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We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Robin Scaer after her valiant battle against cancer.
Robin had been an active member of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg from 2007 until 2014 when she transferred jobs and joined the Rotary Club of Carlisle. In the Rotary Club of Harrisburg, Robin served on the Board of Directors and was the 2012 recipient of the Robert D. Hanson Award of Rotary Excellence. We will miss her dearly.
President James Good called the meeting to order promptly at noon, unable to resist his “jab” to the Kansas City fans on their Super Bowl loss. Moving on to business, James called on Karen Good to offer the invocation, followed by our own Rotarian Norma Swain on piano with a beautiful rendition of Let It Be. President James noted that we miss hearing Norma in person and look forward to being together again in future. President James lead us in the reciting the pledge, along with the Rotary Four Way Test.President James Good called the meeting to order promptly at noon, unable to resist his “jab” to the Kansas City fans on their Super Bowl loss. Moving on to business, James called on Karen Good to offer the invocation, followed by our own Rotarian Norma Swain on piano with a beautiful rendition of Let It Be. President James noted that we miss hearing Norma in person and look forward to being together again in future. President James lead us in the reciting the pledge, along with the Rotary Four Way Test.
Prior to turning over the meeting to our program, President James made the following announcements:
Proceeds from our lunch funds for the day are being donated to the Salvation Army, Capitol City Region
President James thanked the past participants for their volunteering at the Food Bank and reminded us that our next volunteer opportunities have been scheduled for February 22nd and March 22nd. Please register on line if you wish to participate
There will be a virtual Happy Hour on Wednesday, February 10th and a virtual coffee get together on February 15th.
Thanks to the ongoing support of our corporate members!
President James reminded us of the opportunity through the Rotary Learning Center that is available at LearnRotary.org
Nominations for the Rotary Club of Harrisburg board are now open. If interested, please contact Past President Andy, the nominations chair.
President James introduced our new member Mary Kuna to introduce herself to the club. Mary, after returning to her roots in Northeastern Pennsylvania, recently returned back to our area to accept the position as the Executive Director of the Cumberland County Redevelopment Authority. Mary attended the University of Scranton and obtained her masters in urban planning from the University of Delaware. In her role as the Executive Director of the Cumberland County Redevelopment Authority, Mary is involved in all aspects of housing throughout the county. Mary resides with her cat in Lower Allen Township. Welcome Mary!!
President James turned the meeting over to Rotarian Ellen Brown to introduce our speaker and program. Prior to introducing our program, Rotarian Ellen recognized our former head of the program committee Bob Hostetter, lovingly known as the “Czar”. Bob successfully headed up our program committee for many years and it took 4 people to replace him….thanks Bob for your many years of dedicated service to our club!!
For the past 40 years, Lenwood Sloan has provided inspiration, leadership and technical assistance both in the public and private sector. On October 7, 2013, Mr. Sloan received the Distinguished Service Humanitarian award from Pennsylvania Humanities Council for his outstanding work in community organizing. From 2005 to 2011, Mr. Sloan served as director of Pennsylvania’s Cultural and Heritage Tourism Program.
In August, a new monument celebrating African American history was erected on the Pennsylvania state Capitol grounds. The best way that Lenwood Sloan, executive director of the project, could think to honor the memory was by introducing people to the families that once lived in the neighborhood.
Lenwood Sloan introduced us to the “Gathering as the Crossroads” monument and to Thomas Morris Chester, who’s figure is depicted as part of this monument. The “Gathering at the Crossroads” monument, designed by Lancaster-area sculptor Becky Ault, features four figures who lived or spoke in the Old 8th Ward: Thomas Morris Chester, Jacob T. Compton, William Howard Day and Frances Ellen Walker Harper. It also includes the names of 100 prominent African-Americans who lived in Harrisburg in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Thomas Morris Chester (1834-1892) was an Old 8th Ward native, and the son of abolitionists, Chester recruited Black troops during the Civil War and led two military units in the defense of Harrisburg during the Confederate invasion of 1863. He also was a war correspondent for the Philadelphia Press. After the war, he was a leading and influential member of the Black community in Harrisburg and elsewhere. Growing up in Harrisburg, he lived at 314 Chestnut Street, at the current site of the International House. His family owned the “Oyster House” at the current site of the Whitaker Center. There is a plaque in front of the Whitaker Center commemorating Thomas Morris Chester.
At the November unveiling of the final sculptures celebrating the historic role African Americans played in Harrisburg, the Dauphin County Library System received the honor of being asked to continue the project’s message of understanding and cultural diversity announced the “T. Morris Chester Welcome Center” will occupy the central location of the planned expansion of the McCormick Riverfront Library.
Prior to answering a few questions, Lenwood took the opportunity to thank Rotarian Jeb Stewart for his many of hours that he dedicated to the approval and completion of this project.
Prior to closing the meeting, President James reminded us that there was no meeting next Monday due to the President Day Holiday (It’s also Valentines Day) and that our next meeting would be held on February 22nd with Dr. Carter, President of Shippensburg University.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:50.
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