This week's best story was about a talking dog in Montana. Fellow saw the sign. Spoke to the dog. Was amazed by the fact that the dog really could talk. In fact the dog told an entire life story about working for the CIA and then for US Customs before he retired to have a passel of pups. When the fellow asked the farmer how much for the dog, farmer said $10. Why so cheap? Because the dog lies .... he never did any of that stuff!
COMMUNITY SERVICE: May 23, 24, and 26 is the Special Olympics Golf Tournament. We need volunteers fro 9:30 a.m. unti 1:00 p.m. If you're available please sign up and help out. It is after all Special Olympics. They can really use golfers' help.
Spann is PERMANENT!
Congratulations to Steve Spann. He got rid of his red badge in record time. Just goes to show that if you go to enough socials in our club you can learn the secret handshake and get your Permanent Badge FAST.Now Steve is a Rotarian FOREVER!
Frank Quesada
A Maritime lawyer with the Valdes Fauli Firm, Frank is also the newest member of the Coral Gables City Commission. He is also on the Board of the Coral Gables Community Foundation. He has served on numerous city boards and committees and has spent the better part of his life giving back. Joining Rotary is a natural for him. Besides, he thinks it's really cool that we have so much FUN at Coral Gables Rotary. He's married to a short person, Ana and we're told that she wears the pants in the family. We're proud to have him. Say hello and welcome when you see him.
City of Coral Gables
Employee of the Month
May, 2011
Congratulations to Maria Millan from the Human Resources Department. Maria has worked for the City fo 16 years and is another of the hard working, dedicated and caring people who serve our residents. Thanks Maria for all your service. Keep up the good work!
The Employee of the Month is sponsored by Ron Shuffield and EWM Realtors
This week's birthday boys are on the cusp of Taurus and Gemini. Natives who really exhibit duality. They're persistent, self indulgent, communicative, lively and just a little bit superficial. Say Happy Birthday to Dan Scipione on the 20th and Jon Arthur on the 23rd.
Three are celebrating their Rotary Anniversaries this week; Dr. Phil Boswell with 17 years, Kelly Sastre with 15 years and Jim Roen with 13 years. That's a lot of Service! Thanks to you all for all you do for Rotary and for our Club.
Happy $$$
Dr. Randy was with us again today but it's just not the same without the Diva. Somehow she makes paying your money just more FUN. She makes it Groh more!But he didn't do a bad job, considering. Hadley Williams was making a pitch to all club members to help us to reach our Rotary Foundation Giving Goal for 2010-2011. If you haven't given your $100 for your sustaining membership do it now...it's less than $2 a week but it makes a difference in the world. Bill Quesenberry was happy to announce that we raised $379 for school supplies for Copan, Honduras. He's going shopping tonight and shipping tomorrow. He's also happy that he and Melissa leave on Sunday for a week in Paris. Yoli Woodbridge was ecstatic that we have become the sponsoring Rotary Club for the active, 100 member Interact Club at Gulliver Academy. Hank Langston will be the school's sponsor. Jim Roen was proud to announce that both of his kids won gold medals in the South Florida Regional Regatta and will row in the Nationals in June. Frank Sexton was grateful to the 12 Rotarians who joined him at the fund raising luncheon for Charlee yesterday. For those who didn't come, he'll take checks. Charlee provides safe haven and care for children from abusive homes. Lan Nghiem-Phu is ecstatic to be back from two weeks in Europe. Don't ask about the Royal Wedding or transportation in Paris. He told Bill Q to prepare himself to miserable. He's really glad to be back in Miami. Dick Golden told one about a priest and a pastor, a missing bicycle and the 10 Commandments. It was, well .... Rosendo Castillo just returned from 17 days with his new grand daughter. It was so much fun they would move to California except for the fact that they don't speak Spanglish. Dan Scipione is proud of his 57 year old sister and how she's changed her life after the death of her husband. She auctioned off her house, loaded her belongings into a U-Haul and moved to Key West where she will work at the VA Station there. Happiness pays so keep on smiling!
