Today was an In-Person meeting at Cedar Crest College. There were 21 of us there, plus 5 more on line.
Our Greeter was Bill Keba, with help from Ron Coleman. S-a-A Mitch Huston handled Registration, Prizes and Happy Dollars.
GUESTS:
Nick Millward, Peace Scholar; PDG Bob Hobaugh, today\s speaker; Bianca Rivera, new member candidate; and Kendy, friend of Bianca.
SHELTERBOX NEEDS FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS:
See separate article.
NEW MEMBER CANDIDATE:
Introducing Bianca Rivera who attended our dining out and is joining our club soon. She is from the Members First Credit Union.
OPENING:
Pres. Gail Micca started the meeting at 7:30 A.M.
Pastor Jean Masiko Gave a very nice invocation with special prayers for the earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.
Ron Coleman led us in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag.
Marlene Heller led us in reciting the Four Way Test, adding “Is it fun?”
HAPPY DOLLARS & PRIZES
The four door prizes were won by Marlene Heller, Ralph Witcher, Bill Keba and Jean Masiko.
The $20 of the 50:50 was won by Bill Palmer.
HAPPY PEOPLE:
Bill Palmer was happy that Marlene Heller drove him to the meeting today.
Laurie Grube is happy that Bianca and Kendy are here today.
Gail Micca is happy that their daughter is safely traveling; destination is Death Valley.
Bob Hobaugh is happy to be here today, and he and Florita are traveling to visit their Granddaughter.
Ron Coleman paid a happy dollar that he owed from a zoom meeting.
Bill Keba is happy that he walked in to the meeting with Ralph Witcher.
Ralph Witcher is happy that the Eagles won. And he and Pat had a great time in Hawaii.
Herb Klotz had a great trip with EWB to the Dominican Republic. The 7 year project that AW members helped fund now is complete.
Sharon Goldner gave $5 in hope that the Eagle noise soon would be over.
Guest, Kendy, is happy to be here today.
Bianca Rivera is happy to be here today.
Gwenn Carr is happy to report that Gary’s Mother is doing better after her fall.
FUNDRAISER UPDATE:
Pres. Gail reports that we have sold $700 in squares for the Super Bowl contest. Please buy some squares. Just tell Gail how many. Funds will finance Food Pantries.
RLI (ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE) -- FEB 28th:
See separate article.
CELEBRATIONS:
The list of February member celebration events is shown below.
NEW ZOOM POLICY:
Last week Gwenn and Gail explained that we are asking all members using Zoom when there is an In-Person meeting, and when that member still is in the United States, to voluntarily pay $10 each time. We need to cover the $400 minimums at Cedar Crest College each meeting.
Gail reminded us that not too many years ago we charged members a $5 minimum to attend a meeting and to have a cup of coffee.
FOUR-WAY TEST SPEECH CONTEST UPDATE:
The three contestants will speak here on March 8.
Bill Keba needs two judges, a timekeeper and a note-taker. Please help. It’s fun.
DINING OUT – FEBRUARY:
Marlene Heller said “I regret that we had such a good time, we forgot to take pictures.”
On Groundhog Day, 21 AWRC Rotarians and friends gathered for a Dining Out experience at Capo & Co., a new restaurant in Emmaus. It was a boisterous evening, with great food and lots of laughter, and a bit of fundraising.
President Gail Micca passed around the Super Bowl Squares sheet and started filling it up with names. (There is still time to buy squares, people!) Dining Out is a great opportunity to socialize and meet members face to face, have conversations you can’t fit in at a meeting, and put faces to names you’ve heard but not seen, if you don’t get to regular meetings.
Looking around the room, it was apparent that our membership is getting larger, younger, and very enthusiastic! The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and quite a few take-home containers were seen leaving the restaurant. Next month’s Dining Out is being planned by Ralph Witcher, so watch for details!
DINING OUT – MARCH:
Ralph Witcher is making a plan to go on March 2nd to Sumo Sushi and Japanese Fusion, 3174 Tilghman St. in Village West.
Quentin Sowers will give his classification talk then.
SNACKPACKING:
There will be Snack Packing at Parkland H.S. TODAY.
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD DISTRIBUTION:
The dates for the next two KLFC Food Bank Giveaways are:
February 18 and March 11
Each time we start at 7:00 A.M. and usually are finished by 9:30 A.M.
PARKLAND C.A.R.E.S. PRODUCE DELIVERY:
The Pantry will hold its food distributions on the first Saturday of each month for the entirety of 2023.
