Vice-president/President-elect Oliver Ruiz conducted the meeting at Miami Beach Yacht Club.  

Oliver informed us of a year from the history of our club: 1924-1925.  In that year, the club president was Craig Bowen; Miami City Hospital was renamed Jackson Memorial Hospital in commemoration of our club’s first president, Dr. James Jackson; our club had an intercity meeting with Key West’s Rotary Club; and William Jennings Bryan spoke to our club members about world peace.

Oliver announced the Rotary Leadership Institute training to be held on August 22, 2015 in Broward County.

Invocation: Shirley Pardon
Pledge: Oliver Ruiz

Visiting Rotarians and Guests: Randy Lichtman.  

Visiting Rotarians came from Quebec City and Sao Paolo.  In addition, former member John Harrison and former first lady Mara Almeida attended the meeting.

Happy Dollars: Dave Anderson.  

50-50: Renel Noel

 

Our speaker was Larry Wahl, vice-president of communications for the Orange Bowl Committee.  Larry was involved with the Orange Bowl Committee since 1987.  Before then he had handled publicity for ABC Sports and has had a longtime involvement with sports administration. The Orange Bowl Committee has hosted 20 national championships during its 80 years of existence.  The Orange Bowl will host college playoffs every 3 years with the next one being on Dec. 31, 2015. Larry said that college football is more popular than ever.  
The Orange Bowl Committee, a nonprofit, gives approximately $1,000,000 annually to benefit the community through various programs.  It provides funding for youth sports and youth programming; youth academics; rebuilding parks in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties; putting on health fairs; the youth regatta which brings 700 young sailors from around the globe to Coconut Grove; and the Junior Orange Bowl Parade in Coral Gables.  
Larry said the committee is looking for volunteers and for in kind and cash donations from businesses.  He directed us to www.orangebowl.org for further information.
The stadium is being reduced in size to accommodate 10,000 fewer attendees, for a total seating of 65,000.  More amenities will be provided.  The reduction takes into account that fewer people are attending the games.  

 

The 50-50 raffle was held.

 

The meeting closed with Dave Skinner leading the 4 Way Test.