The February Rotary Theme is Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution. Following that theme I invite you to go to our ClubRunner website home page and click the link to The Morning Call op-ed article from Saturday by our own Chris Nelson. Thank you Chris for sharing some of your insight and expertise with the Lehigh Valley. The article gives all of us questions to contemplate at a time of division among various groups.
Our Public Relations Committee recently met and is working towards integrating great initiatives and ideas from the District 7430 Public Image campaign. Our club does many great things for our community (and world). That story needs to be told to more people. The question I am asked all the time is: What is Rotary? Our power is tremendous in enabling great things worldwide. Lets let people know and will certainly attract new people to join us to "Open Opportunities". Our PR Committee is looking for members willing to help elevate our social media campaign as well as promoting us through other media. Even if it involves taking pictures at events, the more PR members, the more we can tell "our" story. Can we count on you? If so, contact Maria Esposito or me for information.
The RAGAS committee will be meeting via Zoom on Wednesday February 24 at 11am before our regular meeting. Our weekly Zoom link will be live at 11am and the committee invites any member interested to join them and learn about new opportunities that are developing and your support is needed. Besides the latest efforts to stop Human Trafficking and help the victims being discussed-EVERY members input is encouraged on developing initiatives.
Breakfast Meeting: Don't forget to email me at aykroydhardware@verizon.net if you would be interested in the club offering this option in addition to the Happy Hour monthly meeting. It would be the same casual conversation atmosphere via Zoom initially-hopefully migrating to a restaurant in the future. Some have suggested we could possibly include a theme such as Golf, gardening, Rotary experiences, etc. You get the idea. Since the after work meeting conflicts for some, this will be another option for catching up with our fellow Rotarians.
The February District 7430 Training Tuesday is this week at 7pm covering International Service Part 2-Rotary Action Groups(RAG). If you are not familiar what RAG's are, they are independent, Rotary affiliated groups made up of people from around the world with a specific area of focus. Go to RI's website to find the various focus areas and register at the D7430 website to learn how to turn your area of focus into a project. With more snow on the way it's much easier to attend this meeting at home via Zoom!
Last week Julie Bailey, Executive Director for The Foundation for the Bethlehem Area School District, gave a very informative update about what initiatives the Foundation is working on. After providing statistics about our BASD being the 6th largest district in PA with over 13,000 students at 22 schools, she gave us details of the areas of support they are working on. Teacher Innovation Grants have provided AI-assisted learning opportunities at Wm. Penn Elementary School that transport students to Africa virtually. They are supporting Curriculum and Community based field trips-many are currently virtual due to Covid-19. Touching on other programs they support, Julie talked about the four new initiatives: 1. Digital BASD-Expansion of Wi-Fi for all. 2. Mental Health. 3. Anti-Racism. 4. Dual Enrollment-early college at Northampton Community College.
The Foundation has an ambitious goal of raising $300,000 for the 2020-2021 school year to support all of the great initiatives they are offering. For more information go to www.basdwpweb.bethk12.pa.us/thefoundation/ to find out what Julie presented. And she invited us to attend the March 12 at 9 am "State of the District" talk by Dr. Roy with the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce. Thank you Julie and to our members who serve on the BASD Foundation helping make BASD the best it can be.
This week our Program is "Counteracting Pandemic Fatigue" presented by Liz Younger who is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker from Easton. She will give us insight to the problem and how it is affecting not only adults, but children and what we can do to help them. Please plan to join us for a very timely topic to combat the pandemic.
