It's amazing how quickly saying "Happy New Year" fades in January. We're off to a new calendar year, pack up the decorations and move along. Here's a question: are your holiday lights on or off when you pack them up? What?
Stay with me here.
No one ever turns on a lamp and then puts it in a box.
In this issue of Vibrant Club News, you will again see how Rotary shines. Every club in our district is a Beacon. You define light. We project light. Look at the photos, count how many lights you see, and imagine how many others have seen it too. Let YOUR light so shine before men. This is the vibrant tapestry of our District. We serve in our clubs, our clubs light our areas, our areas illuminate our district and our district serves the world. This is Rotary.
In October the Rotary Club of Slatington helped at the very last Canal Festival.We worked on the kids corner doing face painting and monitoring the bounce house. The Canal Festival is a well-attended event in Walnutport but can't continue because of a lack of volunteers. Donations for the food bank were collected during this festival and during the Halloween Parade. $1,377 was raised along with 667 lbs of food. On December Dec 9 we hosted the Candy Cane Hunt. The Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority sponsors this event but we run the 'hunt' every year. We bring the benefit of Santa to the Amphitheater before the hunt begins, and the kids line up at about 10 AM to hunt for candy. Some candy canes have additional prizes. Late December is our annual two-day basketball tournament, one of our bigger fundraisers. Bethlehem Christian School, Northern Lehigh, Lehighton, and Jim Thorpe school districts duke it out for the championship. Local companies pay for ads in the program book which are handed out to folks attending the games! ~Carla Green
In November, the Lehigh Valley Passport Rotary Club performed its biannual clean-up of Schantz Rd in Lower Macungie Township, our assigned road in PennDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program. It felt great to make this corner of our community look better. In December, we hosted District Governor Diane Donaher at our Holiday Social meeting, where our club’s founding president, Carrington Smith, was presented with the Beacon of Light award by Diane.
The next day, to put us in the holiday mood, the club also spent a morning wrapping presents for the Salvation Army’s Toys for Tots and Angel Tree programs. ~Mike Carolan
One of our favorite events of the summer is the annual Montgomery County 4H Farm, Home and Youth Fair. One of our members, Sandy Alderfer, is a professional auctioneer and always enjoys calling a few rounds of bidding throughout the event. In 2023, our friends from the Harleysville RotaryClub assisted us in a winning bid on Sara Freed’s Champion Commercial Ewe.
In October, we received Global Grant funding from Rotary International allowing for the addition of electricity, water, books and desks to a middle school in Burkina Faso. This work is being done in partnership with the Rotary Club of Bobo-Dioulasso, the Konkourona Alliance Foundation (KAFO), Inc. and the Mami Siara Na Association of Konkourona.
December kicked off with our annual sponsorship of the 2023 Jim Church Classic Basketball Tournament at the Souderton Area High School. This event was established in 2012 by Rotarian Jim Church to support The Children's Tumor Foundation. Next, our club sailed into the Souderton Holiday Parade on December 2, 2023, with an AMAZING example of Rotarian engineering, creativity, hard work, and enthusiasm! Our club was grateful for the support of the Souderton Area High School Interact Club which helped us meet and greet our community. The Parade Committee thanks all those who volunteered and worked over two years to make it happen!
Our "Cocktails and Candy Canes" event took place on December 7, 2023, featuring a festive evening of fun and philanthropy, with dinner, a silent auction, and a lively trivia game hosted by FOX 29’s Richard Curtis, raised $14,000 for the Franconia Township Police Benevolent Association’s Shop with a Cop program. Twenty families were able to take part in this Shop with a Cop event on December 23, 2023, thanks to the generosity of those supporting this event, including countless donations from the community. ** Our Souderton Area High School Interact Club was also out and about throughout this quarter as shown in this video they submitted in competition for the 2023 Interact Awards. Link to video: https://www.souderton-telfordrotary.org/Stories/world-interact-week
As we enter 2024 we will be supporting Rotary International President R. Gordon R. McInally’s mental health initiative, which is challenging us to feature at least three programs on mental health topics. We’ll hear from the mental health professionals from St Luke's Penn Foundation over the remainder of this Rotary year. Their topics will include: "What's Happening in Mental Healthcare," "Signs and Symptoms of Depression," and "Getting Along in Polarizing Times." We look forward to learning how to better serve our community, each other, and ourselves thanks to this initiative and the wisdom of our local professionals. ~Michelle ,Kane
Warminster Rotary Club is often referred to as one of those "small but mighty" clubs. Thank you! We're proud of it. During October, November, and December 2023 we were in full motion.
