District 7430
October 2021
Stories
Slatington Rotary Hits a Home Run for "Dream Come True"
Slatington Rotary, along with Walnutport Playground, raised $13,122 for Dream Come True. This event was organized and run by members from The Rotary Club of Slatington and its Interact Club.  
 
Walnutport Playground Association

Dear Slatington Rotary,

The Walnutport Playground Association greatly appreciates your donation. The August 28 event was successful. Our event was able to raise $13,122 to be donated to Dream Come True, Blue Ridge Chapter.
Dream Come True is a nonprofit organization that fulfills dreams of local children ages 4-17, who are seriously, chronically, or terminally ill. We could not have raised this amount without your generosity.
 
Sincerely,

Kendall Heiney                       Eric Heiney            Brian Filchner
Event Chairperson Event        Co-Chairperson      Playground President
Allentown West: Cornholes and Bike Rides
Allentown West Rotary decided to show the world that Rotary Means Business! The first RWB program, Conversations Over Cornhole, was a huge success, with other Area 1Rotary Clubs (Emmaus, Whitehall, LV Passport, and Allentown) and the Western Lehigh Chapter Chamber of Commerce joining in. Slatington Club came by to join in the fun as well, and will participate in future RMB events. Among the many guests who learned about Rotary were a few who are exploring becoming new members. 
 
Many corny prizes and corny refreshments were on hand. But the best part is, it was fun!  And Chris Hornaman's photos show that the fun went well into the evening hours. For more photos of the fun, visit Chris's photo gallery.

Allentown West President Gail Micca decided to ride her bike. While she was at it, she asked Rotary members and friends and… well, everyone she came in contact with…to sponsor her bike ride as she Rides for Rotary! What started as a bike ride turned into a great fundraiser. In fact, it was so much fun that she decided to do it again…from her home in the Lehigh Valley to Niagra Falls and back! From 20 miles a day, to 30, to 60 to 75… there’s nothing Gail won’t do for Rotary! Meanwhile, she has been posting pictures from her ride on Facebook and keeping us up to date on her progress. Back in the Valley now, watch out… AWRC is working on other programs and fundraisers! You will all be invited to a Casino Night in January and other FUNraisers coming up!
"The Game of Rent" is No Game to Allentown Renters
WIth the support of a Rotary Foundation District Grant, the Rotary Club of Bethlehem Morning Star held a public event to play The Game of Rent.  In attendance were Lehigh Valley developers, public officials and non-profit organizations. The game brings awareness to the challenges renters face with current market conditions. Rotary Clubs or other organizations that would like to play the game, please contact club Rotarian Lynn Millet (lkmilet@gmail.com ) to request a loaner game for a donation of $20.
Here’s the link to The Morning Call news article about The Game of Rent event. The headline says it all:  "A Lehigh Valley game night puts real-life struggles of finding affordable housing on the table"
Race to Zero for Polio; Rotary Foundation Month
  
 
 
The Race to Zero was back as an in-person event this year! Combined with an Oktoberfest afternoon celebraton, this year's Purple Pinkie 5k Run, 1k Fun Walk or 10k Bike Race has raised approximately $35K and we're still counting! New location, new course, more options! More fun!  
 
Thanks to Allentown West, Lehigh Valley Passport and Emmaus Rotary Clubs (and to all the volunteers who worked that day) for putting together a successful Race to Zero and Octoberfest. Special thanks to John Scott, Herb Klotz, Carol Ferguson and the Committee for all their time and efforts!
 
  And it doesn't 'end there – What is your Club doing for World Polio Day on Oct 24th?   And in November:
 
  ROTARY FOUNDATION MONTH
 
**  Plan a presentation for your Club about the Rotary Foundation—find out what is new and what we are doing in the world and our district. Contact your Area Foundation Coordinator, Katie Farrell Annual Fund Chair at Katie.Farrell@jefferson.edu, or Cindy Hornaman,District 7430 Foundation Chair at hornamca@ptd.net
 
**  Register for our in person Foundation Seminar:
                     Saturday, November 6, 2021 8:00 am-1:00 pm
                     De Sales University ,Gambet Center,  Saucon Valley, PA
                     CLICK TO REGISTER FOR FOUNDATION SEMINAR 
Area 8 Clubs are in High Gear "Post Covid"
The Central Bucks Club hosted speaker Megan Cohen, who founded "The Grace Project," a weekly event, at Kensington and Allegheny (in Philly) to offer food, blankets, underwear, socks, hygiene supplies, and more, to heroin addicts living on the streets.The club was so moved by her experiences as an addict who recovered and is trying to encourage addiction recovery through on-street compassion, that they made the trip to Kensington equipped with cars full of supplies and helped Megan dish out food and handout necessities. No question, this was a service to help others that also changed them, as well. The club hopes to make this trip a quarterly event.
 
