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

July 18, 2011

Speaker: Spero Lappas, Esq.
Topic: “SHOULD PA END THE DEATH PENALTY? A Personal View”

Greeter:   Pat Amice
Invocation: Bridget Montgomery
Club Singing: Marion Alexander
Publications:  Steve Baloga

Corporate Member

     BIRTHDAYS
Blair Trogner  JUL 18
Beth Persun  JUL 24



UPCOMING PROGRAMS
at the Hilton
JUL 18 – Board Meeting 10:30 AM  Hilton

JUL 18 Spero T. Lappas, Esq.

“SHOULD PA END THE DEATH PENALTY? A Personal View”

JUL 25 Social Networking – Kent Frese, Jeff Haas and Matt Lane

AUG 1 Dr. John J. Sygielski, HACC President
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.

PROGRAM: Spero T. Lappas, Esquire is an attorney in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where he practices civil litigation and criminal defense with concentrations in serious property damage and personal injury claims, and major felony defense. He is licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and all Pennsylvania state courts. He has served as lead counsel in hundreds of major civil, criminal, and civil rights actions, including some of Central Pennsylvania's most important trials. He has handled cases involving wrongful death, automobile accident injuries, insurance bad faith, fire damage and losses, work related personal injuries, and most other kinds of damage claims. In the criminal arena he has defended several death penalty murder cases, federal drug felonies and conspiracies, federal sports bribery, state and federal crimes of violence, major fraud allegations, and most other varieties of cases in which citizens have been charged with serious state and federal crimes. In the civil rights arena he has represented citizens in cases involving police misconduct, excessive force, wrongful arrest and prosecution, sex discrimination, disparate impact, disparate treatment, prisoners rights, students rights, age and race discrimination, wrongful death, freedom of speech and association, search and seizure, and whistleblowers rights.

Attorney Lappas graduated with honors from Allegheny College and received the Juris Doctor degree cum laude from the Dickinson School of Law (now, the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University). While at Allegheny College, he was twice named an Alden Scholar, he received Departmental Honors at graduation, and was awarded the prestigious Muhlfinger Prize for his independent research. At the Dickinson School of Law, he was named to the Editorial Board of the Dickinson Law Review and was a member and faculty adviser of the National Trial Moot Court Team. He won two American Jurisprudence Awards, and published two items in the Dickinson Law Review. He was later named to Dickinson's Woolsack Society.

He serves as a member of the Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission's Senate Advisory Committee to Study the Causes of Wrongful Convictions pursuant to Pennsylvania Senate Resolution 381 of 2006. On that Committee he is a member of the Legal Representation subcommittee and the Governmental Misconduct working group.

NEWS AND NOTES: 
•  New Rosters will be available.  Special thanks to our advertisers – the Foundation for Enhancing Communities, PRWorks, Goodwill, Gaudenzia, PMI and Leadership Harrisburg.

•  Condolences to Marty Manion on the passing of his sister, Marianne.

• CENTENNIAL NEWS:
1. CELEBRATION:  Special thanks to Andy Rebuck and Betty Hungerford and their committee and President Bob Saline and Past President John Judson for a fabulous event.  All their efforts made the evening very, very special.

  2. Tree opportunity – Still time to donate a tree in honor or in memory of a loved one make your tax deductible $250 check payable to Harrisburg Rotary Foundation.

  3. Billboard winners:  Congratulations to Tom Arnoldi, Jack Detweiler, Bob Craumer, Betty Hungerford, John Judson, Peggy Grove, Hal Hurwitz, Michael Hanes, Bridget Montgomery and Bob Saline.  Thanks to Andy Rebuck on this membership drive/Centennial incentive.

• Habitat for Humanity - Corinne Rebinski, Andy Hetrick and Fred Hartman for worked on June 25th.  Thank you!

• The Year in Review is on the information table and on our website. 

• The Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg have made a decision to increase our membership dues by $5.00 a quarter.

This increase will help the board maintain as balanced a budget as possible as costs to the Club increase.  The decision was made after careful analysis of anticipated historic costs and a conservative look forward into our operating costs.

The increase is included in your JUL-SEP dues invoice that was mailed this week.

This is the first increase in the dues since 2007-08 Rotary year.  The board is hopeful that this incremental increase will help maintain a balanced budget and that membership growth initiatives will be realized.

Should you have any questions, or if you would like to review the budget, please contact Bill Boles or Bob Saline.

Thank you for your Service Above Self.

Bob Saline, President

• DISTRICT NEWS:
The Governor’s June Newsletter is available at this link: http://www.rotary7390.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=OpfFPuc3pTI%3d&tabid=113

LAST ROTARY MEETING:  6/27/11
Minutes by Carrie W. Thomas:
President John called the meeting to order at 12:10 PM, introducing John Cavanaugh to give the prayer, followed by Caryn Carr’s leading the Club in “America the Beautiful,” sans piano. After the Pledge of Allegiance, Club members enthusiastically greeted each other.

    At 12:20 PM, President John introduced Dr. Ira Packman, who encouraged Rotarians to welcome their guests to the Club. Bob Saline introduced an entire table of his colleagues and family members, including his wife of 43 years Deborah. Dr. John introduced his wife of 47 years, Ann Marie, and Betty Hungerford, Joe Metz, and Caryn Carr all introduced family members as guests for the day.

    Ron Guss and Steve Feinour then came forward to give the YOUTH EXCHANGE COMMITTEE report, lamenting the fact that we desperately need a host family for our incoming student from Estonia. Originally, a family in the Central Dauphin School District was requested, but at this point, since we need a family to commit by Wednesday, ANY school district will be acceptable. Steve said that hosting an Exchange Student is a very positive experience, and strongly urged a Club member to volunteer.

