Vol. 65 No. 7 Notes From the Podium

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President's Time This week a 6 ft. tall Oklahoma Mall thief was tackled and brought down by a 5'2', 16 year old cheerleader from Moore High School. "Cheerleading makes you strong!" And ... there's a new treatment facility protocol for alcoholics in the Netherlands. They serve a half-liter of beer to the patients every hour. Apparently it keeps them kinda buzzed and makes their head clearer? Who would've thought ...


Chris Morrison spent a lot of time telling us what a wonderful time we're going to have at the upcoming 7th Annual Rotary Golf Classic. It's November 4 at The Biltmore Hotel. Our meeting will be at the 19th Hole that day too. Our speaker will be Kim Bokamper, formerly of the Miami Dolphins Killer B's. But a tee sign, be a sponsor or just sign up to play. Last year we raised nearly $15,000 for our Foundation. We're looking to do the same or better this year. It's one of our major fund raisers.

Don't forget that YOLI IS SELLING BALLS. Golf balls that is. $25 buys you a shot at a winning ball in the drop on the day of the tournament. The $25 goes to help End Polio Now

COMMUNITY SERVICE UPDATE
August 21 - Veteran's Bingo from 1 until 3 p.m.
August 25 - Paw4You Pawtini Party at The Biltmore 5 until 8:30


Ed Morris was pinch hitting for Dick Golden today - peddling tickets for the December 5th District Day at the Dolphins. They're $45 including the bus trip to Sun Life Stadium (that's the name now, right?). If you want to go to the tailgate party you can get tickets to that separately. Kind of a "build it yourself" day at the football game. Word is they're playing Cleveland and the seats are much, MUCH better than last year.

All these fresh young faces are the Coral Gables Senior High Interact Board of Directors for 2010-2011. We'll be hearing more from them over the next few weeks as New Generations Chair Dr. Phil matches the various officers with their counterparts in our Club for a one to one mentoring opportunity with us Rotarians.

Three of our erstwhile members are celebrating their Rotary Anniversary this week. Bill Forshee has been in the Club 15 years; Elizabeth "Lovables" Silverman celebrates 5 years and Community Service Chair Judy Pantoja, although it seems like forever, has only been with us for the last 3 years. Good Rotarians, all of them.

Happy Dollars
When the Diva Does Dollars we get quality, rather than quantity. She wastes no time taking prisoners ... she's always between men! Happy Rotarians today included Bruce Kerestes, proud grandfather to his second grandson, Deacon Bruce dela Fe, 8lbs, 12 oz., born August 4th. They're sure he's going to play for the Dolphins. Bill Quesenberry spent a miserable week working through the end of days for his computer. Now it's dead and been replaced with a new one. The next hurdle is will all of the old financial records be able to be transferred to Windows 7. Rosendo Castillo recognized Bianca Fernandez and Kristie House for the fine work that they do in our community. He and his wife toured the facility last week and were so impressed and thankful that such a facility and organization exists to assist children in Miami-Dade. We raised $1,100 for their school uniforms and two trunk loads of school supplies. Wiley Hicks was happy to be back from a 2,300 trek with his 20 year old son. They drove from Park City Utah to Miami by way of Chicago (for a Cubs game). He was also happy that his friend Tim Plummer gave him the $20 to be happy with today! J.B. Spence was happy to have voted but happier about his dear friend, Steve Zack who was just elected as President of the National Bar Association. Dan Scipione stood in for the absent Dick Golden with a story about a bronze rat some guy bought in Chinatown that came with a $10,000 story. Soon he had 10,000 rats following him. The punchline was that what he really wanted was a bronze lawyer??? Dick, come back soon! Luis Boue wanted J.B. to know that he also voted this morning and that cancelled out J.B.'s vote. Keep smiling. Happiness pays!

Today's Speaker

“It’s All About U:
Academic and Athletic Excellence”
Kirby Hocutt, Athletic Director
University of Miami

Mr. Hocutt is going into his third year as Athletic Director of the University of Miami. His dream to play Division 1A football was fulfilled when he had an opportunity to play linebacker at Kansas State University. When he first met UM President Donna Shalala, she was amazed that he played line backer since he's not big enough to be one!

What makes his job special is that UM athletic programs not only unify the school, but also unify the community. His position requires that all 357 student athletes receive an excellent education while having a chance to play in the program. Playing on the field teaches them lessons that will make them successful and productive citizens. Demonstrating UM’s commitment to academic excellence, he bragged that UM’s athletes have an 86% graduation success rate. 134 athletes achieved a 3.0 or better GPA, and 56 achieved 3.5 or better. The NCAA announced that Randy Shannon, their Head Coach, was ranked 3rd in the country behind Navy and Army for academic excellence.

UM football teams athletic achievement has propelled it into the national spotlight, bringing its athletes media attention. He tells the story of UM’s starting quarterback, Jackie Harris after UM’s bowl game loss last year against Wisconsin ... Before the buses left, he first boarded the defense bus, then boarded the offense bus. On each bus, he apologized to the seniors for not pulling the game off and losing the last game of their college career. To the returning players, he told them that if they would follow him next year, they would see his work ethic at a level they wouldn’t see anywhere else.

In closing, Hocutt said, “It is our time at UM – and you in the community are part of our team. Tell your friends about our academic success. And support the team by joining us in the stands.”

Working Rotarians - August 12, 2010

Greeters - Rodney Langer & Rolf Frankfurther
Registration - Aaron Glasser
Collections - Abe Horowitz
Head Table Assignments - John Wallace
Special Needs - Andrew Dixon
Open the Meeting - Ed Morris
Invocation - Pastor Perry
Pledge to the Flag - Ed Morris
Singers - Bill Quesenberry & Dan Scipione
DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - William Isiasis
Given to: Gloria Burns & Ana Fournaris
Pin Drawing Gift - Deena Bell
Pin Drawing Winner - John Wallace
50/50 Raffle - Gloria Burns
50/50 Winner - Abe Horowitz
5-Way Test - Yoli Woodbridge


Thought of the Week
by Chris Morrison

No one ever says, "It's only a game" when their team is winning.

George Carlin


NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM - A Double Hitter!

Martin Gould, PR Web Specialist speaks on "The Untapped Web Tools and the Rotary Club

Vanessa Snyder, the Rotary Club of Coral Gables' Ambassadorial Scholar

Join us, next Thursday, same time, same place.
We start on time. We end on time.
We always have a good time.