The Rote – February 14, 2018
The Cloisters Community Building – Coconut Grove
As we did in 2015, a special Valentine’s Day party/meeting was held poolside on a beautiful, balmy evening. Some 55 Rotarians, spouses & guests gathered for wine, cheese, shrimp & delicious crepes. Guests included our fellow Rotarian friends from Palmetto Bay, Michael & Maria Kesti and Sheila Lewis, and 2 prospective members.
President Phil Seipp called the meeting portion of the evening to order at 7:45. He took a moment to reflect on the significance of the previous 2015 event and all the wonderful progress the Club has achieved since that night.
Continuing a tradition of inducting new members at special evening events, Past President Dave Anderson introduced Angela Deggs and Amelia Bonilla and proceeded to properly induct them into the Rotary Club of Miami as our 55th & 56th members. They then received their membership certificates, Rotary lapel pins and their new red membership badges.
President Phil Seipp then presented new blue badges to Tina Moore & Bunny Uriarte signifying their “graduation” from the “Red Badgers”.
And while on the subject of “Red Badgers”, new member Virgilie Aliu was asked to report on the successful service project at the Chapman Partnership earlier in the day. Some 16 Miami Rotarians gathered to serve a Valentine’s Day lunch to 500 people at the Chapman facility for the homeless. This was a project spearheaded by our “Red Badgers” who showed their community service spirit.
President Phil Seipp then asked District Governor Elect-Elect Ray Williams and Past District Governor Robin Shelley to come up & assist in a special presentation of a Paul Harris Fellow to Karla Richey for her contributions to the Rotary Foundation. Karla was accompanied by husband Past President Scott Richey, a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.
Door prize ticket numbers were called & 6 lucky people took home some nice gifts.
To close the program portion of the evening, President Phil Seipp thanked Robin & Susan Shelley for arranging the wonderful party venue. Extra special thanks were also given to Past President Diane Landsberg for planning and executing another incredible event. President Elect-Elect Norby Rudel provided great music tracks during the evening, and as always, Past President Jay Almeida recorded & photographed the evening.
A number of people requested that we try & do this again next year!
