August is Membership Month and I have set a personal goal of adding three new members to our club. With one week left it's not too late to accomplish that goal by introducing people who are interested in making a difference in our community and our world to what the Bethlehem Rotary Club is all about. One prospective member saw our ClubRunner page and was impressed with the various avenues of service we cover.
Some members are unsure what each committee does, please refer to our website's Committees Page and click a committee to see a description of what it does and possibly if your talents could be added or the talents of a prospective member you know. We have been busy trying to update this information in the ClubRunner for you to research areas of interest and service opportunities. (NOTE: You must be logged in to see the list and assigned committee members). Reach out to Al Philpotts if you need log-in help.
Bethlehem Rotary, being a larger club, has a diverse committee structure allowing one to find your interest and add your own unique talents to help in service. A few include:
- Youth Exchange
- Camp Neidig
- Vocational
- Interact
- RAGAS
- Polio Plus
- Jamaica Unitas Project
- Local and international grants
- Membership recruitment and retention.
- Centennial Park.
Presently, the Taste and Tunes Desert Edition 2020 committee has drawn on our talented members to bring us a virtual fundraiser that is needed more than ever during the COVID -19 Pandemic. Event planning, corporate and bakery recruitment, new computer skills being implemented to make the event virtual AND the desire to help our community, has kept our mission rocketing ahead.
AS you know 50% of the funds raised will go to the Northeast Community Center food pantry. They have distributed close to seventy tons of food since the end of March. The need is real. The other 50% will be used to fund our Foundation Grants that are currently being reviewed. How much can we fund in a time of unprecedented need? IT IS UP TO EVERY MEMBER TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
Years ago we used to "pass the hat" to fund every project going on with the Club. Now, just once a year we ask every member to contribute in one way or another (not necessarily financial) to make Taste and Tunes a success and to fund our yearly projects. Have you contributed yet? Are you not sure how to help? To figure out how to contribute here are the contacts:
- Corporate/ Personal Sponsorship Gerry Long or Deb Walter
- Dessert Auction Commitment: Deb Geiger
- Non-Dessert Auction Item: Mario Esposito
With many bakeries and restaurants are struggling to stay open despite current restrictions, consider going in partnership with your favorite place by buying a dessert from them and having them donate a dessert for a higher dollar value on the auction and giving that business more exposure. That's a win-win for all of us.
Taste and Tunes is roughly one month away and I know all of us will contribute in some way to make this the biggest and best Taste and Tunes and this will make our community aware that Bethlehem Rotary is here to help those families in need as well as helping our struggling restaurants and bakeries make it through the pandemic. Don't just be a member of Rotary. The time is NOW to be a Rotarian.
Last week we had classification talks from Lisa Finkelstein and Paul Leese. Both had fascinating stories of life and career paths that led them to becoming part of our Club. Lisa presently is the Senior Development Director of the Boy Scouts' Minsi Trails Council and was actively involved before that in the Hazleton Rotary Club. Paul is EVP at Keenan-Nagle Advertising, Inc. and involved in community organizations like the Salvation Army, and loves the outdoors. Lisa and Paul have jumped into many projects with our Club and I am grateful for the service they already have accomplished.
Lisa Finkelstein
Paul Leese
This week Becky Bradley, Executive Director of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission will be joining us to talk about road congestion studies and solutions in the area. Greg Zebrowski, Chair of the LVPC (Northampton County) will also be present to field any questions and give input about how LVPC is trying to help. Please bring your questions as there will be time for a Q&A session,
