Selinsgrove
Area Rotary Club

Vol. 84, No. 35  President – John L.
Stokinger Editor – Dorothy M. Anderson

Next Meeting: March 17, 2011–Judge Michael Sholley,
Senior Judge of Snyder and Union Counties, will present an update. Mike Flock
is the host. Pat Pinkowski will preside. Daffodil delivery day, any not picked
up will be taken to Grayson View. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

March 10, 2011: Twenty two Rotarians were present to hear Kevin Dressler, Director of
the Selinsgrove Center, talk about the history and current situation at the
Center. Also present was Justin Sluga, Director of Human Resources. Michael
Piecuch hosted the program. The Center started in 1917 when Selinsgrove
submitted an application to the state to be considered as a site for a State
School. Originally named the Eastern Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane, when
it opened in 1927, it was The Selinsgrove State Colony for Epileptics. By 1929
there were 150 residents with a full K through 12 education offered. At its
height, the Center had 2100 residents, compared to today’s 315, with an average
age of 59. Residents are profoundly disabled and unable to care for
themselves. However, the Center is
not allowed to admit new residents, despite calls from persons who are elderly
and no longer able to care for disabled loved ones at home.  At one time occupying 400 acres which
included a farm and dairy, the Center occupies 256 acres today. Through the
GESA (Guaranteed Energy Savings Act), there are many projects underway to
update the facilities and now there is a full range of employment possible for
residents that pays them a salary and provides entertaining programs.

Announcements: June 11 is the Chicken Barbeque.
Tickets for sale and other arrangements should be forthcoming shortly.*3/12 is
the Milton Rotary Casino Night.

Acting Sergeant at arms: Mike Damiano collected fines as follows: Happy
Birthday to Mary Peterhaensel; John Bickhart (happy there is an agency like the
AHPC to help residents know flooding threat); Pat Pinkowski (family weekend
coming up); Chad Cohrs (don’t do business during the meeting); Mike Piecuch
(speaker and guest); John Fischer (sitting between two superintendents and
Economics Pa); and Earl Ferster (the rain). Bob Soper provided the humor.

Future Programs:

Mar.
24 – Edward Benton Mallonee, Senior Pastor of Faith Baptist Church, Beaver Springs
is the speaker, John Reed hosts, SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

Mar.
31 – Joanne Troutman from Evangelical Hospital will be the speaker, Marv
Rudnitsky hosts, SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

April
7 – Club Assembly. John Bickhart, Community Service. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

April
14 – Distinguished Service Award Dinner, 6:00 p.m., SVCC. Sign up sheet will be
circulated.

April
21 – Fritz Heineman of Economics Pennsylvania will be the speaker. John Fischer
hosts. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

Birthdays:   Mar. 26 –
William Clark; 31 – Ken Miller. Apr. 7 – Bob Soper, Ken Wagner; 20 – John
Bickhart; 28 – Bob Fogle.

Quotation: Universal compassion is the only
guarantee of morality.