Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all of you….. I have heard that on March 17th, everyone is Irish. Is that true?
How about you?
Our identity, what we call ourselves matters. All of us are Rotarians…. Not just on any one calendar date, but all year long-- all 365 days. This is especially true if it is your habit to wear your Rotary pin most days or if you have pasted a Rotary wheel decal on your car.
Last Thursday, I heard my dental hygienist ask, “What does Rotary do?” I swallowed, cleared my throat, and said, “LOTS!”
Then, I could almost hear the four-part harmony as I went into all the verses of my "Let me tell what Rotary does" talking blues song….. “Scholarships for the high school. Putting in athletic fields around the area. We are the ones leading the fight to End Polio. And because of the connections we’ve made giving polio shots, we are now able to help the world get vaccinated against Covid19. We have Peace Academies. Each week we are giving out food to students and families in East Penn School District. 150 this Wednesday.”
She asked, “What age do you have to be?”
And we talked about the Interact Club.
“Do you remember when the Nobel Peace Prize was given for micro-loans?”
“No,” she answered, “what are they?”
So, I gave her the history of how Emmaus Rotary helped start one of those banks where unsecured loans for $400 or $500 are given out so that someone can start a small business and climb out of poverty. The loans are overwhelmingly paid back and the money recirculated within the community.
Just then, my dentist walked in, asking, “What bank is this?”
A few minutes later, they knew a lot more about Emmaus Rotary and Rotary around the world. And I knew I have a small cavity which has to be filled. I made a follow-up appointment for April 1st. Please do not assume I am only having my tooth taken care of that day!
Why do I tell all of you all of that? Two reasons. First, to encourage you to be prepared when someone asks you, “What does Rotary do?”
Second, as a segue into saying “thank you” to Alicia Ruiz-Orbin and her committee which did such an outstanding job bringing us our fourth International Women’s Day Recognition program last week.
THANK YOU!!
Oh, the connection? As I was climbing into my car to come home, I remembered that I had forgotten to tell them about our two award winners-- Linda Mayger and Prabha Sinha - and how much those women have done for our community and the world! I wanted to go back into my dentist’s office and brag more on Rotary! When was the last time you heard about someone being eager to go to their dentist!!
Next week, Thursday, March 25th there will be a Board meeting after our regular breakfast meeting. Please let me know if you have agenda items, questions, concerns, or ideas for the Board to consider. It will be a hybrid meeting at Brookside and in Vox Tandem land. Everyone is welcome to join us.
Show us your Irish Pride! In honor of Saint Patrick's Day, let's all wear green! Now I can't say for sure, but there might be a "fine" involved if your don't. This affects those who are attending the meeting in person as well as those who are virtual!
For those members wishing to do Rotary virtually here are the Zoom meeting details. The virtual meeting should be started by 7:15a.m. Feel free to chat with your virtual friends and the members in attendance. Please mute yourself when the President starts the meeting. Use the Chat feature to chat with the Zoom Master and others on the virtual meeting. We'll do our best to give you the same feel of the meeting as if you were able to attend in person.
Please Note that if you are attending virtually please use the following ZOOM link!
Last week’s program was a chilling presentation about an international program to facilitate the placement of low-smoke, fuel-efficient, and safe cookstoves in collaboration with local communities of mostly Latin American which will support families and protect the environment.
THEIR MISSION: “We empower local people in Latin America to produce safe, clean-burning cookstoves” .
To date, the StoveTeam group has made safe kitchens a reality for more than half a million people.
AN ENORMOUS PROBLEM: Each year, smoke inhalation from indoor cooking fires kills more people than malaria and AIDS combined. And CO2 emissions from cooking fires are a major contributor to climate change. StoveTeam's innovative model for launching local projects in Latin America has been awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Partnership for Clean Indoor Air Award for Developing Local Markets for creating local employment while improving health and reducing air pollution. To date, local projects started by StoveTeam in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Mexico have produced more than 78,000 stoves, improving the lives of more than half a million people and preventing nearly one million tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
COOKSTOVES ARE ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE: Each $100 Justa cookstove saves 15 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, equivalent to the average American’s yearly carbon footprint.
There are also over a dozen ways to get involved, plus inspiring stories from the field at stoveteam.org/next-steps
Anyone who would like to write to to the Stove Team can do that at: PO Box 14707, Portland, ORStoveTeam is currently focusing on our Justa stove project in Guatemala.
Their goal is to install 5,000 cookstoves into homes in the next 3 years. They are working on gathering club and district support to fund their efforts and would welcome any support from our club or advice on approaching our district.
TEAM WORK! Last week our club came together as one team for a great Service Project for the Allentown Rescue Mission. We assemble over 60 bags containing items for the men.
All of the items assembled were donated by the members of this fantastic club.
Many thanks to Karen Hobson and Nicole and Nicole Steirer who organized this event.
Don't Forget!!! To celebrate Earth Day the Emmaus / Upper Milford Environmental Environmental Advisory Councils are looking for volunteers to help with Earth Day clean-up. We need you Emmaus Rotarians, friends and family - let's put together some eager teams of volunteers to help with our Earth Day Clean-up - This Saturday, April 17th starting at 8.30 am starting in the Emmaus Community Park. Information, gloves and garbage bags are provided - usually over by 1 pm - SAVE THE DATE !! More information will follow - there will not be a recycle truck this time.
