Rotary Club of Greensburg

A Flash from the Past

Rotary Flashes of 08-26-2003
ROTARY FLASHES
GREENSBURG ROTARY CLUB NO. 250 – CHARTERED OCTOBER 4, 1916
Volume 75, No. 09……………………………………………..August 26, 2003

Inside This Issue
Wise and Otherwise
Next Meeting’s Program Listing
Our Weekly Meeting and Birthday listings
Announcements

WISE AND OTHERWISE
"A good home must be made, not bought."

"Dig where the gold is unless you just need more exercise."

TODAY’S INVOCATION was given by Ed Meadows. "Who Am I?" I am a little thing with a big meaning. I help everybody. I unlock doors, open hearts, dispel prejudice. I create friendship and goodwill. I inspire respect and admiration. Everybody loves me. I bore nobody. I violate no laws. I cost nothing. Many praised me – none have condemned me. I am pleasing to those of high and low degree. I am useful every moment of the day. I am called "COURTESY".

SERGEANT AT ARMS REPORT – (John Mizikar) -We had no visiting Rotarians. Our guests were: Toni Marino (Chris Rizk), Rev. G. H. Trumbo (Bob Wilson), Matthew Bergamasco (Mark Barnhart), Bruce Beitel (Michele Bononi), Nicole Bononi (Eric Bononi) and Joseph Perillo (Chris DeDiana).

TODAY'S ATTENDANCE was 57. This included 51 members and 6 guests.

MAKE-UPS: Lee Klingenberg made up at the Hempfield Township Club and Guy Davis reported 4 make-ups; 3 at Mt. View and once at Latrobe.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

MEMBERSHIP PROPOSAL – The Board of Directors has approved the publishing of the following: Reverend G. H. Trumbo, Senior Minister, First United Methodist Church, 15 E. Second Street, Greensburg. He resides at 12 Northmont Street, Greensburg. He has been proposed for membership by Bob Wilson. Any written objections must be submitted to the Secretary within 7 days.

HIGHWAY CLEAN-UP PROGRAM – September 6th. Greensburg Country Club, tennis court parking lot, 8:30 AM.

THE DISTRICT 7330 FOUNDATION DINNER will be held on November 15th at the Greensburg Country Club. The cost is $100.00 per Rotarian (which goes directly to the Foundation under your name) plus the meal cost which will be determined soon. Please consider attending so that our Club is well represented at this year's Dinner (which is right in our "backyard"!). More details to follow.

LET OTHERS KNOW THAT YOU ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ROTARY by ordering a shirt with the Rotary emblem. President Bob will be providing more information at a later date.

ROTARY MASTER CARD – Help the Rotary Foundation and your Club at the same time. President Bob encourages you to think about applying for this card. $25.00 will be sent back to our club if you make a $75.00 charge or greater within 90 days after you receive your card. Also, ½ of 1% of every charge will be donated to the Rotary Foundation for it's work around the world. Forms are available at the SAA Table.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS
September 2 – Lawrence Breitstein, Adelphoi Village
September 9 - Barbara Breitstein, CHIPS Program
September 16 - James Bendel, Arts and Heritage Festival
September 23 – Club Assembly
September 30 – Mini-autobiography and the Birthday Table

OUR WEEKLY MEETING

Dave Delisi hosted the Birthday Table and used the theme of "How to Write a College Paper" to recognize those members who celebrated a birthday in July and August.

