Saturday, October 30, 2010

Annual Halloween Luncheon

On Friday October 29, Rotary Club of Coral Gables provided the pumpkins, decoration supplies and food/beverages for the Merrick Educational School (for special needs children)Annual Halloween Luncheon, costume Party and pumpkin carving contest. This is the second year running in which RCCG has underwritten and participated in this annual program. Jim Roen and Gene Witherspoon were in attendance and asked to judge the students’ and teachers’ costumes, and the top 3 pumpkins, as pictured herein.Merrick Educational School has been a major part of the Miami-Dade Special Educational System for both physically and mentally disadvantaged children for many years. RCCG’s small part in bringing joy to both the staff and students during the years’ various Holiday events such as Halloween, is immensely appreciated by faculty, students and parents.

Contributed by Event Coordinator Gene Witherspoon

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Vol. 65 No. 18 Notes from the Podium

President's Time
This week in America a Florida man was awarded $650,000 after being hit in the face by a dancer's shoe at a strip club.  A roofer by trade, he was accidentally struck by the platform-heeled shoe of a bar dancing stripper at the Chetah nightclub in 2008.  Since then he's had double vision and dizziness, which is not a good thing for a roofer.

The Vatican's newspaper proclaimed that The Simpson's is one of "the few TV programs for children in which Christian faith, religion and questions about God are recurrent themes.  

Today we realized the primary joy of the echo chamber is how good we sound when we sing!!

Yesterday we had a Halloween Party at Jackson Memorial Hospital for the International Kids Fund patients.  It was a great reminder of how much kids love Halloween.  Regardless of their ages.  For your information and enjoyment, here's a photo of the Spooks who attended and the Ghouls we entertained.   Participating Rotarians included Dan Brandt, Bill Quesenberry, Yoli Woodbridge, Judy Pantoja, J Guarch, Terry Long, Pat Morris, Brad Forte and Sally B.


The kids came from all over the world.  They're at Jackson for treatment for any variety of illnesses and many of their parents and siblings are living at Ronald McDonald House  while they're here.  They spent three hours getting high on sugar, decorating pumpkins and hearing Halloween stories and songs.  They had a great time but I suspect we Rotarians had much more fun than they did.  



Club By Laws Revisions:  President-Elect Debbie Swain, as chair of the By-Laws Committee asked for a Motion to approve the proposed revisions that were approved by the Board of Directors at the October meeting.  Walter Alvarez moved, Bruce Kereses, seconded a motion to accept.  Two-thirds vote of the membership carried.  Motion passed and so did the revised By Laws.  

YARD SALE NOVEMBER 13 & 14.  Sign up to work.  Proceeds of the Sale go to International and Community Service Committees.  Dan Brandt has donated an antique pool table complete with lights and furniture.  It's supposed to be a really great table.  It should fetch a terrific price so tell your friends who might be in the market for one.  They can buy it from us!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Scorpios Bob Schreiber today and David Mitchell on November 3.  Remember they are determined, emotional, compulsive and obstinate, so don't mess with them.

Celebrating 18 Years Perfect Attendace!


Congratulations to William Isaias.  That's a long time to be such a good boy!  But it's no problem for William, he's a Past District Governor from Ecuador.  He's a born Rotarian.



Happy $$$
We knew this would happen ... Dr. Randy was unable to Groh scholarships today anything close to what Diva did last week.  He's out of practice!  Steve Magenheimer was happy that his 12 year old grandson was inducted into the deer season last Saturday morning.  Debbie Swain was happy to announce that California Pizza Kitchen was participating in fund raiser for Citizens for a Better South Florida.  Eat there on Monday and 20% of your check goes to Citizens.  Miki Spiejers is happy that she and her talented husband Tom are celebrating 24 years of marriage on Halloween ... some say that's scary!  Judy Pantoja was happy by proxy ... she had to leave early so instructed the Diva to do Happy $ on her behalf for the Rotarians who scared the kids yesterday.   And finally, Chris Tyson, in anticipation of next week's Rotary Golf Tournament, told us that his house is on the third tee and so all golfers will please genuflect when passing by.  Keep on smiling.  Happiness (usually) pays!

Working Rotarians - October 28, 2010
Greeters - Mead McCabe & Rolf Frankfurther
Registration - Aaron Glasser
Collections - Carlos Bolado
Head Table - John Wallace
Special Needs - Rodney Langer
Invocation - Jack Witty
Pledge - Jim Hirschmann
Singers - Arne Theemmen & Bill Quesenberry
DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Wings Kerestes
Given to - Ed Morris & 
Pin Drawing Gift - Dan Brandt
Pin Drawing Winner - Rosendo Castillo
50/50 Raffle - Gloria Burns
50/50 Winner - Edgard Mann
5-Way Test - Deena Bell

Today's Program


Darden Hood, President
Beta Analytic, Inc.

