Community Service

August Community Service Planning Meeting

Friday evening eight Rotarians, their guests and spouses gathered at the home of Cathy & Carlos Ruiz de Quevedo with all kinds of good munchies and a wide variety of wine, both necessary components to an effective and successful "meeting".

Chairperson Deena Bell-Llewellyn gave us a month-by-month breakdown of the projects that are already planned for this year.  Several in attendance added a few more projects.  But we still need some more worthy uses for our volunteer efforts.

Be sure to mark your calendar for scheduled projects for September, Coastal Cleanup on the 17th and VA Bingo on the 24th.  October 1st there will be a Charity Spin-a-Thon hosted by Gables Fitness, proceeds will go to the Jo Burke Memorial Fund in our Foundation, to continue to support the projects that our friend so generously supported during her years in our Club.  October 23rd, our Club is the official volunteer sponsor of Coral Gables Bike Day (because our President is the volunteer coordinator for the event!).  This will be an all day event including historic bike tours, races, bounce houses, music, and fun for bicycles.  If you don't have a bicycle, rentals will be provided.  Or, maybe you're the perfect volunteer!

Other Service Projects in the works include another visit from the Bloodmobile, some volunteer days with Paws4U, Salvation Army Bell Ringing, Junior Orange Bowl Parade, Habitat for Humanity, Serving food at Camillus House and more.

Got a pet project or charitable organization that needs manpower?  Bring it to the Community Service Committee and get other members involved.  That's what we're here for.  Service.  Service Above Self.

And let's not forget the wine and food either ... it helps to get the good ideas flowing!  Present at the meeting this month were Chair Deena, President Debbie, Sally B.  Yoli, Frank Sexton, Bill Quesenberry, Walter Alvarez, Carlos Ruiz and prospective Rotarian friend of Deena's, Lorraine. 

 


The Next Community Service Meeting will be Friday September 23, 2011.  Join us with your ideas!

World Water Week - August 21 to 27

Water and sanitation is one of Rotary's areas of focus.
Worldwide, more than 880 million people lack access to clean drinking water.

Rotary Images/Alyce Henson

Rotarians improve access to clean drinking water.

Rotarians have teamed up with non-governmental organizations in Belgium to bring clean drinking water and improved sanitation to thousands of families in the poorest districts of Toamasina, Madagascar.

The Rotary clubs of Brussel-Cantersteen, Belgium, and Tamatave, Madagascar, launched the project in 2009 with help from a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant. Lack of access to clean drinking water and poor hygiene have contributed to a high mortality rate in Toamasina, says Luc Daems, president of the Tamatave Water Project.

The effort is nearing completion, with the planned installation of more than 200 latrines for local families and schools, as well as drinking fountains to provide clean water for 2,000 people.

Over the past 10 years, the Foundation has awarded more than US$36 million in grants for projects supporting clean water and sanitation. Individual Rotary clubs have contributed at least another $50 million.

During World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden , 21-27 August, experts from around the globe will meet to exchange ideas and develop solutions to the most urgent water-related issues. This year's program explores challenges to water and sanitation in an increasingly urbanized world.

Ron Denham, chair of the Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group, says Rotary has played a key role in addressing world water needs, and that a growing number of nonprofits are embracing its emphasis on sustainability.

"The core of every successful project is agreement with the community on its needs, especially the needs of women. It is invariably women whose lives are drastically affected by improvements," says Denham.

Many Rotary club and district projects include training in the technical knowledge needed to maintain equipment, and in the business skills necessary to manage a water system, such as collecting fees for operations and repairs.

In 2009, Rotary International and USAID launched the International H2O Collaboration to implement long-term water, sanitation, and hygiene projects in the Dominican Republic, Ghana, and the Philippines. Entering its third year, the collaboration is funding hygiene training and bio-sand water filters in the Dominican Republic; mechanized water systems, wells, rainwater collection vessels, and hygiene education benefiting over 85,000 people in more than 110 villages in Ghana; and a project to improve sewage collection and treatment that will help more than 150,000 people in the Philippines.