A few years ago we were proudly entrusted with something we call the Benson-Campbell Memorial Fund. We have restricted these funds to meet their specific intent. This fund has already impacted those with food insecurity and much more. This fall, with the help of a district grant, we dedicated a memorial bench in our township.
In December we continued our tradition of working with Wrapping Presence, spreading joy to residents of a local nursing home. Continually seeking to serve our township, we also sponsored the reinvigoration of the Township Tree Lighting and Community House Decoration events.
With great pride, we joined the Warminster Food Bank in honoring 97-year old Evie Dugan, who has been a Food Bank Volunteer for over 46 years (and has no plans to stop any time soon). ~Karin Suttmann
Pictured L-R: Past President Cartwright, Evie Dugan, Director of the Warminster Food Bank PE Mike Cerino
On Saturday, December 2, 2023, the Springfield Township -Flourtown Rotary Club held a Holiday Fun & Food Drive.
We had professional photos with Santa, a fresh wreath sale, a jewelry sale, and games and crafts for the kids. Plus the Philadelphia Waffle Cabin Truck! We collected non-perishables for Family Promise itemizing what was donated, 210.5 lbs. of food! ~Mandy Helwig
Editors comment: you had us at "Waffle Cabin Truck"
Once again the Polka Dot Powerhouse Pottstown invited the support of the Pottstown Rotary Club for their Annual Red Cross Blood Drive. The holiday season is such a critical time for blood donations and what's a better gift to give someone than life itself? ~Amira Heim
The West Reading-Wyomissing Rotary recognized individuals for their contributions to our humanitarian and educational programs through the Rotary Foundation. The following Rotarians received Paul Harris (PH) recognition: Heidi Sensenig - PH Fellow, Jeremiah Sensenig PH+7, +8, Carolyne Jordan PH+8, Linda Mackey PH +2, Norm Mackey PH +2, Lou Mehos PH and Gail Landis PH+3.
The 4th Quarter provided several service project opportunities to be engaged in our community. Rotarians participated in the Reading Public Museum Arboretum Fall Cleanup with our Wilson Interact Club, did our Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup, prepared and served dinner for the Hope Rescue Mission and Lighthouse Shelter, delivered ($3,000) Holiday gift cards for the Children’s Home of Reading, and provided winter and hygiene items for the Berks Community Health Center. We enjoyed the Holiday Season by caroling two nights for the West Reading L.O.V.E. Team during Second Friday and Cookies & Cocktails Stroll to support local community economy. In addition, we enjoyed having the newly created Wyomissing School District Brass Ensemble perform at our December meeting.
EASTON ROTARIANS MEET NIAGARA FALLS ROTARY Nick, Dakota, and I attended the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls, ON, meeting on September 26, 2023. We walked into the Shriner's Hall, and we were greeted warmly. They began the meeting with two members on piano and guitar and the club singing "Crocodile Rock" by Elton John. Thereafter the Canadian national anthem followed followed by USA. At the table with us were two visiting Rotarians from Toronto as well as Rotarian & Councilwoman Mona Patel. We were chatting with her and others about the Easton club, our photo booth business, and our LGBTQ+ nonprofit (centered on helping evicted LGBTQ+ youth, expanding access to free HIV/STI testing, and providing LGBTQ+ community education). We exchanged club banners. After us, they presented the City of Niagara Falls with a check for the Rotary Storywalk Pathway, the last section of the city's Millennium Recreational Trail. We also learned about the club's Rotary Clock that stands in front of the American Falls, their donations towards mental health facilities (Pathstone Rotary House), scholarships they've funded, and a new effort for a food truck that provides fresh produce to underserved members of the community.
Unknown to us, Mona had been texting with Mayor Jim Diodati. Halfway through the meeting (it was their annual NF Rotary Foundation meeting), she let us know the Mayor wanted to meet with us, and she informed the club that she was taking us to tour City Hall and meet the mayor.
We met her at City Hall, and she gave us a quick tour of the building. While we waited for the mayor in the council chamber, we talked with Mona regarding the city's homelessness situation, response, and other facets of the Canadian government. Mona mentioned that the city has space for each unhoused individual in their shelters, but some prefer to continue living outside the shelters. The mayor came in, and we spoke for a few minutes and took some pictures in front of the city seal in the chamber. He then took us into his office, where we talked some more, received gift bags, and took some more pictures. We thanked him for fitting us into his busy day and thanked Mona for the opportunity. ** This encounter was positively unexpected for us. Through Rotary, we learned about the club's strong connections to the Niagara Falls community, met elected public officials, and got a tour of City Hall. This added a nice touch to our vacation and was a cool birthday experience, as it was coincidentally my birthday. We recommend visiting other Rotary clubs on your vacations as you'll learn more about your destination's community, and you may end up with some unique experiences unavailable to non-Rotary members. ~Andrew Bogoly
Allentown West Rotary Club Site Visit to Amcor | The Allentown West Rotary Club visited the Amcor Plant in Allentown on December 6, 2023. Earnie Bliss, Site Director and Vice President of Operations, was the host. Earnie is a member of the Allentown West Rotary Club.
