Per latest CDC guidance, people in areas reporting “Substantial” community transmission rates are urged to wear masks indoors regardless of their vaccination status. Masks may be removed when enjoying a meal while seated at a table. A positivity rate of 8% or above is Substantial. Lancaster County's rate is 14.6%. A new case rate of 50 or above per 100,000 is Substantial. Lancaster County's rate is 298.
"Patrick Christmas, Committee of Seventy" - Zoom & In Person Mtg
Committee of Seventy Fights For Good Government
The Committee of Seventy was established in 1904 to combat corruption in Philadelphia, playing a major role in the adoption of civil service reforms and the passage of the 1919 and 1951 Home Rule Charters. A nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, Seventy does not endorse candidates or represent any special interests.
Seventy has radically transformed itself from being just an election watchdog to a bolder and more comprehensive good government group. The investment in new executive and Board leadership has helped bolster the City’s only independent good government organization and allowed us to permanently change Philadelphia’s political culture.
During 2005-2010, Seventy led the fight to defend campaign financing limits, a fight that went all the way to the Supreme Court thanks to a lawsuit initiated by Seventy, in 2007-08. Our war against pay-to-play politics in Philadelphia helped to turn the ideas of better government and fair elections into a movement. In 2020, Seventy played an integral role in the successful administration of the presidential election amidst a global pandemic through information campaigns and supporting local election officials.
Patrick Christmas taught biology and forensic science at Fels High School in Northeast Philadelphia after graduating from Swarthmore College in 2008. After five years in the classroom and having begun studies at the Fels Institute of Government, he joined the Committee of Seventy in August 2013 – in part, because he believes in Seventy’s nonpartisan mission to advance better government, but also because he was seeking the "Fels Trifecta." (Samuel S. Fels was on Seventy's original 1904 Executive Board.)
Patrick is responsible for managing Seventy's policy projects and advocacy campaigns, in addition to supporting its civic programming, communications, and social media. From 2014 to 2017, he oversaw the evolution of Seventy's signature Election Day field operation to a broader set of civic initiatives, including an Election Ambassador Corps for high school students, voter experience survey, and comprehensive online voter guide and toolkit. His current duties focus on advancing reforms at the city and state level, which involves staffing the Better Philadelphia Elections and Open Primaries PA coalitions as well as Seventy's Philadelphia Resolution 1 initiative.
Thank you to those who have signed up. to volunteer for the Salvation Army Bell Ringing.
We need volunteers for the 1-hour time slots between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM on December 3. Times currently available are 11:00 AM to 12:00 Noon, 1:00 to 2:00 PM and 2:00 to 3:00 PM.
At 12 Noon, you will see Rotary Club of Lancaster's Elves (they are Viper Elves); they will be there from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM These elves consist of Wally Otto, Chip Kirchner, Richard Manix and Tom Hoober.
Volunteers are needed. This is a fun time. If you have not volunteered before, please do so this year. One hour of your day to say hello to everyone and share the Holiday Spirit. Penn Square with the Christmas tree, how wonderful is that?!!!
We will be at the corner of the Central Market next to Disco (The Dispensing Company).
Please call Kathy Hainley at 717-587-1221 to sign up. Once the schedule is full, Kathy will be emailing those of you who have volunteered to confirm your time slot.
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Community Service Star Award
Lancaster Rotary has honored those in our community who have dedicated their lives to community service through our annual Community Service award, as well as three students from the Lancaster City high schools that have done the same. This year, in addition to those awards, we are expanding our reach with a different kind of awardee--an every day hero.
Each month, Lancaster Rotary will honor service stars in our community--ordinary people in our Lancaster community who are going above and beyond every day in their work. The past year and a half has been difficult for so many people in Lancaster and we hope to honor those who have been shining brightest--a nurse who helped you get your vaccine, a neighbor who has delivered food for those in need, a grocery store cashier who makes your smile every time you visit. Awardees will receive a gift card and recognition from Rotary of their contribution to our community.
In a recent article, John Germ, Trustee Chair for the Rotary Foundation indicated that the Foundation is the “heart” of Rotary. “The Foundation combines our emotional response of compassion with pragmatic action. With both heart and brains, we can change the world.” (ref. Nov 2021 Rotary magazine, page 58) Fellow Rotarian Germ did a great job in voicing what I believe about the Foundation. The Rotary Foundation, for me, has always been a great place to invest my charitable contributions to improve the fundamentals (clean water, health, education, world peace, and now environmental support) in a safe and prudent manner. My journey with the Foundation began in 1986 with my first contribution to the Polio Plus campaign. Now, 35 years later, I can see that the end of the polio virus is near; one of many Foundation accomplishments. When did your journey begin? If your journey continues or you are contemplating your first contribution to the Rotary Foundation, here are some methods you can consider.
