The Rote – January 5, 2023
The Miami Yacht Club and via Zoom
Scribe: Marcia Brod

President Brian Tschirhart called the meeting to order and welcomed everyone with a hearty Happy New Year! Members present were thrilled to be together again after the holiday break. Marcia Brod gave an invocation and Norman Kassoff led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Today’s program began with our speaker and fellow Rotarian Steve Dutton. Steve embarked 87 days ago on a 400+ day cruise all over the world. His ship, the Holland American Zaandam, was in port in Ft. Lauderdale and he took the time to come visit.

Steve shared the planning and thought that went into his decision to make this life style change for the foreseeable future. The first portion of his adventure left Ft. Lauderdale, crossed the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, through the Suez Canal and around the African continent. After returning to Ft. Lauderdale the ship sailed again around the Caribbean. The sights and vistas have been amazing. What an experience!

He enjoys all the onboard activities and is exercising and watching his diet. He is feeling great and encouraged folks to join him! There is a 7 day Holland American South Caribbean Cruise February 25-March 4 that can be booked for $499/person. Come on board!

We said Bon Voyage to Steve as he left the meeting to make his 2:30 sailing from Ft. Lauderdale. Check out his YouTube videos by searching “Sailor Steve” and be sure to comment and like his posts. He’s having a ball, but we miss him here in Miami!

January Birthdays are: Norby Rudel – 1/7, Clara Area – 1/15, Steve Dutton – 1/30

Happy January Rotary Anniversary to:

Marcia Brod – 17 years; Jan Figa – 3 years; Paul George – 4 years; Sue Ryan – 14 years, Don Van Orsdel – 45 years!!!; Gloria Romero Roses – 4 years; Steve Dutton – 4 years; and Eileen Carpenter – 1 year, Scott Richey – 19 years.

• Thanks go out to the hostess with the mostest Diane Landsberg for hosting our holiday party in December. It was a wonderful time, as always, and it was so much fun to spend time with our Rotarian friends and guests!

• Sunday, January 15 is the big event at 6:00pm at Ritz Carlton on Key Biscayne. Rotary International President Jennifer Jones will be the guest of honor. If you’re interest in attending reach out immediately.

• Saturday, January 29^th is a tree planting opportunity at Coral Estates Park at 1405 SW 97^th Avenue. Contact Robert Bull for additional details.

• Robin Shelley spoke about the District Golf Ball Drop. This District fundraiser will be completed on Tuesday, February 9 at noon when the many golf balls sold are dropped on a green at the Biltmore. The Club has purchased a golf ball for each member, but anyone interested in additional chances should reach out to Treasure Phil Seipp. Proceeds from this event are used for Annual Giving.

• Sunday, February 12 there will be a Pelican Island Maritime Hammock Pollinator Shrub Planting. Contact Robert Bull for details.

• Robin Shelley talked about the Club’s Anniversary Luncheon scheduled for Thursday, March 16 at the Rusty Pelican Restaurant and the planning that is going on. He encouraged everyone to reserve now, as seating is limited to 100 guests.

Happy $$$$$$$$$$$$$ were collected by Jay Almeida

• Dave Skinner shared that his daughter has taken in a teenager from Ukraine to help her attend High School in the U.S. They also hope to bring her mother over as well;

• Linda Singer was very proud of her daughter’s efforts to help those in so much need;

• Marcia Brod enjoyed her time in Gainesville visiting her daughter, even though it was extremely cold. The cold weather in Miami was not beneficial to the fish in her pond at home….the loss of these fish will, however, give the Brods an opportunity to resurface and rehab the pond before restocking;

• Robin and Suzie Shelley enjoyed a lovely dinner with Rotarian friend Richard Grant from St. Croix. One of Rotary’s most important benefits – making lasting friends!

• Randy Lichtman was happy to be back in Miami after celebrating his 41^st Wedding Anniversary on a trip to Spain and Portugal;

• Diane Landsberg was happy that our late arriving guests made it to the meeting. She also had a delicious cookie recipe from Suzie Shelley to share and announced that the Little Haiti Soccer team has a game Saturday – reach out to Dave Skinner for details if you wish to attend;

• Brian Tschirhart was glad to see everyone in the new year! He had a wonderful time away with his very large family in North Georgia (46 family members attending a performance of the Nutcracker would fill the theater for sure!).

• Eileen Carpenter was happy that her daughter has graduated and is applying to graduate school. Her daughter also just learned that she has gotten an internship here in Miami;

• Jay Almeida enjoyed having both daughters home with him over the holidays.

50/50 Raffle was collected by Gloria Romero Roses

Diane Landsberg was the lucky first draw winner, but unlucky when trying to pick the ace of spades. Milton Muller was the second ticket draw and he got to go home with a bottle of wine.

The Four Way Test was led by Norby Rudel and concluded today’s meeting.

NEXT WEEK’S MEETING, JANUARY 12, WILL BE ON ZOOM – Speaker will be our good friend Angel Rodriguez, who will talk about the Military Service Center at MIA.