American Business Club Newsletter – Thursday the 14^th of October 2024

President Alan Walsh presided at today’s dinner meeting at Iron Hill Brewery with eight members and three guests attending.

Chapter News

Alan welcomed guests Bonnie Giurlando, Mike Fry, and Arnie Cohen – Larry’s brother.

Howard Livingston said that our club purchased a new Paceline Amtryke. The new improved Amtryke offers a lighter frame, solid tires, and a quick release front wheel & rear steering. See the Fall issue of the Ambucs magazine for more details about Paceline. We will find an applicant from our request list.

Alan reported that the Ambucs social at Decades was a great success. About 12 members attended.

Lancaster Ambucs 100^th Anniversary celebration is planned for the Hamilton Club on Friday, September 12, 2025. Please consider joining the planning committee.  

News from the October Board Meeting

We are considering moving the chapter meetings from Thursday to Wednesday beginning in 2025. There was also discussion about moving the breakfast meeting from the Neptune Diner to a lunch meeting at the Hamilton Club.

This years Holiday Party is planned for the Hamilton Club on Thursday, December 11.

Today’s Program

Larry Cohen introduced Keith Radecic from the Lancaster Parking Authority. Keith is a Penn State graduate majoring in Finance and Accounting. He was one of 18 players who won 2 National Championships for PSU in football. Keith went on to play in the NFL for the Redskins and St. Louis Cardinals. Many of his teammates also played professionally.

Highlights:

• Keith had a lot of praise for Joe Paterno who insisted that his football players received an education at Penn State. When football ended for players, there had to be a backup plan. He spoke about the talented players he played with at PSU – Blackledge, Dozier, Bruno, and Smith, to name a few. He also played professionally with Doug Williams, and the “Hogs”. Keith was a member of the last team to play for the Cardinals in St. Louis.  His career ended because of broken vertebrae in his back. Keith said that the average NFL player plays for 2.3 years. NFL pensions begin after 3 years.
• NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) has changed college sports. It allows players to be paid for playing sports. It is bringing change to college sports the same way free agency brought change to professional sports. So far it has mostly influenced division 1 programs, Keith would like to see the positive impact of NIL change division 3 programs too. It might help keep student athletes in school.
• CTE (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy) is a brain disorder caused by repeated head injuries. Keith has had 7 concussions in his sports career and is participating in several CTE studies. CTE is found in the brains of both athletes, and military personnel too. It can only be diagnosed postmortem. Keith said that 370 of 378 NFL players tested positive for CTE. Keith said the Concussion Legacy foundation provides good information about CTE. Visit their web site at www.concussionfoundation.org

Next Chapter Meeting Thursday, November 7 at the Neptune Diner @ 8:00 AM

More discussion about the Pano report.

Upcoming Schedule   

Wednesday, November 13 – Board meeting at Kevin Kornfield’s home at 7:30 PM

Thursday, November 21 – Dinner meeting at Iron Hill at 6 PM. Ken Giurlando will introduce Marshall Snively, President of Lancaster City Alliance.

Friday, November 22 – Lancaster Extra Give.

Bill Saporetti – Assistant Editor

Fellow Ambucs,

Pete Wengrenovich delivered Violet Bacci’s new 1420XL Amtryke to Schreiber Pediatric today. Waiting inside Schreiber were Bob Klein, Alan Walsh, and Bill Saporetti. Physical Therapist Lauri Panther and a new Schreiber Intern from Baylor University, Jordan were also there to greet Violet and her mother Jen Bacci.     

Violet was very excited to see her new Amtryke. She just turned sixteen and said that this would be her belated birthday gift. Violet suffered from severe seizures a few years ago. She had radical brain surgery that eliminated her daily seizures but comprised her vision and use of her left hand. Violet had been riding a tryke at Schreiber and already knew how to ride. She quickly peddled out of Schreiber through the outside track and into the parking lot. Violet is an exceptional rider. Bob Klein told her to be careful not to ride too fast while turning because she might overturn. Jen said that she would have trouble keeping up with Violet, but her younger son was looking forward to jogging through the neighborhood while Violet was riding. Pete loaded the tryke into his pickup truck for delivery to Mount Joy. Jen took a few photographs of Violet and all who were there for the presentation.

We told Jen about the American Business Club, our Amtryke program, and the Amtryke Derbies held at Schreiber. Violet and Jen thanked Lancaster Ambucs for the new Amtryke.

ST,

Bill Saporetti