Thursday, March 8, 2012

Vol. 66 No. 37 Notes from the Podium

President's Time

Obviously it's spring break.  Attendance was light today and the group seemed distracted.

President Debbie is relieved to report that tomorrow is March 9 and our Annual Fund Raiser - "A Night on the Red Carpet."  No more tickets are for sale.  If you're not coming, it's your party to miss.  You'll be sorry.


COMMUNITY SERVICE UPDATE
March 17 we're serving beer at John Martin's World Famous St. Patrick's Day block party.  Sign up now and pick up your t-shirt.  We're dressing as Coral Gables Rotarians from 4 p.m. until midnight.    One of our best fundraisers of the year.

March 24 is Bingo with the Vets at the nursing home at Veteran's Hospital from 1 until 3 p.m.  Two hours out of your life means the world to these guys.

2011-2012 Final 5th Friday!

Is going to be a terrific party.  Our host for the evening is Deena Bell-Llewellyn (and her partner Lewis Aqui).  They're pleased to have the opportunity to show off their new offices and party on us!

Sign up or RSVP to Terry Long.  $10 per person for wine and snacks prepared and served by Lovables.  Don't miss it!

 Introduction of Guests & Visitors
by Dick Bullman

 

DGEN Joe Roth (means he will be District Governor in two Rotary years) was visiting today from Weston.

Noelle Galperin introduced us to Elizabeth Nauahres from Dateline.  President Debbie introduced us to Deborah Ann Welch, and Marilyn March of Easter Seals South Florida.  




Rotary Club of Coral Gables turned 66 last Sunday, March 4th.  So, continuing with the Pisces birthdays for our Pisces Club, say happy birthday to the compassionate, sensitive, kind, sympathetic and sometimes weak willed and easily led (astray) Mead McCabe tomorrow, Noelle Galperin on March 10, Jerry Santeiro on the 11th, Mike Freemen  and Viresh Dayal on the 12th and Paolo Possenti on March 13th.  The sign of the fishes is almost over ...

We have only one member celebrating their Rotary Anniversary this week, George Teruel has been a member for a year on March 10th.  

 Happy $$$

President-Elect Walter Alvarez was happy that he just returned from PETS (President Elect Training Seminar) where he had the opportunity to meet the PE's from all the clubs in two Districts and find out what works for them and what doesn't.  He's got information overload but it only put him to sleep for about half the usual time.  Dick Golden told a pretty good story about the Polish airline pilot who managed to bring his plane down on the shortest, widest runway ever built!  Deena Bell was happy that she's going to the Gala tomorrow night.  She also wanted to remind everyone that with so many Community Service projects coming up they need their t-shirts and so please get them from her after the meeting.  Yoli Woodbridge  is happy that today is her darling granddaughter Madison's third birthday.  She was also happy to report that Walter made a good impression at PETS.  Margarita Tonkinson is ecstatic today because tomorrow is the Gala!  Bruce Kerestes was happy that he was able to attend his Uncle Bruce's funeral in Connecticut.  He was buried with full military honors.  Today is his Dad's 90th birthday ... he told Bruce he feels "old".  Noelle Galperin is pleased to announce that she will be in San Francisco for a year beginning April 15th.  She has received a fellowship to work with the implementation of private thinking into public policy with an organization called Children Now.  She will see us once in awhile as she will still be maintaining her District duties despite her tenure in California.  And finally Randy was happy about two things today...first of all that his fall trip to Africa is coming and also, he noticed that Bill Martinez was wearing a dark suit today and Randy's really happy he's standing up front!  Happiness pays so keep on smiling.

Working Rotarians - March 8, 2012
Greeter - Steven Spann
Registration - Aaron Glasser
Collections - Lorraine Sheldon
Head Table - Deena Bell Lewellyn
Special Needs - Lan Nghiem-Phu & Chris Morrison
Open the Meeting - Jack Witty
Invocation - Greg Martini
Pledge - Hank Collins
Singers - Sally B & Greg Martini
DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Jim Skinner
Given to - Ana Fournaris &Debra Welch
Pin Drawing Gift - Yoli Woodbridge
Pin Drawing Winner - Bill Martinez
50/50 Raffle - Fred Baddour & Donald Trombly
50/50 Winner - Walter Alvarez
4-Way Test - Walter Alvarez

Today's Program

Noelle Galperin, grew up in Rotary.  Her dad, the late Arnold Galperin was the consummate Rotarian who served the organization at the international level for many years.  So Rotary is in her DNA.

But Noelle is a Rotarian because of our club.  After her first National Immunization Day (NID) we made her an Honorary Rotarian (2007).  Since then she has led three NID's and she and her teams have vaccinated more than 2,500 children in India.  She officially became a member of our club and a real Rotarian in 2009.

