District Governor Judy Hughes visited our club to talk about her projects for the year and to help our club set our goals.
Judy then awarded Rotarian Dr Bill Clark the 4-Way Test Award. Dr Clark exemplifies the 4 way test in so many ways. He is a man of integrity and is always community-minded. He is the Executive Director at BEI, a non-profit whose mission is to enrich the lives of people with disabilities by being the most innovative provider of vocational, life, and social opportunities through a caring and dedicated staff.
He set-up the student of the month program working with guidance counselors at local schools and coordinated the visits of the students to the club. He also set-up our club to help pack food for the local backpack program. Dr Clark also took on scheduling the weekly speakers for the club. He organized lists of local businesses, non-profits and people of interest. We are a better club for having Dr Clark as a member.
Picnic at Bruce and Christa’s lovely home was great and very well attended. The gavel was passed from President Bill Wagner to incoming President Deborah “Ruby” Stone.
Our speakers last Wednesday were Duane Vicinni and Dr. Deborah Teachman talking about the Rural Regional College of Northern PA(RRC).
The Rural Community College Association did a study and determined that a Rural Regional College was needed in northern PA. A non-profit (ECUA) was named to establish the college. The Legislature named 9 counties and Erie to be participants, leaving out Jefferson, Clarion and Clearfield which had been in the original group.
The RRC has a Board of Trustees of between 11 and 15 members. Two members are from Warren County and the RRC is to be headquartered in Warren County. The plan was submitted to Harrisburg on April 9, 2017 and it was approved on May 25, 2017.
South Street School has been selected as the headquarters with RRC, Warren Higher Ed Council and the Warren Practical Nursing Programs at that location.
The program is currently offering college credit courses through Gannon University at a reduced cost of $180 per credit hour for regular students and $60 per credit hour for dual enrollment high school students.
RRC is built on a community college model but is not a community college. It has open enrollment with the only requirements being a high school or GED diploma.
RRC currently has 81 students in 14 locations enrolled. It will eventually go through the Middle States Accreditation program and expect to have full accreditation in 2020 or earlier.
RRC is not a Community College of the Commonwealth, therefore they can charge a lower credit hour rate than community colleges, they are not receiving any local tax share, does not compete with 4 year schools and general invites three types of students;
1. Those who did not do well in high school
2. Those who have not been able to complete a 4 year college.
3. Older individuals that wish to find better or higher paying jobs.
62% of students who enroll in 4 year colleges do not make it through 3 semesters.
Kelli Knapp has been the Director and District Administrator of the Warren Library Association since January. The Warren Library Association was established by Thomas Struthers in 1873. He built the theater to house the library and provide financial support for the library. The current library building was initially constructed in 1916. The library currently has 28 full and part time employees and about 70 volunteers. That is down from more than 65 employees in the 60’s.
There are 29 library districts in Pennsylvania. Warren is the District Library for the 17 libraries in the district. It is also designated as the County Library and library cards issued at any of the Warren County libraries are good in any of the other libraries in Warren County.
They have many programs throughout the year including their very popular children’s programs as well as Monday Night Movies, Trivia Competition, Book Discussion Group, Warren Writers Group, Adult Coloring Group, Adult Teen Make-It-Take-It Craft Activity, Teen Movie and Summer Reading Activities for Children, Tweens and Teens. They also run a Children’s Summer Reading Program.
The Warren Library is a Federal Depository Library, as well as having extensive genealogy resources and databases.
Funding, about $1.1million comes from 52% State & County, 32% Trusts and Endowments, 14% Donations and Grants and 2% fines and rentals.
They also have over 6,000 Audio and Ebooks available on line.
From left to right: Cheryl, Lucienne & John Belleau.
Lucienne (Lucy) Belleau is the May Student of the Month. She is the youngest of five girls. She is involved in a variety of activities including Youth Connection, Battle of the Books and Mock Trial. She is actively involved with her church and has been involved in Youth Group and Vacation Bible School as a teacher.
