PROGRAM: At Franklin and Marshall College, Dr. Madonna is Director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs, Professor of Public Affairs, and Director of the Franklin and Marshall Keystone Poll. He joined F& M in May, 2004.  For more than 30 years, Madonna has taught and written about his two academic specialties:  the American presidency, and American political parties and political behavior.  As a pollster in recent years, he has written extensively about voters and voting behavior. He holds a Ph.D. in political history from the University of Delaware.

Madonna founded the Keystone Poll in 1992, the oldest survey produced exclusively in Pennsylvania. In 2008, the keystone Poll was renamed the Franklin and Marshall College Poll.  In this capacity, he is the pollster for the Philadelphia Daily News, Times-Shamrock Newspapers, WGAL-TV (Lancaster), The Pittsburgh Tribune Review, and WTAE-TV (Pittsburgh)--media partners for the poll. He has also polled for KYW-TV (Philadelphia), Fox, 29-TV (Philadelphia), CN8, The Comcast Network, WITF-TV, public television, (Harrisburg), Harrisburg Patriot News and The Lancaster New Era.

In 2008, Franklin and Marshall College began a partnership with Hearst-Argyle Television to conduct national polls. Hearst owns 26 television stations, manages two others, and owns two radio stations. Madonna directs the poll.

He is also the host of Pennsylvania Newsmakers, a weekly statewide news and commentary program. He writes (with Michael Young) a bi-weekly political commentary column, “Politically Uncorrected,” originally for Capitolwire.com and later for Politicspa.com, the state’s leading political website. The column also has appeared in many state and national newspapers and also appears frequently on two national websites: stateline.org and realclearpolitics.com.

He is a regular analyst for WGAL-TV (Lancaster/Harrisburg). Madonna is a regular panelist on WPVI’s-TV (Philadelphia) commentary program, Inside Story. He’s been a substitute host for Gary Sutton’s talk radio program, WSBA-South Central Pennsylvania. He is a frequent guest on many talk radio programs throughout the state and nation.  He has also provided election coverage for WHYY-TV, public television in Philadelphia, WPVI-TV (Philadelphia), and WITF-TV. Madonna was also a regular panelist on The Peoples’ Business, a weekly news and commentary show broadcast throughout Pennsylvania on public television during the 1990’s.

A frequent political analyst and public affair's commentator and author of numerous publications in the fields of American history, American government, and American politics, Madonna has also provided analysis to the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, U.S.A.Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, the Christian Science Monitor, National Public Radio, CNN, ABC News and CBS News, to name a few.   Madonna has appeared on CNN's Inside Politics, CBS News, ABC News, C-Span, Fox News, MSNBC and NBC News.  He has also contributed to political web sites for MSNBC, the Hill Newspaper, RealClearPolitics, Stateline,and Fox News.

Madonna has served on numerous governmental boards and commissions: including Governor Edward Rendell’s Higher Education Advisory Board, the Benjamin Franklin Partnership Board (appointed by former Governor Dick Thornburgh), and the Board of Embreeville State Hospital (appointed by former Governor Milton Shapp).  He served in the early 1970's as a Lancaster County Commissioner. Currently, he serves on the Education Policy and Leadership Center board. 

At the request of foreign embassies and the U.S. State Department, Madonna has appeared in seminars and discussions with diplomats and newspaper reporters from around the world. In addition, Madonna has moderated gubernatorial, congressional, state legislative and school board forums, and debates for various organizations.

Dr. Madonna has received numerous awards and honors. He is the recipient of a Distinguished Professor award by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the President’s Medallion at Millersville University, and a special commendation for scholarship and leadership from the Board of Governors of the State System of Higher Education.  Additionally, he has been named an “Outstanding Speaker of the Year” by the Speech Communication Society of Pennsylvania, has served as a Commonwealth Speaker by the Pennsylvania Humanities Council, and was given the Daniel Roselle Award by the Middle States Council for the Social Studies.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS / MEETING LOCATIONS:                                                 
May 4                                     Robert Bresler, PSU Professor
333 Market St.                      “The Culture of Self Gratification”
RSVP Needed

May 11                                   Professor Dan Schuckers
Hilton                                     “Dead Ideas:  Letting go the old ways of thinking”

May 18                                   Dr. Kathleen Howley
333 Market St.                      “Confessions of a Spy”
RSVP Needed

May 25                                   NO MEETING – Memorial Day

For complete programming go to our website: hbgrotary.org and click on calendar.
For meeting cancellations due to inclement weather.... Tune to ABC27-TV
or check your e-mail or call the Rotary office at 234-1208.
NEWS AND NOTES:  

• Roster Information sheets were placed in the badge boards.  Please review to make sure your contact information is correct, select your 2009-10 committees and return to Linda.