Thomas Headley gave us his autobiography.
I was born in Pittsburgh on May 19, 1945 to Ruth & Gordon Headley. My mother was from Zelienople, where her father was a Lutheran Minister and Superintendent of The Lutheran Children’s Home which was an orphanage. My father was from Sharon PA where his father owned a corner grocery store. I was raised in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, in Pleasant Hills, which is near Century III mall. I have two sisters, Beth who is three years older and Mary who is six years younger. We moved as the family grew to three different houses, all located less than ¼ mile from one another within the same community. I had a typical boyhood for someone who came of age in the 1950’s; I walked to school, home for lunch, and back to school. I played little league baseball, was a cub scout, had a paper route, explored the woods around our community, and played with my friends. In the summer, I worked cutting grass and doing other chores for neighbors and enjoyed family vacations and brief visits to my two great-uncle’s farms near Rochester NY. I was a good student in school but suffered by comparison to my older sister who was brilliant. In high school I took part in all the usual activities playing trumpet in the band, running track, and playing basketball. Since I was tall, I was the center on the team, but you know the saying “white men can’t jump”- that was certainly true in my case. I had a lot of fun, but I didn’t have a future in the NBA. When contemplating a career choice, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to be. I especially enjoyed my English and history courses but this was at the height of the “space race” with the Russians, and engineers and scientists were in great demand. Want ads were full of jobs for technically trained people. For years I had been an amateur radio operator and had fun building equipment so I decided to be an electrical engineer. I was accepted at several schools but decided to attend Georgia Tech in Atlanta since it had an outstanding academic reputation, big time athletics, but most important, was the furthest away from home and my parents. I also realized that electrical engineering was much too math oriented for my taste and switched to industrial engineering and management which was a much better fit. The summer after my freshman year, like many college students in those days, I was lucky enough to get a job working in a steel mill, at the U S Steel Irvin Works in West Mifflin. Throughout the summer, while doing the dirtiest jobs in the plant, I noticed guys my own age, walking around with clip boards, wearing white shirts, and not getting dirty. I found out these individuals were “summer trainees” and promised myself I would be a summer trainee the next year and I was successful in securing a trainee job the next two summers. At the end of the summer of my junior year, I was offered a job upon graduation which I accepted. I would have liked to have stayed in Atlanta but that was just prior to Atlanta’s economic expansion and jobs were hard to find. Besides, the money was very good, and many people in our community had enjoyed very successful careers at steel companies. I started as a front-line foreman and worked my way up through positions in various departments over the next six years. During this time, I moved to Shadyside and began to purchase and renovate houses and rental properties in that area and Squirrel Hill. Eventually I found myself in a position where I was making more money from my real estate rentals than from my job. I decided to leave U S Steel and devote myself full time to my apartments while I looked for a more fulfilling job. Two years later, I was hired by Steelmet, a nationwide specialty recycling firm headquartered in Pittsburgh. I spent almost 20 years in increasingly responsible positions with this company which was acquired by in 1985 by the ELG group of West Germany, the worlds largest stainless and specialty alloy recycler. In 1994 I left ELG and went to Omnisource Corporation, the nation’s largest carbon steel recycler and created a stainless and alloy division for this company. I found this type of work financially rewarding, but not very fulfilling. Over the years, I had restored a number of historic properties including the 1840 Peter Boyer House in Bethel Park which was awarded a Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Plaque in 1990. In 1991 we purchased an 84 acre farm in Forward Township, Allegheny County-near Elizabeth PA, and I began the restoration of the house, barn and other outbuildings. In 1998 I made the decision to retire from OmniSource and become more involved in the operation of my farm. This choice was made with the perspective I gained as a result of a serious accident experienced in September 1993. While using a small tractor to cut a sloped area near the pond on our farm, the rear wheels lost traction and the tractor, with me aboard, slid backwards down the hill. I ended up under water with the tractor on top of me. It was the shallow end of the pond with lots of silt on the bottom. I was able to slide my self into a position to get my head out of the water. Fortunately, my wife was outside and heard the noise and my yelling. The rescue squad was called and eventually they lifted the tractor and pulled me out. I sustained 8 fractures of my left femur and several less serious injuries. I was extremely fortunate that I wasn’t killed, or my back broken. Two weeks in the hospital and the recovery period provided time to reflect on my previous interest in power, status, and financial success. I began to think more about how I might use my abilities to help others, and vowed to stop and smell the alfalfa every now and then. I helped organize an agricultural security area for a number of local farms, and while doing that became aware of a dysfunctional political structure in our Township. Cleaning up the mess they left became a full-time, volunteer position. I now serve as vice-chairman of the Board of Supervisors. I am also active with the Twin Rivers Council of Governments where I am Vice president. I also head the planning committee, a group which is currently preparing a comprehensive plan for our 14 member communities. I am on the Board of the Allegheny County Association of Township Officials and serve on a committee at the State level. In 2001 I was appointed by Jim Roddey to serve on the Allegheny County Farmland Preservation Board which is working to preserve open space through the purchase of development easements on farms in Allegheny County.
My wife Donnis retired last year after 30 years of teaching high school English at Trinity High School in Washington PA. She now works part-time in the public library in Donora. For many years we have collected antiques, especially American period antique furniture, quilts, clocks, and have a special interest in art of the Western Pennsylvania region, specifically that of the so-called “Scalp Level” artists who painted in Westmoreland, Somerset and Cambria counties. Through this interest we became active with the Westmoreland Museum of American Art and The Southern Alleghenies Museum. We enjoy what is called “historic tourism”; going to a city or area with historic interest, staying in a historic hotel or B&B, and visiting the sites, museums, and shops. We both are active with local and national historic groups and preservation societies.
We also breed and raise endangered species of poultry, specifically, mottled Java’s and Black Astralorps. We have two Labrador retrievers and several goats. The majority of the field work on our farm is now done by a neighbor who has a large farm market. This year we have about 10 acres of pumpkins, 2 acres of gourds, 10 acres of corn, and 25 acres of alfalfa and hay. I still cut about 11 acres of grass around the house and outbuildings which has been quite a job with the wet weather this summer.
A little over a year ago, I saw a want-ad for a position with a new group in Westmoreland County working to develop historic tourism and educate people about the history of Westmoreland County. I fought the impulse to apply and was successful until the very last minute. After several interviews I was hired as the first Executive Director of Westmoreland Heritage in early December.
I very much enjoy my job and the challenges and opportunities it presents. I have met many interesting people and learned a great deal about the history of this area. With the assistance the Westmoreland Heritage Board and Community Partners, we are trying to increase the knowledge of, appreciation for, and enjoyment of, the rich history of Westmoreland County.

