Friday, June 29, 2012

Europe 10 Years Polio-Free

Polio survivor and Swiss Rotarian Urs Herzog

Europe ten years polio-free

By Urs Herzog, past governor of District 1980 (Switzerland) and a polio survivor.

This week marks ten years since the World Health Organization certified the European region polio-free. As a Rotarian and a polio survivor, I celebrate how far we’ve come, and recognize the work that still lies ahead to make sure no child suffers from polio again.

I was infected with polio at the age of 8 – the year when the polio vaccination was first introduced in Switzerland. Once I contracted the disease, I felt very tired and no longer had the energy to keep up with the rest of my family, even during a walk.
Soon, my entire right leg was weak and partially paralyzed. I spent weeks in the hospital, receiving numerous treatments and multiple surgeries on my right foot. Because of polio, I abandoned my childhood dream of playing sports and becoming a pilot.

Although it was too late for me, the advent of the polio vaccine in the 1950s meant that the terrible disease that brought suffering to so many families could finally be beaten. It meant that the years of children in Europe becoming seriously ill and even dying from polio could now be placed firmly in the past. It meant that children affected by polio would no longer have to live isolated in small rooms, away from their families, who previously could only greet them from behind glass. What a joy to be vaccinated and to save a child’s life! For years people recognized the privilege of living polio-free, but today that privilege is at risk of being forgotten.

We should remain grateful for this privilege and always remember that for too many children in this world, vaccination is not still certain. In some countries children still suffer from polio or even die. Until polio is eradicated everywhere, unvaccinated children remain at risk.
This became clear in 2010, when an outbreak in Tajikistan caused nearly 500 polio cases, and put the region at risk.

Many years after polio led me to spend long weeks in the hospital, I became a surgeon myself, and fulfilled my wish to work in Africa, where polio still threatens the lives of children every day.
In the late 1970s, when Rotary launched polio immunization campaigns, nobody imagined polio eradication would become one of the largest-ever health initiatives originating from the private sector. With our partners, WHO, UNICEF, CDC and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and with support of many governments, I hope we will soon mark the anniversary of a polio-free world.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Vol. 66 No. 52 Notes from the Podium

PDF


President Debbie Swain

President's Time

My goals for 2011-2012 were to bring Rotary back to our meetings, to re-energize our members, and to ensure the financial stability of the Club and the Foundation.

To bring Rotary back to our meetings, I brought you the Rotary International monthly themes and Rotary stories to every meeting. To re-energize members, I made sure that our Board and committee composition included some members who otherwise had not been involved in our Club governance.

Most of you know that I'm an accountant by training. So you can understand that I would be fanatical about our financial stability. I developed a detailed conservative budget, and worked hard to stick to the budget to ensure that we did not lose money in either the Club or the Foundation this year. As our membership numbers declined dramatically in the past several years, we were in jeopardy of financial losses. Fortunately, this year our membership numbers remained stable, for the first time in four years! And for the first time, we shared our gala proceeds equally with our Beneficiary, bringing us $11,000 in income for our charitable giving.

The job of President has many rewards and many difficulties. I am fortunate that there were no disasters,. The only real difficulties were standing in front of you and begging for money – which is NOT at all in my comfort zone. And the rewards were from intense involvement in the operations of the best Rotary Club in the world, and working together with so many generous people was incredibly rewarding.

I learned many lessons, and will pass some on the President-elect Walter, and to the incoming Board. The words of wisdom I pass on to all of you are to participate in your club. This club is a fellowship, a family. The more you do with your fellow members, the more you will get out of the experience. Come to the meetings, participate in the community service activities, come to the social events, come to the galas. Come to the installation dinner tomorrow night. And join a committee to participate in the governance of the club. You should all aspire to become President, and leave your mark on the club.

It has been my honor to stand in front of you every week this past year, and it will truly be my pleasure to join you at your tables in future meetings!

OTHER NEWS TO USE:

DUES ARE DUE NOW if you want to take advantage of the 20% discount. If you renew during July you'll receive 15%. Surely that 5% is better in your pocket than ours! Pay today.

