
Hatboro Dish
Hatboro, PA 19040
United States of America
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11/15/23
Rotarians around the world chose projects that truly put service above self. Here are just a few that we’re highlighted in The past month:
In Bowling Green, KY, a tornado and subsequent electrical fire destroyed the African American Museum. The Rotary Club acquired a $10,000 disaster relief grant from their district to donate to the museum. In addition, a dozen local rotarians attended workshops on archiving and helped the museum restore its artifacts.
In Jamaica, the Rotary Club of Kingston learned there is a shortage of housing for people with limited mobility. With donations from the Rotary Club of Naples, in Florida, the club was able to refurbish a housing complex. They were able to raise the heights of toilets, add support bars in the restrooms and install new countertops, sinks and kitchen cupboards to improve accessibility.
In Portugal, the Rotary Club of Almancil International is dedicated to serving the needs of youth, especially those with autism spectrum disorders and Down syndrome. Members sponsor activities such as surfing lessons and animal therapy. Recently, they raised money to build a sensory room at a local school. The sensory room includes state-of-the-art music, sensory lights and a soothing waterbed that helps to calm students, improve visual and auditory skills and regulate their behavior.
Rotary statement on the conflict in Israel and Gaza
Recognizing there has been protracted suffering in the long history of conflict between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza, Rotary International urges all parties to seek avenues to peace.
At the same time, we unequivocally condemn the horrific attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians and are appalled at the number of people who have been injured, killed, and kidnapped.
As the war between Israel and Hamas intensifies, we remain deeply concerned about the potential for further escalation as well as the loss of life and the humanitarian crisis that is occurring in Gaza. We denounce the violence against innocent civilians and support upholding international humanitarian law.
Peacebuilding is both a cornerstone of Rotary’s mission and one of our areas of focus. At our core, Rotary is a common ground for people to come together – across nationalities and religions, cultures and histories – and connect around their shared belief in a better tomorrow. That connection is what humanizes us in times of conflict and builds a foundation for lasting peace.
Rotary remains committed to working with our members, partners, and communities to find long-term, sustainable solutions that support peace and development in the region and elsewhere.
- Happy Rotary Anniversary to Russ 46 years in Rotary on 25 Nov
- Happy Rotary Anniversary to Jillian 6 years in Rotary on 22 Nov
- Hatboro Annual Holiday Parade 2-4, Sun. November 19th. Hatboro Rotary will be in the parade. Please let Lisa know if you will be walking with Rotary.
- HAT Packs night will be AFTER Thanksgiving at 5:30pm on Tuesday, November 28th, 2023. The pack will be held at Pennypack Community Center. Please let Lisa know if you will be attending.
- SAVE THE DATE! Hatboro Rotary Holiday Party will be held on Wednesday December 6th, 2023, Details to follow.
- ROTARY ANNIVERSARY: Alex 4years
- BIRTHDAYS: Katrina Nov 12 ; Marty Nov 14
- Wedding Anniversary: Don and Karyn Nov 15
- Thoughts go out to Jesse and to Art..Get Well Both of you. Many prayers of healing!
- Service Above Self! Hatboro Rotarians working with Pennypack Trust to “free the trees” of vines along the Pennypack Creek. Way to go, Hatboro Rotary!
- BOODLE BRIGADE: It is that time of year! Time to send Boxes of caring to Service Members overseas. Barb R heads up this project. Recently Lisa sent out an email with the link to what is needed. If you can't find it, give Barb R a call!
- Recently Lisa Visited our boy Scout Troop 17 to present them with a donation from their Rotary Club!
- Plant trees! Lets Help the Borough!!When: November 18th at 9:00 AMWhere: Pennypack Center, 130 Spring Avenue, HatboroPre-register at Borough Hall
- No Meeting Wed before Thanksgiving!
- Frank Jarrett: Served between 1953 to 1956 in the US Navy’s United States Pacific Fleet.
- Nancy Guenst: Served between 1977 to 1979 in the US Army as an analyst and German translator at Field Station Berlin.
- Alex Myers: Served in the US Army as a Korean Linguist in California and at the former Willow Grove Joint Naval Air Base as an Intelligence Analyst.
- Tom Finerghty: Served between 1969 to 1971 in the US Army as a Rank E-5 (Sergeant). Tom served in the 1st Calvary Division Air Mobile, stationed in Phuoc Vinh Combat Base, Vietnam. Tom was as a Helicopter repair technician working on Huey Gunships.
