Executive Director: Linda Freedenberg Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Meets Noon Mondays at the Hilton	Telephone: 717-234-1208 Fax: 717-234-3234 www.hbgrotary.org

PROGRAM: Robert J. Bresler received his A.B. degree from Earlham College and his Ph.D. from Princeton University.  He has taught at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, the University of Delaware and Penn State University - Harrisburg, where he completed a 32-year career in 2001. Since retiring from Penn State, he has been Visiting Professor of Government at Franklin & Marshall College.  Professor Bresler is the National Affairs Editor of USA Today: the Magazine of the American Scene, where he writes a regular column on American politics. His recent books include Us vs. Them: American Political and Cultural Conflict from WWII to Watergate and Freedom of Association: Civil Rights and Liberties under the Law.  He resides in Lancaster with his wife Linda Carvell.

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.  You can also check to see if your contact information is correct by going to www.hbgrotary.org, sign in and go to Membership Roster.

• Habitat for Humanity Sign up sheets for May 16 outing will be on the information table.

• Get well wishes may be sent to John Smither 665 Willow Way   Mechanicsburg, PA   17055

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

ATTENDANCE:
LAST ROTARY MEETING:  4/27/09      59 %                      
Rotarians  76     Active Specials  11             Guests    9     Visiting Rotarians 0    = 96

Minutes by Karen Paris: 
Today’s meeting is the Annual Meeting of our Club, per the By-Laws.  Dick Stewart gave our invocation  and we were led by Tom Arnoldi in a round of “America.”  Meet-and-greets were plentiful (maybe people figured by next week we won’t be shaking hands due to the flu so they needed to do double duty today…).  Several Rotarians brought guests to hear today’s “famed presenter”.  Anna Johnston was brought by a Rotarian who wished to remain anonymous so her hubby’s name was kept confidential.  Jewel Cooper managed to be a bit rowdy with poor Al Baker during the intros.  (I don’t know why everyone picks on you, Al.  You’re such a soft, unassuming guy.)

Roger Morgenthal presented his Mini-Class speech.  He is definitely an attorney who likes to fly high; his specialty is aviation.  He works for Smigel, Anderson and Sacks, LLP.  Thank you for keeping to the time limit, Roger; Pres. Barry hates to throw people out of the meeting plane.

Una Martone reminded us of “Change for Change” sake.  You know – those buckets on the table in the middle.  Already those buckets have raised $350. for the Joshua Group.  We have only one more meeting to fill them up because on May 11, the Joshua Group will be here to receive a check from the Change Buckets.  Bottom Line: keep giving.

Wil Everhart presided over good news reporting.  Wil first verified with ex-Pres Sally that indeed it is in the current President’s job description to have some good news.  Barry, having read his job description thoroughly, promptly put in the first item of good news.  All told, we heard about colleges, baptisms, entertainment, hall of fame winners, the Peace Corps, libraries (but Marion and Rich were in two different card catalogs), bicycles, backpacking, and pea spots from Jewel (is that a Boy Scout ceremony, Jewel or just the leftovers from shucking peas?). 

Cards to John Smither would be welcomed as he starts his medical treatments. 

Jeff Boswell stepped forward as part of our official annual meeting business.   Noting that a quorum of the membership was present, he offered revised By-Laws for the Club that are in accordance with the “Large Rotary Club Governance” guidelines from R.I. and which conform to our current operations.  He noted that the initiation fees have been changed as has the committee structure, term limits have been set for the Treasurer and Secretary, and the Executive Director will be listed in the By-Laws as well as the Harrisburg Rotary Foundation.  Prior to the revision, Jeff reviewed York, Lancaster and Sacramento Rotary Clubs’ By-Laws.   Following his presentation, Doug Pieper made a motion to accept the revisions, John Hickey seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously by the members in attendance. 

Next on the business agenda was the presentation of Officers and Directors for the 2009-10 year.
Our Nominating Committee presented the following names:

President:                           Carolyn Dumaresq
President-Elect (2010-11): John Judson
President-Elect (2011-12): Robert Saline
Secretary:                          Carrie W. Thomas
Treasurer:                          William Boles
Sergeant-at-Arms:              William Tillett
Immediate Past President: Barry Ramper

Board Members are:
Caryn Carr –  ‘10                John Detweiller –‘11
Lawrence Means – ‘10        Kent Frese – ‘11
Andrew Rebuck –‘10          John McHenry - ‘11
Maria Persico – ‘10             Karen Snider – ‘11

Following the report of the Nominating Committee, noting again that a quorum was present, a motion was made by Carrie W. Thomas to accept the report.  It was seconded by Sally Klein.  Doug Pieper recommended that in the future, the Club Members receive paper ballots for the Annual Meeting.  The vote was taken on the motion and the report of the Nominating Committee was accepted unanimously as written.  Congratulations to all, and from a past presidential theme, thank you for helping to “Show Rotary Cares.”

