President Phil Seipp called the meeting to order. Jay Almeida gave an invocation and Dave Skinner led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Guests and Visitors were introduced by Jamie Tobin:
Luis Machuca is with PSA Construction. He was guest of Virgilie Aliu and a frequent visitor;
Barbara Harris is a visiting Rotarian from the Downtown Providence Rhode Island club where she is a past president. She is an attorney and has a condo on Miami Beach. We look forward to seeing her more often on her trips south.
Happy $$$$$$$$$$$ were collected by Norby Rudel. Funds collected today will go to buying cookies from the Overtown Girl Scout troop to donate to the Red Badge Chapman Lunch project:
Brian Tschirhart was thrilled to become a grandpa for the 12th time;
Renel Noel was happy to be at today’s meeting. He shared that he attended a Rotary Club of Davie/Cooper City meeting with a friend. They have a unique way of raising funds – there is a $1 fee collected for every meeting missed and if you are late for the meeting;
Virgilie Aliu was happy to be certified now to do business at the airport in Chicago. She was also grateful to Norby Rudel for his fundraising advice for the “Red Badgers” project at the Chapman Partnership;
Linda Singer was a Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader and was happy to help support the Club-sponsored Girl Scout Troop in Overtown;
Robin Shelley was glad to hear about Renel’s visit to another Rotary Club and was glad that we do not have the fines he described;
Norby Rudel was glad to help Virgilie with suggestions for the fundraising project. He is also looking forward to running the half marathon this weekend;
Randy Lichtman reported that the MDC Rotaract Club will be at the Miami Marathon volunteering this weekend (getting there at 4:30a.m. is true dedication). He also shared that his wife, Susan, is working on a project to get oral histories from Puerto Rico;
Marcia Brod was happy to contribute happy $ for a box of Girl Scout cookies that she doesn’t have to eat herself;
Arlene Terrinoni is looking forward to Girl Scout cookies next week.
Announcements:
The Girl Scout Troop we sponsor in Overtown is going through their first cookie drive. Be prepared to purchase some next week to support the girls;
The “Red Badgers” are working on a project to provide a meal for the homeless at the Chapman Partnership. Details will follow;
Be sure to sign up for the Club’s Valentine’s Day celebration dinner at the Shelley’s. Members will be covered by their luncheon fee, spouses will be $20. We look forward to a great evening;
NO LUNCH MEETING FEBRUARY 15, 2018;
TBM pinning ceremony at Florida International University will be held on Friday, February 23 at 4:30pm;
REMINDER: Set aside at least one Saturday morning in March (10th, 17th and 24th) to participate in interviews of students applying for the Thomas Brown McClelland Scholarship. More than 70 students have applied;
Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) will be held on April 21 in Miami-Dade County. Your registration fee will be reimbursed by the club;
Several TBM donations were received from alumni - Dr. Carlos Alvarez and Dr. Terri-Ann Bennett. Additionally, a donation from the D. Richard Mead Foundation will be designated to TBM;
Members must sign up for the District Miami Heat Game on Wednesday, February 7. Please let Diane Landsberg know if you are interested so she can purchase a block of tickets.
Today’s Speaker:
Michelle Parlo, a P.A. with American Stem Cell Centers of Excellence introduced today’s speaker – Kristin Comella, the Chief Scientific Officer of the organization. Their office is located in South Miami;
Stem cell therapy is the process in which the healing potential of one’s own body is harnessed and applied. Stem cells exist in our bodies and are responsible for maintaining and repairing damaged tissue. One therapy that is used harvests your own cells from either bone marrow or adipose tissue and injects them into a specific location of injury or disease;
The procedure is done under local anesthesia and is minimally invasive, with minor risks;
American Stem Cell Centers of Excellence is equipped to address symptoms from a variety of different conditions with their innovative therapies including: neurological, autoimmune, degenerative, and orthopedic conditions;
The Center provides services that also include: diet counseling, electromagnetic pulsed wave therapy, food inflammation testing, infrared therapy, IV nutritionals and platelet rich plasma.
New member Clora Nelson drew unsuccessfully for the 50/50 lucky ace of spades, but got $25 for her EREY. We start at $467 next week with 32 cards remaining in the deck.
Virgilie Aliu led everyone in the 4-Way Test of the Things We Think, Say or Do.