INSTALLATION PARTY TOMORROW at the home of Fred & Annette Baddour. Join President-Elect Walter Alvarez and the Officers and Board of the Club for 2012-2013 and party hearty. $35 per person includes dinner (Catering by Lovables) and all you can drink. Pay before you leave today.

Thanks to President Debbie

Soon-to-be-President Walter Alvarez presented Debbie with a couple of really special "Thank You" gifts to show our appreciation for the fantastic job that she did for Rotary and our Club this year. He gave her two of the most important things you can give a woman - diamonds and food. To show the Club's appreciation for all she's done, a Rotary pin with a REAL diamond in the center and a gift certificate to Morton's Steakhouse. You GO Girl!!

Membership Minute

Membership has been a challenge for most of Rotary and for our Club as well. Our three years at the Westin Colonnade, coupled with the poor economy, cost the club some 30 members. On June 30, 2011 we ended last year with 124 members. Over the course of this past year we lost ten members, some who moved away, some who passed away.

The move back to our old home here at the Coral Gables Country Club has been a good thing. Sponsorship pins are going this year to Gloria Burns, Rick Tonkinson, Greg Martini, Ralph Cabrera, George Reeves and today Bill Oates for helping us to grow our club this year. We lost ten members and we added ten members and so the good news is that as of today we are ending the year PLUS ONE!

Say "Hello" to our 125th member and the last for this Rotary Year ... Andrea Stone.

Andrea is being sponsored by Bill Oates. She is an attorney with Goldman Felcoski & Stone here in the Gables and her field is Trusts & Estates. She's a graduate of FSU and Palmetto where she studied music with an emphasis on piano. While in law school she started Florida Public Service Network. She's a member of Friends of the Everglades and comes to us from our own Rotaract Club. She's ready to move into the Service world of Rotary. Welcome Andrea!

Introduction of Visitors & Guests

by Greg Martini

We had two visiting Rotarians from the Miami Club today, PDG (and past President of our Club) Owen Freed and Glenn Pritzer. It's always nice to see the members of the "other" Thursday Club at Coral Gables. Yoli Woodbridge introduced us once again to Elena Heath. Carlos Ruiz de Quevedo brought Hector Fernandez to lunch today. Margarita & Rick Tonkinson brought their son Steven who's back from Shelter Box and President Debbie brought husband John for her final meeting of the year.

Rotary Anniversaries Abound

Carol Alexander, Carlos Ruiz de Quevedo and Joe Witz are all from the Miami Club are celebrating one year in our Club. Dick Golden celebrates four years here after many in St. Thomas. Frank (shameless commerce division) Sexton has been with us for 17 years. Gloria Burns celebrates 23 years. Carlos Bolado has been a member for 26 years. Congratulations and thank you for all your years of Service!

Happy $$$$$

Randy was intent on Grohing Scholarships today. He asked President Debbie to earmark the $1,000 surplus from her year to Scholarships. First up was Dick Golden with another challenging joke about test results being back! Richard DeWitt is happy that the wedding is over and Sasha is married! Rodney Langer thanked Debbie for trusting him with Club Meeting Service this year and also thanked his faithful cast of regulars. Rick Tonkinson was happy to pay to tell Debbie what an outstanding job she did this year AND that he, Margarita and Steven are going shark tagging in the Keys this weekend. Eddie Snow has $20 today in celebration of the opening (FINALLY!) of his new store at 270 Miracle Mile. The doors are open now it's time for him to host a Rotary party?? Owen Freed is always happy to be back at the Club that hosted him as an Ambassadorial Scholar 50 years ago! Terry Long was helping Randy promote the last two seats for his safari by telling us how spectacular his trips are and she wanted to thank Debbie, it's been fabulous working with her for this year, they have a great friendship. AND the rest of her $20 was devoted to the introduction of the latest Community Service Project for school supplies. Ana Fournaris is happy to be back from NYC. She saw the Book of Mormon and says that it presents an interesting perspective on current political candidates. Walter Alvarez was thankful for all the help he's gotten from Debbie so far AND to make sure everyone signs up and comes to the Installation Celebration tomorrow night at Fred Baddour's - LOTS OF LIQUOR. Luis Boue told us that if we stop laughing at Dick Golden's jokes maybe he'll stop telling them. He also said that the trip to Africa with Randy last year was one of his greatest experiences ever and he is doubly happy because tomorrow he closed on a new house and they get to move out from his mother-in-laws! Judy Pantoja was wearing her UM hat today as chair of the Sports Hall of Fame. Their fishing tournament is this weekend. They've got 62 boats and the proceeds go to Shake-A-Leg and Habitat for Humanity. Margarita Tonkinson had a wonderful year working with Debbie on the Board. Carlos Ruiz is happy to have spent his first year in our Club under Debbie's Presidency and Randy owes a debt of gratitude to Debbie for letting him get up here every week in the name of scholarships. Happiness pays so keep on smiling!

