The Rotary Foundation is our theme and area of focus for November. Over the next few weeks we will be highlighting some of the great things the Foundation does, how it works, etc. to show the power of Rotary around the world and how you can help. Always a great refresher course for veteran members, but a great introduction for newer members showing what People of Action accomplish. And mark November 18 on your calendar to hear Elias Thomas from Maine elaborate how that has helped Clean Water Projects.
November 2-8 is World Interact Week. Our new Liberty High School Interact Club is working on their game plan and finalizing several proposed projects. Hopefully we will be hearing from some of the students about those projects and a virtual Charter Night to celebrate the launch of the club. Given our current virtual meeting status, don't be surprised if a student or two joins our regular weekly meeting. Stay tuned for more details.
Here's the Race to Zero-Purple Pinkie Race/Walk final update. Thanks to the Team Bethlehem walkers pictured last week-and a few others, our team members met their $500 pledge. Along with our Polio Plus contribution, Bethlehem Rotary raised $2000 to eradicate polio (2 countries to go). With the 2-1 matching agreement with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, that becomes $6000. Great job Team Bethlehem!
Our Rotary Action Group Against Slavery (RAGAS) is sponsoring a program for Lehigh Valley Anti-Trafficking Week on November 14 at 7PM. Dee Dee Foran gave some insight about the virtual event featuring artwork, poetry, and musical performances by trafficking survivors & anti-trafficking advocates showing their strength and messages through various art forms. Go to ClubRunner and click the box to sign up for a very powerful evening showing these survivors resilience.
Last week's dual classification talk featured Tiffany Henning and an update from Dave Erickson. Tiffany is Executive Director of the Greater Valley YMCA Bethlehem Branch. A native of Allentown, a graduate of Dieruff H.S. and DeSales, she has been with the YMCA for 22 years starting as a lifeguard and swimming instructor. With her mother employed by an airline, she was able to visit many places including Disney and Hawaii growing up. Today she keeps busy raising her 13 year old son, focusing on healthy living, and enjoying the beach. And the Covid-19 pandemic has kept her busy at the YMCA with their childcare program as well as the bagged dinners provided to an average of 50 children and 20 adults each day. Plus, the Bethlehem Branch is the only location in the Greater Valley YMCA that still has residence unit. We are very glad to have Tiffany become an active member and look forward to her helping us on several committees including the Interact Committee.
Tiffany Henning
Dave Erickson presented an update to his previous talk which is great for our newer members to learn more about each other. He titled his journey "From Lehigh Valley-to Ohio-and back" chronicling his time from here and the 2005-2017 period in Ohio including college at Wittenberg University where his father was President. His employment status changed this past March, when due to Covid-19 lockdowns, he became unemployed. Not one to stand still, Dave was able to interview and join BSI quickly as an employee benefits advisor. He enjoys his new company, saying it is a for-profit company with a non-profit heart. We are glad Dave could get back on track quickly, and has become an integral part of Bethlehem Rotary. He serves on our Board, one of our tech wizards on the Taste & Tunes committee, and as co-chair of the Member Recruitment Committee has been busy bringing new members on board.
Dave Erickson
This week's meeting features Monique Hammond from Minneapolis, MN. Through our ZOOM Rotary network, she will present a program on Hearing Loss and how Covid-19 has caused many problems for people experiencing it. She is a registered pharmacist who lost hearing in her left ear from a loud band-at a church fundraiser 10 years ago. A life changing event, she quit her job and did 5 years of research and wrote the book: What Did You Say? An Unexpected Journey into the World of Hearing Loss. She has served on various commissions, and speaks regularly to employees and members of the public about Hearing Loss and the dangers of loud noise.
See you Wednesday!
