The Rotaryite - Current  May 19, 2010

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	THE ROTARYITE   Issued by the Morrisville-Yardley Area Rotary Club   Club No. 3435 Chartered Jan. 30 1928   Meets Thursdays, 6:15 P.M. Michael's Restaurant Unless announced otherwise
Vol. 68   No. 2		July 2010

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE 

July 1, 2010

Greetings!

I am very enthusiastic about this coming Rotary year. There is great fellowship among the members and the many friends of the club. There is great commitment to the ideas and purposes of Rotary. And there is great enthusiasm for building on what has been accomplished in the past and exploring new ideas.

And the Morrisville Yardley Area Rotary is definitely on the leading edge of the curve. Consider that the Rotary International theme for 2010-2011 is Building Communities – Bridging Continents and reflect on the words of the new RI President Ray Klinginsmith, “What I’m trying to do is create a culture of innovation where we can take a fresh look at everything we do, to see whether or not it’s a best practice or just a traditional practice. If we are already doing it in the best way, I don’t want to disturb it. But if we can find a better way to do it, then we need to start some new traditions.”

And there is the significant addition by Rotary International this year of a fifth Avenue of Service called New Generations Service. This avenue recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, involvement in community and international service projects, and exchange programs that enrich and foster world peace and cultural understanding.

So what is on our plate? First note that the name change is more than cosmetic. By changing the name we are recognizing the club’s commitment to the community beyond Morrisville. But also quickly note that we have at least two very significant new commitments to the Borough of Morrisville. First is the new Morrisville High School Leadership Academy that is being initiated this year. It is a great example of looking for a better way and not letting ourselves be hide-bound to tradition, in this case the Interact Club.

Second is the Rotaract and Friends project. This is intended to bring together some of the younger business and professional people in Morrisville who want to serve the community but may not be always willing to make a commitment to the traditions of the Rotary Club. By sponsoring and participating in the activities of the new organization, the Morrisville-Yardley Area Rotary Club will be serving the Building Communities part of the RI theme and the New Generations Avenue of Service.

Other new programs aimed at Developing Communities include the Ambassadors program that is intended to help us know our Rotary neighbors better and the Speakers Bureau which is aimed at developing better understanding and support of Rotary throughout the community. And with the new name there is added incentive to communicate with as many organizations and people as possible in the Morrisville-Yardley area.

Although there are several new initiatives in the works, we remain committed to the important existing programs, including the Trenton Soup Kitchen, the I Like Me and Dictionaries projects, Salvation Army Bell Ringing, Easter Egg Hunt, Camp Neidig, Boy Scout Leaders Recognition and support of the Family YMCA. We also intend to launch the Internet 4-Way Test project and complete the Rotary Recognition Garden in Williamson Park. Fundraising will see the addition of two new ideas, the History Dinner and the Fashion Show. The financial mainstays, the Gourmet Breakfasts and Carnivals, will be continued, as will the club’s financial commitments to PolioPlus, The Rotary Foundation, and Rotaplast.

Those who know me know that I believe one key to making Rotary enjoyable as well as productive is good planning and organizing. To that end the Board of Directors spent several months before the official beginning of this Rotary year developing an operational plan. It is a flexible guide that will help us “plan our work and work our plan”. It includes service, social and fundraising venues, all of which will be available for review on the web site.

A new approach to scheduling of speakers and social activities is being taken that will let everyone know well in advance as to what is planned. Details will be available on the club web site, which itself is being revised. The associated Planning Calendar is helping us avoid scheduling collisions and helps us spread out the various activities over time so as not to be a burden on anyone. “Commitment” is a good thing but “Burden” is not.

A rather specific Budget has been approved to provide the financial discipline to what we want to do. And a Monthly Cash Flow Analysis is being maintained by the Treasurer to make sure we are staying within our financial capabilities.

As noted earlier, to provide the financial where-with-all, there is a combination of old and new fundraisers being planned.

Of course this is all so many words without members, active enthusiastic members. We have a terrific start with the commitment of our existing membership, including the four new members last month. And there are specific plans in operation for identifying and attracting more candidates for membership.