Working Rotarians - June 28, 2012

Greeter - Yoli Woodbridge

Registration - Aaron Glasser

Collections - Steve Spann

Head Table - Rodney Langer & Debbie

Special Needs - Lan Nghiem-Phu

Open the Meeting - Jack Witty

Invocation - Kelly Sastre

Pledge - Rodney Langer

Singers - Sally B., Greg Martini, Debbie Swain & Ana Fournaris

DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Rick Tonkinson

Given to - Debbie Swain & Walter Alvarez

50/50 Raffle - Gloria Burns

50/50 Winner - Walter Alvarez

4 Way Test - Walter Alvarez

Today's Program

President Debbie Swain's End of the Year Recognition Program

First with thanks to the 2011-2012 Officers and Board of Directors:

Walter Alvarez - President-Elect
Sally Baumgartner - Past President
Rick Tonkinson - Vice President
Dan Scipione - Secretary
John Porro - Treasurer
Jack Witty - Sergeant-at-Arms
Deena Bell Llewellyn - Community Service
Greg Martini - Membership
Mead McCabe - Programs
Bill Quesenberry - International
Rodney Langer - Club Meeting Service
Bill Martinez - Membership Retention
Margarita Tonkinson - Major Fund Raiser

Terry Long - Membership Development
Frank Sexton - Vocational Service
Yoli Woodbridge - Rotarygram
Gloria Burns - Public Relations
Kelly Sastre - Civic & Charity
Pat Morris - New Generations
Abe Horowitz - Rotary Foundation

In addition to her heartfelt thanks, President Debbie presented each member with a Rodney Langer Coral Gables Rotary Club Coffee Mug, a really cool pin of the 4-Way Test and a $20 gift certificate for CIBO on Miracle Mile.

Honorable Mention and $10 Certificate for Liberty Cafe

was Given to ...

Aaron Glasser & Steven Spann

for being so dependable.

AND

Lorraine Sheldon - Associate Member of the Year

Andre Covre - Red Badger of the Year

Rotarians Recognized for their Outstanding Service to the Club ...

Sally Baumgartner - Rotarygram Blog

Terry Long - Chair of Scholarship Committee

Bill Quesenberry - Treasurer's Assistant

AND

PRESENTING ...

Rotarian of the Year

2011 - 2012

Margarita Tonkinson - Major Fundraising Chair

Margarita worked hard, tirelessly, to make this year's Gala

such a huge success. We kept $11,000 in our Foundation!

Margarita was blown away!!! She a Debbie were both crying.

For Margarita, "it was an honor and a privilege to work with Debbie."

She again thanked her dedicated committee members

for all their time and hard work.

Congratulations Margarita Tonkinson

Coral Gables Rotarian of the Year!

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM: President Walter Alvarez introduces the 2012-2013 Officers and Board of Directors.

Thought of the Week

by President Debbie Swain

”Friendship was the foundation rock on which Rotary was built and tolerance is the element which holds it together."

Paul Harris, 1948

Scene Scenes

Fred & Gloria are happy!

Rotarian of the Year!

President Debbie with
Vice President Rick Tonkinson

Terry Long
Chair, Scholarship Committee

Sally B
Rotarygram Blogger

This is the face of happiness!!

Congratulations to John Swain,

President Debbie's devoted husband.

He gets his wife back today!

See you next week.

Same time, same place.

Same great bunch of Rotarians!

AND A NEW PRESIDENT!!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Vol. 66 No. 51 Notes from the Podium

President's Time

The 2011-2012 Rotary year is winding down and the announcements are fewer as the club re-groups for the upcoming year - which begins July 1st.

