Events

We will welcome Dr. Tristan Ericson, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at York College. He is the primary advisor to the York College Formula SAE capstone design team. In this project a team of more than 20 engineering students designs and builds a formula style racecar to compete annually in a Society of Automotive Engineers intercollegiate competition at Michigan International Speedway. Dr. Ericson will describe the yearly journey of working with his students to develop a competition ready vehicle from the ground up.  

York County Bar Association - Our speaker will be Rotarian Victoria Connor. Victoria serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the York County Bar Association and its charitable arm, the York County Bar Foundation, a position she has held since 2011. During her tenure, Victoria has spearheaded initiatives that address evolving community needs while significantly increasing member participation within the Bar Association. The York County Bar Foundation's endowment funds have reached an impressive $7.2 million, the largest in the Commonwealth, amplifying its impact as York's foremost private funder of legal initiatives. Victoria will be speaking to the club about the economic impacts of YCBF-Supported Justice-related Initiatives in York County.

PA College of Art & Design - Our speaker will be Andy Barnes, the 4th President of Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster. Prior to joining PCAD earlier this year, he was the Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences at York College of Pennsylvania from 2023-2025. Andy is a talented weaver--the descendent of Scottish weavers--and a writer. Dr. Barnes will be speaking about the history of Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, which began in York before moving to Marietta and then Lancaster. He will give a snapshot of where the college is now, and the plans for the future, including ways in which the college hopes to work with partners in York.

Inbound Youth Exchange Student – Our speaker will be Mamoru Ikebe, our Inbound Youth Exchange student from Japan, whom the club has hosted this year. He has been in the country for eight months and will share observations on his experience as an exchange student in York; what he has learned; and his impressions of life in the USA.

Four Chaplains' Memorial Group/Veterans Memorial Park - Susan Byrnes and Frank Dittenhafer will present the design for the new Four Chaplains Memorial, planned for Veterans Memorial Park in York City. Susan Byrnes, founder of the Byrnes Health Education Center and former York County Commissioner, initiated the project to honor the heroic story of the Four Chaplains and Navy steward Charles Walter David Jr. Frank Dittenhafer, president of Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects, brings over 40 years of award-winning design experience, including numerous notable projects in York. Together, Frank and Susan aim to create a meaningful tribute that symbolizes interfaith unity, sacrifice, and the enduring legacy of veterans. Their presentation will highlight the memorial’s vision, design, and significance to the York community.

PAAV and Sendafa Project - Our speaker will be local York physician, Dr. Ed Nelson, who will tell us more about the public health conditions in Sendafa, Ethiopia that led to our club’s Sendafa Sanitation Project to build two bottle house latrines. Dr. Nelson has been providing medical care in York County for over 45 years as a family physician. For decades, he has led medical trips to impoverished countries including India, Ethiopia, Guatemala and Iraq, bringing lifesaving treatment to thousands of people. He will share insights into the public health challenges facing Sendafa and give members a better picture of life in Sendafa and an appreciation for Rotary’s work throughout the world.

Our speaker will be York artist Justin Ruby. Justin is a self-taught artist known for his intricate mosaics made from deconstructed sneakers, car upholstery, and designer luggage. His practice spans from realist painting to abstract conceptual 1 sculpture, unified by a deep exploration of material culture and identity. Justin began his artistic journey in the basement of a row home in York, Pennsylvania, and has since exhibited internationally—from New York to London—with notable shows at The State Museum of Pennsylvania and The New York Stock Exchange. His work examines how materials shape our sense of self, status, and belonging. Collectors of his work include Mike Tyson, J Prince, and Mason Plumlee. He will be speaking on York as an inspiration and a great community to cultivate your creative practice.

Changing of the Guard - We'll take a look back at the activities, programs, and projects for the 2024-2025 year under the leadership of President Courtney Piccolo. Join us as we thank President Courtney for her leadership and we install new officers and directors for 2025-26. Then, we will install Wilda Reahm-Alessi as our President for 2025-26 and hear from her regarding her vision for her Presidency.

Financial Outlook - Marc Dinacci is a Senior Investment Advisor with Wilmington Trust and manages about $2 billion for high net worth individuals and institutions in the greater Philadelphia area and Central PA. He will provide an assessment of current economic and market conditions and the outlook for the second half of this year. His commentary will include expectations for GDP growth, inflation, unemployment and how this will influence Fed policy over the next 6-12 months.

Our speaker will be Helen Foster, Chief Marketing Officer of Willow Valley Communities, who will share her perspectives on the 55+ housing market. She is Principal and Lead Consultant of Foster Strategy, providing guidance to best-in-class developers, operators, and builders across the U.S., and she is widely recognized as a leading national advisor in 55+ community development. Ms. Foster’s presentation will explore options in 55+ living, plus industry insights and context about Willow Valley Communities, which was recently recognized by Newsweek as the #2 community of its type in the U.S.

