Selinsgrove Area Rotary Club
Light Up Rotary
Vol. 87, No. 38 President – Dave Lawer Editor – Dottie Anderson
Next Meeting: April 23, 2015 – Dave Herbert or another representative from the Chamber of Commerce, will speak about the Chambers strategic plan and share a bit about the proposed pipeline. Dave Betz is the host. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.
April 16, 2015: Sixty plus Rotarians, partners, guests and friends of the honoree, Carol Handlan, were present for the Distinguished Service Award Dinner and Presentation. Joyce Anderson did a terrific job organizing and decorating the tables for this special Club event. Music was by McMinn and they provided a lovely background during the social time. The dinner began with President Dave Lawer welcoming all in attendance and Earl Ferster providing the Invocation. John Stokinger was Master of Ceremonies. Following a brief history of the RI Foundation and Paul Harris Fellow Awards by Bob Soper, President Dave presented Paul Harris Fellows Awards to Mark Anderson (Joyce’s son), Tom Gates (in recognition of his three grandchildren), and Bob Soper in recognition of his Rotarian grandfather, A.G. Ott. John introduced the speakers who represented areas of civic service in which Carol has participated. Dottie Anderson spoke about Carol’s nine years of service on the Selinsgrove Borough Council, especially when Carol served as President. In this role she was instrumental in reviving SPI, Inc. and laying the ground work that led to the renovation and expansion of the Borough Hall and the Library. Heather Rowe spoke of Carol’s membership on the board of the Selinsgrove Area Community Foundation, paying special note to her role in developing the partnership with the state financial aid agency that has let to matching of scholarship funds for individual students. Bruch Johnson spoke of Carol’s work with Selinsgrove Projects, Inc., which she currently serves as President, which led to development of the Commons. Mary Bannon, who is Main Street Manager, spoke to getting to know Carol and coming to understand why she does all she does. Mayor Jeff Reed spoke about the development of the Brew Fest and working with Carol as this outstanding fund raising event developed and continues. It has raised about $250,000 in 7 years. Michael Coyne, VP of Finance at Susquehanna, spoke about working with Carol on SPI and a variety of community projects. Dr. Jonathan Niles, Mellon Grant Project Director and currently coach of the Rugby Team spoke of Carol and Jim’s 14 year history of working with the girl’s Rugby and developing it from a Club to an award winning athletic team. All site Carol as someone who makes things happen and who has instinctive executive and leadership abilities. She is a servant leader and someone who clearly lives up to the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.” Dave Lawer presented the award and Carol then had an opportunity to accept and share thoughts about her delight in being a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. Her husband, sister and brother-in-law, children and granddaughter were present and she especially thanked Jim for being supportive of everything she undertakes. This was indeed a special and memorable evening.
Announcements: The flag program is underway – at $25 per flag, available at several businesses. *Remember and help identify four host families whom our inbound exchange student would live with for 3 months each. Fanny arrives in August. Please discuss with partners and others to see if we can identify host families over the next two weeks. **The Interact Club is planning for their 5K to be held April 26. Rotarians are invited to participate in the event. A copy of the registration form has been circulated via e-mail. ***Another reason to go to the District Conference – the Four Way Speech Contest winner from our Club will participate in the District wide competition – she won at the regional level!
Future Programs: April 30 – TBA, Rocky Baer is the host. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.
May 7 – Speaker is Jerry Splitt who will speak about GMC Life Flight program, Mike Flock host. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.
May 14 – Meet 2015 Rotary Club and SACF Scholarship Winners, Kendra Aucker is the host. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.
May 21 – Steve Fluter will speak about the Croquet Your Way fund raising program. John Stokinger is the host, SVCC, 11:45 a.m.
Birthdays: April 28 – Bob Fogle. May 15 – John Stokinger.
Quotation: “One always has time enough, if one will apply it well.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe