| A Flash from the Past Rotary Flashes of 11-26-2002 ROTARY FLASHES GREENSBURG ROTARY CLUB NO. 250 – CHARTERED OCTOBER 4, 1916 Volume 74, No. 22……………………………………………..November 26, 2002 Inside This Issue Wise and Otherwise Next Meeting’s Program Listing Our Weekly Meeting and Birthday listings Announcements WISE AND OTHERWISE "Put your future in good hands – your own." SERGEANT AT ARMS Report - (Tony Martino) - We had two visiting Rotarians: Jim Bassett (Murrysville-Export Club) and R. Edward Campbell (Sun City West, Arizona). Our guests were: Kim Bloom (Bob Bloom), Sue Acri (Jim Harrold) and Terri Katzman (Paul Hochendoner). Our students from the Hempfield Area High School were: Kat Laskowski, Megan Atherton and Michael Antonacci. Thanks to Jim Steeley for providing the transportation. Ivana was also with us today. Today’s attendance was 53. This included 44 members, 2 visiting Rotarians, 3 guests of members, Ivana and 3 students. MAKE-UPS – Guy Davis (a local club) and Bobbi Stemmler-Guest (Northwest Oklahoma City, OK). ANNOUNCEMENTS: A CORRECTION ON THE LOCATION OF THE SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING PROJECT – THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO RING THE BELLS ARE TO MEET AT THE FOOD COURT ENTRANCE OF PRESIDENT ED ADVISED US ON THE DECISION OF THE LOCATION COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO CONTINUE TO HOLD OUR WEEKLY MEETINGS AT THE SHERATON/FOUR POINTS. PERFECT ATTENDANCE FOR 2002 – YEAR TO DATE – Ed Meadows recognized the following members: Mark Barnhart, Bob Bloom, Will Brown, Pete Cecconi, Mary Clymer, Jim Harrold, Jeff Malloy, Dick McNeel, Ed Nemanic, Bill Ovitsky, Dave Robinson, Carl Rossman, Ken Rutter, Chuck Strobel, John Wesner, Bob Wilson and Ed Meadows. Why not consider having your name added to the next list for upcoming future quarters. Attendance is determined in the following ways: CHIEF INSTIGATOR BADGE – President Ed has drafted an "official proclamation" whereas, any member who keeps others on their toes by being a instigator is to wear the badge until an new successor is found to replace the current badge holder. The charter member is Mark Barnhart. Fun with your friends in Rotary is a necessity to a healthy and happy Club. Upcoming programs: Our Birthday Table host, Mark Barnhart and his sidekick, Chris Rizk, celebrated Culture Month and the nine club members having a birthday in November by explaining what their importance as pilgrims would have been if they had landed at Plymouth Rock. Each received a pilgrim hat or head scarf. We celebrated with a magnificent cake! Happy Birthday. Mini-autobiography DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS THURSDAY FRIDAY
Rotary Flashes of 11-19-2002
WISE AND OTHERWISE "When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." (FDR) SERGEANT AT ARMS Report - (Mark Barnhart) - We had one visiting Rotarian: Jim Bassett (Murrysville-Export Club). Our guests were: Nancy Estrada (Carl Rossman) and Jim Beer (Cesare Muccari). Our students from Greensburg Central Catholic were: Genevieve Evans, Kathleen Pitterle and Joseph Lowry. Thanks to Jeff Long for providing the transportation. Today’s attendance was 55. This included 47 members, 1 visiting Rotarian, 2 guests of members, our speaker, Ivana and 3 students. MAKE-UPS – Chuck Strobel (Latrobe), Bobbi Stemmler-Guest (Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas) and Elinore McMahan (Hempfield Township Club). ANNOUNCEMENTS: PAUL HARRIS FELLOW UPDATE – Bob Wilson advised us that our Club has 177 Paul Harris Fellows to date. To be able to continue to do more good throughout the world, more members are asked to join this group. A CORRECTION ON THE LOCATION OF THE SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING PROJECT – THOSE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO RING THE BELLS ARE TO MEET AT THE FOOD COURT ENTRANCE OF ROTARY AFTER SCHOOL PROJECT – It is with sadness that we must end this project. Due to staffing issues, location issues and increased costs, we are unable to continue. In the years that our Club has been able to serve the students, much good has resulted. President Ed thanked Jack Waite for his many hours of service and leadership by presenting Jack with a "Certificate of Appreciation". Many thanks Jack! Upcoming programs: December 3 – Susan Hankinson, Flight 93 Coordinator from Somerset County Our speaker today was Harry Albert, a Rotarian from the Latrobe Club. Harry spoke to us about the District 7330 World Community Service Program. The District Project is in Brazil. Funds will be collected and then disbursed , through Rotary