Meeting Flash

Rotary FLASH of 08-29-2006
THE FLASH for the Rotary Club of Greensburg PA for August 29, 2006

Thoughts to Ponder
“It is the nature of man to rise to greatness is greatness is expected of him.”
(John Steinbeck)
“Wear a smile and you have friends; wear a scowl and you have wrinkles.” (G. Eliot)
“The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.” (Francis Bacon)

The gathering of our Rotary Club at Four Points Sheraton today was called to order by President Mary Clymer. After the pledge of allegiance to the flag, and one verse of “God Bless America” Chuck Quiggle gave the invocation.

Dr. Bill McGrath as Sgt. At Arms told us that our membership today stands at 106 with 56 in attendance. He had our members introduce their guests: Bob Hamilton presented Hannah Miller (his Assistant and Fiancee) to us; Katie Doran presented Linda Griffith, the host Mom for our exchange student from Chile; and Camilla Poblete our student.
Katie also asked for our support in dealing with the Hempfield School District over the problem of accepting Camilla into the school because they feared she could not understand English. Katie and friends are working on this problem.

DATO’S FAMILY HAS GROWN!! He announced to the club that a baby sister joined his two boys. He did give the full name of Eva – but you will have to see him to get it all – and it is worth hearing, but neither my hearing nor my writing was fast enough to capture it! BUT CONGRATULATIONS TO DATO AND HIS WIFE and family! This baby girl could not have a finer home in which to grow and love.

OUR DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO BILL BARGER on the death of his father. We were privileged to sign a card to be presented to Bill and his family. We pray the comfort of love surround his family in this time of sorrow.

LEE BROWN, our district governor fell and broke his leg; we wish him well and remember him in our prayers. A card was passed around for us to sign.

President MARY asked those interested in her 2007 Spelling Bee Project to meet in the Hempfield Room of Chambers Hall on Thursday of this week at 5 p.m.
The Spelling Bee Project took form in her thinking as a way for our Rotary Club to give something back to the community. Passing out the dictionaries to third graders was the first step in this process. Spelling and a command of the English language is very important to all of us, and often those applying for jobs misspell basic words. The school districts seem to be very accepting and excited about this project’s possibilities. It might take the winners of the spelling bees of our three school districts, Hempfield, Greensburg Salem, and Aquinas and have the students compete. If you have any ideas, come and share them with our President!

CARL ROSSMAN asked the Program Committee Members to meet tomorrow at 5 p.m. in Room 109, to explore interesting programs for the coming months.
CELEBRATION DAY! -- Bobbi Stemmler Guest in her usual high fashion saluted those celebrating birthday and membership anniversaries.
3 birthdays: Aug 1 – Kris Argawal; Aug. 6- John Wohlin; Aug 26 – John Harman. And gentlemen – if you weren’t here, you missed some very important information about yourselves that even you may not know. Take it from us, when Bobbi says attend, -- you should!
6 Club Anniversary dates - James Boggs, 5 years; Jeff Branthoover, 3 years; Erik Hallquist – 2 years; Ted Herrington – 39 years*****(he wins the prize- too bad Bobbi forgot it!) Mike Lucotch -2 years; Bob Ottaviani – 1 year.
We all sang Happy Birthday and ate our cake!
Good job, Bobbi!
After Mary introduced us all to the Spelling Bee Project, we ended our weekly meeting with the 4 way test. We remind you that it is also a good way to begin the day!


SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
Ben Policastro September 1
Bob Cary September 2
Jeff Malloy September 4
Mark Barnhart September 16
Ed Meadows September 17
Katy Doran September 20
Darrin Shaffer September 20
Stacy Clemmer September 22
Jim Harrold September 30

CLUB ANNIVERSARIES
Tom Jachimowicz 20 years
Cathy Baumann 14 years
Gene James 10 years
Bobbi Stemmler- Guest 7 years
Anne Peagler 6 years
Wayne Doyle 6 years
Chris DeDiana 5 years
Jerry Supko 5 years
Joe Petrillo 3 years

