Jeff Pearson presented an overview of the Young Life group.  As the Director of Young Life in Montgomery County, Jeff is responsible for expanding the outreach of this group which offers a safe place for young people to meet and interact.  It is open to all young people - regardless of ethnic background or religion.  There are weekly club meetings that do present brief sessions on the Life of Jesus Christ, but the majority of the meeting is geared to the interests and needs of those attending - conversations, games, dances, and even summer camps are offered.  In a day with fewer and fewer non-online options to engage our adolescents, this was an excellent presentation about a very positive organization that offers an engaging alternative to just playing video games.

Glenside Rotary also enjoyed getting a better view of the Food Cupboard and weekly meals offered by New Life Presbyterian Church.  They have been extremely gracious to host the club for our Friday meetings since the fall, and we look forward to sharing our joint missions of service.  Glenside Rotary donated heavy-duty plastic-ware sets of 4 (fork, knife, spoon, soup spoon) for 500 place settings.  The church is currently working to upgrade the Food Cupboard, and is actively seeking donations so they can better serve the local community.  Glenside Rotarian Bob Gerhard, III, who is a member of the church and our club liaison with the Food Cupboard, introduced Ed and Bridget. 

Author of "The Man, His Son and their Mule", a retelling of an Aesop's Fable, Joann Frasier-Dasent presented her background, information about R.O.O.T.S. (Regenerating our Offspring Through Storytelling, Inc). She is the founder and CEO of this non-profit organization, which focuses on helping students learn to read by 4th Grade.  Joann brought three beautiful quilts to the meeting, and explained the story in each of them.  After the meeting she autographed copies of her book for members.