She is currently serving as District Chair for the Haiti Initiative which was started after the 2010 earthquake that devastated that country. Today she updated us on what's going on with the District Initiative and it's chosen project to help the people of Haiti - Project Medishare.  The single most successful project in the rebuilding of Haiti.  In January, Noelle returned to Haiti to review Project Medishare and was accompanied by RI Directors Barry Rassin from District 7030 and our own John Smarge as well as Rotary International President Banershee. 

Project Medishare has succeeded in Haiti because of it's partnerships with community based organizations and committed local partners including the Haitian Government's Health Care System. They operate out of Hospital Bernard Mevs Project Medishare (HBMPM), operate 24/7 and provide free/low cost trauma/critical care services to Haitians.  They host 50 in-patients and up to 300 out patients a day. Since the earthquake Project Medishare has treated more than 180,000 people and performed more than 3,500 life saving operations.

HBMPM is operated by 200 Haitian physicians, nurses and health care professionals.  They host more than 30 students every semester who are doing their interships in trauma medicine.

HBMPM broke ground  last year on an 11,000 square foot building that will add 30 critical care beds, four large patient rooms, three classrooms, a simulation lab, Telemedicine Headquarters and a 120 seat auditorium.

Our District selected this project and approved to support it in three key areas, Ophthalmology, Laboratory and Radiology. The $70,200 we raised between District Clubs and matching funds from the Rotary Foundation has provided state-of-the art training and equipment for Project Medishare in these three areas.

The Primary Goal when District 6990 undertook to support Project Medishare was to support the project in its goal to provide a safe and functional environment that will increase the knowledge of Haitian health care professionals utilizing the "Train the Trainers" principle so these trainees can in turn also serve as mentors to future generations of Haitian health care leaders.  With your help and the help of Rotarians throughout our District, and the Magic of Rotary, we have made this happen.

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM:  Scholarship Chair Terry Long with the Donors and Scholarship Winners from Coral Gables Senior High for 2011-2012.

Thought of the Week
by Abe Horowitz


"A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle"

                                           Benjamin Franklin 




Scene Scenes





 Eagerly anticipating today's program!




                           
       District business?





More District business!




A little blurry but it's easy to see 
that everyone was listening to 
Noelle with rapt attention!




See you next week.
Same time,
Same place,
Same great bunch
of Rotarians.

Friday, March 2, 2012

India No Longer Polio Endemic

The World Health Organization has officially removed India from the list of polio-endemic countries. Ghulam Nabi Azad, India's minister of Health and Family Welfare, made the announcement at the Polio Summit 2012 in New Delhi on 25 February. Azad said that he had been informed of WHO’s action by its director-general, Dr. Margaret Chan. 

"It is a matter of satisfaction that we have completed one year without any single new case of polio being reported from anywhere in the country," said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the summit, which was organized by the government of India and Rotary International. "This gives us hope that we can finally eradicate polio not only from India but from the face of the entire mother earth. The success of our efforts shows that teamwork pays."

India's last reported case was a two-year-old girl in West Bengal State on 13 January 2011. Before polio eradication can be certified in India, it must go two more years without another case of the disease. Polio remains endemic in only three countries: Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

Bivalent oral vaccine  

 

Until 2009, India accounted for nearly half the number of the world’s polio cases. A chief factor in the country’s success has been the widespread use of the bivalent oral polio vaccine, which is effective against both remaining types of the poliovirus. Another has been rigorous monitoring, which has helped reduce the number of children missed by health workers during National Immunization Days to less than 1 percent, according to WHO.  
Rotary International has played a major role in helping to stop the transmission of polio in India. Rotary has been a spearheading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative since 1988, along with WHO, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is also a key supporter of the initiative.   
Sporting their signature yellow vests and caps, the nearly 119,000 Rotarians in India have helped administer vaccine to children, organize free health camps and polio awareness rallies, and distribute banners, caps, comic books, and other items.  

Global support from Rotarians

 

"With the support of their Rotary brothers and sisters around the world, Indian Rotarians have worked diligently month after month, year after year, to help organize and carry out the National Immunization Days that reach millions of children with the oral polio vaccine," says RI President Kalyan Banerjee, of the Rotary Club of Vapi, Gujarat. "As an Indian, I am immensely proud of what Rotary has accomplished. However, we know this is not the end of our work. Rotary and our partners must continue to immunize children in India and in other countries until the goal of a polio-free world is finally achieved." 

Robert S. Scott, chair of Rotary's International PolioPlus Committee, calls India's achievement "a significant step towards a polio-free world – an example as to what can be accomplished no matter what problems need to be overcome. Rotarians of India are and should be proud of the key efforts they have made at all levels, without which the world would not be marking this milestone." 