For all of these reasons I am very excited about doing whatever I can to support each member in doing what he or she wants to do in bringing to life our motto, Service Above Self, and finding fulfillment and having fun in the process.

As one of our members likes to say, “Rock n Roll in Rotary!”

Hal Long

See Web Site Calendar for Upcoming Events

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Chaplain's Corner - Big E

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Without a foundation, even castles are little more than piles of stones. Stability and structure come before elegance and beauty.

But the lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.

Thessalonians 3:3

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Sergeant at Arms - Elias Jennett, Chair 

May		Barry Vannauker		Michele Fina
June		Elias Jennett		Merkle Cherry
July		Andy Thompson		Tom Miller
August		Hal Long		Tom Mack
September		Axel Augspach		Denis Lanctot
October		Michele Fina		Doug Miller

 
Program Responsibility - Barbara Nuzzolo, Chair 

June		Michele Fina
July		Barbara Nuzzolo
August
September
October
November

Birthdays

Rotarians		Spouses
June
13 Michele Fina
21 Peter Wisnosky
27 Lee Nolting
27 Barbara Nuzzolo
29 Denis Lanctot		27 Lu Jennett
July
August
26 Jimmy McNally

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Highlights

July 4, 2010

William W. Ingraham

Bucks County Courier Times

William Ingraham, of Yardley, died peacefully Sunday, June 27, 2010. He was 88.

A graduate of Lock Haven State University, he continued his education at Rutgers University and Lehigh University.

Mr. Ingraham began his career in 1947 as a social studies teacher in the Pennsbury School District. He moved on to become the youngest principal at Pennsbury High School where he selected the colors for Pennsbury, the Black and Orange. He also founded and coached the basketball program and the marching band.

He was so proud to see the Pennsbury marching band perform in the Rose Bowl Parade. He originated Sports Night which is a school tradition that has continued for 50 years.

Mr. Ingraham served as Superintendent of the Pennsbury Schools from 1963 until his retirement in 1973.

He watched over, guided and developed the construction of schools and watched this small district become one of the most respected in the state of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Ingraham was an Air Force Veteran of World War II, serving as a technical sergeant with the 20th Bombardment Squadron. He flew over 50 missions as a tail gunner on B-17 aircraft in the European African Middle Eastern Theater, earning an air medal with four oak leaf clusters as well as five bronze stars.

He was a member of the Morrisville Rotary and served on the Board of Directors of Lower Bucks Hospital.

A member of the Morrisville Presbyterian Church for more than 50 years, he served as a deacon and a trustee.

He continued working in the community working with the American Red Cross, as director of the Valley Day School, the anti- poverty agency, Bucks County Opportunity Council and the Bucks County Technical School.

He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Mary K. (Martin) Ingraham; daughter and son -in -law, Billie Marie and Paul Bosdyk of Rochester, N.Y.; sons, Martin W. Ingraham of Marlton, N.J. and Seth E. Ingraham of Yardley; a brother, Fred Ingraham (Betty), of Lititz; a sister, Eunice Brown of Lancaster; six grandchildren, Kimberly McInerney (Shawn), Amy Bianchi (Ken), Jason and Jessica Ingraham, Addison and Hailey Ingraham; and four great-grandchildren, Rylan, Maia, Jazz and Sierra; and several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his memorial service at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 9, in the Hutchinson Memorial Chapel of the Morrisville Presbyterian Church, 771 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Morrisville. The Rev. Dr. Ronald F. Rosenau will officiate. Interment, in Washington Crossing National Cemetery, will be held privately at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made, in Mr. Ingraham's name, to the charity of the donor's choice. J. Allen Hooper Funeral Home,

Morrisville

June 24, 2010

Morrisville-Yardley Area Rotary Club Gala Passing of the Gavel

President Axel Augspach and Incoming President Hal Long hosted a gala evening at their residences on Silver Lake in Lower Makefield Township. Members and guests were welcomed at Axel and Libby’s house by John Adams (aka Joe Doyle of Actors Net in Morrisville) for refreshments before being led up the street by Mr. Adams to Hal and Wanda’s house for a scrumptious buffet prepared by Wanda and her helpers. In addition to the traditional “Passing of the Gavel” ceremony, four new members were welcomed to the club: Manny Abalo, his wife Aneza Abalo, Sandy Gilleo and Luisa Proano (wife of member Juan Proano).

