Coral Gables RotaryGram: Vol. 66 No. 40 Notes from the Podium

President's Time

President Debbie wanted everyone to know that April is Magazine Month in Rotary. To get us interested in reading The Rotarian that is delivered every month, she gave us an excerpt from one of April's stories. It was from the autobiography of singer Judy Collins who told of her battle with polio in 1948. She is one of a number of famous performers who were stricken with polio before it was eradicated here in the United States. Also stricken, Donovan, Itzak Perlman, David Sanborn to name just a few. You should have received the April issue already. Take half an hour and read through it. It's very "Rotary enlightening."

Tomorrow is the

March 5th Friday

And you don't want to miss it! It's going to be a really great party at Deena Bell Llewellyn's new office at 3360 Coral Way.

It starts promptly at 6 p.m. and ends promptly at 8 p.m. Most often Rotarians end up going out for dinner together after the party!

Catering by Lovables. Come by for cocktails and hors d' oeuvres. $10 per person. It's President Debbie's LAST party. Come.

Merrick Meeting Room

Is newly remodeled and really pretty! Many Rotarians commented that they felt like they were getting married, the place is so nice. One Rotarian (who shall remain nameless) was overheard saying; "Now we'll see how many round Rotarians you can fit at square tables..."

Congratulations!

Chris Morrison

President Debbie presented Past President Chris Morrison with his Perfect Attendance pin. 32 YEARS of Perfect Attendance!!! He really likes making up at other clubs around town. He says you should try it sometime.

Energetic, enthusiastic, dynamic and impulsive are traits that belong to those born under the sign of Aries like Jordon Steel who celebrates on Saturday and Eddie Snow, our April Fools baby! Happy birthday guys.

Lots of Rotary Anniversaries will be celebrated on April 1st. Gene Mariutto, celebrates 42 years, Edgard Mann 26 years, Terry Biddulph, 22 years, Steve Magenheimer 21 years and Bob Downey 19 years of service in Rotary. Thanks to you all and congratulations!

Vocational Service Minute

Craft Talk

Campbell Williams, Inc.

Independent Investment Advisors

Frank Sexton introduced us to the intricacies of the investment world, well explained by Hadley Williams. His company is a small, independent firm with no corporate anything. They provide their clients with broad diversification at three levels. 1. Equity bonds. 2. Management styles which they take to the level of sub-styles offering 60 different management sub-styles. 3. Diversification of management within sub-styles. They work for their clients and they require their clients pay attention to their portfolio. If you have assets upwards of $500,000 they can customize an investment plan just for you. Call him.

Introduction of Guests & Visitors

by Dick Bullman

Dick just returned from spring break and was eager to tell everyone about his visit to another Rotary Club ... seems he was the only person there in a suit and tie! But making up is lots of fun. Always do it when you're traveling ... you'll meet lots of interesting people.

We only had a few visitors today. With us again was Dick Pratt from the Martha's Vineyard Club. Joe Witz brought Paula Head. Brad Forte brought Lance, his construction supervisor. Bring more people. They'll be welcome for sure.

Happy $$$

Debbie wanted to make sure we went from Dick to Dick today so she asked Dick Golden to handle Happy Dollars. First up was Chris Morrison because Stanford is playing for the championship. Eddie Snow was happy because one year ago today he beat up the robber in his store and lived to have his heart surgery three days later. All is well now. Jim Hirschmann had medical happy dollars today because we are entering the golden age of genetic understanding. Donald Trombly who was ecstatic because both his and Greg Martini's sons have graduated to Boy Scouts and he is no longer the Cub Scout Troop Leader! Dan Scipione had another travel story that started at 4:20 a.m. and ended at 12:30 a.m. for a day trip to NYC. Carol Brock brought Rotary greetings after an Alfalit trip to the Dominican Republic with 15 students from University of Tennessee along with three Rotaractors. At the end of the trip all 15 were intent on becoming Rotaractors. Aaron Glasser was happy that, 1) Eddie Snow is celebrating his birthday and 2) that we have brides and bridegrooms, with Susan Guttmann and Abe Horowitz. Carlos Ruiz is happy because two of his four grand babies are visiting and he gets to meet the youngest and also that Earthfest has 40 vendors signed up. Now they need lots of Rotary volunteers. They're even going have a Tesla. Margarita Tonkinson is happy that she had family visiting and that they're now gone and that her son Steven is going to Peru for Shelter Box. President Debbie will not be at Earthfest on April 22, she will be biking 150 miles for MS. Sally B. told us there is no cure for stupid ... whomever stole her credit card number and used her card paid their AT&T bill with it. On her statement is the telephone number of the guilty party! Happy dollars ended with a really bad joke from Dick #2. Happiness pays so keep on smiling!

Working Rotarians - March 29, 2012

Greeter - Rolf Frankfurter

Registration - Aaron Glasser

Collections - Bill Quesenberry & John Porro

Head Table - Rodney Langer

Special Needs - Lan Nghiem-Phu & Chris Morrison

Open the Meeting - Jack Witty

Invocation - Carol Brock

Pledge - Hank Collins

Singers - Carol Brock & Dan Scipione

DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Carlos Ruiz

Given to - Jack Witty & Aaron Glasser

Pin Drawing Gift - Today's Speaker

Pin Drawing Winner - Walter Alvarez

50/50 Raffle - Donald Trombly

50/50 Winner - Elizabeth Lovables

4 Way Test - Elizabeth Silverman

Today's Program

"Murder on the High Seas. The True Story of Joe Cool's Final Voyage." Author Carol Soret Cope

Carol Cope is an attorney. She's the former assistant Dean of the UM Law School. She's married to a Judge and their daughter is an attorney. Need we say more? She's written three books from cases that she has had; Stranger Danger, Fast Lane and now Murder on the High Seas.

The fishing charter boat, Joe Cool was owned and operated by Jake Branham. He was the grandson of the Branham fortune and had decided to devote his life to the sea. Chartering the Joe Cool was a brand new venture. On the afternoon of September 22, 2007 the Joe Cool departed Miami Beach Marina for a two hour trip to Bimini with two passengers and his wife Kelly. They never arrived. Nor did they return to Miami Beach. The boat was found abandoned and with blood splatter days later at the Cay Sal Banks. The two passengers were found in a life raft 15 miles from Cuba. They claimed to have been attacked by Cuban pirates. Nobody bought that story. The case was solved by Federal officials in only a year. They nearly got off but the murderer was finally convicted. Read the book to find out more details.

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM: Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giminez with the State of the County Address.