Deepak Kapur, chair of the India PolioPlus Committee, also credits the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for its commitment to ending polio. To date, the Indian government has spent more than US$1.2 billion on domestic polio eradication activities. "We are fortunate that our government is our biggest advocate in this effort," Kapur says.

For more information: 

 

Time's Runing Out - Buy Your Tickets Today ...


Thursday, March 1, 2012

Vol 66 No. 36 Notes from the Podium

President's Time

President Debbie announced that we will be delaying the Winner's Choice raffle until a later date.  We still have a lot of tickets to sell and we're going to concentrate on that after our Gala next week.

Speaking of next week's party ... BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!  We need to give the count to the Country Club on Monday and we want to make sure that we have everybody who's coming ... they charge extra is we go over our guarantee!  The dinner is prime rib however there will also be Wild Alaska Salmon and a vegetarian pasta  entree.  Something for everyone.  "A Night on the Red Carpet" is shaping up to be a really great party thanks to Margarita Tonkinson and her entire committee.  (Ed. Note:  President Debbie too).

JOHN MARTIN'S
ST. PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL

Is just around the corner.  Be sure to sign up to pour beer or serve food at the hottest green event in town!  This year it's on Saturday!

We've been doing this for Martin Lynch for nearly ten years now.  We provide the manpower and he pays us for our efforts.  Last year we collected $5,000 and shared it with our co- beneficiary and our Rotaract Club, (who also provide manpower).  This year's co-beneficiary is Shake-A-Leg.

We need at least 75 people from 4 p.m. until midnight.  You can sign up for either a two hour or a four hour shift.  Whatever works best for you.  But sign up please.  And wear your Coral Gables Rotarian at Work shirt so that everyone knows who the volunteers are! 

President Debbie's 
Last 5th Friday

Time sure flies fast in Rotary.  You don't want to miss 5th Friday on March 30th.  It will be the last of this Rotary Year and as usual, we save the best for last.  Deena Bell Llewellyn and her partner Lewis Aqui are hosting our favorite fellowship event at their new offices on Coral Way.  

Bring your spouse, significant other or even a prospective Rotarian.  It's only $10 per person for drinks and snacks provided by Elizabeth "Lovables".  RSVP to Terry Long at terryclong@bellsouth.net   

Introduction of Visitors & Guests
by Dick Bullman

Dick wasn't very happy today because we hardly had any visitors at all.  And he likes visitors.  They make our club interesting.  However Serre Murphy brought his neighbor David Caffrey to see what we're like.  Brad Forte brought a guest who's not really a guest - Bob DelPozo.  But that's all.  So invite more new people next week.  We hate it when Dick starts to cry.


More fish are celebrating their birthdays this week.  Just like our Club.  These loyal, selfless, hardworking folks are perfect Rotarians.  Say Happy Birthday to Jim Hirschman today.  Dr. Phil  Boswell on Saturday, PE Walter Alvarez and John Porro on the 6th.  

Only two Rotary Anniversaries this week;  Harlan Chiron celebrates 32 years in our Club and Felix Pardo celebrates 27.  That's a lot of years of Service.  Thanks guys!

 Happy $$

For the last few weeks Randy has been happy to announce this year's photography safari, but this week he has a new reason to give $20 to make scholarships Groh.  The cupboard is bare.  That's right, the scholarship committee gave away all of the money and now we have to start all over again.  Terry Long was first up, happy that the Scholarship Committee selected 10 of the 16 outstanding applications last night but really what she was happy about was that after Bruce Kerestes dumped a glass of wine on her last night, Margarita Tonkinson removed the stain by using white wine.  George Reeves was lamenting that he is once again in the position of loser with his buddies at RAGS (that's Rotary Amazing Golfers Society).  Carol Brock is happy to announce that she has concluded a project with her club in Tennessee that engages six Rotary Clubs - three in Tennessee and three in Dominican Republic and the Rotaract Club from Tennessee Tech and they're all going to the Dominican Republic with Alfalit on a Literacy Project!  Awesome!!  Dick Golden did it again ... he came up with a joke that pained everyone else, it was about copper wires ... you had to be there!  Dar Arian was happy to be at the meeting today and happy to let us know that he is coming back!  He's missed Rotary.  Bruce Kerestes was really happy about the outcome of yesterday's scholarship meeting and the fine young people who both applied and won the scholarships.  He was sorry about dumping the wine on Terry.  He was sad to announce that his uncle, Bruce Litke passed away last week.  Sad because he so admired the man that he was named for and proud of it.  Margarita Tonkinson wanted to thank everyone for responding so quickly when her email was hacked and let us all know that she is not stuck in London and we don't have to send her any money to get her home again!  She was also happy to have been able to help Terry with the wine spill.  President Debbie was doubly happy today; first because her son is getting married  Saturday and she has eight family members living in her house and second and most important, her husband John was diagnosed with Lymphoma a week and a half ago but she's happy because the lump was completely removed.  Although he has to be checked regularly he is OK!  Happiness pays to keep on smiling!!

