Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving Service at Chapman Partnership

Chapman Partnership
Thanksgiving

For the 10th year our Club went to the Chapman (f/k/a Community Partnership for the Homeless) Partnership to serve Thanksgving dinner to the more than 500 residents of the HAC.

The Community Service Committee was given a $1,000 grant from our Club Foundation to purchase the food for the Thanksgiving feast.  And what a feast it was!  Besides turkey and killer stuffing they had mac n' cheese, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, root veggies, collard greens, salad, cornbread, sweet potato pies, red velvet, chocolate and vanilla cake!  An awesome spread that they spent three days preparing.

DGE Wolf & Inge Stullenberg
Ten Rotarians, and their friends and families, AND our Rotary Youth Exchange Student, Mailys Ooghe, some 25 people were on hand to serve, waitress and bus tables for the families that are living at Chapman.  We even had a visit from a traveling Rotary District Governor Elect, Wolf Stullenberg, District 4160 in Mexico!  He and his wife Inge were in Miami for Thanksgiving and wanted to do "something traditional".  He found out about our service project on the website and showed up to serve with us for the morning.

We had a great time.  We served some terrific food.  And being there made us all a little more grateful for the blessings we have in our collective lives.

Rest assured we'll be back there again next year.  Why don't you join us? 





All of us!




Getting ready for the crowds






Community Service Chair Deena Bell-Llewllyn with DGE Wolf & Inge




Happy Turkey to you all!

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Pretty Muddy Saturday

Pretty Muddy Saturday

President Walter was approached by the organizers of a new kind of 5K fund raiser ... it's called Pretty Muddy.

It's a women's run that is routed through the muddiest places in town.  This one was at the Amelia Earheart Park in Hialeah.

The organizers heard about our skill at pouring beer(!!!) and wanted us to use our skills to help make their event an even wetter success.  AND the proceeds from the beer sold went to the Coral Gables Rotary Foundation.  What more can we ask?  


Fun, fellowship, mud, beer, pretty ladies and money for our many projects.  It was a win/win and a deal that not even Walter could turn down.  A great time was had by all!
 
           






                                                                       

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

IKF Halloween Party Fun for ALL Concerned

International Kids Fund Halloween Party
Staged by 
Judy the Good Witch!

On Tuesday, October 30th a group of pretty scary Rotarians went down to Jackson Memorial Hospital to throw a Halloween Party for the children who are temporary residents at the hospital.  Most are from out of the country and are sent here because they need special surgery or have special needs to relieve a life threatening condition.   They're far from home and don't have much fun.  So Coral Gables Rotary brought them tricks and treats.

Led by the Good Witch Judy Pantoja, accompanied by Community Service Chair, Deena Bell-Llewellyn, Lorraine Sheldon, Bill & Melissa Quesenberry, Mead McCabe, Sally B., and Yoli Woodbridge, the group brought treat bags, tons of candy, pumpkins to decorate, masks, stickers, cupcakes and juice and of course the obligatory Halloween songs and Charlie Brown & the Great Pumpkin to entertain and delight 16 happy kids.

Thanks to all who participated.  As you can see from the following photo gallery, a good time was had by all.









  
 

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Coral Gables Interact Celebrates World Polio Day

CITY OF CORAL GABLES
PROCLAIMS OCTOBER 24TH
WORLD POLIO DAY
IN THE CITY BEAUTIFUL
Through the efforts of Coral Gables Interact Club President, Jake Mekin, the City of Coral Gables declared Wednesday, October 24, 2012 as World Polio Day in the City.

 
Our Interact Club secured a projection unit and an End Polio Now gobo last year.  It was their plan to light as many buildings in the City as possible throughout this school year.  This year, in concert with the City’s recognition of this important day, Interact will light the 550 Biltmore Way Building.  The iconic building graces the western entrance to the Coral Gables Central Business District, just a block from City Hall.



 

 From sundown until the rains came, the 550 Building, like hundreds of landmark buildings throughout the world, was illuminated with END POLIO NOW to draw attention to Rotary’s promise not to stop until the disease  has completely disappeared.





