Selinsgrove Area Rotary Club
Light Up Rotary
Vol. 87, No. 28 President – Dave Lawer Editor – Dottie Anderson
Next Meeting: Feb. 5, 2015 – Art Bowen has arranged for Teri MacBride to be the speaker. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.
January 29, 2015: Despite the falling snow and wintry mix, seventy plus Rotarians, Young Farmers, partners and guests were present as Dave Lawer welcomed the crowd and thanked host Jerry Rhoads for his work in setting up the annual Urban/Rural Night dinner at Christ Community Church. Following the chicken and waffles meal prepared by the Busy Bees, Dave had us introduce ourselves by table, acknowledging partners and guests in those introductions. In addition to spouses, other guests were Dan Mahoney (Art Bowen’s guest) and Marty Blessing (Dottie Anderson’s guest). The Busy Bees were thanked with a big round of applause for the terrific meal.
Dave introduced the speaker, Barry L. Denk, Director of the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Charlie Benner extended the invitation to Barry before going to Florida. Barry distributed a handout and used it to describe the work of the Center. Mandated by the Legislature, this Center has the mandate to administer grants to conduct research on rural conditions and to maintain a database on rural conditions and needs. Forty-eight of the 67 counties of the state are defined as rural, but represents only 26% of the population of the state living on 75% of the land of the state. The population of the rural counties is aging, which by 2040 is predicted to mean fewer working age persons supporting a majority of dependents (younger than 18, older than 65).In Snyder county, population is holding steady so far, but it is projected aht we will have more deaths than births in the county after 2025 unless something changes. Currently we have migration into the County, but by a decreasing margin. This argues for looking at how welcoming we are to others who are different from ourselves if we wish to continue to grow as a county. This was a very interesting program and anyone interested in studying them or learning more is encouraged to go on the web site www.rural.palegislature.us The Editor found it interesting to note that from 2007 to 2012, the number of principal operators under 35 years old increased by 21%. The Center continues to make sure that the interests of rural community are represented in the legislature despite the high populations of the major cities.
Announcements: Remember that the dining out night at Texas Roadhouse is scheduled for Wed. 2/11 and we will receive 10% of the meal cost for all who present a flyer that will distributed to Rotarians to use and distribute to others. Proceeds will be used to support Polio Plus. Dave Lawer could use some help on 2/11 between 3 and 10 p.m. to sell 50/50 tickets and to hand out flyers.**Art Bowen needs a couple of volunteers to join him on a committee working on the Ball Drop.
Future Programs
Feb. 12 – Vocational talk by new member David Betz, Art Bowen is the host. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.
Feb. 19 – TBA, Donna Schuck is the host. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.
Feb. 26 – David Young, a volunteer with the Pennsyvania Prison Society will be the speaker, Marv Rudnitsky is the host SVCC, 11:45 a.m.
March 5 – Liz Fulcher, of the Aromatic Wisdom Institute, will speak about the use of essential oils and aromatherapy, Melissa Laniewski is the host. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.
Birthdays: Feb. 3 – Toby Skinner. March 15 – Mary Peterhaensel; 24 – Dave Lawer; 26 – Bill Clark; 31 – Ken Miller.
Quotation: “When you are kind to someone in trouble, you hope they’ll remember and be kind to someone else. And it’ll become like a wildfire.” Whoopi Goldberg