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Executives & Directors
President
Phil Seipp
 
Vice-President
Dave Skinner
 
Treasurer
Phil Seipp
 
Immediate Past President
Oliver Ruiz
 
Secretary
Shirley Pardon
 
Chair-Community Service
Tim Ryan
 
Chair-Club Service
Diane Landsberg
 
Chair-International
Robert Bull
 
Chair-Membership
Dave Anderson
 
Chair-Public Image
Jay Almeida
 
Chair-Council of Past Presidents
Ted Eldredge
 
Chair-TBM
Norm Kassoff
 
Sgt. At Arms
Dave Skinner
 
Chair-Youth Service
Randy Lichtman
 
Director
Marcos Menendez
 
Director
Cory Gittner
 
Director
Noreen Timoney
 
Director
Norby Rudel
 
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
ClubRunner
The Rote – October 26, 2017
The Miami Yacht Club
 
President Phil Seipp opened the meeting with a welcome to all and a reminder to turn off cell phones or incur a $5 fine if it rings.  Prior to the Invocation, Phil shared the sad news that former Rotary Club of Miami President (’04-’05) Randy Golden passed away on October 7.   He was an attorney and left the Miami area to resettle in Melbourne.  Those in attendance shared a traditional moment of silence in his memory.
 
Dave Anderson gave an invocation and Scott Richey led everyone in Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
 
Guests and Visitors were introduced by Shirley Pardon:
  • Stephan Schenk joined us today.  He is an attorney with Manos-Schenk PL and a former club member.  We look forward to having him back as a member shortly;
  • Dudley Foster is a visiting Rotarian from England and works for R.C. Leven;
  • Archie McKay is retired police lieutenant from the City of Miami.  He represented the City of Miami Black Police Precinct Museum;
  • Doug Mayer came as a guest of John Harrison.  He is President of Stone Soup Development, a firm specializing in affordable housing;
  • Oliver Hesch is CEO of OXUS and a visiting Rotarian from the Kinshasa Binza Club in Africa.
Happy $$$$$$$$$$$ were collected by Linda Singer.  Today’s collection of Happy $ will be contributed to EndPolio, since this past Tuesday was World Polio Day:
  • Phil Seipp started off Happy $.  He shared that his father had a mild case of polio in his youth and he is happy that we are closing in on the day when polio will be a distant memory with Rotary’s help;
  • Jay Almeida was glad that Renel Noel, Dave Skinner, Rick Miller and Norby Rudel returned safe and sound from their work in Haiti.  He also shared his sadness on the passing of Randy Golden and thanked Norman Kassoff for saying a few words at the service;
  • Dave Skinner thanked Renel for being here and is grateful for his help and care while they were Haiti.  He was that much more thankful for living in the U.S. with its potable water and instant electricity;
  • Norby Rudel was also back from Haiti and was glad for the opportunity to get to know and respect what Renel does.  He also admires Renel the man and Rotarian as well;
  • Dudley Foster was glad to be in Miami and is heading to Mexico with LifeStraws, a water purification device;
  • Tim Ryan enjoyed speaking at a current events meeting put on by former member, Gary Sisler.  He also swayed to the music of Norby at Anthony’s Coal Stone Pizza;
  • Robin Shelley also enjoyed the Norby Show at Anthony’s.  He and Susan are also happy that their daughter, Jennifer, is celebrating four years of being cancer free;
  • Renel Noel was happy to have his friends with him in Haiti.  They were not just grumpy old men, but just four happy men making a difference.  He makes four trips a year and welcomes others to join him;
  • Randy Lichtman is looking forward to the MDC Rotaract pinning ceremony this weekend.  He also shared that when teaching a class on Ethics and Social Responsibility, he uses the 4-Way Test as an example and students appreciate its words;
  • Diane Landsberg encouraged others to join in on the fun at Anthony’s when Norby has his gig. She said the excitement is contagious.  She also reported that 28 members have signed up to come to the MDC Rotaract pinning ceremony Sunday at her home.  Starting time is 3pm;
  • Linda Singer was proud of those members who went to Haiti getting out of their comfort zone and making a difference in the lives of others.
Announcements:
  • Sunday, October 29 is the MDC Rotaract pinning ceremony at the home of Diane Landsberg.  The gathering starts at 3pm;
  • Dave Skinner was recognized for receiving another PHF.  He participates in Rotary Direct and received a four sapphire PHF pin.  Rotary Direct is a program where you can subscribe to donate an amount automatically on a monthly basis;
  • The Griffitts Award dinner meeting will be December 7.  The City of Miami Officer of the Year will be recognized;
  • Holiday Party will be at Diane’s home on Saturday December 16;
  • Festive Holiday lunch will be at the Yacht Club on December 21;
  • Miami Giving Day is Thursday, November 16.  Diane Landsberg and Dave Skinner have worked hard to register our Foundation as a participant.  All funds raised for our Foundation that day will be earmarked to the Thomas Brown McClelland Trust.  Donations should be made that day on-line to take advantage of matching dollars from the Miami Foundation.
Member Focus on Dave Anderson – member since 2002
Why did you join Rotary?
My father was a Rotarian and I always aspired to follow in his footsteps.  I even joined Interact.  I have always known that Rotary is a wonderful organization.
Rotary Positions Held?
Board member for 12 years, President 2012-13, Assistant District Membership Chair, RLI Discussion Leader, currently Assistant Governor for Area 5
Recognition & Awards?
Multiple Paul Harris Fellow
Personal:
My wife, Nelly, is a registered physical therapist and a member of the Club.  I have two sons, both are PHFs.  I have a BS in Zoology and an MBA in Economics from University of Florida, a J.D from UM, LLM in Real Estate also from UM and an LLM in Elder Law from Stetson.
Professional:
I am a lawyer in private practice in Elder Law, Probate and Guardianship Litigation.  I own New Way Title Corp and ECO/President of Dial4Care, Inc. – a home health agency.
One thing you don’t know about me:
I have been a member of the Steel Workers Union, a Marine Biologist for the State of Florida, an EMT and worked and lived in a funeral home in Gainesville. I also taught high school at Miami Northwestern.  In my next life I want to also come back as Joe Cocker – the coolest guy who ever lived!
 
Program:
  • Tuesday was World Polio Day and who better to talk about it that our own Norman Kassoff.  He was a District 6990 Polio Chair and also a polio victim;
  • The door is about to close on polio as the result of immunizations and this is in large part due to the efforts of Rotary;
  • The virus is 8,000 years old and occurred most commonly in children who were located near water and animals;
  • Our club founder, Dr. James Jackson had 9 beds set aside for polio victims as far back as 1924.  The only treatment at the time was isolation;
  • The United Nations World Health Organization, the CDC and Rotary worked together to immunize children all over the world;
  • Past Rotary Club of Miami President Dennis McDermott encouraged the club to participate in Rotary efforts to end polio and they did;
  • There were 12 cases total of polio this year.  There are two countries that still have outbreaks – Pakistan and Nigeria – politics and religion contribute to the situation.
  • Norm shared his own polio story and thanked Rotary for its worldwide efforts to finally close the door on polio.
  •  
50/50 Drawing
Our pot for this week’s drawing was up to $3,200.  With only 11 cards left – we finally got a winner!!!!
ROBERT BULL is the lucky winner of $1600!!!!!!!  Congratulations!!!!!
 
Dave Skinner led everyone in the 4-Way Test of the Things We Think, Say or Do.