As things can happen, we’ve had a small challenge with the Foundation Dinner! The original hotel is not able to host us, so, we’ve rolled with it! New date – and a new venue. Our dinner will be November 9th at the Gettysburg Hotel, a beautiful setting to celebrate all we’ve accomplished in the 2023-2024 Rotary year.
Please join us at One Lincoln Square on the 9th, starting with a cash bar at 4:45 p.m. After enjoying a bit of fellowship, we’ll enjoy a pleasant meal and then hear about the fabulous projects done in 2023-2024. We’ll feature a project or two and distribute Rotary Foundation awards.
The cost to attend is $65 per person. Registration will CLOSE on November 1 at 12:00 Noon.
AGENDA:
4:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. - Cash bar/Networking
5:45 p.m. - Welcome and YE Parade of Flags
6:00 p.m. - Dinner
7:15 p.m. Formal Program and 2023-2024 Rotary Foundation Awards
On September 12, the Rotary Clubs of Carlisle and Carlisle Sunrise hosted and sponsored in partnership with Venue and Special Event Sponsor Dickinson College's Popel Shaw Center and its A.C.E. Peer Mentor program one of the most successful and innovative District 7390 RMB events since its inception in 2014. Some 34 Rotarians and guests from six district clubs (Carlisle, Carlisle Sunrise, Hershey, Mechanicsburg-North, D7390 Passport, and West Shore) and roughly 15 A.C.E. Peer Mentor students gathered to network, make connections and enjoy the fun and fellowship of RMB. The A.C.E. Peer Mentor program seeks to assist incoming first year students adjust to campus life with the help of the sophomore, junior and senior year students.
Special kudos to the work of Travis Soprano and Kim Lockwood in explaining Rotary and what it does in the world. The A.C.E. Peer Mentors Senior Coordinator, Isaiah Banuelos Class of 2025, helped Rotarians understand what the A.C.E. Student Mentor program does to help incoming first year students. He did a wonderful job and showed great enthusiasm and belief in the value of the program. PDG Alden Cunningham talked briefly about the Vision and Purpose of RMB and its evolution from its beginning in 1905. Dr. Yvette Davis also took a few moments to further explain the A.C.E. Mentor Program and the Popel Shaw Center's mission within Dickinson College. DGE Mary Brunski did a fabulous and very innovative job running the Circle exercise for what was a very large group of roughly 50 Rotarians and Students. She made the Circle fun for all. Carol Cunningham as the event photographer took some special photos of the event and its various phases.
All in all a very special time was enjoyed by everyone. Thank you to all involved. Our next RMB event will take place in November hosted by the Rotary Club of Hershey. Stay tuned for future announcements regarding this event.
Positive Peace is defined as a more lasting conceptualization of peace. Positive peace is built on “sustainable investments in economic development, institutions, and the societal attitudes that foster peace.” Positive Peace includes attitudes, institutions, and policies. It provides a framework to understand and address the many complex challenges facing the world.
For many years Hector Ortiz has been committed to peace creation, peacebuilding structures, and peace advocacy. Service above self has been his motto and a way to connect with the whole community. Hector is a fan of the Rotary Peace Centers and is delighted to know that 1,800 peace fellows are working for peace in the world.
After taking the Positive Peace Academy and participating in a one-day positive peace workshop in Singapore, before the Rotary International Convention, Hector got the motivation to keep growing in his positive peace journey. Hector was fully impressed by the information presented and the way the Institute for Economics and Peace conceived positive peace. Hector's doctoral thesis was on human rights, which catapulted him to an advocate for cultural, economic, and social rights.
Hector’s passion was strengthened after receiving the Positive Peace Activator nomination as part of the 32 North America & Caribbean cohort of peace activators is what influenced the commitment to create awareness, foster understanding, and promote peace-building initiatives to reinvigorate the need to recreate positive peace in our communities.
