HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK Mark Koellner     APR 22 Robin Scaer        APR 22 John A. Morefield  APR 23 Barry Ramper     APR 25 Kent Frese          APR 27 John Lane          APR 27	HAPPY APRIL ANNIVERSARIES Greg Sutliff  45 years Doug Wisehaupt 11 years Henry Rhoads 39 years Jeb Stuart 11 years Steve Schultz   38 years Christopher Markley 10 years Howard Ammons 33 years Dolores Liptak  8 years Paul Mahoney   31 years Kendall Hanna  6 years Hal Hurwitz   28 years Mike Love  6 years Neil Hendershot  24 years Jacqueline Bedard   4 years Jack Snavely 23 years Rich Moultrie 4 years Charles Clevenger  20 years Sean Dolan 4 years Tom Johnston   14 years Dave Epple 1 year Marie Lick  11 years Andy Hetrick 1 year

PROGRAM: Debra Bowman, Executive Director of the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy was raised in a conservation household. Her father was the first of the graduating class of Conservation Officers for Pennsylvania 's Fish & Boat Commission. The impressions were written yet it took nearly 35 years before the passion could be flamed. Moving to Florida to attend school she began her career in banking (starting in the savings & loan industry) Debbie transitioned her position as Branch Manager into a Marketing Director's career. Returning to Pennsylvania in 1985, she continued to work in marketing and management.  She served as the Vice President for the Pennsylvania Lodging & Tourism Association before leaving to work for the PA Department of Community and Economic Development during the Ridge Administration, serving as the Director of Marketing. After leaving the Commonwealth she was the CFO of Technology Portals Inc. for 2 1/2 years in addition to being a managing partner of a marketing consulting firm. She left this position to join the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy.  She is an active member of Trout Unlimited - Cumberland Valley Chapter; Safari Club International, Blue Mt. Chapter; Land Trust Association; Pennsylvania Land Trust Association; Pennsylvania Association of Non-Profits and the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. Her hobbies include: fly fishing; sporting clays; and kayaking.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS / MEETING LOCATIONS:   
Apr 21                                    Debra Bowman, Executive Director Central PA Conservancy
Hilton                                     “Land protection efforts in Cumberland , Dauphin and Perry Counties”

Apr 28                                    Robert Wurzbach, Verizon Pennsylvania Inc.
Hilton                                     Director State Government Relations
“My Life as a Lobbyist: Upfront and Behind the Scenes!”

For complete programming go to our website: hbgrotary.org and click on calendar.

NEWS AND NOTES:  

• HAPPY HOURS ARE BACK!
Do you like to have fun; meet new and interesting people; and do you need a Rotary make up?  If you answered yes, yes and yes, then you are definitely going to want to join us at the upcoming Rotary Club of Harrisburg Happy Hour events. These are fun, social mixers from 5 to 7 PM where fellow Rotarians and their guests meet at one of our area restaurants and nightclubs and receive an attendance make-up!
 
Plan to enjoy a cold drink and some world-famous pizza on April 24 at Carmellas (right next to the Hilton on 2nd Street ).

•  Be a Roster Advertiser!  Contact Linda if interested.

•  DISTRICT CONFERENCE: Thursday, May 8-10. Register: Forms are on the information table or Go to our website www.hbgrotary.org and then to the District. The Rotary District 7390 Conference will be held in Gettysburg at the Eisenhower Hotel, May 8-10. Golf on Thursday, Plenary Sessions on Friday and Saturday, and Governor's Banquet on Saturday - sign up now for a conference full of fun, fellowship and birdies!!

•  Please make sure you have paid your $100 Harrisburg Rotary Foundation.

•  "Rotary at Work Day" on Tuesday, April 22, in conjunction with Earth Day. Please join us that day in a clean-up project along the Riverfront and Greenway in Harrisburg, assisting the Central Pennsylvania Conservancy.  You will receive an attendance make-up!   For further information contact:  Ecology Co-Chair Jack Detweiler – 214-9241.

•   HABITAT for HUMANITY Work Day: May 17.  For further info contact Fred Hartman.

•  SUPPORT OUR TROOPS PROJECT
Donate $10 cash or check payable to the Harrisburg Rotary Foundation, in support of our 2007-08 goal to raise another $2,000 to assist the non-profit “Wounded Warrior Project” minister to the personal needs of our severely wounded troops who face long-term rehab in military hospitals. Your contribution is 100% tax deductible.
For meeting cancellations due to inclement weather.... Tune to ABC27-TV
or check your e-mail or call the Rotary office at 234-1208.

ATTENDANCE:
LAST ROTARY MEETING: 4/14/08       59%
Rotarians 73    Active Specials  13    Guests   9 Visiting Rotarians  0   =  95

Minutes by Karen Paris: 
Oh say was the beginning today with John Hickey leading us in our National Anthem after President Carrie called today’s meeting to order. Al M. had tickled the ivories prior to get us in the spirit.  The invocation was from Dick Stewart. 

