President Robert Bull welcomed everyone to our April 8^th meeting.  This was our 41^st meeting of this fiscal year. 

 

Today is Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Bunny Uriarte gave the invocation. Phil Seipp led us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Today is National Empanda Day and Robert claims that the best empanadas in Miami are sold by GRAZIANO’S in Coral Gables.

 

Rotary Anniversaries/Announcements: Linnette Aliu-Otokiti[s birthday is coming up on April 11^th. Linnette is Patrick’s wife.  Diane Stieber’s third Rotary Anniversary will be on April 12^th. Congratulations, Ladies.

 

GBI Rx Update;  Phip Seipp gave us an update on this important project.  The Club has raised over $350,000 to purchase medical equipment for the Rand Memorial Hospital on Grand Bahama Island.  Purchases orders for equipment are being completed.  Phil thanked Northern Trust (specifically Scott Richey, Amelia Bonilla and Angela Deggs) for their assistance with the financial issues of this project.

 

FIU ROTARACT RECOGNITION: The FIU Rotaract Club was recognized with the 2021 Outstanding Organization Service Award.  FIU Rotaractor, Brittney Pardinas was recognized with the Graduate Leadership Award.  Brittney is also a candidate for a TBM Scholarship.

 

#IFixThePlanet: Our Club has submitted two more videos in this competition.  One video is about Planting Tree and the other one is about restoring Biscayne Bay from the brink.  Club Members and their family/friends and acquaintances are encouraged to visit: www.ifixtheplanet.org/the-videos and to vote for our videos.

 

Renew Your Membership:  An email on this topic went out.  Our dues are very reasonable just $200/year.  Please pay by June 15^th to avoid a $20 late fee.  If you pay by credit card or PayPal, the total is $204 to cover the service fees.  Please get this done soonest.  We do not want to chase after stragglers.

 

Miami Rescue Mission: Sent us an email thanking the Club for its contributions along with several photographs of Thanksgiving on Good Friday event.  Children received Easter baskets, people were fed a delicious lunch and there will be some traditional activities, such as washing feet of some people.  Our Club donated to this event.

 

Dictionaries Delivered to Third Graders: Dictionaries were delivered by Norys Figuera to a third grade students at Santa Clara Elementary School.

 

Feminine Hygiene Products to Needy Women: Angela Deggs delivered feminine hygiene products to needy women. 

 

 

ESMAG: Club Members have been receiving packets of wild flower seeds which were mailed out.  Please plant them soonest.  We will Celebrate Earth Day on April 22^nd at our usual Thursday midday meeting when we will also find out who won the Earth Day contest.  Prizes will be awarded to the best photos/comments for those who are doing something positive for Earth.  Please email me your photos and comments.  All photos will be displayed. 

 

Remember that ESMAG is a non-cost membership.  Just send me an email to let me know you want to join.  Your children/grandchildren and other interested parties may also join.  The website is www.esmag.org , we also have a Facebook page.

 

Plastic Pollution on Miami Beach:  Norys Figuera found a lot of plastic debris on Miami Beach and sent in photographs that were displayed at the meeting.

 

Keynote Speaker:  Robert Bull introduced our keynote speaker, Wendela Sandberg from Holland. Wendela is one of the founders of End Plastic Soup.  Ms. Wendela is a Member of the Amsterdam Nachtwacht Rotary Club.  Wendela has had a varied career at age of thirty she became the first female general manager of Philharmonic Orchestra in Europa and the Netherlands. She joined Rotary 26 years ago. She is married and has two sons and a daughter.  She lives in a modern circular home on a lakefront south of Amsterdam.

 

After her presentation and Q&A about plastic pollution in the oceans, Robert Bull gave her a Certificate of

Appreciation. 

 

Following that we had a virtual club banner exchange between our two Clubs and Wendela told us a bit about her Club.

 

Cinco de Mayo Party on the Seis de Mayo:   Please mark your calendars; we will have an in-person Cinco de Mayo Happy Hour on the Sixth of May (May 6^th) starting at 6:30 PM.   Facing covering and social distancing MUST be followed.  There is a pre-payment requirement of $20/person and only the first forty people will be allowed to participate.  A ticket for one adult drink will be provided and ample amount of Mexican hors d’oeuvres (appetizer/snacks).

 

Maternal & Child Health Month: April is Rotary Maternal & Child Health Month.  Noreen Timoney told us about this month’s plans for needy mothers with babies. 

 

Happy Dollars:  Happy Dollars collected were dedicated to purchase diapers and other items for babies.  Happy Dollar donors were Linda Singer, Robin Shelley, Carlos Bonadies (glad to hear that you have recovered from COVID), Phil Seipp and Ron Felton.

 

Four Way Test: Noreen Timoney led us in the Four Way Test to end our meeting.