President Diane Landsberg welcomed everyone to the friendly, chatty and resilient Rotary Club of Miami.

• Tim was happy to have enjoyed a Valentine’s Day cruise
• Linda Singer returned from Atlanta after addressing some family issues      
• Rotary District Governor Joe Roth was happy to be at lunch today
• Diane was happy to have Joe at lunch and to greet other guests at the meeting
• Scott Richey thanked the Shelley’s for the use of their lovely venue for our Pre-Valentines Day party. He was also thankful for the fireplace in his home on this chilly day
• Robin Shelley was happy that Joe Roth was at the meeting, especially since Joe had not yet responded to a phone message he left. Robin could now talk to him in person!
• Ron Gerstl was happy to be among friends for lunch
• Cory Gittner thanked the Shelleys for the par
• ty. He also reported that he received an automated notification from the school system with an advisory on the cold weather – his son went off to school in his usual T-shire attire – this is Florida after all!

• Dr. Clarence Smith, a guest of Shirley Pardon’s, was in attendance and will be participating in the upcoming Thomas Brown McClelland interviews
• Ed Oppel enjoyed his ride from Orlando to Miami with Patrick Aliu-Otokiti. They had a productive 4-hour business meeting on the road before lunch
• Chris Hassall joined the club for lunch, which, according to him, could have been the 27^th time!

• Rotary DG Joe Roth was attending his second Rotary meeting of the day.

• Maria Van Orsdel, wife of member Don Van Orsdel, said she felt quite at home at the meeting.

• TBM interviewers are needed! – she asked folks to verify their attendance on a list that was passed around
• Next week’s lunch meeting will be at the Renaissance Banquet Hall on SW 32^nd Ave. just south of Coral Way.
• Another Restart session will be held at the end of March.  The Club will help organize items to be given to the Chapman Partnership for the Homeless.
• Be sure to keep an eye out for email updates on the meeting venue and other activities of the club.

• Robert Bull introduced our speaker, Ron Gerstl.  Besides being a long-time friend of Robert’s, Ron was a Miami Rotarian for a number of years. 
• Graduate of Harvard and has an MBA from Columbia 
• Spent his career as an employment recruiter.
• Published a book entitled “The Super Achievers.”  He stated that he was always curious about the impact Jews had on the world.  By selecting the Nobel Prize awardees in medicine and science, Ron found an objective area to study. 
• Jews total .02% of the world’s population and 2% in the US.  When analyzing the Nobel Prizes in medicine and science, over 25% of these awards have gone to Jewish individuals. Ron could only speculate on the whys behind this disproportionate amount.  Possible reasons could include 1) the family structure; 2) the importance placed on education; and 3) as a result of years of persecution – there is an increased motivation to achieve.
• Ron’s book was available for sale and can also be purchased on Amazon

• Tim Ryan thanked Joe Roth for the wonderful  District 6990 barbeque.
• Jair reviewed Tim’s biography and thanked him for stepping in as the incoming President for 2015-16.