December 1, 2016

Selinsgrove Area Rotary Club

Rotary Serving Humanity

Vol. 89, No. 21                               President – Mary Peterhaensel          Editor – Dottie Anderson

Next Meeting: December 8, 2016 – From Susquehanna Valley CASA, speakers will be Yvonne Heatley, Executive Director, and Lori Wannop, Marketing and Communications Director. Host is Jared Roush. Greeter is Michael Piecuch. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

December 1, 2016: Twenty-eight Rotarians and guests (Bob Cravitz and Mike O’Donnell) were present for a special presentation by United States District Judge Mathew W. Brann.  John Reed was the host and Brian Neitz the greeter. Judge Brann, appointed four years ago, heads PA’s largest District. A Federal District handles both federal criminal cases and civil actions such as trademark, complex contracts, social security appeals, as well as accidents where persons are from other states, but accident occurred in PA. Most of the federal crimes cases involve drug conspiracies and violence that has occurred in federal prisons within the jurisdiction. Appointed for life, Judge Brann shared stories about Judge Muir and Judge McClure’s tenures. In response to a question about security, Judge Brann spoke about the reality of life as a judge. This was an informative presentation.

At the Board of Directors meeting that preceded regular Club meeting, the Board passed a motion to establish the Rotary Endowment Scholarship Fund within the CSCF. The fund is started with wins from the Golf Ball Drop – $1000 from John Fischer and $250 from Art Bowen via the Hummels Wharf Fire Company. Once the fund has reached $10,000, interest can be used to help pay the Club’s annual commitment of $4000 for SASD scholarships. This will eventually relieve the operating budget. Others are invited to make contributions to the fund.

Announcements: Art Bowen has obtained sufficient folks to do Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army on Late Shoppers Night in Selinsgrove (12/6). Additional dates are to be determined.*We are reminded about EREY and goal of given at least $26.50  this year in recognition of the Foundation Anniversary. *** All are reminded that it is the program hosts responsibility to tell speakers that they will have 20 minutes for their presentations, with another 10 for any Q & A and that, as 1 p.m. approaches, those who are working will be leaving the meeting in order to return to work.****Sarah Manaval is decorating the Rotary Tree Fest tree, using the Grinch Who Stole Christmas as the theme. Remember to drop it at Tree Fest to support Friends of the Library Summer Reading Program. ****?Anyone up for volunteering to take pictures at meetings when Mike Flock is absent?*****Save the date for Mallet Madness – May 19-20, 2017.

Sargent at arms: Marv Rudnitsky collected happy fines as follows: himself (Penn State division win, Florida trip, speaker); Melissa Laniewski (favorite time of year, family thanksgiving, Sarah doing tree); Cheryl Stumpf (missed meetings, relinquishing Girls on the Run to a fulltime Executive Director); Dave Lawer (speaker and guests, Cheryl); Tom Gates (All the grandkids for Thanksgiving, Indian win, first time routing for Ohio State); Mike Piecuch (Cheryl’s good work, guests, great Tday and NYC visit); Art Bowen (Cheryl, those ringing the bell, big Tday); Bob Soper (settled in, finding way to the Club); Bob Cravitz (new granddaughter); Joyce Anderson (judge, grandkids grades); Mike Flock (daughter’s home for Tday); Ken Miller (39 relatives gathered for thanksgiving); Toby Skinner (Cheryl, guests and speaker); Konrad Kempfe (speaker); Mary Peterhaensel (speaker and guests, Thanksgiving); John Reed (speaker and guests); and Earl Ferster (+15 and advent season).

Future Programs:

Dec. 15 – Speaker will be Susana Falk on the topic of clean water and Rotary work in Ecuador and Nicaragua. Konrad Kempfe is the host, John Reed is the greeter, SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

Dec. 22 – Holiday Lunch, Art Bowen is the host, Partners and guests welcome. SVCC, 11:45 a.m.

Dec. 29 – Christmas/New Year’s week – No Meeting.

Jan. 5 – TBA, Melissa Laniewski is the host, Board Meeting precedes at 11 a.m.

Birthdays: December 8 – Charlie McCuen; 10 – Marv Rudnitsky; 30 – Dottie Anderson. January 5 – Mike Damiano; 12 – Mike Piecuch; 17 – Mike Flock & Wes Knapp.

Quotation:   “Nothing is impossible to the willing heart.”  Thomas Haywood