By now, all of you have heard the injunctions I recite at the end of our Thursday morning meetings: “Wear your masks. Be sociable, but keep your distances. Use your hand sanitizers. Be safe- stay well.” We are close to seeing the end of this pandemic caused by the virulent Covid19 virus. So let me add this: Stay patient. Stay the course. Together, we have got this.
I am now fortunately numbered among the 75% of Americans over the age of 65 who are now fully immunized. And I am thankful. I got my two shots at the Kasych Pavilion on the LV Hospital Center Cedar Crest campus. As our lines moved toward the staging area, we passed several large graphics on the hospital walls. One caught my eye. It read:
The point is not to payback
kindness but to pass it on.
At first, I thought it was a deep sentiment. Then as I pondered it, I realized it is a pale shadow of the service Rotary extends with goodwill, peace, and friendship around the world. Together, we offer our skills, experiences, expertise, leadership, time, and money to make a lasting change in this uncertain world.
One of the frameworks that helps us channel our efforts is the enumeration of Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus. These include:
Peacebuilding and conflict resolution
Disease prevention and treatment
Water, sanitation and hygiene
Maternal and child health
Basic education and literacy
Community economic development
Supporting the environment
This is Maternal and child health month. As privileged, middle-class Americans we may not pay much attention to this area. But when we open our eyes, ears, and hearts, we know there is much to do both at home and aboard. A few days ago, I heard of a program in Indian which is teaching the midwives not to put the naked newborn on the dirt floor so that they can push on the mother’s belly to expel all of the afterbirth where bad spirits hide! To do this, the mentors had to pay attention to the culture and learn that the gatekeepers for this customary way of childbirth were the vigilant mother-in-laws and the fathers. Working together, mothers and babies and fathers and paternal grandmas are all doing well!
Have you read this far? Thank you.
So here is a “ pop-up quiz”. There will be a prize for the first Emmaus Rotarian who finds the word I believe holds Rotary’s true essence and strength. Your hint? I have used it 3 times in this letter. You may text or phone your answer to me. Use the ClubRunner app on your phone for quick access to my cell number.
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!
Friends - July 1, 2021 when I assume the Presidency of the Emmaus Rotary Club is just around the corner and one of the most important steps leading up to the new Rotary year is making sure that our committees are all in place and Chaired by the right people. Our committees do amazing work year after year only because of the passionate, committed and knowledgeable people who chair those committees and do the behind the scenes work week after week.
So, I am asking all current Chairpersons to stay on as Chairs next year. However, if you decide that you don't want to please let me know by April 15 and, if possible, suggest someone to take your place. If I don't hear from you I'll presume that you will remain as your committee's chair or co-chair.
Also, we have two Chair needs:
1. Larry Delhagen has done yeoman's work for many years as Chair of the Camp Neidig committee and has agreed to see it through this year. However, he is stepping away from this position and we need someone to take on this very important position for our Club. Larry has graciously offered to help anyone who takes it over and you can certainly contact him if you have questions about the responsibilities if you are interested. 2. We also need a Chair for the Mini-golf fundraiser. Wade is now Co-chairing the membership committee and Kev Basara has moved onto one of the membership project teams. The groundwork has been laid for this fundraiser and Wade will be the support person for whomever takes it over.
FYI - the members on each committee can be found in Club Runner. Many thanks for all you do and I'm looking forward to a very service oriented and successful 2021-2022.
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.
PLEASE NOTE!! Starting April 11, contractors will close the southbound traffic on Route 29 to the bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad near Big Woody's on Chestnut Street (Upper Milford) as work continues on the bridge. The closure and detour will continue for at least three months (YIKES!). The North bound traffic will not be detoured. The south bound traffic will be detoured for five miles! The project should be completed in November 2021.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