Thursday, October 4, 2012

International Visit

Coral Gables Rotarian Judy Pantoja was the Program Speaker at the Rotary Club of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. She talked about our Rotary Club and our International and Community Projects.

Great job, Judy! Thank you for spreading the word about the good works we do!

Coral Gables Rotarian Judy with President Sandra, President Valerie and President Ralph.


Vol. 67 No. 13 Notes from the Podium

President's Time

Welcome visitors and guests to the weekly meeting of September 27, at the Rotary Club of Coral Gables .
The Golf Ball Drop. Tickets will be sold from now until November 29. Vanessa and Elena  are selling the tickets, please buy!
October 4, 2012. International Meeting 5:30 PM, Andrea Covre’s Office.
October 5, 2012. Book Review with Author at Stanfill Funeral Home, 7-8 PM.
October 6, 2012. American Heart Association Walk, FIU Campus, 8 AM.
October10, 2012. Scholarship Meeting, 5:30 PM, Tonkinson Financial.
October 12, 2012. Community Service Meeting, 6:00PM,  at Deena’s home. These meetings are a lot of fun.
October 20, 2012.Veterans Bingo at the VA Hospital.
October 28, 2012. Gables Bike Day, 7AM – 6PM.
October 30,2012. Halloween Party, International Kids Fund, at Jackson Hospital.
November 29, 2012. Golf Tournament and Golf Ball Drop at the Biltmore.

All of you are invited to participate in these events and remember: they count as make ups!



Happy Birthday:
Gloria Burns        September 27
 
Introduction of Visitors and Guests 
 
Jerry Santeiro introduced our visitors and guests today. Rotarian visitors were: Roger Langer from the Miami Club and Mary Lou Cole from the Perrine/Cutler Ridge/Palmetto Bay Club. (This club has the longest name in the District!)  Our guests today: President Walter’s guest was Benjamin Hong, former Rotarian and Deputy Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami. Roger Langer introduced, Leonard Hamsel.  Yoli Woodbridge’s guest was the Rev. Jabriel Ballentine, from St. Thomas Episcopal Church.(also a former Rotarian.) 

Happy Dollars

By Dick Golden and his jokes. Margarita Tonkinson- reminded everyone that happy dollars go to scholarships. Bill Beckham - the Woody Foundation had a fund raiser and donated $20,000 to Jackson Hospital. On Friday, November 9th, they will have another fund raiser, "Lobster Feast," to benefit Shake a Leg. Susan Shelly - was happy to be visiting our club where she has many friends.
Yoli Woodbridge- On October 13, the GSE team from India is arriving and she will need some help with transportation. Mary Lou Cold, visiting Rotarian, was happy the Rev. Jabriel Ballentine, Assistant Rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, was in good company. Rodney Langer- is very happy that his father is out and about and visiting with us today.
 

Today's Speaker

Our Speaker today was Rosendo Castillo who has twice walked the "Camino de Santiago."

The Apostle Santiago (James in English!) was one of the twelve original Apostles.  In the 8th Century, in Galicia, Spain, they found what they believed were the remains of St. James. They built a church that became a site for pilgrimages: The Basilica of Santiago de Compostela. Pilgrims from all over the world walk to Santiago all year round.

The classical pilgrimage covers a distance of 800 Kilometers from the French Border to the Basilica. If one does the entire walk, it takes 31 days. Rosendo did two portions of the road in 2 trips. Before undertaking this endeavor, you have to train, take proper shoes and socks and a backpack of no more than 20 pounds. You have to stop at least every two hours. There are “albergues” (small inns) along the road where you can eat and sleep.

Along the way, you go through big cities with beautiful cathedrals like Burgos and Leon and small little villages.  In Leon, they visited a magnificent church built in the middle ages. It was also a Monastery and a Hospital. The modern day pilgrims walk on dirt roads or big highways. Rosendo stayed in the home of the Balboa family.

All and all, it was a wonderful trip during which Rosendo met people from all over the world: Rotarians from Vancouver, ladies from Madrid, etc. He even danced with a Dutch lady.  Once, after going up a mountain, he had to go back down again to see the four cows of an old man they had met.