Camp Neidig will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2021. Neidig Chairs from each club should go to www.campneidig.com.
For more information about Camp Neidig and we would like to encourage any high school aged Juniors and Seniors within our district (children or grandchildren) to visit the website using the following link:
To register the club, the chairperson can click on the "2021 Club Registration Page". We are asking for clubs to register by April 15th.
Once the club is registered, they will be sent a link to register their individual students. We are opening the 2021 Camp to both Junior and Senior high school students. This year, the Neidig Chairs from each club need to register their students rather than letting the students do it on their own.
Deadline for camper registration is April 26th.
If the club is not holding a service project on May 1, the Camp Neidig Committee will assign the student to a project near their home address. This and other information can be found in the Club Chairperson Packet.
We would like to share an unfortunate story with the our Rotary Family concerning a past friend of the ERC. Mr. Alex Zarnas of Emmaus was killed last week in a bicycle accident in Lower Macungie Township. Alex is the brother-in-law of Jillian (Lipinsky) Zarnas, a former faculty advisor at the Emmaus High School who built the Emmaus Rotary's Interact Club into one of the largest High School service groups in District 7430. Jillian was awarded a Paul Harris recognition from ERC for her exceptional work on behalf of Rotary. Jillian reported the following statement to past-president Larry Delhagen who reached out to her after learning of Alex's tragic passing:
“And because you were so kind to ask- Mike and I truly don’t need anything but thoughts and prayers. As for his family, he has three small children who are seven, almost five and almost two. His wife is setting up a fund for the children’s future via the funeral home. There’s absolutely no pressure or obligation or expectation, but should anyone ask you from rotary, contributions may be made in the name of “Amanda K. Zarnas“ to the funeral home below. Thanks Larry”
Our Emmaus Rotary Club Virtual 4-Way Speech Contest took place on February 17th. Congratulations to our three talented EHS contestants who were Olivia Pinocci-Wrightsman, Maeve Yanes, and Emily Deneen. Many thanks to our Emmaus Rotary Club's speech contest volunteers included Rick Zaiyatz, Sue Straeter, Lexa Shallcross, Roger Whitcomb, Mike Waddell, and Cindy Hornaman.
Now the Contest move to the Regional Level where Tony Moyer could use some assistance. The Regional Contest date has changed and is now slated for April 7th at 4 PM
One of the best ways to have a successful club is to grow your club. As your club membership grows you will be able to provide additional services. The more services a club does the more successful it becomes. So let me give you an idea to increase membership during these unusual times.
It is important to remember that every person you talk to is a potential member. Ask them to visit your club or come to help with a project. You will be pleasantly surprised when that person says ‘I have been looking for some way togive back…’ I have done this many times with great success.
Look, I will be the first to admit it is more difficult when you can’t meet face to face. So, here is your challenge. Pick up the phone and call just one person that you think would make a good Rotarian. Just One! You may be amazed by the response.
Don’t forget the Rotary Rebound incentive; every new member you sign up before May 1st will earn your club $100.00.
So, S.T.A.R.T. Now! Pick up the phone andSimply Talk About Rotary Today
Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehab Centers, located in both Fountain Hill and Allentown, is looking to our Rotary Community to help brighten the day of some residents who have been unable to have visitors or social programming for many months. Inspirational and nonreligious cards and or letters along with Valentine greetings too, would be a welcomed addition to everyone’s day. Please sign your correspondence “from an Emmaus Rotarian” or feel free to just sign your name. The dedicated staff at Cedarbrook would also enjoy notes as well !! Mail all items to the attention of Kerry Magliane, Cedarbrook Senior Care & Rehab., 350 S. Cedarbrook Road, Allentown, PA 18104. Thank you all for your kind attention.
Lehigh Valley Health Network also announcing mass vaccination drive-through event on May 12 at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
On Wednesday, May 5, LVHN will begin accepting walk-ins without an appointment for the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine for everyone 16 and older at all COVID-19 vaccine locations. (Note: Anyone under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to get vaccinated.) Those who already received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine will receive the second Moderna dose at these sites. COVID-19 vaccinations provided by LVHN are free. Pfizer vaccine has emergency use authorization (EUA) for people ages 16 and older, while Moderna has EUA for people ages 18 and older.
Many thanks to our own Bob Goehler for this information.
As you all know the Emmaus Rotary leads the establishment of the East Penn Food Coalition along with other community service groups to meet hunger needs in the East Penn School District Community.
We have reached a critical point to fund the East Penn Food Coalition, Feed East Penn Students Program. We currently serve over 200 children a week and need your help to raise money to continue to feed hungry kids in our community.
WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are seeking business, grants, and individual donations to support over $20,000 in need.
You can provide help for our neighbors in need in the following ways:
If you are interested in being part of this group, please let us know. Thanks to all of those who have contributed thus far.
We can all work together to help the families in our own East Penn Community.
Lastly, we also need your help in sharing our mission with your friends, family and colleagues. Here are quick and easy ways to participate in crowd funding.
Share the link on your social media pages. (Share on your own page and in groups you belong to)
Email your contact list.
If you own a business share with your clients via email or social media.
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.
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.
