Coral Gables RotaryGram: Vol. 65 No. 38 Notes from the Podium

President's Time

This week an Oregon woman called 911 to report an intruder hiding in her bathroom, just as the intruder was calling 911 to report his concernes that the homeowner might be armed. On 911 tapes released by police, the fellow admits breaking into the home and tlels the dispatcher the owner behind the bathroom door might have a gun. He'd also heard the owner say she had two German shepherds. Later the homeowner can be heard warning the intruder that she's about to call the police, to which he yells back, "I've already called them. They're on the phone right now!"

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Chair, Judy Pantoja presented the club with a check from John Martin's for our St. Patrick's Day Pouring Efforts. The $5,000 will be shared with Deliver the Dream ($1,000) and our own Rotaract Club ($500) for their volunteers and assistance. She again thanked everyone for their outstanding efforts and reiterated that it was the best year they've had.

10 - 12 Volunteers are needed to help out with registration at the "Inspiration Run", on Sunday, March 27 at Gulliver Academy beginning at 6:30 a.m. Proceeds from the run benefit Special Olympics. If you'd like to run the 5K, additional registrants are always welcome.

DISTRICT ASSEMBLY is Saturday, April 16 at Signature Gardens in Davie. Incoming Club officers and directors are urged to attend along with any other club members who are interested in learning more about Rotary, the District and the Foundaiton. The Club will pay for the first five people who register for the day-long event. It begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and includes lunch. It's over by 3:00 p.m.

JAPAN RELIEF: The Rotary Foundation has established a Donor Directed Fund specifically for the purpose of providing relief to the victims of the Japanese catastrophe. To contribute go the www.rotary.org. Or to donate to ShelterBox (already on the ground in Japan) www.shelterboxusa.org.

ANONYMOUS DONOR has contributed $2,000 to the Rotary Foundation of Coral Gables. You know who you are. Know that you have our sincerest "thanks" for your generosity.

Enter Aires the Ram. Natives of this sign are dynamic, confident, impatient and quick temepered. Say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" this week to Chris Morrison today, Arne Themmen on March 27 and Bill Martinez on the 28th.

There's no shortage of Rotary anniversaries this week either. Harlan Chiron and Allan Heard celebrate 31 years. Ted Pappas has four years with us and untold number of years with the Miami Rotary Club. Rosendo Castillo has eight years, Guillermo Villar two years this time and ten years previously and Gene Witherspoon has already been with us for two years. Thanks for your many years of Service. We're proud to have you!

New Member Introduction

Andrea Fuseo

Say "Hello & Welcome" to our newest member, Andrea Fuseo. Andrea was born in Lausanne, Switzerland and grew up in LaThuile, Italy. He studied Management Engineering at the Politecnico of Milan and also attended a student exchange program in Barcelona. Soon after he developed his undergraduate thesis in Palo Alto at Stanford University and achieved his MBA in Boston.

Andrea is a financial and strategic professional. After receiving his green card he decided to move to Miami and works as the Managing Director for Armani & Associates, Inc., a brand equity and advertising company very active in cross border investments. He's in charge of Latin America and the US market.

Happy $$$

The Diva single-handedly, found more happy Rotarians than usual today including Kelly Sastre who was ecstatic about her new granddaughter, Star Marie, who was born perfect on March 8th. Pat Morris was happy to have had his second greatest volunteer effort on St. Patrick's Day ... say's "he's hooked!" He's also very happy to announce that the YMCA is opening its first new facility, 40,000 square feet, near the Falls, on May 5th. Yoli Woodbridge is happy because her favorite granddaughter, Maddie Marie is celebrating her second birthday on March 8. Tom Dixon is happy because the happiest day in your life is the day that you buy a boat and the second most happy day is the day that you sell it. He sold his boat! New member Andrea Fuseo is happy that all of his friends in Libya are safe. Dan Scipione is happy that he's lost 20 pounds. His wife and daughter are spending the weekend in Orlando and he's "batching it". Diva advised that if he wanted to play at being a batchelor he's better shave. Diane Thurston, is happy to be back from her trip to Queens Town, New Zealand. She said that despite the fact that the folks were devastated she was amazed at how well they all pulled together. Judy Pantoja is happy to have her friend (and former Rotarian) Pat DelVecchio visitng today. Finally Dick Golden had the opportunity to tell another bad joke. This one was about a Baptist in an auto accident who was left brain dead with his heart beating ... his kids commented that they had never had a Democrat in the family before!?!?! Michael Newman from the South Miami Rotary Club was happy to announce that John Sorgie (Sunset Quick Print) celebrates his birthday on Saturday. Bill Beckham is headed to San Diego to hear his daughter perform with Jubilate Choir. AND, his son Woody, who suffered a serious spinal cord injury the end of January, is learning to live with his disability. UM Sports invited them to the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies and Woody is going too! J Guarch is happy to be back from all of his recent travels. Chris Tyson is happy that a minor operation turned out to be minor. Happiness Pays. Keep on Smiling!

Working Rotarians - March 24, 2011

Greeter - Rodney Langer

Registration - Aaron Glasser

Collections - Abe Horowitz

Head Table - John Wallace

Special Needs - Chris Morrison

Open the Meeting - Dick Golden

Invocation - Kelly Sastre

Pledge - George Turuel

Singers - Bill Quesenberry & Dan Scipione

Pin Drawing Gift - Dan Scipione

Pin Drawing Winner - Lan Nghiem-Phu

50/50 Raffle - Gloria Burns

50/50 Winner - Sally B.

5 Way Test - Steven Spann

Today's Program

"Insuring Florida Real Estate"

Don Brown, former Florida State Legislator

Chair of the House Insurance Committee

Hailing from Defuniac Springs, Don Brown has been an insurance agent for over 30 years, and brings what he calls a “biased” perspective to the insurance industry. The passage of HB1A weakens Floridians’ ability to obtain insurance by creating a system of pay now and pay later to cover claims. Florida is in a crisis because 79% of the State’s property exposure is for coastal property – the highest proportion of any state – and has a high risk of hurricanes. Plus 8 of the 10 costliest hurricanes have been in Florida, with 7 alone in 2004/2005.

Brown then described that the over-regulation and creation of state insurance that borrows money to cover deficits has reduced the insurance market, with many companies becoming insolvent or pulling out of Florida. A free market creates jobs. Howard Troxler, St. Petersburg Times, was quoted. “We have the worst of all possible worlds in Florida – a weak private sector, a public sector bearing enormous risk, and a plan to borrow money and sock it to everybody on the back end… We ought to try something different.”

Brown ended by reminding us that in order to solve a problem, we must define the problem. For more information or to subscribe to his online newsletter, go to www.donbrownflorida.com.

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM: "One Laptop One Child" presented by Rodrigo Arboleda Halaby, Chairman/CEO of One Laptop Per Child.