On Thursday, June 6, 2019, Jana Spess and Jason Harrar with his service dog Loftus introduced their organization to the Emmaus Rotary. Tails of Valor is five years old and is rescuing both dogs, mostly mixed breeds with some Lab, and veterans returning to civilian life with challenges like post traumatic stress syndrome or traumatic brain injury. Tails of Valor works with both to insure a good match and a working relationship which lasts for years.It costs Tails of Valor between $25,000 and $30,000 bring a dog up to service dog qualifications. Then the selected Vet works with that dog before taking the dog home. Each dog is reevaluated annually and provided with wholesome human quality food for lifese.
Harrar joined the Marines in 1996 and served for 13 years. He then joined the Army Reserve. His service record includes tours of Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. He credits Loftus with turning his life around.
All the dogs are named for fallen warriors and John Loftus was in the Navy during World War II. Loftus senses Harrar's changes of mood as events become stressful and paces and relaxes him. Harrar reminded Emmaus Rotary that he is not alone as there are 22 veteran suicides a day.
If Harrar got our attention, Loftus captured our hearts. You can do your part. Invite riders and friends, family, co-workers to join us on Saturday, June 29th for the Rotary Poker Run...rain or shine...at Blackman's Cycle. There will be good food and music to enjoy. The Run registration starts at 8 a.m. and the Post-ride check -in is at 11:30 a.m.
A wish that begets more wishes at Lower Macungie Library---If you could make a wish that allows other people to create things they wish for, would you do it? Kathee Rhode, executive director at Lower Macungie Library did.
Emmaus Rotary representatives approached Rhode a couple of years ago to ask how they could support the Lower Macungie Library and Rhode suggested a 3D printer. A few months later, in February 2017, a new 3D printer was installed.
Since then patrons of the library have used the printer to create everything from a Fidget Spinner - a popular children’s toy that local stores could not keep in stock – to decorative items and hard-to-find replacement parts. The process is easy. Patrons send the schematics to 3dprints@lowermaclib.org. A library representative reviews the plans and lets patrons know how much filament is necessary and what the cost will be. Once approved, library reps will program the printer and start the process. Patrons can watch it being printed if they choose or come in when it’s done.
“We are excited to be the only library in the Lehigh Valley to offer this service,” said Rhode. “At Lower Mac Library we always look for innovative ways to stay relevant to the community we serve and it’s been wonderful to see the response our new printer has evoked. We can’t thank the Emmaus Rotary enough for a donation that will continue to support our community into the future.”
You are invited to attend the Emmaus Flag Day Program Friday, June 14 at Emmaus Community Park. The Program begins at 6:00 PM and will be held in the Arts Pavilion at Community Park which is near the swimming pool.
Next year our club will be in charge of this tradition.
A reminder that we will install bricks for 3 Rotarians at the Emmaus Remembrance Garden immediately following the June 20 meeting (moved from June 13 because of the threat of inclement weather). The bricks are for John Cleveland, Esther Rowland and Carl Frantz. Many thanks to Bob Halsey for making the family arrangements.
A few weeks ago Joseph Marlin, the founder of Plant A Row, spoke to us about how his program is providing freshly grown vegetables from over 300 gardeners each summer.Rotarians Mike Waddell and Tony Moyer would like to give this a try with our club starting Thursday, June 20 (note change from June 13) and running the second Thursday of each month through September 12. All you need to do is grow some vegetables, dedicate a portion for the hungry in the Lehigh Valley, wash and bag them and give the produce to Mike or Tony at the sign-in table when you enter....simple as that. Examples of what to bring - lettuce, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, zucchini, and much more. Questions - Ask Mike or Tony.
The Emmaus Rotary Club is taking part in the FEED EAST PENN STUDENTS Project which is a summer reading program designed to also help feed our needy students. We need five volunteers from the Emmaus Rotary on each of the following six dates from approximately 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Lincoln Elementary School in Emmaus:
Tuesday: June 25 (3 more Volunteers)
Friday: June 28 (5 Volunteers)
Tuesday: July 2 (5 Volunteers)
Friday: July 5 (5 Volunteers)
Tuesday: August 6 (5 Volunteers)
Friday: August 9 (5 Volunteers)
The tasks are to hand out the books and food to each student attending and then we will read to two different groups for about 20 minutes.
To sign up please call or text Sal Verrastro at 610-533-5621. Never hesitate to call with questions.
Please plan to attend our Changeover Ceremony to Pass the Gavel at our regular morning meeting on Thursday, June 27, 2019. During the meeting you will be invited to stand before the assembly in order of your service.
We thank you for your service to our club, the community, and to District and Rotary International.
Please bring any used children’s books k-3 and 3-5 to our Rotary meetings for the next 4 weeks. These books will be used and donated as a part of our Feeding East Penn School District summer reading and food program at Lincoln Elementary School. Sal Verrastro will collect them for us and our club will be distributing them to needy children in the East Penn School District.
Emmaus Rotary Club dues are $220 per year or $110 per half year. The Club Secretary sends a statement of dues due in mid-May. They are due to be paid by June 15. Please pay them in a timely fashion by mailing the check to Jim or giving him your check at a meeting. For May 16 and May 23, give your checks to Craig Reber as Jim Palmquist will miss those meetings.
A few Rotarians have already paid the $110 upcoming dues. I will send them an email saying they do not owe dues this six months and I will not send them a statement.
If you prefer a paper dues statement, you can pick them up in mid-May at the sign in table along with a self-addressed envelope to mail the check to Jim.
Save the date and join us for the Emmaus Rotary Recognition and President's Dinner at Bear Creek Mountain Resort on Thursday evening June 27th from 5:30 to about 7:30 PM This is an evening to build better friendships, eat good food and have a chance to celebrate the 2018-2019 Emmaus Rotary Year under the leadership or Rick Zayaitz. Spouses or significant others are encouraged to attend.
The price will be $25/per person; includes hors d'ouerves, dinner (Pronto Buffet), dessert, coffee, tea, water, iced tea and lemonade. There will be a cash bar.
Please RSVP to Jeff McElhaney at jeff.mcelhaney@edwardjones.com. Note who is attending with you. You can make checks payable to 'Jeff McElhaney' and mail to Jeff McElhaney, 16 S. 4th St, Emmaus, PA 18049, or send cash.
Agenda:
5:30 - Social Hour - Hors d'ouervers & Cash Bar
6:20 - Welcome and Invocation
6:30 - Dinner - Pronto Buffet (Salad, meatballs, penne alla Vodka, White Wine Chicken, Portobello Mushroom Raviolli, Bread, Cannolis, Cheesecake)
Calling all Motorcycle Riders! Enjoy a fun Poker Run for a good cause, then head back to Blackman's Cycle Center for BBQ Lunch and Beer. Performance by the dynamic duo James Supra and Sara Ayers!!! Only $20 to register to ride the Poker Run, $15 for non-riders. Event is hosted by Emmaus Rotary and Blackman's Cycle Center, and sponsored by New Tripoli Bank. Proceeds benefit Tails of Valor, Paws of Honor-- Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD and TBI.
The inbound student from Finland will arrive in August and we are looking for a volunteer willing to pick her up from Newark on August 20th. We don't have an exact time but would ask that you leave the day open. If available, please reach out to Rose Galeano-Phillips at 908-329-0879.
A wish that begets more wishes at Lower Macungie Library---.JPG)
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