Please VIsit Our Photo Album for Pictures of the Festivities!

Rotarian Michele Fina, Director of the Morrisville YMCA

Previously Rotarian Michele Fina, Director of the Morrisville YMCA, talked to the club about the Y’s day care center which serves children from the age of 6 weeks up to the age of twelve. She and the staff are rightfully proud of the 4-Star rating of their pre-school program. This is the highest rating possible conferred by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the requirements are very rigorous and demanding. The value of this program in preparing children for elementary school has been attested to by the Morrisville schools. The community is fortunate to have such a quality program in its midst. The Morrisville YMCA is located at 200 N. Penssylvania Ave. For more information, call 215 736 8077.

May 18, 2009

Two local Rotarians were honored recently by other organizations for their exceptional volunteerism, the epitome of the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self”. 

Quoting from the Yardley News article of May 6, 2010, Rotarian Ted Fletcher was honored by the Ivins Outreach Center in Morrisville “for his dedication and tireless volunteerism”.  He headed the committee that developed the original concept and rationale for the Ivins Outreach Center and has devoted countless hours helping with the various community outreach programs of the Center as well as programs in his church, the Morrisville Presbyterian Church, and other community organizations, including the Morrisville Business Association, ActorsNET of Bucks County, the Morrisville Economic Development Corporation and, of course, the Morrisville Rotary Club.

One of the newest members of the club, Juan Proano, now living in Upper Makefield with his wife, Luisa, was honored by The Association of Retirees of the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C. as Volunteer of the Year. Juan was honored for “having devoted seventeen years of volunteer service and leadership to meeting the spiritual and social needs of Spanish-speaking prison inmates in the Washington, D.C metropolitan areas.” In 1986 Juan, who was working with the Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank, led the organizing of the Hispanic Council of the St. Raphael’s Parish. In 1998 Juan and began serving the Hispanic Prison Ministry through the parish at the Montgomery County Detention Center. In 2007 at the request of the Chaplain for the Washington, D.C., Jail, he began meeting with interested inmates and offering spiritual help and assistance in contacting their families. Shortly after retiring and moving to this area Juan joined the Rotary Club “as a way to continue his efforts to help the Community.”  And the Community is very fortunate that he did!

In a move to better serve more of the area around Morrisville, the club has changed its name to “The Morrisville-Yardley Area Rotary Club”. The club will continue working to improve the quality of life in Morrisville borough and at the same time be open to venues in the Yardley, Lower and Upper Makefield and surrounding areas.

The recent carnival in Williamson Park that the club sponsored was a big hit and it and the recent Gourmet Breakfast at the Morrisville United Methodist Church helped raised funds for various local and international Rotary projects. Local projects include I Like Me books for kindergarteners and dictionaries for third graders in Morrisville schools, Boy Scout Leader recognitions, the annual community Easter Egg Hunt, and support of the local YMCA and the Snipes Farm Educational Program. International projects include PolioPlus that is eliminating polio from the face of the earth and Rotaplast, a program that provides free corrective surgeries in remote parts of the world for those with cleft palates and lips. The club members also helped support Rotary relief efforts in Haiti and Peru through the backpack project for Haitian schoolchildren and ShelterBox shipments to both countries.

Club members continued to help serve food at the Trenton Food Kitchen once a month and there was the usual camaraderie at the weekly meetings, along with a wide range of interesting topics presented by speakers both within the club and outside. At recent meeting, designated “German Night” and featuring German wine and cuisine, the members, spouses and friends enjoyed a social evening at Michael’s Restaurant. It was topped off by a very moving story by club member Bill Grassel, who recounted his youth in Germany during World War II and his subsequent service in the U.S. Marines serving in Korea during the conflict there. Bill raised a family locally and retired from West Chester College, after having taught geography there for many years.