2017-2018 Club Happenings
Here are all the great stories that happened in Rotary year 2017-2018!  Won't you come join us?  Email us stroudsburgsrotary@gmail.com for more info!  Or come to one of our 2 meetings held on Thursdays.  Noon at the Sycamore Grille or 6pm at Peppe's Bistro. 
We would love to have you!
 
Former Past President Paul V. Conforti, CPA of Riley and Company spoke about some of the 2018 tax law changes. 
Rotarian Jim Hall presents a gift and recognition to this new Eagle Scout Santiago D. Churion. on Sunday April 22nd. Congratulations on your accomplishment!
The Rotary Club of the Stroudsburgs had Jennifer Strauch from United Way of Monroe County come to speak about the Pocono Mountains Hunger Coalition. 
Pocono Mountains Hunger Coalition is on a mission to bring individuals, non-profit organizations, corporations, and local government partners together to end hunger in our community with a three-pronged approach; Access to healthy food, Coordination of resources, and Education around nutrition, health, and hunger. With 51% of school-aged children in Monroe County receiving free/reduced cost meals in our public-school system, the Hunger Coalition and United Way of Monroe County are actively working to close the summer meal gap by increasing the number of meal sites available for these children.  This summer, East Stroudsburg Area School District Food Service will be extending their summer meal program across the bridge into Stroudsburg to serve healthy meals to a census tract where 71% of children (0-18) are eligible for free/reduced meals. We live in an amazing community that is always ready to step up and meet the need when called. 
Jennifer had quoted a 2012 documentary, A Place at the Table, stating “If we don’t change the direction we’re heading, this generation will be the first to live sicker and die younger than their parents’ generation”.
She is pictured with Club President, Robert Howell.
The Rotary Club of the Stroudsburgs held their Annual Not Just Another Auction where they honored Gina Bertucci with the Alex “Buzz Bensinger Lifetime Achievement Award. 
Bertucci was the fourth recipient of the Rotary Club’s Alexander Bensinger Award, which recognizes Monroe County residents who are successful in their vocation and known for their community service, selflessness or philanthropy. The award was established in 2015 in the name of well-known Stroudsburg attorney and Rotarian Buzz Bensinger.  Past honorees include John J. Riley, William Ramsden, and Charlie and Ginny Kirkwood.
A great time was had by all at the Indian Inspired themed event with guest bidding on many items in the silent and live auction.  The event raised $11,043!  Funds raised will go towards The Hunger Coalition of Monroe County, Nino Del Lagos, a non-profit organization that helps the children of Guatemala and other non-profit organization in Monroe County.   Check out the photo album here! 
 
Our little Rotary helper Hailey Peetz putting auction baskets together!
Our guest speaker this Thursday March 15th, Dr. Vitali Pool from Sanofi Pastuer will share an update about the polio vaccine and the success and roadblocks to to the program. Rotary has been working to eradicate polio from the planet for over 20 years. Please join us for lunch at the Sycamore Grill at noon, or at our evening meeting at Peppi's Bistro at 6pm. He will be speaking at both meetings.  Click the image for an update video!
President Rob Howell doing some radio press for the Not Just Another Auction.
Patrice Dume from Middle Smithfield Township was our guest speaker today.  She spoke about how local government and businesses can work together and about all of the great initiatives they have in place to bring the community and businesses together.  Patrice is pictured below with Rotarians Jessica Peetz, Lucille Piggott-Prawl and DeAna Susinskas.
 
 
 
Just a few photos from our Holiday get together tonight. Weather kept many from attending but good food, great fellowship was still in abundance.
   
Even with the bad weather, it cannot keep us Rotarians at bay!  Thank  you Willow Tree for hosting us today!  Pictured are Rotarians Bill Rinehart, Jackie Leonard, Margie and Jim Becker, Ted Butz, Michele Baehr, Karen DeMatteo and Pat Forney.
Did you know? Your donation to the Rotary Foundation earns you recognition points. These points can be used to honor a special person in your life, by making them a Paul Harris Fellow. Today we honor long time Rotarian Grant Terrill with his 1st Paul Harris. See James Becker for more information! 
Congratulations Grant Terrill (pictured with Michele Baehr)!  Thank you for many, many years of service.
Wanna hear some cool folk music?  Check out folk singer Tom Bartha on our Facebook page as he entertained our club.  https://www.facebook.com/133823169988894/videos/1636270713077458/
District grant presented to The American Red Cross to support the Sound the Alarm Campaign.  Pictured are Foundation Chair Jim Becker and Executive Director Rotarian Michele Baehr.

 
Santa and Mrs. Claus were ringing the bell for the Salvation Army with some other Rotarians.  Pictured are Rotarians Stan Miles, Doris Wehe (Mrs. Claus), Bob Wehe (Santa), Michele Baehr, Stacy Rodriguez, John Beljean and Karen DeMatteo.
 
