HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK Benedict Dubbs    NOV 20 Tama Carey          NOV 23 Nathan Bitner       NOV 26 Ed Tosti                NOV 27 Duryea Cameron   NOV 27

PROGRAM:  Interclub Thanksgiving luncheon

UPCOMING PROGRAMS / MEETING LOCATIONS:  

Nov 19        Interclub Thanksgiving Luncheon
                  Hilton
Nov 26        NO MEETING
Dec 3         Joining Hands for Katrina Relief
                 Hilton
Dec 10       Dennis Kovacevich, District Governor
                 Hilton

For complete programming go to our website: hbgrotary.org and click on calendar.
November is Rotary Foundation Month

NEWS AND NOTES:  

•  Get well wishes to Marie Lick, who was in a recent auto accident.  Cards may be sent to 511 Park Terrace, Harrisburg, PA   17111.  Her cell # is 599-2959.

•  Salvation Army Bell Ringing
Tuesday, December 18      Wednesday, December 19
Sign up at the information table.

• Robert D. Hanson Rotary Excellence Award - Nominate the “Best Rotarian.  Applications were e-mailed, on the website and on the information table.  Award will be on January 14th.

• 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.

•  YOUTH EXCHANGE INFO
The Rotary Club of Harrisburg is sponsoring Ange Sauvage from Lyon , France. Ange is attending Susquehanna Township High School. The Youth Exchange Committee will be interviewing host families (they do not need to be Rotarians) in Susquehanna Township. Ange will stay with 3 host families during the school year. He will stay with each family about 3 months. Host families are to treat him as you would your own child. Ange will receive an allowance from the Club. If you are interested in hosting Ange or you know of someone else in Susquehanna Township who would want to host him, please contact Linda Freedenberg or Ron Guss ASAP. 

•  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: 11/12/07       40%
Rotarians  64   Active Specials  15    Guests   8    Visiting Rotarians 0  =  87

Minutes by Mark Stone:
President Carrie opened our weekly meeting at 12:15 P.M. sharp with the ringing of the bell. John Hickey and Al Morrison on piano led us in song with America, My country ‘tis of thee, followed by the pledge of allegiance to our flag. Wil Everhart led us in prayer. President Carrie asked all Veterans to stand and be recognized. We salute you for your service and sacrifice to our great country.
 
Visiting Rotarians and Guests - Charles Clevenger
Kevin Lutz and Dave Bedard brought guests with them today and Andy Rebuck reintroduced Ange, our club sponsored student from Leon, France. No visiting Rotarians were with us today. 
 
Mini Classification Talk - Bruce Grossman, Esq.
Bruce Grossman is an attorney and sole practitioner of  The Grossman Law Office with offices in Harrisburg and New York City. Bruce's niche is handling commercial/business transactions involving real estate transactions, buy/sell transactions of companies, taking companies from private ownership to being publically traded and vice-versa. He noted in this age of internet and e-commerce that half of his clients provide their service or product via the internet. His greatest satisfaction is helping clients and administering the process of closing transactions.
 
Announcements
 
Harrisburg Rotary Foundation - Garry Brinton reminded all in attendance of the HRF appeal for each of us to contribute $100 by December 31st. These funds help our local foundation with many initiatives including the Harrisburg School District, YCDT, and others. Please make your check payable to the Harrisburg Rotary Foundation and forward onto Linda.
 
Salvation Bell Ringing - Hal Hurwitz reminded us that Tuesday, December 18th and Wednesday, December 19th are the dates for Harrisburg Rotary to participate in the annual "bell ringing" at Strawberry Square. Please sign up at Linda's front desk at our weekly meetings to assist with this important fundraising cause.
 
Support our Troops Project - John Smither reminded us of the good work of this important effort and is asking for a $10 contribution from each member. Checks should be made payable to the Harrisburg Rotary Foundation. Some $1,535 has been contributed by the membership since July 2007 and approximately $9,000 has been raised over the last four to five year period. Thank you to all who have helped this important effort.
 
Program -- Michael D. Grove, RN, Associate Director for Patient Care Services, Lebanon VA Medical Center, Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Topic:  Putting Veterans First
 
John Smither introduced our guest speaker, Michael D. Grove, RN. The Veterans Administration (VA) is one of fifteen cabinets within the federal government and has responsibility for America's 27.3 million veterans healthcare, veterans benefits, and veterans cemeteries across the country. The VA was an agency from it's founding in July 1930, until it's elevation to cabinet status in the early 1990's.
 
 The Lebanon Veterans Administration Hospital has been in existence since September 1947 and is one of 139 veterans hospitals nationally. This facility consists of 185 beds (down from 1,200 beds when the facility opened) which provides inpatient care, specialty outpatient care, behavioral/mental health care and home and community care to a thirteen county area contiguous to Lebanon County,  Pennsylvania.  The Lebanon facility was the fifth Veterans Administration hospital to open and today serves some 40,000 veterans in thirteen counties, has some 1200 employees, 745 volunteers, and an operating budget of $185 million dollars.   
 
This facility has received national recognition and ranks first nationally in areas of customer satisfaction, national courtesy, emotional support, patient transition and RN satisfaction. Physical plant improvements to the facility are either under way or just completed in areas of nuclear medicine, inpatient pharmacy, an all women's section, a decontamination unit, and a new entrance to the acute care section of the hospital.  Additionally, community outpatient clinics will open in York and Cumberland counties in early 2008.
 
He asked the question of "What can citizens do to help a Veteran?" by suggesting that we all can witness to veterans, support veterans organization, validate the hardship veterans experienced, show pride in the veterans service and separate the warriors service from the war itself. He concluded by asking all of us to thank a veteran for their service and giving all of us the opportunity to live in a free country.
 
President Carrie reminded all that our next meeting will be the annual interclub Thanksgiving event here at the Harrisburg Hilton on Monday, November 19th.

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