NEXT MONTH’S BIRTHDAYS

SEPTEMBER'S BIRTHDAYS
Bob Cary………..…..September 2
Jeff Malloy……..…..September 4
Mark Barnhart……...September 16
Ed Meadows……..…September 17
Kati Doran…………..September 20
Paul Springer…….…..September 21
Judy O'Toole………..September 24
Lee Klingenberg…..…September 28
Jim Harrold……….....September 30

MONDAY
New Stanton/Youngwood…12:00………....Community College
Norwin……………………..12:00………...Banquets Unlimited
Jeannette…………………… 6:00PM…..DeNunzio’s Restaurant
Mountain View……………..6:15PM……………...Mt. View Inn
Rockwood………………….6:15PM……....Milford Grange Hall

TUESDAY
Ligonier……………………….7:00AM……………Casa Chapla
West Newton ………………..12:00….…..Presbyterian Church
Scottdale……………………..12:00……....Pleasant Valley C.C.
Mt. Pleasant………………….12:05………………..Elks Lodge
Blairsville…………………… 6:00PM….....Chestnut Ridge Inn

WEDNESDAY
Donegal/Laurel Highlands……7:30AM……Brady's Restaurant
Latrobe………………………12:10…………………Elks Club
Pittsburgh……………………12:00…..…...Hotel William Penn
Westmoreland…………………5:30……………….Bobby Dales
Murrysville-Export………...….6:45PM……..……..Lamplighter

THURSDAY
Delmont-Salem………………..7:00AM…….Touch of Country
Hempfield…..7:30AM….University of Pittsburgh @ Greensburg
Connellsville………………….12:00……….Highlands Hospital
Belle Vernon………………......6:30PM….Cedarbrook Golf Club

FRIDAY
Monongahela…………………12:05……..…Step II Restaurant
Somerset……………………...12:15…..Somerset Country Club
www.greensburgrotary.com
“Service Above Self”

Rotary Flashes of 08-19-2003
ROTARY FLASHES
GREENSBURG ROTARY CLUB NO. 250 – CHARTERED OCTOBER 4, 1916
Volume 75, No. 08……………………………………………..August 19, 2003

Inside This Issue
Wise and Otherwise
Next Meeting’s Program Listing
Our Weekly Meeting and Birthday listings
Announcements

WISE AND OTHERWISE
"Well-timed silence has more eloquence than speech."

