual changeover ceremony on-line this year on Thursday morning, on June 25, 2020. Past-president Rick Zayaitz was the director of ceremonies. He introduced District Governor elect Janet Kolepp. Then offered Steve Gould, the out-going President, the opportunity to give some final words of thanks and encouragement. Four newly elected Board directors took their oath of office: John Chisca, Courtney Kennedy, Eric Loch, and Sal Verrastro.
The "Gavel was Passed" along a cyber path as the names and pictures of past presidents scrolled on the main screen.
Cindy Hornaman, Past-District Governor and Past President, administered the oath of office to Lexa Shallcross, Emmaus Rotary's new President for 2020 -2021. Shallcross said she was officially overwhelmed.... grateful, excited, and anxious and thanked Emmaus Rotary for the opportunity to serve as President. She asserted that she was confident going forward as Emmaus Rotarians who are business and civic leaders had all the experience, expertise and enthusiasm to meet future challenges and opportunities.
In the gardens around her home, Cindy Hornaman "pinned" Lexa Shallcross after the on-line meeting.
There were smiles under both of the women's masks!
Thank you to Ai Orthodontics for their absolutely incredible generosity! Dr. Aejaaz A. Issa and his team have donated $3,000 to the Emmaus Rotary Club, East Penn Food Program, Go Fund Me campaign. This kindness has brought us to 25% of our current fundraising goal for the program. Many thanks to Karen Hobson for sharing the Go Fund Me campaign with Dr. Issa. Ai Orthodontics has been a huge supporter of Emmaus Rotary. We are very grateful for community business partners like Ai Orthodontics who lead through service above self.
Does this inspire you to give? Start YOUR team! Since we started in July we have raised $4,255 of our $10,000 Go Fund Me Campaign goal to support The Emmaus Rotary Club, East Penn Food Program. As I have written before, it is important that our Club Members get involved in sharing this campaign so that we can reach our goal of $10,000. Donating and sharing is VERY easy and with just a few seconds a week, together we will make our goal! (If you need instructions on how to donate follow the steps in the read more section on how you can donate and share)
SHARING IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THIS CAMPAIGN TO GAIN MOMENTUM. Creating your own fundraising page as part of the campaign is a great way to invite your family, friends, co-workers, clients, and others to join you in our mission to help feed hungry children!
How to do it:
1) Click the blue JOIN button.
2) Sign in - follow the prompts to create an account or log in with Facebook if you have one.
3) Click the blue JOIN THE TEAM button. This will automatically make you a member of the team. Regardless of donation amount. You can donate whatever amount you'd like even $10 puts us closer to our goal. EVERY single dollar matters! You can create a team without donating (I tested this on my husband's cell phone to join the team it took 5 second to do) The goal here is create a page to engage your network and share the information to attract donors.
4) Now share your link! You can share multiple ways. Facebook, Twitter or copy your link and past it into an email to go out to your clients, workplace, family, friends, and other organizations your a member of. Remember to share often on your social media pages! Please consider creating a team for your business.
It's that simple. An easy way for "People of Action" like us to....well...take action!
If you need help with how to share you may reach out to me and I will do my very best to walk you through it or think of some creative ways you can help spread the word.
I have included an email that I sent out to another board that I sit on. Feel free to use it! Just click "read more" below.
If you have questions on how to use Go Fund Me please contact Meghan Reed 610-797-5942 / meghanreed517@gmail.com THANK YOU!!
It is time to reserve your bottle for the Fellowship Virtual Wine Tasting Night.
Friday, August 28th at 7:00 p.m.
BE SURE TO PICK YOU BOTTLES UP BY FRIDAY AT 6PM. READ BELOW.
The Emmaus Rotary Fellowship Committee will be hosting another Virtual Wine Tasting featuring our favorite wine experts, Joe Pugliese, Alicia Ruiz-Orbin, Mike Orbin and Dina Zayaitz.
They will coach us on how to taste the wine, we will score it, and compare our evaluation of the wine as a group using the American Wine Society scoring sheet. Please use the score sheet pdf link here.
This will be simple tasting focusing on a specific wine from Scout & Cellar.
The wine of choice for the tasting is: 2019 Gallivant Bubbly White Wine, North Coast California.
(A refreshing choice for this time of year.)
Reserve your bottle today to participate!
We have pre-ordered 24 bottles for sign ups to this tasting.
The cost is only $24.00 a bottle (cash or check written to Emmaus Rotary Club)
To sign up to reserve your bottle and participate in this Fellowship Event you must email Meghan Reed at MeghanReed517@gmail.com.
