Allentown West Rotary Club
Meeting Notes – March 22, 2023
Today was an In-Person meeting at Cedar Crest College that began at 7:30 A.M.
There were 22 of us present, plus 5 on line.
Our Greeter was Lisa Walton. Mitch Huston handled Registration, Prizes and Happy Dollars.
GUESTS:
Nick Millward, peace scholar in Australia; Maureen not introduced.
OPENING:
Pres. Gail Micca opened the meeting at 7:30 A.M.
Pastor Jean Masiko gave a nice invocation.
Ron Coleman led us in the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag.
Chris Blechschmidt led us in reciting the Four Way Test, and added “Is it Fun?”
CELEBRATIONS:
Pres. Gail reviewed the members celebrations for March. See list below.
PRIZES:
Lisa Walton donated some Josh Early candy eggs that were won by Peter Wohlsen.
The $15 of the 50:50 was first won by Bill Keba who said draw another number. So Marlene Heller won it…….. and gave it back to the club.
HAPPY DOLLARS:
Gail Micca is happy that Bianca Rivera will be inducted today.
Bianca Rivera is happy to be an official member today.
Ralph Witcher nominated Bianca as our next President-Elect.
Ralph also is happy to learn about the Da Vinci Center today.
Laurie Grube is happy about Bianca. She also is happy to now have a broader bank territory responsibility.
Lisa Walton is very happy that their oldest son is moving in with his girlfriend.
Marlene Heller is happy that she won the 50:50 today.
Amit Famili is celebrating an special New Year.
Amir also noted that Ramadan starts this evening, during which time he will fast during daylight hours for the month.
Amir will donate $50 to the club for every member who will fast for a single day of daylight.
Herb Klotz is happy to have Bianca as a member.
Herb also noted that 10 years ago Halyna Stegura was club President and she made Herb the Membership Chair.
NEW MEMBER INDUCTION:
Bianca Rivera was inducted as the newest AWRC member. Membership Chair, Tori Morgan, conducted the ceremony. Laurie Grube was Bianca’s sponsor.
WELCOME TO ROTARY, BIANCA !!
FOUR WAY TEST SPEECH NEXT COMPETITION:
The regional contest that Lily will be in is on April 1st in Emmaus.
NEXT QUICK FUNDRAISER -- MARCH MADNESS SQUARES :
THIS IS NOT A BRACKET. Buy & sell as many as you want - No limit!
We are now selling $20 squares just like our Superbowl squares, but with a twist.
Half time will pay out: $200 Final Score will pay out: $400
Twist - EARLY BIRD BONUS WINNINGS: $200
Since we don't know who will be playing in the final game, we are adding a bonus payout for anyone who purchases their squares before the second round, you can choose your top two teams if you purchase by Friday, March 17th. If your teams make it to the final game, this bonus option will be paid (split if there are multiple winners). You may not choose after the second round starts.
This fundraiser will benefit our hungry little friends who receive monthly snackpacks. One sheet will purchase snackpacks for one month. Selling all squares is a $2,000 gross, and $1,400 net.
Half-time winner gets $200. Final score winner gets $400.
D7430 ANNUAL CONFERENCE:
DG Len Gieseler tells us:
At one of our last committee meetings, we were pleased to pull the next upgrade winner for the Havana Tower suite. The link is listed below to see the reveal.
We are now 30 days from the registration deadline for our Casino Royal District Conference in Atlantic City, NJ at the beautiful Tropicana. Our team is working hard to bring you a great conference experience and we don't want you to miss out.
I am asking for your support by joining us at YOUR District Conference. We also have great opportunities to show case your club accomplishments and projects by getting a table in the House of Friendship. If you would like to promote your club or business, or send a message, check out the link for our program booklet.
Fun, Rotary and more Fun are in store for you and your family, but you need to be in Atlantic City
May 5-7 to experience it. Don't delay, register today.
VISITING NURSES DONATIONS:
In memory of Halyna Stegura we are collecting donations for this group.
AWRC GREEN THUMB GARDEN:
Gail Micca reports that garden planning has begun. “Pepper and tomato seedlings have begun to sprout under grow lights and more will be planted this week.”
