President Robert Bull welcomed everyone to our March 25^th meeting.  This was our 39^th meeting of this fiscal year.

 

Bunny Uriarte gave the invocation and Past President, Linda Singer led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

March 25^th is National Spanish Paella Day.  Norby Rudel, I believe that Maria is of Spanish origin, so I guess you are having Paella tonight.  Buen Provecho! Yesterday, Wednesday, March 24^th was Happy Manatee Appreciation Day.  We ask boaters to please slowdown in canals and inland waters; the rest of us have to help reduce, even better, eliminate pollution in our waterways and seas. 

 

Birthdays/Announcements: Brian Tshirhart’s birthday is on March 30^th.  Happy Birthday Brian. Patti Urban’s Sixth Rotary Anniversary is on March 26^th. Congratulations, Patti.

 

Shop for a Cause:  Thanks to Karla Rickey and Miami Kids Magazine, Lilly Pulitzer will be donating 10% of its sales revenue of this coming Saturday, March 27^th, to our Club’s Foundation.  Please visit Lily Pulitzer, located in the Shops at Merrick Park, this Saturday.

 

Matzvah Mitvah: This event was last Sunday, as far as I know, Linda Singer, Dave Skinner and Stephanie & Robert Bull distributed Passover foods to homebound elderly senior citizens and holocaust survivors. The elderly citizens who received the food supplies were very happy and grateful. If anyone else participated, please let us know.

 

#IFixThePlanet Video Competition:  Our Club is still in second place and we need your efforts to make sure that we hold and improve our position.  The first place video is from the Bombay Rotary Club which is much smaller that our Club but has over 1000 votes.  That is five times as many votes as our Club.  So vote, get your family, friends and colleagues to vote.  Vote by visiting: www.ifixtheplanet.org/the-videos.

 

Renew Your Membership:  An email was sent to the Membership advising that dues for the 2021 -2022 fiscal year will be $200. Please pay your dues prior to June 15^th to avoid a $20 late fee.  Mail a check to the Club (P.O. Box 43-1466), or send a Zelle to Robert Bull at 305.733.3704.  If you wish to use PayPal or a credit card, the total will be $204 to cover service fees.  Our PayPal link was in the email or may be found on the Club’s website: www.miamirotary.org

 

Tree Planting at Crandon Park: This project was conducted on Saturday, March 13^th.  Attendance was great (over fifty people) and two hundred (200) green buttonwood trees were planted.  Photos were shown during the meeting.  A video produced by Jay Almeida may be seen on the Club’s website: www.miamirotary.org.

 

ESMAG is ready to go: The Rotary Club of Miami’s Environmental Sustainability Miami Action Committee, ESMAG is ready to go. ESMAG’s website is up and running, www.esmag.org and it even has a Facebook page.  ESMAG iss a no cost membership.  It is open to all Members of our Club, our Interact & Rotaract Clubs, children and grandchildren of Members and non-Rotarians who are concerned about environmental issues. Those choosing to join ESMAG will receive an emailed Certificate of Membership and students will receive Community Service Hours for their projects.

 

Alpha Generator Investment Club: We received an update on the Alpha Generator Investment Club that Dave Anderson is heading.

 

Miami Senior High Interact Club: Amelia Bonilla advised us of the status of this Club and the criteria for the upcoming Grace & John DeLury Leadership Award which will be granted to several graduation seniors.

 

Miami Dade College Rotaract Club: Randy Lichtman advised us that this Club is having a pinning ceremony on Friday, March 26^th.  We are all invited to attend.  Information for login details was sent out via Clubrunner.

 

Keynote Speaker: Our keynote speaker was Gale Nelson, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami.  He was an excellent speaker and gave us an update about this organization and the challenges they have faced during the pandemic. Mr. Nelson talked about the importance of mentoring at risk children.  Big Brothers Big Sisters started in 1904 in New York.  In Miami this organization started in 1958. After the questions and answers, Robert Bull presented Gale Nelson with a Certificate of Appreciation.

 

Lighthouse for the Blind: The Board of Directors of our Club authorized a $2,000 donation to this institution, which we have supported over the decades.  Members were invited to join in and add to the Club’s Foundation donation.  To this end, Happy Dollars that were collected will be added to the Club’s overall donation.

 

Happy Dollars: Happy Dollars donors were: Robert Bull, Linda Singer, Phil Seipp, Oliver Ruiz, Scott Richey, Robin & Susie Shelley, Randy Lichtman, Noreen Timoney, Diane Landsberg, Cameron Sisser and Virginia Jacko.

 

Passover: Passover starts this Saturday at sundown.  Happy Passover to those who celebrate.

 

Four-Way Test: Randy Lichtman led us in the Four-Way Test, thereby ending our meeting.