Other Rotary club and district water projects include:

• Toilets, showers, and baby-washing facilities provided for residents of Kibera, an impoverished community near Nairobi, Kenya, by clubs in the United States and Kenya with a Foundation grant. The grant also brought safe drinking water to about 300,000 people.
• A project to help stamp out guinea worm in Ghana, undertaken by Rotary clubs in Ghana and supported by clubs in 13 countries, including Canada, Switzerland, and the United States, in partnership with the Carter Center. The clubs have also been active in providing water to remote communities.
• Rainwater harvesting systems to serve 120,000 people and their livestock in Rajasthan, a state in northern India. Through another project, in the Indian state of Maharashtra, crop yields have tripled as a result of rainwater harvesting.
• The installation of household water systems in the South Rift Valley in Kenya, enabling girls to focus on going to school and women to undertake economic activities rather than fetching water.

Rotary Club of Coral Gables has provided water filteration systems in the Dominican Republic and India and dug fresh water wells in St. Michel, Haiti. We can do more. Donate to the Annual Programs Fund. The money comes back to us as grants for projects to address world concerns like the lack of clean, fresh water for many millions of people. Rotary Cares!

Every Rotarian Every Year

Did You Click on the Visitors Map? Ever?

When you visit your club's Rotarygram Blog, do you notice the "Visitors Map" on the right margin? Did you ever click on it? Do it now! You will see what the red dots show... They show visitors from the countries who have come to read our club's stories. Scroll down to see all the countries' names and their flags. This list continually grows as time goes by.

Vol. 66 No. 8 Notes from the Podium

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President's Time

Rotary International has designated August as Membership Month.  Almost as important as new members is to make the members we already have feel like Rotary adds something special to their lives.  We try to make it possible for our members to have the opportunity to network whenever possible.  We want  our members to get to know each other outside of the hour they spend together at the weekly meetings.  Our 5th Friday Socials are not only a good way to secure friendships, hosting one is a great way to show off your business.  Community Service projects give our members a chance to work side by side with each other and accomplish good things for other people.  The membership committee, in an effort to increase our members' fellowship even more will be setting up Pot Luck Suppers beginning next month too.   If you want the chance to introduce us to your business, volunteer for a Craft Talk.  Vocational Service Chair Frank Sexton will give you an informal ten minutes to educate us on what you do and how our members can possibly assist you.  Good Rotary Clubs have happy members.  We're a GOOD Rotary Club!

COMMUNITY SERVICE MEETING tomorrow night at the home of Carlos Ruiz de Quevedo.  Got a project you'd like us to undertake?  Come to the meeting tomorrow night at 6:00.  Contact Deena Bell-Llewellyn for more details.

Practical, meticulous and intelligent fussy worriers are born under the sign of Virgo, the Virgin.  Say Happy Birthday this week to Chief Jim Skinner today, Abe Horowitz on the 30th AND ...

A VERY SPECIAL

 HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY

TO

DR. BETTY METCALF

ON

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28TH

 

There's only one Rotary Anniversary to celebrate this week ... Dr. Jim Hirschmann has been a member of our club for five years.  Congratulations Jim.  We're proud to have you!

Happy $$

The good Dr. Randy was here today to Groh scholarships.  But today instead of Happy Dollars he renamed it Holler Dollars - the wireless wasn't working but people in our club know how to talk loud!  Chris Morrison was happy that we are no longer in the path of Hurricane Irene, however not pleased that UM remains in the Cone of Concern.  He informed us that Stanford is one of only four major colleges that has never been charged with a major NCAA  violation.  Terry Long was happy that President Debbie and her partner of Milian, Swain met with the Cutler Bay Advisory Board to discuss their wetlands and related issues.  Rick Tonkinson was happy that after four months in his new office, the Tonkinson Financial sign is finally up on their building.  Look for it near 27th Avenue on South Dixie.  Chris Tyson announced that they are selling a statue of Abraham Lincoln that was given to his father-in-law in 1948.  His wife wanted to take it to her home in Switzerland but the US Government wouldn't allow her to take it out of the country.  It's been valued at $700,000 but they expect it to sell for around $1.1 million.  More money for Rotary!!  Bob DelPozo (who once was a member) wanted to tell everyone how much he misses the Club and thank us for all that we do.  AND ... he paid extra to say how cool it is that this year will be the 25th Anniversary of the Caroling Competition, Sally B's beloved festival of kids singing in front of the holiday tree.  It begins on November 30th but now's the time to get involved.  Dick Golden told a clean joke about a drunk trying to catch up to traffic on US 1.  Dan Scipione was happy at the response and support from our Club for his wife's team in the Leukemia/Lymphoma event.  Jim Roen was busting his buttons over his son Brandt winning a gold medal in the North American Rowing Championship.  It's the equivalent of Wimbledon for rowers.  He's sooo proud!  HAPPINESS PAYS SO KEEP ON SMILING.

