Rick Coplen RVI Power Point Presentation

1. Dear Rotary Veterans Initiative,
Thank you for selecting me to receive this scholarship. I appreciate it; the
money will help me for spring term. I am a Biology major. I plan to complete
HACC and then go on to a four year college to get my bachelor’s degree. I am
a full time student and a single mother, so any money helps. I thank you for
picking me to receive this RVI book scholarship.
Thank you.
Amanda Palm

2. Rotary Veterans Initiative
• Central Penn College student veteran (USMC)
• Homeless Veteran for 2 years
• Major: CIS, Networking & Security
• GPA = 4.0
• RVI Technology Awardee
• RVI Mentee --- Ben Leitzel (USAWC)
Randy Ramer
• Randy Ramer spearheaded the Nov 2019 All-Night Camp-out to Support Homeless Veterans
• “On any given night, it is estimated that 40,000 veterans are homeless, according to a December 2017 article in the
Military Times. The Armed Forces Association (AFA) club hopes to raise $2,000 to support programs that combat
veteran homelessness.”
• “Nobody plans to become homeless. I know I certainly didn’t plan on it,” says Ramer, who was homeless for two
years. “It’s usually a series of small things that go wrong and then everything snowballs and––boom! before you
know it––you’re living on the streets.”
• “The two biggest causes of veteran homelessness are mental illness and drug addiction,” says Ramer. “With this
event, we want to raise awareness about all three of these issues and let veterans know that help is available.”
• https://www.centralpenn.edu/2019/10/31/all-night-camp-out-to-support-homeless-veterans/
October 31, 2019

5. “Upon the subject of education … I can only say that I view it as the
most important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.”
Lincoln

6. The Rotary Veterans Initiative’s Mission is to help veterans succeed by
supporting their education, training, and job search opportunities.
Rotary Veterans Initiative

7. How the Impact of RVI transcends mere $$ ...
“Upon the subject of education … I can only say that I view it as the most
important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.”
Lincoln
We help student veterans help themselves, their families, and our communities
• Well paying jobs supporting their families, strengthening economic growth in our communities
• Veterans’ service-mindedness ethic produces citizens who are valuable community assets
• Strengthens Central PA public safety, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, environment,
cybersecurity, & business
Can RVI perform an even more transformative role for our communities?

8. Thanks to our RVI Steering Committee …
• Clarence Asbury
• Bill Blankmeyer
• Rick Coplen
• Alden Cunningham
• Dave Haag
• Karis Hazam
• Carol Lennon
• Ray Millen
• Jim Nolan
• Dwayne Parrish

9. The Rotary Veterans Initiative helps veterans succeed by
supporting their education, training, and job search opportunities.
We help student veterans help themselves, their families, and our communities
• Well paying jobs supporting their families, strengthening economic growth in our communities
• Veterans’ service-mindedness ethic produces citizens who are valuable community assets
• Strengthens Central PA public safety, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, environment, cybersecurity, & business
Scholarships and Mentoring
 Public Safety
 Police
 EMT
 Healthcare
Scholarships and Mentoring
Entering & Continuing students
 Vouchers
 Devices (Tablets)
 Books
 Mentoring (Industry & Resume)
 Scholarships and Mentoring
• Information Technology (IT)
• Manufacturing, Logistics, Welding
• Environmental Technology
• Nurse, Cardiology Tech, Pharmacy, Billing
• Commercial Drivers License
Small
Business
Startups
College
Degrees
Certification
Assistance
Vocational
Training
 Partnerships with Business Incubators
 Workspace
 Startup Capital
 Mentoring
Website
sites.google.com/view/rotaryveteransinitiative
Facebook
RotaryVeteransInitiative
Email: rotaryveteransinitiative@gmail.com
Mail: RVI, 806 Alexander Spring Road,

10. HACC (Harrisburg Area Community College)
 Scholarships ($30K) (Aug 2017)
 20 x $1.5K Scholarships in Public Safety,
Trades, Healthcare, and IT Certifications
 Book Vouchers ($25K) and Scholarships
 $25K = 50 x $500 Book Vouchers (Nov 2015)
 Aug 17: $10.5K of original $25K converted to:
 4 x Entering Students (Need based) = $6K
 3 x Continuing Students
(Need/Performance based) = $4.5K
 Mentoring (Industry specific advice; Resume
writing)
Central Penn College (2017)
 Scholarships ($3K)
 1 x Entering Student (Need based) = $1.5K
 1 x Continuing Student (Need/Performance based) =
$1.5K
 Device Vouchers ($7K)
 $7K = 14 x $500 Vouchers for Devices to download
textbooks
 Mentoring (Industry specific advice; Resume writing)
Penn State Harrisburg (2017)
 Scholarships ($9K)
 3 x Entering Students (Need based) = $4.5K
 3 x Continuing Students (Need/Performance
based) = $4.5K
 Book Vouchers ($16K)
 $16K = 32 x $500 Book Vouchers
 Mentoring
 Industry specific advice
 Resume writing
Employment Skills Center (Carlisle) (2017)
 Training Expenses ($8K)
 Certified Logistics Technicians (CLT) and
Certified Logistics Associates (CLA) = $6K
 Certified Lift Truck Operators = $2K
The Rotary Veterans Initiative invests in Central PA student veterans
Total = $ 98,000