Following the business at hand, Jewel Cooper had the pleasure of introducing our keynote speaker, Dr. Terry Madonna Director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin & Marshall College.  With a CV too lengthy to cite, Jewel noted that Dr. Madonna has received numerous awards for his work, and that he has, for 30 years, taught and written about the American Presidency, political parties, and political behavior.  In addition, his polling organization (Keystone Poll), is the oldest in the Country and conducts polls for many different types of media.

Dr. Madonna introduced his address by noting that during the By-Laws revision, he was reminded of being in Chicago…   As for the first 100 days of Barack Obama’s Presidency, Dr. Madonna said he would address the first 98.  He also noted that being a Pennsylvanian, he’s contemplating (not too seriously) writing a book titled, “ The Sayings of Governor Ed”. 

Terry wanted to give us an historical context at the environment the Obama Presidency has faced so he took us back to the FDR administration’s first 100 days, and noted that during that time, Congress passed 15 packages, now known as “The New Deal”.  He noted that only Abraham Lincoln had faced as difficult an environment up until that time. 

Terry noted clearly that there really can be no correlation made between the first 100 days and a successful presidency, however.  To that point, he noted that Ronald Reagan was shot during his first 100 days and that his success came later.  He also noted that while the Eisenhower administration planned the Bay of Pigs Invasion, John Kennedy was faced with that debacle during his first 100 days. 

Dr. Madonna focused on several items.  He noted that Senator Specter faces a difficult re-election bid at this time.  He also noted that Pennsylvania will have an open seat for the governor in the upcoming election.  Both of these will clearly have an effect on politics in Pennsylvania.   He then focused on President Obama’s first 100 days.  He noted that the president has a 62% approval rating, which puts him in the middle of the range for all presidents during their first 100 days.  He did note that at no time in history has he personally noted as much polarization in our country on so many issues, including, but not limited to, the economy, health care, Iraq, etc. Dr. Madonna feels that this polarization goes beyond the political leaders and is deeper than at any time since the 1930’s.  He feels that we should all take note of this troubling environment. 

Obama billed himself as having a non-partisan platform, but due to the divisions Dr. Madonna cited above, Obama is now viewed as a very partisan president.  Dr. Madonna also noted that he cannot remember a time when we knew so little about the man we elected as President.  He noted Obama’s two years in the Senate, followed by his announcement to run for the Presidency.  Terry noted that Obama has changed his position on several issues during that time.  However, Dr. Madonna noted that at some point, the American public made a very definitive decision that less experience is better.  They based this decision on the record of the prior administration and decided they didn’t value the experience that people brought.  Dr. Madonna noted that following the bank collapse in September, Obama’s campaign surged ahead, based on public opinion.  Therefore, we elected a relatively inexperienced President. 

This presents some opportunities as well as threats for the Obama administration.  If Obama views the country as being in times similar to 1933, then he could conceivably change the relationship between the government and the people as Roosevelt did back then.  Dr. Madonna felt that the most likely arena in which this change might occur would be health care since 45 million people have none currently.  He cited energy use and production as the other area in which Obama might seek
major changes.  He noted that neither of these would be possible if we were not in a recession, however. 

In conclusion, Dr. Madonna asked how we will know if this worked.  He tied this back to the Specter campaign and said that if the people approve of Barack Obama’s direction, they may un-seat Specter and elect a Democrat.  And, if this is widespread in 2010, the Democrats will pick up seats.  That may lead to the ability of President Obama to do in 2012 what FDR did in 1936, which is to remake the Democratic Party with a new coalition of minority voters, young people, illegal immigrants, etc. and through the use of hi-tech communications.  This is all contingent on some success in fighting the recession and having voters who think he cares about them.   If the voters are upset in 2010, Dr. Madonna feels that these changes will not be possible. 

Following a long round of applause, a long and lively Q & A session followed.

See you all next week at 333 Market St.  Call Linda to reserve a lunch.