First, The Rotary Foundation is asking each Rotarian to contribute $45 to the Polio Plus campaign to make our goal for the year 2021-2022. For each $1 contributed by a Rotarian, the Gates Foundation contributes $2. If you’re a new Rotarian who has not yet begun contributions to the Foundation, this is an easy beginning that means a lot! You can go to www.myrotary.org and follow the easy to understand instructions at the "Donate" button.
Second, if you want to become a Sustaining Member of the Foundation, you can go to the same web site and donate $100 to the Annual Fund. Do this for 10 years, and you become a Paul Harris Fellow. If you’re not very patient, go ahead and give $1,000 for a Paul Harris Fellow Award now!
Third, if you are retired and have unused Required Minimum Distributions, consider an extra donation to the Annual Fund before year end.
Fourth, you may wish to direct a contribution to the Rotary Club of Lancaster 501(c)(3) permanent fund. This fund is managed by the Lancaster County Community Foundation and is used to help invest in grants awarded by our club to help organizations in our community. At any time, you can talk to Nick Downey, Bob McClenathan or Scott Owens to help you with the contact at the Lancaster County Community Foundation to discuss legacy giving options.
Celebrate Rotary Foundation Month by making your contribution today.
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Urgent! Rotary Service: Power Packs Needs You!
Lancaster Rotarians have been volunteering for Power Packs for children in the School District of Lancaster (Washington Elementary and Reynolds Middle School) for years. The last couple of years we have been very short on volunteers.
COVID has changed the role of a volunteer and reduced time commitments.
In this environment, we are looking for volunteers to pick up boxes of food at the Power Packs warehouse and deliver to Washington and Reynolds on Wednesdays at 10:30AM. The whole pick up and delivery takes about an hour and you can definitely make the Rotary meeting afterwards. Mid-size or larger SUVs and vans would be ideal, but if we can assemble some two vehicle teams we can split the loads. There is a physical aspect to loading and unloading the boxes, but if needed we can get help from the warehouse and schools.
Volunteers do not have to commit to every week. The coordinator sends an email the month prior asking for availability of volunteer and creates a schedule accordingly.
Please consider serving in this worthwhile program.
In the near future, members credit card processing will be available for payments of lunches, dues, etc.
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Rotary Fellowship Ski Trip to Banff & Lake Louise, Canada
The International Skiing Fellowship of Rotarians is running a ski trip for ISFR members, but you can join ISFR for $35 if you aren't a member. The ISFR package is for Feb. 26 to Mar. 25, 2022. It includes welcome reception, daily breakfast, general meeting, gala banquet, and photo. It costs $350 before Nov. 30, 2021. It does not include lodging, lift tickets, airfare, airport transfer, or optional activities. Join ISFR at https://isfrski.org/Join. Ski Week info at https://isfrski.org/Banff.
Tom Gemmill is always looking for ideas to add to the list of potential programs. Thanks to those that have come up with ideas. He currently has a list of over twenty five ideas to work on. If you have any ideas, please contact Tom at tomgemmill.tg@gmail.com.
The programs the Lancaster Rotary Club has are truly phenomenal. Kudos to Tom for such great programs and for all of the effort he puts into tracking down and scheduling these speakers and getting their programs summaries, bios and introducers. Great job Tom! We appreciate it.
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Amazon Smile Contributes to Rotary Club of Lancaster
Remember when shopping on line 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!
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 Kathy by e-mailing her atRotaryClubofLancaster@gmail.com. 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
y Season Everyone,
Lancaster Rotary has honored those in our community who have dedicated their lives to community service through our annual Community Service award, as well as three students from the Lancaster City high schools that have done the same. This year, in addition to those awards, we are expanding our reach with a different kind of awardee--an every day hero. 
In a recent article, John Germ, Trustee Chair for the Rotary Foundation indicated that the Foundation is the “heart” of Rotary. “The Foundation combines our emotional response of compassion with pragmatic action. With both heart and brains, we can change the world.” (ref. Nov 2021 Rotary magazine, page 58) Fellow Rotarian Germ did a great job in voicing what I believe about the Foundation. The Rotary Foundation, for me, has always been a great place to invest my charitable contributions to improve the fundamentals (clean water, health, education, world peace, and now environmental support) in a safe and prudent manner. My journey with the Foundation began in 1986 with my first contribution to the Polio Plus campaign. Now, 35 years later, I can see that the end of the polio virus is near; one of many Foundation accomplishments. When did your journey begin? If your journey continues or you are contemplating your first contribution to the Rotary Foundation, here are some methods you can consider. .png){kind=small}
Lancaster Rotarians have been volunteering for 
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