Lucy intends to attend Mercyhurst College and major in Spanish Language.
From left are Rotary International V.P. Jennifer Jones, District Governor Michael Angelo Caruso, Past District Governor Ruzhdi Bakalli, and Past Rotary International President Wilf Wilkenson.
Rotary’s highest honor, the “Service Above Self” award, has been presented to Past District Governor Ruzhdi Bakalli of Warren by Rotary International. This award is presented yearly to not more than 150 recipients worldwide who have demonstrated their commitment to helping others by volunteering their time and talents.
Bakalli has been honored with this citation: “For his commitment to Rotary to help others by donating volunteer time and experience to really embody the Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self.” The award was presented to Bakalli in the name of Rotary International President John Germ by Rotary International Vice President Jennifer Jones and Past Rotary International President Wilfrid Wilkinson on Saturday, April 1, at the District 6380 Million Dollar Dinner in Pittsburgh. Present at the event were Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko and 250 Rotarians; $1,225.118 was raised at that event for the Rotary Foundation.
As the first Albanian officer at a Zone level, first Albanian Rotary District Governor and the Founder of Rotary in Kosova, Bakalli, was selected by the Board of Directors of Rotary International to receive the award “Service Above Self” for year 2016-17. Bakalli is the fifth Rotarian in the history of the US District 7280 (northwestern Pennsylvania) and the first Albanian Rotarian to receive this highest honor from Rotary International.
The Rotary International Board of Directors has established this award to recognize and appreciate those Rotarians who are actually embedded with the Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self.”
RI Board considers this award as the highest honor that Rotary International can bestow on a Rotarian for his contributions.
Every year from all nominations from around the world a maximum of 150 Rotarians are chosen to receive this highest Rotary bonor, but this year only 75 Rotarians were chosen to receive the award. The RI Board was faced with the challenge of choosing only 75 of the most prominent Rotarians from an exemplary group of over 500 nominees.
Current and immediate past district governors and current and past RI directors can nominate candidates for this Award.
This trust and appreciation of the work done by Bakalli is not only an honor to him personally, but to all Albanian Rotary in general.
Known as the Paul Harris of Kosova, Bakalli, who has for years lived and worked in the U.S., was the founder of Rotary in the newest country in the world, the Republic of Kosova. For his activities and commitment to Rotary, he has been honored by Rotary clubs in Kosovo, Albania and now Rotary International:
— Bakalli, founder of Rotary in Kosova, is a founding and charter member as well as Honorary President of the Club in his hometown-Gjakova/June 30th 2000/.
— On Jan. 7, 2009, the Rotary Club of Warren in Pennsylvania, USA, named Mr. Ruzhdi Bakalli a Lifetime Honorary Member of the club.
— A year later, members of the Rotary Club of Warren elected Bakalli president of the club for the Rotary year 2010-2011.
— Bakalli from Rotary District 7280 was elected as the district’s governor for the Rotary year 2014 -2015. The area covered by Rotary District 7280 is northwestern Pennsylvania, and has 43 clubs with over 1,400 Rotarians. This was the first time in Rotary history, that an native Albanian Rotarian was elected as a District Governor of an American district. This was certainly a very important event and a success in Albanian Rotary history. During his year as governor, Bakalli broke all records in the history of the district in membership growth and donations to the Rotary Foundation.
— May 22, 2015: Rotary Club Gjakova-Qabrati elected Bakalli a Lifetime Honorary President.
— May 25, 2015: Rotary Club Prishtina Dardania elected Bakalli a Lifetime Honorary Member.
During his many years of service to Rotary, Bakalli has contributed with devotion to the internationall aspect of Rotary. For the establishment and chartering of Rotary Clubs in Kosova, he has contacted and talked with many prominent personalities in Rotary International. He has consistently been a promoter in directing efforts to bring international humanitarian aid for organizations, families and children in need in different countries.