Beta Analytic is the world's largest professional, and only private, Radiocarbon dating lab. Most other labs are associated with universities. Beta Analytic is located in Miami-Dade County – near the Palmetto and Miller Drive. 

Carbon dating is based on determining the amount of carbon 14 isotopes are contained in the test subject. Since all living entities on our planet breath the same air and drink the same water, etc., they all contain the same amount of carbon. Once the entity is no longer alive (drinking, eating and breathing) the carbon starts disintegrating. The measurement of the quantity of carbon can be used to determine the years since “death”. Using the method works for items between 250 and 50,000 years old. This works for humans and other living things. However, it cannot be used to determine the age of a work of art since it can only determine the date that the material stopped being alive (i.e. the canvas, the wood frame). Furthermore, the testing other labs did on the shroud is questionable since there wasn’t ever any photographic documentation done to evidence that the material tested didn’t include things like soot or mold which could have a different age than the actual shroud. Beta Analytic most commonly tests native American remnants, bones and geological samples.


Thought  of the Week
 by Miki Spiejers


The liberty of democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of priv ate power to a point where it become stronger than their democratic state.

                                                           Franklin D. Roosevelt


NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM:  Former Miami Dolphin Kim Bokamper is the featured speaker AFTER the Rotary Golf Classic.  REMEMBER THE MEETING WILL BE HELD BEHIND THE BILTMORE HOTEL ON THE 19TH HOLE.  

                                                                                   Until then, have a great week.
                                                                                   See you on Thursday at 12:15

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Community Service Project Begins

First Habitat for Grandma Project
On Saturday last, Sally B., Yoli, Frank Sexton and Walter Alvarez joined Marli Lutz, Executive Director for CoralGables@HOME at the home of one the their members.

CoralGables@HOME is a membership based organization that assists seniors in Coral Gables in remaining in their homes as long as possible. It's an alternative to immediately giving up all that is familiar and moving to assisted living or a nursing home.

It was an easy project. Volunteers spent the morning packing and moving boxes full of the homeowner's prized possessions so that she can navigate safely through her home without fear of falling over something. At the end of three hours, a serious dent had been made in the organizaiton and elimination of a lifetime of possessions that were simply "in the way".


This is the first of what promises to be many visits to assist the senior citizens of Coral Gables. If you would like more information about Habitat for Grandma or CoralGables@HOME, speak to President Sally or Past President Jerry Santeiro.

Rotary Club of Coral Gables will be holding a major fund raising event in March to benefit CoralGables@HOME and provide funding for this project and for low income seniors who cannot afford to take advantage of these services.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Roots by Cholly Capps

A Little History of Your Rotary Club

It was March of 1917 when the Rotary Club of Miami was founded by the Rotary Club of Jacksonville. In 1946, the Rotary Club of Miami chartered our Club. In 1950, with thehelp of our Club Secretary, Mac MacDonald, we spawned the Rotary Club of South Miami. Mac became the founding President of that Club.

In the next two years, we founded two more clubs, Coconut Grove and Hialeah-Miami Springs. In 1959, we sponsored the Rotary Club of South West Miami-Kendall. Another 17 years passed before we gave birth to the Rotary Club of Key Biscayne. The last club we sponsored was Miami Granada in 1985.
In 1998 we sponsored the Rotary Club of St. Michel, Haiti.

The clubs we sponsored have since spawned six more. So we are responsible for giving birth to twelve clubs in Dade County alone. Doesn't it feel good to be the parent of a large Rotary family? Are we too old to have other offspring?

October 5th Friday

A Rotary Foundation Minute

GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE
BUILDS GOODWILL AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS.

This week’s The Rotary Foundation “One Minute Message” is about Group Study Exchange (GSE). A GSE team from Holland spent four weeks in California, USA. During their time in California, the Dutch GSE team raised $2,913 for the Inca Educa charity based in Cusco, Peru to build a school library for underprivileged young adults. The team, led by retired firefighter, Bob Boersma, was composed of people from diverse professions: working in public service, administrative law, public broadcasting and financial services. The team participated in vocational and cultural days and returned home, having made new friends and business contacts, ready to share new ideas with their Dutch countrymen. Has your club sponsored a GSE? This week the GES Team from Sweden & Lativa will visit with Clubs in the Miami area. They will be at our Halloween Party on Friday, October 29. Please make an effort to visit with them at one of their published club visits during their time here. They will also be with us at the District 6990 Conference Cruise in November. It’s a great way to create Service through Acquaintance. Contributions to our Foundation are the oil that makes the Rotary Wheel of service turn. “BUILDING COMMUNITIES - BRIDGING CONTINENTS”

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Vol. 65 No. 17 Notes from the Podium


President's Time
This week Russia unveiled it's faux army of inflatable tanks, missile launchers and other decoy weapons.  The equipment ismade otu of a special material so radar detects them as the real thing.