11. Rotary Veterans Initiative
RVI Intent moving forward:
• Help more veterans, especially student veterans
• Re-energize RVI and re-establish our momentum
• Invest in PSH student veterans ($30K)
• Invest in CPC student veterans ($15K) … much smaller universe of student veterans
• Authorize HACC to shift funds to better meet student veteran needs
• Explore potential for investing in student veterans at Elizabethtown College’s School
of Continuing and Professional Studies (E-Town SCPS)
• Explore potential for helping student veterans using business incubator services in
Central PA ($10K)
• Re-start RVI Mentoring Program offerings
• Showcase all above in social and earned media
• Conduct fundraising solicitations (Previous donors & others)
• Expand RVI to other District 7390 Rotary Clubs
• Participation
• $$ Support

12. Rotary Veterans Initiative
Penn State Harrisburg (2020) = $30K
 Scholarships ($9K)
 3 x $1.5K for Entering Students (Need based) = $4.5K
 3 x $1.5K for Continuing Students (Need/Performance based) = $4.5K
 Book Vouchers ($16K)
 $16K = 32 x $500 Book Vouchers
 Internship Assistance (Pilot Project)
 $5K = 2 x $2,500 scholarships
 Mentoring
Industry specific advice
Resume writing
Note: Items shown in green font above are different than what we did in 2017.
Commitment to Penn State Harrisburg Student Veterans:

13. Rotary Veterans Initiative
Commitment to Central Penn College Student Veterans:
Central Penn College (2020) = $15K
 Scholarships ($3K)
 2 x $1.5K Continuing Student (Need/Performance based) = $3K
 Device Vouchers ($7K)
14 x $500 Vouchers for Devices to download textbooks = $7K
 Book Vouchers ($5K)
10 x $500 Vouchers for Textbooks = $5K
 Mentoring (Industry specific advice; Resume writing)
Note: Items shown in green font above are different than what we did in 2017.

14. Rotary Veterans Initiative
Commitment to HACC Student Veterans:
HACC (Harrisburg Area Community College) (2020)
 Shift $ amongst funds to better serve HACC student veteran needs
From “Manufacturing, Logistics, and Environmental Technology” into “Continuing
Students” ($4,690)
From “Corporate and Business Services” into “Continuing Students” ($3,127)
From “Advanced EMT” to “EMT” ($6,908)
Mentoring (Industry specific advice; Resume writing)
Note 1: Items shown in green font above are different than what we did in 2017.
Note 2: In previous years, RVI has donated $55,000.00 to HACC to support student veteran’s
education.

15. Total Number of Veterans Helped to date …
Plus their families and future communities, employers, employees, customers,
patients, and ___________.
RVI helps Veterans … 209 veterans and counting! … for $145K
Scholarships
Vouchers
Mentoring /Training Total
Books Devices
Penn State
Harrisburg
6 + 8 32 + 32 - 10 88
Harrisburg
Area
Community
College
27 29 - - 56
Central Penn
College
2 + 2 10 14 + 14 1 43
Employment
Skills Center
- 5 5
Community - 17
(Mental Health First
Aid)
17
Total 45 103 28 33
209

16. Ways D7390 can help us expand our RVI reach ...
• Participate in the new D7390 Speaker’s Bureau --- outreach to all D7390 Rotary Clubs
• District Governor (DG) John’s voice during his “visits” to all D7390 Rotary Clubs
• Present RVI during one or more of the monthly Zoom District Trainings
• Present RVI during monthly D7390 Leadership Zoom Meeting
• Consider having a “table” at the 3 District, District Conference on April 30th, May 1 and 2. The two other districts
are from the Reading Area and the King of Prussia/Chester County area.
• Dedicate a full page to RVI on the district website --- including student testimonials
• RVI interview (10 minutes) in DG John’s Video Blog (VLOG) session --- discuss RVI program
“Upon the subject of education … I can only say that I view it as the most
important subject which we as a people can be engaged in.”
Lincoln

17. Some more Thank You’s from HACC Students
Dear Rotary Veterans Initiative,
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for selecting me for the Helping a
Hero Book Scholarship. Because of your generosity, this scholarship has reduced
my financial burdens and allows me to focus on my educational needs.
I am currently pursing my goals of obtaining an Associate's degree in Business
Studies. Once I graduate in Spring 2017, I plan on attending Central Penn in order to obtain my Bachelor's degree. When
I have reached my educational goals, I look forward to becoming an Entrepreneur.
My dream is to open my own Real Estate company. Because of your $500.00
donation, I am one step closer to reaching my ambitions. Again, thank you for
choosing me to receive this scholarship. In the near future, I plan on paying it forward and helping students just as
you helped me!
Sincerely,
Latoria Soberanis
Dear Rotary Veterans Initiative,
I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to you for making the Helping A Hero
Book Scholarship possible. I was thrilled to learn of my selection for this honor and I
am deeply appreciative of your support. I am working extremely hard to accomplish
my goals, and this honor solidifies that my hard work does not go unnoticed.
I am currently majoring in the Registered Nursing program with hopes of obtaining
my BSN, and one day in the not so distant future, becoming a forensic nurse.
The financial assistance you provided will be of great help, not only in paying my
educational expenses, but allowing me the opportunity to become a role model for my children and many other
students like myself.
Thank you again for your generosity and support. I promise you I will work very hard and eventually give something
back to others, both as an RN and possibly a scholarship to future students like myself.
Sincerely, Stacy Harris