Introduction of Visitors & Guests

Deena Bell took over for the crackerjack team of Bullman and Santerio who were both missing in action today.  Fred Baddour brought Bob DelPozo as a guest today.  Margarita Tonkinson brought her niece Sofia. Rodney Langer brought his father Roger who is in the Miami Rotary Club and Joe Witz was also visiting us from the Miami Club. We had an International Rotarian from Ecuador who brought us not only his club flag but information on an international project they're involved with.  Come back again any time.  You'll find we are a friendly bunch!

Working Rotarians - August 25, 2011

Greeters - Steven Spann & Rolf Frankfurter

Registration - Aaron Glasser

Collections - John Porro & Dan Scipione

Head Table - Rodney Langer

Special Needs - Frank Sexton & Lan Nghiem-Phu

DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Susan Guttmann

Given to - Deena Bell & THE Donald Trombly

Pin Drawing Gift - Roger Langer

Pin Drawing Winner - Terry Long

50/50 Raffle - Gloria Burns, Don Trombly & Fred Baddour

50/50 Winner - Miki Spiejers

4 Way Test - George Reeves

Today's Program 

 Jim C. Hirschman, M.D., FACP, Senior Ship's Physician, Carnival Cruise Lines"Experiences in Shipboard Medicine."

Jim began his career as a ship's doc in 2007 after 38 years in Emergency and Cardiac Medicine with the Coral Gables Fire Department.   He wanted to continue to work but he wanted it to be different.  It IS different!  

He explained how the size of the medical staff is based of course on the size of the ship.  There are one doc ships with three nurses, and there are two doc ships with four nurses.  The nurses are skilled at ER, ICU, Coronary Care, ACLS and PALS.

Ship docs are in reality a combination of family doctor to the hundreds of crew on the ship and they handle emergency medicine for the passengers.  But it's nothing like having a private practice. You get to combine the joys of traveling to interesting places with the joys of practicing unusual medicine.  

You never know what you might be treating.  Could be anything from a bad sunburn to a diabetic coma or a major heart attack or stroke.  He's had to stitch up heads and fingers.  He's had to order people removed from the ship for further treatment.  The cases he gets run the gamut.  He really loves his work. 

The Carnival Victory was his first assignment.  It remains his favorite ship in the fleet.  Maybe you want to sail with Dr. Jim one of these days?  You'll be in really good hands to say the least. 

NEXT WEEK'S MEETING:  Albert Borrero, Camp Boggy Creek:  A year-round camp serving seriously ill children. 

Thought for the Week

by Abe Horowitz

"The most compelling reason to buy a computer for the home will be to link it to a nationwide communications network.  We're just in the beginning stages of what will be a truly remarkable breakthrough for most people.  

As remarkable as the telephone.

Steve Jobs

February1, 1985

Scene Scenes

Join us next week,

same time, same place

same great bunch of Rotarians!

The Rotary Foundation

Top Five Reasons to Support The Rotary Foundation

There are as many reasons to support The Rotary Foundation as there are ways to do good in the world.

By contributing to the Foundation , you help support the Foundation's six areas of focus, which help to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. By giving US$100 a year through theEvery Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) initiative, you become a Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member. Contributions to EREY are the primary source of funding for Foundation programs.

Here are a few ways your contributions are making change possible.

5. Fighting hunger

In Romania, orphans and sick children have eggs, milk, and meat because of a Foundation grant that benefits local farmers. The farmers are able to buy everything from animal feed to packaging materials. There is one stipulation: They must donate a portion of their products to children’s hospitals, schools, and orphanages.

