Institutes of Understanding from Peace Pole Dedications to Interactive Workshops to the District Conference!
Our exciting Rotary year of service projects, grants, and contributions to address local and global needs experienced another milestone on April 4-6 at our Annual District Conference. Three additional Districts joined us at the Hershey Lodge, as about 400 Rotarians, including 23 Exchange students, gathered to hear from 7 keynote speakers on the theme of Positive Peace. We heard insights on the role of Rotary in Conflict Resolution from Past Rotary International President Barry Rassin, Zone 32 Director, Chris Etienne, the CEO of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts (the Conference sponsor), John Lawn, two Peace Fellows, and our Harrisburg Club colleague, Hagir Elsheikh. Every speaker was a Rotarian and each highly committed to the advancement of greater understanding and goodwill.
The setting for the peace presentations and the opportunity for reflection resembled what in earlier years (circa 1940's) would have been an Institute of Understanding, a traditional gathering of Rotarians 'back then' to engage in public discourse on the 4th Object of Rotary--understanding, goodwill, and peace. Fortunately, we can revive that role for Rotary and see how it leads to achieving the 4th object of Rotary.
Between sessions there was an opportunity to interact with a stream of visitors to the House of Friendship with exhibits on topics from the environment to global health initiatives, human trafficking, autism, and dozens more concerning club projects locally and globally.
At our District Session we heard inspirational speeches from the finalists of the 4 Way Test speech competition.
The winners were:
1st Place - Hayden Kline (Hershey)
2nd Place - Monica Atta (Lancaster-Sunrise)
3rd Place - Sefa Setuagbe (Mechanicsburg-North)
4th Place - Alexander Mariani (Mechanicsburg-North)
5th Place - Taylor Pierce (Elizabethtown)
The top essay on the 4 Way Test Writing competition was read by the winner, Spencer Yang (Red Lion/Dallastown Area). Click here to read the top 3 Essays!
Our session then held a moment of reflection, as Melissa read the names of our recently dearly departed Rotarians. We followed that by recognizing the recipients of major District Awards: The District Outstanding Service Award to Juliet Altenburg for her remarkable contributions as District Governor, Club President, and Chair of the Membership (our membership is growing!) and Public Image Committees. The Dogged Pursuit Award to John Anthony for his relentless Rotarian pursuit of a stable financial footing for the District, resulting in the creation and highly viable functioning of the Finance Committee and the Budget subcommittee (we are solvent!), actions requiring great professionalism and determination!
Our salute to both Juliet and John, two very dedicated members of our amazing District who continue to make a difference in everything we endeavor to do!
On April 9, there was a memorable event at the Manheim High School as the Lancaster Sunrise Club helped its Interact Club celebrate a Rotary Peace Pole Initiative! The Club, the School, and the Township came together to enable a profound opportunity for the Interact Club students, as they all participated in this unique act concerning Positive Peace. Hearing designated students express the engraved Proclamations of Peace in eight languages was especially poignant. The Pole is located at the entrance to the school where it will be seen by thousands of students and visitors, every day, and over the years!
Another Peace Pole event will take place at the Mechanicsburg North Club next week, as two peace poles are dedicated! Learn more about the dedication and register to attend!
For the next few months, keep checking the District Calendar and participate in the many listed club projects and social events.
The District Peacebuilder Billboard still proudly greets motorists entering Harrisburg, thanks to Harrisburg Rotarian Andy Rebuck, who has now retired, but leaves a remarkable Rotary legacy behind.
The Institute of Understanding concept 'to gather together and contemplate peace' will again be available to us on May 31, when we convene (Central Penn College at 8:30 am) to hold an interactive workshop on Positive Peace with Rotarians and non-Rotarian guests. Please join that special event and encourage community leaders (local governments, educators, church, and business leaders) to do so. Our District Peace activator, Hector Ortiz, will lead sessions on the RI and IEP partnership, and provide practical steps for a 'whole of community' approach! Several folks from our District and the local communities have already registered! Register today!
I look forward to seeing you at one or more of the upcoming events.
The Harrisburg-Keystone Club discovered the plastic recycling program from the President of the Friends of Fort Hunter, Richard Leitzel at one of our meetings. We immediately took the recycling on as a project because of Rotary’s emphasis on environmentalism.
We pair our collections with those of Penbrook United Church of Christ, a congregation who was also eager to find a way to recycle plastic. Two benches we earned are in Penbrook, one across from their Borough Hall and the other at their Little Valley summer camp.
In January we earned our fourth bench!
The benches are sturdy and will not deteriorate as wooden benches do over time.
The warehouse workers at the Capital Area Intermediate Unit also collect plastic for us, as well as various friends of members of the Club.
What we have all learned from this project is the overwhelming amount of plastic we use in our daily lives and how much of it would end up in a landfill without this program.
A plastic recycling project by the Harrisburg Keystone Rotary Club has earned the club four benches like this one placed in the MLK Garden on the Capital Area Greenbelt.
