Vol. 66 No. 30 Notes from the Podium

President's Time

Lots of announcements today but the most important was that January is "Rotary Awareness Month".  So President Debbie made sure that we are all aware of the outstanding things that have happened in Rotary so far this month including ...

1.  India is Polio FREE!  India passed the one year point with NO new cases of Polio!  Rotary is winning the battle to rid the world of Polio!

2.  The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation awarded an additional $50 million dollars to fight the Polio battle with Rotary!

3.  We met the first challenge from the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation matching the $200 million dollar grant on January 17 with $207 million and still growing!

4.  The new theme for the 2012-13 year was announced  "Peace Through Service" at the International Assembly in San Diego, CA  www.rotary.org

Rotary Night on the Red Carpet is gaining steam!  We have a whole host of new sponsors and silent auction donations.  Soon we will begin selling tickets but if you want to get a jump on it - there's a Paypal button on our website where you can get your tickets early.  So far, sponsors of the event include Mercedes Benz of Coral Gables, FP&L, Millian Swain & Associates, Community Newspapers, Carol Alexander, CPA and Coral Gables Country Club.  Stay tuned for breaking news!

Buy Your Raffle Tickets NOW!

In addition to being eligible for the $20,000, the Fiat 500 or a brand new Mako Flats Boat (winner's choice), those who have purchased early will be entered in two separate early drawings, the first of which is coming up this month.  Winner will receive two nights at a Starwood Resort of their choosing AND they will still be eligible for the BIG drawing on March 9th.  So make THE Donald happy, buy early and often and sell to your friends.  It's a great deal with only 300 chances to win!

COMMUNITY SERVICE UPDATE:  This Saturday is Veteran's Bingo from 1 until 3 o'clock at the VA Hospital.  It's a monthly service project that we really enjoy.  It's only two hours out of your life but it means the world to the Vets.  Join us.

 Blood Drive Next Thursday, 
January 26th

This is the ultimate service project.  Community Blood Center's Bloodmobile will be in the parking lot from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. for donations.  Besides feeling good about what you're doing to help our community,  you get a free blood test.  Think of the money you'll save on lab work ... one of the perks is you get to learn your "vitals" without a separate trip to the doctors office. 

Vocational Service Minute 

(a/k/a Craft Talk)

Lorraine Sheldon is new to our club.  In fact, she is the very first Associate Member to be inducted into the club under the RI Pilot Program.  Today we got to learn more about her vocation.  Her interior design company is called Quetzal Designs.  It's named after a bird that's prominent in South American history.  She selected it because it speaks to nature, color and light, the three most important aspects of her interior designs. Her passion is taking "dead space" and turning it into useful vibrant space.  She specializes in commercial space, offices, medical clinics, etc.  Some of her clients include Gibraltar Bank and HBO Latin America.  She recently completed a 6,000 sq.ft. oncology center.  She's been in business for 20 years here in South Florida.  She is licensed, bonded and insured.  In addition to commercial design, she also does residential construction and remodeling.  Check with your architect and find out if interior design services are included in his package, if not, give Lorraine a call and get more nature, light and color into your life.  After all, you spend more than 1/3 of your life in your office, it should be a place that is comfortable, it should be pleasant to be there.  

City of Coral Gables

Employee of the Month

Carmen Olazabal from Code Enforcemeent introduced us to her star employee, Michael Kattou from Development Services.  She said that he's personable, has a positive attitude and communicates well with the residents of the City.

Michael said he loves his job, it's a hard job, but he's passionate about it. He keeps the contractors in line and the City Beautiful!  Congratulations and keep up the good work.  We appreciate all you do for us.

Here come those cusp babies again ... remember they share the positive and negative traits of two signs.  Right now that's Capricorn and Aquarius.  Natives born under this cusp are practical, disciplined, independent and inventive and a little unpredictable.  Say Happy Birthday this week to Lloyd Miller today and Joan Reitsma on January 23.

Only one Rotary Anniversary this week.  Carol Brock celebrates eight years of service on January 22.  

Introduction of Visitors & Guests

Dick Bullman is really pleased that we're again in the big room.  He pointed out that when he joined Rotary (a long, long time ago) we had the entire ballroom because our membership was nearly 200 people.  Maybe we'll get there again!  Visiting us today from the Rotary Club of Miami is Roger Langer.  and from the Bella Vista Rotary Club in Santo Domingo, Mauricio Operino who exchanged Club flags. 