In Alaska, USA, the Rotary Club of Anchorage East is alsofighting hunger by distributing food to low-income families through a mobile food pantry.

Projects such as these help address the areas of focus of maternal and child health as well as economic and community development.

4. Reducing child mortality

The Rotary clubs of Jaela-Kandana, Western Province, Sri Lanka, and Madras Northwest, Tamil Nadu, India, are helping to reduce child mortality by providing improved sanitation facilities for 15 families in a small community in Sri Lanka. With a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant , the clubs have built 14 toilets, helping to prevent diarrhea and other diseases related to poor sanitation.

According to the World Health Organization, 1.8 million children die of diarrhea every year, making it the second leading cause of death among children under five. Proper sanitation can reduce the rate of child mortality in many communities by up to a third. Water and sanitation is the third area of focus.

3. Promoting peace and conflict resolution

Watching civil war tear apart his homeland of Côte d'Ivoire instilled in Rotary Peace Fellow Kouame Remi Oussou a passion to resolve conflict.

He is now working for the United Nations Development Programme in the Central African Republic, a country that weathered periodic internal fighting before a comprehensive peace accord took effect in 2007.Read more about Oussou .

Rotary Peace Fellows are leaders in promoting national and international cooperation, peace, and conflict resolution. Help support the Rotary Peace Centers . Peace and conflict prevention/resolution is the first area of focus. Read about four Rotary Peace Fellows and their visions for peace .

2. Basic education and literacy

Education helps rebuild lives, whether it's in small rural towns or in war-torn countries. For example, a literacy project sponsored by U.S. Rotarians in conjunction with the International Reading Association (IRA) is helping Sudanese refugees rebuild their communities by equipping them to teach future generations.

The Southern Sudan Teacher Training Initiative provides refugees of the country's decades-long civil war, who are known as the Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan, with teacher training materials, guidance, and support to help them teach students in kindergarten through eighth grade. "People returning from refugee camps to rebuild their lives in Duk County are hungry for books and school supplies," says John Dau, a Lost Boy, humanitarian, and founder of the John Dau Foundation. Read more about the project .

1. Eradicating polio

Around the world, Rotarians are taking millions of steps in walkathons, diving into icy ocean waters, and participating in other fundraisers to help Rotary fulfill its promise to rid the world of polio. Si Burgher, of the Rotary Club of Bloomfield, Indiana, USA, raised almost $1,600 by having his shaggy eyebrows shaved.

Rotary launched its PolioPlus program in 1985. Since then, eradicating polio has been the organization's top priority. End Polio Now and help fulfill its promise.

Your contribution to Every Rotarian ,
Every Year helps make projects such as this possible.

---

Vol. 66 No. 7 Notes from the Podium

Presidents Time

With a very full agenda today, President Debbie took a few minutes to update us all on our busy Rotary schedule:

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Saturday, August 20th is VA Bingo from 1 until 3 p.m.
Friday, August 26th, Community Service Meeting at 6 p.m.
Saturday, September 17th, Coastal Cleanup at Matheson.

ROTARY EVENTS
Saturday, August 20th - Rotary Leadership Institute at American University in Weston
Saturday, August 27th - Rotary Marketing, PR and Membership Summit
Wednesday, August 31st - Rotaract Wine Wisdom at Calamari's from 7 until 9 p.m.
Monday, September 12th - Rotary District Mixer at Seasons 52 from 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 13th - International Committee Meeting - contact Bill Quesenberry
Thursday, November 3rd - Fall Fun8th Annual Rotary Golf Classic - contact Chris Morrison
Thursday, November 17th to Sunday, November 20th, District Conference
Saturday & Sunday, December 3 & 4 is Rotary Service with the Miami Dolphins

 Congratulations to Jack Witty

 This week he celebrates

51 Years of PERFECT ATTENDANCE

Don't you wish you could beat that record!

Way to GO Jack!  
Thank you for all your years of Service.

Membership Minute 

by Greg Martini, Chair Membership Committee

Greg asked a really simple question, "Who here likes to spend their evening with good friends, good food and great conversation?"  The answer was obviously, unanimously, everyone.  And the Membership Committee is working towards that goal.  Please sign up to either host or participate in a Membership Retention Pot Luck Evening.  Get to know your Rotary friends and their spouses, outside of the Thursday meetings.  It'll be fun.

