PROGRAM: Former Penn State Defensive Football Coordinator Jerry Sandusky has been dedicated to Pennsylvania children who need additional help to achieve their potential through his founding of The Second Mile.  His selfless nature has benefited innumerable children, Penn State students, and many communities throughout Pennsylvania.

An only child, Jerry was never without companionship as a young boy.  His father ran what is similar to a Boy’s Club in Washington, PA.  The impact left a mark. Jerry and his wife Dottie have six adopted children and, had it not been for the practical considerations of their house, there would have been more.

But children didn’t have to live under the Sandusky roof for Jerry to make a difference in their lives.   He once dreamed of helping Pennsylvania’s children achieve their potential as individuals and community members by providing them opportunities to develop self-esteem.  In 1977, that dream was realized with the founding of The Second Mile.

In its first year, The Second Mile helped 45 State College children.  This past year, more than 200,000 children across Pennsylvania benefited from Second Mile program opportunities that are utilized in partnership with more than 1,500 school counselors and youth professionals.  In 1990, the organization was honored as a national “Point of Light” organization by former President George Bush in recognition of its focus on youth through privately funded programs without government intervention.

The Second Mile currently provides a network of nine prevention, early intervention and community-based programs and services for children who may lack parental encouragement and modeling, have few opportunities to experience personal success, and/or lack the developmental skills required to make positive choices.  Each program is designed to help children develop a sense of personal responsibility and achievement.

Through his long, successful career, and through numerous volunteer and charitable efforts, Jerry Sandusky truly represents the highest standards of service to youth and to going “the second mile” to achieve excellence.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS / MEETING LOCATIONS:                                                 
March 23                               Joseph Robinson, Jr., Executive Director, Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Development Institute Hilton                                    
“Harrisburg Through Ebony-colored Glasses”
Mr. Robinson, a product of the Harrisburg School System and a leader within the African- American community, will reflect on Harrisburg's past and present and offer thought-provoking ideas relative to its future.

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

NEWS AND NOTES:  
• Meal charge in 2009 will be $14 for Guests, Visiting Rotarians and Active Specials.

• YCDT participant and Sci Tech High student, Nicole Harris, is being honored as a future woman of excellence during the YWCA’s celebration on March 25th at the Hershey Lodge beginning at 5:30.  Tickets are $100. For more information, please contact Pamela Rhoads at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or Una Sheridan Martone, CFRE at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

•  Condolences to Jeff Gelburd whose mother passed away.

• 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

• DISTRICT INFO: 

     2008 District Conference April 30-May 2

Check out the tentative schedule:

Thursday, April 30 Golf Tournament—Country Club of York                                    Saturday, May 2—Yorktowne Hotel - Plenary Sessions
Friday, May 1– Yorktowne Hotel Plenary / Breakout Sessions                     Lunch/ Downtown/Historical Tours/ Governors Banquet
Lunch/ Factory Tours including Harley Davidson
Dinner at Sovereign Bank Stadium

  Registration materials will be available shortly!!

    100th Rotary International Convention Birmingham, England June 21-24, 2009
Register early take advantage of special pricing! Register Online! It’s convenient and secure. Your confirmation materials will be e-mailed to you.  Birmingham Convention Bureau will handle all individual and group housing requests. Reservations are filled as requested. E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

You will receive a hotel confirmation from the Birmingham Convention Bureau indicating the hotel name, address, room rate per night, room type requested, and dates reserved. All housing changes/inquiries must be made directly to the Birmingham Convention Bureau until 8 May 2009. Please return your completed reservation form by 17:00 GMT on 8 May 2009.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR KATRINA BUILD

Joining Hands, District 7390’s disaster relief project, will be building its second new construction home along the Mississippi gulf coast from January 5th – March 27th, 2009. Major financial support will be coming from a $15,500.00 District Simplified Grant. Clubs participating in this Grant are Hanover, Colonial Park, York, York North, Carlisle, Hershey, West York, Mechanicsburg North, Littlestown and Mt. Joy.
Contact John Judson or Tom Johnston for more info.

 For more information contact District Initiatives chair Diane McNaughton or Linda.
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:  3/9/09       %                 
Rotarians   86    Active Specials  11     Guests   19   Visiting Rotarians  0  = 116

Minutes by Carrie W. Thomas: 
The meeting commenced at 12:15 PM with Jeff Boswell giving the invocation and John Hickey leading the group in a rendition of “God Bless America,” with Al Morrison at the piano, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

At 12:25 PM President Barry Ramper called the business portion of the meeting to order, calling yours-truly to the microphone to report on “Rotarians in the News.” Anne and Don Alsadek were noted for their Open Stage play “Rabbit Hole;” John Judson’s wife had a letter to the editor concerning cluster bombs; Rich Bowra had a letter to the editor concerning library funding; Chuck Wingate was quoted on the renovations done to Bethesda Mission; and Jewel Cooper was pictured in “Susquehanna Style” Magazine for a Chamber function.

