Speakers

Introduction by John Herr:

An Introduction to the Global Crisis in Forced Migration

Valentina Ross, Office Director of Church World Services in Lancaster, will provide us an understanding of the global crisis in forced migration and the path to resettlement in the United States for refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers.  She will explore what happens after resettlement, including services provided by CWS Lancaster and other community organizations and the economic, social and cultural impact of new neighbors in our area.

For more than 35 years Church World Servicw Lancaster has welcomed thousands of new neighbors from around the world to our beautiful country.  Through partnerships with community organizations, faith groups, and individuals, CWS empowers our newest neighbors to build new lives in peace and security, providing up to 5 years of service and support.

Valentina Ross is Office Director at Church World Services in Lancaster, PA where she has been serving refugees and other immigrants since 2014.  During her work with CWS she has worked as case manager, employment specialist and more extensively as the coordinator of resettlement programs.  Prior to her work with CWS she was a project manager for six years in the United Nations World Food Program in Lima, Peru.  Valentina is a native of Italy where she served as an economic analyst for an Italian consulting company.  Valentina received her Masters Degree in Community and Economic Development from Penn State University and her Bachelors in Economics from the University of Rome.

Church World Service (CWS) is a humanitarian organization that works to support vulnerable communities around the world. The organization’s headquarters is located in Lancaster, PA. Church World Service of Lancaster is one of its regional offices.

Church World Service Lancaster:
https://cwslancaster.org/

Church World Service in Lancaster names new director:
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/church-world-service-in-lancaster-names-new-director-of-the-refugee-resettlement-agency/article_fe3a4db8-de4b-11ea-824f-97930b1af3df.html

CWS - Lancaster Immigration & Refugee Program:
https://www.facebook.com/CWSLancaster/posts/cws-lancaster-office-director-valentina-ross-sat-down-with-one-united-lancaster-/10158969352350590/

Refugees now part of Lancaster's Pennsylvania Dutch image:
https://www.democratandchronicle.com/in-depth/news/2022/01/10/refugees-pa-lancaster-pennsylvania-dutch-image/8765556002/

Introduced by Christne Sable:

Built in the 1890s, the Stehli Silk Mill in Manheim Township was once the longest silk mill east of the Mississippi River.  Maryland-based CAM Construction bought the land in 2019.  Currently under construction and scheduled to open this summer, the $40 million, two-story conversion of the Stehli Silk Mill at 619 Martha Ave. in Manheim Township includes 165 units and 10,000 square feet of retail space.  Stehli Mill Lofts includes a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 725 to 1,575 square feet. Rents will range from $1,400 to $2,200 per month.

In addition to the apartments, a future brew pub is planned for one of the existing single story structures. Ancillary structures related to the former boiler building will be utilized to provide amenity spaces for the residents, and shell retail or office space.CAM Construction specializes in taking old buildings and giving them new life. They will keep as many of the unique historic aspects original to the mill as possible.  

Angelo Munafo helps coordinate CAM Constructioin’s real estate development activities in partnership with Knight Street Capital and other CAM-affiliated development/investment entities. He spearheads new acquisition/joint venture efforts and handles financial underwriting, design, and entitlement activities for those projects in which CAM is invested. CAM’s private development work is currently focused on mixed-use projects, infill multifamily sites, and adaptive re-use multifamily conversions eligible for historic tax credits.

Additionally, Munafo leads CAM’s business development and marketing efforts, serving as a liaison between other owners/developers/investors who may be looking to hire CAM as a third party construction manager or general contractor.

Munafo has a masters in Real Estate & Infrastructure from Johns Hopkins University, and a BSE with a real estate concentration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. While at Penn, he also received a minor in Urban Real Estate & Development. He completed four years of employment with St. John Properties as part of their partner in training program, and is now a member of the team.

Angelo Munafo, Vice President, CAM Construction:
https://cambuilds.com/team_member/angelo-munafo/

Stehli Mill's planned rebirth captures neighborhood's interest:
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/stehli-mills-planned-rebirth-captures-neighborhoods-interest/article_962b228e-a40e-11ed-a066-8f72eeff6a58.html

The Lofts at Stehli Silk Mill:
https://cambuilds.com/project/stehli-mills/

 

Introduced by Rich Wohlman:

Rotarians of the Lancaster Rotaray Club look forward each year to recognizing the McCaskey students that participated in their mentoring program and are graduating,  The McCaskey Career Tech Mentoring Program provides mentoring experiences and guidance with Rotarians, business persons and other mentors from the Lancaster Community.  Although a Rotary Club of Lancaster Committee project, Lancaster Rotarian Rich Wolman is the one who spear-headed the program and got it to where it is today.  

Mentors meet with around 25 Juniors and Seniors at McCaskey High School in the School District of Lancaster once a month for group-mentoring.  These sessions usually involve a team-building activity, life-lesson activity, guest speaker or combination of some/all of these.  Sessions also include individual mentoring between a student and a mentor where the student and mentor get to know each other more, share struggles and successes, etc.

The Mentoring Program at McCaskey has the full-support of the teachers and administration at McCaskey High School.

McCaskey Career Tech Mentoring Program:
https://portal.clubrunner.ca/2268/SitePage/take-action/mccaskey-career-tech-mentoring-program

The McCaskey Career Tech Mentoring Program:
https://www.lancasterrotary.org/impact/#Mentoring-Program

McCaskey High School Projects of Lancaster Rptaru Club:
https://www.lancasterrotary.org/transmitter/McCaskeyProject.php

Rotary International President praises local mentoring program:
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/rotary-international-president-praises-local-mentoring-program/article_a8b9ae4a-6d28-11e5-80a2-4b27e66f48c1.html

 

This date depends upon the weather and when strawberries ripen.

Starting in 1956, the Lancaster Rotary Club has sponsored the 4-H Strawberry Roundup. This fundraiser gives Rotarians a chance to meet and support young future farmers of Lancaster County.  After the strawberries have been judged, the champions of the various divisions are invited to our meeting where they will be introduced to us and their strawberries will be auctioned off to support 4-H programs.  The winning 4-H members all receive a portion of the bid amount.  The 12:15 auction will begin before the start of the regular meeting with students competing for prizes and cash. The 56th 4-H Strawberry Roundup and Auction continues an annual Club tradition, incorporating an auction that benefits 4-H programs and the Max Smith Scholarship Fund.

In 4-H programs, young people complete hands-on projects in areas like health, science, and civic engagement – in addition to agriculture, which most people associate with the organization. They receive guidance from adult mentors and are encouraged to take on leadership roles. The four Hs in 4-H represent the values that the members work on: Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.

M. Maxwell Smith was a county agent who passed away at age 96 in 2011.  He was also a member of the Rotary Club of Lancaster. A member for more than 62 years, he served as Club President and received the Paul Harris ­Fellow + 1.  One of the greatest accomplishments of his career as county agent was the completion of the Lancaster Farm and Home Center, a first of its kind building dedicated entirely to agriculture. Max was involved in planning, fund-raising, and ground breaking in 1966. He would later serve as Honorary Chairman of the Capital Campaign to expand the Center and would have the auditorium named in his honor. Max retired as a County Agent in 1981 and helped to establish a trust fund to support the Farm and Home Foundation Scholarship program.  After Smith's death, the scholarship was renamed the Max Smith Scholarship Fund.

 

4-H Annual Strawberry Round Up:
https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-h/counties/lancaster/news/4-h-annual-strawberry-round-up-results

4-H/Lancaster Rotary Club Annual Strawberry Roundup:
https://www.lancasterrotary.org/transmitter/StrawberryRoundup.php