At the end of the walk, when Rosendo and his companion reached the Basilica, they attended mass with 3 priests.  A great trip! 


Next Week Program: October 5, 2012 Actors' Playhouse - Selections from Godspell
 
Working Rotarians – September 27, 2012

 Greeter - Deena Bell-Llewellyn
Registration - Lorraine Sheldon
Collections - George Reeves
Head Table - Steven Spann
Special Means - Lan Nghiem-Phu
Open the Meeting - Jack Witty   
Invocation - Arnie Perry
Pledge - Carol Brock
Singers - Bill Quesenberry
Introduction of Visitors/Guests - Jerry Santeiro
Pin Drawing Donated by - Yoli Woodbridge
Winner - Paolo Possenti`
Thought of the Week - Gene Mariuto
De Witt Silver Dollars - Elizabeth Silverman
Given to - Deena Bell and Joe Witt
50/50 Raffle - Don Trombly
Winner - Felix Pardo
Four Way Test - Carlos Bolado

 
Thought of the Week
by Gene Mariutto.


"FINIS ORIGINE PENDANT" The End Depends on the Beginning"
(The Thought of The Week was written by Marcus Manilius, Roman poet and astrologer and author of a poem in five books called Astronomica (1st Century AD).  [the phrase is found on the School seals of Exceter and Andover]
 
 

Fellowship - and Welcome to our Visitors and Guests!
 




 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Vol. 67 No. 12 Notes from the Podium

President's Time



Welcome once again to our Rotary meeting of September 20th. announcements:
President Walter asked us to take some Rotarygrams and bring them to our offices. It's good PR!
The Golf Ball Drop Tickets will be sold from now until November 29.Buy as many as your wallet will allow!
The Club Foundation approved $500 for the Caroling Competition
The Coastal Cleanup
went well.  President Walter was not happy that they were nine ladies and only two gentlemen. He hopes more people will attend our Community Service Projects.
September 22, 2012, Veterans Bingo, 1-3PM , V.A. Hospital
September 22, 2012, Diabetes Walk, Marlin Stadium, 7:30-9AM
October 4, 2012, International Meeting 5:30 PM, Andrea Covre’s Office.
October 5, 2012, Book Review with Author at Stanfill Funeral Home, 7-8PM.
October 6, 2012, American Heart Association Walk, FIU Campus, 8 AM.
October10, 2012, Scholarship Meeting, 5:30 , Tonkinson Financial.
October 12, 2012, Community Service Meeting, 6PM, Deena’s home.
October 28, 2012, Gables Bike Day, 10AM – 4PM, downtown Coral Gables (volunteers needed from 7am-6pm)
All of you are invited to participate in these event and remember:  they count as make-ups!
We then passed the hat for the Haiti-Benefit Project MediShare
Fundraising Minute
 
Gloria Burns, member of the Event Committee, told us that instead of one Fund Raiser we are  having four Wine Dinners during the year. The first one will be at Four Seasons. The cost is $125. Rodney Langer who is heading this Committee will explain more next week.  Four Seasons offered us a complementary wine or beer and flatbread on October 9 from 6 to 8 PM.  It will be a Membership social to which we can invite prospective Members.
 
Happy Birthday
George Corrigan        September 20
J. Guarch            September 22
Patrick Puton            September 23
Rick Tonkinson            September 25
 
Rotary Anniversaries
Andrea Covre        1 year on 9/22
Andrew Dixon        7 years on 9/22

   
Coral Gables Employee of the Month
Grethel Salas –Preez, Development Services, was the Employee of the Month of August. She has been with the city for 6 years and has been Employee of the Month once before. Her supervisor, Jane Tompkins, pointed out that Grethel is a great asset and has done a great job in particular by bringing new software into the Department, allowing it to provide better service, facilitating the timely delivery of building permits.

 
Introduction of Guests
 
Deena Bell Llewellyn introduced Andrea Fusero from the Brickell Club and Dayna Samra was a guest of Eddie Snow.       

