You are a Rotarian, and by now you have heard how much fun (and educational) a Rotary convention can be, and you want to experience the fun. Atlanta (2 years ago) was not possible, Toronto, Canada (last year) was not possible and your hopes for a family vacation to Hamburg this year are not looking so good.....wehave the answer for you.May 3,4 and 5 we will be holding the greatest Rotary district convention to ever hit Allentown. The Renaissance Hotel Allentown, along with Miller Symphony Hall will be our home for Friday night, all day Saturday and Sunday morning. We will have it all--- Dinner, Lunch and Breakfast, rooms to stay over and lots of fun! Great international speakers, Craig Thatcher with his band will be the entertainment Saturday evening including a partnership with 2nd Harvest Food Bank. We have it all and to top it all off Steve Gould will be our MC along with the one and only Current District Governor Emmaus Rotary Club's own Cindy Hornaman.
The Committee is working hard to make this the most wonderful event ever held in our district. Eric, Sue, Jim, Don, Karen, Laura, Bill, Megan, Steve, Lexa, Mike and all other committee members are working overtime. This is where I need your help as members. Please sign up before February 22nd. I will be asking the board to help out and sweeten the pot for reservations before February 22nd. You can do a whole weekend event or ala carte menu of events but get this on your calendar. We will have fun!!!
Adrian Shanker, Executive Director of the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, spoke at the Emmaus Rotary regular breakfast meeting on January 10, 2019. He was introduced by Rotarian Jim Palmquist who has partnered with him on service and educational projects.
The Bradury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center is a hub for cultural, educational and supportive services specific to the people they serve. There is a fine art gallery featuring nationally known LGBT artists and LGBT-themed subjects. The center’s library holds over 2,000 books, CDs and DVDs with an archivepreserving the history of the Lehigh Valley LGBT community. There is “Reel Queer Film Series”.
The Center has developed leading-edge strategies and services for the needs of the LGBT community partially, in the area of tobacco prevention as smoking is high among the population they serve. Cancer and diabetes prevention, HIV testing and flu vaccinations are also promoted.
A variety of educational and supportive services in areas like bereavement, addiction recovery and legal issues are offered. The Bradbury-Sullivan Community Center’s Training Institute is active in the Lehigh Valley.
Youth programs are held at the Center. Gay-StraightAlliances in area high schools are supported by training and resourcing the mentors. 40% of homeless youth are LGBT because of family rejection. There will be a Pride Night soon at the LV Phantoms game and the Emmaus High School Gay-Straight Alliance is hoping to raise enough ticket money for about 30 students.
PIctured here, Adrian Shanker grew up in West Chester, NY. He became active locally when he was a student at Mulhenburg because he had difficulty finding others like himself. He heads a staff of 12 employees and oversees an annual budget of $8000,000. In 2017, the doors of the center for the first full-year. They have developed award-winning programs and enjoy broad community support. The center is located at 522 W. Maple Street, Allentown.
Community Service decided at a previous meeting to do a collection drive in the month of January and February in support of Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley, where victims of abuse and their children find refuge. We are going to be collectingnew twin blankets and comfortersto support their great cause. We will collect through the end of February and deliver in the beginning of March. If you have any further questions, please speak to Nicole Steirer. Thank you again for your continued support. It is truly inspiring when we support great organizations with our donations.