The Warrington Club travels to a local nursing care facility, Neshaminy Manor, on a monthly basis, to sing happy birthday to residents having a birthday during the month. The activity was on hold through Covid, but has recently resumed. Rotarians sing through their masks to 40-50 residents, visiting them in their rooms, to bring cheer, sing the song, and give them a wrapped gift of crackers or applesauce. The club brings joy to the residents and the staff with their good will and cheerful attitude. Their 12 visits per year also bring the Rotary mission of "doing good in the world" to the public.
 
The Newtown Club, led by its recently formed NexGen group, sponsored a town block party to bring the retailers and the public together on the streets with games, bands, and a party at Triple Sun Spirits. Each retailer bought a table for $75 and provided a fun game for passers-by. With magnificent September weather as an added bonus, the event was a great success. Proceeds will help support Family Promise, a group that brings local faith-based communities together to feed the homeless.
 
Doylestown Club members focused their hearts and wallets on ending polio, cheered on by post-polio survivor and member Carol Ferguson, and with threats from club president Rick Millham to show up to the club meeting in spandex. A total of $2500 was raised on the spot, after which the club voted to match the amount, bringing Doylestown participation in Polio Plus to $5,000. Rick also did two laps of the ten-mile killer-hill course in honor of Carol's work raising money for Polio Plus for the district, supported by club member Kal Patel and his wife, who both won awards in the 5k races.
Whitehall Rotary
In recognition of the 20th Anniversary of 9/11, Whitehall Rotary Club presented "Boxes of Thanks" to the fire, police and emergency responders in Whitehall, Coplay, Catasauqua, and North Catasauqua, as well as Cetronia Ambulance Corps. Members shopped, baked and sought donations. The Catasauqua HS Interact Club made thank you notes and were on hand to present the goodie packages. A huge shout out to member, Judy Harakal, for organizing the activity and packing boxes!
 
 
 
At the August business meeting, Whitehall welcomed District Governor Bob Hobaugh and heard about his vision for the Rotary year. He also installed officers for the 2021-22 Rotary year, and helped induct new members, Rich and Rosie Ziegler.
 
During the September business meeting, Mayor Mike Harakal presented member Allison Frantz with a citation for her work in raising awareness of suicide prevention in the local community. The club also recognized member Jan Chicka for her service to Whitehall Rotary Club and bid her a fond farewell as she sets off to begin a new chapter in her life "down South."
 
Excitement is building for the 5th Annual Jingle Bell 8K Run and 5K Walk, which begins at 9 am on Saturday, December 4. Race festivities will be held at the American Club Pavilion in Coplay, PA. For more information, or to register, CLICK HERE
 
Members continue to coordinate monthly SUNshine Box distribution for needy senior citizens, support the needs of the Whitehall-Coplay Hunger Initiative and provide monthly trail clean-up along the Ironton Rail Trail and the Jordan Greenway.
 
As a Club, Whitehall Rotary members strive to support local establishments with Mixer Meetings, held on the 4th Tuesday of each month.  All are welcome.
 
Blue Bell Drone Drops Golf Balls & Raises Cash for Vets and Homeless
The Blue Bell Rotary Club held its 11th Annual Golf Outing on September 13. Thanks to volunteers, sponsors, and golfers, the event was a huge success. This year, a Golf Ball Drone Drop was added to give even more opportunity for fun and prizes.
 
The fundraising event resulted in the club being able to make donations to two beneficiaries. The Montgomery County Community College Veteran Services received $5,000 to continue supporting its student veterans with programs that help them achieve their academic goals. The Norristown Safe House received $12,000, which will be used to open a brand-new women’s shelter capable of providing a safe haven to 30 homeless women over the winter months.
 
Global Grant for Neonatal ICU
The Morrisville-Yardley Area Rotary Club, in collaboration with the Mundgod Heritage Rotary Club in Karnataka, India, and supported by the Central Chester County Rotary Club, obtained a Global Grant that establishes a Neonatal Intensive Care unit in the local Taluka Hospital.
 
This unit will address the community's high infant mortality rate by providing free services to the poor families in the area who cannot afford to get to the nearest unit that is some 100 miles away. The services aid infants who are born prematurely, born with low birth weight, or born with ailments like neonatal sepsis and shock, transient tachypnea of new-born and neonatal distress.
 
 
  On the left, community leaders at the Taluka Hospital in Mundgod, Karnataka, India,
  On the right, presentation of the $2000 Rotary grant check.  
Kutztown Rotary Club’s 84th Annual Farmers’ Night
The Kutztown Rotary Club held its annual Farmers' Night on September 11, a unique Club tradition dating back to 1938. This event is a time to show appreciation for the farming community and celebrate its importance in the economy with a fun night of food and celebration to honor the many different forms of farming in our community. It falls under Rotary International’s area of Vocational Service, an opportunity for Rotarians to actively support the dignity and utility of various vocations.
 
This year’s celebration was a picnic dinner at the Maidencreek Township Community Park, as the Club was not able to hold the usual February tradition of a Farmer’s Night celebration in the Kutztown Grange. Invited speakers included State Senator Judy Schwank and District 7430 Governor Bob Hobaugh; entertainment was provided by Dave Kline, Berks County musician, composer, and entertainer.
 