"You're never to old to become younger."

TODAY’S INVOCATION was given by Cy Wolverton. "Dear God, You've blessed us with friends and laughter and fun, With rain that's as soft as the light from the sun, You've blessed us with stars to brighten each night, You’ve given us guidance to know wrong from right. You've given us so much, so please Lord give us too, A heart that will always be grateful to You. Amen."

SERGEANT AT ARMS REPORT – (P.J. Kelly) -We had 3 visiting Rotarians: Jim Bessel (Murrysville), Cindy Lucente (Latrobe). Our guest were: Rob and Lee Liermann, our exchange student's host family (Carl Rossman), Rev. G. H. Trumbo (Bob Wilson), Charley Bisel (Jeff Ruffner), Brian Wosniak (Frank VanHorn), Janet McNeel (Dick McNeel) and Joseph Perillo (Chris DeDiana).

WELCOME TO OUR EXCHANGE STUDENT, BOJANA NOVKOVIC. Bojana presented President Bob with a banner from her local Rotary Club in Bosnia – Herzegovina.

TODAY'S ATTENDANCE was 67. This included 55 members, 3 visiting Rotarians, our speaker and 8 guest.

MAKE-UPS: Elinore McMahan made up at the Hempfield Township Club and Ed Meadows visited with the Rotary Club of Virginia Beach.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

THE CLUB'S ANNUAL FAMILY PICNIC, held on August 12, at Lynch Field's pavilion and pool was a wonderful night. There were approximately 170 of us present. Although the weather looked shaky at first, it turned will be a very pleasant evening. Good food and fellowship was enjoyed by all. Many thanks to President Elect Jeff Malloy and his volunteers for arranging for such a nice picnic.

HIGHWAY CLEAN-UP PROGRAM – September 6th. Greensburg Country Club, tennis court parking lot, 8:30 AM.

A RECENT FOUNDATION SEMINAR was attended by President Bob Wilson, Carl Rossman and Bill Kern.

LET OTHERS KNOW THAT YOU ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ROTARY by ordering a shirt with the Rotary emblem. President Bob will be providing more information at a later date. (I even understand that Tony Martino and Bill Kern may model the shirts that they brought from their former Clubs.)

UPCOMING PROGRAMS
August 26, Mini-autobiography and the Birthday Table

OUR WEEKLY MEETING

Our speaker today was Tony Quatrini with the Pittsburgh Steelers Media and Public Relations office. Tony started by telling us that Joe Gordon was his mentor during his days working with the radio broadcasts. In those days the Rights Fee to broadcasts were able to be covered by advertising that was sold. As the Rights Fees began to increase, a change had to occur. There are now direct associations with the radio station and the team. Many companies have associated their brands with the Steelers brand because of their strength and fan support. Fans can't seem to get enough of the Steelers. "Steelers TV" on ESPN goes behind the scenes to give fans more access to the athletes. Tony referred to the Steeler organization as conservative, that seeks athletic with superior talent who are also good people. The Steelers and players are reaching out to the fans by focusing on events to bring more fans closer to them. They market the Club Lounges where up to 2,5000 people can access the lounge for private usage. There is the Coca Cola Great Hall and also the traveling 53 foot trailer. There are non-game day events and the Fan Blitz where fans can meet the players. They just did a throwback night remembering the 1943 Steagles. Tony said that 55 percent of the fans are men and 45 percent are women. He also said that the new turf at Heinz Field seems to be working much better that the turf that was there last year.

