Today was a Zoom meeting with about 38 people on line. After some conversations President Ralph Witcher opened the meeting at 7:30 A.M.
GUEST ON LINE:
Our student of the month of April, Three Parkland H.S. scholarship recipients, multiple leaders from Parkland H.S. and from LCTI, and multiple family members of the students.
HAPPY DOLLARS AND COMMENTS:
Ernie and Sandi Boll are happy to be back in the Lehigh Valley.
Our student of the month, Natalia Cao, was on with her Father who has worked for Air Products. As more people came on line it was a reunion. Finally Ron Coleman said that we are Rotary Retirees from Air Products.
Sue Weber welcomed the students and the guests.
Gail Micca is happy that the students have been helping in the garden.
Sue Weber is happy to have Eric Roberts on with us. They worked together when Sue was at Parkland H.S.
Bill Palmer is pleased that Marlene Heller now provides a Link to each weekly Newsletter as an alternate way for him to distribute the A-W.
Amir Famili is pleased to report that carpet is going down in the first house by Habitat for Humanity and its new owner will take possession in May.
CELEBRATION DATES:
Pres. Ralph displayed the list of April members and their celebration dates. We applauded.
OPENING:
Pres. Ralph gave a very nice invocation. Then he led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Ralph really likes saying the pledge.
WELCOME GUESTS:
Membership Chair Tom Friday extended a welcome to our guests on line with us today. He encourages us all to invite guests to join our meetings.
Pres. Ralph again said “The world needs more Rotarians.”
FOUR WAY TEST:
Pres. Ralph reviewed each of the 4 statements for us. He applied them to the parents and the great students we are honoring here today.
Ron Coleman tipped his hat to those students, educators and families.
TRI-DISTRICT VIRTUAL CONFERENCE:
PDG Herb Klotz reviewed the many reasons we should attend these meetings and learn about Rotary beyond our own club. He noted that one of the many Saturday afternoon projects is AW Rotarians and friends working in our green thumb garden.
SNACK PACKING FOR LOWHILL FOOD PANTRY:
Amir Famili said that AW Rotarians over the last year have provided over 1,000 snack packs for their clients.
HIGHWAY CLEAN-UP PROJECT:
We had a great turnout for the highway clean up on Saturday April 24th. Three members of the Passport Club (Carrington, Ed and Ann), joined Amir, Sharon, Michelle, Scott, Len, Ed and Gail. Chelsea Karp helped too! What a beautiful day to beautify our roads.
REPORT FROM BOB GORDON:
Enjoying Florida and Kunhae.
AWRC WORK DAY - MAY 1st:
We have a wonderful service and fellowship opportunity in less than one week. Please let me know if you would like to be a part of this "Work Day" event at the AWRC Green Thumbs Garden Project.
Who? You, AWRC members, Interact members and advisors and Camp Neidig participants
What? Work Day at the Garden (It's not all work - it's fun too!
When? Saturday May 1, 1-4, arrive between noon and 12:30 for set up.
Where: Detailed directions will be emailed
How? Plans are set for a rotational event so the kids will have the opportunity to participate in many activities from digging weeds, adding soil/nutrients, planting, mulching, watering, painting row signs, setting stakes, etc. Snacks and t-shirts will be provided. Photographer is also needed. WFMZ may be reporting this event. All are welcome.
Thanks! Gail Micca
Thanks go to all the volunteers who help distribute food items to hundreds of families last Saturday from the Kingdom Life Food Center. Jean Masiko needs volunteers for the next distribution which is Saturday May 15.
Habitat for Humanity still needs volunteer painters on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Contact Amir.
Parkland C.A.R.E.S. needs volunteers for their food distribution on Saturday May 8.
YOUR SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:
Service Chair, Gail Micca, asks that you take a look at this section on the left side of this bulletin. New ones:
STATUS OF MORNING MEETINGS:
The AWRC B.O.D. has suspended all AWRC face-to-face meetings until further notice. Zoom meetings are now scheduled for each Wednesday at 7:30 A.M.
