We were surprised and delighted to have a guest speaker for the last lunch meeting of Rotary Year 2022-2023. Asher Schiavone, Bethlehem's Economic Development Coordinator, shared an amazing PowerPoint on the expanding work of Partnership for Innovation and the Keystone Innovation Zone (KIZ).
Reflecting on the highlights of the past year, I am overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude for the hard work of scores of club members. Among those who stepped up and offered tremendous assistance to the club are:
- Al Philpotts and Mark Walter in the area of communication and technology
- Gerry Long and Darlene Heller inviting a steady flow of guest speakers
- Jill Long ordering and organizing our weekly lunch menu
- Sylvia Doyle, Gerry & Jill Long for organizing our Holiday Luncheon
- Dana Huber for organizing a steady supply of inspired and inspiring students from BAVTS
- Deb Walter, the mastermind behind another successful Taste and Tunes
- Maria Dietrich for her work with LHS Interact Club, Toys for Tots, and B.E.S.T. mentorship
- Lisa Jordan, the coordinator for our tree planting effort in Brazil
- Diane Donaher for initiating the plans for our evening at the Christmas City Follies
- Bill Rowe, the organizer of our 5 th Wednesday Socials
- Dee Dee Foran, the creative force behind our potluck picnic
- Pete Mickolay, the driving force behind the maintenance of Centennial Park
- Maria Dietrich for leading the panel discussion on the books we read about homelessness
- Darlene Heller and Deb Walter for a variety of board walks
- Gerry and Jill Long and Winston Alozi for coordinating the Boys and Girls Club outing to Coca-Cola Park for an Iron Pigs game
- Al Philpotts for coordinating the Schrempel Scholarship
- Paul Ricciardi for organizing the Dictionary Project and our club's monthly Happy Hour gatherings at Twisted Olive
- Ham Malek for leading the Nominating Committee
- Rose Cash, our weekly greeter
- Maria Nathans, our regular lunch treasurer
- Jack Worsley, Jr., our Sergeant-at-Arms and ArtsQuest luncheon coordinator
- Bill Eckert, managing the 50-50 Draw every week
- All board members
- All regular attendees at a variety of club meetings, service and social events
- All guest speakers, especially club members Gerry Foran, Kamran Afshar, Deb Walter, Bill Eckert, Rose Cash, and George Mowrer
- All visitors from District 7430 including DG Len Gieseler, PDG Bob Hobaugh, PDG Cindy Hornaman, and our own DGE Diane Donaher