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Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
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
Juan Torres
 
The Rote – August 17, 2017
The Miami Yacht Club
 
President Phil Seipp welcomed everyone to another wonderful lunch meeting in the Rotary Club of Miami’s 101st year.
 
Robert Bull gave an invocation and Linda Singer led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
 
Visitor:
Bunny Uriarte introduced our one visitor today…..Joe Roth, District 6990 PDG, who really needs no introduction and is really not a visitor but family.  We are always glad to see him.  When asked to share something about himself, Joe shared that he is a proud grandpa – the best job in the world!
 
Happy $$$$$$$$$$$
  • Marcia Brod shared that her families’ Hurricane Andrew story will be broadcast on WLRN radio next week as part of the 25th Anniversary of the storm;
  • Norby Rudel was happy to see Cathy Cahill at today’s meeting.  He also surprised his wife Maria with a new Audi – just like the advertisement on TV – big ribbon and all!  Norby reported that he enjoyed driving it home (was that the original plan???);
  • Tim Ryan was away for work in Lake Tahoe.  The only rough part of the trip was the exhausting but fun time he spent with his grandchildren – which kept him VERY busy.  He’s been resting ever since;
  • Bunny Uriarte was celebrating the one-year anniversary of her arrival in Miami.  She thanked the club for being so welcoming and making her feel at home.  She’s looking forward to going back home to Arizona for a visit in December, but she promises to be back;
  • Oliver Ruiz missed last week’s meeting, but with his daughter in the hospital, everyone understood.  She is home now and on the mend just in time for the start of school;
  • Cathy Cahill was happy to be at the meeting and also happy to be home.  She reported that her business has been successful and her family is all doing well;
  • Renel Noel’s medical issues are truly on the mend this week.  He also is looking forward to returning to Haiti to continue his work in October.  This time he will be taking several Rotarians with him;
  • Dave Skinner welcomed our incoming members from the FIU College of Medicine;
  • Shirley Pardon thanked everyone again for their support during Leonard’s medical emergency.  He is on the mend and back at work.  Saturday’s Rotary social event was his first venture out of the house since the accident and he was overwhelmed by the many good wishes;
  • Diane Landsberg was glad to see Cathy Cahill and Joe Roth.  She was also excited to welcome today’s incoming new members Joe Lahoud and Marissa Miles;
  • Phil Seipp shared that the club has made a significant contribution to RI’s Polio Plus efforts.
Announcements
  • Last Saturday’s Summer Sale Party at the home of Diane Landsberg was a terrific event.  50+ folks enjoyed socializing late into the evening;
  • There will be a Board meeting next week, August 24, at 10:30a.m.  All members are invited to attend;
  • Phil Seipp, with his Treasurer’s hat on, reminded anyone who has not paid their dues that payment needs to be taken care of right away;
  • Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) will be held on Saturday, October 7.  The Club will reimburse the registration fee for any member who attends.
Rotary Foundation Moment
Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) – what is it about? 
The Every Rotarian Every Year initiative asks every Rotarian to support The Rotary Foundation every year. In addition to contributing to the Annual Fund on a regular basis, members are encouraged to get involved in a Foundation project or program.
 
Member Focus – NORMAN KASSOFF
 
Why did you join Rotary?
My boss, Bud Purdy, was the Director of the Dade County Public Safety Department and was also president of the club at the time “invited me” in my dress uniform to join him at lunch at Rotary.  After a few visits, he implied that I might be promoted to Captain off the existing promotional list if I joined Rotary as he liked to see his commanders involved with and in the community.
I did join, but was never promoted because Bud was terminated shortly after I joined by the then county manager Merritt Stierheim.
 
Rotary Positions Held:
I served on multiple boards and was Club President in 2001-02. I was also Assistant District Governor for two years, Rotarian of the Year 2002, Chaired the T.B.M. program for several years, was chairperson for the fundraising of the sterile autopsy suite built for the University of Miami’s Bone and Tissue Bank at the medical examiner’s department, researched some historical material for the club’s 94th anniversary, and a bunch of other stuff that at my age I can’t remember. Oh yes, I was the Polio Plus Chair for the District from 2013-15 and brought in a big chunk of money through those years.
 
Recognition & Awards:
Can’t remember, but there were a slew.  Lifetime Achievement Award from Rotary Club of Miami 2017.
 
Personal
I have been married 62 years to the most wonderful women God ever created and have two wonderful children and grandchildren.  I would just like to remind everyone how important it is to express one’s love for family and friends every day! Don’t put it off!!!!
 
Professional
Occupation / Position: Worked in law enforcement for most of my life and worked under a Ford Grant in the 1960’s dealing with Race Riots in the U.S.
 
One thing you didn’t know about me:
During my service in the Navy, I slept during my tours on a submarine next to the torpedo “Tessie”.  Also, I worked for six months at the World Trade Center disaster in charge of utilizing DNA as means of identifying the human remains. I received a special award from the mayor (a piece of plastic from the building with my name and dates of service) for helping in many of the id’s of the victims.
 
New Member Induction
Visiting District Past Governor Joe Roth was thrilled to fill in for the Club’s membership chair Dave Anderson, who could not attend today.  Joe, always prepared, inducted Joe Lahoud and Marissa Miles – both representing the Club’s Gala 100th Anniversary Gala sponsor - the Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University.  We welcome you both!
 
Program
  • Joe and Marissa were pressed into service immediately.  They shared information on their positions at FIU, the work of the Medical School and its relationship with the Rotary Club of Miami;
  • Joe Lahoud, originally from Lebanon, is the Associate Director of Alumni Relations.  He works to keep in touch with FIU medical school graduates.  By keeping connected with the alumni – they are reminded of their connection to FIU and encouraged to visit and mentor current students;
  • Marissa Miles, with 15 years of experience, is the Director of Financial Aid.  She thanked Cathy Cahill (formerly employed at FIU) for fostering the now continuing relationship between the medical school and the Rotary Club of Miami;
  • Marissa was proud to share how the amount of TBM recipients have increased over the years.  There have been 74 recipients who have received a total of $192,000 from the fund;
  • Both Joe and Marissa look forward to learning more about Rotary and being active members in the Rotary Club of Miami.  They are thankful for the assistance that the Club has provided through the Thomas Brown McClelland Scholarship program.
Dave Skinner led everyone in the 4-Way Test of the Things We Think, Say or Do.