Joseph Marlin, founder of Plant a Row, spoke to Emmaus Rotary on Thursday, May 18th with good humor and solid information about the hunger issues in the Lehigh Valley and one way 326 area home gardeners are helping.
Marlin cited stats that 11% of PA households are food insecure, that 60,000 people in the greater Lehigh Valley area receive food assistance and that the stress increases for families with school age children in the summer.
He founded "Plant a Row" in 2016 and last year 56,000 meals were donated to 15 different agencies. Rotarian Tony Moyer is a volunteer driver for the organization which is based on a national model. Local drop off points are the Emmaus Library, Emmaus Community Gardens and Bogie Community Gardens. Currently there is a need for a Wednesday driver to pick up in Emmaus.
There was lively discussion about collecting garden harvests at our morning meetings after Rotarian Ralph Lewis pointed out that Plant A Row and our Rotary both bring food to the pantry at Bethel Church, Groceries PLUS, which is supported ecumenically and by numerous service organizations like scouting. Look here for future details.
Marlin, who admitted to the nickname of Mr Green Beans, was introduced by Rotarian Valerie Deneen whose husband Mark, also at our breakfast meeting, had worked with Marlin. Joseph Marlin lives in Hellertown where he is a volunteer firefighter. He is a data engineer at PP & L.
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.
Over 245 people are joining in the district adventure we call the conference. This is the last week to sign up and support our District Governor Cindy Hornaman, & District Governor elect Herb Klotz. This will be historic, go on-line and do not be left out. You can register from this website. Just click the link at the top of the page of this Trumpet. Let's support our own, Emmaus Rotarian, Cindy Hornaman (Congratulations for a great year Cindy).
Catherine Raynock, daughter of Rotarian JP Raynock, played the piano as we gathered for our regular meeting and for our opening song. Her visit was full of surprises as she won one of the raffles and used Happy Dollars to let us know that she would be participating in the "Rock a Thon" to raise money for Pediatric Cancer which is being held at St. Ann's School, Emmaus. What do you all think? Doesn't she look like a future Rotarian?
Dee Dee Foran and Patrick Morgan, two members of Bethlehem Rotary's Action Group Against Sex Trafficking, spoke to fellow Emmaus Rotarians about the hard facts of this criminal enterprise, which is the fastest growing and 2nd largest in the world, and possible avenues of future work to end this slavery. Over 80 % of the people impressed into prostitution are controlled by a pimp who uses both psychological ploys and drugs to control victims. The average entry age is between 12 and 15, and the life expectancy is only 8 more years. Reports are that 100,000 US children are sexually exploited each year.
Future work for Bethlehem's RAGAST includes building awareness of this serious problem by holding public education events and speaking to other Rotary Groups; and creating a support network for victims who are rescued or come out of sex slavery., Foran, who founded the action group after learning about the seriousness of the problem at the International Rotary Conference held in Atlanta, GA, noted that a hot spot in the Lehigh Valley is in the motels near the airport.
Emmaus Rotarians Byrce Ruggiero, Steve Gould and Bob Rust are on the CP Kids (Community Partners for Kids) which is working to educate children of the danger of strangers.
Future dates include: Saturday, November 9, 2019 "From Liberty to Captivity" which specifically looks at Pennsylvania as a state where human trafficking is flourishing. It will be held during the Lehigh Valley oAnti-Trafficking Awareness Week November 2-9, 2019 at the Arts Quet Banko Theatre at 12:30.
Thursday, March 5, 2020 Sex Drugs, & Trafficking Symposium at Moravian College, 8:00 to 11:30 with Breakfast, keynote speaker and breakout sessions.
A reminder that there will be a Board meeting immediately following our regular meeting on Thursday. All ERC members are invited to attend and a reminder that this counts as a meeting make-up!
The 9th Annual Lower Macungie Community Day is Tuesday, May 7th, 2019.
Our PR ("Promoting Rotary") and Communications Committee is looking for Rotarians to staff our display table. This is a well-attended, packed event with lots of activities like face-painting, kite-building, a petting zoo, senior bingo, tours of the newly expanded library and community center.
We need at least 4 people: 2 or more from set-up to 6 p.m. and 2 or more from 6 p.m. to clean-up. Set-up at the Lower Macungie Community Center on Brookside Road is at 3:30 p.m. and Clean-up is at the end of the event at 8 p.m. There will be a shuttle from the vendors parking area so parking will not be a problem.
Please let John Chisca know you can help showcase Emmaus Rotary and the ways we serve our local communities and the world.
***November 9, 2019***You are invited to attend***Rotary Day at the United Nations celebrates the organizations' shared vision for peace and highlights the critical humanitarian activities that Rotary and the UN lead around the world. Rotary was there as the United Nations was formed. Today, Rotary holds the highest consultative status offered to a nongovernmental organization by the UN's Economic and Social Council.
Rotary Tshirts for $5; need an extra? See Don Blose asap before they run out!
!
*********************
Rotarian Nelly Kabiru is working with mothers and infants.
Do you have some new or very gently used baby clothes to pass along?*********************
Look at your calendar now. Plan to be part of our annual
"Make a Difference Day" on October 19, 2019. At that time, we will try to do as many community service projects as possible including being marshalls at the annual Emmaus Halloween Parade and cleaning up the streets the next morning. See Nicole Steirer and Karen Hobson for more information.
Check the list below to see if you are scheduled to serve as Greeter & Raffle, Sign-in Table, Invocation or EREY.
If you will not be at the meeting when you have an assignment, it is your responsibility to arrange for another member to swap with you or cover for you.
NOTE-Changes may be made from previous editions of the TRUMPET...check here before each meeting.
Thank you for taking your turn and helping Emmaus Rotary run a smooth, fun and friendly meeting...it's just another way to serve our club!
.JPG)
.JPG)
