This film is a documentary done by a local film director with the assistance of local business CEO’s and a former major insurance company executive which objectively analyzes the United States health care system. The film clearly identifies why our health care system is too expensive while not providing the best health care outcomes in the world.
In fact, it is extremely eye opening to learn how poorly our health care outcomes compare to those of other countries, a number of which are not as economically strong as the United States.
Special showing for Emmaus Rotary on Thursday morning, February 7, 7:30 a.m. at Emmaus Movie Theater, Fourth Street.
Our club has the honor of hosting the Rotary District 7430 conference this year because Cindy Hornaman, one of our past presidents, is the current District Governor. We are encouraging all of the Emmaus Rotarians to support her by attending our district conference.
Many of us have volunteered to help out in many ways—but we need more participation and more registrations! Additionally, based on the number of attendees from our club who participate - we will get some funding back to support hunger projects in our area—which you know is an Emmaus Rotary focus.
Our Board of Directors last month, voted to offer a $34 price reduction for the Emmaus Rotarians who register for the conference starting now for up to $750—please register and take advantage of the price (monies will be returned to those eligible following or near to the conference) before February 22nd. As a Rotarian, you will have to pay the whole amount up front and then Chris Wills will write you a check for the $34 as a reimbursement. Please keep your receipt to send to Chris. You can register for the whole conference, Saturday all day only, or the District Training Assembly on Saturday from noon-4:30. Concert tickets are included in the full registration and Saturday all day.
This conference is going to prove to be one of the best yet- -with international speakers, lots of great networking as well as fun—and even a concert in the evening at Symphony Hall.
You don’t want to miss out.REGISTER HERE CLICK HERE
If you have any questions please give Sue Straeter, Eric Loch, or Don Blose a call for information.
On Thursday evening, January 31, Emmaus Rotary and the high school's Interact Club gathered for a pizza meal, a business meeting and a hands-on project to make suet cakes for the nearby Poole Wildlife Sanctuary.
There are currently 85 students in the Interact Club which has already totaled 400 service hours and is on track to end the school year with 800 hours. Upcoming events include participating in the District 4-Way Test Speech Contest and in Camp Neidig this June. Emmaus Rotary thanks both Tony Moyer and Amy Kaunitz for their commitment to the Interact students.
The suet cakes are made by combining flour, water, corn syrup and gelatin in a large bowl. Birdseed is added until the mixture becomes thick and workable by hand. Large trays are lined with wax paper and the mixture is spread out and straws are stuck in mix so that when it hardens it can be cut into 4 inch by 4 inch squares...the straw makes a hole for string to hang mix from tree branches. The mix needs several days in the tray to harden before use.
Last week Mike Waddell mentioned that he and Mark Erle are collaborating on a survey for the membership that will give feedback about the Trumpet newsletter. That survey is now complete and will be emailed to the ERC membership by this weekend. We encourage everyone to complete the survey (only 5 questions) within a few days of receiving the email so that Mike and Mark can collate the responses and hopefully gain a better idea of readership tendencies and how we can make the newsletter better.
Rotarian Tony Moyer asked for help staffing this year's
4-Way Test Speech Contest at Emmaus High School and he now has the help he needs. He has invited additional Rotarians to be in the audience on February 7 at 2:30 p.m. at Emmaus High School.
And as we support our Interact Club, I thought it would be a good time to review:
What is the Four-Way Test?
Why is it on one of our banners?
Why do we occasionally recite it at the end of our meetings
The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use for their personal and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages.
It was created over 70 years ago the midst of the Great Depression by a Rotarian to help rescue his beleaguered business.
That Rotarian was Herbert J. Taylor, born in Michigan and a graduate of Northwestern University. He did international work for the YMCA and served in the Navy during World War I. He is described as a mover, doer, a consummate salesman and a leader of men.
He and his wife settled in Chicago in 1925 and he began a swift rise in the Jewel Tea Company. He was asked to take on the leadership of the almost bankrupt Club Aluminum company and he put his own money into that effort.
A man of faith, Taylor prayed and then wrote a guiding ethical statement to help his company managers in their daily work. He decided that first 100-word statement was unwieldy and whittled it down to the 36 we now know.
He showed his four-point test to clergy and lawyers. He used it to guide the Club Aluminum industry he headed and to climb out of debt and begin paying dividends to stockholders.
In 1942, Rotary International adopted the 4-Way Test and in 1954, Taylor transferred the copyright to RI when he served as RI President.
Questions remain for us: Is the 4-Way Test useful today, for us in this highly technological, digital world?
Perhaps few things are more needed today than moral integrity.
"Eloquently simple, stunning in its power, undeniable in its results, The Four-Way Test offers a fresh and positive vision in the midst of a world full of tension, confusion, and uncertainty." (Darrell Thompson, Rotary of Morro Bay California)
The final test is in the doing. In his speech "About the 4-Way Test", Thompson quotes noted psychologist William James who said, "The ultimate test of what a truth means is the conduct it dictates or inspires." And Thompson championed our test by writing, "At the heart of Rotary today is the Four-Way Test, a call to moral excellence. Human beings can grow together. Modern business can be honest and trustworthy. People can learn to believe in one another."
Pennsylvania German farmers across our area would gather pigs by calling "Soo-ee, sooo-ee...".
Emmaus Rotarians are also asked to bring their little pigs home.... Fill those blue piggy banks and bring them in to be counted and credited to your giving.
Our Foundation Committee is using these little blue plastic piggy banks as a fun way to encourage our giving to the Rotary Foundation. It is another reminder that each Rotarian is asked to give $100 a year toward supporting the ways we try to serve the world. That is called EREY or Every Rotarian Every Year.
The average amount collected in one full piggy bank is $25 to $30. Fill it four times and you are credited with full EREY completion for that Rotary year. Rotarian Bill Erdman, our Foundation Co-chair, will gladly get you a piggy bank and accept it when you have filled it. He oversees its counting and makes sure your giving account is credited.
The Rotary Foundation is rated 4 stars by Charity Navigator. The grants and scholarships awarded by the Rotary Foundation support first, our commitment to END POLIO NOW and, also, our six areas of concern and focus as we seek to service. These six areas include:
1. Promoting Peace
2. Fighting Disease
3. Providing Clean Water and Sanitation
4. Saving Mothers and Children
5. Supporting Education
6. Growing Local Communities
Our Foundation Committee staffs the EREY spot at the sign-in table for each meeting. This is another way to help everyone reach full EREY status. Many Rotarians pay for their meal and raffle ticket with a twenty dollar bill. The five dollars change can be handed to the person at the EREY spot who will mark that contribution next to your name. Do that 20 times during the Rotary year... July 1st to the end of June... and full EREY is reached.
Emmaus Rotary is seeking to have 100% of its membership completing EREY.
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.
Our Foundation Committee is using these little blue plastic piggy banks as a fun way to encourage our giving to the Rotary Foundation. It is another reminder that each Rotarian is asked to give $100 a year toward supporting the ways we try to serve the world. That is called 