Rotary FLASH of 08-22-2006
GREENSBURG ROTARY FLASH for August 22, 2006

OUR PRESENTATION TODAY WAS GIVEN BY TODD LIERMANN, our exchange student returned from Brazil. He shared with us many of his adventures in life outside the United States. Some of what he related included the differences in housing, where security is foremost in the mind. He showed us the apartment in which he lived with a series of security checks to enter; also the gated community in which his second residence was located. He noted (to his mother’s chuckles) that he had a maid – and that he really missed that aspect of living down there. He was privileged to spend time at a Private Club for the upper class, and enjoyed a fling at modeling in a department store window. Pictures of Carnival with the masques were shown, and some of the celebration. He loved the horse back riding opportunities, and also went on a cruise ship down the coast of South America. We are pleased that he represented our area, and was able to experience another part of the world with its traditions. It sounded as if he had a fabulous time. Did we say that school attendance was optional? Thanks, Todd!
Carl Rossman presented an overview of the Rotary requirements for working with students. Those wishing to interact with the exchange students must become certified. Carl has the initial form to be filled out, and can explain the procedure if you are interested. It is all in keeping our students safe at all points. Katie Doran also spoke about the necessity of this program.

President Mary Clymer called our meeting to order with the pledge of the allegiance, the verse of God Bless America, and the invocation given today by Joe Biss. Sgt. at Arms Chuck Anderson welcomed guests today: Janet McNeel wife of Dick McNeel; Curt UT Zinger guest of John Dickson, and Katy Doran’s guests: Lee Liermann and Todd Liermann. He also reported that we had 50 Rotarians in attendance today.
Pres. Mary brought back from Washington D.C. a club flag and presented it to the club; She also reported that we had received a request from the Johnstown Club to join them in an outing to the Johnstown Chiefs. Mark Barnhart was picked on by Mary to look into this event, since he had spearheaded it last year. I am sure we will hear more about it later.
The club received a Thank you for a scholarship to CMU by Josh. (Sorry I don’t have the last name..) Mary also received a report about an article in the Mt. Dew Publication stating that Bill Downs attributes our Blood Screening Program for saving his life, by detecting a previously unknown condition.

PAUL HARRIS RECOGNITION brought Bill Kern and Chuck Anderson to the front as Darrin Shaffer was honored by Jeff Ruffner, former member of our club. Congratulations, Darrin! We salute you for the quality of Service Above Self!

NEW MEMBER! Chuck Anderson asked David Robinson to bring Leia Shilobob to the podium for induction as our newest member of Greensburg Rotary. She said she may regret saying it, but she would be glad to volunteer to serve – and Leia, we are counting on it! That is what we are all about. Welcome to the club!

TO KEEP IN MIND
“You never get dizzy from doing too many good turns.” Anonymous
“I’m living proof that we get second chances and that the second time around is better than the first.” Lance Armstrong
“As you dive into your future, remember this: If you feel afraid, it means you are alive.”
Maria Shriver
NEXT WEEK
A Mini autobiography by Al Lazar and the ever popular Bobbi Stemmler-Guest will light the birthday candles for those who have dared to have a birthday in August. Who knows what secrets will be revealed? Better be there~!

THANK YOU to KATY DORAN, REBECCA HUTCHINSON, BOBBI STEMMLER GUEST for pitching in and reporting the club news through the Flash during my absence. Thank you - Bob Wilson.

WANT TO HONOR SOMEONE? Why not consider making a donation to the Rutter Scholarship Fund in their honor? The Westmoreland Foundation will notify them of your gift. It will be a lasting tribute, and benefit this worthy cause. Know anyone you need to remember?

2006-2007 NEW MEMBERS
July 19, 2006: John Barth, sponsored by Tyler Courtney (Owner, Ben Franklin Plumbing)
August 15, 2006: Joyce Lock sponsored by Alex Lima ( Mgr. 1st Commonwealth Bank)
August 22, 2006: Leia Shilobod sponsored by Dave Robinson (Owner, InTech Solutions, Inc)


Rotary FLASH of 08-15-2006
THE FLASH of The Rotary Club of Greensburg for August 15, 2006
Meeting at Four Points Sheraton in a different room from the usual location

Vice President Carl Rossman standing in for President Mary Clymer called the meeting to order in our usual manner, with the salute to the flag, God Bless America, and the invocation by The Reverend Bob Wilson of whom we welcome back from his absence from having surgery.

SERGEANT OF ARMS REPORT by Dr. Bill McGrath:
There were 52 Rotarians in attendance.
We welcomed two visiting Rotarians and three guests:
Alex Lima - Pittsburgh Club
Tim Dingman - Latrobe Club
Peg Wilson - wife of The Reverend Bob Wilson
Mira Tavera - daughter of Pete Cecconi
Warner Johnson - guest of Chuck Anderson

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
There is a sympathy card being sent around for Mark Barnhart and the passing of his mother-in-law. Please be sure to sign it and give your condolences.

