Rotarians from 7390 joined friends from Rotary clubs in Maryland, Virginia and District of Columbia for a rendezvous in Georgetown, MD on the Sassafras River. As members of the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians (IYFR), Chesapeake Bay Fleet, they gather monthly in warm weather months at various locations on the upper Chesapeake Bay for fellowship and discussions about their various clubs’ activities and projects----as well as sharing experiences about maintaining and operating their boats.
The IYFR is the oldest and largest of the Rotary Fellowships. It was organized in England in 1947 and has grown to 126 fleets with about 3685 members in 44 countries. Rotarians in IYFR often join fellow Rotarians for international cruises following international conferences and enjoy cruising while they “Build Better Friendships”.
The Chesapeake Fleet supports the Plastic Free Waters project, which was launched in 2019 to bring awareness of the plastic bottle impact on world’s waterways, especially in African and Asian waters. At a recent meeting the International Rear Commodore of IYFR from Spain presented a special program highlighting the focus of IYFR Plastic Free Waters world wide.
Rotarians, who are active in recreational boating, are welcome to join the IYFR. For information on membership in the Chesapeake Bay Fleet, contact Ron Stern landrstern@gmail.com
Submitted by
Ron Stern,
Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg North
Fleet Captain, Rotary Yacht Squadron Chesapeake Bay, 2022
Past-Commodore, IYFR, Chesapeake Bay Fleet, 2011 and 2016
Pictured here on board the vessel Joint Venture are: (l to r) Lenora Stern; Kathleen Stoup, RC of Carlisle; Ron Stern, RC of Mechanicsburg North; and Tom Johnston, RC of Harrisburg.
It’s hard to believe we are already 3 months into our Rotary Year speeding out of Summer and into the new season of Fall. As District Governor my summer has been a whirlwind of activity encompassing three months of travels with 32 clubs, assorted club/district service and social gatherings, and a myriad of virtual meetings with Zone, District, and Club leaders and more. I write this as I take time to pause and reflect in airport lounges in Toronto and Chicago as I head home from a wonderful time of connection at the Rotary International Zones 28/32 Learning to Lead Summit in Toronto.
At this three-month mark, I would have to say my themes thus far are the gifts of human connections and the opportunity to use my passion for nursing and Trauma Centers in a bigger way. As I’ve met many Rotarians throughout my travels, I often get the question “how do you do it with a full-time job?” Truth be told, I was a bit fearful on how I would be able to juggle it all. I’ve always been a believer though, that if your heart is in the right place, and you are focused on doing good, more good will follow. And so it came to be. Travel time on the road while passing through rural areas of our District was forced time to be thoughtful and reflective. Time at the clubs with kind, passionate and funny members was uplifting in a way that energized me to contribute in bigger ways with my paid job and Rotary activities. The sheer volume of human connection after a prolonged period of isolation and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic is the fuel that has kept my engine running to do what I can to support our clubs in thinking of ways to increase our impact, expand our reach, enhance member engagement, and remain adaptable – Rotary’s four strategic priorities.
For those of you who have experienced my club visits, you may recall that I share a quote from RI President Jennifer Jones that she shared with all the incoming District Governors at the Rotary International Convention in Houston Texas in June: “BE BOLD, BE BRAVE, AND BE INTENTIONAL”. I’ve said these words so many times they have begun to change me. I feel myself grow in leadership the more I courageously move forward and jump on opportunities I may have been more timid about in the past.
One such opportunity is using the partnerships I have made over the last 20 years with Trauma Centers while working at the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation to move forward a high impact program called STOP THE BLEED ™. STOP THE BLEED ™ is a bleeding control course that has been promoted by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) since 2012 when the Sandy Hook shooting occurred. The ACS publicized the work of the Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg North on their international STOP THE BLEED website after a District Club grant that provided 300 tourniquets to East Pennsboro township staff helped save the life of a 10-year-old boy. That saved life occurred because of a partnership with Penn State Holy Spirit Medical Center Injury Prevention Coordinator, Sunny Goodyear RN, who taught the course to township police officers and continues to teach the course throughout Central PA.
In addition to Penn State Holy Spirit, two other Trauma Centers in our District are committed to connecting with Rotary Clubs to teach the program at club meetings or community events: Penn State Hershey Medical Center, and Penn Medicine Lancaster General Hospital. One fantastic way your club can help in this effort is to apply for a District Club Grant for $2500 that with a District match of $2500 will provide $5000 worth of tourniquets to people in your community such as police officers, farmers, and residents in violent neighborhoods where gun violence is prevalent. One such area is Alison Hill in Harrisburg. Penn State Holy Spirit would value one or more Rotary club partners in helping them provide tourniquets in Alison Hill that would be distributed along with education. Interested? Reach out to me for more information. The next deadline for District Club Grants is March 15, 2023 when the Form of Intention is due. Each tourniquet is about $20.00. Find out more about the grant process at https://rotary7390.org/page/grants
Lastly this time of connection has reinforced what was stated to me for years during my District leadership journey – that I would never be alone in my efforts. It takes a village to spearhead the many District Initiatives that we all take for granted: Global and District Grants, Membership, Youth Exchange, Safety, Polio Eradication, Communications, Public Image, Rotary Foundation, Education, Finances, Event Coordination, Member Services, Outreach…. and the list goes on. That village is comprised of an incredible group of Committee Chairs and teams behind them that work hard to support the impact our clubs and District have on our communities. I thank all these “villagers” for their amazing efforts that are not only felt within our District but at Zone and International levels.
Lastly, I want to put out a request for those of you who may be feeling a tug in your heart to be District Governor but are fearful of the time commitment. Being a District leader AND having a full-time job is absolutely possible. Your Rotary work will benefit your paid job in countless ways and vice versa. Being District Governor is the opportunity of a lifetime and without a doubt is absolutely life changing. I will reiterate the quote by Jennifer Jones “Be Bold, Be Brave and Be Intentional”. Don’t wait. The time is now. You never know what tomorrow will bring. If you are interested reach out to me. There is a process for your club to nominate you and forms are due in early December.
Thank you for a great three months. What a privilege its been to visit your clubs and serve you. Looking forward to more adventures in the months ahead.
Yours in Service: DG Juliet
Email me at DGJuliet2022@QRPC.com
Imagining Rotary: My Role as District Governor thus Far
The District Club Grant Committee has a vacancy. If you have a passion for The Rotary Foundation and specifically grants, please contact Nigel Foundling at nfoundling860@comcast or 717-717-679-1264. The committee meets via Zoom on the second Monday of each month at 7:30 a.m.
Carlisle-Sunrise, Northern Lebanon Co, and York build small houses in Ecuador
The Rotary Club of Carlisle-Sunrise has developed a continuing relationship with the Rotary Club of Cumbaya, D-4400, Quito, Ecuador. In 2020 during the Covid pandemic, 45 tablet computers were set to K thru 6th grade children so they could study online.
As friendships with RC of Cumbaya grew, Carlisle-Sunrise became aware of the need for decent housing for single underprivileged mothers with children and the opportunity to provide low cost houses under the project management of CAEMBA (https://www.caemba-home-english/) through the Raiz Foundation (www.raiz-USA.org). Each house is made of sturdy bamboo, has a kitchen and bathroom, and costs $4500; those living in the house assist with its construction. The first house supported by Carlisle-Sunrise was paid directly from club contributions. That success led to a District Club grant for $9000, with participation of Rotary Clubs of Northern Lebanon County and York, that built two houses, completed on August 20, 2022. These houses will join other such houses in the new “Rotary Village”. Each house has a plaque with the names of the four Rotary clubs involved.
The Rotary Veterans Initiative conducted a community BBQ event on Saturday, Sept 10th at Rendezvous Run Farm in Dickinson Township at 806 Alexander Spring Road, Carlisle, PA 17015. The 130(+) participants of this sold-out ticketed event:
Honored Veterans by listening to and recording their stories of service and sacrifice
WWII and Korean War Veteran, and Harrisburg resident, Louis “Lou” F. Gallo
USMC veteran, formerly homeless, and Central Penn College graduate, Randy Ramer
Randy shared his powerful story of rising above injury, drug addiction, and homelessness to become a Central Penn College (CPC) graduate
At CPC Randy served as the President of the student veteran’s Armed Forces Association (AFA) where he created and led the AFA Homeless Veteran’s Initiative --- which raised money to help homeless veterans
Raised money to continue to help Central PA veterans transform their lives, families, and our communities
Presented this check to support student veterans’ scholarships, textbook and technology device vouchers, and scholarships for student veterans performing unpaid internships and/or participating in Capstone courses
Invested $7,500 to reward and incentivize veteran participation in The Penn State Harrisburg School of Business Administration 2022 (Business) Startup Weekend program (Nov 11- 13, 2022)
To date, including the addition of the $27,500 announced at this event, RVI has contributed a total of $205,000 to help 270 Central PA veterans transform their lives, families and communities
VOPA leaders Mike Reardon, John Hickey, and Jordan Ames provided tours of their “Tiny Home” and explained the VOPA Mission and Vision
Mission: We stand to combat homelessness among Veterans by providing support and services needed to promote an empowered life filled with strength and purpose.
Vision: Restoring trust and creating opportunity, one Veteran at a time.
Received the outstanding support of volunteers from The Giant Company
Thanked our major sponsors, including Korporate Computing, The Giant Company, UPMC, Synergy Home Care of Carlisle, State Farm of Carlisle (Greg Lunde), Hoffman Funeral Home & Crematory, Diamond Wealth Advisors, William Harkey, Tom Fruth, the Bussard family, the Haag Family, the Rotary Clubs of Mechanicsburg North, Hershey, Harrisburg, and Carlisle.
This event is complete, but there will be future events and many actions to support veterans; therefore, donations to RVI are always welcome. To make a tax-deductible donation to RVI, please write the check to the "Rotary Veterans Initiative" and mail it to RVI, 806 Alexander Spring Road, Carlisle, PA 17015 (or) make an online donation at https://www.tfec.org/funds/rotary-veterans-initiative/ To collaborate with RVI to help our veterans please email rickcopen@gmaijl.com
Mark your calendars and bring the whole family out for a great time on Sunday October 2nd @ 12-3pm at the Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey for a FREE family event hosted by the Rotary Club of Colonial Park with activities, games, bounce houses, spin art, petting zoo, obstacle course, balloon twisting, PLUS food trucks and live music!
All proceeds from this event are donated to local non-profits and our scholarship fund.
Welcome to Martin Metelka from Czechia!! Martin arrived at Newark Airport (which meant we HAD to do a quickphoto stop at Liberty State Park before heading home!) We hope you have a great year Martin!
Rotary International is pleased to announce new hosting opportunities under the Open World Program during the 2023 calendar year. Next year will mark twenty fourth-year anniversary of Rotary’s participation in the program.
The Open World Program is available only to Rotary clubs in the United States and provides an opportunity to build fellowship and friendship to strengthen international understanding by hosting emerging Eurasian leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan in your community. Rotary clubs are needed to host six-participant delegations for eight days and nights and prepare a professional program related to business, community, and civic life in the United States. Please see the 2023 hosting themes document attached.
The program focuses primarily on developing a network of leaders who have an understanding of how American communities deal with contemporary issues and who want to maintain contact with their new American contacts and other counterparts. Often, these collaborations lead to service projects between Rotary clubs in the two countries.
Is your Rotary Club is interested in working on an international project, hosting six Open World participants (emerging and/or current Eurasian leaders) for eight days, and willing to develop an intensive week of programs based on a selected Open World theme? If yes, then the Open World Program would be perfect for your club. Review the attached Host Registration Form and email the completed form to Natalia.Kunzer@rotary.org by Monday, 3 October 2022.
Direct any question to the Program Officer Natalia Kunzer at natalia.kunzer@rotary.org or by phone by calling (847) 946-5664. For any additional questions please contact PDG Hector Ortiz as well as to do presentations about this program which is typically a 10 days program for young professionals from specific countries, ages 25 to 35, with some similarities to the GSE program.
Warm Rotary Regards,
Hector Ortiz
Richie1166@msn.com
Natalia Kunzer
Open World Program Officer
Rotary Service and Engagement | Programs and Grants
The Rotary Club of Carlisle-Sunrise recently hosted Carlisle’s noon club for a presentation about that club’s water project in Kenya. In attendance was Meshack Kishoyian Sinkira (known as Kish) the International Officer from Kenya at the US Army War College, Carlisle. Rotarians from Carlisle first became acquainted with Kish at a meeting of RC of Hershey.
The global grant project, total cost $130,000, provides water for agricultural development by pumping water to surface, building green house for vegetable production and housing structures for chicken and pig production while teaching the science and economics of agriculture. Following the presentation, Kish confirmed the critical need for such projects in Kenya.
Submitted by
Kathleen Stoup
International Service Lane Chair
Pictured here with Rotarians from both clubs, Kish is wearing a modernized Masai shirt. (L to R) Larenda Twigg, Bill Blankmeyer, Kish, Kathleen Stoup, Charles Stoup, Mike Zick
In September our District was fortunate to have PDG Herb Klotz speak with Club Presidents and interested members on how to grow and engage club membership. Each club was sent a club specific report highlighting attraction and attrition rates and best practices. This popular session is available for on-demand viewing at https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/492tpKrgUkned8TnWWDlWV2RJ89ihNVLIUKigDjuHoZGzI96It5xaowXocSkq-M.oPdQRhC_mffJ3oEc / Passcode: K6uo1bL.
PDG Herb is hosting a SECOND session open to ANY Rotary Club on the topic of Impact Clubs. Impact clubs are companion clubs to existing host clubs focused on community service. Impact clubs are growing in popularity in other Zones and guest speaker Patrick Eakes will talk about their growth in his own Zone – Zone 33. Mark your calendars for October 11th at 7 PM. A Zoom link will be shared in several weeks in a future Rotary Reporter!
The Ride to Eradicate Polio has been moved to Monday, October 24!
Join us on World Polio Day (Monday October 24) for the Ride to Eradicate Polio in Harrisburg. We will be meeting at 4:00 p.m. at Leadership Harrisburg (3211 North Front Street) and taking off for an hour-long scenic bike ride at 5:00. We’ll return to the LHA office before sunset and convene at a restaurant nearby for congratulatory refreshments. PDG Una Martone will lead our group along an especially beautiful (and flat!) route with just a few road crossings. You can bring your bicycle or walk or run along the riverfront.
All participants get a purple Ride to Eradicate Polio t-shirt, the “I went the distance” sticker, and special “purple pinkie” cookies made by Tanya’s Cookie Boutique.
Free parking is plentiful in the LHA parking lot. Please look for us near the back entrance to the building.
If you can’t join us on October 24, we invite you to plan a Ride to Eradicate Polio in your neighborhood. We will ship you your t-shirts and stickers. Please reach out to office@rotary7390.org to request that these items be sent to you. Take pictures and share them on social media. Use the hashtags #endpolionow and #ridetoeradicatepolio.
There couldn’t be a better time for this fundraiser. The first case of polio in the United States in nearly a decade was detected in New York this year. Your donation helps Rotary, and its partners, reach every child with the polio vaccine. Thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, your contribution will be tripled, getting us even closer to a polio-free world.
Visit www.endpolionow.org and learn more about what Rotary is doing to eradicate polio worldwide.
Where: Lindgren Craft Brewery, 5 N Market Street, Duncannon ($5 cover charge to attend)
Hosted by: Perry County
When: October 19 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Snappers Bar and Grill (120 East Allen St Mechanicsburg, PA 17055) (A percentage of your total check will be donated to Polio)
Hosted by: West Shore, D7390 Passport, Yellow Breeches & Mechanicsburg North
When: October 19 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: 50 West Caracas Ave Hershey (Beer, other beverages and snacks from 6 to 7 p.m. Hershey Community Parade at 7 p.m., Party resumes until 8 pm. Costumes optional!) Plenty of parking across the street. All Rotarians are welcome!
Hosted by: Hershey
When: October 24 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Where: Victory Athletic Association (471 S. Ogontz Street, York, PA) - For a nominal fee of $10 per ticket, you get a fun filled evening of appetizers, non-alcoholic beverages, door prizes, music, entertainment, and auction items!
Hosted by: York-East
When: October 25 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Where: Market Cross Pub (113 North Hanover St Carlisle, PA 17013)
Hosted by: Carlisle-Sunrise
When: October 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Funck's Restaurant (365 West Main Street, Leola)
As World Polio Day (October 24th) approaches, our clubs and the district are considering how we can best raise funds and awareness in our community. Following are a few thoughts.
Support the District RIDE TO ERADICATE POLIO This event held October 1st is a continuation of an event created during Covid in an attempt to create a new way to raise awareness. Details can be found by clicking here!
Hold a PINTS FOR POLIO EVENT(S) Clubs and regions are encouraged to hold events at the local level. The purpose of these events are three-fold. Here are a few thoughts:
Raise Money - In past years, these events have raised thousands of dollars for Polio Plus
Raise Awareness - In advance of and during these events, conversations happen surrounding the Polio issue. Members and nonmembers are educated on what polio is, why and how is Rotary involved in the global effort to eradicate polio and why we should care about this at all. Given the recent outbreak in NY, that third point is even more relevant in our lives.
Drive Membership - Each Rotarian should not only consider coming to the event but should also bring a friend. That friend then engages in the fellowship of Rotary while learning more about who we are and what we do. "Each One Bring One" could not be more relevant than with these events.
SHARE YOUR EVENT - Share with the District - Each club or region that is holding an event should share their event details with the district. The district will in turn help to market the event and, maybe, you will see a district leader pop into your event.
Create an Event Post on Meet Up App - Sharing your event on the Districts "Service Above Self" group on the MeetUp App will expand your reach and expand awareness of your event in your area. If you need help with this, reach out to Melissa at the district office.
Create an event on Facebook and share it with the district. Share it on all social media platforms to drive all demographics to your event. Need help, reach out to the district to learn how.
Get a Billboard. This event is a perfect way to utilize the district billboard program. Share with your community what you are doing in their community.
Ask someone to come and support your event. We all know someone we can ask. If beer is not your thing, consider Ice Cream Pints for Polio. Be creative and then share with us what you are doing. This is how we all achieve new levels and grow.
Finally, if your club is not going to hold an event, attend another club's event near you, bring a friend and be part of the solution. Now is the time to take action. Ask your club leadership what your club is doing to help eradicate polio and drive membership during World Polio month. If you or they need help, reach out. The district is excited to help our clubs create events that make sense for them. Let's make this year, the greatest year yet for raising money and awareness in District 7390.
The Rotary Leadership Institute is an opportunity to meet with other Rotarians, share experiences, and learn new skills to take back to your club. You don't have to be in the leadership chain to benefit from this institute. If you want to learn more about this wonderful organization that we call Rotary, and find out what you can actually do to start changing the world, put attendance on your schedule. Click here to register! (Please note: you MUST register using the GUEST tab)
When can I attend RLI? - Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Central Penn College (600 Valley Road, Summerdale, PA 17093).
What is the Cost to attend RLI? - Rotary Clubs should pay for their members to attend RLI. The cost is $110 per Rotarian to attend.
What is RLI? - A leadership and development program to strengthen Rotary Clubs through education, collaboration and the exchange of ideas among its future leaders. A three-part curriculum facilitated by experienced, trained faculty members engaging participants through open discussion, problem solving and creative role-play.
What will I learn at RLI? - More about Rotary, The Rotary Foundation, Membership, Ethics, Service Projects, Communications, Strategic Planning and Analysis. You’ll also make new friends, and enjoy fellowship and networking opportunities.
Course Levels: Parts I, II, III and Graduate (The Graduate level will focus on The Rotary Foundation Seven Areas of Focus)
Where can I find more information about RLI? www.rlinea.org.
PDG Alden Cunningham (Carlisle) has a book available for purchase through Amazon! Click here to purchase the book! This autobiography captures all phases of his life of Leadership in Service including his formative years in Mexico as a child, the military academy years of character and leadership development, his regular Army service in field artillery, his years as a senior Foreign Area officer defending our nation and his years as an Army Contractor at the U.S. Army War College. There, he supported the Department of Distance Education as a faculty instructor teaching Strategic Leadership, International Relations and the Use of Power, National Security Strategy, National Military Strategy, and Regional Studies. Additionally, he supported the Strategic Crisis Exercise in various roles and developed two key, long term military scenarios on Cuba and Panama. His brief Mexico Advisory Service years helping small companies in Pennsylvania find Mexican strategic partners and his retirement years are also part of this book. Covered as well are his years as a former officer of Rotary International (District Governor of District 7390 in South Central Pennsylvania) doing good in the world. This is exemplified by his humanitarian mission in Mexico where his district partnering with District 4170 in the Mexico City area provided hundreds of wheelchairs to disabled Mexican citizens, clean water to hundreds if not thousands of Mexican school children, computers for a school for the deaf in Mexico City, and dozens of cleft palate surgeries and cataract procedures. He also increased Rotary Foundation giving in his district thus providing more funds over time for Rotary's seven focus areas (fighting disease, think Polio; promoting peace; providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene; saving mothers and children; supporting education; growing local economies; and protecting the environment).
A Cold War Warrior's Report by PDG Alden Cunningham
Pictured Front Row L-R: DYE Inbound Chair Walt Tilley (York), DG Juliet Altenburg (Mechanicsburg-North), Maya Ito (Japan) hosted by Gettysburg, Jeanne Lefort (France) hosted by York, Julia Saldanha (Brazil) hosted by Hershey, Iman Delamehtovic (Bosnia & Herzegovenia) hosted by Lititz, DYE Chair Jill Tenny (Harrisburg). Pictured Back Row L-R: Martin Metelka (Czech Republic) hosted by Harrisburg, Julien Thiry (Belgium) hosted by York.
Welcome the 2022-2023 Class of Inbound Youth Exchange Students
Isabella (Lititz) has safely arrived for her exchange year in Japan! She is currently attending a language camp with other international students who are also doing an exchange in Japan this year. Best of luck for a successful year, Isabella!
The Rotary Club of Carlisle recently gave 1000 Paul Harris points to Past-President Sudesh Walia of the Rotary Club of Nairobi, Kenya, district 9212.
Pictured are: Alex Nyagah (#9212 District Governor 2021-22) presenting the Paul Harris fellowship to Sudesh Walia.
The points, which will take Sudesh to another Paul Harris level, were given in recognition of the service and support she has given RC of Carlisle and district 7390 over more than 20 years. As long ago as 1996, she worked with Carlisle Rotarians in processing Volunteer Service Grants for volunteer dentists from around the Rotary world who served at the Rotary Dental Clinic located at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Hospital in the Kilimambogo community. For many years she directed support from Rotary Club of Nairobi for matching grants and global grants for dental equipment, dental truck and several water and sanitation projects at the Hospital.
Most recently RC of Carlisle and district 7390 contributed to a global grant for an Eye Care Program in Nairobi, which is currently being implemented in schools in poor areas of Nairobi.
An active and committed Rotarian, Sudesh led a peace project in a school district in California. She traveled to Carlisle in 2015, stayed in home of Rotarian, and visited many community projects. Over the years she has welcomed visiting Rotarians to her home.
The collaboration with Sudesh continues as we “build friendships” in faraway parts of the world.
DUE TO A SCHEDULING CONFLICT - PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DATE OF OCTOBER 13!
As we consider ways we should Grow Rotary… we must consider groups that are underrepresented within our clubs. Women represent just 28% of our District’s membership. How can we grow these numbers and attract more members including women into the service we provide to our community AND to our members.
On October 13 from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., we are gathering for our second in a series of Summits to discuss...Women in Rotary
Three Questions will be discussed in this 1 hour Zoom Summit.
How can we encourage more women to join Rotary across our District?
How can we support female Rotarians in growing in leadership and service within Rotary and our communities?
What should our next action steps be?
Our first Summit, Educators in Rotary, was a great success. Attendees met new friends from across the district, learned new ideas and discussed strategies to effect change and growth. They agreed to help each other and to re-assemble at a future date to further discuss ideas and review what they have achieved with their new knowledge and contacts.
We believe that Septembers’ Women in Rotary Summit can be a similarly tremendous opportunity for fellowship, growth, and new ideas.
Rotary Club of Lancaster and District 7390 Donate $20,000 for Medical Assistance in Ukraine
Networking and collaboration are a hallmark of Rotary as evidenced by the friendships and relationships that form within individual Rotary Club dynamics. Sometimes that same synergy forms between Rotarians on a global scale to meet urgent humanitarian needs. Such is the case with a recent cooperation between the Rotary Club of Lancaster and the International Rotary Fellowship of Healthcare Professionals (IRFHP).
Dr. Bob McClenathan, an optometrist, Past-President of RC of Lancaster and member of IRFHP, learned of the needs in Ukraine related to the unprovoked incursion by Russian military forces and the horrendous injuries caused by indiscriminate shelling of civilian targets in addition to military ones. Hundreds of hospitals, medical facilities and pharmacies have been intentionally destroyed! In light of the destruction of healthcare infrastructure and the tremendous need for medical care, the IRFHP is seeking various medical instruments and accessories to alleviate suffering there.
The Rotary Club of Lancaster, its individual members, and District 7390 (through the discretionary use of its contingency funds) provided nearly $20,000 in funding towards the purchase of orthopedic instruments, screws, plates and pins for treatment of shattered skeletal structures. Through a convoluted pathway, involving Rotarians in the USA, United Kingdom, Poland, and Ukraine, as well as international fund transfers and international commerce, these rehabilitative materials are mending bones and lives in the war torn country near the front lines in the Dnipro area. Rotary has a long reach and a loving heart and Rotarians are providing “Service above Self” around the world.
If your Club is holding an event or fundraiser and would like to increase awareness of Rotary or increase profits, think about purchasing some Rotary branded water bottles! You can purchase the water for $7 per case (minimum of 30 cases per order). The water will need to be picked up at Filson Water (11 Roadway Drive, Carlisle). You can design a custom label for your Club or the event. Please contact Jeff Kintz at Brand your Own Bottle at 717-979-0841 or kintzjeff1@gmail.com for more information. You can also check out their website by clicking here.
Here are some examples of Clubs that have created a custom water bottle label:
Quentin Jurney (Rotary Club of Gettysburg) safely arrived in India for his year of exchange!!! His arrival coincided with the Hindi festival of Raksha Baandhan, the celebration of brother-sister sibling bonds. We hope Quentin has an amazing year! We look forward to following his adventures through the District 7390 Youth Exchange Facebook page!
The exciting Zone 28 & 32 Interact Convention (ZIC) is taking place October 20th-23rd, 2022 and we want to see students from your district there!
This is an opportunity for Rotarians to show their support for our young leaders who have been working very hard organizing this first-ever Zone event that includes Interact delegates from Canada, USA, Bermuda and St. Pierre et Miquelon!
Here's where your help is needed:
We are seeking Delegates - If your club currently sponsors an Interact club please connect with them and consider sponsoring one or more delegates. Clubs & Districts in Zones 28 and 32 are able to reserve spots for Interact students and chaperones at the Zone 28 & 32 Interact Convention ahead of time. Each spot is $991 Canadian dollars ($850 registration fee plus a $141 refundable deposit).
We are seeking Donors/Sponsors - If your club does not currently sponsor an Interact Club, kindly consider becoming a Donor/Sponsor of the event in support of youth leadership!
Thank you for your kind consideration. We also encourage you to take a look at our website (www.zoneinteractconvention.org) to learn more.
If you have any questions regarding the registration process, the event in general, or would like to invite our team to speak to your club/district leadership about the event please feel free to contact admin@zoneinteractconvention.org.
Geoffrey Harper (Harrisburg has arrived in Thailand!! What a journey ~ 3 out of 3 flights were delayed but no lost luggage! His host family was on hand to greet him at the airport on his arrival. We look forward to following his adventures!
September is Education and Literacy Month, an opportunity for Rotarians to focus our awareness of literacy and education needs in our own communities and internationally. BELRAG (Basic Education and Literacy Rotary Action Group) and Save the Children are pleased to announce a funding opportunity to support clubs' innovative approaches to early childhood education in rural America. Projects may support Kindergarten Readiness, 3rd Grade Reading proficiency, and/or 5th grade math proficiency.
These grants offer Rotary Clubs an opportunity to apply to for funding of $5,000-$15,000 for community based initiatives that support early literacy and numeracy. Up to ten projects will be funded. Proposal applications are available 1 September are due 15 October, 2022.
A webinar to review grant criteria and application process will be held on Thursday, 25 August at 4:00 PM (Eastern)
The webinar will be recorded and made available on the BELRAG.org website. Click here to view a menu of options for early learning projects.
This is an excellent opportunity for Rotarians to receive support for their involvement in early education and literacy projects in their own communities. BELRAG is pleased to partner with Save the Children on this initiative and appreciates their generosity in funding these grants for US based literacy projects.
I look forward to learning of how clubs in your district are engaged in Basic Education and Literacy and would welcome Rotarians from your district to become involved with BELRAG. Together, we will ensure that every child and adult has opportunity to lead productive, fulfilling lives as literate individuals. If you would like more information about BELRAG, our outreach and support for clubs and districts, please visit our website www.BELRAG.org or feel welcome to contact Carolyn Johnson, Yarmouth (Maine) Rotary, District 7780, Governor, 2013-14, 207-232-4667 (cell).
Apply for a Grant to Support Education and Literacy!
Norma Jean Park was awarded the district 7390 Rotary Scholarship for graduate study at the University of Essex, Brighton, England, where she will earn a Master of Arts degree in Food and Development. The Global Grant award is valued at $30,000 with $16,675 from #7390 District Designated Funds and $13,325 from The Rotary Foundation.
Becky Morgenthal, a member of the 7390 Scholarship Committee, prepared this report on the presentation given by Norma Jean at the meeting of the RC of Carlisle on July 21, 2022, at which Norma Jean described her journey from college years to her plans for graduate studies. Becky followed Norma Jean’s words as she shares this narrative.
As a 2018 graduate of Dickinson College, I knew I wanted a career in International Development with a focus on agriculture and the environment. This passion has always been there.
I am the type of person who wants to feel certain before furthering my education and committing myself to a career. I knew the best way to be certain was to try out all potential career options.
My first step was the Peace Corps, which had been a goal of mine since I was a kid. I applied to go anywhere and do anything. I was sent to teach English in Ecuador and thought that education was a career path I would like.
Upon moving to a small pueblo in the Amazon Rainforest, I realized that what the community actually needed was help developing sustainable agricultural practices and building the capacity for eco-tourism. By listening to the community and shifting my goals, I began to see the interconnectedness of agriculture, the environment and rural livelihoods. This peaked my interest a lot more than the field of education.
When I was forced to return to the US due to COVID-19, I decided to work on a small organic farm in Vermont, because I wanted to see what sustainable agriculture looked like at the smallest level. I figured if I want to promote sustainable farming in Ecuador and other places globally, I should at least know how to grow food from seed to harvest.
As much as I loved the farming experience, I had not ruled out other career interests. I moved to Colorado to work at a non-profit reproductive and sexual health clinic. While working full time at the clinic, I worked part-time on a farm since agriculture was still a strong passion for me. While I loved helping marginalized groups access health care, I realized that my true passion is in empowering community development by strengthening food systems. This brought me full circle to what I had studied at Dickinson College.
And after four years sampling various careers, I now know what I want out of a career. I am excited to go back to school to pursue my dream. I am exceedingly grateful to Rotary District 7390 for making this possible and I hope to contribute to the betterment of the world on completion of my studies.
NOTE: The scholarship for this outstanding woman is made possible by contributions from Rotarians to The Rotary Foundation.