Nick Connolly introduced our Visiting Rotarians (nada) and guests – five Rotarians brought guests today.  The award for bringing the most guests was a tie between Mark Stone and Deb Abel who both brought two.  After the birthday list, Maria Persico gave us her own Rotary minute, based on memories of growing up in Brazil with children who had polio.  There are still four countries that are actively battling the disease – India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria.  Many of the problems in getting the children vaccinated are political, but also issues of trust, distance, refrigeration, etc play a role in why children don’t get vaccinated.  Maria stressed that a $100 contribution to the Rotary Foundation will help to fight polio in those last few countries.

Barry Ramper was into colors today – he traded blue for a red – badge that is – on Jeanette Archer-Simons and Patrick Amice.

Carrie announced the following dates:  4/22 – Cleanup Riverfront Park – call Jack Detweiler or sign up at the desk; 5/17 – Habitat for Humanity – call Fred Hartman; and 4/30 – Strategic Planning Session – call Linda if you haven’t responded to the invite yet.
Rotarians in the news included Jan Black, Ann Marie Judson (John’s wife), and Chris Markley.

Then it was on to the MAIN EVENT.  Dr. Gerry Kohn introduced the man who needs no introductions in Harrisburg, the one the only, Honorable Steven Reed, for his State of the City annual address.  And disappointed we were not in his speech. (that’s how Yoda from Star Wars would say it.  You know, the good guys fighting for right and justice, like the Mayor).  The Mayor, in his unique style, came with lots of quips, quotable moments, wisdom and a zillion facts.  Not to mention his response to the standing ovation he got before he spoke - “now that you’ve had your p.m. stretch, I can start…”

The City has had one of its top five years in economic development – last year was much higher than 2006, with a total of $266,000,000 in building.  Since 1982, 37,971 building permits have been issued with a total investment of $4,405,000,000 (but who’s counting, asked the Mayor).    He also noted that the jobless rate is down 67%, crimes are down 51%, and the number of fires has decreased considerably. 

He noted that his focus continues to be on the long term, showing measurable progress and economic expansion that few cities have been able to achieve.   He spoke about “instant solutions” to problems that our society tends to focus on and said that there is no such thing.  His mantra is that great things don’t get accomplished by setting small, safe goals. 

The Mayor highlighted the Southgate project, originally to be a transportation project, but which will now provide 4,000,000 square feet of office, retail, residential, and technology in southern Harrisburg, all built on “flints” (just like the Capitol). 

He went on to mention Northgate – at Reilly and 7th Street.  He did note that 2nd Street will be one way all the way up to accommodate “all who want to get out of Harrisburg so damn fast.”  (his word, not mine, folks).  Next he spoke about the MidTown plan – lower rise buildings with parking and retail, a soon-to-be revealed educational campus (hmm…), etc.

He also spoke about a plethora of small business startups on Allison Hill and 17th Street.  He noted that the City will soon be a Judicial Center, saying that “sooner or later the U.S. Government will wise up and pick the proper site”.  At the end of this, he noted that he’s “just about out of land”, saying that in prior years, he couldn’t even GIVE land away. 

He managed to throw in a history lesson, noting that Dauphine and Louisburg (our fine city’s original name) both have French origins, due to the alliance with the French when this area was settled.

He noted that Pinnacle Health is expanding, Restaurant Row had nine new restaurants last year, and that the words “tourism” and “Harrisburg” can be placed next to each other without causing an oxymoron, notably City Island, the Sports teams, the largest park system in Central PA, museums, the Whitaker Center, and hotels.  He said 3 million people come to Harrisburg annually on “legitimate” business. (As polite people, we chose to not ask the obvious question when he said this). 

He noted that we have small town values and are conservative but that we can’t be too cynical (he can point out some people he knows well who are, however,  if you’d like to speak with him personally).   He also said that with an increasingly diverse work force in America (which is what our Country was built on), we cannot stick our heads in the sand or we will be left behind, and not grow if we don’t embrace the concept of diversity. 

The Mayor pointed out that the most significant advance since 1982 (his reference point for everything) is that Harrisburg is now a center for education.  He said that it’s a hard sell convincing people in poverty to embrace educational values but with changes in the school system, there is a turnaround occurring.  Graduation rates are up, more students are going on to higher education, the drop-out rate has declined, and test scores have risen.  Harrisburg University is in its second year, and from 5th grade up, there is an interconnected math/technology emphasis in the schools. 

The Mayor ended by saying he was dedicated to the furtherance of the progress made.

Following his speech there were many questions.  Jewel Cooper was chastised for introducing her question with the words “Although I do not live in the City…”, Al Schmidt noted that in high school, no one could out-debate Steven Reed, and yours truly  extended an invite to the Mayor to our 11/1/08 Pancake Breakfast as honorary chef for the day with promises of big-time giveaways.  He’ll check his calendar and get back noting he has another date in early November that is circled in red already.

At the end of the meeting Carrie sent us on our way with a cheery goodbye saying “See you all next week.“