• Habitat for Humanity Sign up sheets for May outing will be on the information table.

• Get well wishes to John Smither, recovering from surgery.

•  Send in your Community Service Award nominations by May 7th.

• ANNUAL MEETING vote on April 27, 2009:

1. BY-LAWS Revisons:

The by-laws were almost completely re-done.  Jeff Boswell looked at many large clubs and re-did ours.  Any questions should be directed to Jeff Boswell < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it >.

Some items of note that were changed are:
Committee structure, Elections of President-elect and Initiation fee
Executive Director and HRF information were added
Treasurer and Secretary now have term limits.

1. NOMINATING COMMITTEE:  Below is the recommendation from the Nominating Committee and          approved by the Board.  Vote will be taken at the Annual Meeting in April.

2009-11     
President                      President-Elect                         Vice President                                       Imm. Past-President                
Carolyn Dumaresq         John P. Judson (2010-11)          Robert S. Saline (2011-12)                     Barry Ramper

Secretary                                  Treasurer                                   Sergeant-at-Arms
Carrie W. Thomas                      William B. Boles                        William M. Tillett                                   

BOARD OF DIRECTORS                                  
Caryn J. Carr                             ‘10                                John R. Detweiler           '11
Lawrence M. Means                   ‘10                                Kent E. Frese                '11       
Andrew R. Rebuck                     ’10                                John J. McHenry           ‘11
Maria B. Persico                        ‘10                                Karen F. Snider              '11

ATTENDANCE:
LAST ROTARY MEETING:  4/20/09       52%                      
Rotarians   81    Active Specials  12     Guests   10   Visiting Rotarians 1   = 104

Minutes by Dave Freet: 
President Barry opened our meeting at 12:15 PM.  Al Schmidt provided the invocation followed by singing of America led by John Hickey.  Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag followed.

Recognition was given to Harrisburg Rotary’s 1st Corporate Sponsor, “Capital Blue Cross.  WELCOME to new members of our Club representing Capital Blue Cross!

Jeannette Archer-Simons provided today’s “Rotary Minute.”  She informed us  Rotary International’s Foundation is the world’s largest private scholarship fund!  As we all need to be reminded, Rotary does many wondrous things throughout the world, as does Harrisburg Rotary, too!

President Barry then spoke recognizing the ‘many volunteers’ who worked on the “Vision Project.”  Eye exams/testing/treatment/glasses were provided for 330 children of the Harrisburg School District .  A wonderful gesture that truly made a difference in the lives of many!

Our main speaker for the day was introduced by Jack Detweiler.  The speaker, John Quigley, was named Acting Secretary of Pennsylvania ’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) April 3rd, 2009.  He provided a history lesson on founding of earliest conservation efforts in PA establishing State Parks, etc.  Founded over 100 years ago, State Parks were established; management of timber resources came about, hunting and recreation uses aligned for the vast State-owned lands.  Today’s challenges are centered on around climate change and managing energy resources.  Mr. Quigley views climate change as the most critical issue for the future health and welfare of PA’s citizens.  Placement of wind towers on State lands is an ever increasing important role requiring the establishment of standards for such approvals.

John noted a number of pieces of significant legislation passed in recent years that addressed use of bio-fuels and requirement of a Pennsylvania Climate Change Action Plan.  He shared his opinion that Pennsylvania is in the forefront in developing innovative carbon emissions guidelines.  PA has plans to “cut” emissions by over 80% by 2015!  No small challenge along with the broad ramifications are encompassed by such efforts.

The issue of Marcellus Shale in PA and drilling on State and private lands to develop natural gas supplies is a “big deal” in PA’s future.  State lands of over 700,000 acres are already open to such drilling today.  Key is finding the much needed “balance” while allowing exploration on state lands and economic development implications in our carbon constrained world.

Mr. Quigley predicted “dramatic” climate change in the future with a continuation at the current level making PA’s climate similar to Alabama ’s in the “not-too-distant-future.”  Marcellus Shale well drilling is now in its infancy.  To date only a few dozen wells have been drilled with encouraging results as to richness of the supply of natural gas throughout PA.  DCNR’s responsibility to citizens of PA is as “land managers” putting forth the best use and protecting public interests in the land for the future!  Water resources and the impact of drilling exploratory wells is also an issue of substance if natural resources are to be fully developed while protecting citizen’s rights.  If you missed the meeting you failed to hear of the many natural resources throughout Pennsylvania and how DCNR manages them along with substantial impacts on you and your families’ interests in the near-term as well as long-term.