Submitted by: Becky Morgenthal
Member, District 7390 Global Grants Scholarship Committee
The Rotary Clubs of Carlisle and Carlisle Sunrise, ably led by Presidents Rod Frazier and Larenda Twigg, hosted a super successful RMB networking event on August 17 at the beautiful Frederick House in Carlisle with over 30 Rotarians and guests attending from at least 11 district clubs (Carlisle, Carlisle Sunrise, D7390 Passport, Mechanicsburg North, Lititz, York-North, Gettysburg, West Shore, Hershey, Harrisburg, and Allentown West in D7430). This event marks the 62nd RMB networking event in District 7390 history.
The event's Major Sponsor, Hoffman Funeral Home and Crematory, represented by Chris Hoffman and JIll Lazar, provided a perfect setting arranged beautifully even providing free pens, notepads, and popcorn along with some amazing hors d"oeuvres, wine, beer and water, which if consumption demonstrates anything were greatly enjoyed by all in attendance. Mary Brunski did a great job of running the Circle exercise even using the famous Scott Stevens playing card way of ensuring that there is no sure way of knowing when you will be called to give your elevator speech or pitch to the rest of the attendees. All in all this Restart of RMB in District 7390 was a success and builds momentum for moving forward. Thank you RMBers for helping get RMB in-person networking active again in Rotary District 7390.
Lamar Advertising is again offering all clubs in the District the opportunity to expand the reach of Rotary during the 2022-2023 Rotary Year through a club hosted DIGITAL Billboard for just $100! To take advantage of this generous offer click here!Special thanks is extended to Harrisburg Rotarian Andy Rebuck from Lamar Advertising, for leading this wonderful effort for our District!
Expand the Reach of Rotary Through the District Billboard Campaign
The York-East Rotary awarded a total of $13,500 in in grant funding to five nonprofit organizations in the York community. Each year the grants are presented to deserving projects and programs in the region. These worthy local organizations received grants for various needs and projects this year. Representatives from each organization attended our weekly meeting and received their grant awards.
Our club looks forward to this day each year because it is such a great feeling to give and learn how the money is being used within our community.
Thank you to everyone that donates to our organization through the various fundraisers that we hold each year. Without you we would not be able to provide these organizations with the funding that they need to make York a better place to live.
Pictured from L-R:
Mark Larkin – Big Brother Big Sisters – Purchase passes for kids and their Big to attend Kidspace activities
Maura Musselman – Leg Up Farm – Staff education and certification in speech therapy
Brittany Shutz – York Opioid Collaborative – Community and Parent education and Awareness
Karen Comery – York East Rotary President
Chris Izzo - York East Rotary Grant Committee Chairman
Sandra Graham – York East Rotary Past President
Phil Drayden – Crispus Attucks – Support of Rising Star Program
Zach Wolgemuth – York County Food Bank – Purchase of ramp for van
Please join us to support VETERANSat our Rotary Veterans Initiative (RVI) BBQ fundraiser at Rendezvous Run Farm (806 Alexander Spring Road, Carlisle, 17015) on Saturday, Sept 10th, from 4 to 10 p.m.
Rotary International requires that all Rotary Districts have a Crisis Management Plan in place that provides a protocol for the process by which Districts would respond to real or perceived emergencies when they arise. It is essential that we do our best to be prepared to respond to any risky situations that pose serious risks to student and volunteer health, safety, and security – as well as the district’s reputation. any disasters impacting Rotarians or the public during Rotary hosted events. Our District is currently in the planning stage focused on a Youth Crisis Management Plan to prepare for our incoming International Rotary Exchange Students. We are looking for a Mental Health Professional willing to donate their time to providing insight into the necessary language for such a plan. Although a Rotarian is preferred it is not essential. Please contact Jill Tenny, Chair, District 7390 Youth Exchange, if you or someone you know is interested. Email: rotaryd7390youthexchange@gmail.com
Mental Health Professional Needed for District Crisis Management Planning
As I traveled the district in my year as District Governor year, I realized five things:
There are many more passionate member Rotarians who have chosen Education as a Vocation than I ever realized.
There are many other vocations represented by passionate Rotarians across our district.
There is great work being done by many, if not most of the clubs across the district focused on those vocations.
Much of what is being done in the clubs is not shared across the district.
We can do a better job of sharing and learning from each other.
This invitation is the first of many more to come focused on sharing our ideas through Vocational Summits which will begin to help foster Rotary’s four strategic priorities of increasing our impact, expanding our reach, increasing member engagement and remain adaptable and relevant.
It's time. We can only continue to perpetuate and GROW the Service we provide IF we continue to GROW and ENGAGE our Membership. We MUST be purposeful about our Growth. Each of us. Seek the right people.... people who are Rotarians... but just don't know it yet.
It's time to act.
It's time to Grow Rotary and ENGAGE our members again. Are you with me?
District 7390 Rotarian Educators Summit
When: August 18th 7pm to 8pm
Who: All Rotarians who currently or formerly worked in schools including but not limited to school Superintendents, Principals, Teachers, Guidance Counselors and Administrative Support
What: A one hour conversation on three topics
How can we grow young people in service and leadership through people and programs within Rotary?
How do we get more Educators involved in Rotary?
What action should be taken because of this Summit?
Saturday, October 1, 2022 – Ride to Eradicate Polio – Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, Shippensburg Station – Registration is coming soon. All registration fees will go toward the registrant’s Paul Harris points.
Saturday, October 22, 2022, 8 AM – 4 PM – Rotary Leadership Institute, Central Penn College. Registration is coming soon.
Saturday, November 19, 2022, Rotary Foundation Dinner, Eden Resort, Lancaster, PA. Registration link pending.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers have dedicated their time, energy, and skills to ensure our safety. As they provided vaccinations, administered tests, tracked outbreaks, and cared for patients, they sometimes put their health at risk to do so.
With the pandemic far from over, we have an opportunity to show our appreciation for them. From 21-27 August, Rotary International is asking all Rotarians to recognize the work of health care professionals in communities around the globe. Find ways to show health care workers your appreciation at https://on.rotary.org/3ooBPNy
Pictured: Rod Frazier, Rotary Club of Carlisle President, and DG Juliet Altenburg shown at Mass Vaccination Center, June 2021 in Carlisle PA. Both are members of the South Central PA Medical Reserve Corps.
Show Your Appreciation to Health Care Workers August 21-27!
This Rotary Year we will be trying new ways to educate Rotarians and the communities in which we serve. One of those ways is through a series of videos. Our inaugural video features an assortment of District Leaders and our new mascot Francis the cat! Check out the video on the District You Tube Channel at https://youtu.be/FKWKfBokk-8. Happy viewing and a BIG THANK YOU to all those who spend countless hours in support of our clubs throughout District 7390!
Learn More About the 2022-2023 District 7390 Leadership Team!
Jack Detweiler has been a member of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg for 27 years and recalls working on or chairing the Club’s Ecology Committee for many of those years. Annually, he has coordinated the Club’s judging and awarding of a prize for students winning the Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair (CASEF).
According to Detweiler, “Our committee members are asked to serve as judges for student entries from many area schools. In a typical year, we can receive 10 to 20 presentations to review. CASEF provides a scoring guide to provide consistency of presentation quality.”
CASEF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization and a PA EITC Innovative Educational Program initiative. For these competitions, CASEF follows performance standards of the Society for Science and the Public (ISEF) with a goal focused on promoting the understanding and appreciation of science. That organization sees the critical role science and engineering play in our society: to inform, educate, and inspire.
Because of Covid issues it was no surprise the 2021 CASEF student competition was virtual. Instead of live presentations that year, competitors submitted short videos. CASEF participants submitted their projects to a centralized web. Detweiler says, “We are in the Special Award Category for Life Science and present a $750 check to a student winning in the Senior Division. Projects in 2022 were submitted virtually and live. Our committee again reviewed them virtually, which actually allows more time to accurately review the projects.”
A Wide Range of Projects
According to Valerie Knowles the CASEF Director, “Recent events confirm that it is very evident that we need to be encouraging young scientists to find solutions to life’s greatest challenges and prepare a healthy and sustainable future.”
Detweiler believes he’s seen, “Projects ranging from beetles to stream water studies. He noted, “The 2020 winner of the Rotary Ecology Award was Kathryn Miller, a sophomore at Carlisle HS. She demonstrated how Oxbenzone in sunscreen effects and eventually kills coral polyps. She did this project in the lab with actual coral polyps. Because of the pandemic, she presented her project to our Club via Zoom. In 2019 our winner was Adele Shirmer, a senior at West Perry HS. Her project was "Beetles Beware - Effects of Various Biopesticides on Callosobruchus Maculatus Behavior."
Adele went on to Colorado State University to major in Fishery Management. She says that with the help of the RCH award she was offered a scholarship as an Honors Undergraduate Research Scholar allowing her to afford to attend CSU. She has been assisting a graduate student with his study on Walleye bioenergetics and is working on local employment as a fishery technician to start her career.
Our winner in 2018 was April Pavonka, a senior at Camp Hill HS. Her project was "Optimizing Hydroponic Plant Growth and Energy Usage with LED Spectral Manipulation". She was also our winner in 2016 when she was a sophomore with another project.
Our winner in 2021 was Samual Koda from Hershey High School with his hands-on project that addressed an invasive ecological problem in his neighborhood entitled “What is the best Spotted Lanternfly Trap?”
Our winners in 2022 were Aiden Callahan and Annabel Hathaway from Harrisburg Academy with the project, “A Comparison of Eco-Friendly and Green Products’ Effects on the Environment.” It is the first time that we have ever given the award to a “team.” They were both sophomores. They put in an amazing amount of work on their project, were scrupulous in following the scientific method and their mathematical documentation was quite rigid. It was an interesting outcome that “Dawn” detergent turned out less toxic in many cases than the so-called “green” detergents that were tested.”
Says Detweiler, “Some of our winners actually did their experiments in various creeks and streams in the Central PA area, such as Madeline Grossman, a senior at Cumberland Valley HS in 2017 with her project, “'It's All "Creek" to me, or Kyle Wise a senior at Carlisle HS with his project, "D-Netting vs. Leaf Bagging; Which Macro Invertebrate Collection is the most accurate."
Most notably he adds, “One of our previous winners was Eric Horstick from East Pennsboro HS. His project was how Moss could be used to temper the effects of Acid Mine Drainage. He credits Rotary with inspiring him in his future studies. He went on to get a PHD and currently works for the National Institute of Health.”
Harrisburg Club's Detweiler Has Seen Beetles to Stream Bug Bagging While Serving as Chair of the Science Committee
The Rotary Club of York is pleased to announce its 2022-2023 Officers. From left to right: Courtney Piccolo, President-Elect Nominee; Glenn Miller, President; Aaron Jacobs, President-Elect; and Doug Berman, Financial Vice-President/Treasurer.
Rotary Club of York Announces 2022-2023 Club Leadership
We are excited to share that new 16 Rotarians have joined our District’s Rotary clubs since June 1st. A warm welcome is extended to the following NEW Rotarians:
Rotary Club of Carlisle: Marcellus Taylor
Rotary Club of Elizabethtown: Nancy Sabb
Rotary Club of Harrisburg: Alicia Frederick, Robert Parish, Reuben Pettiford, Kelly Myers
Rotary Club of Mount Joy: Christopher Neiles
Rotary Club of Paradise: Adam Naugle
Rotary Club of West Shore: Jonathan Suhirman, Rick Sample
Rotary Club of York: Brittany Reese, Melissa Rosario, Dan Byrnes, Scott Krauser, Aaron Ranck
Rotary Club of York-North: Lisa Vaughn, Donna Phillips
The Rotary Club of Hanover is inviting all Rotarians in District 7390 to a presentation by Michael McGovern, Chair of the International Polio Plus Committee at Rotary International and John Nanni, 2022 recipient of Rotary International Service Award for a Polio Free World. Together they will present “Polio Plus-The Last Mile’’. Join us Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 12:00 Noon (Markets of Hanover Ballroom, 1649 Broadway, Hanover). Please click here to register in advance!
Diversity is one of Rotary’s longstanding core values and greatest strengths! That is why RI President Jennifer Jones is encouraging each of us to do more to be a welcoming and inclusive organization. Rotary District 7390 is aiming to do just that! Join us for a for a brainstorming session via Zoom on Monday, August 1st at 6:00 p.m. All Rotarians are invited to this session! We want to hear your thoughts! Click here to RSVP today! . Find out more about this initiative and others by clicking here.
You are Invited to the First Meeting of the District 7390 DEI Committee!
The Rotary Club of Carlisle held its Annual Christmas in July celebration for the senior citizens who live at 1 and 2 West Penn apartments in Carlisle. The event consisted of providing snacks for the seniors, singing Christmas carols, telling fun facts about Christmas and door prizes. The Piece de resistance was the arrival of Santa in his Summer attire, telling jokes that the elves must have written. Every elderly resident was also given a Goody bag that consisted of toiletries, hand sanitizer, shampoo, washcloths, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc. Everyone was so appreciative of what we did. We also had family members of Rotarians helping as well. It was a great time for everyone involved!
In partnership with the Rotary District 7390 RMB Steering Committee, the Rotary Clubs of Carlisle and Carlisle Sunrise will host the 62nd RMB in-person networking meeting on Wednesday, August 17, 2022 thus restarting RMB in our district. This will be the first RMB in-person meeting since the COVID-19 pandemic hit full force in March 2020.
The meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 17 at the Frederick House on 219 N Hanover Street, Carlisle, PA from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. Thanks to our Major Sponsor Hoffman Funeral Home and Crematory the event will be FREE and will have light refreshments consisting of hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, soft drinks and water.
Mark your calendars and register at https://bit.ly/3z5DSfh so you can restart old connections and make new ones. Bring family of Rotary and potential Rotarian guests so they can see the value RMB adds to Rotary.
Remember given the trust that living by the Four Way Test engenders, the purpose of RMB is that Rotarians should help fellow Rotarians by doing business with them and referring others to them in order to build stronger businesses, stronger communities, stronger members, stronger Rotary Foundation, stronger clubs, and ultimately a stronger Rotary International.
If you've been contemplating honoring a hero, time is running out! There are only 11 flags remaining that don't have a sponsor attached to them. For our fellow Rotarians, the club will accept sponsorships through Sunday, September 4, and payment may be made via PayPal.
Please help us make this Flags for Heroes a sell-out event!
All are welcome to attend the dedication ceremony which will be held on Monday, September 12 from 11:00 am - Noon at the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill.
Your sponsorship and/or attendance goes a long way in helping us make a difference in the community, encouraging our small club and its members, and spreading the Rotary message!
Rotary Club of West Shore Flags for Heroes - ONLY 11 FLAGS REMAIN!
Join us for a great in-person event! Beer. Wine. Music. Food for purchase. Fundraising for local community needs. What a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon!
Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m.
What are you doing August 8th? Come out to Langan Financial Group (1863 Center Street, Camp Hill) from 5:30-7:30 for out Puppies and Prosecco event!
Each ticket comes with two complimentary glasses of Prosecco. There will be raffles, door prizes, puppies and so much more.
Each ticket is a minimum of a $20 donation. Each ticket gets you two glasses of Prosecco and acess to petting puppies.
All money raised at this event goes toward sending high school students to RYLA. RYLA is a youth leadership summer camp at Messiah College and our club sends 10 local students a year.
Congratulations to Hershey Rotarian Paul Thompson on being named the 2022 Packy Award winner. The award is given in memory of Purnell “Packy” Payne, who is regarded as one of the all-time major contributors to the Club’s promise of Service Above Self. Paul has been a member of the Hershey Rotary Club for 15 years. He and his wife, fellow Rotarian Maria Thompson, have visited more than two dozen Rotary Clubs around the world and attended four Rotary International conferences. Paul served as Club President in 2019-2020 and will be Rotary District 7390 Governor in 2024-2025. He and his family have hosted numerous Rotary Exchange students to build goodwill with people worldwide. Thanks to Paul for being an incredible ambassador for Rotary!
The Rotary Club of Gettysburg doesn’t rest on a holiday! They get to work with community partners to make some money to give back to needy folks and have fun in the process! Congrats Gettysburg RC Club on supporting A Gettysburg Fourth!
Today I had the pleasure of launching the first of many summer club visits with the wonderful members of the Rotary Club of Hummelstown! Thank you Hummelstown Rotarians for the warm welcome and all the wonderful ways you serve the community!
From DG Juliet: My 4th club visit with the mighty Rotary Club of Eastern York County! The club had a raffle to benefit the husband of a member who died of COVID-19. Care, compassion, fun, and service describe this club best!
From DG Juliet: club visit 6 was with the wonderful Uptown York Rotary Club under the energetic leadership of President Jose Santiago. They are a diverse club that has attracted new members this past year and have goals to do that further as they IMAGINE ROTARY. They epitomize their motto of “Lifting Spirits through Community Service” and lifted mine with their incredibly warm welcome and hospitality! If you want to be lifted up, drop into their club meeting every Thursday evening at 5:30 PM at Rockfish Public House!
DG Juliet’s 2nd club visit as part of her District 7390 “impact” tour (look out Jennifer Jones) was conducted with the wonderful members of 2 clubs -Palmyra PA Rotary Club and Northern Lebanon Rotary Club. These small but mighty clubs have a history of generous Foundation giving, long standing service and members who have served for decades as role models in their communities. Palmyra VP Ben was a great host (thanks for the DQ ice cream) and Eric went above and beyond to provide technology in the pavilion. Thanks everyone!!
District Governor Juliet has been busy since the start of the new Rotary Year!
The Rotary Club of York East has celebrated its annual “Changing of the Guard” at Heritage Hills on Tuesday, June 28th. Rotarians joyfully commemorated a year of service to their community, the world and meaningful friendships. The “Changing of the Guard” salutes outgoing President Sandra Graham and welcomed Karen Comery as the incoming President. The club also commemorates the past year’s accomplishments and sets course for the upcoming year. Approximately 40 members attended the event including the past District Governor Greg Staub.
The award recipients of a Paul Harris Fellowship Award sets an example for many by their contributions to our community. Their personal involvement makes the community a better place in which to live. The Paul Harris Fellowship Award is named for Paul Harris, who founded Rotary more than 112 years ago. The Paul Harris Fellowship Award is one of the highest honors Rotary can bestow upon a person. Recipients are Rotarians and community professionals, in recognition of their outstanding contributions, exemplifying the highest ideal in Rotary in placing “SERVICE ABOVE SELF.” This honor accompanies a donation of $1,000 (US), in the recipient’s name, to Rotary International’s “Annual Program Fund,” which supports Rotary’s world-wide programs. Many other notable figures have been named as Paul Harris Fellows, including U.S. President Jimmy Carter. Locally, the Rotary Club of York-East has recognized local community members who are pictured left to right. (Robert Elser, Friedel Liebe-Elser, Vicki Dick, Don Wonders, Robert Straw, Lydell Nunn, Bill Gierasch, Sandi Graham, Peter Lutz, Margaret Lutz, Elizabeth Wolf, Becky Disney and Past District Governor Greg Staub)
York-East Installs New Leadership and Awards Paul Harris Fellowships
On June 29th, The Rotary Club of York installed Glenn Miller of York College as the 2022/2023 Club President. Miller’s term begins July 1. He succeeds Jackie Summers whose term ends June 30th. Miller was presented for induction by Tony Campisi, Chairman of the Glatfelter Insurance Group.
Miller serves as Senior Director of Philanthropy for York College of Pennsylvania. He is also a priest on staff at Saint James Episcopal Church in Lancaster. Miller has been active in the York community for many years. In addition to more than 10 years in the Rotary Club, he serves on the boards of directors of the Rotary Club’s charitable arm, the York County History Center, RabbitCares (chair), the charitable arm of Rabbit Transit and the York Symphony Orchestra. He has previously served on the boards of the York County Four Chaplains Memorial (past president), the York Area Housing Group, 3PRide of Rabbit Transit, and the Wheatland Chorale (past president).
The Rotary Club of York is the 26th largest Rotary Club in the world, and has served the York community for over a century, bringing together business and civic leaders. The club’s motto of “service above self” has led to immeasurable contributions to programs serving York City and county, as well as scholarships for young people.
On Wednesday, June 22, The Rotary Club of York's President Jackie Summers and Past President Jody Keller honored Kathy Pindzola and Sarah Reinecker with Service Above Self awards. Kathy and Sarah are Founders of York Suburban Education Foundation's (YSEF) Impact Foundation, a committee of students dedicated to helping other students. Since its inception in 2015, the Impact Foundation has provided students who need a helping hand with basic necessities, such as clothing, food, hygiene products, laundry detergent, school supplies, and furniture and appliances.
Thank you, Kathy and Sarah, for helping to meet the needs of local students through your philanthropic actions. You both are a true example of placing Service Above Self!
Following a commitment to alternative meeting options, Club members are invited to monthly Service on a Monday projects. Most recently numerous RCH members met to assemble “welcome home” kits for people transitioning from homelessness to a new residence.
Partnering with Christian Churches United (CCU), RCH members were hosted by club member Bob Geiger, VP of Sales, at the Penn Live/PA Media Group headquarters to place home cleaning supplies, toiletries and other basic household starter goods into trash cans and laundry baskets. Assembled kits will soon be distributed to some thirty people.
Steve Schwartz, CCU Director of Development and active member of RCH helped coordinate matching the needs of the community with the power of Rotarians. Club member Meghan Bachmore coordinated the RCH luncheon for attending members including COVID sign-in protocols and numerous other details to make the event a success.
Darrel Reinford, Executive Director of CCU and Leah Payne, Manager of CCU’s HELP Ministries Program which will distribute the kits, joined the group to extend a heart-felt thank you for the recipients. Leah noted that many hands make large tasks move to completion quickly. She also noted that transitioning from homelessness to a residence often calls for a larger need than just food, furniture or clothing, and that these kits will be much valued in helping families get established in their new home.
It took two vans to transport the assembled cleaning kits to CCU.
In addition to those mentioned above, RCH members attending included: President Matt Staub, Ted Reese, Frank Frailey, Peggy Grove, Will Everhart, Scott Stevens and his two children, Walter Prediger, Bob Saline, Tom Johnston and Joe Bedard.
Service Above Self!
Getting team breakdowns and assembly instructions.
Walter and President Matt inspect final assembled kits.
Bob Geiger transports kits from assembly area to curbside.
CCU Executive Director Darrel Reinford awaits transportation vans.
The Rotary International Motto "Service Above Self" Shines Again at the Rotary Club of Harrisburg
Rotarians from District 7390 met in Houston, Texas with other Rotarians from around the world to be inspired and celebrate all that is Rotary. Over 10 District clubs were represented and we had a blast! Pictured are members from Rotary Clubs of Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg-North, Hershey, Elizabethtown, and Carlisle-Sunrise. To read daily stories from the convention posted by DGE Juliet go to the District Blog at https://d7390rotaryblog.wordpress.com
The next Rotary Convention in May 2023 is in Melbourne Australia. Special discounts can be obtained through June 12th! Travel to this amazing location and have fun with thousands of fellow Rotarians!
Your 2021-2022 support of The Rotary Foundation will make it possible for Rotary to fund hundreds of Global and District Grants, administer childhood immunizations to eradicate Polio, and generate dollars to provide Disaster Response especially to Ukraine. In fact, District 7390 Rotarians have contributed approximately $75,000 this year to disaster response. Every donation helps improve lives and communities around the world.
There is still time to realize your annual giving goals. Fulfilling pledges to the Paul Harris Society ($1,000 annually) and the district PolioPlus Society ($100 annually) are key to the work of the Foundation. If you have not completed your pledge for this year, please help the district finish strong before the end of the month.
Donations to PolioPlus will be matched 2 to 1 by the Gates Foundation. The number of Polio cases in the world is rising, now up to six according to John Kramb, Region 39 Polio Now Coordinator. And, a new country, Mozambique, reported a new case in the last two weeks.
End of year Rotary Foundation deadlines:
CHECKS - Both the postmark on the envelope and the date written on the check must be no later than Thursday, 30 June 2022, and processed by the bank no later than Thursday, 7 July 2022. Mailed to: The Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693
CREDIT CARD - www.rotary.org/give - Must be authorized on or prior to midnight on 30 June 2022 CST. For security purposes, please do not send credit card contributions electronically or via email.
WIRE TRANSFERS - Wire transfers must be initiated prior to Thursday, 30 June 2022 and received by Wednesday, 6 July 2022.
SECURITIES - Stock, mutual funds or other gifts of securities must be received prior to Thursday, 30 June 2022.
LIFE INCOME AGREEMENTS & DONOR ADVISED FUND GIFTS - The same deadlines for checks and securities apply. Please contact planned giving at plannedgiving@rotary.org for transfer instructions.
The deadlines apply to individual members giving and donations made by Rotary clubs. Gifts received before the end of June will be credited for this year. The attachment also contains a link to The Rotary Foundation Contribution Form.
On behalf of Governor Greg Staub and the district leadership team, we thank you for supporting The Rotary Foundation. You are making a difference! Questions may be directed to Anna-Mae Kobbe, District Rotary Foundation Chair at amkobbe@gmail.com.
Finishing Strong….End of Year Rotary Foundation Contributions
Please join us for our 28th Annual Golf Tournament & Crab Feast on Friday, July 15th which benefits our three local libraries: Paul Smith in New Freedom, Mason Dixon in Stewartstown, and Arthur Hufnagle in Glen Rock.
Sponsorships are available!
Golfers welcome!
You can attend just for the crab/chicken feast if you don't want to golf.
The RI Convention starts this weekend! Are you attending? If yes, let us know! For those who can’t attend in person there is a virtual option as noted below. DGE Juliet will be there and reporting from Houston on our district FaceBook page and the District Rotary blog at: https://d7390rotaryblog.wordpress.com/
Can’t make the #Rotary22 convention in person? Join virtually for $75 from 11 May (12:00 a.m. Chicago time) through 31 August 2022. Register now at https://on.rotary.org/38XbelV
RYLA will be held June 12-16, 2022 at Messiah University. The RYLA Family Night Celebration is a culminating event that will end the RYLA Conference on Thursday, June 16, 2022. Rotarians and guests are encouraged to attend! Family Night Celebration reservations can be made by clicking here. The cost is $15 per person.
A reception with heavy hors' deouvres will begin at 6:00 p.m. and will be followed by the celebration program at 6:45 p.m. The conference Choir & Band will both perform and the Conference Leadership Awards will be presented.
At the 2022 Rotary District 7390 Conference, DG Greg had the honor of presenting several awards to Rotarians in District 7390. The next time you see these awesome Rotarians, congratulate them on their dedication to Rotary!
The Regional Service Award for a Polio-Free World
The Regional Service Award for a Polio-Free World was established by the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation in order to recognize outstanding work in the field of the eradication of Polio. To be considered for the award, a Rotarian must have active personal service in the effort to eradicate polio. Outstanding service in the field of advocacy and fundraising efforts that supports Rotary’s PolioPlus program may also be considered.
In the 2021-2022 Rotary year, Past District Governor John Kramb was selected to receive the Regional Service Award for a Polio-Free World. PDG John has been on several NID trips to India, hosts multiple events per year to raise funds toward the eradication of Polio and currently serves as the End Polio Now Coordinator for Region 39W. Congratulations John!
District 7390 Outstanding Service Award
The District 7390 Outstanding Service Award is presented to one District Rotarian per year. We are looking for a Rotarian that has served in a District leadership role or done dynamic, innovative work on a District Committee for three or more years. This person should have also crafted or contributed to a well-developed strategy to achieve District goals and ultimately made the District stronger.
The 2021-2022 recipient of the District 7390 Outstanding Service Award is Past District Governor Alden Cunningham. Alden is a member of the Rotary Club of Carlisle. He served as District 7390 Governor in 2005-2006 and is a member of the Paul Harris Society and a Major Donor to The Rotary Foundation. Alden is receiving the District Outstanding Service Award for his dedicated service to Rotary Means Business and the District Awards committee. Alden implemented Rotary Means Business in the District and created District centered awards to honor Rotarians in District 7390. Thank you Alden for your dedication to Rotary, Rotary Means Business and through honoring Rotarians with awards. Congratulations Alden!
D7390 Lifetime Achievement Award
The be eligible for the Lifetime Achievement Award, Rotarians are required to have at least 25 years of Rotary membership and demonstrate effective work at the Club and District levels.
The 2021-2022 recipient of the District 7390 Lifetime Achievement Award is Past District Governor Connie Spark. Connie is a member of the Rotary Club of York-East. She joined Rotary in 1996 and served as District Governor in 2009-2010. She was a GSE team member in 1994-1995 and a GSE team leader in 2000-2001. Connie is a graduate of the Rotary Leadership Institute and has attended the last 16 International conventions. Connie has a passion for Humanitarian Medical Missions and has either lead or participated in 35 mission trips.
Connie has the been very involved in the York-East Rotary Club and at the District and Zone levels of Rotary. She served as the District Rotary Foundation Chair, a member of the Grant committee, a District Lane chair, and now at the Zone level as an Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator. Congratulations Connie!
Rotary International Service Above Self Award
Rotary's highest honor is the Service Above Self Award. It recognizes Rotarians who demonstrate Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, by volunteering their time and talents to help others. The award is internationally competitive and is granted to no more than 150 Rotarians worldwide.
DG Greg had the honor of presenting the Rotary International Service Above Self Award to Kathleen Stoup. Kathleen is a member of the Rotary Club of Carlisle. She has demonstrated outstanding humanitarian service with over two decades of transformational efforts in Kenya. Her work in Kenya has improved the lives of thousands of Kenyans in the very poor and isolated areas of Kilimombogo and Thika.
Kathleen has developed longstanding ties and built trust with local leaders and Rotarians. These relationships have helped to make projects in Nairobi successful. The projects have been to expand dental support capabilities, water infrastructure and education and training in water usage plus improving eye care. Back at home, she has successfully raised significant funds to help with cancer treatment in the Carlisle area and devoted herself to local area beautification as a Master Gardener. Kathleen’s work on the District 7390 Grants Committee has brought to fruition many grants over the years. She is a compassionate leader that has shown the ability to “Make it Happen” again and again. Kathleen has had many accomplishments over the years with no expectation of recognition. She truly embodies “Service Above Self”. Congratulations Kathleen!
We hope we can count on you this year to sponsor a Flag for your Hero and to help us share the word with others by passing along this information and the sponsorship forms to friends and family. Sponsorships are available on both an individual and a corporate basis. Corporate sponsorship entitles the sponsor to receive 5 flags to honor heroes as well as a corporate banner that will be on display with the beautiful American Flags flying in the breeze.
This year our Flags will proudly fly for a two-week period starting May 21, 2022, through June 5, 2022, at the New Freedom Heritage Green. Medallions on sponsored flags will be placed on the flags as in past years and will be given to the sponsors when the flags are removed.
Join us for a patriotic Dedication and Remembrance ceremony at the New Freedom Heritage Green site 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 28, 2022.
The Mechanicsburg Club has been working on a Global Grant for the community of Metalillito, El Salvador since it was approve in September of 2019. All of the part of the grant have been completed and about $18,000 of the funding remains. The club plans to petition The Rotary Foundation for permission to use these funds to build more composting toilets for the growing community which has identified a need for 35 more units. Continue reading below for the full story of the club's work with this community.
Background The community of Metalillito in El Salvador was urgently needing to solve the problem of maintaining and enhancing their water system. Metalillito is a poor community with about 310 families and over 1,000 people located in a south-west hilly area of El Salvador. The Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg learned of the community while drilling a District Club Grant funded well nearby in 2011. Metalillito was in desperate need of a sanitation solution at that time. They had a well-organized community group (ACAPOME) that was seeking solutions, but they lacked to money and technical expertise to solve their problem. It’s a long story but the club was able to obtain a Global Grant for $123,888 (GG1420733) and construct 203 composting toilets and a 100 m3 water storage tank in 2015. We developed a relationship with the host Rotary Club of San Salvador Noroeste to do the project. Seven Mechanicsburg Club members visited the community and the Noroeste Club in February 2016. They were very pleased with the project and honored by the welcome which they received.
