The Newtown Rotary Club amped up local good spirits this year by putting Service above Self into overdrive. Kicking off December with Angel Trees.
Three trees located in public areas are loaded with angels bearing gift requests – club members helped with organizing, buying gifts, and moving the collected gifts for social services to deliver to over 100 needy families and 26 families living in motels along Routes 1 and 13. And on Christmas Eve morning, club members gathered to prepare and deliver delicious meals for those 26 families in motels.
The club also sponsored the Newtown Santa House and Tree Lighting Ceremonies, with club members posing as Santa and his Elves to spread holiday cheer to good boys and girls. Even the Newtown Borough police department received a gift from the club: a check for $2800 to purchase a much-needed tactical vest. Ho Ho Ho and Happy New Year to all!
It was a wonderful night for the Area 3 Rotary Clubs (Kutztown, Fleetwood, Hamburg, Muhlenberg, & Reading) to be able to finally get together again for the Holiday Party! They were honored to have Rotary International Director Valarie Wafer, Past District Governor & Zone 32 Coordinator Herb Klotz and Rotary District 7430 District Governor Bob Hobaugh.
Valarie shared that, despite the challenges over the past two years, Rotarians adapted and continued to serve their communities. Now more than ever, the world needs Rotarians. We are People of Action!
Thanks to Rotarian Andy Johanson's leadership and dedication to caring for others, the Rotary Club of Blue Bell, PA has been awarded the Silver ShelterBox USA HERO award. This award is given to clubs that raise at least $3,000 to enable ShelterBox to provide life-saving shelter when disaster strikes. To learn more about ShelterBox, visit https://www.shelterboxusa.org/.
During December, Allentown Rotary was fortunate to have Allentown Police Department (APD) Chief Charles Roca and Allentown School District Administrator Dr. Stanford share their experiences, passion, commitments and plans with the club.
Chief Roca is an Allentown native and King's Collegegrad who is building a culture of professionalism for the APD with a focus on community outreach, an area where he is adding several new officers. On the tech front, he is considering FUSUS, a cloud-based Real-Time Crime Center map interface. His department will continue to enhance and grow its partnerships with the community, noting that APD is already very attractive to new and transferring officers because of its strong community ties.
When Dr. Stanford, the new Allentown School District Superintendent, spoke with the Club via Zoom, his focus on the students, his experience in school finances, and his willingness to coordinate with groups like Rotary to help address ASD challenges came through loud and clear during the extensive Q&A.
During his talk, Dr. Stanford pointed to the ASD website for a dashboard of COVID information and special school efforts like the "Leaders of Tomorrow." He said that in order for the city to reach its aspirations for the future, ASD must be at the center of city's efforts as it educates and prepares the next generation of citizens. Dr. Stanford also pledged to work with Rotary on the shared goal of supporting the education of Allentown students, especially those at the Union Terrace school.
The Rotary Club of Easton awarded $200 scholarships and Student of the Month certificates for September, October, November, and December 2021 to the following area students. The Student of the Month program is coordinated by Easton Rotarian Mark Haldamann. He noted that these students are selected by their school faculty and then submitted to Rotary. Several school faculty members and parents were in attendance to recognize the student’s hard work and dedication.
Mark noted that it is Easton Rotary’s privilege to make this small investment towards these bright futures.
Easton Area High School – September 2021
Alexander Linquist – Plans to attend Lafayette College for Electrical or Aeronautical Engineering
Wilson Area High School – October 2021
Nicholas Murgia – Plans to attend either Penn State or Villanova for Mechanical Engineering
Career Institute of Technology – November 2021
Trinity Queitzsch – Plans to attend Northampton Community College for Business Administration
Notre Dame High School – December 2021
Julia Cameron – Plans to pursue a career as an Occupational Therapist
Rotarians, along with Alvernia University students and Wilson Interact Club, helped put the Reading Public Museum (RPM) award-winning Arboretum grounds to bed for the winter. The RPM truly appreciated this service. Club members said it was great to work collaboratively with community service groups. This was a project where family members of all ages were able to volunteer side by side and have a few laughs while improving the grounds of a local landmark.