Terry Long brought her brother and sister in law, Ken and Kathy Long.  Mead McCabe introduced us to Max Pecina and Kevin Good.  Andrea Fusero brought his mom and dad all the way from Italy. Yolanda Woodbridge introduced us to Joe Lancaster, a past president of our Club who is back!

Happy $$

The good Dr. Randy returned to Groh scholarships today, and admittedly he has that extra something that gets people to voice their happiness each week.  Jon Arthur was first up to tell everyone that he and Keith Phillips have worked out a deal for next week - $5 for scholarships and you get to play golf for free.  Tom Dixon was happy that he and son Andrew completed the 2011 Industrial Report and presented it to 1,600 people.  Greg Martini reminded everyone to sign up to give blood next Thursday. Dick Golden told a lame joke about wedding cake being the worst possible food a man can eat!  Carlos Ruiz was $10 happy today because 1) on Friday his son completed his check flight and became the newest F-22 pilot in the U.S. Airforce and 2) on Sunday at 4:30 River Isley Ruiz de Quevedo came into the world weighing 8'11.  Carlos Bolado was happy that his Guyabera designer, Mauricio became a Rotarian in the Dominican Republic at his urging.  Rick Tonkinson was happy that the love of his life is nearly fully recovered from her surgery and was on the treadmill this morning.  Rob Hatfield  is ecstatic that his youngest daughter Maggie (the actress), now married, is expecting.  And he gave $10 because she's expecting twins!  Dan Scipione is happy (sort of) that after a meeting last week he acquired his fourth dog, a miniature, long haired, dachshund.  THE Donald Trombly was begging again ... sell raffle tickets, buy raffle tickets, whatever you have to do, do your part.  Proceeds go to our club's Foundation.  Margarita Tonkinson was happy for her husbands kind words and glad to be back.  Happiness pays so keep on smiling!

Working Rotarians - January 19, 2012

Greeter - 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 - Jerry Santerio

Singers - Bill Quesenberry & Dan Scipione

DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Serre Murphy

Given to - Steve Spann & Greg Martini

Pin Drawing Gift - Yoli Woodbridge

Pin Drawing Winner - Dick Golden

50/50 Raffle - Donald Trombly

50/50 Winner - Rob Hatfield

4 Way Test - Paolo Possenti

Today's Program

Max Pecina, Operations Manager of Faithful Home Services, "Changing Lives One Family at a Time".

Max says he has always felt a need to give back.  His father-in-law, Kevin Good has given him that opportunity.  Faithful Home Services is a not for profit organization that does emergency based home repairs for needy individuals and families throughout Miami Dade County.  Founded in 2009, this group has performed more than 40 repairs in the past year.  

Faithful Home services exists to help the economically disadvantaged homeowners of our community maintain a safe and healthy living environment for themselves and their families by making a network of home improvement resources available to them free of charge by licenses contractors in the Miami Dade County Area.  The do not provide Mortgage subsidy, utility subsidy, cosmetic or architectural maintenance or upgrades, asset enhancement to the property work on any rental property.

The services they do provide are limited to what is essential in preserving the health, safety and welfare of the home’s occupants.  Plumbing repairs, electrical, window/exterior door repairs, roof repairs, upgrades for physically disabled persons.

The people who can qualify for their Services include single mothers, wives of inmates, wives of deployed military personnel,widows, handicapped or physically disabled persons, the elderly and foster & adoptive parents.

Max urged Rotarians to recommend them anytime we see a need.  That's what they're here for and we are out there enough to help them to make a difference.

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING:  Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason with the State of the City Address.

Thought of the Week

by Abe Horowitz

"A man is not finished when he is defeated.  He is finished when he quits."

                                                                        Richard M. Nixon

Scene Scenes

Special guests show up all the time!

Rotarians doing what Rotarians do,
Planning projects!

Flag Exchange from Rotary Club
of Bellavista, Dominican Republic, presented by Mauricio.

Fellowship is important to us!

Andrea Fusero brought his parents all the way from Italy.

Yes it's THE Donald, begging people to buy raffle tickets again!

See you next week,

Same time, same place,

Same great bunch 
of Rotarians.