 
 
Today we celebrate 113 years of Rotary International Service to the community and the world. 

A great time was had by all at District 7410 A Gala for Peace.  There was a beautiful musical performance by the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts Touring Choir, a live and silent auction, great food and wonderful fellowship.  The event was chaired by Peace Fellows Chair and Immediate Past President Ruth Ann Rocchio.  In these time of conflict and uncertainty, the Peace Centers are a shining example of what education and understanding can accomplish.

 

Members of the Satellite Club volunteered at Pocono Alliance's Getting Ahead Dinner where they provided a great service to the families.  

The Stroudsburgs Rotary and its selected sponsors host the leaders of their respective schools senior class at Terraview Stroudsmoor on November 16, 2017. The keynote speaker for this year will be local athlete, star quarterback and successful coach now with East Stroudsburg Univeristy Jimmy Terwilliger. All proceeds benefit the Stroudsburgs Rotary Scholarship Fund.  Special thanks to Jim and Margie Becker for organizing this great event!  Check out all photos in our the leadership lunch photo album here!

Big Brothers Big Sister Telethon going on now. Members of the Rotary Club of the Stroudsburgs will be manning the phone from 6 to 7pm. Call in and make a pledge! Wonderful organization and we proud to support them.

This evening Rotarians from both the lunch and Satellite Clubs served the evening meal with Mady's Angels at St. Johns Church. Great job everyone!


Thank you, Rotarian Leslie Underhill for presenting the program on Polio and the origin of Rotary's involvement to aid in eliminating this horrible disease.  The Rotary Club in Trenton NJ, during the 1970's had the vision to eradicate Polio.  By 1985 Rotary had Polio Plus, which had raised $247 Million to combat Polio.  400 million children need to be immunized every year.  This year, there were 11 cases of Polio in Nigeria.    

 

Welcome Liz Ann Tepper to the Greatest Rotary Club in the World!
 

Thank you Gerry Bortz for an interesting lesson on Fly Fishing and the various types of flies.  Flies come in many styles.  The Poconos are well known for fly fishing and we have some of our very flies.   The mouse shaped fly was made to fish the Delaware River and the "Henryville Special" is another fly tied to the area.

The day began with the Kickoff at Barley Creek Restaurant. Karen and Cleo attended.  The Rotary team completed tasks at Women’s Resources of Monroe County.  Tasks included: Deck and Rail Washing, Moving Mattresses, Discarding Furniture, Installing AED Unit, Cleaning the  Gazebo, Re-assembling Desks, Moving Bags of Clothing, Power Washing Deck Furniture, Scrubbing Floor Mats, Sweeping Walkways and Porches.   It was an awesome experience! Giving back gives a warm-fuzzy feeling like no other. The staff at Women’s Resources were so happy that they invited us to come back any time.
 
At the meeting 2 weeks ago we discussed the devastating images of Houston and the surrounding area.  There are many service organizations reaching out to people in need.  Food, shelter, clothes, medicine and the list goes on.  The estimated amount of relief needed is now in the tens of billions.  It is overwhelming.  We wanted to tackle the questions "How can we donate to Rotary and where will our donations go?"
There was a district conference call on Saturday morning with DG Karin Breitlauch and others to discuss the most effective means for us to donate through Rotary and encourage friends and families to do the same.  It was determined that immediately, as a district, we do not have the required expertise or connections to provide aid directly.
Our speaker was Bethany Kuster with Color for Kids.  She is a local middle schooler that has started her own non-profit to bring color to kids everywhere.  7,239 kids around the world now have Color so far!  300,464 crayons shared and counting!  Her dream is for every kid to have their own box of crayons.  Their mission is to promote individual expression and creativity through color of children in high poverty schools enrolled in grades pre-k through grade 4 by prociding personal art supplies that they can bring home.  Click here to visit her website!
The Satellite Club held a membership mixer at Peppe's Bistro!  What a great turnout of members, potential members and a little tiny guest!  Hehe!  Great conversations were had about Rotary, the work that we do locally and abroad and most importantly about our wonderful members that make up this great club!  The food was pretty great too!
 
 
 
Welcome Beth Utley (center) to the Greatest Rotary Club in the world!  She is pictured with our President Rob Howell and Bob Wehe!
RYLA was the program last week.  Karen thanksed Layla for being an Executive Officer for RYLA 2017.  Layla will also be the President for the Rotaract Club at ESU.  75 students attended the RYLA Conference.  Five kids from the Stroudsburgs club were sponsored.  Three of them were present today.  
Welcome to our newest member Deidre Drysdale (center) pictured with her sponsor President Elect Lucille Piggott-Prawl and President Rob Howell!