 
Club to Club
Interested in meeting other district Rotarians in a fun way and share ideas and passions for Rotary? Come join us! We’ve been to Hawk Mountain, Peace Park, Michener Museum and Longwood Gardens. Recommendations of locations or suggestions are welcome.
 
Email Dee Eng if interested or call her cell at 610-428-3355.
 
 
 
 
Allentown Rotary Fountain Mixer
We bet Rotarian Warren Armstrong was smiling down on us on Tuesday evening, September 21, during the Centennial Fountain mixer! This event was a tribute to Warren’s memory and a kickoff for adding more memorial bricks to the fountain area. Please click on this link for additional pictures of this wonderful Rotary fellowship event.
Rotary Club of Easton
On August 26th, the Rotary Club of Easton met in-person for the first time in over 20 months. They were privileged to be hosting District Governor Bob Hobaugh for lunch. DG Hobaugh emphasized the recently crafted mission statement reminding Rotarians that together we can unite and take long-term action to create lasting change in the world and our local communities. Rotary gives us the opportunity to unite and become a major international force for doing good in the world. He urged the Club to work together and develop an action plan to reach our goals. He also commended the Club for its flexible adaptation to these difficult circumstances.
The Rotary Club of West Reading-Wyomissing
Mary’s Shelter Adopt A Room - Mary’s Shelter is a multifaceted comprehensive housing and social service agency that supports families in the community and works to prevent homelessness through housing, education and social service programs. The Club painted and furnished a room that will house the youth STRONG Program. The room was designed by a Schuylkill Valley High School Student for a homeless male youth.
 
West Reading FallFest 2021 - The world needs more Rotarians and community outreach is one way to encourage membership while at the same time giving back to others. The Rotary Club of West Reading-Wyomissing participated in the West Reading Fall Fest on September 18 with a display and information telling the Rotary story.
The Club gave away 550 tree seedlings as part of the ‘Plant A Tree’ environmental focus project, provided free popcorn, and sold grilled cheese sandwiches and water. The goal was to raise money to help purchase a Shelter Box, which provides emergency shelter after disaster strikes along with supporting local community projects which focus on Rotary’s 2021 theme “Serve to Change Lives.”  FallFest was also a perfect opportunity to have the Wilson Interact Club join in community outreach. Interact students did an awesome job distributing tree seedlings and selling water.
 
Harleysville Tree Project
Sebastian Riding Assocaites is a therapeutic horseback riding facility which currently serves over 100 riders in a variety of programs including equine assisted therapy, summer camp programs, intro to horses, and more. These programs are geared towards children and adults with a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional disabilities.
 
If you live near Collegeville and can help plant some trees on the 15th, use this link to register.

What's Happening Around the District!

Kutztown Ghost Tour - Register here
NEXT EDITION OF VIBRANT NEWS - JANUARY 2022
 
Don’t see your Club in this issue of Vibrant News?  DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN NEXT QUARTER! - We are taking submissions for the Jan 2022 edition starting TODAY - here’s how to submit a write up and pictures, a Facebook link or calendar event anytime between now and Dec 30th.  Why wait?  Don't miss out on the opportunity to “Tell Your Rotary Story” to everyone in D7430!
 
Here's a link to our Google drive https://bit.ly/7430VibrantNewsJan 
where you can upload photos and text at your convenience OR send an email to the editors of Vibrant News and we will move your content to the google drive for you. 
 
*** We had 18+ clubs represented in this edition; let's get 25+ next time!  AND A HUGE SHOUTOUT to Marlene Heller, Allentown West Rotary, for her editorial assistance with this oversized edition of Vibrant Clubs News - next month we will be on steroids!
Upcoming Events
PETS I Areas 3&4 In Person
B2 Bistro
Oct 12, 2021
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
 
Showcase Tuesdays
Zoom Web Meeting
Oct 12, 2021 7:00 PM
 
DEC Meeting
John's Plain & Fancy Diner
Oct 18, 2021 7:00 PM
 
PETS I Areas 5 & 6 In Person
Spinnerstown Hotel
Oct 19, 2021
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
 
What's cooking in Fleetwood
Moselem Springs Golf Course
Oct 20, 2021 6:00 PM –
Oct 21, 2021 12:15 AM
 
PETS I Areas 7,8 &9 In Person
Guiseppe's
Oct 26, 2021
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
 
ROTARY DISTRICT 7430 FOUNDATION SEMINAR
DeSales University
Nov 06, 2021
7:30 AM – 1:00 PM
 
Welcome To Rotary
Zoom Meeting
Nov 08, 2021 12:42 PM
 
Showcase Tuesdays
Zoom Web Meeting
Nov 09, 2021 7:00 PM
 
DEC Meeting
TBD
Nov 15, 2021 7:00 PM
 
View entire list
Russell Hampton
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