DUES ARE DUE: take advantage of the 20% discount if you pay by June 30th. Don't all rush right up to the table now but be sure to pay this week or next. Contact John Porro or Bill Quesenberry if you have any questions.

Don't forget - NEXT FRIDAY - is a 5th FRIDAY - and the Installation Celebration for President-Almost Walter Alvarez and the 2012-2013 Board of Directors. The party starts at 7:00 with cocktails, the Installation will be at 7:30 and dinner is at 8:00. It's being hosted by Fred & Annette Baddour at their home in Pinecrest. Catering by Lovables. $35 per person and dress casually. RSVP now.

FOUNDATION MINUTE

Foundation Chair Abe Horowitz presented George Reeves with his very first Paul Harris Fellowship. This is an important milestone in George's Rotary life. Congratulations, and thank you for your generosity to The Rotary Foundation!

VOCATIONAL SERVICE MINUTE (or two)

Frank Sexton, Vocational Chair, gave us the opportunity to glimpse the "work life" of Dick Golden today.

Monday to Friday Dick claims to do nothing. He rests on the weekends so that he can be ready to go again on Monday. Dick claims that his life looks as it does because he wasn't liked by his parents. They gave him a quicksand box to play in! He had a two seated stroller when he was growing up and when he asked his parents where his brother had gone they told him they killed him He is originally from New York City where he had some rough schooling while he was studying to be a mortician. Something he thought he could do if he grew up. Dick went on for awhile about his wife's driving, leaving his grand kids in line at an amusement park, his emotional problems and visits to the psychiatrist. He says he stays healthy by taking placebos. His philosophy for life is to 1) hold on to what others have; 2) don't believe a thing you hear; 3) don't buy a computer, wait to see if they take off and 4) don't use the word happy before you see the money!

Ed. Note: You can understand why this will be Frank Sexton's last presentation for the Shameless Commerce Division of Rotary.

City of Coral Gables

Employee of the Month

June, 2012

Fire Chief Walter Reed introduced us to his Administrative Assistant, Betty Mendoza, the real, behind the scenes Fire Chief in the Coral Gables Fire Department. Besides being on top of everything, she's a great cook and makes birthday cakes for the whole department. Congratulations and keep up the good work!

2012-2013 Board Changes

President-Elect Walter Alvarez advised that Andrea Fusero, who was voted by the membership to be the Chair of the Foundation for next year, is leaving the Club. This necessitates that we vote for his replacement. Walter put Gene Witherspoon's name up for nomination. Don Slesnick moved and Hank Collins seconded Gene to be the 2012-2013 Foundation Chair. Motion carried. Congratulations Gene!

Here come those cusp babies again! Clever, imaginative, restless, impulsive, loyal, adaptable and a little moody describes those born between Gemini and Cancer. Say Happy Birthday TODAY to Luis Sardinas, Miki Speijers and Chuck Whitcomb. On the 27th Hadley Williams celebrates his birthday, but he's pure Cancer ... caring, dependable, responsive and self absorbed.

Introduction of Guests & Visitors

by Dick Bullman

Visiting today from the Miami Club (but a past-president of Coral Gables) was PDG Owen Freed. Sally B. introduced Yoli's guest, Elena Heath. Carlos Ruiz introduced us to George Millian. Terry Long brought former member Janette Diaz to visit today. President Debbie introduced us to Vince Lago who is running for the City Commission. Don Slesnick was happy to introduce us to twins Maggie and Katie Nichols from Richmond Virginia and Jesse Barron who is in Community Relations at Baptist Hospital. Thanks for coming and please, come back again soon.

