April 30, 2014

Selinsgrove Area Rotary Club

Light Up Rotary

Vol. 87, No. 39       President – Dave Lawer     Editor – Dottie Anderson

Next Meeting: April 30, 2015 – TBA. Rocky Baer is the host. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

April 23, 2015: Twenty-five Rotarians were present as Dave Herbert, representing the Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce, spoke about the work of the Chamber, including successful recruiting of new CEO Bob Garrett, the Chambers’ 2015-16 strategic plan, and progress related to the thruway and the proposed pipeline. Dave Betz was the host. Membership is now at 810, with 70 % being companies of less than 20 employees. The chamber is updating its on line presence in order to more effectively communicate with members unable to attend meetings regularly. In addition, the Chamber wants to make sure skilled workers are available to provide an educated workforce for companies, particularly as this relates to the power plant and the proposed pipeline. Working with “critical partners” the Chapter is providing assisting for existing town/borough chambers and/or assisting in the development of such groups within communities that don’t have an existing group. This assists the whole area in providing meaningful input and influence on development issues related to commerce and the culture. The thruway is in process, with bids to be let in July or August, and a projected completion date of 2024. Joyce Anderson introduced new member Dan Mahoney. Announcements: The flag program is underway – at $25 per flag, available at several businesses, with over 200 sold to date and a plan for presentation developed by Dan Rowe and Ken Miller. *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. A list was circulated for members to commit to paying the $100 per month spending money to Fanny via the Club. Raven Rudnitsky will serve as Fanny counselor for the year. **The Interact Club is planning for their 5K to be held April 26. Rotarians are asked to volunteer to assist with registration and the event between 2 to 6 p.m. ***Dave Lawer is looking for a member volunteer to put together a committee to work with and on the Meals for Seals program (see article in today’s paper for background).****John Thompson shared that Ham Radio group is providing security at the Lewisburg Art Festival for the 12th time. Rotary Minute: Hal Dunkelberger spoke about importance of attending the District Conference. So far only three members indicate they will attend. Given that our 4 Way speech contest winner has progressed to position of a finalist and will speak at the Conference, is all the more motivation to consider attending some or all of the conference. Good News of Rotary: Konrad Kempfe shared information about a Rotaract Club in Sicily that has developed a program to provide audio books to visually impaired students. This is done in partnership with the Rotary Club of Caltanissetta. The group has developed three audio books which have been distributed to 750 children. Sergeant at Arms: Marv Rudnitsky collected happy fines as follows (to the best of the editor’s ability to hear what was said): himself (Fl. And speaker); Chad Cohrs (spring and end of school year activities); Pat Pinkowski (grandson and track success); Dave Betz (PSSA’s over and speaker); Bob Fogle (Fl trip); Bill Clark (speaker); John Fischer (speaker and those going to District Conference); John Thompson (Distinguished Service Award event); Joyce Anderson (last Thursday – Hal, John S., Earl, Dottie, Mike Flock, selection committee); John Stokinger (Konrad, Joyce, Red Sox, MS Walk); Charlie McCuen (back from Florida and Japan trip); Mike Piecuch (Econ Pa event, Meals for Seals support); Dave Lawer (John Apple, Don Rowe, Ken Miller, DSA event, and speaker); and Earl Ferster (+15 and speaker).

Future Programs: 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 – At Rotary Field, Steve Fluter will speak about and demonstrate the Croquet Your Way fund raising program. We will have lunch in the pavilion and following the program, install the flags. John Stokinger is the host, Rotary Field, 11:45 a.m. May 28 – About Camp Cadet, Speaker will be Trooper Richard L. Blair, Community Services Officer, PA State Police. Host is Don Rowe. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

Birthdays: April 28 – Bob Fogle. May 15 – John Stokinger.

Quotation: “Humor is to life what shock absorbers are to automobiles.” Devotional Journal