At last! It is warm. The sun is out. The snow is melting and I can see my yard and flower beds. Are you like me? Do you take delight in seeing the first tips of the spring bulbs peeking through the soil each year? The green of new growth -
This has led me to consider growth for myself, each of you, and of Emmaus Rotary.
Myself. I was inspired by Wade George’s witness to how empowering his identity as a Rotarian is for him. He spent a few “Happy Dol$lars” and a few minutes to tell us how he took some time around his birthday to look at his life, his achievements, and his future goals. Now, my birthday is months and months off…. But, I am not going to wait. I will be doing some self-evaluation myself; especially, in the area of my participation in Rotary and how to finish up my term as your President in good form.
Each of you. Let me encourage you again to use some of Rotary’s tools. Log in to our website. Create a “My Rotary” account. Poke around to see all of the resources available to you. The training modules and tools are amazing. Download the “ClubRunner” app to your phone. This app is so useful. Information for all Emmaus Rotarians is available to you. Spouses names. Addresses. Phone and email address. And even a link to an online map to get driving directions to another member’s home or office!! I used it myself last week to find Bill Erdman’s office.
Emmaus Rotary. As we gradually pull out of the Covid19 pandemic, it might be time to look around to identify someone you know who might be a future Rotarian. Remember, we are looking for leaders who have a heart for service to others and will be able to attend weekly meetings and participate in both our fellow events and community projects.
I have lived in my home for 30 years. There are new flower beds and new bushes. One of my favorite spring sights is to see the forsythia bush that has been there since I moved in flowering in my backyard. My neighbors told me it had been a gift from a former mayor of the Borough. And as I looked around, yard after yard in Emmaus has a forsythia bush. And I wonder… about the legacy of one individual and the power of vision and the potential for growth. That is Rotary! Look for growth, remembering that
“Together, we see a world where people unite
and take action to make a lasting change across the globe,
in our communities, and in ourselves.”
Rotary International Mission Statement
Yours in service,
Lexa Shallcross
P.S. Don't miss this week's meeting when we recognize several area women for our observance of International Women's Day. This is a hybrid meeting on both Vox Tandem and at Brookside Country Club. There will be many guests. We will be starting a few minutes early to give time for a full agenda! Consider wearing your Paul Harris medallions and/or the color purple! Lots of photos will be taken for the press, our website, and our Facebook page.
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.
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.
NOW is the time to make your decision to become better educated about world-wide Rotary. If you have any wish to maximize your Rotary club membership, especially if you are new to your club, RLI makes it easy. Attend the virtual RLI training session on March 13, 2021. DEADLINE TO REGISTER FRIDAY March 5th.
Any Rotarian, newcomer and “seasoned" members, who attends a day of RLI programs becomes a more valuable, and more dedicated, member of your Rotary club.
Please register NOW for Part I, II, III, and if you have graduated you may register for the Post Graduate Course.
Click the link, on the left hand side under "Upcoming Classes", Find the information for the 7430 – Pottstown RLI and click on "more info", the next screen click "RLI Registration" on bottom right. Enter the security code as shown in the box, and click "Register Now". At this point you will be able to enter your information.
For other information or registration help, please feel free to call or e-mail Len Gieseler, District Chair, at 610-323-2201 or lgieseler2023@gmail.com.
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.
