Our speaker on October 8 is Barry Lefkowitz and his talk will be on Human Trafficking in South Carolina: Sex Trafficking, Forced Labor, and Illegal Organ Transplants.

 

Mr. Lefkowitz has an illustrious background with nearly five decades of government, regulatory, economic development, media, and educational experience at the federal, state, local and international levels.

 

He is responsible for the passage of over 400 bills signed into law in 14 states, Congress, and 5 International countries including Agency Shop (AAUP), the “Real Interstate Driver’s Equity Act”, and “Trademark Counterfeiting Act.” He was one of the lead lobbyists on State legislation and Regulations to create and expand Medical Cannabis Dispensaries and Adult Use Cannabis in NJ. He served as the Economic Development Consultant for the City of Vineland and other New Jersey Communities. Additionally, because of his role as Chairman of the Board for the Friends of the Guard and Reserves and Vice-Chairman of the Eagle Foundation for the US Airforce Expeditionary Center located at the Joint Military Base located in Burlington County, he carries a rank of Colonel and was trained by the Department of Defense to protect returning Vets, who have been deployed, job rights.

 

As a Rotarian, Mr. Lefkowitz, Is a Paul Harris Fellow. However, he is most proud of the fact that he was one of the lead lobbyists responsible for Rotary International allowing woman to become Rotarians as of 1989. He is a member of the Bluffton, SC Rotary.

 

Mr. Lefkowitz helped create and fund the Workforce Development Program at Rowan College at Burlington County in conjunction with the NJ Technology and Manufacturing Association. Further, he had worked with the State Legislature and Congress on legislation referred to as the Volunteers in Medicine to provide tax credits for retired professionals in the various fields of health and counseling to volunteer time for communities in need and wrap-around services for Veteran’s housing projects.

 

Mr. Lefkowitz was the Host and Executive Producer of New Perspectives on RVN Television as well as Chairman of the Board for the studio for eight ( years. He was nominated for the “Telly Award,” for his series on “Human Trafficking.” In the late 60s and 70’s he was a part-time Newscaster and Hosted a Show called Impact on WKBS TV Ch 48 Philadelphia. After 34 years of service as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Trustees, he now serves as Trustee Emeritus of the Rowan College at Burlington County (RCBC) Foundation Board. He is Former Senior Adjunct Professor of Political Science (RCBC) and Rutgers University, Chairman of the Board of two non-profit. He was selected by NJ Biz Magazine as the 2019 “Icon of the Year.” In 2013, he was recognized by the NAACP for their Annual Community Service Award. He was named Man of the Year in 2011 by Burlington County Times Newspaper.

 

His undergraduate degree is from Trenton State College in Education and his Masters and Doctorial work is from Rutgers University is in Sociology and Administration.

He is the author of 10 books in Education, Lobbying and Government.

Our speaker on October 1 was Barbara Catenaci from the Heritage Library Foundation.

 

A passionate advocate for preserving and displaying our heritage and lineage, she talked about the various activities the Library is involved in, including ownership and preservation of Zion Chapel of Ease Cemetary, and Fort Mitchel.

 

The library itself documents, preserves and presents Hilton Head Island history. It helps educate about the island's role in American history from Native Americans to colonial times, slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, modern development and more. It is a facility on the National Park Service Underground Network to Freedom.