Can you believe we’re down to the last two months of 2017?  Tomorrow we flip the calendar to November – known throughout the Rotary universe as THE ROTARY FOUNDATION MONTH.

The Rotary Foundation is the charitable arm of Rotary - a non-profit that is supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of The Rotary Foundation who share its vision of a better world.  Its sole mission is to support the efforts of Rotarians in the achievement of world understanding and peace through local, national and international humanitarian and educational programs in our own back yard and around the globe.

The Rotary Foundation was created a century ago by Rotary International’s sixth president, Arch C. Klumph, as an endowment fund for Rotary “to do good in the world.” It has grown from an initial contribution in 1917 of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City to over $4 billion in total contributions. The Rotary Foundation made its first grant of $500.00 to the International Society for Crippled Children in 1930, and to this day, it continues to “do good in the world” in the name of Rotary.

Past President Paulo Costa said: “Rotary International’s masterpiece is The Rotary Foundation. It transforms our dreams into splendid realities . . . it is the most generous expression of Rotarian generosity - a generosity that not only brings benefits but also brings help and cooperation to solve the problems that affect mankind. The Rotary Foundation achieves the best that mankind can possibly achieve.”

Every year, we ask our members to donate to The Rotary Foundation.  If you are able, we ask that you give at least $100.  Of course, larger gifts are welcomed, too.  So far this year, 47 of our 90 members have donated to the Foundation, and 32 of the 47 have donated at least $100.  Total donations by our members to the Foundation’s Annual Fund thus far in the 2017-2018 are $8,093 which leads all clubs in District 7430.  Because of your generosity, we are well on our way to exceeding our Annual Fund goal of $20,000 for this Rotary year.

WHAT CAN YOUR $100.00 DONATION TO THE ROTARY FOUNDATION DO? Your $100 donation to The Rotary Foundation can help provide textbooks for one elementary school in Zambia, provide a hearing aid for a deaf child in Pakistan, buy de-worming tablets for 112 children in the Philippines, pay for cataract operations for three blind people in India, or provide 230 blankets for the elderly in the winter months of Korea.  WILL YOU COMMIT TODAY TO A GIFT OF AT LEAST $100 AND START MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES?

Yours in Rotary,

Burt

This morning we had the pleasure of having Steve Gould and Peter Adams sit in at the last moment to give a detailed report of where the Lehigh Valley's Real Estate market is and where these two experts believe it is headed.  Steve is one of the founding partners of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate | Valley Partners in Emmaus along with his wife Renee, Carl Billera and his father in Law Gordon Schantz.  Steve has been in the real Estate business for over 15 years.  His understanding of what is happening in our area is second only to his father in laws.  Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate | Valley Partners was just voted the 18th fastest growing business in the Lehigh Valley up from 25th in 2016.  Steve gave some statistics on the inventory in the Lehigh Valley in the fall of 2017.  He based this presentation on his perspective from his presentation from 2012.  2012 was a tough year for the real estate market.  He stated that a lot of the small and medium sized builders went out of business.  The real estate market was a buyers market, in 2012, prices were down, Mortgage rates were down, perfect time to buy.  Moving onto 2017 a great year to buy and a great year to sell.  Mortgage rates are low, inventories are the lowest in his real estate career.  The Millennials are the ones buying property in our area.  They do not want to mow grass and they are not interest in renovations, they are wanting a move in ready product.  Steve explained that new construction has different zoning and engineering requirements then they did just 5 years ago which makes building a lot more expensive than 5 years ago. 

          Prices are holding right now, FHA loans are the most popular loans right now....3.5% down with PMI.  Sellers assist is an important part of the home buying process today.  Home pricing are holding their own creeping up at around 2% per year as an average.  Average price for a home selling in 2017 in east Penn was around the $248,000 mark with a median of $220,000.

          Pete had a few seconds to discuss the Commercial market in the Lehigh Valley.  He described the trials and tribulations of the emerging market in Allentown.  Office space is renting at about $15 per square foot depending on Gross or triple net leases.  Pete's personal opinion is that the commercial real estate market is healthy at this time.  Downtown Allentown...we should have a feel in about 5 years if everything is working for Real Estate in the Allentown area.  We can all see the warehousing market that is moving along the I 78 corridor and extends from Easton to below Cabela's. 

          The You tube video will be up in about two weeks and you can listen to what Steve and Pete had to say.  Again thank you to Pete and Steve for stepping in when we needed them to.  Please see Steve or Pete if you have any real estate questions with respect to his presentation.

 

 

 

Please bring your food donations to this Thursday's meeting as it is the first Thursday meeting of the month.  Lexa will be standing by as always to accept your generous gifts!

 

 

 

 

We are going to have a fellowship get together this Wednesday, November 15, 2017 from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the House & Barn in Emmaus.  More details to follow.

 

If you’re interested in presenting a career talk at an EHS Interact Club meeting, please contact Anthony Moyer at anmoyer1229@gmail.com.

 

The meetings will take place at 2:35 PM on the following dates:  1/4, 2/1, 3/1, 4/5, 5/3, and 6/7.