Amcor is a global leader in developing & producing high-quality, responsible packaging solutions for food, beverage, pharmaceutical & other packaging requirements.
The club members were treated to a great tour and description of PET plastic bottle processing. Safety is a big part of that process. Twelve million bottles a day are produced in this plant (+10 Billion annually). Club members witnessed the process of injection molding and blow molding as well as the inspection process. They also visited the palletizing areas of the facility. ~Gwenn Carr
We share deepest sympathy with our brothers and sisters of the Bethlehem and Morning Star Rotary clubs at the passing of their dearly beloved friend and past club president Rr Rev. C. Hopeton Clennon who joined the Church Triumphant on January 7th. Hearts are grieving for a pastor, a bishop, a friend, and a person bigger than any words can describe.
I am Joanna Chodorowska and current president of the Montgo-New Britain chapter.
We have our 3rd Annual mini Golf Tournament on February 4th, 2024, and would love it if we had other Rotary Chapters send 1-2 teams to support our event, but also to play against each other for a special prize! ** There are 2 shotgun starts and I would prefer to have the Rotary teams start together at 2:30pm time if possible. The earlier slot typically sells out faster but we would love to see you at whichever time is best for you!
I know Vira Katolik from the Hatboro chapter had indicated her interest and I have been told a team will be coming from Willow Grove. A team of 4 is only $50 plus you can also have teams of 2 as well this year. I would love at least 1 team from every chapter!
You can either use the QR code to register or send a check – info on the flyer – with your team name, etc. We need the flyer to be completed and submitted to Matt Echelmeiser (chair) so he can tabulate the teams.
Thank you for your consideration and/or participation! Blessings & hugs xo ~Joanna Chodorowski
The last quarter is always the busiest for the Newtown Rotary Club. We re-instated quarterly happy hours with “Cocktails for a Cause" raising $1,000, which was donated to a local breast cancer non-profit, Main St. Next was the annual Pedal for Progress bike & sewing machine collection. Rotarian Jerry Agasar began this collection 21 years ago and has spearheaded it since. This year 291 bikes and 27 portable sewing machines were collected. $4,000 was raised. The money raised helps offset the shipping costs for getting the donations to developing countries. | Newtown Rotary teamed up with Warrington Rotary and Warwick Farm Brewing for a special beer release "Race to Victory," a hazy IPA, to benefit Rotary International's “End Polio Now” campaign. The beer release night was epic, a great time with multiple clubs coming together in fellowship.
Our Fall Food Drive, headed up by Rotarian Shari Donahue, took place at McCaffery’s Market in October. In addition to the food donations collected for our local Wrightstown Food Pantry, we also raised $1,250 for them.
Members rolled up their sleeves on 11/4 for our annual Fall road cleanup, picking up trash on our adopted highway. Later the same day NextGen leaders spoke at the Bucks County Community College Emerging Leaders Summit, spreading the word about Rotary.
Another tradition we hadn’t done in a while was resurrected this year, “The Million Dollar Lunch.” In lieu of our normal meeting, we met at the historic Newtown Theatre and Rotarians brought their lunches, donating the normal lunch fee to the Wrightstown Food Cupboard.
Our annual holiday luncheon was held at the American Legion Hall. We enjoyed a delicious meal while being serenaded by the Goodnoe Elementary Children's Choir. After the choir sang, Santa came out to say hello and deliver special treats to each of them.
NRC Rotarian Paul Salvatore is “Mr. December” and heads up our holiday events which include participating in the local holiday parade (our float won first place!), and annual Santa Breakfast for deserving students in the area, supporting Angel Tree, and hosting a holiday party at the Lower Bucks Homeless Shelter with ice cream donated from Zebra Striped Whale (owned by Rotarian Shari Donahue).
This year, one of our newest Rotarians, Donna McCormick Miller, led the charge to garner volunteers to lay wreaths at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery.
