"Kristen Masengarb, Exe. Dir., & Alek Tomazin, Dir. Dev."
American Heart Association Creates "Heartsavers"
Know the difference between cardiac arrest & heart attack
Six weeks before the Super Bowl, the entire nation was stunned when a 24-year-old NFL player in peak physical condition nearly died of a heart incident during a Monday Night Football game. Damar Hamlin became a household name, and the cause of his heart stoppage became a nationwide guessing game. It’s fitting that so soon after that near-tragic incident, February is recognized as National Heart Month to promote awareness of heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is still the #1 cause of death in the U.S, with stroke being #5. For nearly 100 years the American Heart Association has been a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives.
The focus for this year’s Heart Month is “Be The Beat”. The AHA is committed to creating the next generation of Heartsavers through Hands-only CPR programs. At our Wednesday meeting, Alek and Kristen will share important information about heart health with a focus on the difference between cardiac arrest and heart attack. They will also share the symptoms of a heart attack and stroke so you can be prepared to call 911 for yourself or a loved one. And they will also talk about the importance of learning hands-only CPR so you can be a HeartSaver too.
Kristen has more than 30 years of experience in driving change in communities and organizations. She has served as the Executive Director of the Manheim Township Education Foundation and as a Director with Four Diamonds at Penn State Children’s Hospital. She is currently the Executive Director for the American Heart Association in Lancaster and Lebanon Counties. Kristen is an active member in her community having served as the President for the Junior League of Lancaster and the President of the Board for the Lancaster Early Education Center.
Alek has more than eight years of professional fundraising experience. Before working in development, Alek worked as a horse trainer and later as an equine veterinary technician. She began her career in fundraising as an Associate Director with Four Diamonds at Penn State Children’s Hospital, a natural transition since Alek participated in the Penn State Dance Marathon (THON), a student led organization that raises millions for childhood cancer annually. She is currently the Development Director for the American Heart Association in Lancaster County.
Restructured Committees Focus and Strengthen Club Service
A roomful of committee meetings this past Wednesday was where the work of Rotary was happening, with one committee even meeting using Zoom in the Farm & Home Center lobby. While the previous committee meeting was one of organization and introductions, this week’s every-committee meeting served to encourage further teamwork and maintain momentum on projects. Several committees made significant progress on their share of our strategic plan, particularly the Wheels & Wings, Meeting Planning (Program), and Communications committees. In addition, at least several of the 10 smaller committees have been meeting and networking independently.
There have been some rumors that some committees were abandoned. That is not correct. All of the more than 30 former committees are now folded into 12 committees to take advantage is synergies between functions. At the start of the meeting, President Russ reviewed how and why the number of committees has been reduced, and attempted to clear up misunderstandings and asked for feedback. Most of our new committees are hitting full stride, and most members in attendance agreed that the “every-committee” meetings have been more enjoyable and productive than expected.
However, some confusion over the restructuring still lingers. The fact is that there are some new committees, and many of them integrate or absorb former committees and their functions. (See below for a reminder of how committees have been restructured -- without eliminating any previous committee functions.)
The Board reiterates that these every-committee meetings are designed to keep us centered on service without detracting from our high-quality guest speaker programs on most Wednesdays. The Meeting Planning Committee, whose responsibilities include speakers and programs, is working hard to line up interesting presentations, and has a number of them set for the coming months. The committee is asking for ideas on topics and speakers from all members.
Here are the new committees and how they absorb former committee functions. The former committees are shown in bold type.
Club - Mission Statement, Strategic Planning, Finance, Historian
Community - Power Packs, School District of Lancaster, Mentoring Program, Summer Youth Experience, Refugee Center, Farmers Day, Strawberry Auction, Community Service Awards, Preserve Planet Earth
District/World - Rotaract/lnteract, RYLA/District Projects, Global Grants Scholars, World Community Service, Youth Exchange
Pillar 2 - Enhance Recruitment - Directors - John Grove, Rakesh Popli
Past president Rob Gallagher announced that the Board is extending an open invitation for nominations for the Board of Directors positions. The nominee must have been a member of the Club for 3 years. Other details are available in the club's Bylaws [https://lancasterrotary.org/transmitter/Bylaws.pdf].
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Give Prepaid Lunch Tickets to Prospective New Members
Crystal has "prepaid" lunch tickets that you can purchase and give to prospective new members when you invite them to a meeting. This way you don't have to worry about paying for their meal when they come or, for that matter, even being present when they come.
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Are You Coming to the Wed., March 29, Meeting to Pack Meals?
Crystal needs to have RSVPs by February 17.
The club members will come together to pack between 15,000 and 20,000 meals at the Farm & Home Center for Food Hub/Outreach on Wednesday, March 29, at the time we normally have a meeting.
For the first time in more than seven decades of operation, takeout packaging has become necessary for the Lancaster County Food Hub to distribute meals safely — and a Lancaster Cares grant helped it do just that.
The Food Hub does not serve meals directly to clients. Rather, the 74-year old organization stores inventory in its 7,200 square-foot facility at 812 N. Queen St., from which food is then distributed to church-based community meal programs.
Each meal site may serve anywhere from 75 to 300 people at each meal, for a total of around 5,000 to 6,000 meals per month.
