Monday morning, your Executive Committee had a fruitful zoom-type conference with Alicia Ruiz- Orbin and Jim Palmquist who are our representatives to the District for Rotary's work on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Collectively, we reminded ourselves that even though Rotary was founded by a group of white, male, American entrepreneurs, our mission of "Service above Self" has created unbounded growth. Rotary is no longer a "club" it is a "cause". That cause is defined by our areas of focus: promoting peace; fighting disease (End Polio Forever); providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; saving mothers and children (who face malnutrition and poor health care); supporting education; growing local economies; and protecting our environment. As a global organization, Rotary values the diversity of its membership and the variety of gifts and skills its members offer.
Here’s RI’s statement: “As a global network that strives to build a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change, Rotary values diversity and celebrates the contributions of people of all backgrounds, regardless of their age, ethnicity, race, color, abilities, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.”
Rotary’s definitions:
Diversity: Rotary welcomes people of all backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and identities.
Equity: Rotary strives for the fair treatment, opportunity, and advancement of all Rotary participants.
Inclusion: Rotary is working to create experiences where all people feel welcomed, respected, and valued.
“A top priority for Rotary is growing and diversifying our membership to make sure we reflect the communities we serve. We’re creating an organization that is more open and inclusive, fair to all, builds goodwill, and benefits our communities. We want people with differing perspectives and ideas who will help Rotary take action to create lasting change in communities around the world.”
With a heart for Rotary, everyone on the conference call felt the challenge to ensure that Emmaus Rotary continues to represent the best of Rotary. We wanted to look at how we attract, welcome, and mentor new members. We wondered if there might be tweaks in our routines that might move us forward. For example, recognizing both the diversity of belief among our members and the growing number of Americans who claim no formal religious affiliation, we asked is it time to move to an understanding that the invocations offered at our regular meetings might be best understood as prayers and/or inspirational words.
Time flew. We decided to explore further. Mike Waddell, President-elect, and Sal Verrastro, second Vice-president, will be forming a small
group, staffed by Ruiz-Orbin and Palmquist, to look at our own diversity, equity, and inclusion. We look forward to a report of their findings and suggestions.
Meanwhile, a special shout out to all our members who have served in the Armed Forces to protect our freedom and liberty.
Happy Veteran' s Day.
My friends, the virulent Covid19 virus is on the prowl! Wear your masks, keep your distances, use your hand sanitizers!! Stay well.
Immediate Past President, Steve Gould presented Emmaus Rotary Club with some wonderful news last week. ERC received a Club Citation for meeting our club Foundation goals AND ERC was the #1 Club in the District for annual fund giving to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
Way to go ERC! Let’s keep the momentum going! Even in uncertain times it is clear we can accomplish and exceed our goals! Be sure to visit out EREY table weekly or simply use the Venmo App to send contributions electronically to @DonBlose with the note EREY.
DECEMBER is Disease Prevention and Treatment Month
At Rotary, we believe good health care is everyone’s right. Yet 400 million people in the world can’t afford or don’t have access to basic health care.
Disease results in misery, pain, and poverty for millions of people worldwide. That’s why treating and preventing disease is so important to us. We lead efforts both large and small. We set up temporary clinics, blood donation centers, and training facilities in underserved communities struggling with outbreaks and health care access. We design and build infrastructure that allows doctors, patients, and governments to work together.
Our members combat diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and polio. Prevention is important, which is why we also focus on health education and bringing people routine hearing, vision, and dental care.
Sarah Miretti Cassidy, Director of External Affairs, joined us virtually last week to give our members valuable information about the Cancer Hope Network. When a person gets the gut wrenching diagnosis of the C word, they are faced with unimaginable physical, metal and emotional challenges ahead. They and their family need resources to empower them to face these hurdles by connecting them to key resources that will benefit the patient and family. Because life doesn’t just stand still - they are there to offer encouragement from diagnosis, through treatment, and into survivorship.
Here is what you need to know:
Cancer Hope Network provides free one-on-one emotional support to adult cancer patients and their loved ones. Each of CHN’s 400+ volunteers is at least one year post-treatment or successfully undergoing maintenance therapies. They have faced more than 80 cancer types and speak 15 languages. Volunteers offer support from diagnosis, through treatment and into recovery.
Support Volunteers’ passion is to lend a listening ear and supportive presence for others on cancer’s journey. Their commitment is that no one face cancer alone. CHN provides support by training volunteers who faced similar experiences who are matched to those needing services. Through this process they strive to instill hope and make a positive difference in the lives of people touched by cancer.
CHN is recognized as a support resource by National Cancer Institute, National Comprehensive Cancer Network, American Cancer Society of Clinical Oncology, American Cancer Society, CancerCare, Etc.
Services are free and confidential and CHN is nonpartisan and nondenominational, non interventional.
Your contribution creates hope. The service CHN Support Volunteers provide is free, but the training and support our survivor and caregiver volunteers receive isn’t. Your support makes it possible. Learn more about how you can help here https://www.cancerhopenetwork.org/how-to-help/donationoverview.html
Patients and loved ones may contact Cancer Hope Network by calling 877-HOPENET (877.467.3638) or visiting cancerhopenetwork.org. They’ll work with a member of our Programs Team to connect with the Support Volunteer whose experience most closely mirrors their own.
