Vibrant Clubs News is District 7430's quarterly newsletter highlighting the service projects & fundraisers of our 47 Rotary Clubs. Get the word out about what your club is doing, promote an upcoming meeting or fundraiser. Submissions may be sent in any time before Sept 30th for the October edition. Just email them to D7430PublicImage@gmail.com

Stories

This Is It - STEM YEA WEEKEND!

Two years in the planning, it's finally here!  STEM-YEA Academy Weekend!
 
This initiative was developed in Rotary District 7430 started with an idea from one Rotarian in August 2020. As you read this, forty-one rising 8th Graders are participating in the inaugural academy at Albright College. We have many reasons to be proud of the indomitable efforts of the STEM-YEA team culminating in a "Search for Life on Mars" and the inaugural effort of this youth leadership/learning effort.!
 
The goal of this weekend's hands-on learning experience: deliver an immersive STEM curriculum that sparks intellectual curiosity and a love of lifelong learning. STEM is critical to building a more secure future based on science, humanity, and understanding commensurate with Rotary International principles.
 
This academy was developed for students from schools in Montgomery, Bucks, Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton Counties to explore, experiment, and engage in new exciting subject areas to ignite their imaginations and enthusiasm to learn. The curriculum focuses on “Astrobiology – Search for Life on Mars” developed with the SETI Education Staff and Albright SRI Educators. The Academy is part of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) organized by Rotarians that provide intensive leadership experience to develop skills for youth as a leader while having fun and making connections.
 
For more on STEM Yea, visit https://www.stemyea.com/
 
 
 

District Clubs Celebrate the 4th of July

This was the first time the West Reading-Wyomissing Rotary club participated in the Wyomissing 4th of July parade and they’ll be back next year for sure! 
   Montgomery County Rotary used a green tractor to pull its 4th of July float.
 
 
Pottstown celebrated the 4th and its 100th anniversary!
Bethlehem Rotary - Electronic Billboards
The Bethlehem Downtown Rotary Club began its March for Membership in the month of March, of course, with an electronic billboard campaign.
 
Several Rotarians who work for Bethlehem organizations were asked to underwrite the billboards for a very modest fee ($100) to offset the $500 nonprofit rate for a digital billboard campaign across the Lehigh Valley. Six Rotarians were featured on digital billboards for a three-week period and their organizations were excited to have their logos appear on the billboards. The campaign gave the club great visibility and added $100 to the club's budget for the year. 
 
The featured Rotarians are now famous in our community, and they have had many conversations with others about their role in Rotary and what our club is about. We hope that the campaign increased interest for membership to other Rotary clubs in the Lehigh Valley as well.
 

Tis the Season - for Changeover Meetings

DGs Bob Hobaugh and Len Gieseler at the district changeover. Matt Kloiber is assisted by his children as he accepts the presidency of Allentown Rotary. For more District changeover pics, visit www.rotarydistrict7430.org
 
Kutztown Rotary held its annual changeover at Camp Edmar.
 
On the left Norristown Rotary celebrated its turnover in "the barn"  - On the right Spring Township Centennial's changeover took place at the club’s June 14, 2022 meeting. Amy Vaughan is now Spring Township Centennial’s President. Marie Smith will remain on the board as Past President. Other members of the leadership team include Sean Wyandt (President Elect), Tina Flood (Treasurer) and Teri Jardine (Secretary).

Remembering and Celebrating

On June 3, Emmaus Rotary Club honored three incredible Rotarians who served our club for many years and truly made a difference in our community. Dale Dries, Gordon Schantz, and Wilmer Schultz will be remembered and are missed dearly by our members.There will forever be a place to recognize their “Service Above Self” with these special bricks, laid at the Emmaus Remembrance Garden.
 
Emmaus Rotarians gathered with the Dries, Schultz, and Schantz families to celebrate these three men who were leaders, mentors, and volunteers, but most importantly they were people who genuinely CARED deeply for others. 
 
