The Rote - September 28, 2017
The Miami Yacht Club
President Phil Seipp welcomed everyone to the meeting. Dave Anderson gave the invocation and Rick Hernandez led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Visitors and Guests were introduced by Cory Gittner:
- Patrick Alexander, invited by Randy Lichtman, owns a company that creates website and provides online solutions.
- Karla Santos, who is soon to be inducted
- Lucia Eldredge, former first lady of The Rotary Club of Miami, visiting with her husband, Past President and Past District Governor Ted Eldredge. (Their home and contents were destroyed by Hurricane Irma. They are relocating to New Jersey and will be missed tremendously).
Announcements
- Phil Seipp announced that our club, via its foundation, will be donating $3,500 for relief efforts for Hurricane Maria victims in Puerto Rico and $1,500 for relief efforts for the hurricane victims in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Happy $$$$$$$$$$$
- Marcos Menendez was happy that all is well with his family in Puerto Rico. He reported that gasoline and gas tanks are needed there;
- Robin Shelley is happy that the board has granted $1,500 to the U.S. Virgin Islands relief effort;
- Jay Almeida is happy to see everyone again and praised President Phil and Diane Landsberg;
- Rick Miller is happy to help with the Caribbean;
- Dave Skinner is happy that Ted and Lucia are attending today;
- Patrick Alexander grew up in Dominica and was the first child born after Dominica became an independent nation. The local Rotary Club paid for his education because of that, for which he is very grateful. He appealed for relief funds for Dominica, which was devastated this month by Hurricane Maria;
- Randy Lichtman is proud of the Rotaract Club of Downtown Miami, of which he is the sponsor. They have 15 - 20 members initially and a lot of enthusiastic interest by others;
- Noreen Timoney is happy for all the above;
- Past-president Diane Landsberg reported her grandchildren thought they were famous when they saw their names in the Rote;
- Renel Noel - just because.
Member Focus on Past President and Past District Governor Robert J. Shelley III (Robin)
Member Since: February 1988
Why did you join Rotary? - As a native-born Miamian, I wanted to be more actively connected to and involved in the community.
Rotary Positions Held?
President of Rotary Club of Miami 1996-1997.
Chairman of Greater Miami Urban Peace Conference at the request of Rotary International President Luis Guay on February 8th, 1997
Rotary Club of Miami Board of Directors 1995 – 2001
Assistant Governor 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 1999-2000
District Governor 2001-2002
Chair of Southland Breakfast 2002-2003, 2003-2004
R. I. President’s Representative 2003, 2004, 2009, 2013, 2015
Florida PETS Organizing Committee 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, Chairman 2008
Rotary Council on Legislation Delegate 2007
Rotary North American Water Resource Coordinator 2008, 2009
General Chairman World Water Summit III Montreal 2010, WWS IV New Orleans 2011
Rotary International Assembly Training Leader San Diego, 2009
Rotary Zone 33/34 Session Moderator 2011
District 6990 Foundation Chair, 2003-2006, 2013-2015
Recognition and Awards?
District 6990 Rotarian of the Year 1999
Rotary International Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service 2006
Rotary International Foundation Distinguished Service Award 2015
Member of Rotary Bequest Society, Paul Harris Fellow, Benefactor, Major Donor, Arch Klumph Society
Personal Life?
Family: Married to Susan for 50 years, two children, 6 grandchildren
Hosted four Rotary Youth Exchange Students
Education: Dade County Public Schools, grade 1-12, Graduate of Miami Palmetto Senior High, 1962, Junior Class President 1961
University of Miami, Bachelor of Science in Zoology 1967, MBA 1978
Member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, President 1967
Professional life?
Occupation/Position: Manufacturer’s Representative in the Food Service Equipment Industry covering the State of Florida
Partner in “Food Equipment Representatives”
One thing you don’t know about me - Once I was bitten by an octopus!
Today’s Speaker
- Shirley Pardon introduced our speaker, William D. Talbert, III, of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau. Mr. Talbert donated a Happy Dollar because he is happy to be speaking to our club. He complimented and recommended his dentist, Brian Tschirhart, who contributed $5 to the Happy Dollar collection.
- The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau is 25 years old. One half of our local tourist business is international. Canada and Mexico provide 70% of the visitors. New York is our number one market. Nearly 96% of our visitors come by air.
- There is a major expansion of the Miami Beach Convention Center taking place. It is paid for in part by an additional 1% sales tax on Miami Beach hotels.
- Together with Canada and Mexico, we are bidding to host the World Cup for 2026. The Bureau is pitching Amazon to set up a second Amazon headquarters in Miami.
- In the next few years, new airlines servicing Asia will begin service to Miami International Airport.
50-50: Linda Singer had the winning number but not the winning card. The kitty of $2,785 will be rolled over to next week.
Dave Skinner led us in the Four-Way Test of the Things We Think, Say or Do.
