HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK David Epple MAR 3 Chip Milspaw MAR 3 Caryn Carr MAR 5	HAPPY March Anniversaries Harry Banzhoff 54 years   Joe Capita 12 years Bob Spicer 42 years    John Judson 10 years Al Schmidt 37 years    Shelly Myers 9 years Bob Hostetter 30 years    John Klobusicky 2 years Chuck Friedman 30 years Laurie Saltzgiver 2 years Janice Black 19 years   Pauline Wallin 2 years Charlie McNutt 19 years Ron Guss 16 years John D. Morefield 15 years

PROGRAM: Dr. G. Terry Madonna is a nationally recognized political pollster and Director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College.  Dr. Madonna will analyze the political climate and trends in the nation leading up to the 2008 presidential election, with special emphasis on recent presidential election history, the issues that are relevant to voters and the strategies for electing the next president.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS / MEETING LOCATIONS:  
Mar 3                                  Terry Madonna
333 Matket St.                   2008 Road to the White House:  Another Presidential election:  Dead heat or landslide?
RSVP required

Mar 10                                 Karen Gunnison, President Murata Business Center
Hilton                                 “ Business Incubation in Central PA”

Mar 17                                Michael Reinsdorf, Bill Davidson and Randy Whittaker
333 Market Street            "Harrisburg Senators-The Next Generation"
RSVP required               

Mar 24                                NO MEETING

Mar 31                                 Dave Butcher and Mayur Patel,
Hilton                                   WCI Partners and Hersha Hospitality Group
                                           “Why we are investing in Harrisburg’s future? - Two key players tell us why”

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

NEWS AND NOTES:

• Get well wishes to Chuck Fromer.  He is at the Holy Spirit Hospital.

• The March 3rd Rotary Meeting will be held at the PA State Education Building at 333 Market Street (take escalator from street, enter building and then elevator to 1st floor).
We will have this meeting catered by SirD’s. RSVP is required.  Please contact Linda.

• Congratulations to 2008 YWCA honorees: Legacy award – Marion Alexander, Future Women of Excellence – Betty Hungerford, Diance McNaughton and Kimberly Aquino (YCDT).  Event is on Tuesday, March 25th, contact Tina Nixon for further information.

• DISTRICT CONFERENCE: Thursday, May 8- golf,  May 9-May 10.  Early Registration before 3/16.  Register: Forms are on the information table or Go to our website www.hbgrotary.org and then to the District.
Please make sure you have paid your $100 Harrisburg Rotary Foundation.

•   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.

•  MEMBER SURVEY
You should have recieved an e-mail invitation and link to complete our annual member survey. Please take a moment to complete it. If you have not received it, please let Kent Frese know and we'll get it to you.

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: 2/25/08       50%
Rotarians  80   Active Specials  13    Guests  6  Visiting Rotarians  3 =  102

Minutes by Mark Stone: 
President Carrie opened our weekly meeting at 12:09 P.M. on a sunny day for late February.  Anne Alsedek led us in song with "America" (My country 'tis of thee) followed by the pledge to our flag and a prayer by Howard Ammons. Howard announced that our friend, Chuck Fromer, suffered a heart attack last week and is in Holy Spirit Hospital. Get well soon, Chuck!
 
After enjoying our wonderful lunch and music by Al Morrison on piano, President Carrie reconvened the meeting at 12:20 P.M. by asking Marie Lick to introduce our visiting guests and Rotarians.  Several visiting Rotarians and guests of Rotarians Katzman and Love were with us today. 

John Judson shared with us the efforts of some fifty rotary clubs to assist the community of Biloxi, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina in August 2005. This effort continues to this day and John asked for volunteers to consider going to the Gulf region during the week of March 8th. Your $100 annual contribution to the Rotary International Foundation is needed to assist in these type of aid and relief efforts.

Gib Parthemore shook the money tree and we learned of Rotarians becoming grandparents for the first time, wedding anniversaries, efforts by members and their children helping others in the Gulf Coast states after Katrina, as well as, the efforts of board members and concerned volunteers of the Harrisburg Humane Society and their efforts to be considered for a $1 million dollar makeover. Please see www.zootoo.com to help out.

President Carrie informed us that the Rotary Roundup that had been at our tables each week has been replaced with an on-line version, that can be printed off at our offices/homes. A limited number of the on-line documents will be available on a weekly basis at the front table.
 
Rotarians in the News...... Carrie pointed out that Bob Saline, Anne Alsedek, Jean Beatty, and former member Tama Carey were featured in various publications in the last several weeks. Also, our exchange student Ange Savage starred in a musical production at Susquehanna High School that concluded last weekend.  We are listed in the Business Calendar of the Patriot News.
 
Our meeting on March 3rd will be held at the Pennsylvania Education Department Building at 333 Market Street in Harrisburg. A reservation is required to attend, so please contact Linda Freedenberg with your attendance reservation.
 
Program -- Patrick L. Meehan, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Topic:  Violent and Gang Crime, Terrorism and Public Integrity
 
Pauline Wallin introduced our guest speaker, Patrick L. Meehan.
 
Patrick L. Meehan, Esq., is the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, with offices located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He serves as the Chief Federal Lawyer investigating crimes such as public corruption, corporate fraud, tax issues, drugs and violent crime while interfacing closely with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Agency and the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Meehan is a graduate of Temple Law School, a former hockey referee, and lives with his family in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.
 
He spoke to us today about an important effort called the "Route 222 Corridor Anti-Gang Initiative."  Local elected officials, federal, state, and local law enforcement along with community and faith based organizations have come together to fight the insurgence of gangs who deal drugs in an area spanning two federal districts, six counties, and seven cities that essentially spans the corridor from Harrisburg to Easton, Pennsylvania. He informs us that these gangs are very sophisticated in their use of cell phones, computers, and a formalized and organized network of personnel who are capable of moving and selling large quantities of illegal drugs. The program calls for a coordinated response among law enforcement agencies, along with an increase in prevention programs in schools and community organizations, plus specialized services for former inmates returning to their neighborhoods. Funding for this program proved very competitive and was one of six initiatives that the Justice Department funded nationally.
 
He indicated that criminal drug activity from the big cities of New York and Philadelphia has moved to the smaller cities of Allentown, Reading, Lancaster and Harrisburg. The criminals have figured out that there aren't the resources in law enforcement personnel and money in these smaller communities and have quickly moved in and "set up shop." Efforts to eliminate the illegal drug activity will come from collaboration among law enforcement agencies, mayors, social service agencies and department of corrections, as well as, a common agenda among cities to work on this issue collectively. He took a few questions from the audience. A very informative presentation on a difficult issue that continues to plague our communities.
 
Our meeting on March 3rd will be held at the Pennsylvania Department of Education at 333 Market Street in Harrisburg.