I hope you had a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving!
In thinking about the theme for our Rotary year of Creating Hope in the World and Diane's message of being a Beacon of Hope it reminded me of a message we would receive from one of the leaders in my company each year. I think this rings true each year really exemplifies what creating hope and what being a good Rotarian should be. I always took this as a message to be kind to everyone as the holidays can be extra stressful for some and we don't know what people are carrying with them from day to day. Just that friendly face and kindness can be enough to bring someone else hope during the holidays.
The Holiday Season, as joyous as it is for many of us, can create a significant amount of stress and anxiety for others. The stresses of finding the perfect gifts, figuring out how to pay for them and missing loved ones of the past can weigh heavy on some of us.
While we may be experiencing some of the same stress and anxiety as our members at this time, it is important that we find the strength to treat them with the compassion and kindness that we would want shown to one of our loved ones. I appreciate in some cases this may not be easy, however, it is a critical part of who we are as an organization and as individuals. You have always risen to the occasion and I have no doubt that you will do the same again.
I hope this Holiday Season brings you and your family much happiness! Thank you for all you have done this past year. Your commitment and dedication to serving our members in commendable and much appreciated.
We will have a brief annual meeting to meet our by-laws requirements (we need a quorum!). Then, we can take a well-deserved break from all of the holiday rush! Just come relax and socialize with your friends, and make one new friend!
Twelve days 'til Christmas! Reminds me of a song...
In case you missed the meeting we had a great experience with our current District Governer, Diane Donaher. The theme for Rotary this year is to Create Hope in the World and Diane has taken that a step further to be a Beacon of Hope. She associates and symbolizes lighthouses to be a beacon of hope so she is presenting little lighthouses to Rotarians that best exemplify these qualities. She presented our very own Lauren McCloskey with a little reminder of her being a beacon of hope.
Diane Donaher District Governor 7430
Diane is a member of the Bethlehem Rotary Club and was a charter member of Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Club formed in 1989. She served as President of both clubs and Assistant Governor for Area 2. The Rotary International Council on Legislation voted to allow women as members of Rotary that year—can you image Rotary with only male members today?
With many stories to tell, Diane is grateful to have been part of these important years of Rotary International’s growth and development. The early days were filled with community projects like ringing the bell for the Salvation Army (always accompanied by her children wearing Santa hats or reindeer antlers!) and fund-raising spaghetti dinners.
Having two small children and experiencing a job change, she moved to the Bethlehem Rotary Club in 2003 to change meeting time and location. As she learned more about Rotary and the opportunity to serve beyond her community, Diane was chair of the district Vocational Service Committee, participated on the Foundation Committee using her professional skills to serve, Diane chaired six District 7430 Conferences. She is a Paul Harris Fellow +3 , Foundation Benefactor and Bequest Society Level 1 member with her husband, Dean.
Diane’s vocation is nonprofit leadership. She has inspired thousands of young people through her work with the SkillsUSA Council, led Civic Theatre of Allentown successfully through the Covid challenge and currently serves as Executive Director of Life House helping pregnant women experiencing homelessness with a safe place to be nurtured and mothers of infants with outreach support and material basic needs.
She is a graduate of St Joseph’s University with a master’s degree in Training and Organizational Development and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). Diane and Dean live in Bethlehem and cherish time with their grown children Darah and Drew.
Diane looks forward to working with all Rotarians this year as we “Create Hope in the World”!
We’re having a holiday party we hope you can make!
Come celebrate with your fellow Rotarians on Wednesday, December 20th
Social Hour Begins at 5:30 p.m. (cash bar)
Dinner Served at 6:30 p.m.
Special entertainment will begin at 7 p.m. followed by a Celebrity Guest appearance!
Please R. S. V. P. no later than December 14th by returning the reservation form via email to lengieseler@pottstowninsurance.com regular mail to Len Gieseler – 1445 Shaner Dr. Pottstown PA, 19465 or hand deliver to your personal party planners – Len or Kirsten Gieseler, Mike Sloane
Please join us for some CHEER, as it’s a Holiday Party to end the YEAR!!
Once again the Polka Dots are hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive! Last year was a huge success thanks to the support of the Pottstown Rotary Club! Please help us save more lives this year by signing up to give blood, or tell your friends and family. Contact Amira Heim for more information.
Date: 12/29/23
Location: TriCounty Active Adult Center 288 Moser Rd, Pottstown, PA 19464
From time to time our fellow Rotarians find causes that are near and dear to their hearts and have a great impact on the community that require some giving of items or funds. This section will house all of those things, from ongoing items to ones for a specific time frame.
The Period Project with the Tri-County YWCA is ongoing. School has started again, and with it, the continuing need to provide feminine hygiene products for girls in Pottstown and the Pottsgroves. Girls who have to miss school because they cannot afford period products lose up to a week each month. Please consider making a monetary or in kind donation. Please reach out to Patti Derr if you have questions, and thank you for supporting equity in education. Patti Derr at 610-850-4737 or pnderr343@gmail.com. Thank you for your generosity.
St. Paul's Diaper Bank is located at 927 N. Franklin St in Pottstown and it provides free diapers, wipes and other essentials to low income families in Pottstown. The Diaper Bank is open every Wednesday from 10am-12pm. We are seeing a dramatic increase in the number of families we serve each week and welcome donations of unopened childrens' diapers and pull-ups in any and every size, as well as wipes. We are the only Diaper Bank of its kind for the Pottstown community and we would like to expand our hours in order to help more families, but we can only do that with donations and community support.
If you would like your cause included in this section please email the details to Richard Gray by noon on the Friday previous to the bulletin you would like it included in. Include if it is ongoing, dates, brief description, contact info, website for additional info(if applicable), whatever you want included in the post.
Our club is built on a foundation of community and fellowship. The strength of our bond provides us the power to serve our local community and those in need across the globe.
We have multiple Membership options to fit your needs as a Pottstown Rotarian:
Individual & Family- For Members who would like to be fully engaged and attend regular meetings. Minimum cost per quarter: $218.07
Service- For those who want to participate with a limited time and financial commitment. Minimum cost per quarter: $86.07
Corporate- For business owners with multiple club memberships and includes sponsorship recognition at one event. Minimum cost per quarter: $436.14
Come check us out to see if Rotary is right for you! To attend a meeting as our guest or for any membership questions, please reach out to Amira Heim (Membership Chair) at amira_heim@yahoo.com
Rotary clubs channel their commitment to service at home and abroad through five Avenues of Service, which are the foundation of club activity. Youth Service, one of the five, recognizes the importance of empowering youth through leadership development programs. Rotary Youth Exchange is one of many youth leadership development programs offered by Rotary and was started in 1920 by Rotary International.
Daphne Lobet, our exchange student from Belgium, has headed back to her home after what has been a year full of great experiences, including her discovery of Chick-fil-A! Thank you to all the Club members and host families who provided opportunities to her. Do you know a student who you would like to see have this same growth experience? Now is the time to talk with them and get them to talk with Lauren McCloskey or Mike McCarthy. The world is open!
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In case you missed the meeting we had a great experience with our current District Governer, Diane Donaher. The theme for Rotary this year is to Create Hope in the World and Diane has taken that a step further to be a Beacon of Hope. She associates and symbolizes lighthouses to be a beacon of hope so she is presenting little lighthouses to Rotarians that best exemplify these qualities. She presented our very own Lauren McCloskey with a little reminder of her being a beacon of hope. 
Once again the Polka Dots are hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive! Last year was a huge success thanks to the support of the Pottstown Rotary Club! Please help us save more lives this year by signing up to give blood, or tell your friends and family. Contact Amira Heim for more information.
