Phil Wenger & Fritz Schroeder, Lancaster Conservancy
Lancaster Conservancy and Conservation in Lancaster County
• The mission of the Lancaster Conservancy
• Protecting and Restoring Natural Lands
• Conservation Education and Engagement
• Ways to Get Involved
Fritz Schroeder, left, joined the Lancaster Conservancy in 2007 as the Director of Urban Greening and was responsible for developing residential and institutional greening programs. He has an extensive background in landscaping and tree management, and has overseen the design and installation of various stormwater capture and infiltration techniques from rain gardens to green roofs. In 2017 with the help of many community partners Fritz helped launch Lancaster Water Week an effort to connect more people with the amazing natural resources, streams and rivers of Lancaster County. In 2018 he accepted a new role at the Conservancy leading a department and team called Community Impact that focuses on community engagement, education, communications and development. Fritz was recently promoted to President of the Lancaster Conservancy.
Phil Wenger, right, was a local business owner and community leader who changed careers at the end of 2015 to join the Lancaster Conservancy as its President. As an entrepreneur, Phil built a restaurant chain and then sold it, planning to retire. But he wanted to leave a larger impact on the community and the Susquehanna River that he loves, so he left retirement to lead a team to protect this landscape. During his tenure, the Conservancy added over 2,600 acres to its portfolio of natural lands in Lancaster County and along the river in York County, doubled the Conservancy's staff, and sharpened the organization's focus..
Also be sure to note our upcoming schedule of exciting programs in the “Speakers” column below – and plan to attend!
Heather Valudes gave us a very informative view of business in Lancaster County. You can see some of the facts in her first slide. One amazing statistic as that 48% of the US population is within a 6-hour drive of Lancaster County, which is good for both businesses and tourism. Also, Lancaster ranks highly in best places to live and retire. Only places in Florida rank higher than Lancaster County for retirees.
Continuing, Heather made many additional points:
The county labor force is 287,000 with only 10,100 unemployed.
The major employment sectors are Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Retail, totaling 44.3%.
Manufacturers Graham Packaging and Woodstream lead contributors to the county's GDP.
Rock Lititz is the anchor of a 108-acre site with 35 businesses and growing.
9 million visitors a year provide 22,600 seasonal, mostly low-paying, jobs.
Agriculture is huge but is 85% livestock & 15% crops. Largest are Tyson, Pepperidge Farms, Kellogg's, and Turkey Hill. Food processing employs 5,000 people.
Manufacturing, professional/business services, and construction have the best paying jobs.
Major trends are mergers & acquisitions, supply chain inflation, AI increasing productivity, more workplace structures, more savvy customers, and more community responsibility.
Heather pointed out that the Chamber's 1,400 members employ 50% of Lancaster County's workforce. During the Q&A session she revealed that Thaddeus Stevens and the Rock Lititz Academy Of Live Technology are major players in providing a skilled workforce locally. The great Universities we have produce skilled graduates, but many move out of the area. As is the RCL custom, Heather signed a book that will be donated to SDL.
LNP covers our Judicial Forum and Fed’s Economic Outlook
Our Club is getting back in the news as a civic-minded leader with timely, newsworthy programs that impact Lancaster County. First, it was our widely-covered Smucker-Hollister debate in October. Most recently, both our April 19 Judicial Candidates Forum and our April 12 Economic Outlook received in-depth coverage in LNP, our region’s leading newspaper.
We are going to move the event to the Hess's Barbecue event space which is down the first base line. This will reduce the per person cost of the event from $40 to $31. Children 5-10 are $27 and kids under 4 are free. See flier attached with the details. https://www.lancasterrotary.org/transmitter/2023HessBBQ.pdf
RSVPs were due April 19. Please pay by check or card with Crystal, Rob or Brad Forrey.
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Rotary Rendezvous meets May 10!
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, May 10, 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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Give Prepaid Lunch Tickets to Prospective New Members
This is a great way to invite 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. If you bought "prepaid" lunch tickets for $16, you will need to add $2 to the ticket since lunches are now $18.
By now, Saturday, June 24 should be on your must-do list for this summer. Our 2023 Wheels and Wings Festival & 5K is shaping up to be a huge event, with record attendance.
Jamie Alton announced that Oaktree Outdoor Advertising is donating 9 digital billboards for the month before the Festival. The billboards will rotate different attractions of WW5K: the car show, fly-in, 5K race, vendors and live music, and the WWII warbirds.
WW5K is already featured in Cruise News magazine, the major source of news and car show listings for our region. We will also have a full-page ad as well as high-profile listings in their May-June issue.
Jamie also announced that sponsorships have reach $17,000 on our way to a goal of $51,000.
Chip Kirchner previously announced that United Way has matched our increased commitment of $30,000 to the Summer Youth Partnership. Part of this commitment is to create a video of the Summer Youth Experience and will include video from the Wheels & Wings festival. Funded agencies are being invited to ask their staff and youth who benefit from their services to walk the grounds to thank supporters. Read More at: https://www.lancasterrotary.org/transmitter/UW2023Support.pdf
WW5K will feature WWII warbirds (vintage aircraft) from the Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. There will be rides available on some of the warbirds. To register for a ride, go to capitalwingwarbirdrides.org.
It’s not too early to reserve Saturday, June 24 for a day of Rotary volunteer service – and family fun!
There will be numerous opportunities for all RCL members to volunteer – including before the event. The subcommittee needs volunteers very soon to distribute registration flyers to participants at selected car shows throughout Lancaster County in May and June. If you like going to car shows, or simply have some time to take a Saturday afternoon ride this spring, please consider volunteering to help spread the word about our own WW5K. We have a schedule of all the car shows in the area. Contact Steve Stockwell or subcommittee co-chairs Amy Lewis or Jamie Dalton.
REMINDER: Share Your Program Ideas! We welcome interesting speakers, and engaging programs.
Our Club is always looking for ideas to add to the list of potential programs. If you have any ideas for programs, please contact Christine Sable (sableccim@gmail.com) 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 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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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.
Chuck Blumenstock April 1
Peter Barber April 2
David Doupe April 5
Russ Wert April 6
Stephen Gunzenhauser April 8
Jodi Kreider April 10
Glenn Frill April 15
Bill Jefferson April 18
Tom Baum April 18
Stephen Kraybill April 20
Althea Ramsay Carrigan April 21
Dave Foulk April 30
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
• The mission of the Lancaster Conservancy
Jamie Alton announced that
Oaktree Outdoor Advertising is donating 9 digital billboards for the month before the Festival. The billboards will rotate different attractions of WW5K: the car show, fly-in, 5K race, vendors and live music, and the WWII warbirds.
WW5K will feature WWII warbirds (vintage aircraft) from the Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force. There will be rides available on some of the warbirds. To register for a ride, go to .jpg)
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Chuck Blumenstock April 1
