President Robert Bull welcomed everyone to our February 11^th meeting.  Again, he was in Bangkok.  We had over 38 people in attendance, including our distinguished visitors from Germany, Charlotte and Jens. 

 

Jay Almeida led us with the invocation, former Club President, Marcos Menendez, recited the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Today, February 11^th is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.  So, congratulations to all of our Rotarian ladies who are in these fields or if we have daughters or granddaughter considering this field.

 

It’s also Chinese New Year right now.  It’s the year of the Golden Bull, also known as the year of the Ox.  So Happy Chinese New Year to all, may your have good fortune and health.  All over Asia, this a special holiday.  Look at the decorations.

 

Anniversaries: Several members are celebrating their Rotary Anniversary. Cathy Cahill will celebrate her 6^th year anniversary this February 12^th. Valentine’s Day is a big anniversary date.  Amelia Bonilla is celebrating three years, Priscilla Dames two years, Angela Deggs, three years and Carlos Bonadies first year is this coming February 16^th.  Happy Anniversary to all.

 

Golf Ball Drop: We have a FIRST.  Marcia Brod won a men’s watch at the Golf Ball Drop.  Congratulations, Marcia.  We are that Lenny is very happy.

 

Dictionaries were delivered to Touching Miami with Love in Homestead.

 

Banner Exchanges: We had a virtual banner exchange with the Rotary Club of Madras.  They are 94 years and were started in the days of the British Empire.  Now all of the Members are Indian citizens, but they are proud of their Club’s History.  The City of Madras has been changed to its Indian name, that does not even sound similar to Madras, it’s Chennai.

 

Last week we had the President of the Paris Champs Ellysees Club, Francis Allard, attend our meeting. We have had a long-standing twinning agreement with this Club, but it has laid dormant. So, it the spirit of liberte, egalite and fraternite, we have renewed this twinning agreement. They are excited to visit us once COVID has ended and they extended a warm invitation to our Club members to visit them. We also conducted a virtual banner exchange.

 

Earlier on Thursday, Feb. 11, Robert Bull visited the Bangkok Rotary Club.  Since it’s Chinese New Year all attendees received a little red envelope.  These envelopes have money gift and Stephanie and Robert each got twenty baht.  In Bnagkok, a US $ 20 lunch at the Grand Hyatt Hotel is fantastic.  We were served with white gloved wait staff.  We had a flag exchange at the beginning at their meeting.  Last week, was their first in-person meeting. Their speaker was Professor who last name is: Charusrojthanadech (Thai family names tend to be very long).  His topic was mangrove forests’ role in global coastal protection, a great coincidence given that our Club will be planting green buttonwood trees in the marsh areas of Crandon Park to protect that coastline.

 

ESRAG #IFixThePlanet Video Competition: We are now in second place in the ESRAG #IFixThePlanet video competition.  A smaller Rotary Club from Mumbai, India, the Rotary Club of Bombay, jumped ahead of us.  They have fifty-five members and have reached 824 votes and compared to our 195 votes.  We need everyone’s help, not just to vote and also to view the video on the competition’s webpage. Please visit www.ifixtheplanet.org/the-videos

 

Carnival Festivities: Carnival is starting this weekend.  Stephanie and Robert Bull used to parade every year in the Samba Schools in Rio de Janeiro, it was a blast.  But the real Carnival dancers look a bit different to them.  Now for our Club’s excitement of Carnival. In Haiti they also celebrate Carnival, so we spun the Picker Wheel to see who won the bottle of 15 Year Aged Barbancourt Rhum.  The winner was Hugo Montaudon!  Congratulations Hugo! The funds that were raised are going to support the Rotary Club of Little Haiti.  Many of you may know that both Renel Noel and Diane Landsberg were instrumental in the establishment of this Club.  Their President Jean Dorcelien told about his Club and their programs.

 

COVID Vaccination:  Norby Rudel was getting his COVID vaccination at the Hard Rock Café Stadium and took the meeting along for this experience.  All thanks to the miracle of ZOOM.  When Norby was getting his shot, everyone cheered him on.

 

Happy Dollars: Happy Dollars were dedicated to Valentine’s Day.  So, it was time to Share a Little Love and a few told us their romantic story and entered the Valentine Prize drawing.  The following shared some romantic stories: Robin Shelley, Marcia Brod, Ron Felton, Hugo Montaudon, Patti Urban, Robert Bull, Diane Landsberg, Norby Rudel, Jay Almeida and Oliver Ruiz.  We had three University of Miami love stories. The winning romantic story selected by the Picker Wheel was Hugo Montaudon, Congratulations, Hugo, that’s two wins in one night. Hugo, go buy a Lotto ticket, you are running a lucky streak.

 

Linda Singer ended the meeting by leading the Four-Way Test.