Welcome to Day 1 of our 2 week long on-line Dessert Auction on Bidding Owl. Please go to ClubRunner and click the link to see the many decadent desserts, destinations (some for dessert), and other exciting experiences now up for bid. It is VERY easy to register, and I have placed several bids. My game plan for bidding is mapped out and hope I am the successful bidder on some desserts. Even if I lose, Northeast Community Center food pantry and our Bethlehem Rotary Foundation grants committee will WIN with the proceeds to fund their objectives!
A BIG round of applause is due for the Taste & Tunes committee for bringing the event to fruition. Despite the uncertainty the pandemic presented, Jill Long & Deb Walter moved forward with this innovative fundraiser to generate funds during a time where the need has been great. Big kudos to Paul Leese and Dave Erickson for taking the time to navigate the Bidding Owl site and getting everything listed.
Cindy Glick, Chair of the 2020 Grants Review Committee for our Foundation reminds us to please spread the word that funding requests are being accepted now through November 15. They hope to award grants between $500-$1000, much of that hinges on the success of Taste & Tunes. See the Download Files section on ClubRunner for the information.
Currently in the planning stage, Maria Dietrich is working with our Liberty High School Interact Club to support the Race to Zero-Purple Pinky Virtual Race/Walk with an actual walk on the day of the event-October 24 (10/25 backup date). The in person walk, socially distanced with masks would start from our Centennial Park on Sand Island and be a loop along the Lehigh River. With the leaves anticipated to be at full peak color, it will be a great way to enjoy the outdoors and meet fellow Rotarians and Interactors. With our Team Bethlehem adding new members each week on-line, we will be looking for club members to "sponsor" an Interact student to cover their registration cost of the event and allow them to participate in their first official Rotary fundraiser-and help defeat polio! Contact Maria Dietrich if you can help sponsor or participate. See ClubRunner Race-to-Zero box and click the link to join Team Bethlehem Rotary.
Last week I had the pleasure of inducting two new members. Michelle Morton is the Executive Director of Kirkland Village Senior Living and Retirement Community. Michelle is eager to be participating in several committees like our Taste & Tunes, and already is spreading the word to residents about Rotary's Polio-Plus program and upcoming events. Patrick Kerssen also officially came on-board. He is a self employed musician and educator, graduate of Moravian College, performs locally at many places, and a member of the Pennsylvania Jazz Collective. And as an Interact club alumnus, I'm sure he will provide valuable assistance to our new club. Welcome aboard Michelle and Patrick.
Member Nikki Gingrich, also President of the local Toastmasters International Club, introduced the club to the new partnership between Rotary and Toastmasters. There are many courses available when signed into My Rotary/Learn that you can take for free thanks to the new partnership. Courses like Develop a Speech, Deliver a Speech, Leading a Team, Collaboration, are just a sampling of what is available. Please take a moment and view the Toastmasters and other courses you can take, many of them just require 15 minutes of your time. And Nikki is inviting any Rotarian to join the local Toastmasters Open House this Wednesday at 7:30am and be a guest speaker. We thank her for showing us the new collaboration and contact Nikki or me for more information. Rotary International did advise me this week that you may have to log in twice to My Rotary due to a glitch in the site. I have had to do this, but as of today it seems to be working first try.
This week we will hear from Maria Amenta of Factory, LLC on the South Side of Bethlehem. She will explain what the facility does, and how they help high potential food, beverage, and pet health companies scale up and reach their full potential. I travel each day on Highland Ave. in the industrial park and notice that one of their success stories, Stuffed Puffs, is building a new warehouse at the old Guardian Insurance office site. Please join us to find out more.
See you Wednesday (and keep bidding)!
