Coral Gables RotaryGram: Vol. 67 No. 9 Notes from the Podium

President’s Time

Welcome to the August 30^th Meeting. We are starting the meeting with a few announcements.

The Golf Ball Drop tickets will be sold from now until November 29. The proceeds will be going to The Rotary Foundation and not to Polio Plus as I had told you before.

August 31, 2012: First Fifth Friday at Snow’s Jewelers, 6-8PM, $10. Sally B volunteer to organize all the 5^th Fridays. Thank you, Sally!

September 8, 2012; Freedom 5K Run at JC Bermudez Park, 9AM-12 Noon

September 15, 2012; Coastal Cleanup at Matheson Hammock, 9am-12 noon.

September 22, 2012; Veterans Bingo, 1-3PM

September 22, 2012; Diabetes Walk, Marlin Stadium, 7:30-9AM

All of you are invited to participate in these event and remember they count as make ups.

Happy Birthday:

Abe Horowitz Today, August 30

Perfect Attendance:

President Walter gave Yoli Woodbridge her pin for 18 Years of Perfect Attendance.

Rotary Anniversaries:

Jim Hirschmann 6 years

Tom Dixon 18 years

Eddie Snow 24 years

Betty Metcalf 25 years

George Corrigan 28 years

Introduction of Guests

Rodney Langer introduced our visitors today; Woody Beckham, guest of his father Bill, and Rosendo Castillo came to visit us today as Yoli’s guest.

Happy Dollars

Dr. Randy as always was happy to do Happy Dollars for our scholarship program. Greg Martini for Fred Baddourwho was very happy about the CRAVE party and wanted to thank Gloria for organizing this event. Bruce Kerestis’s on August 24^th. He was born in Croatia, served in Italy and was brought to the Biltmore when it was a VA hospital to recuperate. He like the Gables so much that he returned after college. He worked in Insurance and lived in the Gables. It was the real America dream! Walter Alvarez was happy and sad because last week he took his youngest son to College. He was happy for Patrick because going to college is a great experience but he was sad because he misses him. Eddie Snow is happy to welcome Rotarians to his store. He is excited about his new location. Arnie Perry Needs a place to store his 68 Chevy Malibu, please let him know if anyone has a place for him to store his car. Dick Golden’s joke today was about a guy in a bar who hears two ladies with British accents so he wanted to buy them a drink. He told the bar tender “to take the drinks to the British ladies.” The ladies were not happy: they told him “we are not British, we are Welsh.” Ok, he said to the bartender, give these two “Whales a drink.” President Walter announce that $196 dollars were made at the CRAVE event. This money will go to the Membership Committee for Development.

Today's Speaker

Nicole Rider, member of the Rotary Club of Miami Brickell, was our Speaker today. The title of her talk was Life without limits. Nicole has spoken in 20 Rotary Clubs. Since she was very young, she was involved in sports.

Nicole was driving one day with her boy friend and he fell asleep so the car turned over and she was injured. Nicole is in a wheel chair but she is involved in sports and many other activities. She does hand cycling , Adaptive Alpine Skiing, Wheelchair Rugby and since she now lives in Florida, also goes sailing with Shake a Leg. She can walk a little but she likes to take great challenges.

Nicole would love to participate in the 2016 Olympic Games. She is learning how to play ping pong so maybe she can participate in both Sports. She has a wonderfully positive attitude and feels that you cannot let fear control you. In 2011, she went to Hamilton, Canada to participate in the Rotary Mobility Regatta.

The Rotary Regatta is sponsored by all the club in Canada and that year it took place in Hamilton. She also told about a great fundraiser they do in Ontario that involves a big piggy bank with the Rotary logo in its nose. They collected $30,000 dollars. Nicole left us with the thought that nothing is impossible if you are willing to try it.

Working Rotarians –August 30, 2012

Greeter - Andrea Stone

Registration - Aaron Glasser

Collections - Debbie Swain

Head Table - Steven Spann

Open the Meeting -Jack Witty

Invocation - Dick Bullman

Pledge - Steve Magenheimer

Singers - Bill Q,/Dan S.

Introduction of Visitors/Guests - Rodney Langer

Pin Drawing Gift - Yoli Woodbridge

Winner - Mead McCabe