Our guest speaker today has a broad background - LEE RUDAKEWYCH is a resident of Glenside since 1982. His daughter, Alexis, attended Cedarbrook Middle School and Cheltenham High before going on to Boston University. A journalism graduate of Temple University, Lee had a career spanning four decades and four continents. At home, he worked as a staff reporter and editor at The Associated Press, United Press International, New York Times News Service, The Evening Bulletin, and Reuters. Abroad, he covered four wars from 1971-75: as a freelance reporter and photographer in Vietnam, Bangladesh and the Middle East, and as bureau chief of The Associated Press and ABC News in Cambodia. Before returning home, he also wrote features on Australian Woman’s Day magazine and the daily front-page column on The Sydney Morning Herald.

Lee presented background info, and a presentation about a Christian family in Pakastan that was forced to become refugees - given the choice to convert to Islam or be killed.  He is working to help this family to become self-sufficient in their new home in the Philippines.
To see Lee's Presentation:  meet_the_bashirs.pdf

Jordan was an excellent presenter who overviewed the various services available through Senator Haywood’s office.  They have application and forms in the office, can help citizens having difficulty working with other government offices, can help with the property tax/rent rebate program, and she overviewed the  Yellow Dot program that assists citizens in the “golden hour” of emergency care following a traffic crash by having critical medical and contact info easily available for first responders.  (See: http://www.penndot.gov/TravelInPA/Pages/Yellow-Dot.aspx).  More information about the Senator’s services for the community can be found at: http://www.senatorhaywood.com/services/services-i-provide
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Jeff Pearson presented an overview of the Young Life group.  As the Director of Young Life in Montgomery County, Jeff is responsible for expanding the outreach of this group which offers a safe place for young people to meet and interact.  It is open to all young people - regardless of ethnic background or religion.  There are weekly club meetings that do present brief sessions on the Life of Jesus Christ, but the majority of the meeting is geared to the interests and needs of those attending - conversations, games, dances, and even summer camps are offered.  In a day with fewer and fewer non-online options to engage our adolescents, this was an excellent presentation about a very positive organization that offers an engaging alternative to just playing video games.

Glenside Rotary also enjoyed getting a better view of the Food Cupboard and weekly meals offered by New Life Presbyterian Church.  They have been extremely gracious to host the club for our Friday meetings since the fall, and we look forward to sharing our joint missions of service.  Glenside Rotary donated heavy-duty plastic-ware sets of 4 (fork, knife, spoon, soup spoon) for 500 place settings.  The church is currently working to upgrade the Food Cupboard, and is actively seeking donations so they can better serve the local community.  Glenside Rotarian Bob Gerhard, III, who is a member of the church and our club liaison with the Food Cupboard, introduced Ed and Bridget. 

Author of "The Man, His Son and their Mule", a retelling of an Aesop's Fable, Joann Frasier-Dasent presented her background, information about R.O.O.T.S. (Regenerating our Offspring Through Storytelling, Inc). She is the founder and CEO of this non-profit organization, which focuses on helping students learn to read by 4th Grade.  Joann brought three beautiful quilts to the meeting, and explained the story in each of them.  After the meeting she autographed copies of her book for members.

DG Dawn outlined her goals for the year, and the many events planned for the District.  She recognized Membership Chair, Denise Thompson, and Foundation Chair, Lyn Church, for their outstanding service to the club.

Michelle did a presentation to the club on the various business entities - sole proprietorship, LLC, and S-Corp.  For each she outlined partner draw versus payroll and the tax implications.  Thank you, Michelle, for a great presentation and for providing the overview handouts. 

It is always a honor to have someone present to the club who has taken an idea and turned it into a reality that has changed many lives.  In 1997 Michelle founded Cradle of Hope in Glenside as temporary home for single mothers who needed help.  Since then they have housed and helped over 100 women and their children - providing a year or more of shelter, parenting classes, professional development, social work and counseling.  They are a faith-based organization, open to women of any religion, and provide a safe, stable environment while helping these women build the skills and knowledge to be able to go out and support their families.  Glenside Rotary looks forward to working with this wonderful organization to provide mentoring and workshops, and assist in what ever ways we are able.  For more information please go to: www.cradleofhope.net.