The Green Thumbs Garden Project volunteer/friend group is growing too – would you like to be added to the list? This project brings out the best in all of us and is a great way to spend time outdoors with friends and family. Please contact Gail Micca at [email protected] for more information.
DINING OUT – APRIL:
Dining out for April will take place on Monday April 3rd at Youell’s Oyster House. Contact Gail Micca, [email protected] by March 26th. Up to 12 can be seated together.
SNACKPACKING:
The next Snack Packing event at Parkland is on April 12th. Then again on May 17th.
The NWL Snack Packing dates are - Wednesday, April 19th at 2:05 and Wednesday, May 17th at 2:05.
KINGDOM LIFE FOOD DISTRIBUTION:
The upcoming dates for Kingdom Life Food Pantry Giveaway are:
All Saturdays – April 15 and May 13.
Each time we start at 7:30 A.M. and usually are finished by 9:30 A.M. Volunteers are needed.
PARKLAND C.A.R.E.S. PRODUCE DELIVERY:
The Pantry will hold its food distributions on the first Saturday of each month for all of 2023. The next one is on April 1st.
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:
Takes place twice each week. Helen Papathanasiou needs substitute volunteers.
INTERACT BREAKFASTS ARE BACK:
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 fifth Wednesday of the month.
The NWL start time will be at 8:30 A.M. The March Student of the Month will be honored. YES, IT STARTS AT 8:30 A.M.
SPONSORS ARE NEEDED TO PAY FOR THE STUDENTS’ MEALS.
STEM YEA FUNDRAISER:
Please remember that the Second Annual Big Ticket Reverse Raffle (BTRR) will be held on April 15 at Brookside Country Club, in Pottstown from 5:30-10:00 P.M.
Gwenn Carr reports that they have sold 68 tickets so far, and have $4,500 in sponsors.
D7430 TRAING ASSEMBLY:
This is open to us all. It is on April 22 at the Bucks County Community College. Registration fee will be reimbursed by the club if you attend.
YOUTH EXCHANGE ISSUES:
Please work with Chris Blechschmidt to take our Y.E. student, Sam, to complete his “bucket list.”
ALSO, we need a family to take in next year’s Y.E. student. The Blechschmidts are not available for 2023-24.
MEETING SCHEDULE:
The first Wednesday of each month will be a Dining Out meeting, or equal. It might not be on a Wednesday.
The third Wednesday of each month will be a ZOOM ONLY meeting with a program.
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 IN-PERSON:
March 29 IN-PERSON at Northwestern Lehigh Middle School at 8:30 A.M. Come early and mingle. YES, STARTING TIME IS 8:30 A.M.
The program will be the Interact Club members, and the March Student of the Month.
PROGRAM:
Program Chair, Ralph Witcher, introduced Lin Erickson, Executive Director and CEO at The Da Vinci Science Center. She will give us a 2023 Da Vinci Science Center Update.
Lin Erickson has been the Da Vinci Science Center’s Executive Director and CEO since March 2013 after serving as its Executive Director previously from 1997-2005. As the Center’s Chief Executive Officer, Erickson also is a member of its Board of Trustees.
Erickson has nearly 30 years of experience spearheading educational initiatives for students from kindergarten through college – raising more than $93 million from public and private sources. She was Chief Development Officer of the Air Force Museum Foundation in Dayton, Ohio, from 2011-2013, and Director of Government, Corporate, and Foundation Relations at Wittenberg University from 2006-2011.
Erickson held progressive leadership roles earlier in her career with Northampton Community College and Lehigh University – developing innovative partnerships between the public and private sectors to advance workforce competitiveness – and was a middle school teacher.
Erickson holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Smith College in Northampton, Mass., a master’s degree in Educational Technology from Lehigh University, and an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Lin was a member of the Bethlehem Rotary Club in 2005, and her son currently is a member there.
THE NEW DA VINCI SCIENCE CENTER
Using a series of slides, Lin described the now under construction downtown Allentown Da Vinci Science Center. It is on Hamilton Blvd between 8th and 9th streets.