In honor of Earth Day in April, our District has created a Team called "Team Rotary" to pick up litter in Harrisburg on April 26th. This annual activity is spearheaded by Tri County Community Action. Team Rotary will pick up litter 8 AM - 11 AM in the Midtown area checking in at 400 Reily Street in Harrisburg. Volunteer for this activity by going to: https://bit.ly/4cbS6gN OR by expressing your interest to PDG Juliet Altenburg at DGJuliet2022@qrpc.com . Participants will get free t-shirts, gloves, and litter bags. All registered participants will be emailed with more details closer to the event. This is a family friendly event. Hope to see you there!
Spring blossoms bring new beginnings, but for the branches lining Market Street in York, a fresh start means turning over more than just a leaf.
City officials, in partnership with the Rotary Club of York, announced plans this week to remove the historic Bradford pear trees due to safety concerns.
"The Bradford pear grows so quickly," said Aaron Jacobs, with the Rotary Club of York. "They have very heavy canopies, so the trunks tend not to want to support that."
The trees, which stretch from Pershing Avenue to Duke Street, have become a familiar sight for residents and visitors. Beneath their beautiful spring display, however, lies a growing problem.
According to Jacobs, the trees pose significant hazards to the community.
The York East Rotary Club gave out Paul Harris Fellow Awards to 7 individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service and dedication to their communities. The award is named after Paul Harris, who founded the first Rotary Club in Chicago in 1905. It's a way for Rotary clubs to recognize individuals for their contributions to the club's goals of promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, supporting education, and more.
Rotary clubs typically award Paul Harris Fellowships to individuals who have made significant contributions, either through monetary donations or substantial volunteer efforts. These contributions might be directed towards local or global initiatives that align with Rotary's values and objectives. The awards were given by Kris Pollick, to these seven extinguished members. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition is a significant honor within the Rotary community and is accompanied by a certificate and a medallion. It signifies a person's commitment to the Rotary's motto of "Service Above Self" and their dedication to making positive changes in the world.
Pictured L-R: Bill Gierasch, Deborah Klinedinst, Jim Arvin, Joanne Bankos, Tim Koller, Todd Kind and Lydell Nunn
Join Rotary District 7390 for a POSITIVE PEACE Community Workshop: Participate in building Positive Peace in our communities. This FREE workshop will be held on Saturday morning, May 31, 2025, at Central Penn College in the Capital Blue Cross Theater, 600 Valley Road, Summerdale, PA 17093.
Light refreshments will be available from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. when the workshop begins, with coffee available during breaks. The workshop is expected to conclude by noon.
Dr. Hector R. Ortiz, Positive Peace Activator, North America and the Caribbean, and facilitator for the partnership between Rotary International and the Institute for Economics and Peace, will lead the comprehensive workshop as it focuses on practical steps for individuals and organizations!
Workshop objectives to understand the framework of Positive Peace and how it creates meaningful change in the community are:
Learn what Positive Peace is and why it matters: Positive peace goes far beyond the absence of conflict. It enhances attitudes, institutions, and structures that help societies flourish, through actions and programs that encourage understanding, promote equity, and foster social cohesion. Understanding the importance and process of Positive Peace can greatly enhance the profundity of one’s approach to peacebuilding, locally and globally, leading to peaceful societies.
Become familiar with Rotary’s seven areas of focus: Rotary International, a global humanitarian organization of 1.4 million members, addresses critical needs in society through service projects and initiatives. The seven areas of focus that address these key issues, and provide opportunities to improve them, help members make a difference in the world, in their communities, and in themselves.
Learn about the eight pillars of positive peace used by the nonprofit Institute of Economics and Peace to evaluate the attributes and effectiveness of nations and their state of governance. Those pillars, from a well-functioning government, with the free flow of information, to the acceptance of the rights of others, are key elements that contribute to Positive Peace. An analysis of all eight pillars will provide an understanding of steps to create a stable and just society. The global peace index, assigned to each nation by the Institute as a result of evaluating the eight pillars, has helped Rotary better understand the application and relevance of its areas of focus.
Plan steps to create Positive Peace in your organization and community: These steps will focus on actions that participants can implement to become peacebuilders—to make progress toward a safer and more secure community with decreased conflicts, domestically and globally. Specific steps, and a plan of action will provide ways to engage others in promoting peace through conflict prevention, and civic engagement.
This workshop is a great chance to get involved in tangible, meaningful changes, leading to Positive Peace!
The workshop is FREE, but please reserve your seat in advance by clicking here!
Past winners have been Mt. Joy and Elizabethtown - Minimum 3 rotary members of the same club so you can bring a non-Rotarian player to complete your foursome.
Our exciting Rotary year of service projects, grants, and contributions to address local and global needs experienced another milestone on April 4-6 at our Annual District Conference. Three additional Districts joined us at the Hershey Lodge, as about 400 Rotarians, including 23 Exchange students, gathered to hear from 7 keynote speakers on the theme of Positive Peace. We heard insights on the role of Rotary in Conflict Resolution from Past Rotary International President Barry Rassin, Zone 32 Director, Chris Etienne, the CEO of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts (the Conference sponsor), John Lawn, two Peace Fellows, and our Harrisburg Club colleague, Hagir Elsheikh. Every speaker was a Rotarian and each highly committed to the advancement of greater understanding and goodwill. 
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