A Massachusetts woman was arrested for throwing a bag of dog poop at a speeding car.  She wanted to slow the car down but the bag came open and splattered across his face.  She was arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon.

CLUB BYLAWS REVISION  You have all received a copy of the proposed revisions to the Club Bylaws which were emailed to everyone yesterday.  The changes are mostly of a housekeeping nature, making updates in order that we are current with the changes made by Rotary International.  The copy that was sent out is a red-lined version so the changes are quite obvious.  We ask that you review them and be prepared to vote at the next meeting.

PETIT GOAVE, HAITI HOSPITAL PROJECT   The Club Foundation Board voted on Monday to contribute $10,000 to the District 6990 Haiti Project.  Our own Noelle Galperin is the Chair of this District initiative and for all intents and purposes, the project began in our club back in April.  A fellow from RI came with  "hospital in a box", looking for a place to put it. Carol Brock brought in the Methodist Church.  They hold clear title to a building in Petit Goave (at the epicenter of the January earthquake) that was strong and still standing.  Then everything began to snowball.  Donations and pledges now exceed $400,000 BEFORE any grants from District or Rotary International.  Our donation has been earmarked for the Coral Gables Rotary Club Trauma Center.  Rotary Rocks!  Coral Gables is awesome!!

GOLF TOURNAMENT UPDATE  Chris Morrison announced more sponsors and golfers today including Hole Sponsors Ana Fournaris (1st Hole), Fowler Rodriguez Valdes-Fauli, Snow's Jewelers, and Forshee & LockwoodJudy Pantoja sponsored a foursome and Chris has filled his foursome with Steve Novak. Andrew Dixon, Gary Lockwood and Bill Forshee have signed up as individual golfers.  Remember, the 7th Annual Rotary Golf Classic is being held on Thursday, November 4th at The Biltmore Golf Course.  Our meeting and lunch that day will be held outside on the 19th Hole. You'll have a ringside seat at 1:30 and you can watch the Gates Challenge Golf Ball Drop as it happens.  

SPEAKING OF THE GOLF BALL DROP  Yoli is still selling balls at $25 each.  This is the year that we complete the Gates Challenge - matching the $255 million that was given to The Rotary Foundation to END POLIO NOW.  The prizes are great and it's only $25 but it helps to take us to the end of this long campaign.  Be sure to buy your balls next week.

 ROTARY YARD SALE  is November 13 & 14.  The warehouse isn't close to full so clean out your garage, your storage unit or your teenager's bedroom and bring it for the sale.  We need volunteers on Friday November 12 to help load the truck and unload it at the sale site and of course lots of volunteers for Saturday and Sunday.  The proceeds of the Sale will go to both International and Community Service to help fund some of the many projects we are currently working on.  Whatever committee has the most volunteers get's the greater percentage of the take.  How's that for a challenge?  Sign up now to work.  Call Sally B. if you want to donate.


DON'T FORGET OUR HALLOWEEN 5TH FRIDAY at the new Coral Gables Museum on October 29th. Come in costume.  The best ghoul will win a one year membership to the Museum.  It's from 6 until 8 p.m.  Catering by Lovables.  $10 per person.  RSVP to Terry NOW.


Determined, passionate, compulsive and obstinate are characteristics of the Scorpio.  Say Happy Birthday this week to Bruce Kerestes on the 22nd, Harlan Chiron on the 24th, Jim Brown on the 25th and Dick Bullman on the 27th.  

This week's Rotary Anniversaries include Ron Robison who has been a member (and past president) of our club for 40 years. Eddie Snow, 20 years and Diane Thurston has been with us for nine years already.  Thank you for your years of service.

 ROTARY DAY AT THE MIAMI DOLPHINS GAME 
 SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5TH - there are two more tickets left at $45   each which includes the bus.  Call Dick Golden to get them.

Ted Pappas bought tickets for Rotary Day at the Miami Dolphins quite some time ago.  Now Marie says they can't go.  Rather than waste the tickets, Ted went Bullmanesque and decided to auction off the tickets and donate the money the The Rotary Foundation.  Bidding was active but Yoli Woodbridge took the tickets - 2 for $55.  Ted sent the $$ to The Rotary Foundation.  Thanks Ted & Yoli!