International, to the two sponsoring Clubs/Districts, who will oversee the projects at the schools for the severely unprivileged, homeless, hopeless street children from the slums of Brazil. Harry showed us a video of the awful conditions where these children live on the street in the slums. Some sleep in the graveyards or sewers and eat any food that is left from offerings. Many children turn to crime, drugs and prostitution. These children are orphaned or abandoned, abused and are considered "throwaways". In past years they were even exterminated. Now there is hope. The Hope Unlimited International Schools in the Sao Paulo and the Rio de Janerio regions take in and care for the homeless street kids, ages 9 to 15. (The life expectancy of these kids would be less than age 29 if not cared for by the schools). At the schools they are provided with the safe living conditions, adult guidance and counseling, nourishing food, quality vocational training and education, wholesome recreation and a grounding in faith. At age 18 the students receive transition training for their re-entry into the community and working world. Their success rate is triple that of most institutions, with 94% of the graduates still off the streets and living useful, productive lives. The Sao Paulo Rotary ESPRO Project supports a different type of school for training young teen-agers still living in the favelas (slums), who are poor, but bright and capable. Seldom do poor children go beyond the mandatory education when it ends at ages 12-13. This project allows these kids to break the cycle of an untrained and unemployable population by giving 5 months of training in service and commercial industries followed by one year of paid apprenticeship in local businesses, which many times leads to a full time job. THURSDAY FRIDAY
Rotary Flashes of 11-12-2002
WISE AND OTHERWISE "A good home must be made, not bought." TODAY’S INVOCATION was given by Karl Eisaman. SERGEANT AT ARMS Report - (John Hanna) - We had no visiting Rotarians. Our guests were: Willis Walthour, Juliette Walthour, Lou Cavic (Bob Bloom), Lyn Strobel (Chuck Strobel), Nancy Estrada (Carl Rossman), Isabel Bloom (Don Bloom) and Janet McNeel (Dick McNeel). Our students from Greensburg Salem were: Christina Dorko, Catherine Bourg and Colleen McCormick. Thanks to Chris DeDiana for providing the transportation. Today’s attendance was 63. This included 53 members, 7 guests of members and 3 students. MAKE-UPS – Elinore McMahan (at the Hempfield Township Club). ANNOUNCEMENTS: On a motion by Mark Barnhart and seconded by Bill Rudolph and passed without objection from those in attendance at this week's meeting, the following four members elected to the Board of Directors for the 2003-2004 Rotary Year are: Paul Hochendoner, Tony Martino, Carl Rossman and Bill Taylor. PLEASE MARK THESE DATES IN YOUR CALENDARS – December 6th, we will be on "kettle duty" for the Salvation Army at the Shop N Save behind the Westmoreland Mall. Carl Rossman is in charge of this project. The clipboard is already being sent around. Please sign up. Upcoming programs: Our newest Paul Harris Fellow is Willis Walthour. Bill Ovitsky spoke about Mr. Walthour's vocational service to our community. He graduated from the Youngwood High School in 1928. He married his high school sweetheart, Juliette. He began teaching at the Kennedy School in Hempfield Township. Two years later he started at the St. Clair School in Midway. He was a teacher and principal there for 24 years. In 1954 he moved to the new St. Clair School, again as a teacher and principal. He and Juliette had four children. Willis took a second job as a taxi driver to help with the finances. Getting to know the streets of Greensburg would pay off after his retirement when he continued his community service work. Mr. Walthour retired from teaching in 1974 after 44 years of service. Lou Cavic, a non-member of the Club, spoke about Willis' 31 years of service with the Meals on Wheels Program. Willis is responsible for arranging the preparation of meals and the volunteers who deliver the meals to shut-ins on a daily basis. He and his wife of 71 years, work as a team and deliver meals personally, one day a week. (By the way, it was mentioned that Mr. Walthour is 93 years old with no plans of slowing down). What an example of a person who, while not being a Rotarian himself, embodies the Rotary ideals of vocational service and community service….Service Above Self. In the second half of our weekly program, Bill Kern spoke about his attendance at the recently held Rotary Institute in Cleveland, Ohio, where he served as the secretary. He