Rotary Roundup

Meets Noon Mondays at the Hilton
www.hbgrotary.org
Executive Director: Linda Freedenberg
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Telephone: 717-234-1208
Fax: 717-234-3234

December 5, 2011

Speaker: Wendell Murray, Founder and Director of BARAK Inc.
Topic:  "The Effects of Community Arts on Urban Youth"
It becomes clearer and clearer that America is loosing our urban youth, which in turn is impacting and diminishing our best national objectives and goals. Today's speaker, Wendell Murray, Founder and Director of BARAK Inc. will share one man's story as to how he is attempting to make a difference with our urban young people.

Greeter:  Kathleen Howley
Invocation: Dick Stewart
Club Singing: Karen Paris
Mini-Classification talk:  John Kooti
Publications: Mark Stone

Corporate Member

PROGRAM: Wendell C. Murray is the founder and CEO of BARAK, Inc. a Harrisburg-based, non-profit community arts organization. A producer, director, actor, and community activist for over 30 years, Mr. Murray’s mentorship and hands-on approach, encourages students as well as adults to focus their efforts on building bridges for a stronger community by using the arts as a vehicle for education and social change.

Mr. Murray’s passion for youth, the Harrisburg community, and the Arts, has made itself evident in the continued evolution of BARAK, Inc., an organization with a vision to transform lives and communities through the Arts.  Over the past decade, BARAK has become a driving force for diversity, an advocate for youth, and a source of artistic regeneration in the Harrisburg area.


BARAK’s Voices of Youth and Mural Programs are the platforms by which at-risk youth in the community are mentored by BARAK’s staff and volunteers. Be they on a wall, in a window, in a school, on a trash barrel, or on a reservoir enclosure, murals have become BARAK, Inc.’s calling card across the area.

In 2010, Mr. Murray developed The Youth Management Team. High school students throughout the Greater Harrisburg area are selected to be part of the management team. Under the guidance of adult business/community advisors, the students develop both art and business skills and gain exposure to potential careers. In 2012 the Youth Management Team will spearhead a regional youth-driven arts festival that will showcase the artistic talents of youth in grades K-12.

In his “free” time, Mr. Murray sits on the Board of Directors for Leadership Harrisburg Area, is the committee chair and student coach for LHA’s Youth Community Development Team, and is a part of the Central Pennsylvania Mentoring Partnership. 

NEWS AND NOTES: 
• Please turn in your Pancake Breakfast ticket money ASAP.

• Speedy recovery to Wil Everhart who just had surgery following a ruptured quadriceps tendon.

• 65% have paid the $100 HRF contribution.  33% have paid the Support for the Troops contribution. Please send in your payments today!

• The Board approved with regret the terminations of Frank Fischer, Tom Imholte and Mitch Tillett.
 
• At the Interclub Thanksgiving Lunch The Tri County Assoc. for the Blind received $611.00.

• The Hanson Award Committee welcomes nominations in writing until December 9 for the next Robert Hanson Rotary Excellence Award.

• The Nominating Committee welcomes nominations in writing until January 4 for the Vice-President and the four Board vacancies. Rotarians must have served for 3 years. Please contact Linda with your nominations.

• YOUTH EXCHANGE COMMITTEE: Anti has had an enjoyable experience with the Kooti family and is happy and doing well at Cumberland Valley High School.   We need to arrange for the second and third families to host Anti.   If you know of anyone who might be willing to host Anti from early December through early March please contact Dave Bedard or Steve Feinour.  

• DISTRICT NEWS:
The November Governors Newsletter is available at:
http://www.rotary7390.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=Ok1pspPQ9Sk%3d&tabid=113

BIRTHDAYS
Joe Arthur DEC 9

UPCOMING PROGRAMS
at the Hilton

12/12  Dominican Republic Dental Clinic Mission Review
          Board Meeting 10:30 AM
12/19  Stuart Landon, Open Stage “Santaland Diaries”

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

 12/26   NO MEETING
1/2       NO MEETING
For complete programming go to our website: www.hbgrotary.org
and click on calendar.
For meeting cancelations:
Check your e-mail or call the
Rotary office at 234-1208.

LAST ROTARY MEETING:  11/14/11
Minutes by Steve Baloga:
President Bob brought the meeting to order at the Hilton with singing, the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation.

Bruce Grossman introduced visiting Rotarians and guests and conducted Good News Reporting.

Robin Scaer elevated Pete Ressler from his new member-red badge to a blue badge. Congratulations Pete!

Ira Packman, Tom Johnston and Chuck Wingate discussed our Homeless Initiatives. They reviewed our previous projects and discussed our upcoming commitment to staff the Safe Harbor Shelter for 16 nights. Volunteers will be needed to provide coverage for the overnight hours. Everybody got an e-mail with sign-up details.

President Bob announced that all are invited to the District Foundation Dinner on November 19, 2011. Please see Bob or Linda for details.

Gary Dent introduced our speaker Tom Gentzel, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA). Tom explained why PSBA is opposed to the school voucher legislation being discussed in the General Assembly. He indicated that in places where school vouchers have been tried, results have been mixed; he noted that a school voucher law would be challenged on the basis of being unconstitutional; he observed that there typically is no accountability for the results of school vouchers and no performance requirements; plus he indicated that per a recent poll 65% of Pennsylvanians are opposed to school vouchers.

Mr. Gentzel noted that PSBA is focusing on the problem that has triggered the call for a school voucher program - under performing schools. He briefly discussed the recommendations contained in a report, Raising Achievement in Underperforming Schools, recently published by PSBA that outlines measures schools should consider to address the problem. The report can be obtained on the PSBA web site (psba.org).

Our meeting next Monday will be the Inter-club Thanksgiving luncheon at the Hilton.

OFFICERS:

DIRECTORS:

Robert S. Saline              
Una Martone
Karen F. Snider
John P. Judson, M.D.
Carolyn Dumaresq, Ed.D.
William B. Boles
Richard Utley                

President
President-Elect
Vice President
Immediate Past President
Secretary
Treasurer
Sergeant-at-Arms

Sandra Beck
Caryn J. Carr
David E. Freet
Kent E. Frese
Lisa Lewis
Thomas A. Peluso
Andrew R. Rebuck
Robin Scaer