Coral Gables RotaryGram: Vol. 66 No. 50 Notes from the Podium

President's Time

As we move closer to the end of the Rotary Year, President Debbie took the opportunity to remind us that DUES ARE DUE. If you want to take advantage of the 20% discount you must pay on or before June 30th.

Today is National Blood Donor Day. In honor of that occasion we had the Bloodmobile out in the parking lot today. Some 12 or so hearty Rotarians gave their good blood for a good cause. Thanks to all who donated!

5th Friday is June 29th

AND The Installation!!

An e-blast went out inviting you to celebrate the last 5th Friday of Debbie's year and the first 5th Friday of Walter's year at the same time. President-Elect Walter Alvarez and his board will be installed by District Governor Ted Eldridge at Fred Baddour's house on Friday, June 29th. The fun begins at 7 p.m. RSVP to Terry Long if you can make it. It's only $35 per person for drinks and food, fellowship and fun. We can welcome in the year of Peace Through Service.

Gemini is the sign of the Twins.

But in our Club it's triplets! Gemini natives are communicative, versatile, youthful, lively and inquisitive. Say Happy Birthday on JUNE 15TH to Sally B., Richard DeWitt and Rodney Langer!!!

We have three Rotary Anniversaries this week too. Abe Horowitz has been a member of our club for 13 years on June 17th. Deena Bell-Lewellyn for five years today and Patrick Morris celebrated two years on June 7th. Congratulations to you all and thanks for your service.

Introduction of Guests & Visitors

by Dick Bullman

Not too many visitors today, and we all know how unhappy that makes Mr. B. None-the-less Ray Dehbozorgi introduced us to David Plympton. Pat Morris brought the Y's intern, Alex Tran. Frank Sexton brought Ana Laguna, his banker and friend fro Bank United. Bill Oates introduced us for the third time to Andrea Stone, and new attorney in town. Y'all come back again soon, ya hear?

Happy $$$$

Dr. Randy couldn't make the meeting but The Donald took care of the money just fine! First up to proclaim happiness was Richard DeWitt who is happy that the wedding is nearly over as daughter Sasha gets married next Saturday evening. Greg Martini was happy that tomorrow he, his son, Donald and his son and 25 other are taking a bus to North Carolina to go white water rafting and Boy Scout Camp in Virginia. Bill Quesenberry was happy to have had a legitimate excuse to spend two weeks in London, Tanzania on a Safari and take a detour to Dubai. The photos from the safari are fabulous but the photos of Dubai are even more amazing! Yoli Woodbridge was $15 happy today, first because our Ambassadorial Scholar, Amanda Hermes is going to have a great year in Mexico, second because she needs a GSE Team to go to India with a Rotarian leader and third because she just heard from former member John Wallace who is now a Rotarian in Alabama. Bill Martinez was happy to announce that his niece Hilary just completed her college year with straight A's. Jim Hirschmann told us all about his back packing, white water rafting excursion that was three hours of sheer terror. Jim Roen was not so happy because his son placed 6th in the nationals in Oak Ridge Tennessee last weekend. Margarita Tonkinson also went white water rafting and did not take the three hour terror tour. They went out west and saw beautiful parks and more of this beautiful country than she ever dreamed of. She was also happy, having been on the selection committee for this year's Ambassadorial Scholar, to see Amanda here today. Dick Bullman was happy to promote the power of prayer that he believes is responsible for his grandson's complete remission. He urged us to pray for Dan Scipione who is undergoing chemotherapy now. Happiness pays so keep on smiling.

Working Rotarians - June 14, 2012

Greeter - Vanessa Estrada

Registration - Aaron Glasser

Collections - Lorraine Sheldon

Head Table - Steve Spann

Special Needs - Lan Nghiem-Phu

Open the Meeting - Jack Witty

Invocation - Pastor Perry

Pledge - Gene Mariutto

Singer - Bill Quesenberry

DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Steve Spann

Given to - Frank Sexton & Lorraine Sheldon

Pin Drawing Gift - Sally B.

Pin Drawing Wininer - Donald Trombly

50/50 Raffle - Gloria Burns & Donald Trombly

50/50 Winner - Bill Martinez

4-Way Test - Pat Morris

Today's Program

2012-2013 Outbound Ambassardorial Scholar from our Club to Mexico - Amanda Hermes.

Amanda is the past president of Coral Gables Rotaract Club. She came to Miami originally from Green Lake Wisconsin, a very small town of only 1,000 people. She graduated from Beloit College with a BA in Communications and a minor in Spanish and did her undergraduate studies in Quito Ecuador. She is very adventurous.

She is going to be getting a Masters in Tourism Administration at the University in Guadalajara, Mexico and is being hosted by the Rotary Club of Zapopan Lomas del Valle.

What is a Masters in Tourism? She will learn how to plan events, get visas, open her own business and learn the money part of the travel business. This degree is very well-rounded as she will be upon completion.

Her vision while she's in Mexico is to undertake a Service Project that gives free tours in Guadalajara, led by children. She loves kids and loves working with them and having an opportunity to have a positive impact on their lives. So she wants to teach them about their own city so that they can lead walking tours on their own to tourists and residents. This will teach them history. It will help them to develop their interpersonal skills. The donations that they collect from the tours will go back to their schools or to a project being undertaken by Rotary called the Clean Blood Initiative.

Her five year plan includes opening her own Agency to work with schools, churches, etc., to package tours. She hopes that it will have a non-profit component.

Amanda says that travel has changed her life and so she wants to share that with as many as possible and would like to make it available for everyone.

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM: Brian Keeley, CEO of Baptist Hospital.