City of Coral Gables
Employee of the Month for October

Congratulations to Lillian Portu, Deputy Collector for the City of Coral Gables for the past 27 years.  Her boss, Don Nelson, City Finance Director thinks the world of Lily.  He's really pleased that she is being recognized since her job is responsible for collections for LIcenses and Fees and brings in more than $3,000,000 a year in revenue for the City.
Keep up the good work Lily! 

The Giving Tree Gives Back
 Joan Reitsma owns The Giving Tree, a Needle Arts and Gift Boutique at 256 Giralda Avenue here in Coral Gables.  She has just reopened after nearly a year when she was forced to close down due to a flood in her store.  She sells unique, different and fun gifts that are moderately priced, like the cow that sings Besame Mooocho shown here.  Needle Art isn't just for the ladies either.  In fact it was invented by a man and she has a lot of guys who sneak in and buy their crochet and knitting supplies.  Joan gives to nearly every organization that asks including the Junior Orange Bowl, the Coral Gables Community Foundation, Women in Need, International Kids Fund, the list goes on and on.  She's having an open house on November the 10th and proceeds go to the RCCG Scholarship Fund AND the May Van Sickle Children's Dental Clinic (Coral Gables Womens Club).  So plan to come and do a little early holiday shopping.


HAPPY $$
Mercury is hop scotching around Jupiter and it appears more than the planets are a little crazy.  Dr. Randy will NEVER be able to even come close to today's happy Rotarians.  Never!  The Diva Does It!  
Things started off calmly with Chris Morrison being mildly happy about going to Seattle to see Mom and Stanford play Washington.  While he's away Bill Beckham is taking care of all Golf Tournament matters.   Jerry Santeiro invited everyone to go to the Coral Gables Community Foundation After Party - after our Halloween 5th Friday. It's $50 at the door starting at 9 p.m. at Comer Hall across from The Biltmore. Jim Hirschmann is happy he retired as Medical Director for the Fire Department and became a cruise ship medic.  Now he and his wife get to travel all over and he gets to watch while his wife is "entertained" in the wheel house by the Captains ... hmmm.  Dick Golden is going to Morroco for two weeks and said this joke would hold us in his absence.  The husband dies, contacts his wife at a seance, tells her what he's living the life having sex and being on the golf course...turned out he came back as a rabbit!  Jack Courtright, President of the Miami MetroZoo Rotary Club traded banners with our club and was happy that our speaker today is a member of his club who does their marketing.  After hearing all that Joan Reitsma does, Luis Boue came forward representing the "deviant table" (photos to follow) armed with a $600 challenge for Frank Sexton.  If Frank would agree to put on the hand knitted baby clothes that Joan brought, they will donate that $600 to Joan to be split between our Scholarship Program and the Dental Clinic.  Frank has never been one to shy away from a challenge, especially when it's for a good cause .... 
When things calmed down Telin Fernandez, formerly a member of this whacko group visited today and brought us a flag from his boring Rotary Club in Santurce PR.  Chris Tyson was happy he found his Rotary membership card but it was for the wrong President.  Noelle Galperin was extremely happy that our club gave $10,000 to the Petit Goave Project AND she has been asked by the President of Rotary International to appear in a documentary about the NID's being filmed in India by ABC News!  Gloria Burns was happy to report that her daughter is on her way to Puerto Rico.  Catarina Jimenez brought news of our Club trip to Honduras.  The dates are February 18 thru 22.  The airfare (3 flights) is $400.  The whole trip including accommodations and food should run less than $1,000 per person.  We'll get to visit our wheelchairs, our cook stoves and Tegucigalpa and Copan.  The Final extraordinary happiness for today was The Singing Miamians and our  Dancing Diva.  They invited everyone to come hear them at the Old Cutler Presbyterian Church on November 6, two performances of their Broadway Concert.  There is NO DOUBT.  Happiness pays!  And laughter pays more!