Bakalli has sponsored more than 200 new members into Rotary. Currently, thanks to his commitment and service along with other Kosova Rotarians, the Kosova Rotary has 12 Chartered Rotary clubs.
Bakalli considered it very important to add to the Rotary Club of Gjakova’s membership growth with honorary members. Besides induction of many well-known personalities in Kosova, he was also able to add the following international personages:
In 2008, he met with President Bill Clinton and with his consent and desire he declared Clinton a Lifetime Honorary Member of Rotary Club Gjakova.
On July 5, 2010, he inducted former British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a Lifetime Honorary Member of Rotary Club Gjakova.
He has honored three Rotary International Presidents, Frank Devlyn, Wilfrid Wilkinson and Gary C.K. Huang, by declaring them Lifetime Honorary Members of the Rotary Clubs of Warren and Gjakova.
Bakalli is a major donor and a member of the Paul Harris Society. His commitment to Rotary and for those who need help is unlimited.
Jeff Flickner is the principal of Warren Area High School. He attended that high school, and taught there before he became principal.
A major renovation project is underway at WAHS and during the renovations, Jeff has been challenged to move classrooms around so that work can take place. He expects that the work will be completed sometime in October 2017.
Haley Nelson is our March Student of the Month. She is a member of the girls volleyball team, A cappella choir, Youth Connection, volunteers at the Human Society and has read to second graders as part of Read Across America. She plans on going to college for Criminal Justice and hopes to return to the area as a Public Defender.
February 8, was our strategic planning session. We went through seven issues that we feel are critical to the long-term success of our club.
We put together a game plan to address each of the critical issues and Bill Wagner will be putting together a recap for the club to review,
Rotarian and Executive Director of Bollinger Enterprises, Inc. (BEi), Dr. William A. Clark spoke to our group about BEI and the changing focus of their organization.
Bollinger Enterprises, Inc., (BEi) was founded in 1972 as Warren ARC Enterprises, Inc., by Annabel and Clifford Bollinger as a pilot project of the Warren – Forest Counties Association for Retarded Citizens.
Prior to that time the employment and vocational rehabilitation needs of people with disabilities were largely unmet. The Bollingers’ vision was to provide me
aningful employment and vocational rehabilitation services to all people with disabilities that focused on the unique circumstances, abilities and capabilities of each individual. The Bollinger legacy of “putting the needs of the individual first” lives on today as the guiding principle in services development and delivery. What started as a small storefront, single program operation in Warren soon expanded to a 7,000 square foot facility in North Warren that grew to its present multi-building complex of about 25,000 square feet that hosts a variety of facility and community based programs. BEi’s programs meet many needs ranging from employment to living in the community.
The focus is shifying to more working outside he BEI facility. They are doing this with their contract janitorial services.
The janitorial services division of BEi not only meets the routine cleaning needs of area businesses and organizations, it is also a unique employment and earning experience for BEi workers.
BEi has several contracts to provide janitorial services for local organizations and businesses. A lead worker and crew meet janitorial service needs at times convenient for the customer. Current customers include: The Jefferson DeFrees Family Center, Bollinger Enterprises, Inc. and the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) Headquarters Building.
BEi acquired the ANF service contract under a federal set aside program through the National Industries for the Severely Handicapped (NISH.)
Kelli Knapp has been the Director and District Administrator of the Warren Library Association since January. The Warren Library Association was established by Thomas Struthers in 1873. He built the theater to house the library and provide financial support for the library. The current library building was initially constructed in 1916. The library currently has 28 full and part time employees and about 70 volunteers. That is down from more than 65 employees in the 60’s.
Haley Nelson is our March Student of the Month. She is a member of the girls volleyball team, A cappella choir, Youth Connection, volunteers at the Human Society and has read to second graders as part of Read Across America. She plans on going to college for Criminal Justice and hopes to return to the area as a Public Defender.