Allentown Rotary celebrated deceased members and new Rotarians in a video slideshow that reviewed the highlights of the past year.
Souderton-Telford highlighted its international efforts as well as its local charitable work in this lively year-end review video!
Around the District July 2022
Kutztown Public Image Team has developed a great new People of Action (PoA) graphic for its Taste of Kutztown event in June and October Ghost Tour fund-raiser.
Welcome to the Allentown West Rotary Green Thumbs Garden Project! Our garden's bounty will supply our local community food pantries such as Parkland C.A.R.E.S. Food Pantry and Second Harvest Food Bank with fresh produce!
Ambler Rotarians volunteering and fund raising at a local event.
 The "Lansdale Day Art & Craft Festival". is always held on the 1st Saturday of June annually - and always hosted by the Rotary Club of North Penn.  This year was the 46th anniversary of this very successful event was held on Saturday, June 4th and we raised close to $25,000.  All proceeds are used by our club to support local non-profit and charitable organizations as well as give us the revenue to kick-start the next Rotary year so we can fund our District Grants (and occasionally Global Grants) as well as our annual support of The Rotary Foundation.  A great percentage of our entire membership volunteers his/her time and talents for Lansdale Day as they know this event is vital to club so we can continue to help and support those in need, in our own area and around the world.  Lansdale Day is an amazing Art & Craft show with over 200 vendors that include more half as artists/artisans;  but we also have great food and entertainment as well as booth spaces for local businesses.  The Rotary Club of North Penn also runs a 50-50 Raffle and the winner is announced at the end of the day.  Over the years, winners have walked away with more than $500.  We are busy at our booth promoting Rotary as well; and we often obtain new members because of this annual event. It's a fun day all around!   Next year's event will be Saturday, June 3rd 2023

New Satellite Club - The Helping Hands Club of Hamburg

After adults with special needs graduate from high school, they are helped by the school to transition into the local community. Sadly, most are socially isolated and find it hard to participate with large groups of people.
 
The Rotary Club of Hamburg came up with the idea to form a Satellite Club made up of special needs adults that would help members gain new friendships, develop leadership skills, and help to better the community with service projects. The Satellite Club would do separate activities and community service projects as well as participate with the Rotary Club of Hamburg in their projects.
 
The Helping Hands Club of Hamburg was chartered 4/1/22. To date, the Satellite Club has participated in Hamburg’s Community Clean up and the Kernsville Dam beautification project. They have held a planning meeting at a local ice cream shop and recently went miniature golfing at Kauffman’s Chicken Ranch.    

Slatington Donations to Non-Profits

Rotary Club of Slatington donated $7,200 to five local non-profit organizations:
  • $2,500 – Slatington Public Library – Upgrade security & ease of access to building.
  • $800 – Emerald Playground Association – Community Ice Rink. Funds used to purchase tarp, lumber and miscellaneous hardware to construct this coming winter’s rink.
  • $2,000 – Walnutport Canal – Purchase Keepsake Exhibit Table Case.The glass showcase will display the 1903 Anchor Hotel Ledger (built in 1834) so it can be read without touching the fragile pages.
  • $900 – Northern Lehigh Education Foundation – Funding for a Hydroponics Tower. NL School District STEAM Camp campers will learn about how plants can be grown in a hydroponics system and potential career opportunities related to this growing science. Children in grades 3-6 (approximately 85 students) will learn and apply skills in Science,Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math during this program.
  • $1,000 – Springside Sportsman Club, Inc. 2nd Annual Kids’ Fishing Contest The Kids’ fishing contest was held on May 7th.There were approximately 200-250 children who participated.
Whitehall Rotary News
Throughout the spring and early summer, our members have been busy with many learning opportunities, service projects, and events benefitting local and global initiatives.On March 30, we offered the community a way to make a difference AND get a great meal! Samuel Owens, Coplay, partnered with our Club to host a Dine & Donate event to benefit ShelterBox and their humanitarian efforts in the Ukraine. Highlights of our April meeting included learning about the accomplishments of Whitehall HS Interact Club, hearing the winning 4-Way Test speech, and inducting new member, Dr. Robert Steckel.
 
