Senate Alexander, Esq., is the first Executive Director of Catherine Hershey Schools of Early Learning. Alexander has more than 15 years of leadership experience in education, nonprofit management, strategic growth planning, and is a Milton Hershey School graduate.
Alexander received his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Temple University in Philadelphia. He earned his Juris Doctorate from American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C., where he focused on employment and labor law and nonprofit management. Alexander is licensed to practice law in Maryland. His legal and educational experiences have enabled him to develop multiple ECE start-up initiatives and lead strategic, financial, and program expansions for new and existing centers.
Catherine Hershey Schools for Early Learning is a new early childhood education program in Pennsylvania. Children from lower-income and at-risk backgrounds are eligible to enroll.
CHS Centers will begin opening in 2023. They will provide cost-free care to children from birth to age 5, supporting:
Hands-on classroom learning
Social and emotional development
Cognitive growth
CHS will provide a year-round experience.
CHS Centers are subsidiaries of Milton Hershey School (MHS) and will be staffed and operated independently of the Milton Hershey School core model. The first locations will be in Hershey in 2023, Harrisburg in 2024, Middletown in 2025, and in 2026 in Lancaster City, New Danville, and Elizabethtown. Each center will serve 150 children and have up to 80 employees.
RNN covers Rotary panel’s preview of Wheels & Wings
Reporting from the "Lancaster Rotary News Network", anchor Amy Lewis led interviews with Lancaster Rotary Club members about the club's Wheels & Wings and 5K Festival (WW5K). The annual event started in 2017 and has become our largest fundraiser. Jamie Alton led off with a report on the 2022 results, revealing how with over 1,000 attending and over 100 runners, it raised $40,769 for charity. Bill Boben reported on the 12 charities participating in the Summer Youth Experience that received grants funded by the 2022 WW5K. They are listed below. Three were new: Aaron's Acres, Boy Scouts, and The Common Wheel.
SUMMER YOUTH EXPERIENCE GRANTS
2022 Award Recipients
Grant Award
Ages 5-17
Aaron's Acres (Camp for disabled children)
$2,000
87
Advantage Lancaster (STEAM & much more)
$5,000
31
Boy Scout of America (Camp Mack)
$2,000
41
Brightside Opportunity Center (SW Lancaster)
$3,500
60
The Common Wheel (Bicycle based program)
$2,500
15
Fulton Opera House Foundation (Theatre Camps)
$4,000
450
Lancaster Country Day School-Horizons (Academic)
$3,000
120
Lancaster Recreation Commission (Day camps)
$3,000
1,179
Lancaster Science Factory (STEM camps)
$4,000
413
The Mix at Arbor Place (Youth leadership camps)
$3,000
94
Music for Everyone (Music camps)
$4,000
102
SWANN (Scaling Walls a Note at a Time-music camp)
$4,000
35
Total Funds going into the community:
$40,000
2,627
Other panelists discussed the extensive planning that goes into the festival, beginning months beforehand, and stressed the need for volunteers to help with numerous duties before and during the event. Josh Knapp reported on the 5K, which is run entirely within Brethren Village, across Airport Road from the Festival. They need 32 to 36 volunteers to assist with the 5K. Jodi Kreider, chair of our Communications Committee, reported on the publicity campaign on community calendars, our website, social media, flyers, yard signs, and banners. She needs someone to set up a presence on LinkedIn for the club.
Steve Dietrich reported on the car show. Last year they had 200 cars. He thinks we can get more if we have volunteers to hand out flyers at other shows in the region earlier in the year. Larry Miller reported on the enormity of planning and where everything will be located on the grounds from vendors and parking to the car show and helicopter rides. Our President Elect Beth Trout asked everyone to volunteer. She counted more than 110 slots to fill with volunteers. Friends, spouses, and children are encouraged to pitch in. She has a position for everyone. They need volunteers to set up on Friday, June 23 and to staff the Festival on Saturday, June 24.
RCL International Service Project Opens Opportunities for Members
Under the guidance of PP Bob McClenathan, chair of District/World Committee, and with Board approval, Rotary Club of Lancaster will soon partner in important healthcare projects in Zambia, in south-central Africa. The 7-day projects in April provide opportunities for donors and project volunteers to supplement global grants provided under Rotary’s disease prevention area of focus.
The projects will provide eye, dental and medical exams, in addition to equipment and training. Our club is primary sponsor of the eye team and will be associate sponsor of the medical and dental grants.
Interested RCL members may donate before January 31 by sending a check to Crystal payable to Rotary Club of Lancaster and marked for the Zambia International Service Project. Anyone interested in volunteering to accompany the teams should contact Past District Governor 7430 Cindy Hornaman at hornamca@ptd.net,(610) 360-4875.
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RCL is Updating Contact Information for Members
In preparation for a new Member Directory, Secretary Eric Elliot 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.
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 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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Toys for Tots reaches 12,109 Children in 2022.
Gil Bixler reported that in 2022, Toys for Tots worked through 57 organizations such as churches, shelters, half-way houses, and other community organizations to reach out to 12,109 children. They distributed 78,366 toys to families and organizations to give to underprivileged children. Toys for Tots gets plenty of toys donated for children ages 3 to 5, but Gil said they never have enough for children ages 9 to 12 and have to buy toys for this age group. Besides providing 3 toys for each child they give out school supplies. Their campaign runs from September to December. In the past, they have used the old Sears auto center, but are losing that and will need a new space for next year. If you have any ideas, contact Gil.
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Ski Trip to Blue Mountain on Feb. 7
Bill Boben announced that RCL has accepted an invitation from the Vipers to ski at Blue Mountain on Tuesday, February 7. The group will meet at the Oregon Dairy Restaurant for breakfast and then carpool from there. For more information contact Bill Boben.
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Amazon Smile Contributes to Rotary Club of Lancaster
Remember when shopping online that Amazon donates to Rotary Club of Lancaster Foundation. Shop for great deals at http://smile.amazon.com/ch/23-3053966. There is no additional cost to you. You Shop! Amazon Gives!
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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
Senate Alexander, Esq., is the first Executive Director of Catherine Hershey Schools of Early Learning. Alexander has more than 15 years of leadership experience in education, nonprofit management, strategic growth planning, and is a Milton Hershey School graduate. 
Under the guidance of PP Bob McClenathan, chair of District/World Committee, and with Board approval, Rotary Club of Lancaster will soon partner in important healthcare projects in Zambia, in south-central Africa. The 7-day projects in April provide opportunities for donors and project volunteers to supplement global grants provided under Rotary’s disease prevention area of focus.
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Gil Bixler reported that in 2022, Toys for Tots worked through 57 organizations such as churches, shelters, half-way houses, and other community organizations to reach out to 12,109 children. They distributed 78,366 toys to families and organizations to give to underprivileged children. Toys for Tots gets plenty of toys donated for children ages 3 to 5, but Gil said they never have enough for children ages 9 to 12 and have to buy toys for this age group. Besides providing 3 toys for each child they give out school supplies. Their campaign runs from September to December. In the past, they have used the old Sears auto center, but are losing that and will need a new space for next year. If you have any ideas, contact Gil.