Sarah Miretti Cassidy, Director of External Affairs – 908.879.4039 ex 20 or scassidy@cancerhopenetwork.org.
While Sarah took questions from members, Bob Goehler shared that his family had a very positive experience with the Cancer Hope Network. Bob included some very helpful insight here in the Trumpet for our members. Thank you Bob!
“When our family was struggling with a family member’s cancer diagnosis, and reaching out to the Cancer Hope Network, they made us aware of the very robust Lehigh Valley Cancer Institute and the numerous free services they provide,https://www.lvhn.org/medical-services/cancer-counseling-services .
We were advised that LVHN has very comprehensive resources to help an individual and their family to deal effectively with their cancer diagnosis, etc,
I have copied/pasted the following from these great local resources that may be of interest to any Rotarians, dealing with a cancer issue, as we weren't aware that such free services were available to Patients and their Families, right here!” (Click read more for that information!)
ShelterBox continues to respond around the world including reaching those impacted by the strongest storm on the planet this year, Super Typhoon Goni, which pummeled the Philippines over the Halloween weekend. We expect this to be a large response in the days and weeks ahead. We are also closely monitoring Hurricane Eta as it approaches Nicaragua. We will update information on these and our other responses as we learn more www.shelterboxusa.org
Join the online event “An Evening to Experience ShelterBox”
An Evening to Experience ShelterBox THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020 8:00 - 9:00 PM ET Join ShelterBox for an hour of inspiration, highlighting the lifesaving work you have enabled and the lives your support has transformed. There will be a paddle raise and we have secured over $70K in available matching funds, lets take advantage of this dollar for dollar opportunity!
2020 Global Humanitarian Service Award presentation to Rotary International.
Our in person meetings continue at Brookside Country Club this Thursday, December 3rd. We hope you will join us. COVID safety measures will of course be implemented.
December 3rd 2020
Club member duties:
Greeter - Mike Waddell
Sign-in Table - Rick Zayaitz
Erey - Bill Erdman
Invocation/ Thought of the Day- Bob Goehler
We are meeting indoors with proper social distancing measures in place. There is no need to RSVP…just show up before 7:30 a.m., enter through the main entrance with your mask on, get signed in, find a seat, chat with friends, and enjoy the meeting.
While we meet in person this week at Brookside Country Club you also have the option to participate by joining us through the Vox Tandem platform. We will see you in person or online this Thursday, at 7:30am.
Please use the link below to join us this Thursday 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.
The following safety guidelines to be followed at Brookside Country Club: UPDATED 11/24/20
Masks can be removed for eating and drinking only but are expected to be worn at all other times, inside or outside. With the case count rising we are going to present to our membership that masks are always expected to be worn while inside and outside in dining areas.
BCC purchased a stand-alone thermometer that will be arriving this week for the foyer. It will be constantly on. Guests simply stand in front of it and it reads your body temperature. It will give you a single beep if someone is good to go, but it will set off a mini alarm if someone tests high. If you test high you need to retry, and if you test high again you are expected to leave the building immediately.
Tables will be set 6 ft apart to observe social distancing and each table will seat only 5 people.
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 (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 Lexa, Mike, or Meghan if you have any questions. Please also review the Rotary District Covid-19 Guidelines in this newsletter.
On Saturday December 5th, our Emmaus Rotary participated in Emmaus's Old Fashioned Christmas at the Emmaus Triangle. Nicole and Karen help children write letters to Santa and "mail" them. An awesome time was had by all and what a great way to get into the Christmas Spirit! Thanks to all of our Rotary Elves who helped!
Karen and Nicole from the Community Service Committee are collecting any gift cards and other items you may be willing to donate over this holiday period for needy Lehigh Valley families. Last year many Emmaus Rotarians took on getting gifts for needy local children in our area with Angel Network and Zion's Food Pantry. Zion's Food Pantry are asking for gift cards of a $25 value to either Walmart or Target to help them spread the cheer to local families. Also Turning Point has various items of household needs as they move into new homes. We have also been asked by Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley for $25 gift cards for a drive-by party for the children. Contact Karen or Nicole for more information and for how you can get your donation to the right place!
Please use the following link for the Jefferson Elementary School Angel Network Wish List:
Friendly reminder! We have resumed monthly non-perishable food collections and monetary donations.
We will be collecting food for the needy at our Rotary meeting This week, Thursday April 1st. Share what you can!
If you tune in virtually you can donate by using the Venmo app and sending donations to @DonBlose with a note that the donation is intended for “food for the needy”. Monetary donations help the food band purchase perishable foods like milk, eggs, and bread.
Items in need: canned fruit, canned soups, cereals, peanut butter/jelly, anything with a long shelf life
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.
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
The Emmaus Rotary Club embraces, practices and promotes the Rotary International Core Values of Service, Fellowship, Diversity, Integrity and Leadership.
