Posted by Bill Harkey on Dec 13, 2017
Carlisle’s two Rotary Clubs conducted their annual holiday dinner and auction on December 8th at the Comfort Suites in Carlisle. Thanks to very generous donations and sponsorships, it raised $17,099.  Proceeds from the auction will benefit the Cumberland County Historical Society’s "Pocket Park" adjacent to its building located at 21 North Pitt Street.

Funds raised by the event will support Rotary's themed project called “Rest and Refresh” in the park.  The “Rest” aspect is the purchase of four hardwood benches that will offer people a place to sit and relax at the park. The “Refresh” aspect will be Rotary-labeled bottles of water providing facts about water around the world. Signage in the park will direct visitors inside the Historical Society’s building for free water, compliments of the Rotary Clubs. Signage near the refrigerator will provide facts about Rotary’s clean water efforts internationally.  

Event Chairperson Cindy Gleim-Pool noted, “The auction success was a team effort between the members of both the Rotary Clubs. Carlisle-Sunrise Rotarians Larenda Twigg and Marv Salsman took the lead in soliciting numerous local and national businesses for donations.  Along with fellow Rotarians, they generated dozens of silent and live auction items. Carlisle Rotarian Bill Blankmeyer took the lead in soliciting sponsorships, generating almost $6,000.  It was a truly awesome effort! ”
  
According to Blankmeyer, "The original goal was to raise $8,500.  The bottom line is that our Rotarians and guests were amazingly generous once again. After we pay for the 4 benches, the design of a new logo for our Rotary water bottles and the signage inside the Historical Society that tells our Rotary story, we will have sufficient funds to sustain our Rotary water supply for years to come – VICTORY!!"
 
Gleim-Pool had particular praise for Comfort Suites.  "The Comfort Suites has the perfect combination of superb customer service and a kitchen that produces first class meals!   We appreciate all the extra work the staff did to make this a successful event.  From adding a separate wine area to helping with the growing Silent Auction table needs…anything we needed was taken care of quickly and with total professionalism."   
 
The new "pocket park" includes benches, trees, a walking path and “landmark lines” pointing in the direction of historical attractions throughout the county. "It is designed to both enhance the historical society’s visibility and create an outdoor location for people to rest in the downtown. It also will be a setting for outdoor lectures, concerts and history programs," according to Jason Illari, Executive Director of the Historical Society.
 
During the event, both clubs presented awards to outstanding members for service to their individual clubs and to the community.  Carlisle-Sunrise presented its Buzz Coho Distinguished Service Citation, in honor of the late Buzz Coho who was instrumental in the formation of the club over 14 years ago, to Marv Salsman.  Carlisle Rotary presented its Rotary 4-Way Test Award to Bill Blankmeyer.
 

Marv Salsman, recipient of the Rotary Club of Carlisle-Sunrise's Buzz Coho Distinguished Service Citation, smiles with Club President Rena Geesaman at the joint Christmas party put on by the Rotary Club of Carlisle and the Rotary Club of Carlisle-Sunrise.

 

Rotary Club of Carlisle's Rotary 4-Way Test Award recipient Bill Blankmeyer with wife Barbara (center) and Rotary Club of Carlisle President Kathleen Stoup at the joint Christmas party put on by the Rotary Club of Carlisle and the Rotary Club of Carlisle-Sunrise.

 
PDG Kevin ("Fuzzy") Cogan and Rotary Exchange Student Gustavo Benedetti (Brazil) share a moment at the recent joint Christmas party put on by the Rotary Club of Carlisle and the Rotary Club of Carlisle-Sunrise.
 
Both Carlisle Rotary Clubs want to thank the many local, regional and national businesses, merchants and individuals who donated to make this effort such a success, and invite community members to join one of the two Rotary clubs. The Carlisle-Sunrise Rotary Club meets on Tuesday mornings at 7:15 am in the Market Cross Pub. The Carlisle Rotary Club conducts a lunch meeting at noon on Thursdays at the Comfort Suites. Additional information about the two clubs can be found at http://www.carlislesunrotary.com/ and http://www.carlislerotary.org/