President Robert Bull welcomed everyone to our February 4^th meeting.  Again, he was in Bangkok and as his virtual backdrop he had a slide of the beautiful Wat Arun. We had forty three in attendance including seven guests, amongst which was the President of the Paris Champs Elysées Club, Mr. Francis Allard.  We have a sister Club relationship with the French Club and Mr. Allard expressed his salutations and wishes for our two Clubs to work closer in the future.  Bienvenue  à Club, Monsieur Allard.

 

Angela Deggs led us with the invocation, former Club President, Dave Skinner, recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

This month is Black History Month and we recognize our fellow citizens in their contribution to the building of America and its continued strength. Today is the National Homemade Soup Day.  I hope that with the mild weather you are experiencing in Miami, you may enjoy a great homemade soup.

 

Announcements:

 

For Anniversaries.  The only upcoming birthday or anniversary is Stephanie and Robert Bull’s 49^th anniversary of their civil wedding in Venezuela on February 10^th.  Their religious wedding was held in Guatemala and the anniversary is on February 20^th.

 

Amelia Bonilla updated us on the activities of the FIU Rotaract Club.  She concentrated her comments on the FIU Virtual Walk-A-Thon.  Essentially, through this Walk-A-Thon they are raising funds to buy bus passes for the needy. 

 

Phil Seipp updated us on the GBI Rx project.  We are receiving a lot of support for this project and we are very close to achieving the goal of having $125,000 in matching donations. Last week, we raised over $2,700 at the Club’s Happy Dollars.  Phil is overwhelmed with the level of support he has received for this project.  Congratulations to Phil.

 

Support for Beirut Victims. We presume that many will remember this email blast and surely the news about the explosion in Beirut.  Hundreds were killed, thousands were injured and hundreds of thousand were left homeless.  Our Board will be sending funds to the Rotary Club Association in Beirut.  If you would like to participate in this effort, please do so soonest by sending a Zelle transfer or using PayPal.

 

Noreen Timoney then updated the Club of the latest activities that included delivering 200 bags of food to the FEED MIAMI organization.  She then asked Jay to show the video.  She also reminded everyone that the deadline to dedicate a tree for our tree planting is next week.  We have sent out a Valentine’s Day gift idea.  Give your Valentine a Tree to be planted in Cardon Park.

 

Noreen then introduced our keynote speaker Mr. Christopher Hodgkins, who is the CEO of the Miami Port Tunnel.  Mr Hodgkins comments were captivating.  He was probably the best speaker we have had in a very long time.  He showed slides of the construction of the tunnel and reviewed the security procedures and systems that are in place. After Mr. Hodgkins took several questions and Robert Bull presented Mr. Hodgkins with a Virtual Certificate of Appreciation.

 

To end our meeting Bunny Uriarte led us in the Four-Way Test.