NEXT MORNING MEETING:
Wednesday May 5, 2021 starting at 7:30 a.m. We will use Zoom to meet. Our program will be AWRC’s Dr. Barbara Kistler, Dean of Academic Services (Ret) Leading the AWRC Scholarship Program Presentations for Northwestern HS, LCTI & LCCC Students.
STATUS OF THURSDAY EVENING MEETING:
No Thursday evening meetings are planned until after the pandemic..
PROGRAM:
Pres. Ralph Witcher introduced AWRC’s Dr. Barbara Kistler, Dean of Academic Services (Ret). Dr. Kistler represents the Northwestern Lehigh School District and began her service to the board in July 2018. She holds a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from Albright College, a master’s degree from City College of New York and a doctoral degree from Lehigh University. Dr. Kistler is a retired professor emeritus from LCCC where she served as professor of mathematics and dean of academic services.
Barbara began by introducing the Rev. Jeff Kistler.
STUDENT OF THE MONTH:
During our “Parkland Day” Zoom meeting today Allentown West Rotarians recognized Parkland Senior Natalia Cao as Student-of-the-Month for April. Rev. Jeff Kistler conducted the ceremony. See separate article.
Natalia thanked us for this recognition. She said that she likes our “Happy Dollars” session. She will attend NYU in the Fall. Eric Roberts, Advisor from Parkland H.S. , said that Natalia is great, and she never gives less than her very best.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
The AWRC Scholarship Program is an award of financial support given to the top 12th grade student(s) who has demonstrated outstanding service to the community. The intent of this scholarship is to financially assist the award winner towards furthering their education at a college or university of their choice.
AWRC Scholarships are awarded to students attending either:
• Lehigh Career & Technical Institute (LCTI)
• Parkland High School
• Northwestern Lehigh High School
• Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC)
2021 Parkland Scholarship Winners
There were many qualified applicants who met the twin criteria of service and leadership. It is a work and a privilege to read through, scale and rank the student applicants. The selection committee this year consisted of Gary Englehardt, Gwenn Carr, Amir Famili, Laurie Grube with Barbara Kistler as chair.
There was no question that the three young ladies getting scholarships today, April 28, best exemplified what we were looking for. And all three of them are officers of the Parkland Interact which as you know, is one of Rotary’s high school service clubs.
First is Julianne Dee. We already have met her as December’s Student of the Month chosen by her counselors for that honor. In the best-selling book “ The Purpose Driven Life”, the author, Rick Warren makes it clear that our shape, life experiences, gifts and personalities mix with our passion to give us purpose and meaning in our lives. Julianne’s application clearly demonstrated how her life experiences shaped her passion and compassion to serve others.
Her major service projects include “Stuff the Bus” with Interact as well as regular snack packing which has continued through this year of Covid. She is the treasurer of Interact. She is President of Parkland Cares Club which aims to raise money and awareness of children in orphanages. She volunteers at the Kindness Project which is a local closet for families with foster children which she has experienced first -hand. She volunteers at the Parkland CARES Food Pantry . She is a volunteer assistant soccer coach for “Athletes of the Cross”.
Julianne is part of the Emerging Health program at LCTI and spends time there and at LCCC this year preparing for a medical career. She organized an umbrella drive bringing together the Parkland National Honor Society and folks in the Emerging Health program at LCTI and gathered 100 umbrellas for the LVHN Street Medicine program where there was a need.
Julianne believes leaders should lead by example, doing what is needed. Leaders should take the time to know and listen to members of the team, whatever group that is. Besides the leadership positions already mentioned, she is captain of the Parkland Girls Tennis Team.
Julianne is already planning and thinking about the kinds of service she might do in college and beyond. She is planning on becoming a Physician’s Assistant and desires to work in an underserved community. She has been accepted into the accelerated Saint Francis University PA program as part of their Honors College. She lives the Rotary motto “Service Above Self” and desires to serve her community through her medical career.