Current Project
Beginning in late 2017, the community prepared some documents describing their need for a way to have a sustainable water system. They saw the primary problem was the high electricity cost. Their proposed solution was a solar power system. This idea was informally presented to the Rotary Foundation which responded that a comprehensive/sustainable proposal was required. The global grant application was developed and consisted of three major areas: 1) Solar electric panels connected to the ground water pump and the utility’s grid with associated training in maintenance, 2) Office computer and printing equipment with associated training in development and management of a water system, and 3) Hygiene and Sanitation training.
After collecting the required information GG1984786 for $47,218 was submitted and was approved on 9/16/2019. There were several issues with actually getting the funds but they were received in December 2019. Further delays were caused by revised, but lower quotes so the project did not start until March 2020. That is when COVID-19 started and it greatly impacted the project until September 2020. By December 2020, the solar panels had been installed but the utility did not approve their operation until April 2021. In the meantime, the community and the Rotary club celebrated the solar panel installation on 12/6/2020 and the first global grant progress report was submitted on 12/17/2020.
In April 2021 the solar panel maintenance training was completed. The final software installation with utility operation training and community hygiene training was accomplished in January 2022. The project is completed as designed and a progress report was submitted on April 19, 2022.
The project has over $18,000 of unspent funds. We will be asking The Rotary Foundation to use those funds to build more composting toilets. The size of need is being documented and quotes for the work are being sought.
On May 18, 2022, the Rotary Club of Colonial Park Foundation will award $82,000 in scholarships to 31 high school students from the five schools in their area. This year, the Foundation received 339 applications from students for the 21 different scholarships available. Randy Sibert, President of the Foundation said, “this was a record number of scholarships for us and an increase of 141 scholarship applications more than last year.” Scholarship amounts ranged from $500 to $21,000.
Since 2002, the Rotary Club of Colonial Park and the Foundation have given $254,900 to organizations in the community and $688,908 in scholarships for a total in 2022 of $943,808. The Rotary Club is anticipating going over the one-million-dollar mark in 2023!
Rotary Club of Colonial Park Awards $82,000 in Scholarships
The Rotary Club of Hershey partnered with District 7450, RC of Quito Occidente and other clubs to help fund a project to improve community health in Ecuador. This $111,000 project assisted 350 individuals in 70 families.
The family and community health project focused on health promotion, disease prevention and treatment. Through workshops and on-line sessions, training was provided about healthy lifestyles and disease prevention. Diagnosis, treatments, rehabilitation were provided in areas including nutrition, sex education, drug abuse prevention, HIV/AIDS, and dental care in an effort to improve overall health in the community. Many young people involved demonstrated learning disabilities that were addressed by the project.
Photos demonstrate training and care provided.
Rotary Club of Hershey - Healthy Families, Ecuador
As we seem to be in the early phase of possibly a second Cold War, it might be useful to see the first Cold War through the life of an Army officer who served on many fronts of that war from Germany to the Pentagon in Washington, DC, from Vietnam to Korea, and from Mexico to Nicaragua. Colonel (R) Alden M. Cunningham experienced levels of war from a mix of conventional and guerilla war in Vietnam, to a no war no peace armistice in Korea, and to insurgency in Nicaragua. In the 1980s, he wrote award winning articles regarding Mexico's National Security and US Strategic Options in Nicaragua.
This autobiography captures all phases of his life of Leadership in Service both as an Army senior Foreign Area officer defending our nation and as a former officer of Rotary International doing good in the world. His book is available on amazon.com (Kindle), barnesandnoble.com (Nook), and other platforms for $4.99 plus tax. Please consider buying the online version of this autobiography written by a fellow Rotarian and 38 year member of Rotary District 7390. Thank you.
The York-East Rotary Club awarded two $1,500 scholarships to senior students, Matthew Althouse from York Suburban and Holly Ilgenfritz from York County School of Technology. They both participated in the Student of the Month program.
Two junior students were also chosen, Kalyn Paradis from York Suburban and S’Arion Kent . The juniors will attend RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) at Messiah University in June.
The scholarship awards were presented to the students at the clubs meeting on April 26. Near the end of the school year the club selects a student from each school based on an application which the students submit and the interactions that occur at the meetings. As always, when listening to students, club members feel reassured that the future of America is bright.
On Feb 25th, Rotary International issued a statement on the conflict in Ukraine. The statement read, in part “It is a tragic and sad time for the people of Ukraine and the world. At Rotary, we are deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Ukraine and the escalating loss of life and humanitarian hardship there. Rotary International will do everything in its power to bring aid, support and peace to the region.”
To address this global concern at a local level, The Rotary Club of York’s Charitable Endowment Fund (CEF) Board approved a matching Disaster/Emergency Relief grant for up to $5,000. During the month of March, Rotary Club of York members were encouraged to donate to this critical and timely need.
As a result of generous donations from Rotary Club of York members, the CEF was able to well exceed its initial goal of $5,000. At the April 27th weekly meeting, Bryan Tate, CEF President and Jackie Summers, Rotary Club of York President, presented a check for $25,000. This money will be donated to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Recover Fund at the Center for Disease Philanthropy (CDP), a non-profit organization dedicated to helping donors maximize their impact through expert resources.
Photo Caption:
Bryan Tate, York Rotary Charitable Endowment Fund (CEF) President and Jackie Summers, Rotary Club of York President, proudly display a check for $25,000 to aid those impacted by the war in Ukraine. The donation, which will go to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Recover Fund at the Center for Disease Philanthropy, was made possible by a matching $5,000 grant from the CEF and generous donations from members of The Rotary Club of York.
Your $100 contribution to The Rotary Foundation can help provide textbooks for one elementary school in Zambia, provide a hearing aid for a deaf child in Pakistan, buy de-worming tablets for 112 children in the Philippines, pay for cataract operations for three blind people in India, or provide 230 blankets for the elderly in the winter months of Korea.
Will you commit today to donating $100 or more per year to The Rotary Foundation and start making a difference in people’s lives?
Rotarians Unite to Send Medical Aid to Ukraine
Rotary members in North America, Argentina, and Europe are collaborating with a U.S.- based association of Ukrainian health care workers to collect and ship more than 100 tons of critical medical supplies to Ukraine. The effort was built off of connections Marga Hewko, president of the Rotary Club of Chicago, had forged with the Ukrainian medical community in Chicago. Rotary clubs have pooled their resources to secure donations from equipment manufacturers and purchase supplies which are then flown over to Europe for distribution within Ukraine
When passion and raw determination are added to the miracle of modern vaccines, great things happen. Over the last 30 years, Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative have seen the reduction of polio cases worldwide, by 99.9 percent. But, as long as polio and the many other vaccine preventable diseases still circulate anywhere in the world, children in the US are still vulnerable and must continue to be vaccinated.
Over the last 2 years, the world has seen unsurpassed death and illness from yet another virus. In reading the Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation Position Statement onCOVID-19 Vaccination, I am reminded that we have even more work to do. Here we are in the early months of 2022, with more than 950,000 American deaths as a result of COVID-19. As a Rotary member and polio survivor, I am particularly aware of the important role vaccines play in halting the spread of disease. With that in mind, we must continue to support polio immunization efforts around the world, just as we continue to support the effort to mitigate COVID-19.
What can we do? We can be sharing fact-based vaccination information. Rotarians throughout our state are supporting our PA Immunization Coalition(s). I have personally had the opportunity to speak out, along with another Rotarian survivor, for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia about the realities of life after experiencing the effects of a vaccine preventable disease. I was one of three polio survivors who were given the opportunity to answer this call in a blog by the PA Immunization Coalition (PAIC).
We can be volunteering at vaccine clinics and holding blood drives. We can be distributing packets of vaccine information that encourage vaccine acceptance, to day care centers, physicians and clinics. We have a lot we can be doing in our District to answer this call.
Engage with your Rotary Club to learn more about how you can get involved as a partner supporting these efforts in your community. We are doing this not only for ourselves, but for future generations.
We have witnessed the truth first hand. Vaccines Work!
(A fun time on Saturday, April 23. In the picture along with the scouts and scout leaders are Rotarians Mira far left, Dr. Willis sixth from left in back and Linda Spotts to the far right.)
A fun morning on Saturday, April 23 with the Rotary Club of Susquehanna Township and other volunteers. The hour went really fast, and the scouts liked the tree planting and are interested in coming back to help us with the 2 elm trees yet to be purchased. The elm trees were not readily available for Saturday’s planting.
We provided the tools, trees, mulch and water and The junior and cadette scouts did the digging, planting, watering and mulching. Each of the 3 teams of scouts gave their dogwood a name – Gertrude a red dogwood, Ray a white dogwood and Jeri a red dogwood.
What a great project! A big thank you to Ralph for allowing us to plant trees on Susquehanna Union Green so that our club could fulfill a request from Janet Donovan, CEO of Girls Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, to partner with a scout troop for tree planning in the township.
Susquehanna Township Partners with Girl Scouts to Plant Trees
The eradication of Polio is still Rotary’s number one humanitarian goal. John Kramb is the End Polio Now Coordinator for our Zone, and he has developed a presentation for clubs. To schedule John to speak at your club, please email him at pdgjohn2015@gmail.com.
The current insurance program policies are expiring on 1 July 2022, and Risk Management is working on renewing them for the 2022-23 policy year. New policies will be purchased to provide continuous coverage and we will strive to maintain coverage as broad as the expiring policies.
Here are some insights provided to us during the initial stage of the renewal process:
Communicable Diseases Exclusion: The 2022-23 general liability policy likely will again contain a communicable diseases exclusion applicable to COVID-19.
Liquor Liability Coverage: The 2022-23 general liability policy likely will contain an endorsement that excludes coverage for “bodily injury or property damage caused by, in whole or in part, alcoholic beverages sold, served, or furnished while any liquor license is required and is not in effect." The current general liability policy provides liquor liability coverage and does not have restrictions such as this. In anticipation of this change, please verify whether a liquor license is required as part of your event and apply early if you determine one necessary. PLEASE NOTE: Our District insurance chair spoke to RI regarding this policy change. Their response is this: To speak using layman’s terms, it means the policy contains an endorsement that excludes coverage for incidents where a liquor license was required but wasn’t obtained in advance of the event.
Insurance Marketplace Conditions: The insurance marketplace has proven challenging. Insurance companies continue to raise their rates due to the increasingly frequent occurrence of catastrophic losses (severe storms, tornados, and wildfires) and the monetarily punitive amounts of damages being handed down by juries. We expect that this will affect insurance assessments and the Program. A premium credit will be issued due to the Program's favorable history as far as losses, and this will in part mitigate increases in premium.
Updates to Rotary Liability Insurance Starting July 1
Join WITF and Rotary 7390 Tuesday, May 24 at 6pm at the WITF Public Media Center in Harrisburg as we host the 2022 Teacher Impact Awards Banquet. Help us make this a special in-person event honoring dedicated teachers.
The buffet style hors d’oeuvres banquet is open to the public and recognizes outstanding professionalism, classroom leadership, and significant contributions made by teachers across our region during this past year. The event also provides an opportunity for the community to say “Thank You” to our educators for their commitment and dedication to our students.
We’ll present awards to seven K-12 teachers in public and private schools in the Rotary District’s seven county area which includes: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York. Plus, we’ll screen special video profiles of each educator highlighting their exemplary work in the classroom.
Tickets are $35 per person. Tickets must be purchased by May 18. Reserve your spot now!
Watch the broadcast premiere of the 2022 Teacher Impact Awards television special on WITF TV June 23 at 8pm or stream on-demand beginning June 23 through the PBS Video app.
York-North Rotary will be hosting a Summer Festival at PeoplesBank Park on June 11 from 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., to fund “Math is a Superpower”. The festival will feature live music, food, wine, beer, spirits, small games of chance and more will be featured. Please support this valuable math program, by joining us on June 11 at PeoplesBank Park.
Rotary Club of York-North has partnered with the York County Literacy Council to provide free, custom mathematics education, “Math is a Superpower.” Rotary Club of York-North will fund the program while the York County Literary Council will provide the training. This course is designed for individuals who are not in the education system and in need of remedial math education, including multiplication and division of fractions and decimals.
Graduates of this program will then qualify to enroll in the ManufacturingPathway Training Program, provided by the Manufacturers’ Association. Employment opportunities, with the Manufacturers’ Association membership companies, will become available following successful completion of both courses. Math as a Superpower will positively impact individuals, employers, and our community. The 8- week course, will meet two times per week from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., beginning September 20, 2022. The classes will be held at Career Link, 841 Vogelsong Road.
Rotary York-North has been in existence for over 30 years, providing service above self to local and international communities. Some successful programs to date are:
Funding for students in need in local school districts and local organizations
Providing services for homeless families, nursing home residents, and individuals with disabilities
Building an all-inclusive playground and supporting the Rotary Baseball field at Cousler Park
In today's society, bikers often get a bad rap. Previously, bikers were rough and tumble people that were part of a gang. That is no longer the case. Many bikers ride for recreation, and are productive members of society. They even do rides to raise awareness and money for charitable causes.
One of the causes supported by motorcycling Rotarians is the eradication of Polio. Many of the rides in which we participate also serve as a means to raise money for PolioPlus.
This particular fundraiser is designed to raise money over most of this riding season, and I ask for your support. Click here to support this effort!
You donation will be matched by the Gates Foundation two to one, and will count for your Paul Harris points.
The Rotary club of Eastern York recently applied for and received grant money to sponsor the new Kreutz Creek Library. The library moved out of an old trailer to its new location in the renovated building formerly used at the Hellam Township Police and municipal office. The club purchased mostly educational items and other items such as white boards, Nilo multi-activity childrens play table with stools, toy storage bags, storage cart with trays, and a toaster oven. The cost was $4,318 for items purchased for the library. The club was reimbursed $2,159. The total approved grant was $5,000.
Pictured with the four way test sign from left to right is Rotarian John Mann who facilitated the purchasing and application of grant, Library Manager Jennifer Johnson, and Club presenting Sharon Stoner.
The picture in the Children’s section is also Jennifer Johnson as she gave our club the tour of the new library.
The 5th running of this annual 5K benefit event is totally on the campus of Brethren Village directly across from the Lancaster Airport. The looped route winds around the lightly traveled community roads. With minimal elevation changes this will prove to be a fast and enjoyable course. Held rain or shine, the event will be professionally chip timed by Second Wind Race Timing.
Join us in beautiful Lancaster County just south of Lititz for this kick-off event to The Rotary Club of Lancaster’s Wheels and Wings Festival into the afternoon on the grounds of the Airport.
This race is a fundraiser. The proceeds of Wheels & Wings and 5k support the Rotary Club of Lancaster’s Summer Youth Experience. The summer program, funded in partnership with the United Way of Lancaster, supports more than a thousand city youth between the ages of five through seventeen. The program addresses the “achievement gap” and gives them fun things to do that develop leadership skills and helps prevent the “summer slide” in school. Benefits also support other service programs of our Club locally, nationally and globally through Rotary International, a network of over 32,000 clubs in 200 plus countries.
During World Immunization Week, 24-30 April, let’s advocate for polio eradication and the importance of vaccines to the health and well-being of our communities.
Vaccines are one of the greatest advances of modern medicine. They’re safe, effective, and save millions of lives each year. Our progress in the fight to end polio is proof that vaccines work.
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative estimates that the polio vaccine has saved more than 20 million children around the world from paralysis. We need to continue vaccinating children against polio, because as long as the poliovirus circulates anywhere, it is a threat everywhere.
Here’s how you can support Rotary’s efforts during World Immunization Week:
Use the World Immunization Week Toolkit for graphics and sample posts to share on social media with the hashtags #EndPolio and #VaccinesWork.
Donate to PolioPlus to help Rotary and our partners deliver polio vaccines to vulnerable children. Or start an online fundraiser using Raise for Rotary and share it with your friends, colleagues, and family members. All contributions will be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Rotary districts can give District Designated Funds (DDF) to PolioPlus to help meet our goal of raising $50 million each year to eradicate polio.
Join with Rotary to promote the power of vaccines to protect children and save lives
Our Daily Bread, located in York, Pa. is a soup kitchen that provides breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday for anyone who comes in. It has been in operation since 1983 and is aided in its operations by volunteers who help to serve meals to the less fortunate. On average, more than 100 meals are served each day. Members of the Rotary Club of York-East participate at Our Daily Bread on the last Tuesday of months which have 5 Tuesdays. One March 29th 2022 members Sandra Graham, Diane Yocum, Wendy Keesee and Bill Gierasch volunteered to serve lunch.
The Rotary Club of Hanover’s, Ralph Jodice, taught the Junior Achievement Program, Our Nation, to both of Mrs. Sherry Chroniger’s 6th grad social studies classes at St. Teresa of Calcutta in McSherrystown. JA Our Nation is 5 classes teaching students about the free market economy, innovation, careers, getting and keeping the job, and the linkages of today’s global economy. Junior Achievement has in class programs available for grades K through 8 and day long programs for 9th through 12th grades. For grades K through 8, JA produces and provides complete, easy to follow lessons plans for each grade. The 9th through 12th programs are developed and managed by experienced professionals, and you are there to assist and help facilitate the program. All are fun, rewarding and educational. Check them out at https://www.jascpa.org/ Have your club join in the JA fun today!
The Harrisburg Keystone club wants to say THANK YOU to all our fellow Rotarians who came out to support our 3rd annual Capital City Classic Cornhole. We are crunching the final numbers, but it looks like we raised right around $3,000.00!
We’d also like to CONGRATULATE our 2022 District 7390 Rotary Cornhole Champions—“Team Juliet,” our own DGE Juliet Altenburg and “DGE Spouse”Rob Altenburg from the Mechanicsburg North Club. Who knew that our incoming DG was such a cornhole ringer?
And don’t worry . . . you’ll all get your chance next to try take home that beautiful Rotary trophy to your club and dethrone “Team Juliet” as they come back to defend their title at next spring’s tournament. Start practicing your beanbag toss now!!!
Pictured L-R (Back Row): Jack Greenawalt, Nate McWilliams, Melissa Kopp-Smith (Club President), Carmen Calderon (Club President-Elect), Rick Dickerson, PDG John Anthony
Front Row: Martha Wolf, Charity Welch, Karen Anthony, Paul Duryea
The D7390 Passport Club was charted in November 2020. The Club meets virtually the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month at 7:00 p.m. The Club is planning to hold in-person socials several times throughout the year. On Thursday, March 31, Club members met at Iron Hill Brewery in Lancaster for an evening of fun! PDG John Anthony joined the meeting and presented the Clubs Charter to President Melissa Kopp-Smith and membership certificates were presented to all Club members in attendance. PDG John Anthony also had the privilege of presenting a Paul Harris Fellowship to Club member Martha Wolf.
Rotary Club of York and the York Rotary Charitable Endowment Fund have just opened the 2022 round of their Rotary Club community grants. York Rotary Grants provide valuable funding support to address the changing needs of York through grant programs focused on improving our local community. Grants of $2,500-$15,000 will be awarded to projects or programs in 2022 taking place July 1, 2022-June 31, 2023 that align local fields of interest with Rotary International’s focus to take action on our world’s most persistent issues.
The fields of interest chosen for 2022 and examples projects/programs that would fall under these fields follow. The Rotary Club grants committee only accepts letters of interest that fall under one or both of these interests.
Economic Development (Growing Local Economies)
Programs and projects helping low-income families achieve lasting financial security, or promoting equal economic opportunities
Events designed to draw people to a community and increase financial impact to the local economy
Educational programs in job training or that help residents start their own local business.
Peace (Promoting Peace & Social Justice)
Programs and projects designed to reduce community violence/crime
Events to bring people together to promote peaceful dialogue and address community divides
Educational programs promoting peaceful resolution to conflict
Programs, projects and events to promote equal rights and equitable opportunities for all York residents
Letters of Interest by York County based non-profit organizations can now be submitted for projects and programs that meet these focus areas until April 8, 2022 at 5:00pm EST. Full grant guidelines and online Letter of Interest applications can be found here. Letters of Interest addressing one or both fields of interest that are selected to move to the full application stage can request $2,500-$15,000. All LOI applicants will be notified of their status by 5/2/2022.
The York East Rotary Club voted to donate over $5,000 to disaster relief for refugees fleeing Ukraine due to the recent invasion of Russian military forces. The first $2,500 of member donations was matched by the club.
The club's president, Sandi Graham, issued the challenge to club and community members to add to the fund. The club said that the money raised by the Rotary International Foundation will be used to disburse funds in Ukraine and in countries bordering Ukraine who are providing water, food, medicine and clothing to refugees.
With 46,000 clubs across the globe, Rotary is one of the world's largest humanitarian organizations, and has made peace the cornerstone of its global mission. Our club is joining other Rotary clubs in our region in supporting this effort. We are hopeful that even those who are not members of our club will recognize they have an opportunity to directly help the mostly women and children who are fleeing for their lives. Many may be wondering how to help. You don't have to be a Rotary member to donate to this effort.
The United Nations has estimated that millions of people have already fled Ukraine to avoid the devastation caused by the advance of Russian troops, the club said.
The Rotary Club of Gettysburg welcomed Peter Miele, Executive Director of the Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center and a fellow Rotarian from the Rotary Club of Gettysburg. His presentation was entitled "The Civil War: Inside and Outside the Seminary Ridge Museum and Education Center." He shared how stately Schumaker Hall, built in 1832 and where the museum and education center is housed, was an integral part of Civil War and, in particular, the Battle of Gettysburg.
The museum has lots to offer with interactive exhibits and special tours of the cupola with its grand views and its perfect vantage point for see the advancing southern forces. Their website may be visited at www.seminaryridgemuseum.org.
The Conference will be held Friday, May 6 & Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the Best Western Premiere (800 East Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17111). There are several registration options available.
The Four-Way Test Speech contest finale will be held on Friday, May 6 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. A reception with heavy hor's d'oeuvres will immediately follow the conclusion of the contest.
On Saturday, May 7 you can either choose the "Grow Rotary" track or the "Leadership" track. You will stay with the track you choose throughout the day. The Leadership track will feature "managing change and conflict" and "creating high performing teams". Grow Rotary will focus on creating a culture of engagement, ways for clubs to attract and retain members, promoting the public image of your Club, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
How do we create a safe and more resilient world for girls as we re-open societies post-pandemic? While progress in girls’ education, health and status has been made, since Covid-19 access to education, health, and health systems has been limited and the incidence of early child marriage has increased significantly.
Join Rotary International and UNICEF 25-26 March to explore community-based solutions to create a safe and resilient world for girls. Hear inspiring stories from Rotary People of Action Honorees and conversations from Rotary and UNICEF experts on topics that affect girls around the globe:
Education - remote learning
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) – hygiene + education
Violence Prevention – ending child marriage
Mental Health – online safety
Don’t miss an event that will focus on empowering girls and setting them up for healthy, hopeful, and thriving futures.
Check Out How the Rotary Club of Harrisburg Takes “Zooming” to New Levels
Pre-pandemic at the Rotary Club of Harrisburg (RCH), meager attempts to broadcast meetings to members not able to attend the luncheons was done with a single smartphone to “broadcast” on Facebook Live.
Then came the pandemic shutdown. So, RCH leadership and tech-savvy members got creative.
Zoom meetings became the replacement for shaking hands or a pre-meeting conversation. Next came 2020-2021 President James Good and Executive Director Addeline Alaniz-Edwards as broadcast production icons. Just for a brief period the Club could meet in person, but with lots of limiting restrictions, many members preferred continued connecting via Zoom.
Seeing the Covid restrictions ramping back up, 2021-2022 President Matt Staub initiated the purchase of a sophisticated conference sound and video system called the “Owl.” Bring in the all-volunteer Tech Team of Shaun Eng and Nathan Hartwick (co-chairs), Karen Good, Bob Saline, Scott Stevens and President Staub and the online connection continues to become increasingly sophisticated.
With timely funding from the board, a sound board was added to capture speakers and online presentations when needed. The forementioned member volunteers took on roles of porting equipment, connecting a growing number of equipment and cords and dedicating their meeting time to monitoring the various systems and member online participation. Pre- and post-meetings, all of this is equipment is slugged up and down steps at the Rotary office to and from the Hilton by Addeline Alaniz Edwards.
President Staub and members of the Tech Team are “standing by” to counsel any Rotary club considering adding or upgrading their broadcast capabilities. For more information, contact President Staub at matthew.c.staub@gmail.com
Is your Club considering a "Broadcast" option for meetings?
The CDC released new COVID-19 safety guidance on 2/25/22. Guidance is now dictated in part on COVID-19 hospitalization rates in combination with positive cases. Indoor mask wearing is recommended in counties with high community levels.
As of 3/10/22 all counties in District 7390 are currently at a low level.
Regardless of community level, people may choose to wear a mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask. Vaccinations including boosters are still highly encouraged to keep yourself and others at low risk for contracting and transmitting COVID-19.
Planning for RYLA 2022 is well underway! We are excited to host RYLA as an in-person Conference at Messiah University (One College Avenue, Grantham, PA) from Sunday, June 12 to Thursday, June 16, 2022. The DEADLINE to submit a RYLA APPLICATION is April 8, 2022!
Registration for the 2022 RYLA will be completed on-line! Please click here to view the on-line application. Students will need to follow a few steps to complete the application:
They will need to complete the RYLA 2022 Waiver form. That will be signed by the student and parent using docusign. The directions to complete the waiver are at the top of the RYLA application page. You can view the waiver by clicking here.
The student will complete the application. When you view the application, any field that is marked with an asterisk is a required field. They will not be able to submit the application until every field is completed. That includes uploading the waiver and their photograph.
Once the student completes the application, I will forward it to the Club for approval.
The club will need to mail a $500 check for each applicant to the District office (515 South George Street, York, PA 17401). Checks made payable to "Rotary District 7390 RYLA".
Contact DGE Juliet Altenburg at dgjuliet2022@qrpc.com if you would like to join the committees listed below!
DEI Committee – This new Diversity-Equity-Inclusion committee is being launched to support Rotary International’s commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment in our Rotary Clubs. PDG Hector Ortiz will be the Committee Chair. To read more about RI’s commitment to DEI go to: https://www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary/diversity-equity-and-inclusion
Women in Rotary Committee –
A top priority for Rotary is growing and diversifying our membership to make sure we reflect the communities we serve. Currently just 28% of Rotary Members in District 7390 are women and even fewer are in leadership positions. As we welcome Rotary International’s first woman president Jennifer Jones, lets plan activities to not only attract more women into Rotary but celebrate women Rotarians throughout our District and beyond. Those activities can include business networking, service, leadership development and FUN! Anyone is welcome to join regardless of gender orientation.
2022-2023 RI President Jennifer Jones
2023 District Conference Planning Committee – join DGE Juliet in planning the 2023 District Conference which will take place in the Spring of 2023. This event doesn’t need to be a typical “conference” at all. Let’s discuss options including a District wide service activity or social event! Non-Rotarian partners and friends are welcome!
Jaclyn Victor with America250PA was a guest speaker at our weekly meeting. The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial (America250PA) was established by the legislature and Governor in 2018 to plan, encourage, develop and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Pennsylvania’s integral role in that event, and the impact of its people on the nation’s past, present, and future. America250PA hopes to engage all citizens of the Commonwealth, from all 67 counties, bring the Commonwealth’s history into the conversation so Pennsylvanians can better understand the origins and multiple perspectives of issues facing our Commonwealth & nation today, use history to encourage and inspire future leaders, celebrate the contributions of Pennsylvanians to our Commonwealth’s history but also to our Nation’s history, leave a lasting impact on the next generation.
“Epic” isn’t just the adjective Jaclyn chose to describe America 250. It is also an acronym describing the program’s goals:
Educate: America 250 is working with the National Liberty Museum to create civics programs for students.
Preserve: Preserving history – especially local history - is a key goal of America 250. Special bronze bells will be placed at local historic sites around the state and included on a map in an effort to promote historical stories that most people don’t know about. Coleman gave an example: A bell will be placed at the Dennis Farm in Susquehanna County, which is the longest freely owned African-American farm in the country. “That’s an asset and a gem to have here in our commonwealth, and most people don’t know about it.”
Innovate: All colleges and universities in Pennsylvania are invited to take part in the Direct Effect Innovation Challenge. In challenges each year through 2026, students will work to create an “integrated strategy to celebrate and innovate” that will support America 250 PA.
Celebrate: Coleman said America 250 PA will aim to celebrate every county. This is why it’s important for each county, and even the municipalities within them, to pass the America 250 PA resolution and appoint a representative to get involved.
This community has a wealth of history and it goes back longtime and we all think of the York as the first Capital.
10 Scholarships Announced to Award Nearly $40,000 in 2022
Rotary Club of York and the York Rotary Charitable Endowment Fund recently announce its 2022 scholarships available for York County college students. York Rotary provides financial support for the academic success of York students seeking high education. Thanks to the generous support of Club members, York Rotary Scholarships have been established to reward the academic success, community service, and student determination of York residents attending college, university, trade or technical school.
Students wishing to apply for York Rotary Scholarships can learn more and begin the online application process by visiting www.YorkRotary.org/Page/Scholarships. The “Apply Here” button allows students to create an account and apply to the scholarship where they meet the criteria. Application deadline is May 1, 2022. Questions on applying or about the online application should be directed to Faith Elmes, Scholarship Coordinator, at felmes@tfec.org.
The scholarship web page provides information about each scholarship stewarded by York Rotary, along with each scholarship’s criteria, amount of the award being given, and biographical information about the scholarship and Club member donor. The following is a list of all scholarships being offered:
“Service Above Self” Scholarship – two-year $2,500 scholarship – high academic achievement and community service for college juniors
Non-Traditional Student Scholarship – one-time $3,000 scholarship – York County students enrolled later in adulthood in technical or trade school, college or university
Bush Scholarship – four-year $1,000 scholarship – high academic achievement
Mangold Scholarship – four-year $1,250 scholarship – high academic achievement
Kranich Scholarship – one-year $2,000 scholarship – any area of study
Diehl Scholarship – one-year $1,000 scholarship – Engineering major with a preference for York City students
Smith Scholarship – one-year $3,000 scholarship – Agriculture major
Kahley Scholarship – one-year $1,000 scholarship – Music major with a preference for William Penn or York Suburban
Hayes Scholarship – one-year $3,200 scholarship – Equine studies major for college junior, senior or graduate student
Wagman Scholarship – one-year $2,000 scholarship – Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at York College for junior or senior
Rotary Club of York Launches New Scholarship Process
The community is invited to join The Hershey Rotary Club for the return of its annual fundraiser, April 9, 2022 at The Hershey Lodge. All proceeds benefit non-profit organizations in the community.
The evening features dinner, and silent and live auctions featuring many must-have items including jewelry, artwork, dining, travel, and unique Hershey memorabilia.
The Hershey Rotary Club annually supports many local organizations, as well as some regional and international ones. Organizations supported in recent years include Hershey Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House, Mohler Senior Center, Hershey Volunteer Fire Company, Love INC, Hershey Area Playhouse, Cocoa Packs, Hershey Community Chorus, Hershey Derry Township Historical Society, Hershey Public Library, Hershey Symphony Orchestra, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and many more.
Tickets are $100 per person. Learn more about purchasing tickets, donating auction items, or sponsoring the event by visiting the Club’s website at www.HersheyRotary.org
Hershey Rotary Plans 52nd Annual Auction to Benefit Local Charities
Donate to Rotary International Disaster Response Fund: https://my.rotary.org/en/disaster-response-fund All donations collected now through 4/30/22 can be accessed as expedited grants by Districts in countries bordering Ukraine to provide relief to refugees including water, food, shelter, medicine, and clothing. All donations count toward Paul Harris points.
Donate to ShelterBox:https://www.shelterboxusa.org/the-ukraine-crisis-explained/ShelterBox is an official Rotary International partner in Disaster Relief and now has a team in Poland working to support Ukraine refugees. Executive Director Kerri Murray has been sharing updates with CNN on how more than 20,000 women and children per day enter Poland’s train stations. ShelterBox is there to offer them clothing, shelter, and comfort. Donations can now be made specifically to support Ukraine in any amount.