The following is the text from her slides.
DA VINCI SCIENCE CENTER
Today 30K Square Feet
• Award-winning science center and
trusted community resource for
STEAM education for 25+ years
• Serving 150,000+ annually pre-Covid
• Spearheading initiatives to meet
priority school and com
ISAACMAN NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE INSTITUTE
Launched on September 17, 2022
Learning Opportunities for teachers, students, parents, administrators, and school board members
Preparation for new PA Science Standards effective in 2025-26
o District Wide Planning
o Curriculum Selection and Design
o Student Programs
o Support for High Quality Assessments
STEAM FOR ALL
Spanish Task Force
• Sign translation
• Bilingual staff
• Bilingual programs and materials
Women in Science and Engineering
• WISE Speaker Panel and Networking Forum
• Career Connections Field Trips
• After School Clubs and Scout Programs
Access for All
• Discount ticket and membership program
STEAM CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM
Students earn a STEAM Certificate for completing selected activities each year
ALLENTOWN SITE -- PROJECT OVERVIEW
• 71,000 square feet
• Over 2x the size of Da Vinci’s current facility
• 3x as much exhibit and program space
• Programs and services on par with other major science centers in the NE US
• Located in the heart of Downtown Allentown
PROJECT STATUS
§ Property secured in January 2022
§ Building permit approved in August 2022
§ Construction started in June 2022
§ Public opening expected in spring 2024
§ Comprehensive financing package with Fulton Bank
§ Total project budget is $73 MM; $68 MM raised
EXHIBIT EXPERIENCE
IMMERSIVE
BODY
City Center Gallery
• Curiosity Hall
• LVHN My Body featuring
Immersive Body
• ATAS Science in the Making
• Lehigh River Watershed
• City Center Gallery
• Science Theater
CURIOSITY HALL – THE LEONARDO EXPERIENCE
Goals:
• Provide an introduction to the “Da Vinci ethos” of curiosity,
experimentation, and imagination.
• Prompt and empower visitors to channel their curiosity to
explore topics that fascinated Leonardo through his life: art,
science, and invention.
• Enable visitors to build, design and create their own digital
personalized content on a 54 foot “Giant Screen.”
LVHN IMMERSIVE BODY
ATAS SCIENCE IN THE MAKING
Floor Plan
1. Science Interactives
2. Manufacturing Objects & Interactives
3. Inside the Factory Media Experience
4. Career Kiosks
5. ATAS Garage featuring local inventors
ATAS SCIENCE IN THE MAKING| Haciendo Ciencia
ATAS BOX MAKER
VICTAULIC PIPE ORGAN
REXROTH
HYDRAULIC DINOSAUR
LEHIGH RIVER WATERSHED | CUENCA DEL RÍO LEHIGH
CITY CENTER GALLERY AND SCIENCE THEATER
Science Theater is home to the PPL Electricity Show
Home of Professional Development And Outreach Programs
Offices &Volunteer Lounge
Workshop & Receiving
Restrooms & Lockers
Classrooms/
Laboratories
Da Vinci STEAM Learning Center – Facility
Easy access off the elevator
BUDGET AND FUNDRAISING PROGRESS
USES (millions)
Funding is needed to support:
• Exhibit experiences that will attract 400K visitors annually
• Educational programs with an expanded focus on access for underrepresented communities
• Investment in financial stability Balance to Raise: $5.0 million
USES (millions) Total
Design Development 2.1
Exhibits 15.1
FF&E 2.3
Site Acquisition 1.7
Core & Shell 38.4
Soft Costs 5.0
Contingency / Other 1.5
Financing, Reserves, Cap Interest
Balance to Raise: $5.0 million
Funding is needed to support:
• Exhibit experiences that will attract 400K visitors
annually
• Educational programs with an expanded focus on
access for underrepresented communities
• Investment in financial stability
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC IMPACT
Lin answered some questions from the group.
CLOSING:
Pres. Gail led us in reciting our motto, “One profits most who serves best,” and closed the meeting.
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