Working Rotarians - March 1, 2012
Greeters - Steven Spann & Rolf Frankfurter
Registration - Aaron Glasser
Collections - John Porro
Head Table - Rodney Langer
Special Needs - Lan Nghiem-Phu
Open the Meeting - Jack Witty
Invocation - Kelly Sastre
Pledge - Serre Murphy
Singers - Dan Scipione, Bill Quesenberry & Carol Brock
DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Lorraine Sheldon
Given to - Ana Fournaris & Jim Roen
Pin Drawing Gift - George Reeves
Pin Drawing Winner - Keith Phillips
50/50 Raffle - Don Trombly & Gloria Burns
50/50 Winner - Bill Forshee
4-Way Test - Dr. Phil 

 Today's Program

Judge Steve Leifman;  "Mental Health Treatment in the County Court System."

Pat Morris introduced us to today's speaker as someone who is passionate about the law and people's rights.  Judge Leifman said that until a few years ago he knew nothing about mental illness.  He had no idea that there is no collaboration between the court system and mental health treatment.

Miami Dade County has a mental health crises that is three times greater than the national average.  This is not sociopaths and dangerous criminals, this is schizophrenics, people suffering from bi-polar disorder and major depression.  It's estimated that there are some 175,000 adults and 50,000 children in Miami Dade that fall into these categories.  The Dade County Jail is currently the largest psychiatric facility in Florida.  The top three of it's nine floors are now devoted to people with mental heald problems.  There are currently 1,200 people on anti-psychotic drugs in jail.  It's a problem that is costing taxpayers $60 million a year because these prisoners stay eight times longer at seven times the cost per inmate.  And it's more critical than that ... since 1991, some 21 people have died in the jail system.

This isn't just a problem here.  It's the fault of the system that was set into place 40 years ago which shifted the cost of caring for the mentally ill to the criminal justice system and into the community.  The costs are outrageous.  In an effort to better understand the costs, he went to University of South Florida as they've developed a program to analyze the data.  According to their numbers, 97 people had 2,200 arrests, spent 27,000 days in jail at a cost of $18 million because of our fragmented system of care.

Judge Leifman and his group have developed a pre and post arrest program in an effort to stem the flow of mentally ill people into the system.  They have trained 3,500 police officers in crisis intervention and  d-escalation,  And is is working.  Last year they had 10,000 calls with less than 45 arrests.  The Dade County Jail has seen it's largest reduction in mental health inmates which proves that while it is a chronic problem, it is treatable.

This is a community problem that requires a community solution.  They have leased the old state hospital for 99 years for $1 a year.  Here they are establishing the first of it's kind Forensic Jail Facility.  It's a place where the mentally ill can get treatment, rehabilitation and retraining to move back into society instead of remaining in the penal system for the rest of their lives.

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM:  Noelle Galperin with an Update on Haiti.

Thought of the Week
by Abe Horowitz

 
"If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure."

Dan Quayle


 
Scene Scenes









See you next week,
Same time, same place,
Same great bunch of Rotarians



Friday, February 24, 2012

Interact Celebrates World Rotary Day

Coral Gables High School Interact Faculty Adviser Margarite DePaolo told us at the beginning of the school year that the club wanted to focus some of their efforts on Rotary's END POLIO NOW campaign.  She said they would be donating a portion of their profits from working at the Caroling Competition to Rotary International in support of the Gates Challenge to End Polio.

Also on the Club's wish list was to raise enough money to project  END POLIO NOW on the High School to celebrate Rotary, Interact and the fact that we are "this close" to ending Polio forever.

World Rotary Day was a great time to do it!
 With the help of Governor Todd Dayton (District 6990)  and our Club, Interact was able to get the money to purchase the projection unit  they needed to accomplish their dream.

They lit the building early, at 6:00 p.m. with lots of District dignitaries and several of our members in attendance. 


But the full impact of the sign wasn't evident until it was completely dark ...

Here is the Club's President Eddie Alsino with Ms. DePaolo in front of the projection which magically appeared on the north face of Coral Gables High School facing the corner of LeJeune & Bird Roads. 
Congratulations to Coral Gables High School Interact Club for pulling this off!  It's the first building in South Florida to display this sign but you can be sure that since the Club now has the capability of projecting it - it's going to show up on all kinds of interesting buildings all over town.

Rotary Rocks!  
Interact is Cool!