President Dave Skinner welcomed everyone to today’s meeting. Dave Anderson gave the invocation and Noreen Timoney led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Guests and Visitors were introduced by Randy Lichtman:
Karsten Weise is a member of the Dortmund-Romberg Rotary Club. His Club has been in existence for fifteen years and they have about forty-five members. Club banners were exchanged;
Alexander Weise, Karsten’s son, is a member of the Glasgow Rotaract Club;
Jill and Ian Reiss, clients and friends of Renel Noel, visited today;
Mara Almeida, wife of Jay Almeida, joined us today.
Happy $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ were collected by our newest member, George Arias:
Robin Shelley was happy to be back in Miami after visiting two of his sisters in Alaska and Colorado;
Rick Miller was so happy that he finally was able to attend a meeting;
Randy Lichtman was happy to greet Mara Almeida, Jay’s wife. Incidentally, Mara sold 50/50 tickets and did a great job;
Jaime Tobin was happy to be back in town;
Renel Noel was happy to have returned from Haiti. In Haiti, he anonymously shared some his winnings from the 50/50 draw, which he recently won, with thirty families in his hometown;
Marcia Brod was happy to share some of her mangoes with the Club as she is in a major battle with the squirrels in her yard;
Jay Almeida said that he was happy to be back in Miami as the weather in Miami is cooler than that he experienced in Berlin, London and Amsterdam last week. Jay said it was as hot as 105º;
Noreen Timoney is happy that Diane Landsberg gets everything done;
Mara Almeida was happy as she just returned from a visit to Brazil;
Diane Landsberg was happy about the efforts of the Interact kids and she then told Dave Skinner an old wives’ tale: If you spill coffee prior to a meeting, that’s an omen that you will have a good meeting. By the way, Dave spilled coffee over the table at the beginning of the Board meeting that was held prior to the Club’s meeting;
Angela Deggs was happy because her cousin just had a baby even though she had been told that she would not be able to have children;
Oliver Ruiz was happy that the District Governor and the Assistant District Governor were visiting our Club;
George Arias, our newest member donated $20, just because he felt happy. Phil let us know that with this last donation, George is well on his way to meet the EREY objective;
Phil Seipp then wrapped up the Happy Dollars session by donating $20 himself to complete his $100 EREY commitment for the year.
Announcements:
Rotary University is coming up on August 25, please make plans to attend. The training is free and will cover Public Image, Membership and Foundation;
The Peace Conference is being rescheduled to January 26, 2019;
RLI is scheduled for September 29 at Keiser University in Miami. Diane Landsberg will register those interested in attending. Please remember that the Club will pay for your tuition to this important Leadership Training.
Rotary Minute :
Dave Anderson gave an interesting “Rotary Minute” and talked about Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary. He read some quotes of Paul Harris from many years ago that are still very valid. “Rotarians are very much more favorably disposed towards action than they are toward words”. “The Foundation upon which Rotary is built is friendship; on no less firm a foundation could it have stood.” After his comments about Paul Harris, Dave presented to District Governor Drew Monaghan a framed portrait of Mr. Paul Harris.
Program:
Assistant District Governor Clint Bush introduced our new District Governor, Drew Monaghan. He told us that Drew was born in Philadelphia and went to the University of Notre Dame. Drew is a Business Development Executive and specializes in 1031 Exchange Strategies. Drew first joined the Parkland Club and in 2005 was named Rotarian of the Year. He is now a member of Coconut Creek Club, which he founded. Drew received a rousing reception from all who were present;
Drew's presentation started with the Rotary theme of this year – Be the Inspiration. He showed a video of the speech that RI President Barry Rassin made to the incoming District Governors. The new Rotary President addressed many topics, but a key point that he made is membership. Rotary membership has been stable at about 1.2 million over the past few years;
Drew explained that we need to identify what inspires people, and most of what inspires people is exactly what Rotary has to offer. Drew told us that the District is here to assist and through his leadership team they plan to reach out further to all of the Clubs in the District;
As individual Rotarians or through our Clubs there is plenty we can do to build our Club and Rotary while addressing the needs of the World. There are District Opportunities (Youth Services, Membership, Foundation, Communications, Training, Events, Awards Teams and Finance & Procedures Committee, and the Nominating Committee. There are also Rotary Action Group opportunities. A Rotarian Action Group is an autonomous group of Rotarians who are experts in a particular field and share their expertise;
There are also Fellowship opportunities by creating groups who have similar interests, such as Bird Watching, Wine Tasting, Chess, Marathon Running, Music and so many other interest groups;
After Drew’s presentation, President Dave Skinner gave Drew a recognition plaque and gave him and Clint Bush each a book, Miami Through the Eyes of a Rotarian, written by Dr. James Hutson, the grandson of our Club’s founder, Dr. James Jackson.
To wrap up the meeting, the 50/50 tickets were drawn. Robin Shelley had the lucky ticket to draw for our new pot of $187, but he pulled the Jack of Spades and will receive $25 toward his EREY for his effort. Better luck next time, Robin.
Linda Singer then led the Club in reciting the Four-Way Test of the Things We Think, Say or Do.
Miami Kids Magazine at the Back to School event:
On Saturday August 11, Rick Miller, Phil Seipp, Dave Skinner, Norby & Maria Rudel with daughter Christina, Scott Richey, Susan & Robin Shelley, Randy Lichtman and Diane Landsberg supported Karla Richey to celebrate Miami Kids Magazine at the Back to School event at Sunset Place. Rick and Diane arrived early and set up the display table, and others assisted to share information and hand out candy to the children. On stage we presented 50 backpacks to “Communities in Schools”, a program that provides after school services to students in underserved neighborhoods;
Miami-Dade County Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and School Board Member Larry Feldman were brought on stage and spoke encouraging words to the children and their parents. Norby took the opportunity to speak to the Superintendent to inquire about utilizing a school gym on a Saturday for Interact events and got the okay!
It was hot, the music was loud, and children were everywhere! In other words….it was a great event.
Community Service Challenge:
Phil and Rick accepted the Community Service Challenge and combined their $100 to purchase the backpacks. All members are challenged/invited to create and implement a project. So far Linda, Rick, Phil and Diane have completed theirs. What do you plan to do?