Those who have reserved bottles can pick them up at Eric J. Loch Diamond Jewelers August 24th-28th between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Please have your payment ready at time of pick up.
A Zoom Meeting Link will be sent out to those who have signed up prior to the event. If you've already signed up no need to email again. We have you confirmed.
Many Thanks to Dina as the commission she makes from our purchase of this wine and commission from future wine sales through this event will be donated back to The Emmaus Rotary East Penn Food Packing Program.
Our last virtual tasting was a ton of fun! It was a great way to catch up with friends and have a lot of laughs together.
For all the wine lovers out there, here is a way to give back. Do you need to stock up on wine? Do you have gifts to buy and not sure what to get? Here is a great way to raise funds for the Food Insecure Children of East Penn School District.
All wine profits made during the month of July, will be given to the Emmaus Rotary Club's Food Packing Program. That’s right, all profits made on all sales will go back to the Rotary!
What is Scout & Cellar – it’s a Clean-Crafted Wine, free from chemicals and added sugars. It’s grown naturally, bottled consciously and packed sustainable making it better tasting and better for our planet. Best part, it can be delivered straight to your door. To learn more and order your wine go to www.scoutandcellar.com/dczayaitz.
Thank you to Emmaus Rotarians who came out to help with mulching at Hillside School. We managed to achieve a lot with many helping hands : Thanks - Gary, Gary, Sue, Dee, Nicole, Holly, Karen, Rick, Don and Ryan !! #emmausrotaryworks
We will be back at Brookside CC this week for our regular Thursday Morning Breakfast Meeting. Hopefully, everyone has been collecting and saving the Tabs from Soda, Beer, Tuna Fish, Sardine & Soup Cans for the Miracle League, Woody & his wife just returned from Florida and brought back a “Good-Sized” plastic bag of “Tabs”. Please bring them to our Rotary Breakfast Meetings at Brookside CC.
Rotary District 7430 Virtual Changeover Celebration
Monday, July 27, 2020
7:00 pm
This year's District Changeover is going virtual!! Mark your calendars and join us on Monday, July 27, 2020 at 7:00 pm. We are planning a fun event recognizing and celebrating the many accomplishments of our district clubs during 2019-2020. Governor Herb will be presenting Rotary Citation winners, Rotary Foundation awards, and Youth Service Award winners. There may even be some surprises and special guests. We hope every club in D7430 will be represented at this special event.
At Rotary, we have no tolerance for racism. Promoting respect, celebrating diversity, demanding ethical leadership, and working tirelessly to advance peace are central tenets of our work.
We have more work to do to create more just, open, and welcoming communities for all people.
We know there are no easy fixes and that challenging conversations and work lie before all of us. Rotary’s strength has long been our ability and commitment to bringing people together. We will tap into that strength now as we stand with those who are working for peace and justice.
Rotary will do our part to listen, learn, and take action to ensure that we continue to contribute to making positive change.
Weekly Door Prize Donations Needed! Be our next meeting's prize sponsor!
It seems like we all like the idea of winning a festive prize at our meetings (in person or online). We have had some very generous and fun donations over the past few months since incorporating this new aspect to our meetings. Many thanks to all who have donated a prize! It is a nice way to give back to each other while doing some low-key networking for your business. In the wake of the Corona Virus now more than ever it's important to show the local businesses in our community we care and support them. They have shown us support with raffle donations and sponsorships throughout the years. Consider purchasing a $20.00 gift card from one of the many small businesses in the East Penn Area. As we know every little bit helps. It's also a great way to start a conversation about Rotary and invite business owners and managers to a club meeting. Please contact Meghan Reed for more information about our weekly door prizes and how you can be help!
Upcoming Committee Meetings: Consider holding a virtual meeting to stay in touch and on task with your committee!
(Does your committee have an upcoming meeting? Let Meghan know and we will list it here)
Rotary and Beyond:
If you are participating in a fundraiser outside of Rotary and would like help spreading the word to our club members please contact Meghan Reed. It may be eligible to run in our new section in the Trumpet called "Rotary and Beyond". It will cost $2.00 (Happy Dollars) each time you'd like to run the information in the Trumpet. To have the information posted in the Trumpet you must be an active committee member or board member of the non-profit organization facilitating the activity outside of Rotary participation. The $2.00 entry may be given to Meghan at a club meeting. Contact Meghan with any questions.
Welcome to the Emmaus Rotary Club!
We meet at 7:30 AM on Thursday mornings
at Brookside Country Club, 901 Willow Lane, Macungie, PA 18062