- Barbara Schupeltz: Served for 27 years between 1967 to 1994 in the US Navy. Barbara served at Camp Pendleton, Yokosuka Japan, Adak Alaska, Oakland CA, La Maddalena Sardinia, San Diego, Key West FL, Naples Italy, Okinawa Japan. She served in several capacities such as staff nurse, Ward Charge nurse, Supervisor, and Director of Nursing Barbara retired as a Captain in 1994
- Mike Kearns: Served for 21 years in the US Air Force. His service included a year of reconnaissance In the EB66 over Vietnam, Mike received the Distinguished Flying Cross for one of those missions. Other places he served flying the F4 Phantom were Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, South Korea, Germany, Spain and Turkey. U.S. bases included Arizona, Florida, Nevada and Texas. Mike retired as a Major in 1987.
Matt presented to the club on The Science of Pain:
Pain is a necessary and essential part of life. It's a good thing…really!
Pain is a complex phenomena meant to act as a temporary deterrent to potentially harmful stimuli.
Pain is absolutely context dependent and a subjective experience.
The longer pain exists, the less likely it is directly attributable to a specific pathology/injury.
Physical changes within the brain occur with chronic pain (pain in existence >3 months) that can perpetuate the pain experience.
An elevated sensitivity to a region can be modified in many ways. Physical therapists use several modalities for treatment, education and movement are the primary.
The brain is plastic - we can readily make changes in its wiring, resulting in reduced pain levels.
Matt Fackner https://www.willowgrovept.com/

- The Rotary Club of Silicon Andhra, California hosted a webinar about the need for stem cell donors, particularly donors from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Blood stem cells can be used to treat and cure more than 75 diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell disease, inherited immune-deficiency disorders and aplastic anemia. Lack of diversity among donors is a problem because the success of stem cell transplants is dependent on the match of specific genetic markers, and the chances of a match are higher if they are the same ethnicity. A Rotarian from Austin, TX saw the webinar, documented his stem cell donation and, partnering with the organization “Be the Match”, is now spreading awareness to Rotary Clubs nationwide about the stem cell donor registration drives.
- Rotary Youth Exchange builds peace, one young person at a time. As a student in the Rotary Youth Exchange program, a young person can learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens. Exchanges for students ages 15-19 are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries.
- *This past summer has seen an unusual amount of climate disasters in many parts of the world. Rotary members across the globe have taken action to aid victims of extreme heat, wildfires, and floods. The Rotary clubs of Rhodes in Greece have started two fundraisers that have raised more than $10,000 for victims who have been displaced by wildfires in Greece. Rotary clubs across Pakistan have worked together to rebuild villages that have been destroyed by massive flooding in their country. Rotary clubs in Korea lending a helping hand to clean out homes that have been destroyed by heavy rains and landslides in July.
THE ACADEMY
The SETI Institute & Kutztown University
Established with: SETI Education Staff, & District Rotarians
Complete with: State of the art labs & equipment, a planetarium, observatory, dorms & cafeteria for the students.
STEM-based education delivers more than science and mathematics concepts. The focus of STEM curriculum on hands-on learning with real-world applications helps develop a variety of skill sets that our modern world depends upon. 21st-century skills include media and technology literacy, productivity, social skills, communication, flexibility, and initiative. Other skills attained through STEM education include problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, curiosity, decision-making, leadership, entrepreneurship, acceptance of failure, and more. Regardless of the future career path these children consider, these skill sets go a long way to preparing them to be innovative and positively contributing members of society. We seek to deliver an immersive STEM curriculum that sparks intellectual curiosity and a love of lifelong learning. STEM is critical to building a more secure future based on science, humanity, and understanding commensurate with Rotary International.