Working Rotarians - May 19, 2011
Greeter - Rodney Langer
Registration - Deena Bell Lewellen
Collections - Carlos Bolado
Head Table - Bill Quesenberry
Special Needs - Frank Sexton
Open the Meeting - Dick Golden
Invocation - Joan Reitsma
Pledge - Dick Golden
Singers - Ted Pappas, Bill Quesenberry & Dan Scipione
DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Ana Fournaris
Given to - David Lawrence & Melissa Morris
Pin Drawing Gift - Dan Scipione
Pin Drawing Winner - Rolf Frankfurther
50/50 Raffle - Gloria Burns & Donald Trombly
50/50 Winner - Rolf Frankfurther
5-Way Test - Bill Quesenberry
Today's Program
David Lawrence, Jr.
Chairman
Children's Movement of Florida
Former Miami Herald Publisher and Founding Chair of the well respected Children's Trust, and Rotary's Citizen of the Year for 2009, David Lawrence has become the moving force behind the Children's Movement of Florida. The Children's Movement believes that the well-being and education of our children in Florida must be the highest priority of government, business, non-profit institutions and families. The economic future of our state and the stability of the communities we live in depend on achieving this goal. In the short video presented, we learned that over 200,000 children are born in Florida each year, and by the time they enter kindergarten 1/3 are not ready. Much more money is spent on roads and prisons than on schools.
Lawrence observed that a lot of our members spoke about their children during the meeting. He said, “I am only as happy as my unhappiest child.” Statistical information that he shared included that for each additional $1.00 spent on children would save $7.00 on prisons and the courts system. 88% of 4th graders have trouble reading. 40% do not graduate from high school. More than half of 10th graders in Coral Gables High School cannot read at grade level. Florida is willing to spend over $50,00 0 per year on prisoners but has trouble finding $3000 for a preschooler’s education. Why can we find money for tunnels and stadiums, but not for education? A group of retired senior Admirals and Generals reported in November 2009 that 755 of 17 to 24 year olds are not “mission-ready” due to substance use, legal problems, and physical problems.
In response to questions, Lawrence explained that he has met with Governor Scott twice, and although our elected officials love their children, kids are not a top priority. He then observed that 9 of the 11 top candidates for a position with the Children’s Movement did not know the name of Florida’s governor. Nothing is more important to a child than a caring and loving parent. “We could do much better”.
For more information, see http://childrensmovementflorida.org/.
NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: Chaired by Vice President Hadley Williams, our speaker will be Henri Chuang, Taipei Economic and Cultural Officer in Miami with an introduction to Taipai City, Taiwan.
Lawrence observed that a lot of our members spoke about their children during the meeting. He said, “I am only as happy as my unhappiest child.” Statistical information that he shared included that for each additional $1.00 spent on children would save $7.00 on prisons and the courts system. 88% of 4th graders have trouble reading. 40% do not graduate from high school. More than half of 10th graders in Coral Gables High School cannot read at grade level. Florida is willing to spend over $50,00 0 per year on prisoners but has trouble finding $3000 for a preschooler’s education. Why can we find money for tunnels and stadiums, but not for education? A group of retired senior Admirals and Generals reported in November 2009 that 755 of 17 to 24 year olds are not “mission-ready” due to substance use, legal problems, and physical problems.
In response to questions, Lawrence explained that he has met with Governor Scott twice, and although our elected officials love their children, kids are not a top priority. He then observed that 9 of the 11 top candidates for a position with the Children’s Movement did not know the name of Florida’s governor. Nothing is more important to a child than a caring and loving parent. “We could do much better”.
For more information, see http://childrensmovementflorida.org/.
NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: Chaired by Vice President Hadley Williams, our speaker will be Henri Chuang, Taipei Economic and Cultural Officer in Miami with an introduction to Taipai City, Taiwan.
Thought of the Week
by Steve Magenheimer
Yogi Berra'isms ...
"Its deja vu all over again."
"Its not over until its over."
Talking about Ruggeri's Italian Restaurant;
"Nobody goes there anymore. Its too crowded!"
Giving directions to Joe Garagiola;
"When you get to a fork in the road, take it."
Scene Scenes
Join us next week,
same time, same place,
same great bunch of Rotarians!
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