HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK Richard Curl       JAN 15 Bob Reitzel        JAN 17 Marie L. Lick      JAN 19 Joe Schmidt       JAN 22 Steve Baloga     JAN 27	HAPPY January Anniversaries Tom Hooker       35 years Walt Lowery       30 years Kent Patterson   28 years Doug Pieper       24 years Ray Pepe           20 years Carrie W. Thomas19 years Steve Baloga     15 years Lee Fortenberry 3 years Tina Nixon         3 years Jeff Habib          2 years Sandy Beck        2 years Anne Alsedek      2 years John Hickey        1 year Charles Wingate 1 year

PROGRAM:

Bob Hanson has been a role model for all and exemplifies the Rotary 4 Way test in his personal, professional and Rotary life.  We are indeed honored to have had him as a member of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg and acknowledge his exemplary leadership in this manner. The 7th Robert D. Hanson Rotary Excellence Award goes to Kent E. Frese.  Being the recipient of the Robert D. Hanson Rotary Excellence Award, Kent receives $2,500 toward expenses at the next Rotary International convention. 

Kent provides leadership development, strategic planning and operations process improvement to corporations, associations and not-for-profits at both the regional and national level.  He brings over 20 years of practical experience in organizational leadership and development. Kent holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University. He is also a Catalyst graduate; a certified facilitator for both Leadership Management, Inc and Teleometrics International; and he is certified for high and low ropes training.

He is active in the local community and affiliations include the Rotary Club of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, West Shore Chamber of Commerce and Greater Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce. Kent also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Therapeutic Riding Association of Cumberland County and Children's Miracle Network Advisory Board.

Kent and his wife, Lisa, have two young daughters, Olivia and Nevina.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS / MEETING LOCATIONS:  

• Jan 14                   Robert D. Hanson Rotary Excellence Award
  Hilton
• Jan 21                   NO MEETING
• Jan 28                   Rev. Dr. John Betlyon, Chaplain PA National Guard
  Hilton                     "Chaplains at War"
• Feb 4                      Derek Hathaway, Chairman and CEO HARSCO Corp.
  Hilton                     Educating our Youth in our expanding world"
• Feb 11                   Dr. Randy Lee, Constitutional Professor Widener Law School
  Hilton                     "Getting Concrete with our Constitution"
• Feb 18                   NO MEETING

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

NEWS AND NOTES:  
• The Rotary Club extends its condolences to Barry Kain on the passing of his mother.

• Join the following Rotarians at the June, 2008
    Rotary International Convention in Los Angeles, California

Caren Carr
Bob Craumer
John Judson
Barry Ramper
Bob Saline
Connie Siegel

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

• JAN-MAR 2008 Dues Invoices were sent at the end of December.  Below are the dues:
Active Members $220/quarter
Active Specials - $50/per quarter plus $13/meal
Included was the $100 invoice for Rotary International Foundation.

 The Club is joining hands with the District to rebuilt homes and lives after Katrina devastation. Five members of the Club are planning to fly to Biloxi, MS to join with others to rebuild homes. Another member has contributed toward the cost of construction materials.

At the December 17th  Rotary meeting those who can give a week of their time this winter will decide on their preferred dates for this service.  Volunteers are needed most weeks in January through March.

The program calls for those volunteering to fly to Biloxi on a Sunday where local volunteers meet them. Meals and housing will be “dormitory style” in the fellowship hall of a local Lutheran Church. Volunteers are asked to provide their own airfare (about $265 from Baltimore) and $20/day for food and housing expenses. Some members are considering flying down privately. The local arrangements committee provides tools and transportation to the work site.

The construction work varies from week to week. January will involved general construction. February will involve drywall, taping, spackling, orange peel spray coating, and insulation. March will need interior finishing: painting, installing cabinets and fixtures, trim, doors and flooring. Also needed are people to prepare meals and provide clerical and administrative support. People with all levels of skill are needed.

The World Fellowship Committee and President Carrie hope that a large number from our Club can participate in this humanitarian service. You will hear more at our Club meeting Monday. Please pick up a registration form at the meeting Monday and indicate all possible weeks of service, What a plus for our club to have members working together!  Applications will be on the tables and on our website:   www.hbgrotary.org
Tom Johnston or John Judson

• DISTRICT:  The 2008 Teacher Impact Awards seek to recognize Teachers who have made a significant difference in the lives of their students.  You may nominate a teacher!
Forms are on the information table or go to the district website:  www.rotary7390.org
Deadline:  January 25, 2008
All nominated teachers will be invited to a special awards banquet on Monday April 14, 2008.  The five winners will receive a plaque and a $1,000 check, given to the school in the teacher’s name.

•   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: 1/7/08       57%
Rotarians  82   Active Specials 12     Guests  18    Visiting Rotarians  1 =  113

Minutes by Dave Freet:
The meeting began at 12:11 PM with President Carrie presiding. Singing was led by the indomitable Bob Hostetter, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to our Flag and the Invocation given by Wil Everhart.  At 12:17 PM President Carrie re-opened the meeting and introduced Tom Bream,
our Greeter for the day. Tom introduced guests, prospective members, and a visiting Rotarian.