Our guest speakers today were Lisa ( HHS Faculty) Evan and Billy HHS students who attended this year's academy. The them of this year's academy: Astro Biology, search for Mars. Some of the things the students researched: the size of the solar system; tested different hypotheses; DNA testing ; Mars Rover (square wheels?). They did have evening Movie Night but the Movie usually connected to the pregram . One movie was "Hidden Figures". To learn more about the program go tohttps://stemyea.com/index.html
"Astrobiology, the Search for Life on Mars"
2023 STEM YEA CURRICULUM MODULES
Introduction to Mars
Mars in the Night Sky
Scale of the Solar System
Planetary Features
Rift valleys, hydrology, volcanos, lava tubes, craters, atmosphere, temperature
Life on Mars
Getting to Mars
Mission Briefings and Objectives for projects
Energy
Communication
Food/medical/water
Transport


- Critical financial Assistance
- Transitional Housing...Villages (rent and utility free housing)
- Transitional Homes for Veterans
- Permanent homes for Veterans
- Back to School Brigade: backpacks full of school supplies for Military children
- Holiday Meals for Military: Providing a holiday meal to individual military families.
- You can make a donation online by clicking the link below. There is a section where you can donate to urgent needs! If you are in need of assistance, there is a link where you can sign up for help

Speaking to us today is Ella Warden recipient of Hatboro Rotary 2023 academic scholarship. Ella will be attending Yale University beginning in Aug majoring in computer sciences. Ella served as Interact President during her junior and senior years at H-H (following in her sister's footsteps). Ella has participated in Rotary events especially Lobster Pot. During her tenure as President of Interact, she started a program of making cards for young cancer patients who were hospitalized. The children loved the cards and put them on their walls in their hospital rooms. Ella is an avid rower and rows at Whitemarsh Boat Club. She was accepted to go train at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Facility in California. Not only will she compete for Yale University, but she has also been competing with Team USA on the U19 US Team. After intense training in Chula Vista, the team travelled to Florida to participate in the CanAmMex regatta (United States, Canada, and Mexico). The two races she participated in both received Gold Medals. Presenting Ella her first check for $6000 is Scholarship chairman Jonathan R. Ella has a bright future ahead of her and we look forward to hearing of her accomplishments. (Permission to use Ella's photo on this page was granted by her Mother) ![]() Ella And Scholarship Chairman Jonathan R Ella in Chula Vista |
- 2-hour Tutor Orientation Class
- (4) 3-hour Tutor Training Workshops (total training = 13.5 hours)
- Sunday 7/16 Service Project 8 AM at Pennypack. Bring your gloves and help plant the gardens.
- July 29 We will have a tent at Moonlight Memories Car Show. Please volunteer for an hour or so to advertise Rotary and our Sept Lobster Pot.
Rotary Moment 7/12/23
Just like Hatboro Rotary welcomed our new president, Lisa Grace, Rotary International welcomed new president Gordon McInally. Gordon is a retired dentist from South Queensferry, Scotland. His theme for the 23-24 Rotary year is “Create Hope in the World”. Gordon explained that the goal is to restore hope to help the world heal from destructive conflicts and to help achieve lasting change.
He has 3 presidential initiatives:
Prioritizing mental health. Gordon feels passionately about this initiative, especially after losing his brother to suicide in 2014. To prioritize mental health, Rotary Clubs can thinking about ways to 1. Erase any stigma associated with discussion of emotional well-being, 2. Raise awareness of mental health needs, and 3. Improve access to mental health services.
Building peace through virtual exchanges. Gordon believes that Rotary has a long history of promoting peace through connections. Covid-19 has given us many ways to build connections through innovative technology and we can use virtual platforms for peace building throughout the international Rotary community. Gordon sees virtual platforms within our Rotary Youth Exchanges and Rotary Friendship Exchanges as a great way to improve intercultural dialogue, awareness and understanding.
Empowering girls. Gordon will continue the initiatives started by past presidents, Shekhar Mehta (2021-2022) and Jennifer Jones (2022-2023) that focused on elevating the voices and unlocking the power of girls and women around the world. He encourages Rotary Clubs to keep finding ways to improve the health, well-being, education, economic security and agency of girls.


The Millbrook Society was founded in 1984 at the request of the late Mrs. Charles Harper Smith of Horsham Township, PA. The vision of Mrs. Smith and the Society's founders was to honor the legacy of Charles Harper Smith who was a renowned local historian, educator, and author. The original intent of the Society was to receive and hold in trust the land and buildings that make up the Kenderdine Mill tract called "Millbrook." They also were tasked with continuing the late Charles Harper Smith's work in the areas of preservation and education of local, state, and national history. Unfortunately, the only thing they obtained was the name "Millbrook". Although they did not obtain any land, the mission of the society has not changed. They continue to work for the preservation, protection and education of history. Currently they are planning to scan many very old documents to preserve the information for the future. All members of the Society are volunteers. What is their mission?