The CDC released new COVID-19 safety guidance on 2/25/22. Guidance is now dictated in part on COVID-19 hospitalization rates in combination with cases. Indoor mask wearing is recommended in counties with high community levels. As of 3/4/22 all counties in the district are currently at a low level. Regardless of community level, masks should be worn in individuals who are high risk for contracting severe disease or who have people in their household who may be high risk. Vaccinations including boosters are still highly encouraged to keep yourself and others at low risk for contracting and transmitting COVID-19. Find out your COVID-19 Community Level by going to: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/covid-by-county.html
What Prevention Steps Should You Take Based on Your COVID-19 Community Level?
What Prevention Steps Should You Take Based on Your COVID-19 Community Level?
We were honored to have Mike Grandy, former president of Red Lion Controls, be our guest at our weekly meeting. Mike was born in the United Kingdom, and started his career as a freelance developer of computer games. From the games world, he moved into industrial software development via a path that is too complex to explain. He worked on some of the very first Human-Machine Interface products as far back as 1986, and can thus honestly claim to be one of the few people in the world with nearly 30 years' experience in this field. Mike's path took him through a series of start-ups in the late eighties and early nineties, to the founding of a company called Paradigm Controls in 1993, where he was responsible for the development of the software and firmware for a range of operator interface terminals. Paradigm caught the eye of Red Lion Controls, and was acquired by Red Lion Controls in 1996. Mike continued to run the company in the UK until moving to the United States in July 1999 to join Red Lion in Pennsylvania as Vice President of Engineering. Five months later, Mike was promoted to President at the age of 31.
Now Mike has his own consulting firm and helps to promote the manufacturing industry for the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association. The Association is a statewide nonprofit trade organization representing the manufacturing sector in Pennsylvania’s public policy process. Headquartered just steps from the state capitol in Harrisburg, PMA works to improve Pennsylvania’s ability to compete with other states for investment, jobs, and economic growth. The pandemic has changed so many things about the world we live in today especially the labor market where continuing education and manufactory opportunities are extremely important. PMA along with their public support partners including K-12 educators, community colleges, workforce development boards, economic development organizations are tackling a range of issues including improving the workforce pipeline, aligning training with industry needs, improving infrastructure, addressing regulatory barriers or facilitating business-to-business networking. The agenda is to change the image of manufacturing to high tech, high pay and a lifelong challenging career.
The Rotary Foundation (TRF) is strengthened every time a Rotarian makes a gift to support the humanitarian work of Rotary International. District 7390 Rotarians are leaders in philanthropy.
On behalf of the District Leadership Team and all those who advocate for TRF, I want to say “thank you” for supporting our foundation and the amazing work made possible by your gifts. Even in a pandemic and with increasing consumer costs, you continue to help address some of the most critical needs locally and around the world.
Your support of our most recent Share Some Love campaign and the Zones 28 and 32 Gala and Fundraiser held Wednesday evening were greatly appreciated. Annual gifts by sustaining, Paul Harris Society, and PolioPlus Society members help District 7390 achieve foundation goals.
All gifts to the Annual/Share Fund, End Polio Now campaign, or any of the other TRF programs allow Rotary to Serve to Change Lives.
Rotary International celebrated its 100th year of service in 2005. That year RI President Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar asked every Rotary club to mark the occasion in a distinct way. The Rotary Club of Harrisburg (RCH) planning team chose to design the Youth Community Development Team as not just a one-year event but a commitment to serve youth and our community in perpetuity.
RCH member Meghan Bachmore leads an ice breaker activity.
Seventeen years later RCH members serving as YCDT coaches and the 2022 student participants have taken the original concept to new heights and have incorporated innovative technologies.
RCH leaders are taking time to inspire 36 students from John Harris, SciTech, Central Dauphin and Bishop McDevitt High Schools in the areas of team building, assessing community needs, fundraising, grant writing/evaluation, public speaking, and volunteerism. This year coaches and participants have been meeting at the Camp Curtin YMCA, as well as virtually.
RCH YCDT committee members include Marion Alexander, Meghan Bachmore, Gillian Byerly, Jennifer Doyle, Brad Gebhart (co-chair), Andy Phillips (co-chair), Jessica Ritchie and Jill Tenny.
While there are perceived and real outcomes of the YCDT program such as increased confidence in the participating students; transformed attitudes; broadened perspectives and new friendships plus increased understanding across cultural and socioeconomic boundaries, the specific objectives laid out by the Rotary Club of Harrisburg are to:
1) Increase students’ exposure to the greater Harrisburg community and their awareness of local resources.
2) Develop and improve students’ oral communication & presentation skills.
3) Increase students’ application of collaboration, negotiation, compromise, and persuasive skills.
4) Provide students with a forum to serve the community and demonstrate an impact.
These objectives of the YCDT program are achieved through a REAL experience. Participants identify a specific area of community focus, raise money toward providing a solution to that need and select a community organization to receive the YCDT grant funding and participant community service hours.
This year’s YCDT members chose to dedicate efforts on mental health issues facing young people. Request for proposals were written and send into the community with an astounding record of 22 returned requests.
On February 16, RCH coaches and the participants (via Zoom) discussed how to successfully prepare for the critical step of raising the $5,000. RCH coaches with incredible credentials in fundraising included Gillian Byerly and Jessica Ritchie leading an hour-long session on peer-to-peer fundraising. Content included having a personal plan, leveraging personal contacts, planning the pitch and learning how to make “the ask.” Jennifer Doyle led a discussion on “What Makes A Good Grant Application.” The students broke into breakout groups and narrowed the 22 grant applicants to five finalists.
To spur competition, the participants are divided into teams. This year’s six teams chose the names Forces L’invissible, Makin A Difference, Turtle League, Team Penguin and Crew Leaders.
The “Forces” create their team poster.
The teams also incorporated modern-day technology into their fundraising plan. They will use an online donation platform, business cards with QR codes, Instagram and Tiktok to add new dimensions to raising the important funds needed to address the needs of the selected final request recipient.
The students will interview representatives from the five finalists and select a winning grant recipient on Wednesday, May 18.
RCH members were encouraged to make contributions to the YCDT by April 30, 2022. Social media apps were customized for members and traditional checks can be sent to Harrisburg Rotary Foundation re: YCDT, 3310 Market Street, Rear 2nd Floor, Suite A, Camp Hill, PA 17011.
Team “Make’n a Difference” present their poster to the group.
Founding Youth Community Development Team Plan Hits New Levels of Philanthropic Importance
The Mechanicsburg Rotary Club as part of its ongoing support to the Mechanicsburg Area Meals on Wheels (MAMOW) replaced the deteriorated door to the the walk-in freezer/refrigerator and assembled new storage racks. Funding for the $3,872.70 project provided by the club plus a matching grant from The Rotary Foundation via the local Rotary District 7390.
(L to R): Tom Burson, Treasurer, Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg (RCM), Chuck Sutton, K&D installer; John Mengel, Vice President, MAMOW and member RCM; and Zack Wileman, K&D installer. Pictured with the installed new door on February 3, 2022.
The Mechanicsburg Rotary Club replaced the deteriorated door to the the walk-in freezer/refrigerator and assembled new storage racks. Funding for the $3,872.70 project provided by the club plus a matching grant from The Rotary Foundation via the local Rotary District 7390.
The Mechanicsburg Area Meals on Wheel (MAMOW) has a walk-in freezer/refrigerator which is attached as a permanent part of the building structure. The door is opened and closed dozens of times a day, so after roughly 20 years the bottom seals and hinges are worn out. The bottom structure is warped is such a way the automatic closure does not function. Parts were not available to repair. The project replaced the entire door with a retro fitted door assembly. The door was attached to the wall and included extending the temperature monitoring gages and light switch on the new frame. The range was purchased from and installed by K&D Factory Services, Inc., Harrisburg, PA.
(L to R): John Petire, Club Foundation Chair; Dave Burns, member; Darrell Westby, Member; and John Mengel, club member and MAMOW Vide-President. Pictured with just assembled new racks on January 19, 2022.
The existing racks were deteriorated and unstable. Club members assembled new racks which were provided by MAMOW as part of this project.
MAMOW prepares and delivers over 49,000 meals annually to the homebound who are unable to prepare meals for themselves. MAMOW's meals are home-cooked. Each client receives, one hot and one cold meal three times a week. MAMOW has one paid executive director who oversees the meal preparation with over 230 volunteers, cooking, packing, and delivering. The service area includes two Boroughs and six Townships. There are over 160 clients currently, but there is a need to serve more as the populations in the service areas continue to grow. MAMOW does not accept any state or federal fun
On April 24th starting at 12pm (with 11am pre-registration), the 5K Run for Education organized by the Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg North will be taking place at the Panther Prowl, an event organized by the East Pennsboro Panther Foundation and East Pennsboro High School Track Team at the East Pennsboro High School Track in Enola, PA. The One Mile Color Fun Run for kids begins at 1pm and will feature a Color run through obstacles. There will be medals for top female and male runners in the 5K Run for Education and medals for ages groups in the One Mile Color Fun Run. Proceeds from the 5K Run for Education will go for sponsorships for deserving seniors in the East Pennsboro High, Cumberland Valley High and Cumberland-Perry Vocational Techincal schools. Proceeds from the One Mile Color Fun Event will benefit the East Pennsboro Panther Foundation and East Pennsboro High School Track Team. Medals will be given for best times by sex and age group at the both 5K Run and One Mile Color Fun Run
Where: East Pennsboro High School Track, 425 Shady Lane, Enola
When: In person registration begins at 11am, the 5K Run for Education is at noon and the One Mile Color Fun Run at 1pm on April 24th (Sunday)
ROTARY 4-WAY TEST ESSAY CONTEST DEADLINE IS APPROACHING. This is a reminder for those clubs participating in, or thinking about participating in, the Rotary 4-Way Test Essay Contest. Your club's winning essay is due to be submitted to the district office no later than March 11, 2022. This year's essay topic is "Is it the Truth? How I Define What is True in my Life." Full details about the contest can be found on the District Website: https://www.rotary7390.org/page/four-way-test-essay-contest and please feel free to contact Steve Grubb with any questions at stevengrubb@comcast.net. We look forward to reading your club's winning essay!
Rotary Club of Harrisburg met on the last Monday of January at the Camp Curtin YMCA to assemble period supply kits for Harrisburg students, in a partnership with the Period Project Harrisburg.
Rotary members used an assembly line process to organize sanitary supplies and packed approximately 300 kits for distribution. The kits will be distributed to teens with periods by L.O.O.P.’s after school programs. The hygiene supplies were donated to the Period Project through a donation drive coordinated by the ZONTA Club of Harrisburg-Hershey.
Participating in the assembly line process were Past President Andy Rebuck, Karen Good, Nancy Fodor, Vice President Ellen Brown and President Matt Staub.
This Service Above Self project even caught the eye (camera) of Fox43 news, as well as ABC TV 27. A segment was aired on both stations numerous times and ABC 27 named the Rotary Club of Harrisburg as the week’s Home Town Heros. Rotary Executive Director Addeline Alaniz Edwards was interviewed. You can view the coverage at the following links.
As stated by Alaniz Edwards, period hygiene supplies are an expensive need that is often overlooked by social programs. People with periods are often embarrassed to ask for them, and they may miss school or work or even risk their health by following unsafe hygiene practices.
You can view footage from the Fox43 by clicking on this link.
Paul Thompson has been a member of the Rotary Club of Hershey for the past 15 years. Paul served on the District Global Grant Scholarship committee, President of the Hershey Rotary Club a member of the Board of the Hershey Club, and has been involved with Rotary Youth Exchange.
Paul and his Rotarian wife Maria have four grown children who participated with them in various Rotary projects. Two of their children were outbound youth exchange students and as a family they hosted eleven inbound youth exchange students.
Paul’s academic degrees include a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Security Studies, a Doctorate and a Master of Jurisprudence, and a Doctorate of Law and Policy. He has travelled to six continents, lived in several nations for extended periods of time, and he is conversant in German, French, and Turkish.
In his professional career, Paul was a Naval officer for 25 years. He was assigned to operational assignments as a line officer on Amphibious deployment in the Mediterranean and Atlantic; as an attached in the U.S. Embassy in Turkey; as a JAGC officer in trial and appellate military justice positions; and in front-office policy assignments as Chief counsel to the Commander of Atlantic Naval Air Force and to the Chief of Naval Operations, and as an Executive Assistant to three successive National Security Advisors, while a staff member at the National Security Council.
Following his career in the Navy, Paul turned to Academic pursuits. He served for over a decade as a Professor of Law and National Security at the National War College in Washington, and the for the past decade as Associate Professor of Homeland Security at Penn State University.
Rotary District 7390 Governor 2024-2025 Nominated!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR A PRESIDENT ELECT PICNIC AT ADAMS COUNTY WINERY! On Saturday, June 11, Noon – 3 PM, all Club President Elects are invited to a FREE picnic hosted at Adams County Winery, 531 Peach Tree Rd, Orrtanna, PA hosted by DGE Juliet and the District Leadership Team.This is a family event so bring the kids and partners for a fun OUTDOOR gathering to make new friends, get energized about your year ahead, and celebrate warm weather and a time of connection at long last!Food for grilling and beverages will be provided. Wine and beer will be available for purchase from the winery!Register at:https://rotary7390.org/event/president-elect-picnic/. Special thanks are extended to PDG John Kramb and the owner of Adams County Winery for donating the space.
The District Governor and Club President Installation is happening Thursday, June 23rd from 5 PM – 7:30 PM at the Lodge at Liberty Forge, Mechanicsburg. This will be a CASUAL event with an outdoor cocktail hour. REGISTRATION IS NOW LIVE at: https://rotary7390.org/event/district-governor-installation/
“Rotary District 7390 Club Presidents 2022-2023” LinkedIn Group: DGE Juliet has formed a LinkedIn group for 2022-2023 D7390 Club Presidents. This group will be a way for current President Elects to connect with one another, offer support, share best practices, and stay informed from District Leadership about the latest District and RI news both during their time as President Elects and as Presidents in the 2022-2023 Rotary Year. Look for the group on LinkedIn and submit a request to join!
As the Omicron variant continues to surge in our District, the District Safety Committee is committed to educating Rotarians on the latest CDC Guidance and best practices which prevent transmission of COVID-19. This topic will be a regular feature in the Rotary Reporter.
COVID-19 Prevalence in District Counties as of 1/14/22 ranges from 35 – 42% in our District. (Source:https://bit.ly/3riOcvr )
Pennsylvania statistics over one week period 1/7 – 1/14 (Source:https://bit.ly/3riOcvr )
Newly reported cases: 138,930 to 159,928
Positivity rate: 33% to 36%
Average daily COVID Hospitalizations: 5711 to 7516
Average daily COVID 19 on ventilators: 613-664
Safety Precautions
Masking is still recommended indoors by the CDC regardless of vaccination status for all the counties in our Rotary district due to COVID-19 positivity rates exceeding 5% . The most effective masks to wear to prevent acquiring and transmitting the highly contagious Omicron variant are surgical masks particularly when participating in indoor group activities. Read more at: https://time.com/6139169/n95-best-mask-omicron-covid-19/
Rotary International Position Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination
On December 17, 2021, RI President Shekhar Mehta and TRF Chair, John Germ published the position statement of Rotary International on COVID 19 vaccination. Key points included support for global COVID-19 vaccines and a call to action for Rotarians to support vaccination in their communities and combat misinformation. To read the full statement go to: https://bit.ly/3I6oGjP.
On Thursday, January 20th, incoming Rotary International President Jennifer Jones announced her presidential theme “Imagine Rotary”. During her presentation to District Governor Elects from around the world she focused on dreaming “big” and harnessing the powering of partnerships to turn dreams into reality. Key goals asked of every incoming District Governor were to charter two new Rotary clubs in their district and achieve Rotary International’s goal of membership comprised of 30% women. Click here to read more about her inspirational presentation!
Rotary International President Elect Jennifer Jones announces 2022-2023 Presidential Theme
So, come and compete to take home the title and trophy of being this year’s District 7390 “Rotary Cornhole Champion” along with $100 seed money to go toward your club’s next service project.
In addition to the regular prizes of up to $250 in cash cards for the overall winning teams, this year we’ve added this special new Rotary Champion category and prize for the top-performing team in our district. Other gift cards and two ABC Mug Club memberships will also be raffled off throughout the day.
Ticket prices include a buffet and one complimentary beverage per person. You can continue to enjoy your favorite ABC brews at the cash bar throughout the event.
Registration cost:
$50 per team of two
$10 per person for a spectator ticket
So, come and join the Harrisburg Keystone Rotary Club on Saturday, March 26 from 11 am – 4 pm for a fun afternoon of Cornhole, Beer, and Rotary Fellowship at the Appalachian Brewing Company on 50 N. Cameron St. in Harrisburg. Hang out with friends, make new ones, and raise money for service projects all at the same time!
Learn more and grab your ticket before they're gone at capitalcitycornhole.org. We look forward to seeing you there!
It begins tomorrow! From February 12 through 19 you can support The Rotary Foundation (TRF) and receive 100 Foundation points. This will be the only time this Rotary year that matching points will be offered.
Why are matching points important? Matching points help members become a Paul Harris Fellow, a designation for those supporting TRF with a combined total of 1,000 (cash and points). Earned points are banked in your Rotary account and when cash and points reach 1,000, the individual becomes a Paul Harris Fellow and receives recognition from TRF.
This current Share Some Love promotion being conducted this week of Valentine Day is described below. Thanks for supporting TRF so Rotary can do more to Serve to Change Lives.
Share Some Love (dollars) with The Rotary Foundation (TRF) and District 7390 will Share Some Love with you by donating Foundation points to your Foundation account in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
A donation of at least $100 made to TRF’s Annual Share Fund or the PolioPlus Fund between February 12 & 19, 2022 qualifies you to receive 100 Foundation points.
Points are like cash. Points help you become a Paul Harris Fellow or reach the PHS +1 to PHS +8 recognition levels faster and easier.
Consider honoring a friend, family member, or Rotary colleague when you contribute. Share Some Love knowing that your donation is making a difference and recognizing someone you know at the same time.
To receive your 100 Foundation points, send a copy of your receipt (include your member number) to office@rotary7390.org.
There are four ways to donate:
Donate on-line by clicking here! You will need a credit card and a member access account on the RI website.
Send acheck made payable to The Rotary Foundation (or use your credit card). Download and fill out the donation form. Click HERE to secure the form. Mail the completed form to the address listed at the bottom of the form.
Donate by phone. Call the Rotary Contact Center at 866-976-8279 Monday—Friday 8 am to 5 pm CST. Have your credit card ready to contribute.
Enroll in The Rotary Foundation’s recurring giving program, Rotary Direct. Click here to go to the Rotary Direct Enrollment Form.
Thanks for supporting The Rotary Foundation. Your contributions to TRF make it possible for Rotarians to successfully address some of life’s most challenging issues by supporting education, promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, saving mothers and children, growing local economies, and protecting the environment.
Questions regarding Rotary Foundation contributions and programs can be directed to your Club Foundation Chair or District Rotary Foundation Chair, Dr. Anna-Mae Kobbe at amkobbe@gmail.com.
Only contributions made between February 12 & 19 are eligible.
9:00 AM– 11:00 AM: Learn from Conflict Resolution expert Nabil Oudeh as he teaches us techniques in navigating difficult conversations and building positive relationships in our clubs. President Barry Buckingham, Rotary Club of Colonial Park will build on Nabil’s teaching points to showcase how his club worked to engage and energize its members.
11:00 AM -12:30 PM: PRE-PETS session for President Elects
As the Omicron variant continues to surge in our District, the District Safety Committee is committed to educating Rotarians on the latest CDC Guidance and best practices which prevent transmission of COVID-19. This topic will be a regular feature in the Rotary Reporter.
COVID-19 Prevalence in District Counties as of 1/14/22. (Source:https://bit.ly/3riOcvr )
Average daily COVID Hospitalizations: 5711 to 7516
Average daily COVID 19 on ventilators: 613-664
Safety Precautions
Masking is still recommended indoors by the CDC regardless of vaccination status for all the counties in our Rotary district due to COVID-19 positivity rates exceeding 5% . The most effective masks to wear to prevent acquiring and transmitting the highly contagious Omicron variant are surgical masks particularly when participating in indoor group activities. Read more at: https://time.com/6139169/n95-best-mask-omicron-covid-19/
Rotary International Position Statement on Vaccination
On December 17, 2021, RI President Shekhar Mehta and TRF Chair, John Germ published the position statement of Rotary International on COVID 19 vaccination. To read the full statement go to: https://bit.ly/3I6oGjP. Key points of the statement are:
Global vaccination is the path to ending the pandemic and the emergence of new variants.
Rotary endorses and strongly encourages vaccination for all individuals including our members who are currently able to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
In areas where COVID-19 is surging, communities are facing extreme challenges, health systems are overwhelmed, and contentious rhetoric is dividing us. It is critical that the virus be contained so that the world may begin to heal.
Misinformation has become an “infodemic” that hinders the fight against COVID-19. In line with our Four-Way Test, Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation are committed to providing our members with science-based information.
Those children for whom vaccines are not currently available are at significant risk. Until vaccines are available for all children, the vaccination of adults is the best way to protect children who cannot be vaccinated. Pediatric admissions for COVID-19 are rising precipitously in areas of low vaccination.
Rotary salutes health care workers everywhere as they continue to provide lifesaving services. Local recognition of these heroes by each of our clubs can help to encourage them to continue their important work. Rotary abhors any harassment and attacks on healthcare workers.
Vaccines have proven to be one of the greatest advances of modern medicine. The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines save between 2 to 3 million children’s lives each year, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative estimates the polio vaccine has saved more than 19 million children from paralysis.
Vaccines are safe, effective and are responsible for eliminating or controlling many other vaccine-preventable diseases such as smallpox, measles, rubella, and Ebola. And now, there is the opportunity to end the COVID-19 pandemic through vaccines.
Need an out-of-the-ordinary gift for Valentine’s Day? No worries, the Rotary Club of Lancaster Penn Square has you covered with their sixth annual Hearts for Lancaster and Pets fundraiser. Celebrate your love by selecting a sentiment below which will be displayed on a heart on a lamppost in downtown Lancaster.
Proceeds from our “lovely” fundraiser will fund projects which will positively impact the people of Lancaster.
We will beginhanging hearts on February 2nd and take them down on February 19th. So, take your special someone for a stroll downtown to search for your heart and while you are there grab a drink, lunch or dinner, and shop!
When the hearts are taken down at the end of the celebration, they will be recycled and/or resold next year. However, if you would like to physically purchase and keep your heart, the cost would be an additional $45. Let us know if you would like this option at lpsrotary@gmail.com and we will make arrangements for payment and delivery. Orders will not be taken after February 8th.
Do you feel motivated to action? Five tornadoes ripped into Kentucky and multiple states on December 11th. How will our District respond? Will we send funding to D6710 in Kentucky? Will we raise funds for a specific identified project? Maybe we send volunteers to rebuild homes? What other types of disaster relief should D7390 coordinate? Unfortunately, Mother Nature continues to cause havoc and destruction in the form of hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and earthquakes – there is no end to the assistance we can provide.
Can you serve on the Disaster Relief Committee? Our current committee has been active for fifteen years, it is now time to identify new, younger, freshly inspired Rotarians.
At this writing, damage across Kentucky and several other states is being evaluated. Disaster relief organizations will make decisions on where help is needed; they will identify those families eligible for rebuilding assistance; and they will establish volunteer housing locations. All of this takes time, several months. In the meantime, D7390 would like to know who may be interested in traveling to a disaster area for a week to restore homes. All skill levels are needed and welcome.
You can celebrate Rotary International’s 117th birthday, raise funds for The Rotary Foundation TRF) and have fun on Wednesday, February 23, 2022. The Gala will begin virtually at 8:00 PM Eastern Time.
The Gala will be packed with messages from Rotary leaders including Jennifer Jones, Rotary International President Elect, updates on Foundation programs, and entertainment by such groups as the One Voice Children’s Choir.
Your Gala ticket includes a TRF contribution of $100. Your gifts will be a fully credited donation to TRF and you will receive a charitable tax receipt and related Paul Harris Fellow points. District 7390 will receive full credit toward our Foundation Goals.
All donations to TRF will be distributed 75% going to the Annual Fund and 25% going to the PolioPlus Fund. The portion credited to the PolioPlus Fund will be matched 2 to 1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Zones 28 and 32 represent 43 districts in Canada, France, Bermuda, and the northeastern United States. Last year $200,000 was raised for the Foundation.
When members of the Rotary Club of the West Shore heard that Mission Central was low on winter hats, gloves, and scarves, they assembled the masses and collected items to help those in need keep warm. Several hundred items were collected on short notice… just in time for the bitter cold temps that are in the forecast.
Pictured L to R: Club president Rod Hite, Erin Sunday, Bim Arthun, and Mission Central’s Stephanie Titzel.
It's time. In fact, there is no better time than now. We have more knowledge, more resources and more OPPORTUNITIES than ever in the history of Rotary. NOW is the time to take ACTION! Who must take action? WE must take action. WE the District, WE the Club, WE the Rotarian. What kind of ACTION?
Last week, my newly moved-in neighbor came across the street and introduced himself. We chatted for a while about neighborhood things... about neighborly things... and then he asked... "Do you know if there are any service organizations around here"?
Say what!!?? He beat ME to the question! Shame on me.
Folks, there are members of our community who are looking for ways to give back.
I was having coffee with a business associate a few months back. During our conversation he spoke of how he and a few other business folks in his community were looking for ways to help their town. Guess what WE talked about for the next 20 minutes ... :)
We are putting together a team to help our clubs and our members learn how to better Grow their Rotary.
In addition, we have put together a presentation to offer to all clubs during their regular meeting that discusses: The State of Membership, Types of Membership and ideas on how to build membership. Let's work together to spread the news of Rotary... to share the Opportunity of Rotary with all who wish to have a hand in making their world a better place.
Reach out to me to join the team or to schedule a club presentation. I can't wait to see what we can do together!!
We want to thank all the amazing volunteers form the York East Rotary who have continued to help us in our Christmas red kettle efforts. We also want to thank all the people in the community and the donors who have donated to our red kettles. It's because of you that we can continue to provide our rental, utilities, & food services, adult & youth programs, after-school programs, and many more to our wonderful York community.
Thank you and God bless! Pictured: Bill and Carolyn Gierasch
York-East Participates in the Salvation Army Red Kettle Efforts
Rotary Club of Lancaster South and the Interact Club of Lampeter Strasburg, a Rotary affiliate, participated in the Wreaths Across America program at Ft Indiantown Gap on Saturday, December 18, 2021. Rotary Club of Lancaster South sent 3 participants and Lampeter Strasburg sent 16 people to help other groups lay over 41,000 wreaths on the headstones of soldiers interred at the military installation. The goal was to lay a wreath on every eligible grave. An hour long ceremony preceded the wreath laying effort.
Lancaster-South Participates in Wreaths Across America
Five tornadoes ripped into Kentucky and multiple states overnight Saturday, December 11, 2021. The storm originated in Arkansas and touched down in Missouri and Tennessee before making its way into western and central Kentucky.
Our District, 7390, has a long history of helping communities devastated by natural disasters. We have gathered funding and volunteers to provide relief supplies, building materials and volunteers to rebuild homes, and funding to re-establish libraries.
In Kentucky there are immediate needs: homes have been destroyed, Christmas trees and presents lost, employment ended. District 6710 in western and central Kentucky has started a Disaster Relief drive.
MONETARY DONATIONS can be made to:
Additionally, D6710 is collecting GIFT CARDS for food, gas, etc., to support displaced disaster victims. Please send only gift cards for major retailers or Visa, Master Card gift cards.
Gift Cards can be sent to: DG Gail Story, 2215 Outer Circle Drive, Crestwood, KY 40014.
We are sending you this information now since there are immediate needs and you may desire to make a donation before year end.
As D7390 has done in the past, we will continue to monitor the extent of recovery needs. We will keep you informed as specific projects may develop that require financial support or the need for volunteers to restore homes.
If you have any questions/recommendations, do not hesitate to contact: Peg Sennett, 717-630-8281, pegsennett@hotmail.com.
Holiday Greetings from the District 7390 Leadership Team.
Wishing you and your family a healthy and happy 2022!
Pictured from left to right PDG John Anthony, DGE Juliet Altenburg, DG Greg Staub, and DGN Fred Gellert. Missing from photo District Secretary Melissa Kopp-Smith
The Rotary Club of the West Shore recently made a generous donation to the Camp Hill Fire Department for a new projector screen in their training room. We are happy to support our first responders who do so much to keep us and our communities safe!
Pictured left to right: Bim Arthun, President-Elect of The Rotary Club of the West Shore, Mark Simpson, Chief of Camp Hill Fire Co., Jack Sellers, President of Camp Hill Fire Co., H. Rod Hite, President of The Rotary Club of the West Shore
West Shore Makes Donation to Camp Hill Fire Department
Friday 2/25 and Saturday 2/26 - Mid Atlantic PETS in Valley Forge PA: Meet incoming RI President Jennifer Jones and have fun networking and learning with President Elects from four Rotary districts. Registration is now LIVE. Register at http://www.mapets.org/.
NEW “Rotary District 7390 Club Presidents 2022-2023” LinkedIn Group: DGE Juliet Altenburg has formed a new LinkedIn group for 2022-2023 D7390 Club Presidents. This group will be a way for current President Elects to connect with one another, offer support, share best practices, and stay informed from District Leadership about the latest District and RI news both during their time as President Elects and as Presidents in the 2022-2023 Rotary Year. Look for the group on LinkedIn and submit a request to join!
2022-2023 Club President Training and Networking Opportunities
We see the decision to vaccinate as a civic and humanitarian imperative. Rotary is not a political or religious organization, it is a service organization and this is the lens through which we are advising you of our position.
Global vaccination is the path to ending the pandemic and the emergence of new variants. Rotary endorses and strongly encourages vaccination for all individuals including our members who are currently able to be vaccinated against COVID-19. In areas where COVID-19 is surging, communities are facing extreme challenges, health systems are overwhelmed, and contentious rhetoric is dividing us. It is critical that the virus be contained so that the world may begin to heal. To that end, the purpose of this statement is to reinforce Rotary’s position.
Misinformation has become an “infodemic” that hinders the fight against COVID-19. In line with our Four-Way Test, Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation are committed to providing our members with science-based information.
Rotary International staff at One Rotary Center were required to be vaccinated by 10 October 2021, as a criterion for employment after that date. RI’s employee vaccination rate stands at over 99 percent.
Globally, Rotary is actively engaged in assuring equity in vaccine access to all people. Our efforts have included advocacy with the G-20, and a proof-of-concept program with GAVI/COVAX to leverage our frontline experience with polio eradication to facilitate vaccine delivery in several low- and middle-income countries where Rotarians are active. While we know many clubs are already deeply involved in COVID-19 prevention, we are working on additional strategies to multiply our collective efforts. GAVI/COVAX is a partnership including WHO and UNICEF focused on global access and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines.
Those children for whom vaccines are not currently available are at significant risk. Until vaccines are available for all children, the vaccination of adults is the best way to protect children who cannot be vaccinated. Pediatric admissions for COVID-19 are rising precipitously in areas of low vaccination.
Rotary salutes health care workers everywhere as they continue to provide lifesaving services. Local recognition of these heroes by each of our clubs can help to encourage them to continue their important work. Rotary abhors any harassment and attacks on healthcare workers.
Rotary and Rotaract clubs are encouraged to
set good examples by being exemplary role models;
redouble their efforts to support COVID-19 treatment, prevention, and vaccination efforts.