On December 24 we packaged and delivered meals to the 93 people living in the motels on Route 13 and Route 1. On Christmas day we served a holiday meal to the 80 residents of the homeless shelter. ~Stephanie Eubanks
This past fall, Blue Bell Rotary provided community service and support to Whitpain Township every month. We started the fall at “Wings and Wheels”, featuring a Shelter Box, and supporting Angel Flight East. In October we raised community spirit at the Whitpain Township Day and included the Rotaract team from Montgomery County Community College.For Thanksgiving, our team supported Bethlehem Baptist’s distribution of 1500 family dinners with turkeys. In December, at our holiday gathering, members brought individualized gifts for scores of children from three area agencies (Delta Family Services, Family Promise of MontCo, and Wissahickon Vally Boys and Girls Club). We are now getting ready for our 2024 Chefs of the Burbs, on May 22, and tickets are already on sale, join us for a memorable evening . (https://one.bidpal.net/chefs24/ticketing) ~Wendy Axelrod
In the final scene of "The Bodyguard" Frank Farmer (Kevin Costner) acts as a bodyguard to a guest speaker at the fictional Rotary Club of Iowa Rapids. The Crystal Ballroom of the Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel was used for this scene. Rotary International provided the club banner which hangs on the wall and over 100 Rotary lapel pins and name badges. At the very end, Frank scans the room, a Rotary flag prominently displayed at his side.
~Editors note: Women weren't permitted to join Rotary until 1989. This movie was produced in 1992.
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Vibrant Club News is always accepting stories from District 7430 Clubs! Just send a short write up and any photos to the editors of Vibrant Club News and we will include your submission in the next edition.
nt in Walnutport but can't continue because of a lack of volunteers. Donations for the food bank were collected during this festival and during the Halloween Parade. $1,377 was raised along with 667 lbs of food. On December Dec 9 we hosted the Candy Cane Hunt. The Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority sponsors this event but we run the 'hunt' every year. We bring the benefit of Santa to the Amphitheater before the hunt begins, and the kids line up at about 10 AM to hunt for candy. Some candy canes have additional prizes. Late December is our annual two-day basketball tournament, one of our bigger fundraisers. Bethlehem Christian School, Northern Lehigh, Lehighton, and Jim Thorpe school districts duke it out for the championship. Local companies pay for ads in the program book which are handed out to folks attending the games! 
clean-up of Schantz Rd in Lower Macungie Township, our assigned road in PennDOT’s Adopt-A-Highway program. It felt great to make this corner of our community look better. In December, we hosted District Governor Diane 
One of our favorite events of the summer is the annual 
olice Benevolent Association’s Shop with a Cop program. Twenty families were able to take part in this Shop with a Cop event on December 23, 2023, thanks to the generosity of those supporting this event, including countless donations from the community. ** Our Souderton Area High School Interact Club was also out and about throughout this quarter as shown in 
home. Continually seeking to serve our township, we also sponsored the reinvigoration of the Township Tree Lighting and Community House Decoration events. 
recognition: Heidi Sensenig - PH Fellow, Jeremiah Sensenig PH+7, +8, Carolyne Jordan PH+8, Linda Mackey PH +2, Norm Mackey PH +2, Lou Mehos PH and Gail Landis PH+3. 
prepared and served dinner for the 
local community economy. In addition, we enjoyed having the newly created Wyomissing School District Brass Ensemble perform at our December meeting. 
e Bethlehem and Morning Star Rotary clubs at the passing of their dearly beloved friend and past club president Rr Rev. C. Hopeton Clennon who joined the Church Triumphant on January 7th. Hearts are grieving for a pastor, a bishop, a friend, and a person bigger than any words can describe.
was the annual 
special beer release "Race to Victory," a hazy IPA, to benefit Rotary International's “End Polio Now” campaign. The beer release night was epic, a great time with multiple clubs coming together in fellowship.
and annual Santa Breakfast for deserving students in the area, supporting Angel Tree, and hosting a holiday party at the Lower Bucks Homeless Shelter with ice cream donated from Zebra Striped Whale (owned by Rotarian Shari Donahue). 
Township every month. We started the fall at “Wings and Wheels”, featuring a Shelter Box, and supporting 
For Thanksgiving, our team supported Bethlehem Baptist’s distribution of 1500 family dinners with turkeys. In December, at our holiday gathering, members brought individualized gifts for scores of children from three area agencies (Delta Family Services, Family Promise of MontCo, and Wissahickon Vally Boys and Girls Club). We are now getting ready for our 2024 Chefs of the Burbs, on May 22, and tickets are already on sale, join us for a memorable evening . (
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