PRESERVATION…collecting and maintaining artifacts, documents, manuscripts, and maps.PROTECTION… archaeology, and recording and researching historical data on buildings and other assets.EDUCATION… presentations, programs, publications, reenactments, and related activities.
You may see members of Millbrook at Moland House on an Archeological Dig, participating in reenactments, history fairs. researching old homes and buildings in Hatboro, giving classes on the history of areas in Hatboro to school children and adults as well. Growing out of their current spaces, they will be moving to space in the Pennypack Community building in the near future. Many of their archives will remain in their spaces at the Baptist Church. Millbrook does interact with MANY other organizations (a listing is on their website.) As with many organizations, they are looking for new members as well as active volunteers to assist in their many projects.
Would you like to know more? Click the link to the website to see a list of events, publications, news of the society, other organizations and membership information. http://millbrooksociety.org/mbs/links.ashx
- updated club procedural manual
- brought back Rotary Moments thanks to Barb R. volunteering.
- Tony, Foundation Chair recognized members who received Paul Harris Fellow awards (Tom B. Barb S, Karen and others)
- Under Barb R and Darlene's leadership, Selected and sent local HHH Students to STEM YEA program and Leadership training at Camp Neidig.
- Scholarship Committee under Jonathan's leadership selected two HHHS to receive scholarships.
- Under Lisa's guidance, our first Bingo in the Borough Night raised over $11,000 which will be used in the community.
- As a group we also had time to relax for some group fellowship. One night a week we gather for happy hour, visiting local businesses or for a community service project such as holiday wrapping; making bags to donate to H.A.T packs. or helping H.A.T Packs make up 300plus bags of food which than are given to children.
- Presence in the community: participating in Moonlight Memories to promote the club and Lobster Pot; Rotary Interview with George and Marty on WRDV Radio; Successful Lobster Pot event headed by Bob J. which yielded $10,576 which will be used in the community; Jillian's Husband obtained $1000 from Coloran when they were asking for ways to help families after an earthquake. John shared about our Shelterbox fundraising and the company gave him the funds to help purchase another shelterbox.
- Alex was successful in writing and obtaining a Rotary District 7430 grant of $14693 to purchase a "We-Go Swing for Hatboro Memorial Park Playground that will allow Children in wheelchairs to enjoy the playground.
- We also have members who regularly volunteer in the community helping food pantries (Sue, Art, Barb) and regularly help H.A.T. Packs pack food for children (Kathy, Karen, Mike)
Rotary Moment 6/7/23
The Rotary International Convention was held in Melbourne, Australia in May. The convention was organized around this year’s theme “Imagine Rotary” and attendees participated in sessions that focused on promoting peace, protecting the environment, and eradicating polio. Next year’s convention will be held in Singapore and will revolve around the 23-24 theme “Sharing Hope With the World”.
At the convention, Rotary International President, Jennifer Jones, announced the recipient of the third annual Programs of Scale award. This year’s recipient is United to End Cervical Cancer in Egypt, an initiative to reduce the number of cases while raising awareness and improving women’s access to preventive care. The four-year program in and around Cairo will vaccinate more than 30,000 girls ages 9-15, provide cancer screenings for 10,000 women, and launch a public awareness campaign to reach 4 million people.
Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Gaby Morena performed at the convention. She also traveled to Guatemala with Rotary International President Jennifer Jones as part of Jones’ Imagine Impact Tour. Their trip to Guatemala included visits to the schools supported by The Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP). The GLP is one of the largest grassroots, multi-club, multi-district projects in Rotary. The focus is to improve education for underserved students in Guatemala. To date the program has served more than 278,000 students.
- Congratulations to Jonathan and Beth who are celebrating 31 years of marriage.
- Our club is sponsoring 2 students to Camp Neidig. Stay tuned for their presentation to the club after they return.
- Once again Thank you Lisa for all you did for Bingo in the Borough! We can now start planning for next year!!
- Congratulations to Karen who received her 2nd PHF. A reminder to club members if you sign up for automatic payments, you can achieve a PHF faster, Thank you for supporting Rotary Foundation!
- Don't forget June 21 meeting is change over time. We salute and thank Marty for his leadership this Rotary year and we congratulate and welcome Lisa as our new club president!
- June 28 is our night out and we are going to play a little corn hole! We hope and pray for no rain!