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The Downtowner

 Newsletter of the Kiwanis Club of Allentown

March 1, 2008

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Newsletter Editorial

Your editor apologizes for failing to provide a biweekly newsletter the past two months. Since I returned to work full-time I have found it more challenging to keep up with my many Kiwanis responsibilities. I hope to get caught up and resume biweekly newsletters after the summer. Until then, please bear with me. And, if any of our members is interested in taking over production of  “The Downtowner”, just let me know!

June 5 Meeting

This meeting was provocative and a bit controversial! Speaker Don Frazier of PPL provided background on pending deregulation of electricity in Pennsylvania, and the likelihood of significant, 30% or more increases in electric bills beginning next year. PPL has had its prices capped since 1999. In that time period fuel costs have escalated. Natural gas and coal prices have risen by 200% in the past ten years, and uranium is up over 700%. And, fuel oil prices have increase 200% in the past two years alone. Because of price controls these costs could not be passed on to customers. Other electric generation costs are significant. PPL is paying $600 million for scrubbers to comply with environmental regulations for their coal-fired plant near Montoursville. During the past 10 years electricity usage has risen 2-3% per year. Currently, PPL rates are below other utility companies in the mid-Atlantic region. They charge 10 cents per KWH v. a 12.5 cent average, and compared to ConEd whose rates are up to nearly 25 cents per KWH. PPL’s planned rate increase next year will be to go from 10 cents to 14 cents per KWH- a 40% increase. Don noted that electricity rates have been increasing all over the country. Consumers can mitigate the impact of rate increases by using energy more wisely, by purchasing more energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs. Many tips on energy conservation can be found on PPL’s website in their “e-power” section. There is information about how to shop for electricity supply, and a handy feature- an “energy analyzer”. This tool enables customers to access data on their daily energy use, and even “hour by hour power” details. This can   help consumers identify times of the day when changes of habits could save electricity, and money. There were many probing questions from our audience about next year’s major rate hike by PPL. Our meeting was one of dozens planned by PPL throughout its service area to provide information to the public about this controversial issue.

Don Frazier of PPL Addresses an Inquiring Audience

Annual Foundation Elections

  At our June 5 meeting the following members were unanimously elected to serve as officers and board members of the Kiwanis Foundation of Allentown during the 2008-09 administrative year:

¨      President – Craig Walls

¨      Vice- President – Mark Rosania

¨      Treasurer – Jim Fronheiser

¨      Secretary – Ellen Kern

¨      Elected Director – Bill Randall

  We would like to thank these members for their commitment to serve in these positions, and wish them well as they carry on the good work of our Foundation.

Another New Member!

Annual Club Picnic a Success

We had a wonderful time at our annual club picnic on June 19. Approximately 25 members and their guests attended. There was delicious and AMPLE picnic fare (Nick is still dining on leftover hot dogs), great fellowship, and a spirited quoits tournament! Young Chang and his son, Larry “The Leaner” Kistler, Pete Ambrosino, Enos Martin, and Tom Harp participated. But in the end a NEW CHAMP was crowned- Nick “Lord of the Rings” Lukow!  Nick certainly “raised the bar” for future tournaments.  Larry must add “Eye of the Tiger” to his I-Pod play list and “hit the slate” with hours of quoits practice to be able to de-throne the champ next year! The kids that joined us had a great time as well, exploring a nearby creek and finding unexpected treasure in the form of a set of discarded football shoulder pads. This was nearly the longest day of the year, and we took advantage of that and the gorgeous weather to prolong the gathering as late as possible. Thanks to all who helped make this annual event a big success!

Pa. District Kiwanis Convention

Please notify Tom Harp as soon as possible if you would like to attend the annual state Kiwanis convention August 14-17 in Altoona. Our club has already budgeted registration fees for three members, who are all eligible to be delegates. It should be a fun and informative time!

Miracle League Games

Our team, the “Allentown Kiwanis Angels” will be playing in Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley games on the following dates this month:

¨      Sunday, July 13, 2:30 PM v. the Red Sox

¨      Saturday, July 19, 3:30 PM v. the Mets

¨      Wednesday, July 23, 7:00 PM v. the Rockies

Please try to attend at least one of these games to show support for our team! Also, if you are interested in volunteering to run the concession stand during those games, contact Tom Harp at 610-428-1427.

  Upcoming Programs

July 3 – Joe Garrera, Director of the Lehigh County Historical Society. “Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address”.  Invocation: Bob Ashcraft

July 17 – Bernie Durant.  “My Baseball Career”.  Invocation: John McKeever

July 18 – KIWANIS NIGHT AT THE IRONPIGS! 7:05 PM

Next Board Meeting: TBA

 July  Birthdays  

        15 - Peg Harp     

Tom Harp, Editor