Our January 24th meeting was held at Ben Franklin Tech Ventures in the newly opened West Wing at 116 Research Drive. Our speaker was Chad Paul, who is the President and CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania, BFTP has been responsible for creating and maintaining over 40,000 jobs in Eastern Pennsylvania, since its inception in 1983. Chad explained their process of selecting partners for the program. The primary objective of the BFTP is to foster technology-based economic development, which will create highly paid, sustainable jobs in Northeastern Pa. Ben Franklin Technology Partners is an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development and is funded by the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority. BFTP helps their incubator partners with direct financing as well securing additional capital from other sources. In addition, companies also receive other management support from BFTP.
BFTP has had many successful ventures, and Chad used Ciclon Semiconductor as an example. The company started with two entrepreneurs who were unable to get help from their New Jersey Economic Development Authority. They came seeking help from BFTP, and within two weeks were approved, and established the operation in Bethlehem. The company now has 92 employees, and makes radio frequency semiconductors which are used in the manufacture of the iPhone. The chips are the most efficient chips manufactured anywhere in the world. In 2009, the company was purchased by Texas Instruments, and is now the anchor tenant at the BFTP. It was exciting to see all the work that BFTP is doing to build a future for economic growth in our community. Our sincere thanks to Chad Paul for hosting our club, and delivering a great program.
Announcements:
Our January 31st program speaker is Prabha Sinha who is a teacher of Yoga and Mindfulness.
Diane Donaher has been assiduously keeping our Facebook page updated. She has asked that all of our members go to our Facebook page to register a “like”. More likes indicate that the site is getting the word out to members, and also can help to attract other potential members to the site.
SAVE THE DATE …..PDG Doug Cook, the District Foundation Chair, has announced that the 2nd Annual Foundation gala will be held on March 17, 2018. All proceeds of the event will go to the Annual Fund to be used for projects locally, and around the world.
Our Club has received a request from PDG Doug Cook to donate a basket from Bethlehem Rotary Club to the Gala Committee’s auction. Our club has traditionally donated one or two baskets of Bethlehem-related items for the auction. Please consider donating an item for the Bethlehem Rotary Basket. Dee Dee will be collecting items for the basket at our meeting.
Darlene Heller advised me that there are plans to open a “Bob Cohen Room” at the Bethlehem Public Library. This Cohen room will be a concert venue and multi-use space that will host lectures, meetings, plays, art galleries and all sorts of uses not yet imagined! For more information go to: https://www.bapl.org/support-the-library/cohen-room/.
District 7430 has announced that the District will sponsor a Rotary Friendship Exchange which will take place between April 26, 2018 and May 7, 2018. There will be 6 Rotarian couples from Sweden who will be visiting us during this time. Our District 7430 will be providing an itinerary and a van for transportation during their visit, but we are looking for Rotarians who are willing to provide the couples with a place to stay during their visit. The visiting Rotarians will be paying for all of their own activities and tours while they are here. The District expects that they will plan on the Rotarians spending between one and three days at each home, depending on the eventual itinerary. This is a great way to enjoy the international nature of your Rotary experience, that is, by getting to know Rotarians from around the world right in your own home. If you would like more information, please contact me.
Members of the Rotary Club of Bethlehem PA enjoyed their weekly meeting in the newly-opened West Wing of Ben Franklin TechVentures, on Lehigh University's Mountaintop Campus, as guests of fellow Rotarian and past Club President, R. Chadwick Paul, Jr., CEO of Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania (BFTP-NEP). Established in 1983, BFTP-NEP has created 17,415 new jobs, retained 27,384 existing jobs, started 492 new companies, and developed 1,591 new products and processes.
RI President-elect Barry Rassin laid out his vision for the future of the organization on Sunday, calling on leaders to work for a sustainable future and to inspire Rotarians and the community at large. A member of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, Rassin unveiled the 2018-19 presidential theme, Be the Inspiration, to incoming district governors at Rotary’s International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA.
At its regular Wednesday Meeting of January 10th, the club introduced representatives of several regional charitable organizations that have received recent grants made by the Bethlehem Rotary Foundation.
Club President Gerry Foran presents check to Arlene Lund, Executive Director,
Center for Humanistic Change
Foundation President Pat Connell presents check to Catherine DeHart and
Maryanne Haytmanek of the NCCC Foundation
Foundation President Connell present check to Lia Jordan, Executive Director,
Touchstone Theatre (and member Rotary Club of Bethlehem)
Foundation President Connell presents check to Megan Pildis, Executive Director,