Happy $$$$

Randy works hard to make scholarships Groh and today was no exception. He was happy to see Janette Diaz here today and even happier that she didn't come to reclaim all the centerpieces he took while we were at the Colonnade. President-Elect Walter Alvarez invited everyone to attend the Installation Party for the 2012-2013 Officers and Board of Directors on Friday, June 29th at Fred Baddour's home. He was also happy that today he and wife Annette celebrate 26 years! Jack Witty was happy to announce that he and his lovely bride Eleanor celebrate 64 years of marriage on Tuesday. Deena Bell-Llewellyn wanted everyone to understand that they will NOT see her dressed in white ever again - it's just for the Miami Heat. She is very proud of husband Charlie who just became a licensed Florida contractor and they now own Frontier Improvements and Renovations. Margarita Tonkinson is happy to use Rotarians for business whenever possible. In this case it was Carlos Ruiz de Quevedo who has assisted them in selling and closing on their property. Steven Spann said that it will be six years ago on Monday that he introduced his then wife-to-be to his father who wanted to know why she was marrying him! Dick Golden said that he told his psychiatrist he was afraid of the scary things under his bed. After spending a year seeing the doctors twice a week for $100 each time, the answer to his problem came from a Rotarian who said he should just cut the legs off the bed! Pat Morris said that despite the fact that Game 7 of the NBA Finals conflicted with the Y's annual fund raising Gala, some 370 people came and they raised $300,000. Carlos Ruiz said that he and his wife Kathy have had the wildest May ever ... she retired from UM, they sold their house, the bought a place in North Carolina, he began building two green homes to sell for $500,000 each and they were just informed that their son, who was deployed to Afghanistan is returning home on July 20th. Lan Nghiem-Phu is happy to see Owen Freed at our Club today. Owen was the president of our club in 1968 and is a Past District Govenor as well. Felix Pardo is happy to be back from Boston. Saturday was his and Lynn's 34th wedding anniversary and it is three years since she as suddenly paralyzed and now everything is fine - it's a miracle she is alive and well. Good job today! Happiness pays. Keep on smiling.

Working Rotarians - June 21, 2012

Greeter - George Reeves

Registration - Aaron Glasser

Collections - Steven Spann

Head Table - Rodney Langer

Pledge - Steve Magenheimer

Singers - Bill Quesenberry

DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Bonnie Blaire

Given to - Betty Metcalf & John Porro

Pin Drawing Gift - Sally B.

Pin Drawing Winner - Steve Spann

50/50 Raffle - Deena Bell-Llewellyn

50/50 Winner - Tom Dixon

4 Way Test - Abe Horowitz

Today's Program

Brian Keeley, Chief Executive Officer, Baptist Health Systems spoke to us today about the Affordable Care Act. He was happy that the Supreme Court did not render their decision today so that he still had the ability to discuss the Act and it's impact on our health care system from the viewpoint of an executive summary.

A strong advocate for universal health care to happen "somehow", he feels that we as a country have a moral imperative and a business imperative to work out such a system. But there are forces at play that are not self correcting. Young people do not want to pay for insurance and the insurance companies don't want the sick ones only. Something has to give.

There are a lot of anomalies in South Florida that don't exist elsewhere. One third of the population has no insurance compared to a national average of 17%. In Massachusetts less than 6% are uninsured. This causes a cost shift to the private sector resulting in a high cost for insurance because of the high number of uninsured. The three factors that most affect the market are:

COST: $2.5 trillion in health care costs going up at two to three times the rate of inflation, two times more to 50% more. By 2050, 100% of GDP will be devoted to health care.

ACCESS: 47 to 50 million people have no insurance and use emergency services only. Emergency doctors must treat them in the ER. Thus the costs get shifted to int he insurance companies. If they can get everyone into the risk pool, the young and healthy would buy in to treat the old and unhealthy.

QUALITY: There is a huge disparity in costs and treatments. There is a 600% difference in the cost for back surgery for example between hospitals, markets and practitioners. The US is rated number 34 for reputation for evidence based medicine. To define quality you have to look at clinical outcomes and consumer satisfaction.

The medical care industry wanted a three course meal and instead Congress served them a 17 course banquet that will take ten years to implement. There are some good things in the Affordable Health Care act such as the insurance company's must allow children to remain on their parents insurance until age 26. But there is zero information out there. Most providers delayed cutting doctors fees and now they've been cut 23%. They left out the undocumented people which forces them to get emergency room treatment.

Then there's the constitutional issue - the mandate. Car insurance is mandated by the Sates. If the mandate is deemed unconstitutional then it remains to be seen if the entire plan is dissolved since the entire concept was based on having everyone in the risk pool. We all await the decision of the Supreme Court.

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM: President Debbie Swain's End of the Year Recognition Program.