The Rote – March 10, 2022
Via Zoom
Scribe: Marcia Brod
President Noreen Timoney welcomed everyone to the meeting.
An Invocation was given by Shirley Pardon.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Robin Shelley.
President Noreen shared some iconic Miami sites – Miami City Hall and Miami Dade Community College Downtown Campus.
Today in History focused on Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day.
Relief Efforts for Ukraine
Rotary International is taking the lead on aiding our fellow Rotarians and their communities in Ukraine and surrounding countries with an opportunity to apply for a $50,000 grant to support their humanitarian efforts. The District is participating and our Club is raising funds to supplement these important efforts.
There are 62 Rotary Clubs and 24 Rotaract Clubs in Ukraine.
Interviews for TBM Scholarships will continue Saturday March 12 and 19. Please be sure to participate in this important program. Contact Noreen for details.
The Coral Reef Restoration trip to Key Largo last Saturday was cancelled due to bad weather. A separate Coral Reef Restoration expedition is being planned for April with the U.M. Rosenstiel School of Science on Key Biscayne. Details to follow. Only 25 spots available. If you wish to scuba dive or snorkel, you must be certified; otherwise, you can join the group topside on the ship.
We are also hoping to reschedule the Keys project with the Coral Reef Restoration Foundation.
A great environmental project!!!
TUESDAY, MARCH 15TH AT 5:30 P.M. – FUN AND FELLOWSHIP AT OUR SOCIAL EVENT
Join your fellow Miami Rotarians and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day – just a bit early. Let’s gather at the Titanic Restaurant, 5813 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, on Tuesday, March 15 at 5:30pm. RSVP to Noreen. Cost is $18/person and includes a glass of wine or beer and plenty of appetizers and snacks. Look forward to seeing you there. With a little bit of the luck of the Irish, the leprechauns may smile on you and give you prizes!
NO LUNCHEON MEETING ON THURSDAY, MARCH 17TH!!!!!!
Miami-Dade County Baynanza Coastal Cleanup registration ends on March 27th. Sign UP NOW! The event will be held April 23rd.
Randy Lichtman introduced today’s speaker.
Madeline Pumariega is the first female president appointed to lead one of the nation’s largest educational institutions, Miami Dade College (MDC). Adding to the historic nature of this appointment is the fact that Ms. Pumariega is an alumna of MDC.
She spoke about a few of the many priorities at the school: Expanding the School of Nursing by 40% to meet the demands of the community; Increasing technical training; Continuing to expand and promote the Black Scholars Program; and adding a Presidential Scholars Program.
The entire facility has been trained in A.I. and a MDC Tech Charter School is being created in downtown Miami. The School’s cultural engine has been restarted with the Film Festival and the Book Fair now being in-person, along with a hybrid aspect to enable them to reach greater audiences.
Funds from Tallahassee have been approved for much needed structural work on the 100-year old Freedom Tower. The school is 121,000 students strong and a vital part of the Miami-Dade County community.
Happy $$$$$$$$$$$$$ today will be donated to Rotary’s Ukraine Relief efforts.
Everyone was so generous – there was a record collection of Happy $$$ today. Those generous Rotarians included: Robin and Susan Shelley, Diane Landsberg, Phil Seipp, Marcia Brod, Randy Lichtman, Noreen Timoney, Patrick Aliu, Patty Urban, Brian Tschirhart, Scott Richey, Cory Gittner and Shirley Pardon, Diane Stieber, and Robert Bull. THANK YOU TO ALL!
Some inspirational words followed:
Noreen thanked everyone for their help, participation, and generosity today.
Cory Gittner led everyone in the 4-Way Test.
REMINDER: NO LUNCHEON MEETING ON THURSDAY, MARCH 17TH!!!!!! SO, JOIN US AT 5:30 P.M. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 15th AT THE TITANIC FOR OUR EVENING SOCIAL!!!!!!!!! ☘
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30pm.
