The Pandemic has certainly been an adjustment for all of us. For several years, we have used Zoom to attend the meetings and it has helped us "see one another". Thankfully, our weekly in -person member attendance has increased. In order for the Rotary Club of Lancaster to get back to some sort of normalcy, the Board has decided on "No Zoom in June". We would like to have in-person meetings only and see all of you, our members, back and seated at the tables at the Farm & Home Center. We most certainly will enjoy the conversations with one another (in-person) as we had prior to the Pandemic.
Wed., May 4, 2022 - Hybrid Meeting:
"Dana Hanchin, President & CEO &
Michel Gibeault, Board of Directors"
HDC MidAtlantic
On average, Housing Development Corporation MidAtlantic receives more than 100 inquiries a day from people needing affordable housing. In 2021, they had to close 18 waiting lists for HDC communities because the wait exceeded three years. The affordable housing crisis continues to grow.
75% of their 4,000 residents have accessed a critical service or program through Resident Services. These benefits include access to healthy food, rental and utility assistance, eviction prevention, mental health support, financial counseling, and educational programs. Over the course of the year, this amounted to nearly $485,000 in cost savings for residents.
To increase supply and access to housing, HDC officially launched an advocacy initiative to inform and influence elected officials and policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels. Our advocacy goals include:
Increasing resources for, and access to, affordable housing
Improving quality of life for residents
Serving as affordable housing resouces for policymakers
Dana Hanchin serves as President and CEO of HDC MidAtlantic. Hanchin has 25 years of experience addressing the complex needs of lower-income communities and building and leading affordable housing initiatives. Hanchin considers the mission of providing affordable housing her lifelong work, driven by a sense of justice and love, to meet the overwhelming need. She earned a B.A in Political Science from Kent State University and M.A. in Urban Studies from Temple University. She is also a graduate of Drexel University’s Leading for Change Fellowship program. When not working, Hanchin enjoys riding her bike, mixing amazing cocktails, and taking long walks with her wife and two rescue pups, Ellie and Gabe.
Michel Gibeault is on the HDC Board of Directors. He was with High Construction in Lancaster County where he was Vice President of Business Development. Gibeault is a graduate of Boston Architectural College.
Rotary Rendezvous is BACK IN PERSON! Thanks to all who supported us at the last event.
Please join us for Rotary Rendezvous on Wednesday, May 11th between 5-5:30pm for drinks with dinner to follow. We hope to see you there! - Rendezvous Committee. Details will be announced
Next month, Rotary Rendezvous and Membership committees team up!
We are pleased to announce a new monthly fireside chat program in conjunction with Rendezvous starting on May 11th. Please see the details below.
Fireside chat will take place for new members starting at 5pm. Following the chat, we will invite new members to stay for Rendezvous to enjoy an evening of fellowship with current and prospective members for dinner and drinks.
Our hope is to make the onboarding process easier for new members to join. Please let Chuck Blumenstock, Kaitlyn Blosser or another member of the membership committee know if you plan on attending a fireside chat so we can prepare the necessary materials.
Event Details:
Date: 2nd Wednesday of each month
May 11th
June 8th
July 13th
Time: 5pm - 5:30pm
Location: Southern Market of Lancaster
100 S Queen Street Lancaster, PA
Parking: Steinman Parking
35 S Prince St, Lancaster, PA 17603
New member has been proposed for membership into our Club:
Don Schaller (sponsor is Chip Kirchner). The Board has approved the new member. If no objections are received by Club members, he will be inducted as soon as he is available to do so.
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Wheels, Wings & 5K Committee Announces Date: June 25
The Wheels, Wings, & 5K Committee meetings will be on the 16th and 23rd. Signup sheets are available at meetings, or call Jamie. Volunteers are being solicited for all positions. Please join them to make our Club's signature community event and fundraiser a roaring success this year. Now they need volunteers to 1) collect items for grab bags and the raffle, 2) do marketing at car shows, 3) develop online registration for vendors and attendees, 4) develop the 4K, and 5) seek sponsorships.
Gil Lyons announced that the Lancaster Rotary Regatta is coming back September 23 to 25. Several sail boats have been lined up. Motor boats are invited to visit. Details will become available. For more information contact Gil.
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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.
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!
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Joys & Concerns
Joy: President Rob said it was a joy when Bill Boben made it when he took a running jump onto the stage to welcome visitors.
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
On average, Housing Development Corporation MidAtlantic receives more than 100 inquiries a day from people needing affordable housing. In 2021, they had to close 18 waiting lists for HDC communities because the wait exceeded three years. The affordable housing crisis continues to grow.
Wings, & 5K Committee meetings will be on the 16th and 23rd. Signup sheets are available at meetings, or call Jamie. Volunteers are being solicited for all positions. Please join them to make our Club's signature community event and fundraiser a roaring success this year. Now they need volunteers to 1) collect items for grab bags and the raffle, 2) do marketing at car shows, 3) develop online registration for vendors and attendees, 4) develop the 4K, and 5) seek sponsorships. 
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