Rote: May 27, 2021
Midday Meeting via ZOOM
President Robert Bull welcomed everyone to our May 27th. This was our 49th meeting of this fiscal year. We had over forty in attendance and again, we had visitors from overseas: Various Rotary Clubs in India, a Rotaract Club Member from Pakistan, Rotarians from Slovenia and Germany.
Virgilie Aliu-Otokiti gave the invocation. Diane Landsberg led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Empty Spot at the Table: Norm Kassoff explained the symbolism of the Empty Spot at the Table in regard to
Memorial Day. Every time we commemorate Memorial Day, there must be a deeper meaning about this holiday. We need to show our everlasting concern for our fallen comrades who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Announcements:
Birthdays and Anniversaries: John & Rosa Carroll just celebrated their forty-sixth anniversary on May 24
th and
Michael Harwin’s birthday is this weekend.
Today is National Grape Popsicle Day: Robert will enjoy his Popsicle once he turns off the camera on his computer.
Youth Service Month: May is Rotary’s Youth Service Month and this month the winners of the
Grace & John DeLury Leadership Award were defined based on an essay competition. These
Interact Students from
Miami Senior High School will read their winning essays at a Club ZOOM next month. The winners were: 1
st Place:
Nicole Morgan, 2
nd Place:
Melanie Sousa and we had a tie for 3
rd Place:
Emely Acevedo and
Annette Chu.
Mental Health Awareness Month: May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. This is very appropriate considering whom we have as a speaker.
Keynote Speaker:
Virgilie Aliu-Otokiti introduced our keynote speaker,
Dr. Bankole Johnson. Dr. Johnson Johnson has been called “one of the people making the biggest contribution to the study of neuroscience and addiction”. After the Q&A period,
Robert Bull presented
Dr. Johnson with a Certificate of Appreciation and mentioned that a tree will be planted in his honor at our next tree planting. We will email a photo of the tree with the dedication.
Rotary EndPlasticSoup Action Day: June 5
th is a Worldwide Rotary EndPlasticSoup Action Day. Everyone is invited to participate. It super easy. Just pick up plastic litter around your neighborhood, the parks, beach, wherever you go. Then take of photo of what you have found and post it on Social Media with a hashtag.
Honorary Rotary Club of Miami Members: We have had the privilege of
having Dr. Charlotte Gormsen and
Dr. Jens Neumann attend our meeting on a regular basis. They have participated, asked questions, made recommendations and have been very generous. The Board would like to recognize these Rotarians from the
Rotary Club of Warburg as
Honorary Members of the
Rotary Club of Miami. 
Father’s Day: Father’s Day is coming up, so at our June 17
th meeting we will have a raffle of a Rotary bag full of goodies. Tickets are just $1/place on the Picker Wheel.
Installation of the 105th President: Noreen Timoney will be installed as the 105
th President of our Club on June 25
th. This event will be held at the Miami Police Benevolent Association Hall.
Happy Dollars: Please that Happy Dollars may now be sent directly to Phil Seipp via his Zelle account #305.321.3647. Happy Dollars donors were; Jimmy Smiley, Virgilie Aliu-Otokiti, Priscilla Dames and Noreen Timoney.
Four Way Test: Norys Figuera led us in the Four Way Test to end our meeting.
