Lynn Cairns opened the meeting with the invocation

 

Scott Wehler led us in singing "God Bless America" (this was chosen after discussion at our table about Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Beatles and Bohemian Rhapsody, by Queen)

After one ticket was drawn with no response from the crowd after reading the number, a second ticket was drawn by one of our visitors. That ticket belonged to the Rotarian who was selling the tickets, which caused a mild (and good-natured) protest from the crowd! Jim Roach won $21.

 

Ken Farabaugh made a presentation of a Paul Harris Fellowship, Plus 2 pin to Brad Hoch to recognize his giving of $3,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Brad is also a member of the Paul Harris Society which requires a commitment to give $1,000 per year to the Rotary Foundation.

 

Martin Zimmann, pictured above, gave his classification talk and introduced us to his wife, Angela. Martin told us that his one caveat to his speech was that it would be brief because of a 1:00 pm meeting that he had to attend at The Seminary. He is the Director of Congregational Relations (among other things) at the United Lutheran Seminary - Gettysburg Campus. Martin explained that he and his wife originated in Ohio, where they began their pastoral studies. The moved to North Dakota for an internship which included a long winter with over 100 inches of snow and many funerals. They came to the Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary after that, where they graduated in 1998. He did his parish ministry in the mid-west and gained his PhD.

While they lived in Ohio in 2012, Angela became a candidate for U.S. Congress in 2012 to challenge and incumbent. After her defeat, The Zimmann family moved to Jerusalem to serve in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. Their house was on the Mount of Olives overlooking the city of Jerusalem. IN the summer of 2014 conflicts in the area caused them to move back to Gettysburg and Angela took her position at the seminary as Vice President of Institutional Advancement. Martin joined the seminary in 2016 in his current position. Martin is happy with his position at the seminary, raising up new leaders. He explained that 30% of his work involves travelling. Martin is on the boards of Music, Gettysburg! and Main Street Gettysburg because he feels that being involved in the community is important.

They have a 20-year-old son who attends Gettysburg College and a 16 year-old daughter. 

During a Q&A session, Lynn Cairns asked about the interim president, Richard Green and requested that he come and speak at our club.

In response to a question about living in Jerusalem, Martin said that is was some of the best of times and the worst of times. The unusual thing was trying to read Hebrew in the grocery store! He also explained that it was a complicated situation for Christians in that region. 

 Wayne Twigg, a professional land surveyor from Maryland, visited us at our Wednesday evening meeting last week and gave a very informative program and slide show about the legendary survey of the Pennsylvania and Maryland border by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon.