Coral Gables RotaryGram: Vol. 66 No. 29 Notes from the Podium

President's Time

Last week Debbie told us about our $4,100 donation to Winston Fiore and SmileTrek. This week she read us a letter from Dr. Geoff Williams from the International Children's Surgical Foundation, citing several of the operations that we made possible with our donation to SmileTrek and the lives that were changed. Pretty cool from just a little bit of money we raised at the meeting. Coral Gables Rotary is pretty cool!!

Community Service Minute

Deena introduced us to Karla Mosquera from the American Diabetes Association. She is here soliciting volunteers and riders for the upcoming Tour de Cure on February 12. It's a 30, 60 or 100 mile bike ride that starts on Virgina Key early Sunday morning. They need LOTS OF VOLUNTEERS to fill goody bags, help with set up, break down, food servers and much more. There will be a training session for volunteers. They are expecting at least 400 riders to raise money for the cause. Sign up sheets are in the back along with a volunteer inquiry form for the event.

Also coming up is VA Bingo on Saturday January 21 from 1 until 3. Two hours out of your day can make all the difference to a Vet. Sign up now.

Mark your calendar to come to Rotary early on January 26 so you can donate blood. Come early. Donate often. Community Blood Center's Bloodmobile will be parked here at the Country Club beginning at 11:00 a.m. They will remain until at least 2 p.m. to accommodate the crowds.

Welcome Vanessa Estrada

Our Second Associate Member

You'll recall that our club is participating in the Membership Pilot Program under Rotary International. We were selected to "try out" an Associate Membership Program to try and stimulate more interest in Rotary, especially among younger people.

Today we inducted our second Associate Member, Vanessa Estrada. She's an architect. She's well studied and highly degree'd, and she's young and attractive! One of our members who shall remain nameless suggested that Judy now has competition (lol). Be sure to get to know Vanessa and include her in everything so she can find out quickly just how great a group we Coral Gables Rotarians really are!

Practical, ambitious, careful and pessimistic are just a few of the traits that mark native born under the sign of the goat. Say Happy Birthday this week to Catarina Jimenez (if you can find her!) on January 12.

Introduction of Guests &Visitors

It's been a long time since "junior" has handled introductions but Dick wasn't able to make it today. Jerry Santeiro introduced German Spicker and his lovely wife Gloria, visiting us from Rotary Club of Cartagena, Colombia. Also visiting today was Michael Mills from Rotary Club of South Miami and District Governor Nominee Designee (whew!) and this year's District Membership Chair, Joe Roth. President Debbie had a guest today, Katherine Swain, of the same name but no relation.

International Service Minute

Our friend from the Cartagena Rotary Club, German Spicker, brought greetings from the Franco Pereja Children's Hospital - a project we have supported jointly with his club for the past seven years. He is organizing a trip for us to visit the hospital, hopefully in April and to see for ourselves what the "magic of Rotary" can accomplish. Stay tuned for details.

Happy $$$

A FIRST!! President Debbie asked Dick Golden to stand in for the absent Dr. Randy. There were lots of people at the meeting today but happiness was sorely lacking. Walter Alvarez was happy that his son just left to study in Barcelona. Maybe he'll come back speaking Spanish! THE Donald Trombly took up a lot of time lamenting the state of ticket sales for our upcoming Rotary Raffle. He asked for volunteers who would take some tickets on consignment and sell them around the neighborhood. The odds are great 300 to 1. The prizes are great, a new Fiat, a Mako or $20,000 cash. There's interim prizes like two nights in a Starwood Hotel and other cool stuff. So buy your tickets now. Have your friends buy tickets now. Only $150 a chance. Dan Scipione was happy to advise everyone that he's saving $3.00 a week since we moved back to the Country Club with free parking. That's $150 a year! He just bought a Raffle Ticket!! Jerry Santeiro was happy to be back in the USA. His mom arranged a trip to Cuba for them all for the first time in 51 years. Best thing about being home is toilet paper! Rick Tonkinson advised that Margarita had gall bladder surgery two days ago at Doctor's Hospital and they appreciate all the caring and concern everyone has shown. And FINALLY, Dick took the opportunity to tell a joke about toilet paper (he didn't start it!) But it was pretty dumb ... something about a pigeon. Happiness pays so keep on smiling!

Working Rotarians - January 12, 2012

Greeter - Steven Spann

Registration - Aaron Glasser

Collections - Joe Witz

Head Table - Rodney Langer

Special Needs - Lan Nghiem-Phu

Open the Meeting - Jack Witty

Invocation - Steve Magenheimer

Pledge - Aaron Glasser

Singers - Bill Q., Dan Scipione & Ana Fournaris

DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Barbara Stein

Given to - Pat Morris & Kelly Sastre

Pin Drawing Gift - Rodney Langer & Yoli

Pin Drawing Winner - Keith Phillips

50/50 Raffle - Gloria Burns

50/50 Winner - Jerry Santerio

4 Way Test - Gloria Burns

Today's Program

Actors' Playhouse

"Next to Normal"

Barbara Stein is an honorary Rotarian from our Club for many years and it's always a pleasure when she brings us previews of her upcoming shows.

Actors' Playhouse is celebrating their Silver Anniversary this year - with 17 years at Miracle Theater. She's really pleased that American Express has donated $30,000 for historic preservation projects and that the City will be helping them to upgrade the marquee this year.

Their newest production opens January 18 through February 12.

NEXT TO NORMAL
Music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey

Winner! 3 Tony Awards and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama

One family is about to face the music. Next to Normal is an emotional powerhouse of a musical about a family trying to take care of themselves and each other. It is about one woman's struggle with manic depression and the toll it takes on her family. Next to Normal's surging score is intense, emotional and ultimately hopeful of how the family comes to terms with their past and faces their future. A truly remarkable, moving and powerful new musical.

“Next to Normal is one of the bravest new musicals to hit mainstream a jolt of raw contemporary pain propelled by a rock ‘n’ roll pulse. It makes your heart swell.” - Ben Brantley, New York Times

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: It's a Surprise!