 A ROTARY MINUTE  was provided by Barry Goodling pursuant to our Rotary Foundation. Barry noted that Rotary International’s “polio eradication campaign” has had dramatic impact on treatment to avoid polio with only four (4) countries remaining where polio is still not under control. Everyone is strongly encouraged to send their annual $100 donation into Executive Director Linda as their 2008 contribution to the Rotary Foundation to support the outstanding excellent work being accomplished.
     
Pattie Hindermyer introduced and honored the Students/Teachers of the Quarter. Excellent candidates from the respective schools were present to be recognized by Harrisburg Rotary and each seemed genuinely appreciative. Past President Tom Johnson provided encouragement and details relative to upcoming trips to Biloxi, Mississippi to perform Katrina Relief/reconstruction work. He noted that work is underway on a “Rotary Home.” (More detail is available in the most current issue of your Rotary Roundup – January 7, 2008 for your interest. All who can are asked to sign up and go work on this very worthwhile effort to help those in need). President Carrie acknowledged the recognition and involvement of numerous of our fellow Rotarians over the Holidays. Several wrote letter’s to the Editor of the Patriot News that “hit the mark.” In addition, quite a number of our colleagues were noted as “Movers and Shakers” in Harrisburg by Harrisburg Magazine.  Finally, Whitaker Center has been recognized as the “host” of the 2008 Science Fair. We’re proud of all our members and their extensive contributions to both Harrisburg and our region!
     
Our featured speaker was introduced by our own Karen Snider.   She introduced her friend and colleague, Secretary of Public Welfare Estelle B.  Richman, whose career spans more than 30 years of public service.  She came to her current assignment from Managing Director, City of Philadelphia. Prior to that role, Ms. Richman was Director of Social Services for the City of Philadelphia and previously City of Philadelphia’s Commissioner of Public Health and Deputy Commissioner for Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance abuse Services. Secretary Richman talked about the “Face of the Pennsylvania Department of 
 Public Welfare.” Some facts:
* The majority of cash assistance paid out from DPW is for “nursing home residents,” not subsistence living

* Over one (1) million welfare recipients in PA are part of the welfare system collecting benefits for medical assistance; Li-Heap; substance cash, etc.

* 1.9 million individuals receive medical assistance; 209 thousand of that 1.9 Million receive cash assistance

* Of medical assistance, 45% represents help to children; those with disabilities of many types with the combined two areas absorbing one third (1/3) of the total Welfare budget for medical assistance

* Welfare services directly affect “one in six” (1-6) of all Pennsylvanians; (day care services; autism treatment; home health care assistance; establishing and ensuring adherence to ‘rules and regulations for assisted living’

* Provide vocational training for those unable to support themselves; help clients move from dependency to ‘self-sufficiency;’ since October 2005 cash assistance case load is now at its lowest; average wage earned by those who have received training and become employed is $8.36 per hour moving them from Welfare towards self-sufficiency

             * Emphasis is  on jobs for those applying to welfare and ‘cash assistance’

Common misconceptions “abound” relative to those who receive “cash assistance.” Penalties are in place for those who do not fulfill their obligations in the receipt of help with those being penalized having doubled in the last two years. Only verifiable U.S. Citizens are eligible to obtain cash assistance in PA and all are carefully monitored as to income levels for those receiving assistance.

DPW has performance-based contracts with contractors who assist them to obtain jobs for those receiving assistance. It is diligent in accountability for handling/dispersing cash assistance. Much of public perception is “negative myths” as it relates to receipt of cash assistance. Myths hurt people and those who are working to raise themselves and their families to a better standard of living.

There is a sizeable number of individuals with both public and private insurance coverage who are “defaulting” in today’s world to public support. It has become a facet of today’s life. This action is placing our medical system and doctors at risk. Social Security Insurance (SSI) is federal and provides folks money to live on. Medicare covers “part” of medical costs for those who qualify. State Medicaid is in conjunction with Medicare coverage.

DPW is responsible for Child Welfare and child adoption in Pennsylvania, in addition to these many other areas discussed. In response to a question, Sec. Richman noted that there are an ‘estimated’ 200 thousand undocumented persons living in PA. They are NOT legally eligible for DPW’s cash assistance. They “may,” qualify for coverage in Emergency Medical Treatment at a hospital emergency room; otherwise PA hospitals suffer economic harm from giving needed treatment.

In most states in the U.S., 50% of people who have received cash assistance go on to becoming self-sufficient. DPW looks at individuals, who are required to work 30 hours per week to qualify (50% of the entire body receiving cash work) to receive welfare. The money is given out to folks (there were 500 thousand in 1996 and now down to 200 thousand in PA) who are embedded in the system and unable to move off the DPW roles. Emphasis is on “keeping families together.” A myth exists that DPW breaks up families. In two adult-person families, they must work to obtain help with
the two combined required to work 70 hours per week.

Secretary Richman provided substantial information as it relates to PA’s Department of Welfare (DPW) system, who  qualifies, how they qualify, the roles of participants, etc. A very informative and well  communicated presentation.

Please support our Officers and Board by serving our club and our community as we begin our new Rotary year!