November 3, 2008 Speaker:      Peter DeCoursey, Capitol Wire Topic:              “Election ’08…what’s going to happen?” Greeter:                                Sam Levine Invocation:                            Al Schmidt Club Singing:                        Caryn Carr Publications:                         Peter Henninger

PROGRAM:
Pete DeCoursey was born in Philadelphia, PA and graduated from William Penn Charter School and then graduated with a BA in English, Yale University.  He taught school in New Haven, Westchester, NY and New Iberia, Louisiana from 1984 to 1986 and then became a Legislative Assistant to Philadelphia City Councilwoman Ann Land in 1987.  He was Press Secretary to U.S. Rep. Bob Borski, D-Philadelphia from 1987-1990, general assignment reporter for the Reading Eagle, Reading PA from 1990-1997, political writer and columnist for The Patriot-News of Harrisburg from 1997-April 2005 and Bureau chief and columnist, Capitolwire.com from April 2005-present.

Pete regularly appears on Pennsylvania public policy and political discussion shows including WITF-TV’s Smart Talk, the statewide syndicated Pennsylvania Newsmakers and the Pennsylvania Cable Network, PCN, the keystone state’s version of C-SPAN.  He has also appeared on various programs on CNN, MSNBC, FoxNews and C-SPAN to discuss Pennsylvania politics. He has won Keystone Press Awards and Philadelphia Press Association awards for investigative reporting and feature writing. Pete lives in Susquehanna Twp. with Ben, 5, and Ellie, 2 and their cats, Fur Jr. and Simba.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS / MEETING LOCATIONS:             
November 10    NO MEETING

November 17      Robert J. DeSousa, CEO The Vartan Group
Hilton                “My all expense paid vacation to Iraq”

November 24      Interclub Thanksgiving Event
Hilton

December 1      NO MEETING

December 8      Service Above Self Awards
Hilton

December 15      Holiday Program with Harrisburg School District Choir
Hilton

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

NEWS AND NOTES:  

• SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING: Sign up for a one hour commitment at Strawberry Square on
              Tuesday, December 16th or Wednesday, December 17th.

• More Whitaker Events: Thanks to Steve Krempasky and the Whitaker Center, we offer two more fundraising performances in November with a Rotary Discount.  Please contact Linda if you would like to attend either of the performances and she will make the reservation.  Tickets are $23/pp and your check should be made payable to the Rotary Club of Harrisburg.  Your tickets will be available at Will Call. 

An evening with Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood  

November 1, 8 PM Whitaker Center Presents at the FORUM Improvisational comedy - Stars from Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Voyagers with R. Carlos Nakai & Udi Bar-David
November 20, 7:30PM Sunoco Performance Theater -The first of its kind in a recording collaboration of Native American and Jewish music. You will find the musical soul of Jewish prayers in dialogue with various chant-like melodies from Native American culture. A new art form was born through the yearnings of two people brought to life in this recording that blends two ancient and spiritual cultures through musical conversations.

DISTRICT INFO: 
-- Joining Hands in disaster response a joint mission of Rotary District 7390, and Evangelical Lutheran Churches from the Lower Susquehanna Synod and Northeastern Iowa Synod has been helping families in the Biloxi, Mississippi area rebuild their homes and lives from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. If you would be willing to help us in this project please contact Peg Sennett at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - 717-630-8281 or Randy Sibert at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - 717 576-6115.  On behalf of the people of the Gulf Coast area, we thank you for your consideration.
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:  10/27/08       60%                    
Rotarians   83    Active Specials  11    Guests  5          Visiting Rotarians  0   = 100

Minutes by DAVE FREET: 
President Barry opened today’s meeting at 12:13 PM.  The invocation was provided by
Joan Prescott, immediately followed by Club singing led by Howard Ammons w/ Al Morrison at the piano.

President Barry re-opened the meeting at 12:18 PM after a brief time to allow folks to obtain food and be seated.  There was an introduction of today’s guests by Diane McNaughton -today’s Greeter, along with acknowledgements of Rotarians having birthdays this week. 

In keeping with the “good-natured” sports support of Penn State by President Barry and Ohio State by Jim Rowland, President Barry noted his pleasure that Penn State finally beat Ohio State Saturday evening October 25th!  (Unfortunately, Jim Rowland was not present at today’s meeting to receive Barry’s comments).  Peggy Grove then came forward to comment on the very successful pancake breakfast.  Once all receipts are in, they expect to raise over $26,000 from this year’s efforts.  Congratulations to all!

During “Good News Reporting,” it was shared that Past President of Harrisburg Rotary and Past District Governor of District 7390 Janice Black recently underwent heart surgery and is recovering in the Harrisburg Hospital.  Everyone is hopeful she will be discharged home within the week.  In the interim, it would be nice for folks to send get well wishes.

Our Speaker for the Day – District Attorney John M. Morganelli of Northampton County, was introduced by Harrisburg Rotarian Peggy Grove.  DA Morganelli is running against incumbent State Attorney General Tom Corbett in the upcoming election.  Mr. Morganelli has been DA for Northampton County for over 17 years, served as president of the Pennsylvania DA Association 1999-2000; Special Deputy AG; and as advisor to the Governor on crime issues.  He is an experienced courtroom prosecutor and has argued First Degree Murder cases in both state and federal appellate courts.

John complimented Rotary on its “Four Way Test.”  Unfortunately, he added, there doesn’t seem too much room for its application in politics of today.  He continued sharing his campaign efforts and discussing his significant experience as a DA.  He feels he can bring a real contribution to the Attorney General’s Office for Pennsylvania.  In his opinion, the State Attorney General should have more impact statewide and demonstrate leadership.  If elected, he would do the following:

1. Concentrate statewide resources on illegal guns and gun trafficking by working with state District Attorney’s in each County.
2. He would pursue a “gang statute” to craft laws that would go after gang violence and influence in the State.
3. He would do all within his power to ensure serious criminals are not paroled until they have served their entire sentence.
4. He noted that the ‘majority’ of harmful products in the consumer marketplace in recent years have come from foreign countries like China.  There  needs to be a statewide joint prosecution of foreign products harming our citizens.
5. He would establish an education program to discourage under-aged drinking and address the problem is has become with drinking and driving in the State.  It’s a dangerous situation today, many young folks are being permanently injured and/or killed.

John said he’s looking ahead to the completion of this campaign.  Regardless of the outcome, he’ll continue to serve the people either as Attorney General for the State, or if defeated back to his home County and work to be the best District Attorney he possibly can be in Northampton County.  There was an energetic question and answer session subsequent to DA Morganelli’s conclusion of comments dealing with issues such as recurring crime by individuals previously convicted and having served time are now out of prison; the right-to-bear arms; white collar crime and what to do about it; finally being hard on organized crime.

A good meeting that covered a broad water-front both within the Club and by the speaker.