    Maria Persico then announced that there were a number of PAUL HARRIS FELLOWSHIPS to present to Club members. She explained that the Fellowships are awarded to Rotarians who have contributed $1,000 to the International Foundation. New Paul Harris Fellows came forward as named: Caryn Carr, Bob Chamberlain, Joe Metz, Rich Moultrie, Corinne Rebinski, Jim Smeltzer, and Craig Wisman. She went on to say that several Rotarians have earned multiple Fellowships. She announced that Dr. Jerry Kohn has earned his third Paul Harris Fellowship, and that Dr. Bill Murray has earned his fourth!

    A special Paul Harris Fellowship was presented to Hal Hurwitz to acknowledge his 17 years of loyal service in organizing the December bell-ringing to benefit the Salvation Army.

    President John then proclaimed that it was now the moment for THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD. Before giving his end-of-term remarks, Dr. John asked all past Rotary Presidents to stand to be acknowledged. He thanked all of them, as well as the entire membership for their support during the past year of his Presidency. Dr. John said that membership in the Club has remained steady, with 21 members having left, and 18 new ones having joined. He said that the new Rotarians have displayed great energy and commitment, largely due to the efforts of the FIRST-YEAR ROTARIANS Committee, chaired by Robin Scaer.

    Dr. John praised both Beth Peiffer and Betty Hungerford for their chairing the MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE, pointing out that a brand-new membership packet has just been approved by the Board. He stressed that our Club is the premier one in our District, with great service projects, fellowship and networking. The PANCAKE BREAKFAST, under the direction of Jacqueline Jackson-DeGarcia, Karen Paris and Peggy Grove generated $22,000, which has been presented to the School District. He extolled the great work of the YOUTH COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM, and John Smither’s SUPPORT FOR OUR TROOPS effort. Steve Feinour and Ron Guss were praised for their efforts with YOUTH EXCHANGE, as was John Sutliff for STUDENTS/TEACHERS OF THE QUARTER. Bob Hall was noted for his work with the clinic in Dominican Republic.

    Norma Swain was acknowledged for her work in developing a new MUSIC program after the retirement of Al Morrison. Kent Frese was recognized for his diligent work behind the scenes on ROTARY ROUND-UP and the WEBSITE, as well as his facilitation of the STRATEGIC PLANNING sessions. Ira Packman was noted for his work on the BLOOD DRIVE, in which 11 litres were collected from Rotarians. The CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE has arranged to have 2/3 of our 100 trees planted in Riverfront Park, had a great dedication event in the Park on May 16, and is planning an event at Whitaker Centre on July 13. Andy Rebuck and Betty Hungerford are the events chairs, and Mark Stone is our liaison with the City.

    Bob Saline was praised for all his efforts on better “BRANDING” the Club through signage, billboards and other promotional initiatives. Dr. John thanked everyone who had been involved in all the many Club projects during his Presidency, especially praising our wonderful Executive Director Linda Freedenberg. He joked that Linda is always “on-call” with her emails, responding to emails night and day, even when on vacation. He gave her a gift of appreciation for all her support and hard work.

    At this juncture, President John introduced Past District Governor Janice Black to install Bob Saline as new Club President, as well as the incoming Board and Committee Chairs. Janice spoke eloquently about the essence of Rotary, and explained that the individual Club Presidents are the heart and soul of Rotary International. She invited the incoming Board Members and Committee Chairs to come forward and administered the oath of office to Bob and then the others, personally congratulating them and wishing them success for the coming year.

    New Club President Bob Saline thanked Past President John for all his service during his term, presenting him with a Rotary jacket to wear to promote the “brand” wherever he is seen! He also gave him a pin with the year’s Rotary International theme, and showed him a size 12 pair of sneakers as a joke about the “big shoes” he’ll have to fill! (Bob will subsequently give the sneakers to a student he’s mentoring.) Dr. John was also presented with a $500 check, which he immediately had to return to deposit in the Foundation. President Bob then expounded upon the Rotary International theme of “Reach within to embrace humanity,” and how he hoped to fulfill that goal in the coming year.

    He intends to incorporate the Rotary International initiatives in our Club’s projects during the coming year, namely,  serving the family, working on the eradication of polio and striving for world peace,and examining our resources to serve regionally, locally and globally. The “pillars” of his Presidency he plans to build on are communications, service, membership and engagement.  Communication will include branding efforts, among other initiatives.  Service-above-self projects will continue, building on Dr. John’s herculean efforts. President Bob joked that “Dr. John flies to Haiti more times than I change my socks!”

    He pointed out that although Club membership seems “stuck” in the 180’s, with everyone pulling together, we should be able to recruit over 200 members this year. By “engagement,” President Bob explained he means “mentoring of new Rotarians by experienced Members.”

    Citing the four-way test, President Bob elaborated that Rotarians should utilize its precepts in all our personal and professional lives.  He envisions Members  becoming  “Rotarians,” truly serving humanity. The new President then called Linda Freedenberg forward and presented her with a gift of tea, as she had responded to his emails while she was vacationing in Ottawa, sipping tea in a coffeeshop there.

    President Bob announced we will not have meetings July 4 nor July 11, but on July 13 will be our Centennial Celebration at Whitaker Centre.

    Past President John returned to the podium to give the new President a pin, as well as a book about the first 100 years of Rotary that Tom Johnston had originally given to him upon his installation. He also gave President Bob the all-important gavel!.

    Before the meeting ended, Connie Siegel introduced new Rotarian Glenn Hafer, an Actuary at Conrad Siegel Actuaries.

OFFICERS:

DIRECTORS:

Robert S. Saline              
Una Martone
Karen F. Snider
John P. Judson, M.D.
Carolyn Dumaresq
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