THIS MONTH’S BIRTHDAYS:

AUGUST'S BIRTHDAYS
Kris Agarwal………..…..August 1
Helene Conway-Long…..August 2
Chick Trafford………….August 4
John Wohlin……………August 5
John Harman…………..August 26

FRIDAY
Monongahela…………………12:05……..…Step II Restaurant
Somerset……………………...12:15…..Somerset Country Club
www.greensburgrotary.com
“Service Above Self”

Rotary Flashes of 08-05-2003
ROTARY FLASHES
GREENSBURG ROTARY CLUB NO. 250 – CHARTERED OCTOBER 4, 1916
Volume 75, No. 06……………………………………………..August 5, 2003

Inside This Issue
Wise and Otherwise
Next Meeting’s Program Listing
Our Weekly Meeting and Birthday listings
Announcements

WISE AND OTHERWISE
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first and the lesson afterward."

"Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn't the work he is supposed to be doing at the moment."

TODAY’S INVOCATION was given by Rebecka Hutchinson. "Lord, help us to scatter seeds of kindness everywhere we go; Help us to scatter bits of courtesy – watch them grow and grow; Help us to gather buds of friendship; Keep them till full bloom; Help us to find more happiness than we have ever known. Amen."

SERGEANT AT ARMS REPORT – We had no visiting Rotarians. Our guest was Judy Schafer (Rebecka Hutchinson).

TODAY'S ATTENDANCE was 56. This included 54 members, our speaker and 1 guest.

MAKE-UPS: None reported.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

PLEASE NOTE: There will not be a weekly meeting on August 12th. We will be having our Annual Rotary Picnic at Lynch Field. We will be back at the Sheraton/Four Points for the weekly meeting of August 26th.

THE CLUB'S ANNUAL FAMILY PICNIC will be held on Tuesday, August 12, at Lynch Field's pavilion and pool. There will be no regular noon meeting that day. There will be a "Moon Walk" and swimming if you like.

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBER – Jeffrey (Jeff) Branthoover was inducted with the assistance of Cathy Daversa and his proposer, Al Lazar. We look forward to many years of fellowship with Jeff while serving the community and world through Rotary. Welcome.

OUR EXCHANGE STUDENT, Bojana Hovkovic, from the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia & Herzegovina, will arrive on August 15th. She will attend our weekly meeting on August 19th. Her host family will be Rob and Lee Liermann from Manor, PA. Rob and Lee will also attend this meeting.

HIGHWAY CLEAN-UP PROGRAM – It has been rescheduled to September 6th. Greensburg Country Club, tennis court parking lot, 8:30 AM.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS
August 12, Annual Club Picnic
August 19, Tony Quatrini, Media/Public Relations, Pittsburgh Steelers
August 26, Mini-autobiography and the Birthday Table

OUR WEEKLY MEETING

Our speaker today was Chris Fiorina, Intermediate Unit # 7 Transition Coordinator. The Westmoreland Intermediate Unit # 7 provides support in curriculum, finance, management, special education and technology to the seventeen school districts in Westmoreland County. Students who have special education needs benefit from the expertise of WIU staff to overcome their challenges. At age fourteen, the need to plan for "transition" into adult living is identified.
The transition from being a student to young adult in the community can be challenging for everyone. For the young adult with special education needs, the changeover can lead to excitement and anxiety. Chris works to assist students and their families in setting priorities, becoming as independent as possible and linking into their communities. The linkages include learning to be productive (either through work or volunteerism), healthy members of the community. Working with teachers, school district personnel and community agencies, the opportunity to be included in post-secondary schooling, in work, recreation and assisted residential sites opens up for the graduates. Chris suggested that Rotary members can support the efforts of integrating students through hosting "job coaching" sites where students observe and interview people at their jobs so that the work demands and benefits are learned by the student. Support of Intermediate Unit fundraisers for social events, including the annual Prom or Champions of the Arts are an additional area of support that can occur. The WIU # 7 can be contacted at 724-836-2460 or at http://wiu.k12.pa.us

THIS MONTH’S BIRTHDAYS:

AUGUST'S BIRTHDAYS
Kris Agarwal………..…..August 1
Helene Conway-Long…..August 2
Chick Trafford………….August 4
John Wohlin……………August 5
John Harman…………..August 26

FRIDAY
Monongahela…………………12:05……..…Step II Restaurant
Somerset……………………...12:15…..Somerset Country Club
www.greensburgrotary.com
“Service Above Self”

Rotary Flashes of 07-29-2003
ROTARY FLASHES
GREENSBURG ROTARY CLUB NO. 250 – CHARTERED OCTOBER 4, 1916
Volume 75, No. 05……………………………………………..July 29, 2003

Inside This Issue
Wise and Otherwise
Next Meeting’s Program Listing
Our Weekly Meeting and Birthday listings
Announcements

WISE AND OTHERWISE
"Never try to tell everything you know. It may take too short a time."

