Coral Gables RotaryGram: Vol. 66 No. 38 Notes from the Podium

President's Time

The numbers are final, President Debbie announced that the Night on the Red Carpet raised $20,000 to be split between our Foundation and Citizens for a Better South Florida. She let everyone know she wasn't pleased with the attendance but for those who didn't come, it was their loss because Margarita Tonkinson threw a really great party! Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this such a financial success.

Saturday is St. Patrick's Day

Community Service Chair Deena Bell announced that although we were requested to have 75 volunteers, the total is up to 105!! We have 75 Rotarians and 30 Rotaractors, and Shake-A-Leggers.

Please report for your shift 15 minutes in advance to the Volunteer tent on Salzedo in front of the Museum. Wear your Coral Gables Rotarians at Work shirt and be prepared to work hard and have fun until midnight!

March has Five Fridays

And we have a party! Every month that has five Fridays, we always have a fellowship party. We call it - you guessed it - 5th Friday. In the Rotary tradition we always try and have it at a Rotarians place of business. This time it's Friday, March 30 at the brand new offices of Bell + Aqui. That's Denna Bell (Llewellyn) and her partner. It's 6 until 8 p.m. Bring your partner, spouse or significant other or even a prospective Rotarian. It's wine and munchies by Lovables. Don't miss it. It's only $10.

Introduction of Guests Visitors

Jerry Santeiro

Dick figured Jerry has had enough time as an understudy and he could handle introductions today. We had 32 guests who were all connected to today's program. In addition to those we also met Dick Pratt from the Rotary Club of Martha's Vineyard. Former Gables Rotarian (now a member of E-Club1) David Sanchez was here today. Dan Scipione brought the lovely Gianna (school's out) with a boot on her foot. Alfredo Iglesias introduced us to his friend Armando Diaz and Yoli Woodbridge brought her niece Patricia Levya to see us again. Also got to see our old friend and former member Dan Brandt. Hope to see you all again soon.

Only one Pisces born on the Ides of March. Say Happy Birthday to George (Superman) Reeve.

Happy Rotary Anniversary to Rosendo Castillo celebrating nine years on March 20th.

Happy $$$

President Debbie let Dick Golden have the floor today to see how many people would pay to keep him from telling a bad joke. Surprise! It was a good one ... about a golfer going to the dentist ... Walter Alvarez was happy today because it was good to see two former members, Dan Brandt and David Sanchez. Dan Scipione was happy that this week is over. His wife's been sick with a high fever and Gianna tripped and broke her ankle. Thankfully everyone's pretty healthy now. Margarite DePaolo was happy to say "thanks" to Terry Long for all the hard work she put into the Scholarships this year. Bruce Kerestes was happy to be able to tell all the Coral Gables High School kids in the room today that he was once a Cavalier too. Terry Long was happy to see so many happy people because all the Happy $$$ money goes to the scholarships that we're giving out today. Kelly Sastre was happy to announce that she and her entire family are former Cavaliers and also happy to see Gayle Payne here today who, in addition to being a Gables High Counselor is also her daughter's godmother. Lan Nghiem-Phu was happy about his new shirt/tie that his daughter sent him. It's in UM colors too! President Debbie was happy that her son and new daughter-in-law are back from their honeymoon today, one of them in a wheelchair - nothing broken - just a bad sprain. AND she gets rid of their dogs too. Dick Pratt, visiting Rotarian from Martha's Vineyard, wants everyone to know that his Club and many others are adopting Alzheimer's as the next big project in Rotary. One of his members is speaking about it at the Convention in Bangkok in May. Judy Pantoja is happy to see Dan and David too but most of all she's happy to be back. She's been in Barbados and was there for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Rotary Club in Barbados. She was invited to their Gala. It was awesome. Clubs from all over the Caribbean came. She's looking forward to pouring beer with all her friends on Saturday. Keep on smiling. Happiness pays (for the Scholarships!)

Working Rotarians - March 15, 2012

Greeter - Steven Spann

Registration - Aaron Glasser

Collections - Pat Morris

Head Table - Rodney Langer

Open the Meeting - Jack Witty

Invocation - Jerry Santeiro

Pledge - Kelly Sastre

Singers - Dan Scipione & Bill Quesenberry

DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Gene Marriuto

Given to - Jack Witty & Tom Dixon

Pin Drawing Gift - Joan Reitsma

Pin Drawing Winner - Walter Alvarez

50/50 Raffle - Fred Baddour

50/50 Winner - Mead McCabe

4-Way Test - Rick Tonkinson

Special Recognition

Margarite DePaolo

Faculty Adviser - Coral Gables Interact

Before we started to Scholarship Awards Program today, the Club wanted to recognize Margarite for her 10 years of devotion to Interact Club and it's success at Coral Gables High School. In addition to a beautiful plaque Terry Long and David Sanchez gave her 50,000 Delta Air Miles for her use and pleasure. She managed not to cry ... she "teared up" but she didn't cry!! Thank you Margarite for all that you do for these young people. You are an awesome example.

Today's Program

Terry Long, Chair of the Scholarship Committee was so very pleased to be able to award scholarships to such a qualified, deserving group of Interactors from Coral Gables High this year. She works long and hard on this program - she loves it - you can tell. This is the 26th year that our Club has given out cash scholarships - the program began in 1986. She spent a few minutes acknowledging everyone involved including the two Counselors from Gables High, Gayle Payne and Barbara Inskeep. And of course her committee which included Steve Spann, Rick & Margarita Tonkinson, Carlos Ruiz, David Sanchez, Bruce Kerestes, Phil Boswell and Joan Reitsma.

The money for these scholarships comes from Happy Dollars, Raffle donations, individual donors and the Zentner Fund of the California Community Foundation who matches our money.

Rick & Margarita Tonkinson Scholarship Awards

Eddie Alsina, President of Interact for 2011-12 who is planning to go into medicine.

Suzette Nanninkhof, in the top 1% of the class she's already an entrepreneur with Suzette's Cakes.

Jules Zentner Scholarship Awards

David Sanchez was pleased to take part in the Scholarship Awards program despite the fact that he is no longer a member of our Club. He is proud to honor the late Jules Zentner who dedicated his life to students. Mr. Zentner spent 20 years interviewing pre-Law and pre-Med students at UCLA and he personally assisted more than 1,000 students. He was the single largest scholarship donor in the world. This year the Zentner Scholarships went to:

Jieyi Wu


Roxana Zelaya


Vanessa Suarez

Jo Burke Scholarship Awards

Presented by Dan Brandt

Dan was pleased to be able to reward deserving students in the name of the late Jo Burke, a fine Rotarian who was always ready to help anyone, especially the young people, succeed. This year's Jo Burke Scholarship went to:

Nicole Cuervo

Joan Reitsma Scholarship Award

Joan, a Coral Gables High School Teacher for 30 years, is pleased to give a scholarship to honor her father who never wanted her to apply for a scholarship because "he could provide for his own children's education."

Iqra Khan

Jamar Jones

Joan & Terry Long (in honor of her late husband Willie) Partnered on one Scholarship to a very deserving young man:

Karen Herrera

President Debbie & John Swain were pleased to fund a scholarship again this year ... so impressed with
the caliber of applicants, they were
pleased to award their scholarship to:

To all of these amazing young people, remember;

"The future is yours ... youth is 20% of the present

100% of the future."

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING: Wally DiMarko and John Routh on the UM Sports Hall of Fame. They are bringing the Heisman Trophy with them for all to see.