MEMBERSHIP INDUCTION:
Chuck Anderson inducted Joyce Lock, a Manager at the First Commonwealth Bank of Greensburg into our club as the newest member. Alex Lima is her sponsor.

OUR PROGRAM FOR THE DAY was Ken Stillwell. The President of Three Rivers Funding Group, LLC. He was introduced by Paul Hochendoner. Mr. Stillwell talked to us about Credit Education. Some topics that he touched on were concerns that our youth is spending money before they have the money. Then they TRY to earn the money to pay off what they already bought. It becomes a perpetual monetary mess. This is causing bad credit which seems to lead to high divorce rates, poor attendance at work and theft. Mr. Stillwell would like to see Financial and Fiscal training classes taught in schools to keep the problem from getting worse. Students getting out of college have an average $15,000 CREDIT CARD DEBT. He also mentioned that everyone in the military is REQUIRED to go through a Financial and Fiscal training. He would like this to be offered to more than just people in the military.

Our meeting was closed with the four-way test.

PROGRAM CHAIRS
August – Paul Hochendoner
September – Rick Nedley

Rotary FLASH of 08-01-2006
Greensburg Rotary Club FLASH – August 1, 2006


“Optimism is a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
– Jeannette Walls, MSNBC reporter who overcame a destitute childhood

“Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.”
-- author H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

The meeting was called to order by President MARY CLYMER with the Pledge of Allegiance, “God Bless America,” and the Invocation by Greensburg Mayor KARL EISAMAN.

Sgt-at-Arms, DENNIS CREMONESE announced an attendance of 58 members plus visiting Rotarians TIM HENRY (Hempfield) and JOE HORENCY (Latrobe). Guests: PATTY JACHIMOWIZ (enjoying her recent retirement and 24/7 with Tom Jachimowiz), JANET JAMES (Gene James), LEIA SHILABOD (Bob Bloom) and JOYCE LOCK (Alex Lima).

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Board of Directors to gather immediately after the day’s meeting to approve 2 new member proposals.
MEMBERSHIP PROPOSALS – The Board of Directors has approved the publishing of the following. Any objections to membership must be submitted to the Secretary within seven days.
Leia T. Shilobod, owner of InTech Solutions, Inc. Leia works and resides in Greensburg. Dave Robinson is sponsoring her for membership.
Joyce Lock, a Manager at First Commonwealth Bank in Greensburg. Joyce resides in Harrison City. Alex Lima has sponsored her for membership.

A hearty “Thank You” was extended to NELSON MAYER for providing the time, effort and equipment to produce the new 2006-2007 membership rosters.

CARL ROSSMAN called attention to 2 sign-ups being circulated: to attend the August 8 Annual Club Picnic at the Greensburg Country Club and for members to attend the Monday, August 7 dinner for RYLA Conference students (District-wide high school juniors and seniors) at 6:00PM at UPG. In addition, a select number of club members are being invited to serve as panelists for one of the RYLA seminars.

BILL RUDOLPH announced that JIM HARROLD is feeling better, anticipating going home for rehab on Thursday of this week. Jim’s spirits have been lifted by and he thanks everyone for their visits and good wishes.

PROGRAM-OF-THE-DAY:

President MARY introduced US Congressman TIM MURPHY who shared particular issues before Congress – Energy and Health Care:

The Energy Summit with top industry leaders produced the following areas in need of focus: clean coal technology, additional sources of natural gas, need to re-visit nuclear energy, pursuing USA-based sources of energy (especially considering the troubling oil partnership between Iran & Venezuela), and the need for more refineries. While a USA moratorium exists regarding exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, both Cuba and China are active in that exact area for oil sources. Current legislation will pursue additional drilling and building more refineries, but an amendment to prevent refinery start-ups “until needed” is a prime example of resistance to diversify sources of energy, explore, refine and produce.

On the subject of Health Care, members are invited to visit the Congressman’s website www.murphy.house.gov to learn about efforts toward finding ways to cut costs and save health care $’s rather than having the US government pay for it. Some ways in which that is being addressed: Electronic maintenance of medical records to save $152 bil / yr., electronic prescriptions to cut the 1.5 million mistakes each year, and drastically reducing the rates of infection in USA hospitals due to rampant casual & relaxed standards for prevention.

Q & A with Congressman Murphy included additional ideas for reducing energy and the subject of illegal immigration legislation.

President MARY adjourned the meeting in the usual manner with the recitation of The Four Way Test.

DON’T FORGET: There will NOT be a noon meeting next Tuesday, August 8. Come out to the Annual Picnic at the Greensburg Country Club!