Dr. Kistler promised to deliver a certificate, a check, and a “Goodie Bag.” J.J. said that she is going to St. Francis University in Loretto, PA. to become a Physician’s Assistant. Interact Advisor, Lori Peters said that she is proud of JJ.
Rachel Li says that it makes her “happy” to give time and energy to help and serve people. She, too, has had life experiences which have presented challenges. She lost her Dad to cancer five years ago and her Mom couldn’t be with us this morning because she has to work. Rachel’s life experiences have shaped her in having empathy for others and seeing the needs for service and leadership.
Not only does she do extremely well academically, but tutors math and other subjects through Parkland’s National Honor Society and National Math Society. She is the Interact Club’s Vice President and has participated in the all Interact projects including “Stuff the Bus” and Snack Packs. She volunteered at a rescue ranch and has spent summers volunteering at St. Luke’s Hospital doing errands, talking to patients and delivering newspapers. She is also involved with the Parkland Cares Club which provides orphans in China with educational opportunities and serves as Vice President there. She is the Amnesty International Club’s Vice President and virtually volunteers at an activism organization for young people. And she now assists younger musicians to adjust in the Honors Orchestra and Strolling Violins. She has given musical performances in nursing homes. She is planning to be trained as an EMT this summer to learn skills important in her future career.
She aspires to a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and a master’s degree in Physician Assistant studies. She has been accepted into Northeastern University’s direct-entry PA program.
Dr. Kistler promised to deliver a certificate, a check, and a “Goodie Bag.” Rachel thanked us and said that she will be going to Northwestern University She is working on being an EMT now. Lori Peters said that Rachel always is very busy, but always comes to help.
Last, but certainly not least, is the Parkland Interact President, Haley Bowman.
Haley sees service avenues. She’s joined clubs like Interact which do service. She participates in service through her church and she participates in service through her community including with her Dad’s work in the community. Her Interact Club projects include Snack Packing, “Stuff the Bus” , Cookies and Cocoa at Sheridan Elementary School and a card drive for residents at Cedarbrook. At her church, First Presbyterian in Allentown she has been volunteering for over seven years painting benches , collecting donations for a food bank, doing the Crop Walk for hunger needs, helping in the garden at Sixth Street Shelter and weekly summer “mission mornings”. With her Dad she volunteers in the community helping with a breakfast feeding program, donating food to Daybreak and volunteering at Parkland CARES.
Besides being President of Interact, Haley has exhibited leadership skills in a number of other venues including as supervisor at Dorney Park where she reports learning many managerial skills. At her church she wrote a play which was produced as a fund raiser for a local food bank. Administrative skills for youth leaders include getting permission for everything and Haley was able to move through those hoops.
Haley has chosen a career path to help others. She plans to become an adolescent therapist. She would like to own and operate her own private practice, once she has gained needed experience in the field. She has been accepted at SUNY University at Albany.
A “goodie” bag of items will be delivered to the winners including an Amazon Kindle Fire 8 compliments of Amazon.com in Breinigsville. State Farm agent and Rotarian, Brad Maier donated Dunkin Donuts cards, magnet and message board. An Allentown-West Rotary Club pen set and Rotary cookie made by Gail Micca were also included in the bag donated by Laurie Grube’s Riverview Bank. Thanks to all who donated and made this award special for the winners.
Dr. Kistler promised to deliver a certificate, a check, and a “Goodie Bag.” Haley thanked us. She will be going to New York State University in Albany. She plans to be a Therapist. Katrina Sundstrom praised Haley and said that the desire to give back starts in the home and she does it with a smile.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION:
Congratulations Parkland School District Superintendent Richard T. Sniscak on your retirement. Well done.
CLOSING:
Pres Ralph led us in the saying “One profits most who serves best.”
.png)
