Recent Speakers

Rev. Andrew Kellner, rector of the Church of St. Asaph in Bala Cynwyd, described the church's history, its role as a "third place" for the community, and its commitment to inclusivity and peacemaking. He highlighted the Peace Pole project, which features the phrase "May peace prevail on earth" in eight languages, and discussed the church's efforts to address loneliness and promote nonviolence.

Past District Governor Paul Quintavalla spoke about the work of Rotoplast, a Rotary-inspired organization that provides free reconstructive surgery for children with cleft lips, palates, and other deformities. He detailed the causes, consequences, and surgical processes involved, sharing before-and-after photos and personal anecdotes from missions in countries like Egypt.

Jeff Molby, a Rotarian from Michigan has cycled 22,176 miles across the country to promote the American Cancer Society's Road to Recovery program, which provides free rides to cancer patients for treatment appointments. Jeff shared personal stories about his journey and encouraged Rotarians to volunteer as drivers for the program, noting that most communities need more volunteers to meet demand.

Rotarian Len Goldman offered a look at fossil fuel production, covering the formation of oil and gas from ancient algae, drilling techniques, well casing methods, and the history of oil exploration from early hand-dug wells to modern horizontal drilling. The presentation included information about seismic testing, logging techniques, and the differences between oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico versus Alaska, concluding with discussions about the transition to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal power.