Another Rotary week has flown by. As our 2023-2024 Rotary Year rapidly draws to a close, I am ever grateful for the experiences we continue to enjoy in Rotary and our South-Central Pennsylvania communities. Thank you for all you do to make this a great place to live.

 

Last night was a terrific event at the West Shore Theater learning about the pervasive effects of adverse childhood experiences. Thank you to President Bim and the West Shore Rotarians for using their District Club Grant money to create this wonderful community event and to Erin Sunday for leading the project. After some social time and receiving information about Rotary, the audience viewed the film “Resilience” about a groundbreaking study on the long-term effects on our bodies of adverse childhood experiences. The movie also showcased some practitioners and award-winning programs that are using this new set of data to develop treatment and prevention programs in schools and other organizations. Following the movie, a panel of experts in our community discussed the film, the programs, the realities of treating mental health, and various programs in our area. It was a superb session and very eye opening. This event is easily replicated in other venues on a range of topics of community need. What topic might your club help address in your community?

 

Another project just completed was in downtown York by the York club. Check out the attached photo of the beautiful planters and 4-Way test signs in York’s downtown Continental Square. This project not only made the York downtown that much better to visit, but also visibly showcases what Rotary is and stands for. Simple, elegant, and powerful. And check out the media coverage of the project on the web sites for WGAL, FOX, and several newspapers. Way to go President Aaron and York Rotarians!

 

Lastly, a reminder to invite someone to a Rotary event. Help others experience what we Rotarians experience every week in our community. I bet that nearly all of us were invited to check out a Rotary meeting, social, or service project by someone in our club. Pay it forward and bring a co-worker, friend, family member, or neighbor to a club activity. Let them see us Creating Hope in the World.

 

I’ll see you around the district.

 

DG Fred