Our speaker will be Heather Strunk, Head of School for The Janus School, the only school dedicated to the education of students with learning differences in south central Pennsylvania. Located in Mount Joy, PA, they serve students in grades K-12 diagnosed with a learning disability, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, executive function difficulties, nonverbal learning disorder, or auditory processing disorder.

We will hold our July 23rd meeting at the York State Fair. Enjoy a lunch of fair favorites including sausage, hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, fudge, water, and soft drinks followed by a program from Rotarian Patrick Ball on the history of the York Fair; a glimpse at what’s happening at this year’s fair; and a look to future plans. Your attendance includes admission to the fair after the meeting! An optional guided walking tour of the fair will be available at 10:00 a.m., prior to our club meeting. PLEASE NOTE: This meeting will NOT be broadcast on Zoom and not recorded for future viewing on YouTube.

We will hear from U.S. Representative Lloyd Smucker. He will provide an update on current events in Washington, D.C. and how federal policy decisions are impacting York County. He will also review recent legislative developments and outline his priorities in Congress. Congressman Smucker will discuss the issues he is working on and how they align with the needs of Pennsylvania's 11th Congressional District.

We will hear from Rotarian Andy Lynch, founder of Vision Solutions AR, a local startup using augmented reality to reimagine storytelling and education. Discover how this York County-based company is blending cutting-edge AR technology with the region’s rich history, arts, and culture. See a live demo showcasing AR and several of the local causes AR has supported. Andy will share how members of the Rotary Club of York have played a key role in supporting this innovation. 

We will hear from Bernadette Lauer, owner and general manager of School of Rock, York. Bernadette has more than 20 years of experience in strategic internal and external communications. She opened School of Rock 18 months ago after deciding it was time for a career change. She will discuss her career journey from a leader in the corporate sector to a small business owner making a difference in our community through music. 

We will welcome Rotary District 7390 Governor Mary Brunski. Mary has been active in the community since moving to Carlisle, including being a Rotary member since 2013. Her address to the club is titled “Telling Your Story - Why Rotary?” She will share her Rotary story and will update the club on initiatives and activities happening throughout our District.

We will hear from Rotarian Todd Fogdall. Todd has served as President & CEO of the Appell Center for the Performing Arts since June 2015. He has led the organization through the rebranding from Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center to the Appell Center for the Performing Arts; a renovation of the Capitol Theatre in 2018; and most recently the completion of over $6 million in facility renovations and improvements. He will speak on the 100th anniversary of the Strand Theatre, which opened on August 27, 1925, sharing a snapshot of the theater's history; how it and the Appell Center have evolved; and the impacts of the events and programs it offers. The program will include a preview of the events that will celebrate the Centennial and a peek into the future of the Strand Theatre and Appell Center. 

We will hear from Tim Edwards of Susquehanna Area Regional Airport Authority. SARAA manages and oversees the economic development of Harrisburg International Airport and Capital City Airport.

We will hear from Marc Gualtieri, Plant Manager of ECORE's York site. ECORE takes recycled rubber tires and transforms them into flooring and outdoor surfacing products, transforming waste materials into products that make people’s lives better. ECORE employs over 140 local York residents. Mark will share the history of ECORE, its mission, and how the factories operate and support the company’s vision.

We will hear from Alexa Born, the Interim Executive Director of The Grotto Community Center in downtown York, which exists to lower the barriers for people to create small businesses. The organization recently moved to the old York Dispatch building across the street from the courthouse. This new campus—at 30,000 square feet across 4 buildings— expands the horizons of the organization. Alexa will speak on the organization’s future vision.

We will hear from our returning outbound Youth Exchange Student, Ayah Kline, who will be speaking about her Youth Exchange year in southern Brazil. She will talk about how her exchange experience changed her life and perspective, as well as how the connections she made in Brazil affect her life now as a student back in America.

We will hear from Attorney General Dave Sunday, who will present about the lessons he learned while serving as the York County District Attorney and how he is applying them and amplifying them throughout the Commonwealth in his role as Attorney General. He will speak about his path to the Office of Attorney General and how he came to his philosophy of criminal justice, accountability and redemption. He will also speak about the structure of the Office of Attorney General and his priorities for his time in the office.

We will hear from Rotarian Jen Hitz, the President and CEO of Leg Up Farm, a nonprofit, pediatric therapy center for children with special needs. Jen is excited to lead Leg Up Farm, as she sees first-hand the life-changing impact its therapy services have on special needs children. She will share the story of Leg Up Farm's founding to its current place in the York County nonprofit tapestry. Jen will be joined by Dan Stump, Manager of Leg Up Farmers Market, featuring local, organic, and sustainable groceries. The Market's primary goal is to support Leg Up Farm. Dan has been with the Market since its opening and loves working towards the big mission of supporting Leg Up Farm while also finding great joy in helping their dozens of local farmers and artisans grow.