There was one on February 4th.
Three volunteers are needed each time.
Food collections for Parkland C.A.R.E.S. will be held the third Wednesday of each month at the Pantry on Kernsville Road.
MEALS ON WHEELS:
The schedule for the next two months is set. Helen always needs substitute volunteers.
INTERACT BREAKFASTS ARE BACK:
Pres. Gail announced last week that we will hold these meetings on March 29 at NWL Middle School, and May 31 at the Parkland H.S. Library. These days are the 5th Wednesday of the month.
STEM YEA FUNDRAISER:
Please remember that the 2nd Annual Big Ticket Reverse Raffle (BTRR) will be held on April 15, 2023 at Brookside Country Club, in Pottstown from 5:30-10:00 P.M.
NEW MONGOLIAN SCHOLARSHIP PROJECT:
Nick Millward has submitted an AWRC Request for funding form for a project he calls "21 Provinces/21 Students." The request is for $1,500 to sponsor one Mongolian student to attend the University in Mongolia each year for four years, or six years for an advanced degree.
Peter Wohlsen designed a great logo:
A paper vote was taken this morning. Gwenn Carr reports that the count was in favor. Next the AWRC B.o.D. must approve.
MEETING SCHEDULE:
The first meeting of each month will be a Dining Out meeting, or equal. It may not be on a Wednesday.
FUTURE TOURS, ETC.:
All members are asked to make suggestions to Gail Micca about other tours, Dining Out events, etc. for future meetings.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
February 22 IN-PERSON at Cedar Crest College starting at 7:30 A.M. Come early and mingle. There will be a Zoom option.
The program will be DG-Elect Diane Donaher, Exec. Dir. at Cay Galgon Life House, discussing “Navigating Motherhood.”
AWRC RECEIVES AWARDS
PDG Bob Hobaugh presented Pres. Gail with two awards for our RI Foundation Giving in 2021-22.
First was recognizing the $4,100 donated to PolioPlus.
Then Bob noted that our RC has 100% of its members donating to the Annual Fund, and each donation was over $100. So AWRC was the only RC in D7430 that received the large banner.
PROGRAM:
Pres. Gail introduced PDG Bob Hobaugh, Kutztown RC, to discuss Das Awkscht Fescht.
Here is the agenda:
• What is Das Awkscht Fescht (Fescht)?
1. Motor Vehicles, Celebration & Family
2. Macungie Memorial Park Regional Asset
• What Areas of Focus does the Fescht address?
1. Community & Economic Development
2. Maternal & Child Health
3. Peace & Conflict Prevention
• Rotarian Involvement
1. In all 6 Phases
• Community Service opportunities:
- Field layout in advance
- Parking Friday through Sunday
- Distribute participate awards Saturday
- Distribute packets at registration tent
- Help preserve a regional treasure
Bob Hobaugh came into the area in 1963 and quickly became interested in this antique car show. The early events even had horses displayed on Sundays. In 1981 they stopped showing horses and they added things for kids to do and have fun.
Bob noted that Rotarian David Bausch in Allentown, a friend of AW Rotarians, worked on this event for many years.
Bob showed us many photos of these car shows over the years. Here is one of the Hornamans and the Hellers.
For 59 years, Das Awkscht Fescht has been a summer tradition for all ages. Offering three fun-packed days in a beautiful park setting, it’s a perfect way for families to celebrate summer.
This year, they celebrate the 60th Annual Fescht, so come cruisin’ through 42 acres of fun at the Fescht, the largest antique and classic car show in the country – and enjoy the great things classic summers are made of. Admission includes all events, shows, and entertainment. The 2023 Fescht will feature the Corvette.
Bob is the Chair for this year’s event. The dates are Fri., Aug. 4 – Sun., Aug. 6, at Macungie Memorial Park, 50 Poplar St., Macungie, PA.
They expect to show 600 cars on Friday and Sunday, and 1,400 cars on Saturday. There will also be about 20 antique motorcycles to see.
The Macungie park is not government-owned, so it must raise funds to get things done. They work with Discover Lehigh Valley to do things.
Note that Musikfest 2023 is August 4–13 in Bethlehem. Many visitors go from antique cars to lots of music. The events do not compete.
The good works of this event are similar to what Rotarians do. So Bob is asking us for volunteers to work there, especially on Saturday. Or just come to see the cars, sample the food, and enjoy the entertainment.
CLOSING:
Pres. Gail led us in reciting our motto, “One profits most who serves best,” and closed the meeting.
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