 Happy Dollars

Abe Horowitz wished everyone a Happy New Year.  Chris Morrison was very happy that Stanford beat USC for the fourth year running.  Margarita Tonkinson was very happy to see Ron McGill who was Master of Ceremonies for last year’s  great event. Dick Golden told us that before he was married, he had a date and the lady told him he was a terrible lover. He asked her: how do you know that in 45 seconds? Trish Hoffman just returned from spending the summer in Washington D.C. and last week in Paris. She just took her parents to the airport.  They were babysitting her kids but when she found out Ron was the speaker, she came to the meeting! George Reeves announced that the U.S.S. Enterprise, the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that carried 100,000 sailors was to be decommissioned.  Perhaps Fred Baddour could bring the Enterprise to Kay West.  Debbie Swain invited us to an Afternoon with Nature presented by Citizens for a Better South Florida on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at Biscayne Nature Center (Crandon Park – Key Biscayne).

Today's Speaker

Honorary Rotarian Ron Magill, Zoo Miami Communications Director, began by pointing out that the sign in front of the Zoo was terrible.  Now the Zoo has a new sign that cost $800,000, is wonderfully big and visible from everywhere.  We were then shown some slides about baby animals growing up.  It is always wonderful to see Flamingo chicks turning from white to pink, going from ugly to beautiful (and pink) within a year.  Swans, he said, could be very dangerous if anyone went after their babies.  One man was even killed in Chicago by a mother Swan! 

The most beautiful wild ass born in captivity can be found in the Miami Zoo.  As Ron McGill has worked in the Miami for over 30 years, he has seen several generations of animals come and go.  Each type of animal has its peculiarities.  The Otter parents for example thrown their young into the water to sink or swim.  One of the slides then showed an Indian rhinoceros (female) who was sixteen months pregnant (the baby rhinoceros was very cute when born).  The hippopotamus baby was the size of a football. 

One of the interesting facts underscored during the talk was that mother Giraffes give birth standing up, letting the baby drop some six feet to the ground. 

Among the new things added to the Zoo is an aquatic playground for children.  The Zoo now has two mascots: Gigi the Giraffe and Kaz the Rhinoceros.  The director finished his talk speaking of the Amazon, where he spent two weeks observing river dolphins and piranhas.  Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the talk and very likely spent all afternoon laughing when they got back to work.

Next Week’s Program: The Dolphin Project, with Lincoln O’Berry


Working Rotarians –September 20, 2012
Greeter - Dick Golden
Registration - Steven Spann
Collections - Pat Morris
Head Table - Steven Spann
    Open the Meeting -Jack Witty       
Invocation - Margarita Tonkinson
Pledge - Serre Murphy
Singers - Bill Q,/Dan S.
Introduction of Visitors/Guests - Deena Bell
Pin Drawing Gift - Yoli Woodbridge
Winner - Ed Morris
De Witt Law Silver Dollars - Ron
Given to - Yoli Woodbridge/George Reeves  
50/50 Raffle - Gloria Burns
Winner - Arnie Perry
 Four Way Test - Gene Witherspoon



Thought of the Week
by Tom Dixon

"Happiness is not a matter of events, it depends on the tides of the mind."
Alice Meynell



Did you know... Alice Christiana Gertrude Thompson Meynell was an English writer, editor, critic, and suffragist, now remembered mainly as a poet.
Born: September 22, 1847
Died: November 27, 1922
 
September is New Generations Month! New Generations Month is the perfect time to promote your club’s or district’s youth activities. You’ll increase their impact and encourage continued collaboration among youth, young adults, and your club.  
Group Study Exchange - As the time quickly approaches for the arrival of the Inbound GSE Team from Rotary District 3080 (India), our Outbound Team has been chosen.
GSE is a group of young professional non-Rotarians between the ages of 25-40 who are led by a Rotarian. They embark on a month long exchange of vocational visits and fellowship.
This year’s Team will be heading to Northern India at the foothills of the Himalayas where they will be visiting our sister club in Chandigarh among others.
Team Members are Marissa Leichter-Miami-Brickell, Andrew Navratil- Coral Gables, Nadia Payan-Coral Gables, Kyle Mullan-Miami Shores.
Michael Mayer from the Rotary Club of the Upper Keys has been chosen.
 
 
Rotary Moments