Bill Murray presented the Rotary Minute, giving an in-depth description of Rotary International’s Ambassadorial Scholar program for college students, in which selected students study abroad  and serve as goodwill ambassadors while pursuing their education.

Diane McNaughton was next on the busy agenda, introducing the many guests in attendance. Una Martone introduced a group of students from YCDT, and Barry Kain introduced a table of guests representing Pinnacle Health Systems.

After acknowledging Al Morrison’s great musical contributions to the meeting, President Barry called Peggy Grove forward to discuss Youth Exchange. Stating that the Youth Exchange Committee truly encompasses the entire Club, Peggy explained that the upcoming weekend would be a Youth gathering hosted by our Club.She enumerated all the members who have already signed up to help with the weekend activities for the youth, but asking for at least 2 more volunteers to sign up for the 5 PM to midnight shift. Also needed are two people to purchase evening snacks and breakfast foods at Sam’s Club or Costco’s. Those able to assist should contact Ron Guss or Caryn Carr.

Peggy also noted that she is making a contribution of $10 per name for those candidates for which she was collecting voter signatures on petitions after the last meeting.

Una Martone then introduced the four students from Youth Community Development Team who were our guests today. These fine young people, seniors at Sci-Tech, Bishop McDevitt, and Harrisburg High School gave very articulate and moving presentations about just what YCDT is, and what their project will benefit this year. The group has determined to support an agency that promotes higher education for high school students. Tomorrow the group will interview three local agencies to decide to which they will give $6000 in support at the end of the year. The young people also pointed out the blue “buckets” on each table, urging Club members to contribute their spare change to the cause at each meeting this spring.

Jacqueline Jackson DeGarcia and Karen Paris then came to the podium to present Dr. Kohn with a check for $18,200.56 to purchase computers for Sci-Tech High School, representing the proceeds from the 2008 Pancake Breakfast. ($4000 from the Breakfast is being utilized for scholarships as well). The two co-chairs, who have agreed to chair the 2009 Breakfast, asked that all committee members stand to be acknowledged for their hard work to make the event such an outstanding success, despite the bad economy.

Bob Hostetter introduced our speaker for the day at 1 PM...Dr. Roger Longenderfer, the president and chief executive officer of Pinnacle Health System since July 1, 2001. With a background in family practice, Dr. Longenderfer has been in the health care field for 30 years and has seen more change today than ever before. He stated that 50 million people in the US don’t have health care insurance, with the numbers growing due to job lay-offs. Extremely high co-pays are also a big problem for patients. The doctor went on to explain that patients, doctors, nurses, insurers and employers all have different needs and concerns regarding health care.

The emergency room has become the venue of choice for many people who have no primary health care and insurance coverage. Since 1993, emergency visits have increased at a faster rate than the population growth! He said that Harrisburg Hospital’s emergency room facilities were designed for 41,000 visits annually, but 60,000 people visit it at this point each year. Dr. Longenderfer explained that it will cost $28 million to upgrade the emergency room at Harrisburg Hospital, in order to handle 100,000 visits annually five years from now. He said that the goal is to cut wait times in half, and upgrade the triage systems, etc.  He said that the hospital is working with ambulance companies so that the ambulance crews will be able to do diagnoses before getting patients to the hospital itself, especially for heart attack patients.

Oddly enough, less than 10% of er patients are trauma victims...and about 65% are from outside the Harrisburg area itself!

Dr. Longenderfer expounded on the many ideas being bruited about concerning health care and emergency room care on all levels. He talked about the need to introduce more technology into health records in order to streamline patient care, and the fact that many patients in the er are mental health ones, due to the closing of the State Hospitals. He concluded his informative narrative with stating that the hospital’s mission is to care for people, no matter what their financial status, and he urged everyone to support central PA’s health system, the “best in the nation.”

In the brief question-and-answer session, Dudley Smith asked where the money will come from to create more efficient, computerized medical records, and how initiatives on preventive medicine can be jump-started.  Dr. Longenderfer responded that employers all too often look at short-term solutions instead of long-term preventive programs for employees. He went on to say that immunizations are imperative, as well as education on weight-control, diabetes,  lung disease and smoking.  Information technology programs are necessary to increase productivity in health care, but are often too expensive for small medical practices to implement. The challenge for the community, he concluded, is the choice between long and short-term investments.