WORKING ROTARIANS - OCTOBER 21, 2010
Greeters - Rodney Langer & Rolf Frankfurter
Registration - Aaron Glasser
Collections - Abe Horowitz & Carlos Bolado
Head Table - John Wallace
Special Needs - Ed Morris & Frank Sexton
Invocation - Pastor Perry
Pledge - Hadley Williams
Singers - The Singing Miamians
DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Digger Martinez
Given to - Bill Beckham & Noelle Galperin
Pin Drawing Gifts - Fred Baddour & Joan Reitsma
Pin Drawing Winners - Donald Trombly, Janette Diaz & David Mitchell
50/50 Raffle - Gloria Burns & Fred Baddour
50/50 Winner - Miki Speijers
5-Way Test - Elizabeth "Lovables" Silverman

 Today's Program
"Marketing your Business"
Jack Hardy

Jack Hardy considers himself a business plumber.  He cleans out all your bad stuff when he consults with business owners about how to market their company and products.  His system is called the Core Value Proposition.  The process begins with an idea and there are five words that define each value driver.  The first of course is the IDEA.  How then does it BENEFIT  your customers?  How can you best TARGET your idea to the right customers?  What will be your customers PERCEPTION of your product?  What is in it for you?  What is your REWARD.   Jack provides a unique single session business review that helps focus on and resolve marketing problems.  For more information visit www.jackghardy.com

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM:  Darwin Hood of Beta Analytic, the world's only privately owned carbon dating lab. 

Thought of the Week
by Miki Speijers

I'm a great believer in luck
and I find the harder I work
the more I have of it.


                                      Thomas Jefferson



Scene Scenes 
Today, October 21


Be sure to join us next Thursday,
Same time, same place.

Roots by Cholly Capps

A Little History of Your Rotary Club

The greatest "pure Rotarian act" that gives roots to a Rotary Club is sponsoring a new member. New members can grow and sprout and sponsor other good new members. I suppose you could say that Rotary Information is the fertilizer that nourishes that growth.

The champion new-member sponsor in our Club, 96-year old Albert Friedman (Mr. Miracle Mile) was invited to join our Club by Bill Kerdyk, Sr., in September, 1967. He was our strongest and most prolific root. In looking at our Club's "family tree" I followed the growth of 17 new members he sponsored and discovered that those 17 spawned 43 more Rotarians, who in turn sponsored 44 new members, who as of 1997 had sponsored 13 more. Albert's legacy is 120 members and still counting. In 1997, 61 of those members were still in our Club. Seven were past presidents. Our first female president, Roberta Hulce was sponsored by Albert as was Past President Joe Lancaster. He sure knew how to pick `em!
Albert was my sponsor in 1975. He fertilized me well and I added to his legacy by sponsoring 28 new members in 22 years. Those 28 grew to become 61. In 1997, 36 were still active in our Club. Things like this column provide a generous dose of fertilizer. Why don't you put down your own roots, take advantage of the free fertilizer and start your own legacy. SPONSOR A NEW MEMBER THIS YEAR.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Community Service - Halloween Party for IKF

Roots by Cholly Capps

A Little History of Your Rotary Club

A very remarkable gentleman named Howard Hoeflich was a major fringe benefit for the Rotary Club of Coral Gables when I became a member in 1975. He was the club secretary for many years and a weekly feature of the program when presented door prizes along with his famous "one-liners". Howard was a close friend of Cleve and Bert Dorgan. I grew to know, appreciate and love him. On his 100th birthday, November 9, 1981, we honored him with the biggest party ever held by the Club. The party was complete with a giant screen and a three-projector presentation of Howard's brilliant life and career, paralleled with a world history of the same time span. (Howard was 60 when Pearl Harbor was attacked). Senator Claude Pepper attended along with many local dignitaries and greetings were received from President Reagan, Governor Graham and a host of famous folks. A surprise entertainer was hidden inside Howard's birthday cake and TV cameras were whirling away all over the place. Howard attended his last meeting at 101 and stayed with us in spirit, right up to his passing shortly before reaching 103.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Vol. 65. No. 16 Notes from the Podium

 President's Time
This week in the land of fruit and nuts the stories are bi-coastal. In California a police officer resonded to a late-night noise complaint, found three lovely women drinking in a backyard pool, took off his gun belt, got naked and jumped in.  He's on administrative leave.  

While in Florida they pulled over a man for speeding and found that he had two plastic bags wedged between his buttocks, one containing a "green leafy substance" and the other containing 27 pieces of crack cocaine.  He admitted that he'd hidden the marijuana there but insisted that the white stuff didn't belong to him.


RSVP FOR HALLOWEEN 5TH FRIDAY.  
 It's Friday, October 29 from 6 until 8 p.m. at the just-opened Coral Gables Museum.  As usual it's $10 per person.  Catering by Lovables.  Costumes are recommended ... there will be at least one prize for the best ghoul.  RSVP to terryclong@bellsouth.net.  




THE ROTARY GOLF CLASSIC is only three weeks away and Chris Morrison was happy to announce a whole slew of new sponsors for this year's event including Smith, Ortiz, Gomez & Buzzi, David B. Mitchell and Withers Transportation Systems as Tee Sponsors.  Walter Alvarez has signed up as a Captain.  as has new member Bill Beckham and Keith Phillips.  Abe Horowitz and Frank Sexton will be co-captains.  Brown & Brown Insurance bought four Tee Signs as well.  Things are looking good.  Sign up now with Chris Morrison.  