In March, Whitehall High School senior Mackenzie Laub was selected as the winner of our Club-sponsored speech contest, with her talk titled “The Real Story of Title IX.” Utilizing the 4-Way Test, Laub cited significant differences in the way women’s and men’s athletic programs are portrayed at the collegiate level. She ended her speech by answering the fourth question (Will it be beneficial to all concerned?), by stating, “It will only become beneficial to all if we bridge the gap between these men and women. Empowered women empower women.”  Laub advanced to win the regional contest on April 2, and ultimately placed second runner-up in the District competition.
 
 
We had a great morning for our Day of Service project at the Grim Homestead on April 30!  Members of Whitehall Rotary, Whitehall High School Interact, Whitehall Environmental Action Committee, Whitehall Historical Preservation Society (and a bonus Slatington Rotary member!) came together to expand the gardens with pollinators and other plants. Our Club is grateful for the community support we received for the project - thank you to Lowe's Home Improvement, Whitehall Township and Judy Harakal for donating the plants and mulch for this project!
 
Our May guest was Dorene Shannon from Through These Hands, a not for profit organization that acquires and distributes medical/non-medical supplies primarily, but not limited to, developing countries through other non-profit organizations.

As a Club, we strive to support local establishments with our Mixer Meetings, held on the 4th Tuesday of each month. Come join us!
 
For more about Whitehall, including details about its two upcoming NYC trips, check out the "whole story" using this link.
Read more...

What's Happening Around the District!

Upper Perk Happy Hour - Celebrate the end of summer with the Chamber and our friends from the Upper Perk Rotary Club at Simple Days Beer! Happy hours are a great way to make new connections and expand your network! Visit bit.ly/AugHH22 or contact the Chamber at 215.679.3336 to register.
Thank you to our Happy Hour Sponsors: Perkiomen Valley Printing Inc., PRO PDR Inc., QNB Bank, Office Service Company and Valley Lock & Door Corporation.
We hope to see you there!
Allentown West Rotary Casino Night - Save the date...Sept 23....
 
Casino Night at the Museum
 
with Allentown West Rotary Club & Western Lehigh Chamber. Help fundraiser for local and international service projects through Allentown West Rotary. The club will be hosting Casino Night at the Museum!
Click below for 
Whitehall Rotary Jingle Bell 5K 
 - Get Your Jingle On! Registration is now open for our
6th Annual Jingle Bell 8K Run and 5K Walk on 
December 3rd!  Use the link below to register and 
for more info.

 

 
NEXT EDITION OF Vibrant Club News - October 2022
 
Don’t see your Club in this issue of Vibrant Club News?  DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN NEXT QUARTER! - We are taking submissions for the October 2022 edition starting TODAY - submit a photo with caption, a short write up with pictures, a Facebook link or a calendar post for an upcoming fund-raising event.  Why wait?  Don't miss out on the opportunity to “Tell Your Rotary Story” to everyone in D7430!
 
Upload photos and your stories via email to the editors of Vibrant Club News and we will move be sure to include your submission in the next edition.
 
Vibrant Club News Editors: Lou Bottitta, Marlene Greenman Heller, Amy Sheller
 
Contributors: Melissa Kirk, Teri Jardine, Tracy Bozik, Tammy Skiermont, Carolyn Jordan, Eric Heiney, Bob Hobaugh, Debra Walter, Janet Kolepp
 
Upcoming Events
DG VISIT SLATINGTON ROTARY CLUB
Jul 14, 2022
6:15 PM – 7:30 PM
 
DEC Meeting
Main St. Pub
Jul 18, 2022
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
 
DG VISIT BOYERTOWN
Jul 25, 2022
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
 
DG VISIT NORTH PENN
Jul 26, 2022
5:30 PM – 5:30 PM
 
DG VISIT WARMINSTER
Jul 27, 2022
7:45 AM – 8:45 AM
 
DG VISIT HORSHAM
Jul 28, 2022
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
 
DG VISIT WILLOW GROVE
Jul 28, 2022
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM
 
DG VISIT MORRISVILLE-YARDLEY
Jul 28, 2022
6:15 PM – 7:15 PM
 
DG VISIT ALLENTOWN ROTARY CLUB
Jul 29, 2022
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
 
DG VISIT HATBORO
Aug 03, 2022
7:30 AM – 8:30 AM
 
View entire list
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