  

City of Coral Gables Employees of the Month

Walter Foeman, City Clerk for the City of Coral Gables introduced us to the July and August winners of this always-well-deserved award.  First was the July Employee, Susan DaCosta who just happens to be the Clerk's secretary, has been working for the city in the City Attorney's office since May, 2006 and was made Secretary to the Clerk in 2008.  She is reliable, hard working, conscientious and just wants to get the job done!  She is the Employee of the Month for JULY.  Congratulations Susan!

Raimundo Rodulfo is in the Information Technology Department of the City and he works on special projects in the IT Deptartment.  He provides team support for all of the new software and systems that are being installed, he's built their database, the new management system and the system that is used by the Clerk's office, TRIM.  He is an invaluable employee who loves his job and works well with everyone.  Raimundo is the Employee of the Month for AUGUST.  Keep up the good work!

THE EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH AWARDS ARE GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY RON SHUFFIELD AND EWM REAL ESTATE. 

Civic & Charity Donates to 

Coastal Cleanup

Kelly Sastre, Chair of the Civic & Charity Committee presented a check from our Foundation to Sunny Middleton from the organization that is coordinating for the upcoming Coastal Cleanup (September 17th at Matheson Hammock Park beginning at 9:00 a.m.).  Sunny has just started at University of Miami and Kelly is working on getting her involved in Rotaract!  Our $500 donation buys us a sponsorship, with recognition.  It also means that we are required to work.  So sign up today for Coastal Cleanup.  The sweatiest service project that you'll ever do!

Here we are on the cusp of the Lion and the Virgin!  That could almost be a joke for Dick Golden.  They are confident, ambitious, melodramatic, reliable, analytical perfectionists.  Stay out of their way!  But do say Happy Birthday  to Elizabeth "Lovables" Silverman on August 22nd, Margarita Tonkinson on the 23rd and Bill Oates on the 24th.  

We have only one Rotary Anniversary this week and it's Ms. Lovables herself!  Elizabeth has been a member of our Club for six years.  Thank YOU Liz, for all you do!

Introduction of Guests and Visitors

 

Quite a few members brought guests today but Mr. B didn't do a great job on the names!  So we'll just say thanks to the members who brought them.  Joe Witz was here again.  He's from the Miami Club.  Lara Bersano was here all the way from the Buenas-Aires Club! Gloria Burns brought Ray the Printer once again.  He used to be a Rotarian and we're trying to interest him in our Club.  Deena Bell-Lewellyn brought her friend Lorraine Sheldon once again.  Catarina Jimenez brought someone who once was once an Interactor.  Yoli Woodbridge wasn't here today but her guest Carlos came anyway. Margarita Tonkinson introduced us to one of our Ambassadorial Scholars, Daniel Duarte, who leaves in a few weeks for England for a year on Rotary.  We probably missed someone who brought someone ... we apologize for that error.  It was great to meet you anyway.  Come back again and often.  We're a fun bunch!

Happy $$$

No Dandy Randy and no Diva today but THE Donald stepped up and enriched our scholarship coffers with the help of a lot of happy Rotarians including Dan Scipione who is simply ecstatic that his daughter's school started TODAY!  Carlos Ruiz was happy to report that he learned yesterday that he was going to have a new granddaughter.  Dr. Phil Boswell was really happy to see Pat Morris and his sneakers at the meeting today.  They are busy planning things for the New Generations for the upcoming school year.  Anyone interested in working with the Youth, contact either one of them.  Swiss Chris Tyson merely stood up and sang .... a song that many recognized from their misspent youth ... "Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer" ... something to remember from the good old days.  Luis Boue was so excited to hear the tune that he had some nasty flashbacks to his college days, hangovers and headaches!  J B Spence was happy to be a Grandad again but like his good friend said, the title has one problem. You're sleeping with a Grandma!  AND FINALLY ... welcome back to Dick Golden.  He brought back an auction item that kinda fell flat, "Adopt a Bat" with a nude photo of a real bat. Then he couldn't give up the mic without a clean but silly joke about a dying man being denied his wife's chocolate cake because she was saving it for the wake!  Yes, believe it or not, this happiness PAYS.  Keep smiling.