DON'T FORGET THE YARD SALE.   It's Saturday and Sunday, November 13 & 14 at 7000 Old Cutler Road.  We're still collecting stuff.  And we don't have enough yet!  Proceeds from this sale will benefit our International and Community Service Projects.  It's the one fund raiser we have that doesn't require you to reach into your pocket for a donation ... all we need is your junque.  Remember, your trash is somebody else's treasure.  Clean out your storage unit.  Empty your kids room.  You can put it in the warehouse whenever it's convenient.  

Say "Hello" to our newest member.  Bill Beckham, principle of Brown & Brown Insurance is officially a member of RCCG as of today!  Bill has been a Rotarian since 1989 so he's certainly not new to the concept.  He's pretty well known among members of our club as well, since he's been very active throughout the years.  His sponsor, Rick Tonkinson, said that Bill was a real asset to him when he was President of the Miami Rotary Club a few years ago.  He also shared that Bill has a "secret talent."  It seems that in his spare time between work, his wife and five children, he's a really fine Elvis impersonator!  We can have fun with that!!  Welcome to Coral Gables Bill. Nice to have you. 


Urbane, easy going and flirtatious pretty much describes the two Libra's with birthdays this week.  John Wallace on October 15 and Guillermo Villar on the 16th.  
Happy Birthday boys!




Happy $$$ 
Randy's back from his photo safari and now the challenge is to see if he can Groh scholarships as well as his competition!  First up today was Yoli Woodbridge who has just returned from two weeks and two Rotary Clubs in Sevilla.  She says she's going back because these guys really know how to party.  Lunch starts at 2 and ends at 7.  Right up her alley!  Dick Golden was "permitted" to go early in the cue.  He told one about the dentists talking about vacation plans and how one dentist said that for the past few years everytime he goes on vacation his wife gets pregnant and this year he's going to take her with him...LOL?  J Guarch advised that there has been a WIley Hicks sighting.  He was playing golf with Felix Pardo and the gang at a tournament earlier this week.  Apparently he's doing well and doesn't miss us.  Also J said that he was humbly happy that FSU snuck by the Caines in the game on Saturday.  He didn't want to rub anyone's nose in it but...AND Auburn won and the Gators lost!  A perfect weekend of College football for him.  Debbie Swain was so happy she paid by credit card for double miles but for those who didn't read her Facebook page on Monday, her oldest son came home to take part in an event planned by her youngest son, Adam.  On Sunday the whole family went to the Zoo and during the show her son went up on stage and proposed to his girlfriend in front of everyone.  Ted Pappas was happy to see that Dr. Randy came out - of Africa!  But he was ecstatic that the 33 miners had all been rescued and were safe and unharmed.  Rick Tonkinson is happy that Margarita is returning from ten days in Colombia at a family reunion, except that now he's going to have to pick up the house and get used to not being a bachelor anymore.  Luis Boue is truly excited that Friday is October 15th and in the tax business that's a big day.  But he's been working overtime all week long to get ready to leave at 9 am on Friday to go and watch Notre Dame play.  Chris Tyson was happy that he was named an official representative for the American Society of Civil Engineers.  They presented him with a business class ticket which he promptly traded in for two coach seats and took his wife Chris with him.  Terry Long has returned from the photo safari with the good Dr. Randy.  They spent two weeks in Botswana shooting photographs from 5 am  until 10 pm every day.  He did allow them some naps, once in awhile.  And Randy is really happy to have his daughter Ali home last weekend for the FSU game.  That was more fun than the outcome of the game!  Keep smiling.  Happiness pays!

Working Rotarians - October 14, 2010 
Greeters - Mead McCabe & Rolf Frankfurther
Registration - Aaron Glasser
Collections - Abe Horowitz & Carlos Bolado
Head Table Assignments - John Wallace
Special Needs - Ed Morris & Frank Sexton
Invocation - Pastor Perry
Pledge - Jack Witty
Singers - Bill Quesenberry, Arne Themmen & Dan Scipione
Introductions - Keith Phillips
DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - Keith Phillips
Given to - Ed Morris & Yoli Woodbridge
Pin Drawing Gift - Dan Scipione
Pin Drawing Winner - Bill Quesenberry
50/50 Raffle - Gloria Burns
50/50 Winner - Deena Bell
5-Way Test - Patrick Morris



TODAY'S PROGRAM 
Rusty McClure, Author 
"Coral Castle" 
Rusty McClure fascinated us with the remarkable story of Edward Leedskalnin and his Coral Castle.  Ed’s 16 year old fiancé in Latvia, Agnes, broke off the engagement the night before the wedding. Ed fled to the United States, taking up logging in the Pacific Northwest.  Then in the early 1920’s, he was found on the side of the road in Homestead suffering from tuberculosis. Although doctors told him he had only one week to live, at the end of that week, he was cured. He claimed he cured himself with “magnetricity”.