Vaccines have proven to be one of the greatest advances of modern medicine. The World Health Organization estimates that vaccines save between 2 to 3 million children’s lives each year, and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative estimates the polio vaccine has saved more than 19 million children from paralysis. Vaccines are safe, effective and are responsible for eliminating or controlling many other vaccine-preventable diseases such as smallpox, measles, rubella, and Ebola. And now, there is the opportunity to end the COVID-19 pandemic through vaccines.
The eradication of polio remains a goal of the highest order for Rotary. We can apply the lessons we have learned in fighting polio to the efforts in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regards,
Shekhar Mehta John Germ President, Rotary International Chair, The Rotary Foundation
Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation’s Position Statement on COVID-19 Vaccination
With the conclusion of the 2021 Council on Resolutions (COR), I am pleased to provide you with the Report of Action. In this report, you will find: • A letter from Council Services • Resolutions that were adopted • Vote tallies for the adopted items
Voting results for all 2021 resolutions can be found on My Rotary.
Please note that the deadline for submitting resolutions to the 2022 COR is 30 June 2022. A link to the submission form, plus helpful resources, can be found on the Councils page of My Rotary.
Little League: President Jackie Summers presents a check to Al Sykes of the York City Little League for $2,500 from proceeds from the Rotary Club of York’s 2021 Love Fore Community Fundraiser.
YWCA: President Jackie Summers presents a check for $10,000 to Jean Treuthart, CEO of the York YWCA. This donation was from proceeds from the Rotary Club of York’s 2021 Love Fore Community Fundraiser and will be used to support the YWCA’s Racial Justice programs.
On December 11, 2021 York East Rotary helped to expand and organize the food pantry at the First Church of The Brethren on Kingston Road in York, Pa. In addition to awarding a $5,000 grant to the project for shelving, refrigerator and supplies, club members joined church members to move the pantry into the new space. This ongoing generosity has enabled us to address the needs in our community, including food insecurity, which has unfortunately increased due to the effects of the pandemic.
The York-East Rotary has awarded $10,000 in grants to 4 local nonprofits in the York community. Each year the York-East Rotary grants to deserving projects and programs in the region. These worthy local organizations received grants for various needs and projects this year. Representatives from each organization attended our weekly meeting and received their grant awards.
Our club looks forward to this day each year because it is such a great feeling to give and learn how the money is being used within our community.
Thank you to everyone that donates to our organization through the various fundraisers that we hold each year. Without you we would not be able to provide these organizations with the funding that they need to make York a better place to live.
Pictured for left to right:
Randy Byrnes – Cornerstone Youth Home
Laura O’Grady – York Day Nursery
Chris Izzo - York East Rotary Grant Committee Chairman
Mary Esther Andersen – First Church of the Brethren
Carlisle Rotary Clubs present a check for over $26,500 to Safe Harbour. The funds were raised during Rotary’s annual holiday auction. Pictured from left to right are David Kammerer, President of the Carlisle Sunrise Rotary Club, Geoff Mangelsdorf, President of the Carlisle Rotary Club, Scott Shewell, Safe Harbour President and CEO and Paul Edger, Chairman of Safe Harbour’s Board of Directors.
Each year Carlisle’s two Rotary Club Presidents identify one project or organization to be the focus of their holiday auction. Selected this year was Safe Harbour, a 501(c)(3) organization that provides a continuum of housing and supportive services for homeless and nearly homeless individuals and families in our communities.
Given the amount that Rotary has raised during previous auctions, a goal of $20,000 was set to be applied toward Safe Harbour’s $30,000 planned renovation of their emergency shelter bathrooms that are essential to keep their residents safe and healthy. To reach this goal, Rotary’s auction had two components this year. First, an online auction to allow community participation, and second, a silent and live auction conducted during Rotary’s annual dinner at the Comfort Suites on 10 December.
The online auction bidding took place from 3 to 10 December and raised just over $2,000. The dinner auctions raised over $5,800. Additionally, over $17,300 was raised in sponsorships by members and friends of both Rotary Clubs bringing the total for the auction to over $26,500. Achieving this goal was only possible thanks to the generosity of Rotarians and local businesses who donated items to be auctioned.
While Rotary’s dinner was cancelled last year due to COVID, club members were extremely happy to be back in person for their annual gala. As has become a tradition, each club recognized the recipient of their annual distinguished Rotarian award. The Carlisle Sunrise Rotary Club recognized Past President Dodie Wise as the “Buzz Coho Distinguished Service Citation” recipient The Carlisle Rotary Club recognized Past President Dan Monken as their “Four-Way Test Award” recipient. Also recognized with the Paul Harris Fellow Award was John W. Gleim, Jr. for his outstanding support of the Sunrise Club’s tree planting project along the Cumberland Valley Rail Trail.
Carlisle Rotary Auction Exceeds Goal, Raises Over $26,500 For Safe Harbour
There is always something to learn about Rotary. That is the nature of a dynamic organization responding to change. And we have had our share of change!
Join us via Zoom on February 17, 2022 from 5:30 – 6:30 for an interactive overview of Rotary Basics.
We will highlight the basics of Rotary International and its philanthropic arm, The Rotary Foundation, as well as offering resources available through our District 7390 and your local Club. Initially promoted as a new member orientation, this one-hour recap is appropriate for any Rotarian or prospective Rotarian, regardless of tenure.
With 1.2 million Rotarians around the world, there are nearly that many opportunities to engage. We want to help your Rotary passion burn bright!
The initiative is a tax efficient way for Rotarians to support The Rotary Foundation. You can make a difference today and save on taxes when you support The Rotary Foundation through your IRA.
Why Consider a Charitable Gift via an IRA?
Your gift will be used today, allowing you to see the impact during your lifetime.
You pay no federal income taxes on the transfer.
The transfer generates neither taxable income nor a tax deduction, so you benefit even if you do not itemize your deductions.
Fulfill existing pledges or use your IRA to make a new three-year pledge, and receive recognition in the pledge year to achieve Major Donor or Arch Klumph Society.
There could be opportunities to establish a named fund with gifts or commitments of $25,000 or more.
Know as a trusted steward of your gift, The Rotary Foundation will use your investment to help make the world a better place!
You are encouraged to seek the advice of your financial and/or legal advisor to determine if this is the best strategy for you.
Planning for the Future? An individual retirement account can also be used as a tax-wise giving strategy if you’re considering including The Rotary Foundation in your estate plans. To include the Foundation as a beneficiary, please use the legal name and federal tax ID listed below. Legal name: The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International Legal address: 1560 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201-3698 - Federal tax ID number: 36-3245072.
Share the good news of your bequest by notifying your Foundation representative or report it at www.rotary.org/yourlegacy.
Questions? Contact PDG Kevin Cogan at kcogan71@gmail.com
Saturday 2/19 – PRE-PETS at Messiah College from 9 AM – 2 PM. A portion of this day will be available to all Rotarians. Stay tuned for more information and registration link by January.
Friday 2/25 and Saturday 2/26 - Mid Atlantic PETS in Valley Forge PA: Meet incoming RI President Jennifer Jones and have fun networking and learning with President Elects from four Rotary districts. Registration is now LIVE. Register at http://www.mapets.org/.
NEW “Rotary District 7390 Club Presidents 2022-2023” LinkedIn Group: DGE Juliet Altenburg has formed a new LinkedIn group for 2022-2023 D7390 Club Presidents. This group will be a way for current President Elects to connect with one another, offer support, share best practices, and stay informed from District Leadership about the latest District and RI news both during their time as President Elects and as Presidents in the 2022-2023 Rotary Year. Look for the group on LinkedIn and submit a request to join!
2022-2023 Club President Training and Networking Opportunities
We are excited to share that the District 7390 You Tube channel (“rotary7390”) has been relaunched and will feature all the latest District 7390 videos of District events and trainings. The most recent videos found there are those from the Foundation Dinner held at the Lodge at Liberty Forge on 11/18/21. We encourage you to share the following videos with your clubs and use them at your own events:
D7390 "Walk In" Video which played during the cocktail hour and could be used as a background video at club meetings or events: https://youtu.be/bx4CNK4MUPY
Additional videos featured at the Foundation Dinner posted on the site include:
Short video featuring D7390 global grant scholars Jenna and Katie who are studying in London and thanked us from afar: https://youtu.be/k1DXfmbTdNM
Thank You video from Dr. Mark Gestring, Chair of American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma Stop The Bleed (“STB”) program, thanking District 7390, Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg-North, and Penn State Holy Spirit Medical Center on supporting STB through distribution of bleeding control tourniquets which saved two lives: https://youtu.be/jcfnYsPQSMM
While there check out two fantastic District Membership trainings hosted by District Trainer PDG Una Martone featuring two RI recognized speakers on how to grow membership. These can be featured at club meetings or membership committee meetings.
Andy Rebuck’s wife, children and grandchildren devourered pancakes with Rotary smiles.
Pancakes, get your pancakes! For 24 years, the Rotary Club of Harrisburg (RCH) has flipped pancakes before the annual Homecoming parade and football game at the Harrisburg High School. Those pancakes feed nearly 1,000 hungry fans and most often raised approximately $30,000 supporting student initiatives.
The RCH Pancake Breakfast has not only raised thousands of scholarship dollars, but it has been a time of member camaraderie and Service Above Self benefiting students at the Harrisburg School District. Unfortunately, for a second year of Covid-related concerns the School was simply unable to safely open its doors for our volunteers and guests.
Undaunted, the RCH Pancake Breakfast Committee reimagined a means to transform pancakes into much needed scholarship funding for deserving HSD students, assistance for homeless students and the purchase of young persons’ dictionaries.
Under the theme of “Pancakes For A Purpose (PFAP)”, chairs Marion C. Alexander, Past President Karen Paris and “pancake flippin’” committee members have fashioned a way to raise money, engage RCH members and fill empty bellies with fantastically flipped pancakes.
The chairs were excited when members Steve Schwartz and Sue Ward-Diorio put forth a two-pronged idea.
First, the PFAP committee members delivered all the necessary fixings for a pancake breakfast to five different area organizations. The organizations in turn griddled and serve more than five hundred hungry folks.
RCH members packed pancake preparation pieces production style.
Second, each of the RCH members were asked to pledge $100 to the Harrisburg Rotary Foundation. The members received the pancake ingredients so they could flip cakes for family and friends. With plans for this to happen in the week of November 8, the committee asked the members to take lots of photos of everyone sharing in the great delights of a pancake breakfast. RCH added these photos to their wide-reaching website and social media. Participating members were entered into a raffle for fame, fortune and fun.
An attainable goal of $15,000 was set with a suggested stretch goal of $23,000. This would fund the $15,000 for student initiatives as well as supporting $8,000 for student college scholarships.
Area businesses and agencies also stepped up with title sponsors of UPMC and UPMC Health Plan and included generous support from Peggy Grove Enterprises, Highmark, M&T Bank, Harrisburg University, Hersha Hotels, Foundation for Enhancing Communities, Iron Valley Real Estate, Central PA Food Bank, Hospice of Central PA, MT Weatherization, Harrisburg Pharmacy, PA Media Group – Patriot New, Best Western Hershey, Harrisburg Public School Foundation, Parthemore Funeral Home, Mid Penn Bank and Edwin L. Heim Company. Lamar Outdoor will be providing billboards featuring Rotary throughout the area.
Member and sponsor support raised $22,500. Just as importantly, the creative thinking and implementation will feed pancakes to some hungry folks in the Harrisburg area and care for Harrisburg school children and college support for others.
Pancakes For A Purpose: Rotary Club of Harrisburg Members Never Let a Pandemic Get in the Way of Service..."We Just Get Creative!"
The 2021-2022 Rotary Four Way Test Speech Contest is underway! The 2022 Mid-Level Contests will be held virtually in February and March of 2022. Students who advance from club level competitions throughout Rotary District 7390 will be assigned to one of three Mid-Level Contests. Students will be contacted with the zoom details and login.
There is NO specific prompt for the 2021-2022 Four-Way Test Speech Contest. However, all speeches need to be based around the Rotary Four-Way Test.
Up to two students will advance from each Mid-Level Competition to compete at the Finale during the Rotary District 7390 Conference on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at the Best Western Premier The Central Hotel and Conference Center (800 East Park Drive, Harrisburg).
The Annual District 7390 Foundation dinner was held Thursday, November 18, 2021 at The Lodge at Liberty Forge in Mechanicsburg. There were approximately 110 Rotarians and guests in attendance. It was a wonderful evening that showcased the good works of the Clubs and Foundation related programs in our District.
The event started with a reception that honored the Major Donors, Paul Harris Society Members, Benefactors and Bequest Society Members in the District. DGN Fred Gellert gave remarks on the generosity of our District and commented briefly on how the funds donated are used. A spirited reception for all attendees immediately followed. At 6:00 p.m. DGE Juliet Altenburg invited everyone to take their seats and she welcomed the crowd.
Sharon Bailey Soullier (Southern York County) reported on a Global Grant Water Project the club is working on in the Dominican Republic in the Southwest portion near the Haiti border. They are applying for a global grant to provide funding to maintain a current well that will provide clean drinking water and also to drill a second well. The grant will include piping throughout the village and solar electricity.
DGE Juliet Altenburg presented on a District grant project the Mechanicsburg-North Rotary Club facilitated. They purchased tourniquets for the East Pennsboro Police Department. This was part of the Stop The Bleed program that also provided training to the Police Officers and other first responders on how to effectively apply the tourniquets. DGE Juliet told a story about a 10-year old boy whose life was saved by an East Pennsboro Police Officer who applied one of the tourniquets.
Rotary Global Grant scholarship chair Ed Hauck talked about the program and what some of our previous scholars are doing. These are impressive young people who are building careers in one of Rotary's seven areas of focus. We currently have two scholars that are both studying in Great Britain.
PDG John Kramb and IPDG John Anthony presented Foundation giving awards from the 2019-20 and 2020-21 Rotary years.
Congratulations to the Clubs that received Awards!
2019-2020 100% Foundation Giving Clubs - This recognition is given to clubs that achieve an average of $100 in per capita giving and 100% participation, with every dues-paying member contributing at least $25 to any or all of the following during the Rotary year: Annual fund, Polio Plus fund, approved global grants or the Endowment fund. Carlisle-Sunrise, Eastern York County, Hanover, Lancaster-Hempfield, Northern Lebanon County, Palmyra, West Shore, York-North
Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) banners were presented to Clubs that achieved a minimum Annual Fund contribution of $100 per capita during the Rotary year, with every dues paying member contributing at least $100 to the Annual Fund during the 2020-2021 Rotary year.
Lancaster-Hempfield, Northern Lebanon County, York-North
These Clubs had the highest annual fund per capita giving in the 2019-2020 Rotary year: 1. Mechanicsburg 2. Hanover 3. Mechanicsburg-North
The EREY(Every Rotarian Every Year) recognition is given to clubs that achieve a minimum Annual fund contribution of $100 per capita during the Rotary year, with every dues paying member contributing at least $100 to the Annual fund. The recipients are Carlisle-Sunrise, Northern Lebanon, Palmyra, and York-North!
The Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg received a Global Grant streamer for a water project in El Salvador.
The following Clubs are receiving a certificate of appreciation for their financial support to the End Polio Now: Countdown to History Campaign during the 2019-2020 Rotary year.
Carlisle, Elizabethtown, Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster Penn Square, Lancaster-Sunrise, Lititz, Mechanicsburg-North, Mount Joy, Uptown York, York, York-East, York-North
The following Clubs had the highest annual fund per capita giving in the 2020-21 Rotary year: 1. West York 2. Lititz 3. Harrisburg
The following Clubs had the highest annual fund giving during the 2020-2021 Rotary year: 1. Harrisburg 2. York 3. Lancaster
The following Clubs had the highest total Foundation Giving during the 2020-2021 Rotary year: 1. York 2. Harrisburg 3. Gettysburg
Rotary Global Grants Scholarships fund an awardee’s first year of graduate study abroad in one of Rotary’s seven Areas of Focus (listed below). Candidates must live in or attend college in District 7390, which encompasses Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry and York counties in Pennsylvania.
Scholarship highlights…
Plan to pursue career in one of Rotary’s Areas of Focus (listed below).
Award is for first year only of graduate studies abroad
District 7390 will not fund any applicant’s study which is for the second or later year of a multi-year graduate study program abroad.
Minimum study budget of $30,000 per year. Award capped at $30,000.
Must be proficient in language of host country.
Based on…
Academic merit
Studying a Rotary Area of Focus
Residence in or attendance at a college in District 7390
Rotary’s Areas of Focus are…
Promoting peace
Fighting disease
Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
Saving mothers and children
Supporting education
Growing local economies
Supporting the environment.
The deadline to apply for a Global Grant Scholarship is January 21, 2022. The interviews will be held February 12, 2022 and applicants MUST be available for the interviews on that date.
WHAT DOES THE ROTARY FOUNDATION DO WITH ITS MONEY?
The Rotary Foundation spends charitable contributions on multiple programs - from the eradication of polio, to scholarships, vocational training teams, Rotary Peace Centers, and humanitarian projects. The funds are used for programs and projects Rotarians feel passionate about. With a four-star rating by Charity Navigator for thirteen years in a row and 1.2 million Rotarians over-seeing the funds at a grassroots level, I have all the confidence in the world that our funds through Rotary are in amazing hands doing amazing work here and abroad.
You can read stories and see the details of our Foundation’s financials in our most recent Annual Report.
Shawn Smith and Daysha Illarza from the United Way reviewed the ALICE program with the York-East club. ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, is a new way of defining and understanding the struggles of households that earn above the Federal Poverty Level, but not enough to afford a bare-bones household budget. For far too many families, the cost of living outpaces what they earn. These households struggle to manage even their most basic needs - housing, food, transportation, child care, health care, and necessary technology. When funds run short, cash-strapped households are forced to make impossible choices, such as deciding between quality childcare or paying the rent, filling a prescription or fixing the car. These short-term decisions have long-term consequences not only for ALICE families, but for all of us. ALICE is your child care worker, the cashier at your supermarket, the gas attendant, the salesperson at your big box store, your waitress, a home health aide, an office clerk. ALICE cannot always pay the bills, has little or nothing in savings, and is forced to make tough choices such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent. One unexpected car repair or medical bill can push these financially strapped families over the edge. In York County, 32% of households live below the ALICE threshold. With no savings and already unable to afford basic necessities, already fragile ALICE households are now facing the unprecedented economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lost wages or tips, disruptions to child care and school-based support, and increased medical bills can all impact ALICE’s survival budget. United Way of York County helps bridge the gap for financially struggling families with short-term support and also helps build a path to self-sufficiency for the future. Impactful long-term solutions through the United Way of York County Impact Fund has improved the quality of life for many York County Families
On Saturday morning, October 6th, nine members of the York North Rotary Club picked up litter on a 2 1/2 mile section of Greenbriar Road in York. As part of the Adopt-A-Highway program, York North picks up litter along this road in both the spring and the fall.
Passes for cooking classes, antique child’s desk, golf packages, sports memorabilia, gift cards galore, memberships, and so much more await you! These unique items are up for bid December 3-10 at https://www.32auctions.com/CarlisleRotaryAuction2021. This online charity auction is hosted by The Rotary Club of Carlisle and the Rotary Club of Carlisle-Sunrise as explained in the auction brochure.
Proceeds from this year’s auction benefit Safe Harbour, a non-profit organization that provides a continuum of housing and supportive services for homeless and nearly homeless individuals and families in our communities. “We are very thankful that the Rotary Clubs chose Safe Harbour this year,” says Scott Shewell, Safe Harbour’s President and CEO. “Our historic building requires a comprehensive renovation of our emergency shelter bathrooms to keep our residents safe and healthy. The projected cost of the renovations is $30,000.”
Rotary's goal for the auction is to surpass $20,000. And, things are off to a great start. More than $14,000 has already been raised through very generous sponsorships by Carlisle Rotarians. “Reaching our $20,000 goal through the online auction itself will depend on the community’s help and generosity,” says Carlisle Rotary Club President Geoff Mangelsdorf. “Local businesses have been very generous with their donations. We are hoping for maximum participation at our auction site or for people to simply send donations to provide support to Safe Harbour.”
David Kammerer, President of the Carlisle Sunrise Club, explains that over the past 20 years, Carlisle's two Rotary clubs have raised over $300,000 to support international water projects in Africa and Central America. He adds, “More recently, auctions have supported projects in the Carlisle community. In 2019, $20,000 was raised to support Domestic Violence Services of Cumberland and Perry Counties (DVSCP). Last year our first online auction raised $20,000 to support The Arc of Cumberland & Perry Counties (CPARC)”
Bill Blankmeyer, the Fundraising Chair for the auction notes the Carlisle Rotary Club Foundation is a 501(c) (3) organization, EIN: 16-1634172. If you have questions or would like to make a donation, please contact Blankmeyer at blankmeyer66@comcast.net or (717) 590-7229.
Carlisle Rotary Online Auction to Support Safe Harbour
District 7390 Global Grant Scholarship Committee Seeking Vice Chair
The Vice Chair would be an understudy to the current District Chair in order to prepare for the eventual assumption of District Chair responsibilities within five years.
A sampling of the personal experiences that could make you an excellent candidate:
Past Rotary International Foundation Ambassadorial or Global Grant Scholar
Graduate‐level study abroad
Extended Study Abroad (one year or longer) in a country where English is not the native language
Advisor or mentor at an institution of higher learning to students seeking foreign graduate level scholarships or fellowships
Participation in the selection and awarding of graduate scholarships or fellowships at an institution of higher learning
Experience with the Grant process of the Rotary International Foundation
Responsibilities of All Committee Members
Participation in annual Interviews and recommendation of Global Grant Scholarship candidates to the Rotary International Foundation
Willingness to remain in contact with assigned Global Grant Scholarship awardees during their year abroad and for a number of years after their return from their Global Grant Scholar (GGS) year, thus building a cadre of Global Grant Scholar alumni.
Fellow Rotarians and District Leaders, preparations for the 2022 Council on Legislation (COL) are in full swing. The COL is an in-person meeting where representatives gather every three years to debate and vote on legislation proposed by clubs, districts, the RI Board, the general council, or conference of RIBI, and the Council.
There are two types of legislation, enactments, and position statements. Enactments seek to change Rotary’s constitutional documents (the RI Constitution, RI Bylaws, and the Standard Rotary Club Constitution); whereas position statements seek to state a position of Rotary International and are only proposed by the Board of Directors.
Please CLICK HEREfor the Proposed legislation for the COL to be held in spring of 2022. If you have any inclination in one of the proposed enactments, please let me know by emailing your points of view. I will certainly consider it before deciding on it.
Statements of Support and Opposition
Clubs and district conferences may use the online form to submit statements of support, opposition, or general comments regarding legislation. Click here for the online form.
Club statements must be submitted or confirmed by the club’s president and district statements must be submitted or confirmed by the governor.
Statements may be in support of, in opposition to, or as a comment on an item of legislation. You must explain why you are supporting, opposing, or wishing to make a general comment in the submission. Comments without substance, links to other materials, or comments that may be offensive will not be published at the discretion of the chair. For example, the statement “I support this item” does not include an explanation and would not be published.
The deadline for submitting statements is 10 January 2022 and they may not exceed 2,000 characters. A separate form should be used for each statement. Please note that it is our practice to merge substantially similar statements, with each submitter being listed on one statement.
If you have any questions about the information in this email or about the 2022 Council on Legislation, please do not hesitate to contact your COL representative PDG Hector Ortiz (richie1166@msn.com).
September 10, 2021 - the day before the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States - the Rotary Club of the West Shore held its Flags for Heroes Dedication Ceremony. Friends, family, sponsors, and heroes gathered to remember the sacrifices made by so many in our community and beyond.
We are grateful to our corporate sponsors and to each individual flag sponsor. Your decision to recognize a special someone has an extensive reach as proceeds from the event stay in the local community to help those in need.
Plans are already underway for the 2022 Flags for Heroes event. You won't want to miss it!
If the video does not display, please click here to view it!
Members of the Rotary Club of the West Shore were on hand to provide refreshments to walkers at the 2021 Vickie's Angel Walk which was held on Saturday, October 9, 2021.
Walkers were very appreciative to find free cold water along the route. Their appreciation turned to excitement when they also saw free candy!
While there were many "thank you" comments from the walkers, we especially appreciated hearing, "I knew you'd be here. Thank you for doing this for so many years."
The mission of Vickie's Angel Foundation is to provide temporary financial support to local families struggling to make ends meet during their battle with cancer. Vickie's husband, Mickey Minnich, started the walk in 2003 to honor his wife who lost her courageous battle with cancer that same year.
We are happy to support such a great event and program that helps those in need.
For more than two decades the Rotary Club of Harrisburg (RCH) Pancake Breakfast has not only raised thousands of scholarship dollars, but it has been a time of member camaraderie and service above self thus benefiting students at the Harrisburg School District. Unfortunately, a second year of Covid-related concerns has put the in-person fun fundraiser on hold.
Undaunted, the RCH Pancake Breakfast Committee has reimagined a means to transform pancakes into much needed scholarship funding for deserving HSD students, assistance for homeless students and the purchase of young persons’ dictionaries.
Under the theme of “Pancakes For A Purpose (PFAP)”, chairs Marion C. Alexander, Past President Karen Paris and “pancake flippin’” committee members have fashioned a way to raise money, engage RCH members and fill empty bellies with fantastically flipped pancakes.
This year’s Pancakes For A Purpose will embrace two different initiatives…both wrapped around those loveable round pancakes.
First, the PFAP committee members will deliver all the necessary fixings for a wonderful pancake breakfast to different area organizations. (Participating at publication time are: Bethesda Mission, Downtown Daily Bread and the Market Square Presbyterian Church Sunday morning feeding program. The organizations in turn will griddle and serve more than hundreds of hungry folks. The Rotary Club of Harrisburg offers a big, big “Thank You” those organizations.
Second, each of the RCH members are asked to pledge $100 to the Harrisburg Rotary Foundation. The members then will receive the pancake ingredients so they can flip some cakes for family and friends. With plans for this to happen in the week of November 8, the committee is also asking the members to take lots of photos of everyone sharing in the great delights of a pancake breakfast. RCH will then add these photos to their wide-reaching website and social media.
Participating members will be entered into a raffle for fame, fortune and fun.
The photographs in this article are from the 2019 Pancake Breakfast. Thank you RCH Rotarians.
Pancakes For A Purpose: Rotary Club of Harrisburg Members Never Let A Pandemic Get In The Way Of Service
Saturday 2/19 – PRE-PETS at Messiah College from 9 AM – 2 PM. A portion of this day will be available to all Rotarians. Stay tuned for more information and registration link by January.
Friday 2/25 and Saturday 2/26 - Mid Atlantic PETS in Valley Forge PA: Meet incoming RI President Jennifer Jones and have fun networking and learning with President Elects from four Rotary districts. Registration goes live in mid-November at http://www.mapets.org/.
NEW “Rotary District 7390 Club Presidents 2022-2023” LinkedIn Group: DGE Juliet Altenburg has formed a new LinkedIn group for 2022-2023 D7390 Club Presidents. This group will be a way for current President Elects to connect with one another, offer support, share best practices, and stay informed from District Leadership about the latest District and RI news both during their time as President Elects and as Presidents in the 2022-2023 Rotary Year. Look for the group on LinkedIn and submit a request to join!
2022-2023 Club President Training and Networking Opportunities
The Heine Weber Smoke House which is located on the grounds of the 1719 Herr House Museum, has been in need of a new roof. Thanks to a grant from the Rotary Club of Lancaster South, the smoke house now has that new roof. The smoke house is an integral part of the museum, providing visitors with the experience of an important element of food preservation in the 18th century. Smoking pork shoulders, hams and bacon was an effective way of preserving meat for families who could afford to do so. During the annual Maize and Snitz Festival each October, the smokehouse is opened up and visitors can see and learn about the process of smoking meat. The 1719 Herr House, built in that year by Christian and Anna Herr, is the oldest surviving house in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It is the oldest original Mennonite meeting house still standing in the Western Hemisphere. The repair work was completed by Ashlin Woods Carpentry, Inc. The grant was a joint contribution from the Rotary Club of Lancaster South and Rotary District 7390.
Lancaster-South Uses Grant to Repair Smoke House roof of 1719 Herr House Museum
2022 Mid Atlantic President Elect Training (PETS) – This mandatory education for all current President Elects is taking place in-person Friday February 25th and Saturday, February 26, 2022 with an optional evening of education on Thursday, February 24th. Location: Valley Forge Hotel and Casino in Valley Forge, PA. EXCITING NEWS: 2022-2023 RI President Jennifer Jones will be joining us in person as a keynote speaker! To read more go to http://www.mapets.org/ Registration will go live on November 1st!
District 7390 PRE-PETS: This education will occur the weekend before MAPETS on February 19th, from 9 AM – 2 PM at Messiah University. A portion of the day will be open to all Rotarians. More information will be coming!
Since 2013, the Gates Foundation has matched every $1 Rotary commits to polio eradication 2-to-1. In January 2020, the Gates Foundation announced that they will continue to match 2:1 every new dollar Rotary commits to polio eradication up to $50 million per year through 2023!
Rotary has contributed more than $2 billion to fight polio, including matching funds from the Gates Foundation, and countless volunteer hours since launching its polio eradication program, PolioPlus, in 1985.
Thank you for supporting Rotary and leveraging your generosity!
You can help end polio by making a gift to the PolioPlus Fund at endpolio.org.
If video does not appear, please click here to watch a video about the Iron Lung.
Upcoming Rotary Club Presidents and Executive Directors eagerly plan for the 2022-2023 Rotary year at the 2021 Large Club Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. President-Elect Nominee Aaron Jacobs (York), Executive Director Lynne Morrison (York), Executive Director Addeline Alaniz Edwards (Harrisburg), and President-Elect Beth Mihmet (Harrisburg) all attended the Conference.
The Rotary Clubs of Mechanicsburg North and Mechanicsburg, Mother Hubbard's Custom Cabinetry and Fairway Independent Mortgage Company will host the 62nd Rotary Means Business District 7390 networking event since our beginning in 2014 on Thursday, November 11 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Mother Hubbard's Custom Cabinetry, 5309 E. Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg, PA. The event is FREE and in honor of Veterans Day donations can be made to the Rotary Veterans Initiative which helps veterans succeed by supporting their education, training, and job search opportunities. Go to https://www.tfec.org/funds/rotary-veterans-initiative/ to donate.
The networking event will be in person and virtual via Zoom. Masks are optional. The in-person networking event is limited to 25 persons so register at https://bit.ly/RMBvets21 as quickly as possible. See you there!
On November 18th the annual “Foundation Dinner” will take place at the Lodge at Liberty Forge in Mechanicsburg PA. The focus this year will be to celebrate the great work of Rotary clubs and individual Rotarians during a year of intense need in our communities. A video is being developed featuring the great work of clubs that participated in district grant projects and global grants during the 2020-2021 Rotary Year. There is still time to submit a photo to DGE Juliet of your project in time for inclusion in the video!! Additionally, we would like to feature organizations that have been on the receiving end of your club’s generosity! We will give them a table in the cocktail area to showcase their organization. Other highlights of the evening will include:
4:30 – 5:00 PM Reception for Major Donors, Paul Harris Society Members, Benefactors, Bequest Society Members and Arch Klumph Society Members. There will be a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres. This is by invitation only!
5:00 – 6:00 PM Cocktail hour featuring club projects past and present. Would your club like to showcase a project you are proud that could prompt other clubs to join you or duplicate what you have done? Click here to email DGE Juliet to secure a table!
6:00 – 8:30 PM Dinner, club awards, club presentations, greetings from our global grant scholars in London, and more…
Members of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg (RCH) gathered at the Salvation Army in Harrisburg for a unique service opportunity with the Salvation Army of Harrisburg.
