One of the things I learnt very quickly when I began my journey as part of the District Leadership Team was just how many folks do unstinting work on behalf of the District in so many different ways. Rotarians such as PDG Chuck Cenkner who served for many years as our District Polio Plus chair to people like Kathleen Stoup who continue to work month in and month out on our Grants committee and all the many others who have helped make our District strong and viable to complete our work of service in the world. It is one big team that works together and, as a result, there are indeed many who deserve to be named and recognized for all their ongoing efforts to ensure that Rotary does indeed “Connect the World.”

 

But lacking both the time and the space to name each and every person who has made such a contribution, there are two individuals that I do want to especially recognize for their work on behalf of the District because they will both be finishing their lengthy service over the next few weeks and we are deeply indebted to both for their contributions over the years.

 

The first of these is Steve Klunk who serves as our District Treasurer. This is important, even critical work, in the life of any District but especially so in one such as ours which has a lot happening all of which requires tracking and monitoring. Steve has done an excellent job in that regard. Steve is a CPA and has recently retired from his firm after many years. He has been a Rotarian in the Rotary Club of York for 20 years, where he has also served as Treasurer for the past 12 years. Steve has served as the District treasurer for the past 14 years, is the treasurer for the Grant committee, serves on the yearly budget committee and has answered numerous questions from Clubs regarding taxes and reporting. Without Steve, who has shown the spirit of exemplary service in Rotary, we would all be poorer. Thanks Steve for a job well done.

 

The second person that I would like to recognize and thank is Linda Spotts.  Linda joined the Rotary Club of Harrisburg-East in 1995 serving as Club President twice. When the Club disbanded she transferred her membership to the Rotary Club of Susquehanna Township where she is just completing 2 years as Club President. But while having been a club president for 4 years in two clubs would generally be enough to earn fulsome accolades, Linda is known for so much more in the District and primarily that is her work with our District Youth Exchange. Linda joined the Youth Exchange committee in 1998 as the Inbound Chair, then moved on to serve as the District Outbound Chair and District Rotex Chair. Linda became the DYE Chair in 2006 and for the last 14 years has served with distinction in that role. In addition she has served on the Executive Committee of ESSEX (Eastern State Student Exchange) two different times. Linda says that DYE has had a lot of different officers over the years, but she credits Connie Farabaugh with teaching her the ins and outs of Youth Exchange. Linda would also like to give a shout out to Tom Barton, Ken & Connie Farabaugh, Walt Tilley, Katie Smith, Eileen Felix and Amber Seidel for their support of the program and her as DYE Chair. Linda thinks her greatest accomplishment with Youth Exchange was changing the interview process for the Outbound students. DYE staff have said that working with Linda was always a great experience. Linda was professional and her leadership was outstanding to the program. She always allowed others to make contributions to the program and try to move the program forward. But above all, she has helped make a difference in the lives of so many students who have had the joy and benefit of being either inbound or outbound students over the years. Through this program their lives will have been changed forever.

 

There is so much more that we could say about both of these individuals and the selfless contribution they have made to our District over the years. But both of them would also be the first to say that they would honor those who have worked with them and whom they have had the privilege to work alongside. But on behalf of the District please know Linda and Steve that we recognize and honor the service you have given and the contribution you have made. Our District and, indeed our Rotary world, is a better place for the work you have done. Thank you.

 

Invitation to Join Nurses in Rotary Fellowship by Juliet Altenburg, President Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg-North, District 7390 DGND

 

The Rotary International Theme for June is Rotary Fellowships.  When I explored the fellowship page of the RI website, I was amazed at all the different groups there are and ways to form friendships with other Rotarians. 

 

There was one group I saw that was missing that I had an interest in - Nurses in Rotary.   So, sparked by my desire to meet other nurse Rotarians, I formed a new Rotary International fellowship group called "Nurses in Rotary".

 

I am inviting you all to reach out to nurses you know in your clubs to invite them into my group.  Or if you give me their name there is a way for me to personally invite them through my fellowship page.  My group is located at this link:  https://my.rotary.org/en/exchange-ideas/groups/nurses-rotary-0

 

 

Here is an overview:

 

The York-East Rotary Club is hosting their 17th annual golf tournament on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020 at noon.  The event will be held at Briarwood Golf Club - East course.  Golfer registration cost $90 per person and sponsorships are available.  We'd love for you to join our club and help us raise money for local charities and our Students of the Month program.  Please contact Becky Disney at bdisney@greaterpawv.wish.org for more info or click here to download a flier.  Thank you!