Ed then bought himself a 10 acre parcel, where he mined the oolite (aka “coral rock”) to build Agnes a castle with the hope that she would come live in it. Because he built it in secret, no one knows how he was able to do it. He was only 5 feet tall, and 100 pounds, but was able to build the castle out of huge rocks. He also built obelisks weighing at least 30 tons, a sundial, an electric generator, and a radio.  We heard other odd facts including the relationship between the location of the castle to Stonehenge and the Bermuda Triangle. If you want to know more – buy the book!
 As part of the All Keith - All Day show ...
Thought for the Week
by Keith Phillips
"I usually take life with a grain of salt, 
a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila."
                                         Unknown 
Next Week's Program: "Marketing Your Business", Jack Hardy.  The Core Value Proposition, a four step process on how to capture the power of business building.

Scene Scenes - Today at Rotary

 
A lovely Rotarian, Franchesca from Venice, Italy visited today.
                                                                                          
Dandy Randy, J (humbly happy) Guarch & Ted Pappas

See you next week, same time, same place.



Thursday, October 7, 2010

Vol. 65 No. 15 Notes from the Podium

 President's Time
THIS WEEK IN AMERICA a 1943 penny that was mistakenly struck in bronze was sold for $1.7 million;  a 13-year old who sends 6,000 text messages a month won $50,000 for being able to text a verse from "Old MacDonald" in 60 seconds;  Volvo was testing their new pedestrian avoidance system in front of an audience of journalists when the car ran over the test dummies;  a former U.S. Air Force Captain reports they have witnessed UFO's investigating and sometimes tampering with nuclear-weapons sites.  Apparently "they" have a strong interest in our missiles, wherever "they" come from.

Chris Morrison announced happily that Mayor Don just signed on as the Cart Sponsor for the Golf Tournament.  Aran, Correa, Guarch & Shapiro (welcome back J) signed up as a Tee Sponsor and Jorge Yara and J Guarch bought 4-somes today as well.  Things are moving along nicely ... see Chris if you want to play golf November 4.

GATES CHALLENGE GOLF BALL DROP ticket sales have come to a screeching halt in Yoli's absence.  She returns next week and will begin arm twisting all of those who have not yet bought a ball.  Just one ball per person and we meet our goal.
This is a District-wide effort.  The prizes are really cool.  We need to do our part in the effort to End Polio Now.
HALLOWEEN COMETH  don't forget to invite your best Ghoul to the Halloween 5th Friday at the new Coral Gables Museum.  Friday, October 29 from 6 until 8 p.m.  Catering by Lovables.  $10 per person.  Great opportunity to introduce somebody to our Rotary Club so bring a friend or prospective member. We can all go out afterward and scare up some dinner! 
OCTOBER CARE PACKAGE DRIVE

Don't forget to bring supplies for our troops..  George Reeves and Rosendo Castillo are collecting merchandise and cash to send care packages to our troops in Afghanistan.  They also take checks and credit cards.  The items are pretty specific so they'll shop for you.  Our troops need our support.  They need everything from baby wipes to beef jerky, but the boys will stock the packages for you.  Just donate.
early and often.



Diplomatic, urbane, easygoing and sociable pretty much describes Bill Forshee who celebrates his birthday today.  Happy Birthday Bill.

Past President Jerry Santeiro celebrates 19 years in Rotary this week.  Viresh Dayal has been with us three years already.  Thanks for your years of service.

Glenn Draper with President Sally
Speaking of years of service, a former member of our club (1960) Glenn Draper returned today to celebrate 50 Years of Perfect Attendance in Rotary.   And it all started in our Club.When he joined RCCG he was at the University of Miami School of Music.  He came to one meeting and has been perfect ever since.  So we made him an honorary Coral Gables member and Glenn left with all the Rotary Club of Coral Gables goodies including our official club pin and water bottle.  Thanks for coming Glenn.  Don't be a stranger ... come see us once in awhile.  