After getting assignments, instructions and a box lunch the Rotarians were given a brief overview of the various works performed by the Army volunteers at the facility. According to Rotarian/participant Karen Good, “it was so encouraging to hear of lives being helped and changed by food distribution, cooking classes and various events for children provided by the Salvation Army.”
RCH members were guided through various task by Army staff member Megan Bachmore.
Karen Paris (past RCH President) stuffed envelopes. Andy Reebuck (past RCH President) and Karen Good raised their hands to do trash duty around the facility. That meant pick up trash, cleaning out the cans and washing mats from the kitchen.
Other attending RCH members, Shaun Eng and Gail Rebuck, Wendall Hoover, Sue Ward Diorio and Alex Rajis. put together recipe bags to accompany food distribution received from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.
Photos by RCH Member Karen Good.
Rotary Club of Harrisburg get their projects overview on who does what.
RCH member Alex Rajis and Past President James good count out spice packets for the soup recipe.
Past President Karen Paris and Gina Rebuck inspect the bags for distribution
Andy Rebuck puts some muscle into getting the packed bags to the right area for ultimate distribution.
Harrisburg Volunteers Help Salvation Army Spiff Up Their Facility and Concoct Soup Kits for Those in Need
On October 2, members from the York-North Rotary Club repainted the playground buildings at Cousler Park. This completed a two year project to return the playground structures to their original condition.
A 2021/22 Club Grant, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hanover, provided Windy Hill Senior Center in Spring Grove with a new commercial freezer, two Rolling Serving Carts and two Food Carts. Windy Hill serves over 1,100 seniors annually with programs and services including a nutrition program. Meals are provided on location, carry-out and Meals-On-Wheels. From March 2020 to February 2021, over 22,000 take-out meals and over 24,000 home delivered meals have been provided. The Freezer enables the Center to increase meal storage capacity to better serve their older adult population in Spring Grove and Hanover, address food insecurities and increase freezer storage by 53%. The 2 wire rolling racks and 2 stainless food carts will store and transport take-out meals after they are assembled and transport frozen meal boxes within facility.
Pictured: Tammy Miller, Executive Director and Tracy Haper, Assistant Director of Programming.
Special thanks to Rotarian Scott Kurz , Minuteman Press, for providing the magnetic signage.
The District 7390 Safety Committee has published a COVID-19 update that contains the latest update on community transmission of COVID-19 in the counties of our District and some best practices to consider as we approach the holidays.
Please click here for new guidance on club gatherings and staying healthy as we spend more time indoors in the months ahead.
Join us via Zoom on November 10, 2021 @ 5:30 for an interactive orientation.
We will highlight the basics of Rotary International and its philanthropic arm, The Rotary Foundation, as well as offering resources available through our District 7390 and your local Club.
You are now one of 1.2 million Rotarians around the world, with nearly that many opportunities to engage. We want to help you find your Rotary passion!
Pictured from left to right: Todd Kurl, Tim Koller, Greg Kern and Jim Craft
York-East members volunteer to pick up trash and litter along Edgewood Road between Prospect Street and Kingston Road twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall, generally to coincide with PennDOT's Road Cleanup Day. The club has been doing it since 1998 and occasionally finds treasures and lots of trash (cans, cups, bags, and tires).
The time has come to begin the nominating process for our District Governor 2024-2025. In this way we will continue our three-year projection for District 7390’s leadership. Every club has an outstanding leader who could be a potential District Governor. Look around and ask yourself, who is that person in our club? Is it me? It is the person who is a good leader, interested, involved, gives financially to Rotary and The Rotary Foundation and is helpful to other members.
The District Governor is the officer of RI in the District, functioning under the general control and supervision of the RI Board. The Governor has responsibility for organizing new Clubs; strengthening existing Clubs; promoting membership growth; supporting The Rotary Foundation; planning and presiding at the District Conference, PETS and District Training Assembly; issuing a monthly newsletter; reporting promptly to RI; focusing attention on important Rotary issues; motivating Rotarians to participate in service activities; recognizing the outstanding contributions of Rotarians in the District; and many other related activities. The candidate should be aware of the qualifications, duties and responsibilities of a District Governor and must demonstrate willingness, commitment, and ability (physically and otherwise) to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the office of Governor.
Candidates must be well versed with the District 7390 Bylaws, revised May 2018, and its intent. Candidates must also be familiar with the Constitution and Bylaws of Rotary International as published in the 2016 Manual of Procedure.
Please contact the District office (office@rotary7390.org or 717-854-7842) if would like more information about applying to be District Governor 2024-2025. Please keep in mind that it is each Club’s duty to the District and Rotary International to give serious consideration to suggesting candidates for District Governor. Your suggestion for District Governor 2024-2025 must be received in the District Office by December 10, 2021, to be considered by the Nominating Committee. Interviews for the 2024-2025 District Governor will be held Wednesday, January 5, 2022 at a location to be determined.
Seeking Nominations for District 7390 Governor 2024-2025
Whitaker Center Honors Rotary Club of Harrisburg Member Cami Grimm as a Woman to Watch in the 2021 Celebration of Women in Stem Awards Program
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts will honor Cami Grimm, Manager at Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz (BSSF) and Rotary Club of Harrisburg member, as part of the 2021 Women of Impact: Celebrating Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Awards Program. Cami was selected as part of the Women to Watch Class of 2021, which recognizes women younger than 40 who have significant accomplishments and success in STEM.
Cami has more than five years of public accounting experience and specializes in providing audit and review services to for-profit and nonprofit entities, with a concentration in working with family-owned and closely held businesses. She is a key member of BSSF’s Employee Benefit Plan (EBP) Practice management team. Outside of the Firm, Cami is a passionate volunteer with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Capital Region. She is also a Board Member of the Harrisburg Rotary Club and serves on the Rotary’s Public Relations Committee, as well as the Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Cami is a talented and driven member of our Firm who is passionate about helping her clients, team members and community achieve extraordinary outcomes,” said Ken Wolfe, President and Managing Principal. “She serves as a trusted leader within our EBP Practice management team, as well as various internal committees within our Firm. Along with serving as a leader at BSSF, she also serves as a leader in the community. She is well-deserving of the recognition as a Woman to Watch, and we are proud and excited to celebrate her and the other honorees at the Women in STEM Awards Program in September.” (In this photograph, she is surrounded by her co-workers.)
Sixteen women and one organization were selected by Whitaker Center for their significant contributions to the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
The Women in STEM Awards Program is an annual event to recognize the contributions of women in STEM throughout Central Pennsylvania and support the Whitaker Center’s Girls in STEM Initiative, which encourages girls in Central Pennsylvania to develop an interest in STEM and foster equitable pathways to STEM careers. The 2021 event will be held on September 22 at the West Shore Country Club in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.
Whitaker Center Honors Rotary Club of Harrisburg Member Cami Grimm
District 7390 is honored to receive the Zone 32 Award for the Most Money Donated to the Rotary Foundation of all Districts during the Rotary Year 2020/2021. This recognition could not have happened without the hard work of the D7390 Foundation Chair, PDG John Kramb and other volunteers who worked hard to keep us informed and motivated to give. That said, this award is for each and every Rotarian in our District who gave of their resources this past year. As District Governor 20/21, I could not be more proud of how our District members stepped up, in the midst of a global pandemic, and offered their Rotarian generosity in effort to help others. Rotarians worldwide are among the most generous people on earth... and the members of Rotary in District 7390 are at the top of that class. Thank you, each and every one of you, for seeing the vision and taking action. As Paul Harris once said: "Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves". In Gratitude, IPDG John Anthony
District 7390 Receives Zone 32 Award for Highest Foundation Giving
It is time to start planning your club’s 4-Way Test ESSAY Contest. This year’s essay prompt will be: Is it the Truth? – How I Define What is True in My Life. We are looking forward to receiving essays from 9th grade high school students which address questions like: What is true? Where is truth found? Is truth important? Is truth relative? Submissions for the 2021-22 District 7390 contest are due March 11, 2022. Contest rules, critical dates, and information for both Rotarians and Students are available at the District 7390 Website: https://www.rotary7390.org/page/four-way-test-essay-contest. Any questions or requests for further information can be directed to project chair, Steven Grubb, at stevengrubb@comcast.net.
Join the Rotary Club of New Holland for a fun evening of dinner and live music in support of Lighthouse Vocational Services, which provides vocational services for persons with developmental disabilities. Enjoy a buffet dinner and be entertained by the classic rock and alternative rock sounds of Sam I Am, and the rock/funk/blues mix of The Reed Brothers Band.
Tickets are $25 per person and includes a buffet dinner. Cash bar also available. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the Rotary Rocks Eventbrite page.
You Are Invited to the 5th Annual Rotary Rocks Benefit Concert
Herb joined Rotary in 2011 and is a member of the Allentown West Rotary Club near Allentown, PA. He is currently a Zone 32 Assistant Coordinator for 4 Eastern Pennsylvania districts. In 2021-22, Herb will be the Zone 32 Rotary Coordinator. Herb was the 2019-20 District 7430 Governor and District 7430 Membership Chair from 2016-18. He played a key role in developing and implementing a strategic action plan to grow district membership which included both building vibrant existing clubs and adding new innovative clubs. From 2016-19, District 7430 increased its membership in 3 of the 4 years, added 4 new clubs and 4 satellites and had a net gain of nearly 100 members.
Herb is a retired chemical engineer and a charter member of Engineers without Borders – Lehigh Valley Professionals and has been actively involved in partnering with Rotary on global and district grant projects in Sierra Leone, Africa, and the Dominican Republic. He has traveled to both locations on multiple occasions.
Posted by Anna-Mae Kobbe, District Rotary Foundation Chair
Sign up today for Rotary Direct and make your giving to The Rotary Foundation quicker and easier. With just a minimum contribution of $10 you can begin using Rotary Direct. And, each contribution is acknowledged at the time of your donation.
Click here to follow the information guide instructions to set up your Rotary Direct giving. You will be able to specify a frequency of monthly, quarterly, or annual contributions.
With World Polio Day October 24 and November is Foundation Month now is a great time to establish your Rotary Direct account. Then make your contributions to celebrate these two important dates by using Rotary Direct.
Posted by Juliet Altenburg, Strategic Planning Chair
Our District is in the process of developing a strategic action plan which will provide direction for District initiatives starting July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2025. To create the best plan possible, we need your input through the completion of the following short questionnaire that will help District Leadership understand how best to serve YOU and your club in doing good in the world. The plan we develop will be based on Rotary International’s four priority areas described at Action Plan | My Rotary:
Priority 1 Increase our Impact
Priority 2: Expand Our Reach
Priority 3: Enhance Participant Engagement
Priority 4: Increase our Ability to Adapt
Click here to complete the questionnaire by Friday, October 8, 2021.
Results will be shared in an anonymous fashion in the future with all District Rotary Clubs. Specific Name and contact information will not be shared with anyone beyond the District Leadership Team (DG, DGE, DGN, DGND, Executive Secretary.) Thank you for your input and all the good you do in the world!
Bob Straw, Response Manager for American Red Cross and fellow Rotarian, started his morning on 9/11 at 8:30 a.m. at the York Fair. A child, Matthew Potter, 7, had been hurt and later died after riding on a roller coaster, and the Red Cross had first aid stations there.
At about 9 a.m., he heard the news that the first plane had hit the World Trade Center. As part of his training with the Red Cross Aviation Incident Response Team, he called in to Washington, D.C., and was put on standby to go to New York. Other local members were assigned to Arlington, VA and other locations.
In the days following, 9/11, all air travel was shut down. A team of local Red Cross members went to Shanksville for a fourteen day assignment. They'd need to hold two memorial services — the first on Sept. 17, the other on Sept. 20 — and each had to be equally special. Organizers also had to make sure they represented the different faiths of the passengers and crew members.
When these kinds of events happen, the goodness and the devotion and the dedication of these people really shine.
York-East Hosts Speaker from the American Red Cross
It was a pleasure hosting Karen Groh, President and CEO of the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce, at our meeting this morning. As guest speaker, she addressed the present state of affairs in local and regional business as well as the highly successful SCORE program which assisted the Myerstown Vitality Partnership in planning and achieving its strategic goals. She also addressed the staffing issues plaguing many businesses here and throughout the country and illustrated how the issue is a bigger issue that just getting people to work. Thanks Karen for your friendship and expertise.
(Pictured with Karen Groh is Tom Maiello, President of the Myerstown-ELCO Rotary.)
Myerstown-ELCO hosts CEO of Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce
It's that time of year! Our annual Community Change Grants are now open for applications. This beloved program aims to provide support to our growing network of advocates, grassroots organizers, organizations, and agencies using innovative, engaging, and inclusive programs and projects to create tangible change at the community level.
We are looking to fund projects that:
Increase physical activity and active transportation in a specific community
Work to cross engage people and organizations newer to the efforts of walking and moving and walkability
Demonstrate a culture of antiracism and inclusive health and design
Support and cultivate connected, active and deeply engaged communities
Thanks to our Active People, Healthy Nation Partners for funding these catalytic projects.
And this year, General Motors is funding ten additional $1,500 Community Change Grant projects in designated towns and cities with GM facilities!
As World Polio Day approaches, the Rotary community is getting ready to amplify our message about eradicating polio to protect the world’s children from this devastating disease.
Together, we’ve made tremendous progress. Now it’s time to intensify our fight to make polio the second human disease ever to be eradicated. Last year, the World Health Organization’s African region was certified free of wild poliovirus, showing that eradication is possible even in very difficult circumstances. The wild poliovirus remains endemic in just two countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan. We can use World Polio Day to advocate for the support we need to end polio in countries where it still paralyzes children.
Inspire action Take action for World Polio Day by promoting the importance of polio eradication, raising funds, and planning events. Let’s engage our communities in the fight against polio — because as long as polio exists anywhere, it remains a threat everywhere.
Use the World Polio Day Toolkit to find resources and tips for planning activities and promoting a polio-free world. Inspire others to join us by hosting virtual and community events, creating fundraisers, and sharing posts on social media. Click here!
Register your club’s participation in World Polio Day to show how Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact clubs around the world are taking action to eradicate polio. If you register your events, fundraisers, and promotions by 14 October, you’ll get early access to a download of Rotary’s World Polio Day Global Update one week before the program will be shown on 24 October on Rotary’s Facebook page and endpolio.org.
Use Raise for Rotary to start an online fundraiser to benefit The Rotary Foundation’s PolioPlus Fund for World Polio Day. Then, share it with your network! The top Raise for Rotary World Polio Day 2021 fundraisers will be featured on My Rotary.
In honor of the Uptown York Rotary Club’s 10th anniversary, the UYRC is hosting a bus trip fundraiser benefitting its community grants program to the Flight 93 National Memorial on Saturday, October 16. We will be traveling is style via Bailey’s Rotary-branded motor coach!
If you’ve never been please consider joining us - it’s a very moving experience. See flyer attached. Click here to purchase tickets. Tickets include transportation, lunch, and snacks. We are following the CDC and PA Department of Health COVID-19 guidelines that are in place on the day of the event. Note: the event is rain or shine - tickets are not refundable but are transferable.
The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control indicates that all counties in our district during the seven-day period ending 9/16 have a “High” rate of COVID-19 transmission (>10% positivity rate. Source: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home ) Four-week trends are noted below with the column on the far right being the most recent rate.
Adams 6% - 8% - 9% -11%
Cumberland 8% - 9% - 11% -10%
Dauphin 11% - 11% -11% -14%
Lancaster 8% - 9% - 10% -11%
Lebanon 8% - 9% - 10% -14%
Perry 12% -11% - 15% -14%
York 7% - 10% - 10% -12%
The CDC recommends mask wearing indoors for everyone regardless of vaccination status in areas with substantial or high transmission rates of COVID-19. Why? Even vaccinated individuals can acquire and transmit the highly contagious COVID-19 delta variant although in vaccinated people rates of hospitalization and death are low. If you are a Rotarian that has tested positive for COVID-19 within 2 weeks of being in-person with club members, please remember to notify your clubleadership so all members who were in your presence can be notified and take the necessary precautions to mitigate virus spread and illness. It is important that clubs also convey this information to speakers and guests at their events including students. Read more on what to do for a community-related exposure at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html Did you know the FDA approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine? If you aren’t vaccinated, do it now not just for yourself, but for our children and neighbors around the world.
Join us for an afternoon at the beautiful Hershey Gardens for a garden reception and silent auction to benefit Hershey Rotary’s community support programs. The reception will include hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and live musical entertainment. The silent auction will include one of a kind items and other unique opportunities for your bidding!
100% of the net proceeds from the auction & reception are used for charitable purposes. Organizations supported in recent years include Hershey Food Bank, Ronald McDonald House, The Mohler Center, Hershey Volunteer Fire Company, Love INC, Hershey Area Playhouse, Hershey Community Chorus, Hershey Historical Society, Hershey Public Library, Hershey Symphony, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and many more. Hershey Rotary Club is also very active in supporting youth through our Student of the Month program, Service Above Self Scholarships, and the International Youth Exchange program.
Ticket Price: $100/person
Visa and Master Card will be accepted for auction items and registration.
To donate an auction item, to advertise in the auction program, to be a sponsor, and to register, contact Tracy Creer at 717-220-1558 or creerm@sbcglobal.net by September 20, 2021.
Rotary’s members are our greatest strength. When our membership is strong, our clubs are more vibrant, Rotary and Rotaract is more visible, and our clubs have more resources to help communities flourish. Let’s examine the state of Rotary’s membership: who is joining, who is leaving, and the opportunities we all have to help Rotary grow.
Join us for the first webinar in our Engaging Members + Delivering Value series, The State of Membership. There will be two sessions offered:
LIVE: Thursday, 23 September 11:00 Chicago time (UTC-5). *Interpretation will be provided in French, Portuguese, and Spanish. See the time in a city near you.
Pictured L-R: IPDG John Anthony, PDG Hector Ortiz, PDG Dennis Zubler, PDG Connie Spark, PDG Kevin Cogan, PDG Janice Black, DGN Fred Gellert, PDG Anna-Mae Kobbe, DG Greg Staub, PDG Paul Burkhart, PDG Al Alley
The Past District Governors and current District Leadership in Rotary District 7390 meet annually for a social gathering that is hosted by a Past District Governor. IPDG John Anthony and his lovely wife Karen volunteered to host the PDG dinner in 2021. On September 8th several PDGs and current District Leadership gathered at Roots of My Land Ecuadorian Family Restaurant in Harrisburg. It was a wonderful evening that featured traditional Ecuadorian dishes and fellowship. DG Greg Staub gave some brief remarks regarding the state of Rotary District 7390 and emphasized that we need to focus on rebuilding our membership this Rotary year.
PA State Senator Chris Gebhard of the 48th Senatorial District was a guest speaker at a recent Myerstown-ELCO Rotary meeting. Senator Gebhard (r) is pictured with Club President Tom Maiello.
Rotary Club of Lancaster South is holding a motorcycle ride/pancake breakfast fundraiser on September 25, 2021. This event will benefit the affordable housing programs at Tenfold, which was created by the merger of Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership and Tabor, as well as funding our philanthropic work in our community. The event will be held at the Willow Street Fire Company in Willow Street PA with breakfast starting at 9 a.m. until noon, and will feature three great rides in Lancaster and York Counties. These are self guided tours with maps and .gpx files provided by the organizers. To register or for more information, click this link or paste this URL into your browser, https://tinyurl.com/99j69bbd.
Lancaster South Motorcycle Ride/Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser
Central Penn Business Journal has selected Addeline Alaniz Edwards, Executive Director for the Rotary Club of Harrisburg, as a Forty Under 40 recipient.
Forty Under 40 recognizes professionals 39 years of age and younger who have been successful in the Central Pennsylvania area. Honorees, chosen by the Central Penn Business Journal editors, were selected based on professional accomplishments, community service and commitment to inspiring change.
"The 2021 Forty Under 40 honorees are Central Pennsylvania's future leaders. Their professional accomplishments, community service and commitment to inspiring change are extraordinary," said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, senior group publisher of the Central Penn Business Journal. "These honorees help to make Central Pennsylvania a wonderful place to live and to work. The Central Penn Business Journal is pleased to celebrate their accomplishments."
Addeline is a member and two-time Past President of the Harrisburg Keystone Rotary Club, and she currently serves on the club’s Board of Directors. A dedicated Rotarian since 2012, Addeline is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and enjoys coordinating fundraising efforts such as the 0.5K and the Polar Plunge for her club.
Edwards is a graduate of Rotary Leadership Institute, Judge/Bradley Leadership School and Leadership Harrisburg Area’s Community Leadership Series.
Addeline and her husband Josh live in Camp Hill with their 3 kids. Addeline enjoys music, beer, tubing on the Yellow Breeches and lounging by the patio campfire.
Forty Under 40 honorees will be hosted Oct. 14 at a celebration from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton Harrisburg's outside terrace, One North Second Street in Harrisburg. However, due to the uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic, this event may move to an online format or to a combination of an online and in-person event.
Honorees will also be profiled in a magazine that will be inserted into the Oct. 15 issue of Central Penn Business Journal and will be available online at CPBJ.com.
Celebrating 37 years of journalistic excellence, Central Penn Business Journal is a multimedia news source that publishes a regular print and online edition and breaks news daily on its website, CPBJ.com and numerous other business-oriented publications.
Addeline Alaniz Edwards Named as 2021 Forty Under 40 Honoree
The Rotary Club of York is proud to announce Rachel Stockslager as the Donna E. Hayes Equine Scholarship recipient. Rachel attended the weekly club meeting at the Country Club of York on August 25 and received the $ 3,000 scholarship check. She is starting her senior year at Centenary University as an Equine Science major. A 2017 graduate of Susquehannock High School, Rachel is the daughter of Greg and Karyn Stockslager from New Freedom, PA.
PHOTO (L to R): Student Education Chair Diane Merino, Hayes scholarship recipient Rachel Stockslager, and Rotary Club of York member Alvin Hayes.
The Paul Harris Award recognizes Rotary members and friends of The Rotary Foundation who elect to contribute to the Rotary Foundation, PolioPlus Fund, or approved global grants.
The purpose of the Paul Harris Award is to honor and thank individuals for their generous, ongoing support of The Rotary Foundation.
York East Rotary recognized the following members on August 24th at the Leg Up Farm meeting. (Left to Right) Bob and Friedel Elser, Greg Kern, Chris Izzo, Bill Gierasch, Hunter Mink, Linda Gorter and Tim Koller.
Greg Staub, following a 16-year commitment to Rotary, assumed the role of District 7390 Governor and son Matthew on the same day assumed the role of President of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg (RCH) this July 1, 2021.
Greg Staub, the senior Staub, and member of the Rotary Club of Hanover since 2005 took on leadership roles quickly serving as Club Membership Chair from 2013 to 2016. In 2016-17 he took on the role of Club president and simultaneously serving as District Assistant Governor from 2017 through 2019.
In 2019 he was selected as District Governor-Nominee and in 2020 became District Governor elect and now serves as the Districts Conference Chair from 2021 to 2022. He concurrently serves as Rotary International Convention Promotion Chair through 2022.
In his professional life, Greg Staub is a Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of PSI Capital Management, a registered investment advisory firm headquartered in Lancaster, PA. Staub states, “I am grateful each day for the opportunities I have had both professionally and personally through Rotary. Rotary is how I make sure that others have those same opportunities “
Matt Staub, the younger, has emulated dad’s all-in Rotary philosophy of Service Above Self.
During 2017 to 2020 he took on the Co-Chair function of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg’s Haiti Water Project and in April 2017 joined a water treatment project in a remote mountain village as the Harrisburg Club lead the installation mission with six Harrisburg Club members, Past-District Governor John Judson MD, family members and a Hershey Club Rotarian. The project was part of the District’s Water Project for Haiti and was coordinated with the local Rotary Club of Verrettes, Haiti.
Since 2018, Matt Staub has served on the board of the RCH concentrating on both international and local service projects. During May, 2021 he was active helping maintain and plant new fauna in the Harrisburg Pease Gardens on Front Street.
Matt says of his growing Rotary commitment, “Since joining the Rotary Club of Harrisburg in 2014, I have been blessed with multiple opportunities. After moving to a new city, The RCH offered a great opportunity for fellowship allowing me to interact with Harrisburg’s finest community leadership while offering me countless service opportunities and a chance to be a positive force locally and in the world.”
It is clear both Staubs relish leadership roles in Rotary and will be making their positive marks on the future of many local, national and international Rotary Clubs and initiatives.
Next Step & Generation as Father & Son Assume Roles in Rotary Leadership
September is Literacy Month, an opportunity for Rotarians to focus our awareness of literacy and education needs in our own communities and internationally. Now, just in time for Literacy Month, BELRAG (Basic Education and Literacy Rotary Action Group) and Save the Children are pleased to announce a funding opportunity to support clubs’ innovative approaches to early childhood education in rural America.
In June 2018, Rotary and Save the Children US embarked on a partnership, Together We Read, to increase literacy rates in rural communities through research-based early learning initiatives. The partnership unites Save the Children’s expertise in children’s early literacy programs with Rotary’s expertise in connecting community leaders and driving public awareness – all with the aim of increasing educational outcomes for young children living in poverty.
This initiative offers Rotary Clubs an opportunity to apply to for funding of $5,000-$10,000 for community based initiatives that support Kindergarten readiness and early literacy. Up to ten projects will be funded. Proposals are due September 30, 2021. See below RFP for criteria, project examples, and application form.
This is an excellent opportunity for Rotarians to receive support for their involvement in early education and literacy projects in their own communities. BELRAG is pleased to partner with Save the Children on this initiative and appreciates their generosity in funding these grants for US based Rotary literacy projects.
You are also invited to become involved with BELRAG. Together, we will ensure that every child and adult has opportunity to lead productive, fulfilling lives as literate individuals. If you would like more information about BELRAG, please visit the website www.BELRAG.org.
The speaker at the Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg-North on September 2 is Rotary International Director Valarie Wafer. She is the Chair of RI Diversity Equity and Inclusion Emphasis. Her topic will be RI’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy, News and Developments. We would like to invite anyone who would want to hear her speak on this topic. We will be meeting via Zoom. The meeting is at 7:30 AM and the zoom link is https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83501772605?pwd=dStlV2FCb0V5YURTem1uQUJzVUVJZz09
York North Rotary Club presented a donation and also volunteered to help Servants in their mission to provide home repairs for low-income and disabled homeowners. On July 26th, seven members of York North built a platform and stairs to assist a couple in northern York County. This is the sixth year that North York has been assisting Servants in these projects.
Rotarian John Kramb poses with other members of the International Fellowship of Motorcycling Rotarians. They met in Maggie Valley, North Carolina for their first group ride in over a year. COVID, you know. The riders came from Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, California and other states. They had a memorial service for two members who passed last year, and rode a couple of hundred miles in the twisty, windy roads of the Blue Ridge.
The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control indicates that all counties in our district during the seven-day period ending 8/31 have a “High” rate (red counties on map) of COVID-19 transmission (>10% positivity rate). (Source: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home )
The CDC recommends mask wearing indoors for everyone regardless of vaccination status in areas with substantial or high transmission rates of COVID-19. Why? Even vaccinated individuals can acquire and transmit the highly contagious COVID-19 delta variant although in vaccinated people rates of hospitalization and death are low. If you are a Rotarian that has tested positive for COVID-19 within 2 weeks of being in-person with club members, please remember to notify your clubleadership so all members who were in your presence can be notified and take the necessary precautions to mitigate virus spread and illness. It is important that clubs also convey this information to speakers and guests at their events including students. Read more on what to do for a community-related exposure at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html Did you know the FDA approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine? If you aren’t vaccinated, do it now not just for yourself, but for our children and neighbors around the world.
Club Safety Liaison List for 2021-2022
Last year our District formed a Safety Committee and encouraged clubs to appoint a “Club Safety Liaison” who would serve as the recipient and distributor of safety guidance to their club from the District Safety Committee. Although clubs are not mandated to have this position, assigning this position to an interested club member remains highly encouraged. Duties include:
Acting as a recipient for safety information distributed by the District Safety Committee and assuring that information is conveyed to all club members.
Acting as a resource for club members during the planning of in-person events to assure safe practices are considered and instituted appropriately.
Acting as a contact for the District Safety Committee if input is needed on district wide safety initiatives.
Club Presidents should submit the name and contact information for their Safety Liaison to DGE Juliet Altenburg at DGJuliet2022@qrpc.com. See below for the current Club Safety Liaisons the District has on file. The District Safety Committee also welcomes ANY club member interested in either attending our meeting or joining our passionate group to reach out to Chair Juliet Altenburg for meeting information! The next meeting of the committee will be on October 6th. Our focus is to support our clubs in keeping themselves and the communities they serve safe not only from COVID-19 but any activity that poses a safety risk.
SPY is an 8 week summer school for "at risk" first through third graders in the Carlisle School District that aims to keep their learning levels up in reading and math through the summer break. The Carlisle Rotary club recently completed a renovation project for SPY, utilizing a matching grant from District 7390. The grant allowed SPY to renovate their "calming café," where the children can go to calm down if they get over excited. The grant installed counters and repaired and repainted walls.
Pictured: Carlisle president, Geoff Mangelsdorf, reads to the kids at the Summer Program for Youth (SPY).
Fresh from a Caribbean vacation with his wife, and fellow Rotarian, Karen, Past President James Good (2020-21) flew in to pass the gavel to incoming President Matt Staub of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg.
While the transfer of the responsibilities and office are momentous, this was the first in-person luncheon meeting of the Club since the start of the global pandemic – 483 days. Both the Club and the Hilton Harrisburg followed critical CDC protocols.
During his inaugural address, President Matt spoke of his three main goals for his 21-22 leadership year.
Goal 1 Wheel Turning Full Speed Ahead – “As we move forward, we will focus on goals for our Club – the first of which is extraordinarily simple – we will get the Rotary wheel turning at full speed. Our Club held up very well (during the pandemic). A few projects did not happen for reasons beyond our control such as our annual pancake breakfast fundraiser, the Youth Community Development Team (YCDT, and youth exchange. These projects need our full support now more than ever.”
All across Rotary, district conferences, president-elect trainings, international and large-club conferences were all moved online, trimmed, or even cancelled. People logged on from anywhere, any time, but the connections weren’t always strong, and ideas flowed a little less freely. Service stubbornly persisted, but for a long-time, fellowship was absent.
Not anymore!
Goal 2 Membership – “Our second goal is to grow our membership by introducing as many people as possible to the purpose and vision of Rotary. I’ve never been a fan of setting a number. We lost 17 of our members during the pandemic. But I’m asking our member’s help in gaining 10+ members this year. More importantly, if we do the right things for our Club and community, members will follow.”
Goal 3 Move Rotary Forward with Strategic Planning – “Now my final goal. I believe, as I know many of you believe, that our Club is the crown jewel of District 7390. Our club has spanned 7 generations and boasts 11 past presidents who went on to be District Governor. As a dynamic large club, we have an obligation not only to serve our community, but to lead, to innovate and to shape the future of Rotary.
Past Rotary International Director Jeffery Cadorette has challenged us to ask ourselves to say,” If we were to invent Rotary today, would it look like it does?” The answer, obviously, is no. So, let’s work to make Rotary what current and future Rotarians want it to be, and what our communities and our world need it to be.”
Staub adds,” I have been told that our late Bob Hansen was the first in the District to encourage our Club to adopt strategic planning. Strategic planning has clearly been instrumental in our Club’s distinguishing itself over the years. Our Club has not had long-term strategic plan for 5 years. We’re overdue. We will be working on a deliberate, coordinated plan with input from Club leadership, from ALL of our members and from the communities we serve.