Working Rotarians - August 18, 2011 

Greeters - Steven Span & Rolf Frankfurter

Registration - Aaron Glaser

Collections - Bill Forshee & John Porro

Head Table - Rodney Langer

Special Needs - Frank Sexton & Lan Nghiem-Phu

Open the Meeting - Jack Witty

Invocation - Bill Quesenberry

Pledge - Dick Bullman

Singers - Dan Scipione & Bill Quesenberry

Introductions - Dick Bullman

DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Edgard Mann

Given to - Rolf Frankfurter & Gloria Burns

Pin Drawing Gift - Rodney Langer

Pin Drawing Winner - Debbie Swain 

50/50 Raffle - Gloria Burns & THE Donald Trombly 

50/50 Winner - Jerry Santiero 

4 Way Test - Dr. Phil Boswell 

Today's Program

Deena Bell-Lewellyn, 2011-12 Community Service Chair made a presentation to the Club today about SERVICE ABOVE SELF, Rotary Club of Coral Gables' Service Projects.

"I think the purpose of life is to be useful, honorable and compassionate.  It is above all, to matter. To count. To stand for something. To have made some difference that you have lived at all."  Leo Rosten, 1908-1997.

Deena had a really complete photo presentation of most all of the service projects our Club is involved with throughout the year. She was assisted by members to whom each project was near and dear including Frank Sexton who spoke about VA Bingo, Bill Quesenberry who told us of the wonders of sailing with the disabled at Shake-A-Leg. Judy Pantoja spoke for a few minutes about International Kids Fund Halloween Parties. Walter Alvarez who makes arrangements for our Habitat for Humanity projects, Sally B who extolled the virtues of working up a good dirt at Coastal Cleanup,Lan Nghiem-Phu advised us of the problems that Special Olympics is facing because of funding cuts and Bruce Kerestes introduced many to the International Fellowship of Hunting and Fishing Rotarians. The list of projects and organizations that we work for every year is much longer and itemized below. It's really awesome when you see how much we do!

St. Patrick's Day at John Martins
Community Partnership for the Homeless Thanksgiving

Camilus House 

Empowered Youth 

Salvation Army Bell Ringing 

Paws 4 U 

Humane Society 

Caroling Competition 

Junior Orange Bowl Parade 

Kristi House 

And this year we will be adding: 

Gables Bike Day 

Fitness Spin-a-thon 

Citizens for a Better South Florida 

Charlee 

Earth Day 

Drowning Children Program 

Mentoring Program 

Community Blood Drives

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM:"Experiences in Shipboard Medicine" presented by Dr. Jim C. Hirschmann, Senior Ship's Physician, Carnival Cruise Lines.

Thought of the Week

by Abe Horowitz

"I hated every moment of my training, 
but I said to myself
if you work really hard 
you can live like a champion
for the rest of your life."
  
Mohammed Ali

 

Scene Scenes

See you next week, same time, same place, same great bunch of Rotarians!

Rotary Fights Polio in Pakistan

Rotarians play key role in Pakistan’s strategy
to end polio

Rotarians are in the forefront of the drive to implement Pakistan’s National Emergency Action Plan for Polio Eradication 2011. The government launched the plan in January, in response to a sharp increase in polio cases in the country in 2010.

Turning the tide against the disease in Pakistan is pivotal to the success of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative . Pakistan was the only one of the world’s four polio-endemic countries -- the others are Afghanistan, India, and Nigeria -- to see an increase in cases last year: 144 compared with 89 in 2009.

Rotarians assigned by the Pakistan PolioPlus Committee are mobilizing Rotary clubs to provide support in the country’s four provinces. Rotarians are helping to immunize children against polio and to raise public awareness of the disease.

Club members are working “to cover every nook and corner of the country,” says Aziz Memon, chair of the committee. “We are committed to a polio-free Pakistan.”

World Polio Eradication Day is October 24th.

We are "this close" to ending Polio FOREVER. Rotary has achieved $185 million of the $200 million Gates Challenge. What are you going to do to help END POLIO NOW?