The Rotary Positive Peace Activator Program is a competitive application program training active Rotary members, Rotary Peace Fellows, and other Rotary stakeholders in specific regions on IEP’s Positive Peace framework and Rotary’s peace ecosystem. After a 20-hour training, Activators agree to a two-year service commitment, providing presentations, leading trainings, and supporting projects with Rotary-affiliated stakeholders.
Hector is committed to spreading positive peace knowledge and understanding and is willing to train others on the conceptualization of positive peace and the framework of peace-building models. It is not about telling one what to know, what to say, or what to do. In other words, “before you try to fix something, ask first” to understand it. See what is needed from your sight and see it from the sight of others; it is all about calling for unity by respecting and practicing listening skills to exercise effective communication and see things from other points of view. Hector will be available to speak at Rotary clubs and district functions to leverage the importance of positive peace and enhance community peace-building initiatives.
As you may realize, I am delighted that Rotary District 7390 is now considered a Global Peacebuilder District, due to the contributions Rotarians have made to the Rotary Foundation, the Peace Centers, and the peacebuilding and conflict prevention area of focus during the Rotary year 2023-24. As Global Peacebuilder District, Rotary clubs and Rotarians play an essential role “in supporting the work of the Rotary Peace Centers and our grassroots efforts in peacebuilding.” It is time to invent and reinvent peace.
What we all may agree is that Positive Peace must start with us, and it must be embedded in our attitudes, both individually and collectively. Stay tuned, it is just the beginning in our region as we move to create peacebuilding initiatives and reinvent ways to create more peaceful societies. Hector is willing to coordinate and speak at our Rotary Clubs at the club’s discretion.
The Rotary Veterans Initiative (RVI) together with the Penn State Harrisburg LaunchBox is hosting our 2ndVeteran’s Business Bootcamp. We’re excited to help veterans in our community get the support they need to launch their business ideas. During this program, we’re helping participants build their business plans and have an opportunity to win seed funding. We are looking for team coaches and program mentors.
We have 2 levels:
1) TEAM COACHES. We are looking for dedicated coaches who will:
Meet weekly with mentee between 10/1 - 11/12
Be willing to offer candid and constructive advice
Assist mentee with their evolving business plan and pitch presentation
Attend final Veteran's Pitch during our Startup Challenge Weekend, Nov 17, 3pm - 5pm
2) Program Mentors. Program mentors will:
Be available via email during the 8-week program to answer questions based on their availability
Review business plans and offer general advice
Offer general advice and expertise in key areas: Finance, HR, marketing, etc.
Wednesday, September 11, 2024, was the dedication ceremony for the RCWS's 5th Annual Flags for Heroes event.
Nearly 60 people gathered at the West Shore Theatre to commemorate the events of September 11, 2001; to celebrate the heroes in our own lives; and to dedicate the flags that are on display on the grounds of the Penn Harris Hotel.
For the fourth consecutive year, ABC27's Dennis Owens emceed the event. He reminded attendees that we must never forget the courage and sacrifice that our nation saw that day and where we were at on September 12.
Speaker Rev. Dr. Dilip Abayasekara shared about the heroes among us whether they be instant heroes, heroes for the long run, or purposeful heroes.
Baritone Matthew A. Robinson gave us goosebumps as he sang the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America.
Dr. William Stowman, Chair of the Department of Music at Messiah University, sent chills up and down spines with his haunting rendition of Taps.
Pictures and video are available on the club's Facebook page and the club website has been updated should club members wish to share the event with family, friends, sponsors, and/or potential sponsors.
Club member Rod Hite did an excellent job representing the club and we received excellent coverage from ABC 27 to include a live broadcast from the event itself.
Thank you to the Flags for Heroes Committee for their hard work and to the club members who were able to attend the ceremony: Samantha Stewartz, Gary Lougher, MaryAnn Payne, Rob and Amy Hall, Mark Knodel, Rick Sample, Bim Arthun, Rod Hite, Joe McNally, and Harry Scheidler.
As you're out and about in the community, please remember to also thank our corporate sponsors for their support!