“We are all Rotarians. Together we have the obligation to shape the future of Rotary for the next seven generations, and to do so in a manner where the promise and purpose of Rotary established by Paul Harris so many years ago is not lost but delivered. As Rotarians we have the opportunity to do such great things. Every single day is an opportunity to live this year’s Rotary International Presidential Theme from Shekhar Mehta – Serve to Change Lives. Now, let’s go do it. Let’s have a great Rotary year!”
“By all accounts”, says Addeline Alaniz Edwards, Executive Director of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg (RCH) and Past President of the Harrisburg Keystone Rotary Club, “our collaborative service event on Monday, August 2, was amazing!”
For the Rotary Club of Harrisburg event, nearly 30 members assembled 500 period hygiene kits for the Period Project Harrisburg. Inter-club and community group interaction during this event demonstrates a perfect example of Rotary International’s theme of Service Above Self. Alaniz Edwards gives credit to her home club, the Harrisburg Keystone Rotary Club, for providing her the first experience with a very critical need in local and international communities.
L to R Ellen Brown, Susan Anthony, Walter Prediger, Becky Boone, Matt Tenny
Becky Boone from Harrisburg Keystone Rotary had organized tampon drives for the Harrisburg and Steelton/Highspire school districts. Then she came to help HRC assemble approximately 500.
Period hygiene supplies are one of the most overlooked monthly expenses in a family's budget. When community assistance organizations provide budget coaching for folks getting back on their feet or discussing basic needs, it's rarely even mentioned. Maybe it's embarrassing to some people. It's unfortunate that people experiencing period poverty will miss school or work-- or even worse-- use unsafe hygiene practices that can cause medical issues-- because those who can easily assist with this need are too embarrassed to even talk about it.
During the RCH event, Savory Occasions donated lunch for the volunteers and the Girl Scouts of the Heart of Pennsylvania office provided the kit assembly location and hand sanitizer to be distributed. LOOP Ministries and the Latino Hispanic American Community Center arranged distribution of the packages to Harrisburg residents. This distribution included Harrisburg School District students who may not be able to afford hygiene supplies for their monthly periods.
Alaniz Edwards states, “We at the Rotary Club of Harrisburg are proud to support the Period Project Harrisburg and are thankful for their valuable service to the Harrisburg community."
Back row: Lee Tyre, Lisa Tyre, Brianna Tyre, Wil Everhart, Susan Anthony, an unidentified helper, Matt Tenny, Jill Hanes, Matt Tenny, Charlotte Tenny, Addeline Alaniz Edwards, Becky Boone, Toni Mark, Meghan Bachmore, Walter Prediger Front: Jill Tenny, Ellen Brown, Janet Donovan, Una Martone
The Rotary Club of Harrisburg distribution included Harrisburg School District students who may not be able to afford hygiene supplies for their monthly periods. The District one of the long-standing partners with the RCH.
The Rotary Club of York Awards the $1500 Carol Wagman Nursing Scholarship
The Rotary Club of York Student Education Committee selected Zachary Gibbs as the recipient of the Carol Wagman Nursing Scholarship. Zachary attended the weekly club meeting on August 4 and received the $ 1,500 scholarship for his continued studies towards his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at York College of Pennsylvania. A 2018 graduate of South Western High School, Zach is scheduled to graduate with his BSN degree and a Neuroscience minor December 2022.
PHOTO (L to R): Rotary Club of York member Carol Wagman, Zachary Gibbs, and Rotary Student Education Chair Diane Merino
The Rotary Club of York Awards $ 5,000 Scholarship
Congratulations to AbigailWurzbach, the inaugural recipient of the Rotary Club of York Student Education Chair’s Scholarship. The scholarship is based on the Rotary International motto ‘Service Above Self’ and community service and has a total value of $ 5,000, two installments of $ 2,500 for her junior and senior years of college. Abigail attended the weekly club meeting at the Country Club of York on August 11 and received the scholarship check. She is starting her junior year studying Business, Non-Profit Management and Entrepreneurship at York College of Pennsylvania. A 2019 graduate of York Catholic High School, Abigail is the daughter of Rich and Missy Wurzbach from Brogue and expects to graduate May 2023.
PHOTO (L to R): Scholarship recipient Abigail Zurzbach and Rotary Student Education Chair Diane Merino.
The Student Education Committee of the Rotary Club of York held personal interviews on June 17 for “Non-Traditional Student” Scholarships. A “Non-Traditional” Student is one who does not attend post-secondary education directly following graduation from high school. Instead, they select to enter the workforce, start a family, or enter the military. At a later date, they decide to pursue a degree and usually work and attend school simultaneously for a few years to earn a degree.
Jasmine Cross, Lindsey Hershner, and Melissa Raup were able to attend a recent club meeting at the Country Club of York to receive their $ 2,400 “Non-Traditional Student” scholarship.
Jasmine Cross works full-time as a Behavioral Health Technician and is a Psychology student at Penn State University – York campus. Lindsey Hershner owns and works at her hair salon and attends HACC – York campus where she is scheduled to graduate in December 2022 and continue schooling to become a Registered Nurse. Melissa Raup is working towards her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Addiction from Aspen University while working full-time as a Incident, Quality and Risk Manager in the Residential ID department at Bell Socialization Services.
The Rotary Club of York has been proudly awarding these “Non-Traditional Student” scholarships since 2012 and have financially assisted 21 students with over $ 32,000 to achieve their educational goals! For more information about the scholarship program, please contact Rotary Club of York Student Education Administrator Renea Oberdick at roberdick@yorkrotary.org.
Photo L TO R: Lindsey Hershner, Student Education Administrator Diane Merino, and Jasmine Cross
Photo L TO R: Melissa Raup and Diane Merino, Student Education Administrator
Members of York East Rotary endured the heat and humidity to pull weeds surrounding the pond at the Leg Up Farm in Mount Wolf. Leg Up Farm is the only pediatric therapy facility in the country to provide physical, occupational, speech and aquatic therapy, behavioral health services, nutrition counseling, therapeutic horseback riding and educational and recreational programming under one roof.
A big “Thank You” goes out to Greg Kern, Reid Kern, Kris Pollick, Karen Comery and Chris Izzo for helping on Saturday.
Rotary Club of Lancaster South is holding a motorcycle ride/pancake breakfast fundraiser on September 25, 2021. This event will benefit the affordable housing programs at Tenfold, which was created by the merger of Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership and Tabor, as well as funding our philanthropic work in our community. The event will be held at the Willow Street Fire Company in Willow Street PA with breakfast starting at 9 a.m. until noon, and will feature three great rides in Lancaster and York Counties. These are self guided tours with maps and .gpx files provided by the organizers. For more information, please contact Dan Hess at dvhess@comcast.net or visit our website at https://lancsouthrotary.org/event/motorcycle-ride-pancake-breakfast/. Early registration opens August 1, 2021 and closes on September 15, 2021. Register before September 15 and single rider with breakfast will cost $35, and rider with passenger and breakfast will cost $45. After September 15, fees are $40 and $50 respectively.
Motorcycle Ride/Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser - September 25
Check out the latest post on the District Blog at https://bit.ly/3ep3iKh featuring an article by Passport Club President Melissa-Kopp Smith! While you are there subscribe to the Blog to get articles mailed directly to your inbox.
Subscribing is easy and located at the bottom of the homepage.
The Passport Club welcomes visitors and is looking to partner with area Rotary Clubs on service activities. Read more on the blog about how to connect with Melissa and the passionate members of this club!
Rotary Club of Lancaster South provided three $1,000 college scholarships to the following high school seniors who graduated in the Spring and are attending college in the Fall - Alexander Knapp a Lampeter-Strasburg graduate attending George Mason University, Delaney Reitnauer a Penn Manor graduate attending Delaware State University and Faith Redcay a Solanco graduate attending Longwood Gardens Professional Horticulture Program.
Michael Newsome is Gov. Tom Wolf’s Secretary of Administration. When the governor called upon him to serve, he had been mostly retired for three years, still working a part-time job as a member of the state Liquor Control Board, but spending more time playing golf with his wife, traveling, doting on his grandson. Life was good, and he enjoyed retirement, more than he thought he would. But the governor – who was also an old friend, a man he had known for decades and worked with saving Wolf’s family business from bankruptcy – called, and he took the job, recalling that he once told him that if there was anything he could do for him, just call.
Newsome grew up in the South, in poverty, in public housing and, during his youngest years, in a house that didn’t have an indoor bathroom, raised, for the most part, by a single mother, one of nine kids. It was while he was working at the York Daily Record that he became aware of Tom Wolf. And it was during a period of friction between Wolf – and members of the York business community – and the newspaper that the two men became acquainted. Newsome joined the Wolf Organization as a senior vice president and controller. He was later promoted to chief financial officer until he retired.
On June 12, 2021, the Rotary Club of York-North dedicated a bench at Cousler Park in memory of Lynn S. Kilker, former member of the club from 1996 to 2010. Lynn always unselfishly gave of herself to help others less fortunate. Lynn's husband, Paul, and his immediate family, friends and co-workers were in attendance for the dedication. The bench is located behind Rotary Field, a project our club has sponsored for many years.
The Gold Star Garden started with the dream of Cher Kondor, a fellow York East Rotarian and American Gold Star Mother who lost her son, SPC Martin W. Kondor, in 2004. (“Gold Star” is a term derived from American Gold Star Mothers Inc., who were formed in 1928 as a family response to the many lives taken during the first World War. Now, Gold Star is applied to family members who have lost a loved one serving in the U.S. military.) Eight years later, with the help of board members, the City of York, and the Gold Star families of Pennsylvania, her dream of creating a memorial for all veterans came true.
You will find here all the names of the Pennsylvania fallen in the war on terror. In addition all the York County fallen from the time of the founding of the American Gold Star Mothers are also inscribed on the black Pennsylvania granite Wall of Honor. This living monument is a gathering place for those who want to commemorate, remember the fallen and celebrate the lives of our intrepid sons and daughters who volunteered to protect this country.
Pictured L to R: Cher Kondor, Sandi Graham, Club President
The Rotary Club of York is proud to introduce their officers for the 2021-2022 year.
(Photo – L to R) President-Elect Glenn Miller, President Jackie Summers, and President Elect Nominee Aaron Jacobs (not pictured: Doug Berman, Financial Vice-President/Treasurer).
The Rotary Club of York, currently ranked 24th largest the world in membership, holds weekly hybrid club meetings (in-person at the Country Club of York and on zoom) every Wednesday at noon. The 2021-2022 Rotary International Theme is "Serve to Change Lives". For more information, please contact Executive Director Lynne Morrison at lmorrison@yorkrotary.org.
The Rotary Club of York Announces 2021-2022 Leadership
2020-2021 Rotary Club of York President Anne Druck honored Past District Governor Paddy Rooney with a Presidential Citation at the Wednesday, June 30, 2021 club meeting at the Country Club of York. Paddy, a member for 14 years, including President 2016-2017; was awarded for his outstanding “Service Above Self”, loyal dedication, and unwavering commitment to the Rotary Club of York. The Club bid Paddy a heartfelt goodbye and best wishes on his move to the Raleigh, NC area. (Pictured L-R: Rotary Past President Anne Druck and Past District Governor Paddy Rooney)
As Rotarians our stories are an important way of sharing the meaningful ways we serve our communities and how we are inspired by the good work of our fellow club members. One way to share your stories is through the District 7390 blog. Examples of topics can include a member spotlight, service activities that you are proud of, and innovative ways your club is making the community a better place. To learn more, go to: https://d7390rotaryblog.wordpress.com/contributor-guidelines/ While you are there subscribe to the blog, so stories go into your email inbox. Subscribing is easy. Go to the blog homepage at https://d7390rotaryblog.wordpress.com/ and scroll down to the bottom. Don’t be shy! Celebrate your club and its members by submitting a story!
District 7390 has a meetup group comprised of 132 members that acts as a way for people in the community to volunteer for service activities. It is called the “Service Above Self” meetup group and anyone can join for FREE. When you join you will be asked if you are a Rotarian. Once approved you will be given the ability to post your club’s events including fundraisers, service activities and even club meetings to an audience beyond Rotary. Join at https://www.meetup.com/Service-Above-Self/
Join the Service Above Self Meetup Group to Advertise Club Events!
The Penn State Extension is looking for Rotary Club volunteers to participate in a Research Study geared toward assessing and enhancing safe food preparation practices for group gatherings. FREE food will be delivered to participants as part of the study. Click here to learn more!
Please contact Lynne James at Lsj11@psu.eduby July 15th to participate!
Participate in Penn State Food Safety Research Study!
District 7390 Governor, Greg Staub on the left, installed the Rotary Club of Hanover’s Officers for the 2021-2022 Rotary year on Tuesday, 5 July. Standing next to Greg from left to right is: Brandon Gething, President; Kathi Fuhrman, President Elect; Christy Lucus, Board Member; Terry Gingrow, Treasurer; Mary Kay Bernosky, Board Member; Chris Helt, Past President; and Warren Risk, Board Member.
Professional development is right at your fingertips with the Rotary Learning Center, which offers members a range of interactive courses on navigating Rotary's online tools and developing leadership skills to prepare for new Rotary roles.
Are you a new member looking to learn more about Rotary or a Club Leader looking for resources to prepare you and strengthen your knowledge base?
Remember - Anyone with a My Rotary account can take a free course in the Learning Center. Among the many courses available are How to Run a Webinar, How to Propose Legislation, Rotary Club Central Resources, and role-specific selections such as President, Secretary and Treasurer.
One of the most popular courses is Strengthen Rotary, which teaches members to incorporate Rotary values into everyday activities. The Rotary Club Central Resources course, another popular offering, helps members set goals and improve membership information.
At a glance the Rotary Learning Centre carries information on the following topics:
Get started by finding the Learning Center under the LEARNING & REFERENCE tab on Rotary.org or simply go to https://www.rotary.org/learn (You will need a My Rotary account to access)
Participants can monitor their progress via their own personal dashboards which registers and monitors your status through each course and as well awards points based on your completed Learning plans.
Members may not be aware but the Learning Center also generates a Leaderboard and if you are the competitive type, you may be interested in following our District and Global Leaderboards and see where you fit. Have some FUN while learning!
At a small gathering on Saturday, June 26, 2021 dedicated to the installation of new District Leadership for the 2021-2022 year, DG John Anthony reflected on his past year as District Governor of District 7390. In honor of his many contributions to our district including his passion, dedication and unrelenting optimism, we feature his reflections to the audience. Thank you DG John for your leadership during the many challenges and triumphs of the year!
2020-2021 - ROTARY OPENS OPPORTUNITIES
Wow! How Prophetic was THAT Theme! Do you remember your very first Roller Coaster Ride?
But wait....first you had years of anticipation as you needed to GROW. You were not ready even if you thought you were.... you weren't... You waited and you waited. And then finally, the year came. The year YOU were tall enough to ride the BIG Roller Coaster. But wait again... first were weeks and then days of anticipation. You worked on a plan. What is the front cart like? Too scary?
You spoke to others who had taken the ride before. You took in as much advice as you could. You lined up the people you would go with on the ride. You felt prepared... you felt nervous... you felt excited... and you were ready! Then the day came. More anticipation. More planning. You made sure not to eat or drink too much.
Finally you were in line. You patiently waited and you were ready. And you watched others as they exited the ride watching for any hint of knowledge they would bestow through their expressions or comments. And you positioned yourself to be in the front car... because you believe... that's the BEST place to be. Finally you are in your seat... strapped in... locked in ... ready to rock! And what a ride it was!! And then... it was over. WAY TOO SHORT... But AWESOME!!
Was the ride what you thought it would be? Did you scream the entire time? Grab onto the person next to you for security? Did you throw up a little? Laugh a little? Cry a little? Now what???
What an incredible year we have had.
The entire District Team stepped up their game working in their area to bring value to the clubs. Re-working, Re-structuring, Recreating, and Creating. Our Rotarians came together to strengthen OPPORTUNITIES for service by strengthening and expanding current programs such as... Rotary Means Business, Rotary Veterans Initiative, Teachers Impact Awards, Pints for Polio, Planning and educating for RYLA, Planning and educating for Youth Exchange, Pre-pets, MA Pets, Global Scholarships, A Virtual Conference, And SO much more...
Our Rotarians came together to create so many NEW OPPORTUNITIES including...Safety Committee, Communication Committee, Polio Plus Society, Billboard Campaigns, Mentor Program for new members, Ride for Polio, Monthly District Development Sessions, Monthly Leadership Calls for Club Leaders, Service Page, District BLOG, DG VLOG, Speakers Bureau, 72+ Initiative, Grant Certification Programs, Grant Programs to help smaller clubs get grants for their communities, and SO much more... and we added a New Club!
SO many leaders who made SO much happen. It was incredibly heartwarming to watch the passion and the drive offered by so many leaders and volunteers. The Presidents and leaders throughout the district Opened the Doors of Opportunity for Service to their clubs, their members, and their community which seemed to have been closed. And the members...the members found OPPORTUNITIES to continue to BE ROTARIANS. To offer service above self. In Clean Water Projects and Helping with COVID Vaccinations and easter egg hunts and helping in food pantries and helping local veterans and helping children in so many ways and in helping the environment with many Tree plantings and community garden projects and so much more locally and globally. And So much more...
Can you imagine a world without Roller Coasters? I cannot. BUT it is my time to let the next person in line. The next super excited, well trained and ready leaders... to have the front car. I CANNOT adequately express my gratitude for every single team member who helped to make this year a success. I CAN however, just as so many before me have, promise that I am NOT getting off the roller coaster. Nope the ride is too fun...too important...
You will find me with so many other wonderful PDGs, sitting in the back of the coaster, offering support and service, because like you all, we love the ride. We love Rotary. We love being of Service Above Self. It has truly been an honor to be your District Governor this year. Thank you for the opportunity to be of service to you. Rotary will CONTINUE to OPEN OPPORTUNITIES through all of you. Thank you all for ALL that YOU do EVERY day for your Community, for your World, and for Rotary. District Governor Greg.... best wishes on this incredible ride. We are buckled in and ready to roll. - District Governor John Anthony, 2020-2021
DG Greg Staub taking the oath of office.
DGE Juliet Altenburg & DGN Fred Gellert taking the oath of office.
PDG John Anthony receiving his PDG pin from PDG Una Martone.
2021-2022 District Leadership!
A great group of PDGs in attendance along with the current District Leadership.
The Rotary Club of York presented the “Service Above Self” Award to Jason McSherry in honor of his heroism in rescuing his neighbor from a house fire.
Pictured from left: RCY member, Kevin Schreiber; Jason McSherry; RCY Member Jeff Vermeulen; RCY Member Silas Chamberlin.
The Rotary Club of York’s Literacy Committee presented checks from proceeds raised from the Club’s Literacy Book Drive to two local organizations to provide books for their childcare centers.
Pictured from left: RCY Member Deb Harrison; Carmen Banzaca, Child Development Center at First Church of the Brethren; Major Tom Babbit, Salvation Army; RCY Member Sarah White
The Mechanicsburg North Rotary Club will be sponsoring a Golf Tournament on Monday, September 13 at the Carlisle Barracks Golf Course. The tournament is open to 133 golfers, and includes 18 holes of golf, open driving range, hole-in-one, putting, long drive, and closest to the pin contests. The tournament begins with a 1 PM shotgun start, preceded by a lunch. The cost is $125 per golfer. This is a fundraiser for Mechanicsburg North Rotary Club Community Veterans and Youth Projects. Proceeds from the tournament will support numerous programs for veterans and students within the local area. Our Rotary Veteran’s Initiative provides scholarship funds at Central Penn College, HACC and PSU Harrisburg to help with costs. An active mentoring program provides even more greatly needed help. Other proceeds will be applied to additional veteran and youth programs like these: • Hampden Township Veteran’s Park • VA Hospital Aquarium Project • High School Senior Scholarships including Students of the Month/Year • High School Leadership Training, including East Pennsboro High School InterAct Club • Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) • Rotary Youth Park • High School Speech and Essay Contests • High School International Youth Exchange. Sponsorship opportunities are available. To register or to sponsor a hole, carts, lunch, dinner or general sponsorship, contact us at rcmngolf@email.com. You can register at Tee It Up for Veterans & Youth with Mechanicsburg North Rotary Tickets in Carlisle, PA, United States (ticketleap.com)
The Rotary Club of York will hold it's Annual Golf, Tennis and Croquet Outing at the Country Club of York on Monday, September 13, 2021. Rain date is Monday, 9/27
PDG Paddy Rooney recently presented PDG Ben Hoover with the District 7390 Lifetime Achievement Award from the 2019-2020 Rotary year. Please continue to read his remarks when presenting the award:
"As we all know, this disjointed time caused by the pandemic, has disrupted all our lives and schedules for the past 16 months or more. The result was that I, along with so many others, found our plans and intentions abruptly interrupted in March of 2020. I was then still serving as Rotary District Governor and one of the great joys at the end of that year of service is the opportunity to recognize those individuals who have given so much to our District over the year and over a lifetime of service. Alas that was not to be.
And that was particularly disappointing for me since one of the awards I was looking forward to presenting was to be the recognition of a man who has exemplified for me and countless others the spirit and presence of Rotary in so many ways over the years that it is almost impossible to count. But today we get to rectify that omission and now come to present a Rotary lifetime achievement award to Dr. Ben Hoover.
Most of you know that Ben has been a member of this club and a Rotarian for more than 50 years. But there are members and there are Rotarians and I believe that Ben is one of the latter. His work, his service, his commitment and his dedication all speak to that presence Ben has been recognized in our community as a true servant leader and one who is passionately committed to our common purpose and goal of being a Rotarian. His service as President of this club and then as District Governor in the year 2008-09 under the theme “Make Dreams Real” a goal he has continued to exemplify from that day to this with his ongoing involvement in club and District committees, particularly his chairmanship of the Global Scholar grant award committee, all of which speak to his desire to put service above self.
Additionally, Ben has been a mentor to many Rotarians who have followed him in this club and I count myself as one of those fortunate enough to have benefited from such mentorship. When I was thinking about applying for the position of District Governor, Ben was one of the first people with whom I spoke. His support, encouragement and kindness urged me forward and when I assumed the office in 2019 there was no one else I would have wanted to pin me with the District Governor pin, than Ben Hoover.
Many special people have served Rotary over the past 100 plus years of our existence. Many have been examples of commitment and dedication. Many have served long and faithfully. And today I wish to add to their ranks another man who has truly exhibited all those qualities and more and done it in abundance; a man who has shown himself to be that model of true service above self; a man who has truly lived a lifetime of service.
My fellow Rotarians I would ask you to join with me and congratulate our friend, colleague and fellow Rotarian Dr. Ben Hoover as we present him with this lifetime achievement award on behalf of our club, our District and Rotary International. Congratulations Ben."
PDG Ben Hoover Receives District 7390 Lifetime Achievement Award
You are invited to a Celebration of Life for John Judson, Past 7390 District Governor (2014-15) and Rotary Club of Harrisburg President (2010-11).
The Celebration will be held Wednesday, July 14, 2021 at the Rife Center on the East Campus of Bethany Village in Mechanicsburg, PA. The family will be receiving in person guests in the Center’s lobby between 1 and 2 p.m. The Celebration of Life will begin in the Auditorium at 2 p.m. An outdoor reception will follow.
Guests may attend in person; however, seating is limited. Unvaccinated attendees will be required to wear masks and sanitation stations will be available.
If you would like to attend in person, please RSVP to ruthjudson@hotmail.com by 4 p.m. Thursday, July 8. Please provide your name, name of guest, phone number and e-mail address. We plan to alert those attempting to attend in person if seating is or is not available. When seating is at capacity, you may view the Celebration via Zoom.
We will Zoom the Celebration portion and provide the Zoom link closer to the event.
Jack Detwiler has been a member of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg for 27 years and recalls working on or chairing the Club’s Ecology Committee for most of those years. Annually, he has coordinated the Club’s judging and awarding of a prize for students winning the Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair (CASEF).
According to Detwiler, “Our committee members are asked to serve as judges for student entries from area schools. This year we received 15 presentations to review. This year’s judges included President-Elect Matt Staub, Past President Jeff Boswell and me. There was a wide range of topics from 15 candidates.”
CASEF is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization and a PA EITC Innovative Educational Program initiative. For these competitions, CASEF follows performance standards of the Society for Science and the Public (ISEF) with a goal focused on promoting the understanding and appreciation of science. That organization sees the critical role science and engineering play in our society: to inform, educate, and inspire. CASEF provides a scoring guide to provide consistency of presentation quality.
It is no surprise the 2021 CASEF student competition were virtual. Instead of live presentations this year competitors will submit short videos. Fair award dates in 2021 were March 8-11, 2021. CASEF participants submitted their projects to a centralized web. Detwiler says, “All judging is done blind meaning the judges do not know the names of those submitting a presentation. We are in the Special Award Category at the RCH and we present a $750 check to the student winning in the Senior Division.”
This year’s winner and RCH Grand Champion is Sam Koda a sophomore at Hershey High School for his project to determine which lanternfly traps are more effective and cost efficient. He noted in his presentation, “There are no commercially available traps for these insects, but of the four systems I tested, the most effective can be homemade for just over .50 cents per trap.”
According to Valerie Knowles the CASEF Director, “Recent events confirm that it is very evident that we need to be encouraging young scientists to find solutions to life’s greatest challenges and prepare a healthy and sustainable future.”
Public and private schools in the 41 Central Pennsylvania service area are eligible to register in the CASEF. Senior division grand champions advance to compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair and the highest scoring projects of the junior division enter the Broadcom MASTERS competition.
Detwiler believes he’s seen, “Projects ranging from beetles to stream water studies. Detwiler noted, “Last year's winner of the Rotary Ecology Award was Kathryn Miller, a sophomore at Carlisle HS. She demonstrated how Oxbenzone in sunscreen effects and eventually kills coral polyps. She did this project in the lab with actual coral polyps.
Says Detwiler, “Over the years some of our winners actually did their experiments in various creeks and streams in the Central PA area, such as Madeline Grossman, a senior at Cumberland Valley HS in 2017 with her project, 'It's All "Creek" to me, or Kyle Wise a senior at Carlisle High School with his project, "D-Netting vs. Leaf Bagging; Which Macro Invertebrate Collection is the most accurate."
Most notably he adds, “One of our previous winners was Eric Horstick from East Pennsboro High School. His project was how Moss could be used to temper the effects of Acid Mine Drainage. He credits Rotary with inspiring him in his future studies. He went on to get a PHD and currently works for National Institute of Health.”
Anyone who has ever golfed or organized a golf fundraiser knows that tons of work precedes the actual event. Then there is lots of help behind the scenes and “on the course” to make everything run smoothly.
Rotary Club of Harrisburg members stepped up to the needs of the day to help make the Christian Churches United and Help Ministries Golf Outing a huge success.
Christian Churches United of the Tri-County Area (CCU) is a partnership of over 100 Christian congregations in Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry Counties working together with concerned individuals, public and private funders, and numerous partner agencies to support our neighbors in need.
HELP Ministries a program of CCU is often referred to as "The HELP Office." Help Ministries is a social service hub in Dauphin County, providing a comprehensive approach to homelessness and poverty alleviation through crisis resolution, emergency aid, and housing assistance.
Harrisburg Rotary members and friends worked behind the scenes to ensure golfers could concentrate on their game. Signs were put in place, beverage and food made available and no hitch would complicate a day of fun and funding important causes.
Members Frank Frailey, President James Good and Bruce Grossman move supplies into place.
New member Meghan Bachmore moved directional and descriptive signs into place.
President James Good enjoys fellowship with Aisha Mobley, CCU’s Community Mobilization Coordinator.
Taking a much need break are Frailey, Grossman, Bachmore, Alex Rajis, member Brad Gebhart, Addeline Alaniz Edwards and daughter Sophie.
Rotary Club of Harrisburg Members and Friends Ensure Others a Great Day of Golf and Fundraising
The 2021 Virtual Convention will be better than ever, opening more innovative opportunities to learn and to engage with the family of Rotary, near and far. You’ll be able to network in virtual lounges, meet new partners in service, and join fun activities with Rotary members from around the world.
The West York Rotary Club proudly announces six recipients from the 2021 graduating classes for the West York Rotary Club/Clair D. Worley Scholarships. Selected for the $1500.00 awards are Brian Kramer and Cole Shaub from Spring Grove Area High School, Thomas Urrunaga and Jacqueline Kizka from West York Area High School, and Lydia Eifert and Lauren Waits from Dover Area High School.
The Color Code is a world renowned personality assessment that helps build self awareness and helps members of working teams understand how to best leverage one another’s strengths. Unlike some personality assessments that focus only on behaviors, The Color Code unveils each individual’s Driving Core Motivation which answers WHY we do what we do. This understanding can help improve the success of any “team” in Rotary: boards of directors, committees, leadership teams, etc. On Monday, June 14, PDG Una Martone will facilitate a condensed version of The Color Code training for participants in the District Development Session. All registrants will be email instructions for taking The Color Code personality assessment and a link to a free version of the test.
District Food Safety Education with Research Opportunity!
The Penn State Extension is looking for Rotary Club volunteers to participate in a Research Study geared toward assessing and enhancing safe food preparation practices for group gatherings. FREE food will be delivered to participants as part of the study. Click here to learn more!
Please contact Lynne James at Lsj11@psu.eduby July 1st to participate!
The Peace Garden is a tranquil garden along the Susquehanna River two blocks north of the Governor’s residence at Maclay Street. This reflective stretch of fauna and sculptures is the result of nearly 30 years of collaboration between the city of Harrisburg and the Harrisburg-Hershey chapter of the international Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR).
PSR has primary responsibility for designing, planting and maintaining the Peace Garden and the city provides routine maintenance like mowing the grass, removing broken limbs, installing benches as is does throughout Riverfront Park.
Since 2018 the Rotary Club of Harrisburg leadership and members have made the Garden a major annual project. 2021 has been no exception. In early May of this year, volunteers from the Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Rotary Club of Harrisburg completed the annual bed cleaning and planting flowers.
The PSR and its amazing long-time leader Dr. Jim Jones, developed and maintain this beautiful garden as a thought-provoking message about world peace. Michael Lehman was the designer of the Peace Garden and Gwen Lehman have been overseeing the garden for at least 5 years with an "artistic eye." Ann Marie Judson and the late Dr. John Judson, Past RCH President and District 7390 Governor, have been members of PSR since the late 1980s.
PSR Harrisburg-Hershey is an affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. It is an organization of physicians committed to two issues safeguarding humanity; environmental protection as well as prevention of nuclear war. Common areas of concern are famine, drought exacerbated by climate change, poor water sources, air and ground contamination. The international group received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985.
RCH President-elect Matt Staub was on hand to make beauty happen. Staub sees our Club’s work with the Peace Garden as, “an important demonstration of Rotary International’s People of Action branding campaign. These community outreach efforts demonstrate what happens when community leaders in Rotary join together.”
Helping tend and beautify the Garden this year were RCH members Bruce Grossman, David Morrison, Beth Mihmet, Toni Mark and Ann Marie Judson.
One of three sculptures in the park by surgeon and artist Dr. Frederick Franck, a colleague of Albert Schweitzer, “Hiroshima” depicts a vaporized victim of the atomic blast whose only remain was a silhouette shadow on nearby concrete. This sculpture suggests the indomitable resilience of mankind, even in the wake of annihilation.
Volunteers Join To Beautify Harrisburg’s Peace Gardens
On Saturday, June 12, 10 a.m. - noon, Hershey Rotary Club will be volunteering to help the Derry Environmental Action Committee (DEAC) clean up a portion of the creek that runs along Cocoa Avenue, near Fishburn Road (and behind the former PNC Bank building).The Derry Environmental Action Committee is a group of neighbors and friends in Derry Township who work to preserve the natural surroundings and keep Hershey clean and livable.
This is a particularly family-friendly event and a great opportunity to introduce someone to Rotary. Sign up to volunteer with your partner/spouse/friend/child/grandchild.