Daniel Egusquiza, Fabiola Flores, and Tony Veloz of Barrio Alegria joined the West Reading-Wyomissing Rotary Club at the December meeting to share how their community transformation organization is evolving Latino and Hispanic neighborhoods. Barrio Alegria utilizes the arts to build, empower, and strengthen communities through individuals. They care about the stories of those that are helping create safe spaces for vulnerable community members. Woven into their programs are storytelling and financial guidance along with systems that measure results. Rotarians were amazed to learn about what this organization has accomplished and look forward to future opportunities to be engaged with their programs to make a difference.
The Slatington Rotary Club joined with the Northern Lehigh Recreation Authority in hosting a Sixth Annual Candy Cane Hunt. Eleven members of the Northern Lehigh Interact Club volunteered to set up Santa's "greeting area." Together they decorated the Slatington amphitheater. The Interactors monitored Santa's line, walked kids up to him, handed out candy canes after kids talked to Santa, monitored the hunt area to make sure no one entered the area before the hunt started, distributed prizes to the kids who found special candy canes, and, most importantly, cleaned up the park so they left no trash behind.
Rotary Club members who volunteered included Eric Heiney, Marc Grammes, Angela Williams, Tim Silliman, Ingrid Holder, and Steve Strack's family. Eric Heiney’s father was Santa and his daughter Kendall, the Interact president, sat on his lap. The kids who met Santa sat on a bench next to him to encourage social distancing as best they could.
Photo below shows the Interact students who participated.
The Wilson High School Interact Club, sponsored by the West Reading-Wyomissing Rotary Club, spread some holiday cheer in December 2021. They warmed up the hearts of many people living at Country Meadows Retirement Community. The students were able to stand outside the windows where residents live and sing to them during a time when many residents had limited visitors. The joyous voices brought smiles and happy tears to residents.
What's Happening Around the District!
Showcase Tuesday this Week
Please join Showcase Tuesday this week to hear fellow Rotarians Amy Sheller, Marlene Greenman Heller and Lou Bottitta share ideas about how you can use your vocational skills to serve others. Hear about a successful project (Farmers' Day) featured in Rotary magazine and about different ways fellow Rotarians apply their Passions to Rotary Service. We will meet by Zoom on January 11th at 7 PM EST. Please register in advance for this meeting:
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
The purpose of Welcome to Rotary is to network with other Rotarians and learn more about the “World of Rotary” outside of your Club. Rotary is an amazing worldwide organization that makes a difference in local communities and throughout the world. Attendance at this event will increase your Rotary knowledge. You will meet Rotarians from other Clubs, virtually of course, and learn about activities and projects that are taking place in our Rotary District.
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 next edition starting TODAY – here’s how to submit a write-up and pictures, a Facebook link or calendar event anytime between now and March 30th. Why wait? Don't miss out on the opportunity to “Tell Your Rotary Story” to everyone in D7430!
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.
It was a wonderful night for the Area 3 Rotary Clubs (Kutztown, Fleetwood, Hamburg, Muhlenberg, & Reading) to be able to finally get together again for the Holiday Party! They were honored to have 
Thanks to Rotarian Andy Johanson's leadership and dedication to caring for others, the 
Chief Roca is an Allentown native and 
extensive Q&A.
ng with Alvernia University students and Wilson Interact Club, helped put the Reading Public Museum (RPM) award-winning Arboretum grounds to bed for the winter. The RPM truly appreciated this service. Club members said it was great to work collaboratively with community service groups. This was a project where family members of all ages were able to volunteer side by side and have a few laughs while improving the grounds of a local landmark.
Rotary Club members who volunteered included Eric Heiney, Marc Grammes, Angela Williams, Tim Silliman, Ingrid Holder, and Steve Strack's family. Eric Heiney’s father was Santa and his daughter Kendall, the Interact president, sat on his lap. The kids who met Santa sat on a bench next to him to encourage social distancing as best they could.
red by the West Reading-Wyomissing Rotary Club, spread some holiday cheer in December 2021. They warmed up the hearts of many people living at Country Meadows Retirement Community. The students were able to stand outside the windows where residents live and sing to them during a time when many residents had limited visitors. The joyous voices brought smiles and happy tears to residents.
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