“Welcome Aboard!” That’s my welcome to you for the 2021-2022 Rotary year and it’s also the new name of our District 7430 newsletter. This month our video highlights Rotary’s theme, “Serve to Change Lives” and looks at Literacy Month through a project of the West Reading/Wyomissing Rotary Club known as “Little Free Libraries.” Maybe you will be inspired to do a similar service project.
We begin every Rotary year by establishing our District and Club goals. This year those goals reflect the goals of Rotary International. Do you know your Club goals? Here are some of our District goals:
Increase our Impact:
Raise $50,000 through the Purple Pinkie Race to Zero
Raise Annual Fund support in the amount of $200,000
Advance and follow-up media for 15 District grant projects
Advance and follow-up media for 15 Club-funded projects
Illiteracy is behind all kinds of issues we see today, from gender inequality and unemployment to malnutrition and infant mortality.
by Rui Diemart.
32 million American adults can’t read: why literacy is the key to growth. Illiteracy is behind all kinds of issues we see today, from gender inequality and unemployment to malnutrition and infant mortality. by Rui Diemart. It is widely known that literacy — the ability to read and write — is tied to everything we do and our interactions in social situations. Literacy is the foundation to build essential skills to perform better in school and develop an interest in becoming a lifelong learner. It has a direct impact on one’s personal growth, economic welfare, and long-term well-being.
Even though it is common knowledge that literacy has a direct impact in people’s lives, there is a literacy crisis hiding in plain sight. Approximately 32 million adults in the United States can’t read, according to the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development found that 50 percent of U.S. adults can’t read a book written at an eighth-grade level. Illiteracy issues start long before eighth-grade. It starts before young children can talk. The literacy state is not any better for young children.
Two-thirds of America’s children living in poverty have no books at home, and the number of families living in poverty continues to rise. It is not difficult to imagine that children
As we begin a new Rotary year, several of the incoming presidents have told us that they would like help learning to run a hybrid meeting. In response, the District has scheduled a special Zoom meeting for Monday, July 13th, 7pm:
Showcase for Virtual and Hybrid Meetings
Time: July 13, 2021 7:00 PM EST
District 7430 welcomes you to consider some suggestions for success in running in-person, virtual and hybrid meetings. Immediate Past President Ralph Witcher of the Allentown West Rotary Club and Steven Smith of the Pottstown Rotary Club will present their best practice recommendations for:
Engaging participation in virtual, as well as in person, Rotary meetings
This Rotary year, District 7430 plans to be the first Rotary district where every club participates in the effort to provide shelter to families displaced by conflict and natural disaster. We challenge every club to meet or exceed their prior support for ShelterBox, Rotary's partner in global disaster relief. When we succeed, our district will be acknowledged on the ShelterBox USA website, at the 2021 Rotary International Convention in Houston, and at the International Assembly.
You can participate by bringing your donation to the District 7430 Stock the Box event on September 10th at The Steel Club. Tickets ($65) include dinner and dueling pianos entertainment and are on sale at EventBrite (7430stockthebox.eventbrite.com).
Donations can also be sent directly to ShelterBox:
105 Rotarians and guests attended the District 7430 Changeover on June 29th at Brookside Country Club in Macungie, Pennsylvania. Our Council of Governors met in the Board Room to review DG Janet’s accomplishments and DGE Bob’s action plan for the coming year. We began this post-pandemic celebration in the bar where Steve Hobaugh played guitar during the cocktail hour. We enjoyed hors d’oeuves from 6:00 to 7:00 and an open bar from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. We had dinner on the Terrace overlooking a pond and golf course.
Area 3 AG Amy Sheller served as master of ceremonies, Area 6 AG Suzi Berry led us in a pledge to the U.S. flag and PDG Frank Romano delivered an invocation, with special wishes for Sharon Rittenhouse and Alicia Ruiz Orbin. Special guests included PDG Joanne Ventura and her husband, Steve Neuner, of District 7505 and Governor Elect Roger Taylor and his wife, Linda, of District 7450. Following dinner, DG Janet reviewed her accomplishments, PDG and Foundation Chair Mike McCarthy celebrated Foundation donors and DG Janet recognized individual and Club accomplishments. DGE Bob presented a