"Accident: A condition in which presence of mind is good, but absence of body is better."

TODAY’S INVOCATION was given by Rich Rosky.

SERGEANT AT ARMS REPORT – John Mizikar. We had 2 visiting Rotarians: District Governor George Omiros and Assistant Governor Chris Couch. Our guests were: Jeff Branthoover (Al Lazar) and Mira Tareca (Pete Cecconi).

TODAY'S ATTENDANCE was 66. This included 62 members, 2 visiting Rotarians and 2 guests. Let it be known that Ray Charley has attended two weekly meetings in a row! Go for 3 Ray.

MAKE-UPS: Chuck Strobel attended the Youngwood/New Stanton Rotary Club, Bill Taylor attended the Rotary Club of Murrysville and Elinore McMahan and Dave Robinson attended the Hempfield Township Rotary Club.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

PLEASE NOTE: The weekly meeting of August 5th will be held at the Redstone Highlands, 6 Garden Center Drive, Greensburg, off (Main Street) Route 66 N.

THE CLUB'S ANNUAL FAMILY PICNIC will be held on Tuesday, August 12, at Lynch Field's pavilion and pool. There is no charge to attend. There will be no regular noon meeting that day. Please be sure to sign up, so we can have an accurate count, if you plan on attending. There will be a "Moon Walk" and swimming if you like. (If you or a family member would desire a vegetarian meal, please be sure to mark this on the sign up sheet or contact Jeff Malloy at 724-850-8324).

HIGHWAY CLEAN-UP PROGRAM – It has been rescheduled to September 6th. Greensburg Country Club, tennis court parking lot, 8:30 AM.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS
August 5, Chris Fiorina, Westmoreland Intermediate Unit # 7
August 19, Tony Quatrini, media/public relations, Pittsburgh Steelers

OUR WEEKLY MEETING

Our District Governor, George Omiros, visited with the Club today. The DG is a life long resident of Uniontown and is a member of the Rotary Club of Uniontown-Chestnut Ridge. DG George concurrently serves as the National Director of Community Campaigns for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in New York and Executive Director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for Western PA and West Virginia.
George said, "this will be an exciting year for all of Rotary… the final year of our first century of service to the world." We must reach out in fellowship and service within our communities, schools, nation and world. Personal involvement is fundamental to Rotary and the world is counting on Rotary for peace, the eradication of polio and many worthwhile projects that "Lend A Hand". DG George asked us to DREAM.
D – Develop and recruit a new member to the Club.
R – Resolve to be a Sustaining Member of the Rotary Foundation.
E – Establish yourself as a Benefactor (Name the Rotary Foundation in your will or make a major donation.
A – Agree to become an organ donor.
M – Motivate yourself to "Service Above Self" by serving on one new project within the Club.

Investments are down this year, therefore, there is a great need to raise additional funds to continue with Ambassadorial Scholarships and yearly Group Study Exchanges. DG George asked us to "twin up" with a Rotary Club from another part of the world. He also asked that we become more a family of Rotary by having activities that include immediate family members of our membership. (He was very happy to hear that our reservation count for the Annual Family Picnic is now over 170).

THIS MONTH’S BIRTHDAYS:

AUGUST'S BIRTHDAYS
Kris Agarwal………..…..August 1
Helene Conway-Long…..August 2
Chick Trafford………….August 4
John Wohlin……………August 5
John Harman…………..August 26

FRIDAY
Monongahela…………………12:05……..…Step II Restaurant
Somerset……………………...12:15…..Somerset Country Club
www.greensburgrotary.com
“Service Above Self”