         VOCATIONAL SERVICE MINUTE
Carlos Bolado is a third generation clothier.  His father opened Bolado's in 1968 and has remained in Coral Gables for 42 years.  It's a family business.  His dad still comes to work but mostly it's Carlos and his brother Jose.  They really "dress" men. You could say he is in charge of Club Couture.  Although looking around at our almost less-than-business- casual club members you wouldn't know it.  Here you see Carlos offering Frank Sexton his business card.  And if you have any doubt how good Bolado's can make a man look, here's our own Zoltan Pinter modeling "The Bolado Look."  If you buy clothes from Bolado's you too can be a model.  Zoltan says that a visit to his tailor is like a visit to a Cuban barber, it's an all day affair with coffee and rum and good conversation.  Visit Bolado Clothiers to look hot!

Happy $$$
Diva ran through Happy Rotarians today at a record pace. She's cuter than Dr. Randy but no less randy. She's happy because there's only a month left to go before she runs the New York Marathon.  Debbie Swain is happy that her oldest son Michael the artist is visiting from Philadelphia.  Chris Morrison watched the Stanford/Oregon game and thought Stanford was unbelievable when they led 21/3.  After they lost 52/31 he realized they are just better than average.  Chris Tyson is happy that his two daughters are coming for a visit.  Sally B is happy to announce that Holtz Children's Hospital has returned as the Title Sponsor for the 2010 Caroling Competition which begins December 1.  FINALLY, Dick Golden got a chance to tell an old Buddy Hackett joke about the hunter who shot a duck that dropped into a farmer's field.  The punch line was that he could keep the duck. He's done better ... Nicole Models, a new Rotarian from the newly formed Brickell Rotary Club invited us to a Trade Conference with the U.S. Ambassador to St. Lucia on October 22 at the Miami City Club.  She was also happy to be at our club because we're so much more FUN than hers.  They meet at 7:45 a.m. which is probably why.  Nancy Green, a Rotarian from Perrine, Cutler Ridge, Palmetto Bay Rotary Club invited us to their annual Casino Night. $50 for 50 chips to start you gambling.  For tickets, contact Nancy.  J Guarch has finally returned from his recent adventures and in response the Diva's comment about Carlos dressing her, advised her that he thought she looked GOOD! He's happy to be back, practicing law full time, and we missed him too.  Steve Magenheimer is happy that there's a really good article about him and Ed Mazzei on page 18 of Miami Today, today. They've taken over a bank!  Keep smiling because HAPPINESS PAYS for lots of scholarships!
Working Rotarians - October 7, 2010*
Greeter - Rolf Frankfurter
Registration - Aaron Glasser
Collections - Bill Forshee & Carlos Bolado
Head Table Assignments - Debbie Swain
Special Needs - Frank Sexton
Open the Meeting - Dick Golden
Invocation - Chuck Whitcomb
Pledge - George Reeves
Singers - Bill Quesenberry & Dan Scipione
DeWitt Law Silver Dollars - NOBODY!
Pin Drawing Donated by - George Reeves & Dan Scipione
Pin Drawing Winners - Rosendo Castillo & Jerry Santiero
5-Way Test - Bruce Kerestes
  *  if we seem a little disorganized today it's because so many of the women are on vacation!
   
Thought for the Week
by Keith Phillips 

Don't ever argue with an idiot.  He will just drag you down to his level and beat you with his experience.
 

 Today's Program

Rich Schucts SVP, Jones, Lang & LaSalle
“The Commercial Real Estate Market”


Michael Katz
Michael Katz, President
MAMCO (University of Miami  R/E)
"UM Life Science & Technology Park"


Rich Schucts started the program by telling us that the business market in Miami has not been hit as badly as the residential market, which is driven by over-development. Large businesses are returning their excess space to landlords, and there is not as much sublease space as there was several years ago. Commercial vacancies in Coral Gables and in Miami-Dade County are around 20%. Retail in the county is still underdeveloped overall for our population size, and add to that visitors and tourists

Michael Katz, who was a member of the Rotary Club of Coral Gables nearly 25 years ago, described UM – approximately 15,000 students, and one of the top 50 America’s Best Colleges. UM's medical program has doubled in size in the last 4 years. Miami’s Health Center, which includes 6 major hospitals, has 30,000 workers and 100,000 visitors each day, making it the second largest in the US. The UM Life Science and Technology Park is being constructed there, with an expected completetion date of summer 2011. The first building should be done with tenants by June 2011. It is being built with state-of-the-art labs, and is focused on taking technology from the lab to the hospital bed. Although there are over 200 research parks in the US, this is the first in South Florida.

NEXT WEEK'S PROGRAM  Rusty McClure, "The Story of Coral Castle"  don't miss it!

Welcome back to Hank Collins, one of our "winter" members, and Rolf Frankfurther who's been traveling for the past several weeks.

                                                                                      See you next week!