explained that our Club is a member of Zone 28, which includes 13 Districts, and consists of over 35,000 Rotarians. Bill told of Rotary International's former Vice President Lou Piconi's update on the Polio Eradication Campaign. Although much progress has been made to date, we need to finalize the project by eradicating polio in the remaining ten countries that still have active cases. To help in this mission, Bill stressed the need for our Club's members to consider becoming a member of a Paul Harris Fellow Sustaining Group. Over a period of years, through quarterly contributions, the $1,000.00 necessary for the PHF can be completed. Bill challenged us with $1,000.00 of matching moneys for 20 members who will start the process by signing on to be in a PHF Sustaining Group. There will be (20) $50.00 matching amounts. Another Bill, Bill Gates, is stepping up to the plate after being challenged by Rotary International. First, he will contribute $50 million and then, he will match up to $25 million given by Rotarians…..$75 million total. Bill also told us that Rotary awards 1,200 Ambassadorial Scholarships each year to students who study abroad. Each scholarship is worth $25,000.00. These are just two of the many good deeds that Rotary is involved in to better our local community, our nation and the world. Please see Bob Wilson and/or Bill Kern to become a Paul Harris Fellow Sustaining member. THURSDAY FRIDAY
Rotary Flashes of 11-05-2002
WISE AND OTHERWISE "Measure not the work until the day's out and the labor done." (Elizabeth Barrett Browning) TODAY’S INVOCATION was given by Rich Rosky. "We gather as those who would serve the right and stand for good in the world. Bless our nation, our leaders and our choices, O God. Keep each of us true to our word that our Rotary club might serve all people fairly. Amen." SERGEANT AT ARMS Report - (Chris Agarwal) - We had no visiting Rotarians. Lindsay Dana was a guest of her grandfather, C. Roy Thompson. Today’s attendance was 60. This included 57 members, 1 guest of a member, our speaker and her guest. MAKE-UPS – Dave Robinson (at the Hempfield Township Club). ANNOUNCEMENTS: On November 12 we will elect 4 members to the Board of Directors for the 2003-2004 Rotary Year. The nominees are: Paul Hochendoner, Tony Martino, Bill Ovitsky, Carl Rossman and Bill Taylor. BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING: Thursday, November 7, 6:00 p.m. at the Bloom's residence. PLEASE MARK THESE DATES IN YOUR CALENDARS – December 6th, we will be on "kettle duty" for the Salvation Army at the Shop N Save behind the Westmoreland Mall. Carl Rossman is in charge of this project. The clipboard is already being sent around. Please sign up. Upcoming programs: Our speaker today was Karen Sweeney-Ryall, Program Director of the Alzheimer Association, Laurel Mountains Chapter. She gave us a very informative talk on stages of the disease, it's warning signs, common behaviors that are associated with the disease and where help is available. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. It is the most common form of dementing illness. It is the fourth leading cause of death in adults, after heart disease, cancer and stroke. She mentioned that one out of every three persons knows of someone with Alzheimer's disease. The signs of the disease are gradual rather than sudden. While it is normal aging to become somewhat forgetful, it is not normal aging when it affects your safety. She mentioned that there are three medications that are available to slow the progression of the disease. These medications need to be taken in the early stages. Caregivers must realize that they must do the adapting and the modifying of their response to the patient. They must enter the patient's reality rather than pulling back into theirs. It is very important to keep the person content by accepting what they say, rather than attempting to correct and agitate them. It is a disease that affects 10 to 15% of persons by age 65. It's percentage is 50/50 by age 85. Karen said that 7,000 persons are affected by Alzheimer's in Westmoreland County. In the six county area the number is 20,000. Help is available through the Telephone Help Line and family support groups. Other programs and services include, Safe Return (lost and found services for wanders), Family Education, Professional Education (for advanced planning) and Public Awareness and Advocacy. Please call 724-837-9570 to access the resources that you may need. Karen reminded us to keep ourselves healthier by "Exercising our brains." THURSDAY FRIDAY
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