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Sunday, January 29, 2017
Greetings Fellow Rotarians,
One of our newer Rotarians, Richard Sharpe, MD, FACS, gave his Classification Talk at our January 25th Club meeting. A native of New Jersey, Rich made three major life decisions all in one year – he got married, he joined the Navy and began medical school.
With each tour of duty, which included multiple trips to Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa with the Navy and Special Forces, Rich learned the art of leadership. One of the most impactful messages imparted by one of his leaders was this: “My job as a leader is to serve you.” Rich took that lesson to heart, and he credits that statement, as well as the professional actions of other superiors, in helping to shape him as a leader.
Rich’s first introduction to humanitarian efforts came during the 2010 earthquake in Haiti that killed 230,000 people and left 1 million homeless. He served as the senior surgeon on the USNS Comfort, a 1,000 bed floating hospital that cared for the survivors of one of the most devastating natural disasters he had ever seen before. It was an experience that cemented in his mind that he wanted to continue to do humanitarian work.
After retiring from the Navy, Rich accepted a position in the Trauma Department at St. Luke’s University Health Network – the only hospital that agreed to support his efforts to develop the St. Luke’s International Surgical Studies (SLISS) program. As director of the program, Rich forged a partnership with the Mbingo Baptist Hospital, a 290 bed referral teaching hospital located in Cameroon, Africa, where he and a team of residents and medical students travel three times a year to provide surgical and medical services, as well as train the Mbingo Baptist physicians on the latest medical techniques and equipment. St. Luke’s sends older but still usable equipment and supplies with the team; the latest donation was an ambulance that was going to be retired. Rich is most proud of the fact that the SLISS program is making a sustainable difference because of the ongoing relationship with the hospital and their medical team.
Our Club can be proud of the work that Rich is doing here in our community caring for critically ill and injured patients, and in other parts of the world bringing essential medical and surgical expertise, training, equipment, and supplies to a country where the health disparities are beyond our comprehension. He truly exemplifies Rotary’s motto: Service Above Self.
Announcements:
- Our Club shared a moment of silence to honor the memory of Elfriede A. Krug, the wife of fellow Rotarian, Al Krug. Funeral Mass was held on 10:30 AM Saturday in St. Jane Frances de Chantal Church, 4049 Hartley Ave., Easton, with visitation from 9:30 to 10:30 in the church. Please keep Al and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
- Our Club’s first Rotary Mini meeting was held at 5:30 pm on Thursday, January 26th at Taps Tavern on Route 378 (formerly Starters) with approximately 15 Rotarians in attendance. The meeting was capably led by Paul Ricciardi, followed by fellowship and light food fare. The after-hours Rotary Mini meetings will be held once a month to provide an opportunity for Club members who find it difficult to attend lunch meetings to keep up their membership meeting requirements while engaging with fellow Rotarians.
- Don’t forget to register to attend the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Foundation Gala on Saturday, March 11, 2017, from 6 -10 p.m. at the Pine Crest Country Club, 101 Country Club Drive, Lansdale, PA Registration for the event is now open through Eventbrite by clicking HERE. I’m hoping you will join me and Don for a fun-filled evening of fellowship.
- We are still looking for items and/or donations for the silent auction basket for our “Taste of Bethlehem” themed basket. We have Just Born candy, tickets to the Historic Bethlehem Museum, Touchstone Theatre tickets, ArtsQuest tickets, wine and Bethlehem Star wine glasses. Thanks to all who have donated items or cash. Please see Sylvia Doyle or President Gail before February 8 if you have items you would like to donate.
- Outreach Hunger Committee Meeting, including representatives from the area Clubs participating in the event, was held on January 20 at 8:30 am at Wegmans on Route 512 to finalize details for our joint Club service project on Saturday morning, March 11 to be held at the Moravian College Hub. Approximately 30 volunteers are needed from each Club.
- Our February 1st Club Assembly reports include: Pat Connell, Chairperson of the Bethlehem Foundation, who will present the Foundation’s annual report; Paul Florenz, who will be distributing checks to the organizations elected to receive grant funding from the Foundation; and Catherine Trawinski and Diane Donaher will be sharing an update and recruiting volunteers for our Outreach Hunger Food Packing event on March 11th.
Other Upcoming Events/Activities:
- A Celebration of Life for Bob Cohen will be held on March 25, 2017 at 11 AM at the UUCLVPA located at 424 Center Street in Bethlehem.
- Ginny Sandoval, Membership Chair, Allentown West Rotary, is organizing an International Women’s Day at Cedar Crest College on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 in an effort to recruit more women to Rotary. The event will start with round table discussions form 3:00-5:00, followed by a celebration of women with networking, drinks, and snacks, and entertainment from 5:00-7:00. Our District Governor, Linda Young, has been invited to join the effort, and Ginny has extended the invitation to area Clubs. Despite it being geared toward women Rotarians, men are invited to attend as well!
- Our District is planning a fun, yet impactful, service opportunity. On March 26-April 2, 2017, your fellow District 7430 Rotarians will be leaving for a 7 day round trip cruise, leaving from Miami and sailing to the Dominican Republic on the Fathom Adonia, an elegant, yet relaxed, 710 passenger ship. Rotarians will have a chance to serve and participate in Impact such as teaching English, helping with tree planting and reforestation, making water filters for home use, pouring concrete floors, aiding a women’s chocolate cooperative as well as a paper recycling and craft entrepreneurship. When not serving, you can relax at beautiful Amber Cove, a $90 million dollar facility, and enjoy the beach, hiking, touring, zip lining, deep sea fishing, snorkeling, and more! Cost is $299 pp for an inside or outside cabin*, $599 pp for a room with balcony, $999 pp for a suite! Airfare and onshore leisure activities not included.
- District Conference 7430, hosted by District Governor, Linda Young, is scheduled on May 5th - 7th, 2017, at the Eden Resort & Suites in Lancaster. Conference ticket prices are $220. Special Conference room rate is $169 - $189 per night for Friday, May 5 and Saturday, May 6, 2017. Rooms at this rate will be held until April 4, 2017.
- Mark your calendars for Monday, May 15 (rain date is May 22) for our annual Rotary Golf Tournament at the Bethlehem Municipal Golf Course. Proceeds will be benefiting the scholarship program at Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School and other select Rotary charities.
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