Coral Gables RotaryGram: Vol. 65 No. 39 Notes from the Podium

President's Time

This Week in America (actually in New Jersey), a manager for a fashion house is suing the firm for $2 million because they made him work in "unstylish" New Jersey where the strain of leaving Manhattan for strip malls in Hackensack and Paramus led to his mental breakdown from the smog and the "cheesy stores..."

And this at the same time as the town of Hopewell, NJ is banning chickens from mating on all but ten days of the year because, "you can never tell exactly when a rooster will crow."

ON A SAD NOTE, our former member, Jerry Rand passed away this week. He just celebrated his 100th Birthday. Jerry held the distinction of being the oldest person to ever be a Red Badger in our Club. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Linda and Bill Flederbeck returned to our Club for a visit today and brought with them their very own Rotary Youth Exchange student. She's from Denmark and they decided to show her Coral Gables while she was out for Spring Break. It was nice to see them again. You may recall that they moved back to Pennsylvania right before they were going to join our Club in 2008.

Congratulations to Past President Chris Morrison for 31 years of Perfect Attendance!

Happy Rotary Anniversary this week to Edgard Mann who's been tormenting the women in our club for 25 years.

Also to Fred Baddour for his 11 years of service.

Pioneering and courageous, dynamic and impulsive, Aries natives are centered in "I AM", Say "Happy Birthday" this week to J.B. Spence and Jordan Steele today and Eddie Snow, who is our April Fools baby!

Happy $$$$

In the absence of our usual crackerjack team (out again together ... hmmm) Luis Boue agreed to solicit Happy Rotarians despite the fact that he was NOT happy! After all, how can he be happy? He's an accountant and it's March 31st! But who was happy today included Dan Scipione who was happy for Eddie Snow's quick reaction to a smash and grab robber in his store. He nabbed the guy and held him until the police arrived! Debbie Swain was happy that she and John got to ride in 63 miles in the Snowbird Century Ride on Saturday. However when they were coming home she got a call from their son who had just rescued 5 dogs from the Shelter and had found homes for three. Anybody want a two year old, half lab half Akita, loving, sweet little dog named Mia please let her know. JB Spence was happy that today is his birthday and after 60 years he is finally semi-retired. His secretary clocks him in every morning at 8:30 and his day is his own! Walter Alvarez wanted to get rid of some animals too ... his pregnant cat will have four kittens any moment now. So if anybody wants a kitten please call him. Felix Pardo was happy about Eddie Snow too, so happy that he told a "jeweler joke" about a nice lady who passed wind in Eddie's store ... he wouldn't tell her the prices because he was afraid what would happen next! Pat Morris was happy to see Bret Bibeau from the Miami River Commission here today because they do hundreds of projects that impact thousands of people and they do an amazing job. And FINALLY, Dick Golden was allowed to demonstrate his happiness by telling us that he'll be away for several weeks and we can have a break from his particular brand of humor but he left us with another one ... about the cop that pulls over a guy for speeding, asked him why and the guy said his wife ran away with a policeman and he was afraid they were bringing her back!. Happiness really does pay - we just gave out $11,000 in scholarships to prove it - Keep on smiling.

Working Rotarians - March 31, 2011

Greeter - Rodney Langer
Registration - Aaron Glasser

Collections - Abe Horowitz

Head Table - John Wallace

Special Needs - Ed Morris

Invocation - Pastor Perry

Pledge - Lan Nghiem-Phu

Singers - Bill Quesenberry & Dan Scipione

DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Superman

Given to: Rodney Langer & Catarina Jimenez

Pin Drawing Gift - Dan Scipione

Pin Drawing Winner - Yoli Woodbridge

50/50 Collections - THE Donald Trombly

50/50 Winner - Hank Collins

5 Way Test - Carol Brock

Today's Program

“The Miami River Greenways Project”
Bret Bibeau, Managing Director
Horacio Aguirre, Representative
Miami River Commission

The Miami River Commission is made up of members appointed by the Governor and local elected officials. Every project on the Miami River must go to the Commission for a recommendation to the 38 affected governmental agencies. The navigable portion of the Miami River extends from its start at the Brickell Avenue Bridge to Le Jeune Road. The Miami River Greenway Action Plan adopted a plan for 10 miles of accessible pathway. This requires retrofit of the entire stormwater system, which is the largest source of pollution into the River. So far 3.25 miles are complete, and another 2 are under construction.

The Miami River features 6 City Parks, a historic district, a hospital district, the Marlins Stadium, and marine yards. The Commission is working hard to promote use of the River and the Greenway – to show that it is clean and it is safe. In an effort to make it clean, the entire River has been dredged to its original design depth of 15’, and now Wagner Creek and the Seybold Canal are being dredged. The sediment cannot be disposed in Florida, due to its high dioxin content, originating from long–abandoned garbage processing facility, and from the hospitals.

Everyone is encouraged to attend Miami Riverday 2011 at the Lummus Park Historic District (250 NW North River Drive) this Saturday, April 2. There will be tours, boat rides, and kids activities.

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM: Coral Gables Citizens Crime Watch, Coral Gables Police Department, Patrick O'Kiel, Retired Chief of Police.

Thought of the Week