A Celebration of Life for PDG John Judson will be held Wednesday, July 14 at 2:00 p.m. at The Rife Center at Bethany Village in Mechanicsburg. Please mark your calendars!
A 2020/21 Club Grant, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hanover, provided the Hanover Area Council of Churches with a new oven and griddle. HACC prepares 52,000+ meals annually for its various programs: free hot lunches 365 days a year and breakfast two days a week through the Provide-A-Lunch program, delivered home meals through Meals-On-Wheels, and food for individuals and families in the Homeless Shelter. Food insecurity hinders people from meeting their full potential in regards to employment and family care. For some folks, the Provide- A-Lunch program is the primary meal of the day. The Meals-On-Wheels program provides meals to those home-bound with physical restrictions impeding their ability to prepare their own meals. Pictured are (l.tor.) Rotarian Peg Sennett, Joan Potter Coordinator of PAL and MOW, and Mirna Wildason, Interim Executive Director and new Rotarian.
Both dedicated to humanitarian efforts, seniors Katie Mercer ’21 and Jenna Thoretz ’21 have been awarded Rotary Global Grant Scholarships to continue to pursue meaningful work. An international network of leaders dedicated to improving their home communities and those around the globe, Rotary International focuses their work on promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water and sanitation, maternal and child health, supporting education and literacy, and growing local economies, and the Rotary Global Grant Scholarships empower students like Mercer and Thoretz to advance this important work.
Learn more about Mercer’s and Thoretz’s experiences at Gettysburg College, and what they hope to accomplish in the future with their scholarships.
Her favorite class at Gettysburg was Global Health with Prof. Amy Dailey. The course, Mercer says, set her on the path of studying global health, and credits Dailey with being a very important part of her Gettysburg experience.
“My four years at Gettysburg have been extremely impactful in shaping my graduate school path. My advisor, Dr. Amy Dailey, has been extremely supportive and helpful not only during this process but through my time as an undergraduate student discovering my interests in global health. She has inspired me with her work and allowed me to grow as a researcher by assisting in her community-based research projects,” stated Mercer.
After graduating from Gettysburg in May, Mercer will study at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine to continue her studies. The scholarship will allow her to engage with leading researchers and advocates in the field of global health, as well as support her research around the Rotary’s goal of disease prevention and treatment.
“I hope to someday use my specialization in the control of infectious diseases to create disease management, tracking, and treatment programs alongside humanitarian organizations in areas of conflict,” said Mercer. She continued, explaining that “The violence of war/conflict extends far past the battle lines; it causes system-wide destruction and degradation of human life. I plan to use my degree to bridge these health gaps and hopefully contribute, in some small part, to the improvement of health around the world.”
Mercer also recognized how her time working for CPS has played a role in teaching her to identify such gaps, and given her impactful life skills.
“CPS has taught me how to ask critical questions, analyze issues of intersectionality, and understand social mechanisms impacting biological processes. These Gettysburg experiences have helped me to grow and motivated me to pursue a career where I can continue to do so.”
Of being named a recipient of the scholarship, Mercer said, “Although I always knew what I wanted to study, at times it felt like I would never be able to make a real impact. Knowing that I have the support of an international organization like the Rotary Foundation gives me confidence and grounding that the things I am working on are important.”
Thoretz credits these varied experiences with preparing her to take this next step in her academic career: “Gettysburg provided me with incredible educational opportunities that prepared me to apply for the scholarship. My professors and mentors have been instrumental in helping me develop my academic interests and apply them to work in the community and in internship experiences.”
Her experience extended beyond the Gettysburg campus, too, where she had the opportunity to study global health and development policy in Geneva, Switzerland, through the Center for Global Education. “[The experience] exposed me to the humanitarian community and ignited a passion that I have been able to continue back at Gettysburg through my coursework and research.”
Upon graduating, Thoretz hopes to continue the work of improving international development and humanitarian systems worldwide, and will pursue a Master of Science in international development and humanitarian emergencies at the London School of Economics in the fall.
“Upon completion of my graduate degree, I intend to re-invest the education I receive into improving international development and humanitarian systems worldwide,” Thoretz says of her future aspirations. “In working with humanitarian organizations, I plan to be an advocate for the special consideration of women in all development and humanitarian initiatives. In addition, I hope to shift focus from international actors to local actors in order to build more sustainable solutions to economic development.”
Thoretz shares that she is most looking forward to having access to an international network of Rotarians working on similar issues, and towards a shared vision for the future.
Bright futures
“This honor is an incredible opportunity,” says Thoretz. “Not only does it allow me to pursue graduate education, but it allows me to forge connections with like-minded individuals through Rotary. I am incredibly grateful to the Rotarians in Gettysburg for providing me with this life-changing opportunity,” stated Thoretz.
When asked what the scholarship means to her, Mercer agreed that the connections are paramount: “The… scholarship will not only provide me financial assistance and the capability to attend graduate school but to connect with other international advocates through Rotary who are engaging in the field I am studying.” She sums it up simply, saying, “This honor means more than words can describe.”
For both Mercer and Thoretz, the scholarship not only means the financial support to help fund their future research in London, but also the career-launching support of an international organization that will connect them with colleagues and allow them to fully pursue their future aspirations in the world.
Katie Mercer and Jenna Thoretz receive Rotary Global Grant Scholarships, are headed to study in London
On Saturday May 22, the Rotary Club of Lancaster South helped plant trees and bushes at the Stevens Greenland Cemetery in Lancaster City. Six Lancaster South club members along with three members from the Penn Square Rotary Club joined more than fiKy (50) people from the Lancaster community with the project which included cleaning headstones, removing debris, and doing general cleanup. The Lancaster South Club also donated 16 rhododendron bushes to the cemetery.
The Stevens Greenland Cemetery has a lot of history and many stories of African-American soldiers who fought in the Civil War, Spanish- American War, both World Wars and the Korean War. There are also individuals buried in the cemetery that were community leaders of Lancaster City in the past whose last names still have deep ties to Lancaster City. A special Memorial Day ceremony entitled “Honoring Our Forgotten Heroes” will be held on May 31, 2021 at 11:00 am to honor the veterans and others buried in the cemetery.
Lancaster-South Service Project at the Stevens Greenland Cemetery
As part of their ongoing service project, Hanover Rotarians and their spouses filled food bags for Ruth’s Harvest. Ruth’s Harvest provides much needed food for children in need every Friday. Hanover Rotarians are Terry Gingrow, Walt Maust and Ralph Jodice. Spouses are Betsy Gingrow, Judy Risk and Judy Jodice.
In January, District Governor John Anthony shared Rotary International’s Call to Action regarding Vaccines. Our Hanover Rotary Club has accepted the challenge to combat vaccine hesitancy. We partnered with the York/Adams Immunization Coalition and the PA Polio Survivors Network to put together 1,000 vaccine information packets in both English and Spanish, containing credible vaccine resources. With COVID safety in mind, we are working together to make this happen, so these packets can be distributed to all parents in our area.
The Rotary Club of York’s Student Education Committee congratulates Maya Fetrow as the Edwin P. Mangold Rotary Scholarship recipient. The scholarship has a value of $ 4,000 ($ 1,000 x 4 years) towards her undergraduate studies in Molecular biology at the University of Pittsburgh. The Rotary Merit Scholarship was established in April 2007 from the estate of Rotarian Edwin P. Mangold. Maya is the daughter of Daniel and Jennifer Fetrow and is a 2021 graduate of Dover Area High School. She was presented the scholarship check at the May 12 Rotary Club of York club meeting at the Country Club of York.
The Rotary Club of York Awards Merit Scholarship
Maggie Scarborough, daughter of Robert and Jennifer Scarborough, was recognized at the May 12 meeting of the Rotary Club of York as the recipient of the Charles and Alma DIEHL Scholarship. A 2021 Kennard-Dale High School graduate, Maggie was awarded the $ 1,250 scholarship check to begin her studies at Virginia Tech as a Chemical Engineering major. The scholarship is made possible through the Charles W. Diehl, Jr. Rotary Education Fund of the York County Community Foundation.
L to R: Rotary Club of York President Anne Druck, Maya Fetrow, and Student Education Committee Chair Diane Merino.
L to R: Rotary Club of York President Anne Druck, Maggie Scarborough and Student Education Committee Chair Diane Merino.
I am asking you and/or your club for support for a project in India that falls outside the boundaries of Rotary Foundation parameters.
DG Rajan Gandotra of D3250 (Bihar and Jharkhand in India) is a personal friend of mine, and I have stayed with him and his wife (Anju) twice on my visits to India. Our district conducted a global grant with them a few years ago.
You have heard in the news how severe the COVID crisis in India is. They are critically short of oxygen throughout the country. DG Rajan is raising funds to purchase oxygen concentrators for the hospitals in his area. Getting amounts transferred to a Club Bank Account in India is a big challenge. The bank account has to be FCRA Compliant. (Foreign Currency Regulation Act). And to get official permission to do so can take months.
They have set up a GoFundMe Page (https://gofund.me/4790490e) wherein this US $ 3000 motivated by you or any additional amount can be immediately transferred by May 20th 2021. This amount will be used to purchase Oxygen Concentrators in US / Singapore itself and shipped to India. Four clubs have joined to collect US $ 70000 in this mission.
I have personally donated $1000 to this cause, and hope that you and/or your club will do the same.
On April 27th, the CDC released new guidance for vaccinated people allowing them the freedom to use fewer precautions. Now fully vaccinated people can gather in small outdoor gatherings with fully vaccinated family and friends with no masks. The Pennsylvania Department of Health still requires that masks be worn at indoor gatherings regardless of vaccination status. This is important to keep in mind as more Rotary clubs are moving to in-person activities including club meetings, fundraisers, and service events. Read more at: https://bit.ly/33lWs27
District Food Safety Education with Research Opportunity!
On Monday, May 24th, at 6 PM the Penn State Extension will be providing FREE Zoom education to Rotarians on food safety. This education is especially timely as many of us plan outdoor picnics with our club members and families. Our speaker is Lynn James, MS, RDN, LDN, Senior Extension Educator, Food Families & Health & Food Safety & Quality teams, Penn State Extension, Adams County. Lynn will also invite attendees to participate in a special research study involving the delivery of free food to the participants home, creation of a meal, and post meal education on what SHOULD have been safe food preparation. Join in on this free and educational event over the dinner hour. YES, YOU CAN EAT YOUR DINNER IN THE ZOOM ROOM. 😊 Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vd-GgrDkuHtTg5yg8BG8R57lLu2gbbi6Z
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
COVID-19 DISCON Breakout session available on demand!
On May 2nd, Dr. Angela Shen from the Vaccine Research Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia presented a session on COVID-19 at the multi-district conference. The session included information on its history, prevalence, and the steps all of us as Rotarians can take to end our Pandemic once and for all. View this excellent presentation at: https://youtu.be/zDuFUfxcpJA
Congratulations to Four Way Essay Contest Winner Sophie Ahrens from Red Lion High School! Sophie presented her winning essay last week at DisCon2021 for a Zoom audience that was deeply moved by her courage and willingness to share such a personal story of how the Four Way Test inspires her to keep on living every day. With her permission we share her winning essay on the District Blog at: https://d7390rotaryblog.wordpress.com/ We applaud Sophie for her willingness to share her challenges which will help so many others who don't have the same courage!
D7390 Four Way Essay Contest Winner’s Moving Essay featured on District Blog
On Monday, May 23rd, at 6 PM the Penn State Extension will be providing FREE Zoom education to Rotarians on food safety. This education is especially timely as many of us plan outdoor picnics with our club members and families. Our speaker is Lynn James, MS, RDN, LDN, Senior Extension Educator, Food Families & Health & Food Safety & Quality teams, Penn State Extension, Adams County. Lynn will also invite attendees to participate in a special research study involving the delivery of free food to the participants home, creation of a meal, and post meal education on what SHOULD have been safe food preparation. Join in on this free and educational event over the dinner hour. YES, YOU CAN EAT YOUR DINNER IN THE ZOOM ROOM. 😊 Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vd-GgrDkuHtTg5yg8BG8R57lLu2gbbi6Z
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
District Food Safety Education with Research Opportunity!
On Wednesday, May 12 from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. EDT, Zones 28 and 32 are holding an hour of virtual speakers and entertainment to raise funds for The Rotary Foundation (TRF). Jennifer Jones, Rotary International President Nominee 2022-23, Mike Govern, Chair of the PolioPlus program, Past International President, Barry Rassin, and Drew Kessler, RI Director Nominee (speaker at our Tri-District conference) are just a few of the Rotarians who will bring you messages about Rotary’s signature effort to eradicate polio and open other doors of opportunity. Entertainers include Alex Lifeson, Canadian guitarist/rock legend with the Canadian band, Rush.
You may ask, “Why 8:00 to 9:00 p.m.?” Zones 28 and 32 represent Rotarians in Bermuda, Canada, France, and the United States which means this event will span 6 time zones. Finding a time that worked for thousands of Rotarians takes planning.
Tickets to the virtual event are available by going to trellis.org/rotary-gala. Tickets are $110 USD plus applicable fees, of which $100 is a fully credited donation to TRF - you get a charitable tax receipt and 100 Paul Harris Fellowship points, and your District gets credit towards their Foundation goals.
Rotarians, their clubs, and Districts are reaching the goals they have set for Foundation donations this year. The donation will be directed 75% to the Annual Fund of TRF and 25% to the PolioPlus fund. This event provides a unique opportunity to support TRF and make a difference in the world.
Anna-Mae Kobbe, Ph.D.
Rotary District Foundation Chair-Elect
Zones 28 and 32 VIRTUAL ROTARY FOUNDATION GALA & FUNDRAISER
You never forget the teacher who makes a difference…
In a year like no other, teachers deserve a round of applause! Help us celebrate educators who made an extra-special impact. Join WITF and Rotary 7390 as we recognize and celebrate 14 outstanding teachers who go the extra mile to make a difference in the lives of their students.
Due to the pandemic, we were unable to hold an awards ceremony last year. So, this year’s virtual online event will be super-sized as we celebrate the Teacher Impact Awards Class of 2020 and 2021 together.
On Saturday April 24, the Rotary Club of Lancaster South sponsored a service project at the 1719 Herr House Museum. Tiffany Fisk, Manager at the Herr House welcomed us, and gave us a brief orientation to the site and a bit of its history. The task was to clear the overgrown kitchen garden, which was a patch of weeds when we began. By noon the group had filled 24 lawn and leaf bags and four wheelbarrows of weeds and the garden was completely cleared, ready for restoration as an exhibit of historic plants and gardening. Another flower bed with a display of old mill stones was weeded as well. Six Rotarians, five members of the Lampeter Strasburg Interact club with their advisor, and one spouse, accomplished this work. Ideas emerged for finding opportunities for future collaboration with the students in the Interact Club, as well as the possibility for continued partnership with the 1719 Herr House Museum. It really was an enjoyable morning, with wonderful spring weather in a beautiful setting, and good people to share the work.
Lancaster-South Service Project at the 1719 Herr House Museum
On May 19, 2021, the Rotary Club of Colonial Park Foundation will award 22 students $71,000 in scholarships for the school year 2020-21. The Foundation awards scholarships to Dauphin County Technical School, Central Dauphin East, Central Dauphin, Harrisburg Christian and Bishop McDevitt High Schools. Scholarships range in amounts from $500 to $21,000.
In late 2013, the Rotary Club of Colonial Park authorized the formation of the Rotary Club of Colonial Park Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation includes, but is not limited to, the following: to help meet the educational, charitable, community enhancements and benevolent needs of organization and individuals within Lower Paxton Township and surrounding communities; and other communities where disasters have occurred.
In 2016 the Rotary Club of Colonial Park Foundation raised funds from donors in the Rotary club to start a scholarship program for students in the Central Dauphin School District and Dauphin County Technical School. During our first year of awarding scholarships, the Foundation granted $20,000 for one nursing scholarship, $10,000 for one engineering scholarship and $15,000 from our golf tournament to sponsor three $5,000 scholarships to HACC. Currently we offer scholarships to five high schools in our area. Unless specified by the donor, which some scholarships are, the students may apply to any accredited college program of their choice.
Randy Sibert, President of the Rotary Club of Colonial Park Foundation states: “Since 2002, the Rotary Club of Colonial Park and the Rotary Club of Colonial Park Foundation, has awarded $603,908 in scholarships. When you add our community giving funds to organizations in the area, our total scholarships and community giving totals $825,808.”
Rotarians from 7390 joined friends from Rotary clubs in Maryland, Virginia and District of Columbia for a rendezvous in Georgetown, MD on the Sassafras River. As members of the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians (IYFR), Chesapeake Bay Fleet, they gather monthly in warm weather months at various locations on the upper Chesapeake Bay for fellowship and discussions about their various clubs’ activities and projects----as well as sharing experiences about maintaining and operating their boats.
Carlisle-Sunrise, Northern Lebanon Co, and York build small houses in Ecuador
The Rotary Club of Carlisle-Sunrise recently hosted Carlisle’s noon club for a presentation about that club’s water project in Kenya. In attendance was Meshack Kishoyian Sinkira (known as Kish) the International Officer from Kenya at the US Army War College, Carlisle. Rotarians from Carlisle first became acquainted with Kish at a meeting of RC of Hershey.
PDG Alden Cunningham (Carlisle) has a book available for purchase through Amazon! 
Most recently RC of Carlisle and district 7390 contributed to a global grant for an Eye Care Program in Nairobi, which is currently being implemented in schools in poor areas of Nairobi. 
Norma Jean Park was awarded the district 7390 Rotary Scholarship for graduate study at the University of Essex, Brighton, England, where she will earn a Master of Arts degree in Food and Development. The Global Grant award is valued at $30,000 with $16,675 from #7390 District Designated Funds and $13,325 from The Rotary Foundation.
On June 29th, The Rotary Club of York installed Glenn Miller of York College as the 2022/2023 Club President. Miller’s term begins July 1. He succeeds Jackie Summers whose term ends June 30th. Miller was presented for induction by Tony Campisi, Chairman of the Glatfelter Insurance Group.
The Mechanicsburg Club has been working on a Global Grant for the community of Metalillito, El Salvador since it was approve in September of 2019. All of the part of the grant have been completed and about $18,000 of the funding remains. The club plans to petition The Rotary Foundation for permission to use these funds to build more composting toilets for the growing community which has identified a need for 35 more units. Continue reading below for the full story of the club's work with this community.
After collecting the required information GG1984786 for $47,218 was submitted and was approved on 9/16/2019. There were several issues with actually getting the funds but they were received in December 2019. Further delays were caused by revised, but lower quotes so the project did not start until March 2020. That is when COVID-19 started and it greatly impacted the project until September 2020. By December 2020, the solar panels had been installed but the utility did not approve their operation until April 2021. In the meantime, the community and the Rotary club celebrated the solar panel installation on 12/6/2020 and the first global grant progress report was submitted on 12/17/2020.
When passion and raw determination are added to the miracle of modern vaccines, great things happen. Over the last 30 years, Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative have seen the reduction of polio cases worldwide, by 99.9 percent. But, as long as polio and the many other vaccine preventable diseases still circulate anywhere in the world, children in the US are still vulnerable and must continue to be vaccinated.
Women in Rotary Committee –
Jaclyn Victor with America250PA was a guest speaker at our weekly meeting. The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial (America250PA) was established by the legislature and Governor in 2018 to plan, encourage, develop and coordinate the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, Pennsylvania’s integral role in that event, and the impact of its people on the nation’s past, present, and future. America250PA hopes to engage all citizens of the Commonwealth, from all 67 counties, bring the Commonwealth’s history into the conversation so Pennsylvanians can better understand the origins and multiple perspectives of issues facing our Commonwealth & nation today, use history to encourage and inspire future leaders, celebrate the contributions of Pennsylvanians to our Commonwealth’s history but also to our Nation’s history, leave a lasting impact on the next generation.
We were honored to have Mike Grandy, former president of Red Lion Controls, be our guest at our weekly meeting. Mike was born in the United Kingdom, and started his career as a freelance developer of computer games. From the games world, he moved into industrial software development via a path that is too complex to explain. He worked on some of the very first Human-Machine Interface products as far back as 1986, and can thus honestly claim to be one of the few people in the world with nearly 30 years' experience in this field. Mike's path took him through a series of start-ups in the late eighties and early nineties, to the founding of a company called Paradigm Controls in 1993, where he was responsible for the development of the software and firmware for a range of operator interface terminals. Paradigm caught the eye of Red Lion Controls, and was acquired by Red Lion Controls in 1996. Mike continued to run the company in the UK until moving to the United States in July 1999 to join Red Lion in Pennsylvania as Vice President of Engineering. Five months later, Mike was promoted to President at the age of 31.
On April 24th starting at 12pm (with 11am pre-registration), the 5K Run for Education organized by the Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg North will be taking place at the Panther Prowl, an event organized by the East Pennsboro Panther Foundation and East Pennsboro High School Track Team at the East Pennsboro High School Track in Enola, PA. The One Mile Color Fun Run for kids begins at 1pm and will feature a Color run through obstacles. There will be medals for top female and male runners in the 5K Run for Education and medals for ages groups in the One Mile Color Fun Run. Proceeds from the 5K Run for Education will go for sponsorships for deserving seniors in the East Pennsboro High, Cumberland Valley High and Cumberland-Perry Vocational Techincal schools. Proceeds from the One Mile Color Fun Event will benefit the East Pennsboro Panther Foundation and East Pennsboro High School Track Team. Medals will be given for best times by sex and age group at the both 5K Run and One Mile Color Fun Run
Paul Thompson has been a member of the Rotary Club of Hershey for the past 15 years. Paul served on the District Global Grant Scholarship committee, President of the Hershey Rotary Club a member of the Board of the Hershey Club, and has been involved with Rotary Youth Exchange.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR A PRESIDENT ELECT PICNIC AT ADAMS COUNTY WINERY! On Saturday, June 11, Noon – 3 PM, all Club President Elects are invited to a FREE picnic hosted at Adams County Winery, 531 Peach Tree Rd, Orrtanna, PA hosted by DGE Juliet and the District Leadership Team.This is a family event so bring the kids and partners for a fun OUTDOOR gathering to make new friends, get energized about your year ahead, and celebrate warm weather and a time of connection at long last!Food for grilling and beverages will be provided. Wine and beer will be available for purchase from the winery!Register at:
“Rotary District 7390 Club Presidents 2022-2023” LinkedIn Group: DGE Juliet has formed a LinkedIn group for 2022-2023 D7390 Club Presidents. This group will be a way for current President Elects to connect with one another, offer support, share best practices, and stay informed from District Leadership about the latest District and RI news both during their time as President Elects and as Presidents in the 2022-2023 Rotary Year. Look for the group on LinkedIn and submit a request to join!
Safety Precautions
Safety Precautions
We want to thank all the amazing volunteers form the York East Rotary who have continued to help us in our Christmas red kettle efforts. We also want to thank all the people in the community and the donors who have donated to our red kettles. It's because of you that we can continue to provide our rental, utilities, & food services, adult & youth programs, after-school programs, and many more to our wonderful York community.
Carlisle Rotary Clubs present a check for over $26,500 to Safe Harbour. The funds were raised during Rotary’s annual holiday auction. Pictured from left to right are David Kammerer, President of the Carlisle Sunrise Rotary Club, Geoff Mangelsdorf, President of the Carlisle Rotary Club, Scott Shewell, Safe Harbour President and CEO and Paul Edger, Chairman of Safe Harbour’s Board of Directors.
The initiative is a tax efficient way for Rotarians to support The Rotary Foundation. You can make a difference today and save on taxes when you support The Rotary Foundation through your IRA.
NEW “Rotary District 7390 Club Presidents 2022-2023” LinkedIn Group: 
NEW “Rotary District 7390 Club Presidents 2022-2023” LinkedIn Group: DGE Juliet Altenburg has formed a new LinkedIn group for 2022-2023 D7390 Club Presidents. This group will be a way for current President Elects to connect with one another, offer support, share best practices, and stay informed from District Leadership about the latest District and RI news both during their time as President Elects and as Presidents in the 2022-2023 Rotary Year. Look for the group on LinkedIn and submit a request to join!
2022 Mid Atlantic President Elect Training (PETS) – This mandatory education for all current President Elects is taking place in-person Friday February 25th and Saturday, February 26, 2022 with an optional evening of education on Thursday, February 24th. Location: Valley Forge Hotel and Casino in Valley Forge, PA. EXCITING NEWS: 2022-2023 RI President Jennifer Jones will be joining us in person as a keynote speaker! To read more go to 
The Rotary Clubs of Mechanicsburg North and Mechanicsburg, Mother Hubbard's Custom Cabinetry and Fairway Independent Mortgage Company will host the 62nd Rotary Means Business District 7390 networking event since our beginning in 2014 on Thursday, November 11 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Mother Hubbard's Custom Cabinetry, 5309 E. Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg, PA. The event is FREE and in honor of Veterans Day donations can be made to the Rotary Veterans Initiative which helps veterans succeed by supporting their education, training, and job search opportunities. Go to 
A 2021/22 Club Grant, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hanover, provided Windy Hill Senior Center in Spring Grove with a new commercial freezer, two Rolling Serving Carts and two Food Carts. Windy Hill serves over 1,100 seniors annually with programs and services including a nutrition program. Meals are provided on location, carry-out and Meals-On-Wheels. From March 2020 to February 2021, over 22,000 take-out meals and over 24,000 home delivered meals have been provided. The Freezer enables the Center to increase meal storage capacity to better serve their older adult population in Spring Grove and Hanover, address food insecurities and increase freezer storage by 53%. The 2 wire rolling racks and 2 stainless food carts will store and transport take-out meals after they are assembled and transport frozen meal boxes within facility. 
The District 7390 Safety Committee has published a COVID-19 update that contains the latest update on community transmission of COVID-19 in the counties of our District and some best practices to consider as we approach the holidays. 
It is time to start planning your club’s 4-Way Test ESSAY Contest. This year’s essay prompt will be: Is it the Truth? – How I Define What is True in My Life. We are looking forward to receiving essays from 9th grade high school students which address questions like: What is true? Where is truth found? Is truth important? Is truth relative? Submissions for the 2021-22 District 7390 contest are due March 11, 2022. Contest rules, critical dates, and information for both Rotarians and Students are available at the District 7390 Website: 
It was a pleasure hosting Karen Groh, President and CEO of the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce, at our meeting this morning. As guest speaker, she addressed the present state of affairs in local and regional business as well as the highly successful SCORE program which assisted the Myerstown Vitality Partnership in planning and achieving its strategic goals. She also addressed the staffing issues plaguing many businesses here and throughout the country and illustrated how the issue is a bigger issue that just getting people to work. Thanks Karen for your friendship and expertise.
The CDC recommends mask wearing indoors for everyone regardless of vaccination status in areas with substantial or high transmission rates of COVID-19. Why? Even vaccinated individuals can acquire and transmit the highly contagious COVID-19 delta variant although in vaccinated people rates of hospitalization and death are low. If you are a Rotarian that has tested positive for COVID-19 within 2 weeks of being in-person with club members, please remember to notify your club leadership so all members who were in your presence can be notified and take the necessary precautions to mitigate virus spread and illness. It is important that clubs also convey this information to speakers and guests at their events including students. Read more on what to do for a community-related exposure at: 
Central Penn Business Journal has selected Addeline Alaniz Edwards, Executive Director for the Rotary Club of Harrisburg, as a Forty Under 40 recipient.
The speaker at the Rotary Club of Mechanicsburg-North on September 2 is Rotary International Director Valarie Wafer. She is the Chair of RI Diversity Equity and Inclusion Emphasis. Her topic will be RI’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy, News and Developments. We would like to invite anyone who would want to hear her speak on this topic. We will be meeting via Zoom. The meeting is at 7:30 AM and the zoom link is 
SPY is an 8 week summer school for "at risk" first through third graders in the Carlisle School District that aims to keep their learning levels up in reading and math through the summer break. The Carlisle Rotary club recently completed a renovation project for SPY, utilizing a matching grant from District 7390. The grant allowed SPY to renovate their "calming café," where the children can go to calm down if they get over excited. The grant installed counters and repaired and repainted walls. 
Fresh from a Caribbean vacation with his wife, and fellow Rotarian, Karen, Past President James Good (2020-21) flew in to pass the gavel to incoming President Matt Staub of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg. 
The Rotary Club of York Awards the $1500 Carol Wagman Nursing Scholarship
Rotary Club of Lancaster South is holding a motorcycle ride/pancake breakfast fundraiser on September 25, 2021. This event will benefit the affordable housing programs at Tenfold, which was created by the merger of Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership and Tabor, as well as funding our philanthropic work in our community. The event will be held at the Willow Street Fire Company in Willow Street PA with breakfast starting at 9 a.m. until noon, and will feature three great rides in Lancaster and York Counties. These are self guided tours with maps and .gpx files provided by the organizers. For more information, please contact Dan Hess at 
Check out the latest post on the District Blog at 
Michael Newsome is Gov. Tom Wolf’s Secretary of Administration. When the governor called upon him to serve, he had been mostly retired for three years, still working a part-time job as a member of the state Liquor Control Board, but spending more time playing golf with his wife, traveling, doting on his grandson. Life was good, and he enjoyed retirement, more than he thought he would. But the governor – who was also an old friend, a man he had known for decades and worked with saving Wolf’s family business from bankruptcy – called, and he took the job, recalling that he once told him that if there was anything he could do for him, just call. 
The Rotary Club of York is proud to introduce their officers for the 2021-2022 year. 
"As we all know, this disjointed time caused by the pandemic, has disrupted all our lives and schedules for the past 16 months or more. The result was that I, along with so many others, found our plans and intentions abruptly interrupted in March of 2020. I was then still serving as Rotary District Governor and one of the great joys at the end of that year of service is the opportunity to recognize those individuals who have given so much to our District over the year and over a lifetime of service. Alas that was not to be.
Jack Detwiler has been a member of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg for 27 years and recalls working on or chairing the Club’s Ecology Committee for most of those years. Annually, he has coordinated the Club’s judging and awarding of a prize for students winning the Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair (CASEF).
A 2020/21 Club Grant, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hanover, provided the Hanover Area Council of Churches with a new oven and griddle. HACC prepares 52,000+ meals annually for its various programs: free hot lunches 365 days a year and breakfast two days a week through the Provide-A-Lunch program, delivered home meals through Meals-On-Wheels, and food for individuals and families in the Homeless Shelter. Food insecurity hinders people from meeting their full potential in regards to employment and family care. For some folks, the Provide- A-Lunch program is the primary meal of the day. The Meals-On-Wheels program provides meals to those home-bound with physical restrictions impeding their ability to prepare their own meals. Pictured are (l.tor.) Rotarian Peg Sennett, Joan Potter Coordinator of PAL and MOW, and Mirna Wildason, Interim Executive Director and new Rotarian.
On Monday, May 2
On May 2nd, Dr. Angela Shen from the Vaccine Research Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia presented a session on COVID-19 at the multi-district conference. The session included information on its history, prevalence, and the steps all of us as Rotarians can take to end our Pandemic once and for all. View this excellent presentation at: 
ongratulations to Four Way Essay Contest Winner Sophie Ahrens from Red Lion High School! Sophie presented her winning essay last week at 
On Monday, May 23rd, at 6 PM the Penn State Extension will be providing FREE Zoom education to Rotarians on food safety. This education is especially timely as many of us plan outdoor picnics with our club members and families. Our speaker is Lynn James, MS, RDN, LDN, Senior Extension Educator, Food Families & Health & Food Safety & Quality teams, Penn State Extension, Adams County. Lynn will also invite attendees to participate in a special research study involving the delivery of free food to the participants home, creation of a meal, and post meal education on what SHOULD have been safe food preparation. Join in on this free and educational event over the dinner hour. YES, YOU CAN EAT YOUR DINNER IN THE ZOOM ROOM. 😊 Register at: 