2nd Annual September Songs - A Night of Music for Suicide Prevention
Matthew A. Robinson has supported Flags for Heroes since its first year in 2020. Dennis Owens has been the event emcee for four of the five years. Now we have a chance to show our support to Matthew and Dennis.
Tickets are on sale now for the 2nd Annual September Songs - A Night of Music for Suicide Prevention.
The District Learning Assembly is a chance for everyone to be inspired and learn more about how to make your club a success and for you to have an amazing year. It is relevant for all Club officers, leaders, and Rotarians to have the opportunity to increase their Rotary knowledge. We will be offering two tracks - you can decide if you want to attend the "Newer Rotarian" track or the "Experienced Rotarian" track based on your level of Rotary knowledge!
You will depart with an in depth understanding of topics such as member experience, service projects and fundraising (TRF and Club).
Join us Saturday, October 26, 2024 at Messiah University (One College Avenue, Mechanicsburg, PA) in Boyer Hall.
The Rotary Leadership Institute is an opportunity to meet with other Rotarians, share experiences, and learn new skills to take back to your club. You don't have to be in the leadership chain to benefit from this institute. If you want to learn more about this wonderful organization that we call Rotary, and find out what you can actually do to start changing the world, put attendance on your schedule.
When Can I Attend RLI? - Saturday, October 12, 2024 from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Central Penn College (600 Valley Road, Summerdale, PA 17093).
What is the Cost to attend RLI? - Rotary Clubs should pay for their members to attend RLI. The cost is $125 per Rotarian to attend.
What is RLI? - A leadership and development program to strengthen Rotary Clubs through education, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas among its future leaders. A three-part curriculum facilitated by experienced, trained faculty members engaging participants through open discussion, problem solving and creative role-play.
What will I learn at RLI? - More about Rotary, The Rotary Foundation, Membership, Ethics, Service Projects, Communications, Strategic Planning and Analysis. You’ll also make new friends and enjoy fellowship and networking opportunities.
Course Levels: Parts I, II, III and Graduate (Capturing the Value of our Impact)
Where can I find more information about RLI? www.rlinea.org.
Our District 7390 Rotary Veterans Initiative is sponsoring its second Veterans Business Bootcamp in partnership with Harrisburg Launchbox (Powered by Penn State). Please see the picture and share it with any Veterans you know who may be interested in starting their own business. They can learn more and register at: https://harrisburg.launchbox.psu.edu/veterans-business-bootcamp/.
Applications are due NLT Sept 20, 2024! Veterans or currently enlisted/commissioned in the US military are eligible. EVERY D7390 Rotarian is invited to see the Final Pitch Event. Think ‘Shark Tank,’ but kinder and gentler. This event will be conducted at Penn State Harrisburg’s Educational Activities Building on Sunday, Nov. 17th, from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. For more details, please contact Rick Coplen at rickcoplen@gmail.com or 717-706-0380.
If you would also like to help establish a new Veterans Rotaract Club, please contact Rick Coplen.
This event will include District 7430, 7390, 7490 and 7410, providing a wonderful opportunity for celebration, inspiration and fellowship. Not only will you enjoy the Conference but you will have access to a large range of family-friendly activities while here!
BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY and FEEL THE MAGIC!!!
Total Conference registration is $325 until September 30, then registration will increase to $350. Just want to attend on Saturday? Saturday ONLY registration is $200.
Friday, April 4
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Rotarian Check-In
5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception
6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Opening Session & Dinner
Saturday, April 5
7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast
8:30 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Plenary Session #1 - Peace
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Plenary #2 - Peace Fellowships
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch with Keynote Speaker
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
District Sessions - Four-Way Test SPEECH Contest Finals and ESSAY Winner Presentation
Wednesday, September 11, 2024, was the dedication ceremony for the RCWS's 5th Annual Flags for Heroes event.
Matthew A. Robinson has supported Flags for Heroes since its first year in 2020. Dennis Owens has been the event emcee for four of the five years. Now we have a chance to show our support to Matthew and Dennis. 
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