18. Appearing in Central Penn College marketing …

19. Our RVI Mentoring Program in action …
Kevin Cavada, PSH
Mechanical or Civil
Engineering
U.S. Army
Justin Doty, RCC
Stephen Ziegler, PSH
Accounting
David Blain, RCMN;
Now employed by
Mckonly & Asbury (CPAs &
Business Advisors)---where David
Blain is a partner;
Referred by DG John Anthony
Zachary Long, PSH
Aerospace Engineering
Jim Nolan, RCC
Randy Ramer, CPC
CIS, Networking & Security
Ben Leitzel, USAWC
Shay and Rory Ellafrits, PSH Mechanical
Engineering
Bryan Edwards, Gannett Fleming
Brandon Riggs, PSH
Cyber (Security & Risk Analysis)
Ben Leitzel, USAWC
Alyssa Abram, PSH
Computer Forensics
Shawn McConnell, U.S. Diplomatic
Security Service Forensic Lab
Kevin Whyhel, PSH
Civil Engineering
Justin Doty, RCC
Mathew Gloger, PSH
Accounting
Chuck Nebel , RCC

20. RVI Mentoring Program
Our RVI Mentoring Program is …
• Voluntary
• Student Veteran Demand-based
• Available to all student veterans in RVI-supported schools/training facilities
• Viable mentoring approaches:
• Email
• Phone Calls
• ZOOM, etc.
• Small seminars (groups of interested students)
• Meetings with mentor at his/her place of
business or at the school (when allowed)
Thanks to:
• PDG and COL (R) Alden Cunningham
• Supervisory Special Agent (R) Dave Haag
• Professor / Dr. Ray Millen

21. Our RVI Mentoring Program in action …
Gannett Fleming News Release (March 28, 2018):
“Rory and Shay Ellafrits, twin brothers and Marine Corps veterans, received firsthand experience with Gannett
Fleming engineers as part of the Rotary Veterans Initiative (RVI) sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Carlisle and
Mechanicsburg North.”
“The goal of RVI is to mentor and link military veterans with professional in careers of interest. The brothers are
studying mechanical engineering at The Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg.”
“Hosting these military veterans at Gannett Fleming is beneficial for them and us,” said Bryan Edwards, PE,
Gannett Fleming mechanical engineer and RVI visit coordinator. As first year students, they gained familiarization …”
“This collaboration with the Rotary Club is another example of Gannett Fleming’s commitment to
community involvement and a culture of diversity and inclusion.”

22. RVI – Operation Veterans’ Hope Partnership …
• 501c3 Nonprofit Organization Helping Homeless Veterans
• 7 N. Baltimore Ave, Mt. Holly Springs, PA 17065
• Website: https://www.operationveteranshope.org/ ; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OpsVeteranHope/
• Mission: “To ensure that homeless Veterans are getting off the streets by providing them with a place to stay
when they enter into our "Work2Stay" program. This will enable a Veteran to get back into the workforce by
working in our thrift store and no longer being homeless.”
• Potential partnership: RVI financial sponsorship of OVH Work2Stay participants (current and past) in
certification programs, such as Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), HVAC repair, forklift operator, auto mechanic,
nurse’s aide, welder, logistics associate, IT Technician, _________ (or) potentially in college degree completion
programs.
• Payment plan for certification costs
• GI Bill: Maximize use of the individual veteran’s potential eligibility for GI Bill benefits, including tuition,
test fees, and other fees ; RVI and OVH will help facilitate coordination for these benefits
• RVI: If GI Bill benefits are not available to that veteran or will not pay for all the costs, RVI will pay $___
TBD by RVI, directly to certification training organization
• Veteran: If GI Bill benefits are not available to that veteran or will not pay for all the costs, the veteran will
pay $__ (TBD by RVI, with OVH recommendation)

23. To help RVI help veterans …
• Financial Contributions
• Online: https://www.tfec.org/funds/rotary-veterans-initiative/
• Write check to “Rotary Veterans Initiative” and mail to:
• Rotary Veterans Initiative
• 806 Alexander Spring Road
• Carlisle, PA 17015
• Mentoring Student Veterans
• Contact Dave Haag:
• david_haag@comcast.net
• 717-241-2619
• Contact Rick Coplen:
• rickcoplen@gmail.com
• 703-786-7181
• Other Good Ideas!!
• Contact Rick Coplen:
• rickcoplen@gmail.com
• 703-786-7181

24. “Thank you.”
Amanda Palm
Can RVI help perform an even
more transformative role in our
communities?