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Rotary Rendezvous is back
Rotary Rendezvous has become a highlight of RCL business and social gatherings, and a fun event for current and potential new members. Anyone who is interested in joining our committee, looking for fellowship, or simply a night out, please join us for Rotary Rendezvous on Wednesday, February 22, at Southern Market in Lancaster. Parking is available at the Steinman garage or folks can find side street parking.
Rotary Rendezvous meetings are on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month.
Arrive anytime between 5-5:30pm for drinks and fellowship.
Details:
Location: Southern Market
Parking: Steinman Garage or on street
Arrive: 5-5:30pm for drinks and fellowship
Trivia: Begins at 7:00 PM
Thanks, we hope to see you there!
- Tom Baum and Rendezvous Committee
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RCL is Updating Contact Information for Members
In preparation for a new Member Directory, Secretary Eric Elliot previously announced that the Club is checking with all members to make sure their contact information on file with the club is correct. This includes telephone numbers and email addresses. Crystal passed around the current member information at the January 18th meeting. If you didn't verify or update your information at that meeting, you can contact Crystal with your current information or wait until she contacts you. She can be reached at: RCOL7390@lancasterrotary.org.
Calendar the 2023 Wheels, Wings & 5K: Saturday, June 24
The 2023 Wheels & Wings Festival & 5K Run (WW5K) will be Saturday, June 24th. Save the date. We need you, your time, and your enthusiasm.
This annual event started in 2017 and has become RCL’s largest fundraiser, as reported last month by our host-anchor Amy Lewis and a team of WW5K panelists from the news headquarters of RNN (Rotary News Network), not to be confused with upstart CNN. As our biggest annual fundraiser, it requires all members to be all-in, according to the committee panelists. In 2022, only its fifth year, over 1,000 attended and over 100 runners participated. It raised $40,769 for charity. The 12 charities participating in the Summer Youth Experience received grants funded by the 2022 WW5K.
The festival typically features up to 250 classic cars competing for trophies, about a dozen aircraft during the all-day fly-in, and more than 100 runners vying for medals in various age categories. It also includes live music and food vendors.
It’s not too early to reserve Saturday, June 24 for a day of Rotary volunteer service – and fun!
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Urgent: Share Your Program Ideas!
We welcome interesting speakers, & engaging programs.
Our Meeting Planning Committee has become one of the hardest working teams in our every-committee meetings, as the members sift through ideas for speaker programs and find ways to make it easy for members to propose topics and presenters. Led by Chair Christine Sable, the committee (formerly Program Committee), is rapidly developing a list of interesting, stimulating programs to carry us at least into the fall. As emphasized by the Board, our intermittent every-committee meetings are not intended to detract from exciting speaker programs.
Our Club is always looking for ideas to add to the list of potential programs. Thanks to those who have come up with ideas and to our terrific speakers, and to all who attend our meeting programs. If you have any ideas for programs, please contact Christine Sable or another member of the Meeting Planning Committee or any Board member, who will pass them along. Both live and virtual (Zoom) speakers are welcome.
The Meeting Planning Committee is finalizing several documents with guidelines brief procedures for potential speakers. The purpose is to make it easy on our members who want to suggest topics and presenters, and for the speakers to prepare. For example, the guidelines remind us that programs should be on topics that are relevant to our Rotary Members, the local community, nation, and world. We are an International Club and topics of global interest are welcome. The committee is particularly seeking programs and speakers that might be informational, educational, entertaining, and thought provoking.
The programs the Lancaster Rotary Club offers are important for our club and, with your help and participation, have often been truly phenomenal.
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Final Reminder: Amazon Smile is Shutting Down on Feb. 20, 2023
After a 10-year run, Amazon announced on January 18, 2023, that it would shut down the AmazonSmile program on February 20, 2023. We thank those who participated in AmazonSmile for the Rotary Club of Lancaster or any other charity. It was a great program that was easy to use.
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Have Something to Share? To Add, Edit or Discontinue an Announcement or Photo:
Transmitter Editor, Steve Henning, will gladly add a new announcement, edit an existing announcement, or discontinue an announcement that is no longer relevant. Please contact Steve at: rotarians@earthlink.net. Photos of Rotarians in action are always welcome. Send photos to Steve at: rotarians@earthlink.net.
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February Birthdays:
O'Day, Mike February 1
Roschel, Bob February 3
Knapp,Joshua February 7
Roseman, Don February 8
Trout, Beth February 9
Flick, Harry February 11
Lewis, Lisa February 18
Banzhof, Don February 24
McGrann, John February 27
It is important and easy! Help Keep the Club Calendar Updated
All Rotarians – especially committee chairs – are encouraged to help keep our new Club Calendar full and updated with the great things that our Club is doing in the community. Please submit any items you would like added to RCOL7390@lancasterrotary.org. Examples include the schedule of McCaskey Mentoring Sessions, Committee Meetings, Power Packs or Salvation Army Bell Ringing. If it’s happening, let’s get it on the Calendar for all to see! Your help will keep us all updated with what’s going on within the Club AND will showcase our very active Club to the Lancaster Community and to prospective members. The Club Calendar is available atwww.LancasterRotary.org
Crystal needs to have RSVPs by February 17.
Wings Festival & 5K Run (WW5K) will be Saturday, June 24th. Save the date. We need you, your time, and your enthusiasm..jpg)
After a 10-year run, Amazon announced on January 18, 2023, that it would shut down the AmazonSmile program on February 20, 2023. We thank those who participated in AmazonSmile for the Rotary Club of Lancaster or any other charity. It was a great program that was easy to use.
