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President
Norby Rudel
 
Vice-President
Robert Bull
 
Immediate Past President
Dave Skinner
 
Treasurer
Phil Seipp
 
Secretary
Jaime Tobin
 
Chair-Community Service
Robert Bull
 
Chair-Club Service
Diane Landsberg
 
Chair-Membership
Rick Miller
 
Chair-Public Image
Jay Almeida
 
Chair-Foundation
Dave Anderson
 
Chair-Youth Service
Amelia Bonilla
 
Director
Noreen Timoney
 
Director
Oliver Ruiz
 
Director
Marcos Menendez
 
Russell Hampton
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The Rote – January 16, 2020
The Miami Yacht Club

Scribe:  Shirley Pardon

 

President Norby Rudel rang the bell and welcomed everyone to the meeting.  

Jay Almeida gave an invocation and Noreen Timoney led the Pledge of Allegiance.

VISITORS  & GUESTS were introduced by Steve Dutton:

 

  • Ana Perez – an attorney and prospective member
  • Jonathan Welsh – the Director of Development for Care Resources and also a prospective member
  • Maria Socarras – from Kaufman and Rossin and former club member
  • Davis McManus – SVP/CLO of Sunstate Bank and a prospective member
  • Jason Ghelssari – a visiting Rotarian from the McLean Rotary Club, in Virginia
  •  Susan Jay – president of Susan R. Jay, LLC
  • Shontice McKenzie (founder) & Cedrica Mitchell (Executive Director) – representing Humanity 360, Inc., a nonprofit creating awareness of mental health issues.
  • Rick Hall – Commodore, Miami Yacht Club
  • Maria Kesti – District 6990 Assistant Governor for Area 8
  • Desmond Gonzales – from the non-profit Something 2 Play 4
  • Leonard Carbajo – a Financial Aid Officer at FIU
  • Shanea Reid – Director of Community at the Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida 
  • Ann De Las Pozas – Former member and past President Rotary Club of Miami
  • Ronald Gerstl – former Rotary Club of Miami and current Gables Rotary club member
  • Regine Joli – President Elect of AAG
  • Anita N. – Leader of Girl Scout Troop #1877 in Overtown

President Norby welcomed all guests present.  It was a great pleasure to have them all with us.

BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES – John Carroll’s wife Rosa was celebrating her birthday (not present)

BUSINESS ANNOUNCEMENTS:

  • Reminder of our Board meeting next week
  • No regular meeting on Jan 30th because of FIU pinning event on the 31st
  • Robert Bull – informed the club of Community Service events taking place; particularly the planting of trees at Zoo Miami.  We will meet at the gate at 9 a.m. on February 8th.  Everyone is then able to tour the zoo!

HAPPY $$$$$$$$S were collected by Cameron Sisser:

  • Shirley Pardon – is ‘going to be happy’ $$$s!  Her company has launched a New Year competition for the agent with the most transactions over the next two months.  She asked fellow Rotarians and guests to refer her if they know anyone that wants to buy, sell or invest in Real Estate during that period. Also, to please contact her should there be a reference. She is hoping to win the prize of a cruise!!  Go Shirley!!
  • Jay Almeida– wanted to thank our Superintendent for coming to speak today.
  • Karla Richey - also wanted to thank the Superintendent and said how supportive he was with her magazine and children’s programs.  She collaborates with the Lighthouse for the Blind and also thanked Virginia Jacko for her amazing work with the children.
  • Amelia Bonilla – went to ring in the New Year at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando – said it was a very happy place!
  • Jason Ghelssari - thankful to be visiting Miami and,  to get away from Washington!!  Loved the club’s energy and vibes!
  • Noreen Timoney - thanked the Superintendent and said she was happy to be with him at the club.
  • Ann De Las Pozas - was very happy to be with us today.
  • Desmond Gonzales – thanked the Club for their support for his burgeoning Soccer club for the underprivileged children in Miami-Dade.
  • Phil Seipp  – was happy that Virginia Jacko had the best-behaved guide dog!
  • Rick Miller – thanked everyone for their condolences and sympathy on the passing of his mother last week.  He made special mention of Don Van Orsdel for his care and attention when Rick called after his mother passed away.  Don took care of everything.
  • Patrick Aliu –said he was very thrilled to be at the club and very pleased his wife was making a wonderful recovery from her recent accident.  He was very happy to be with us again.
  • President Norby – thanked Cameron and then gave him his Blue Badge. He also showed the board of FINGERPRINTS FOR PEACE that had been made after several of the Peace Conferences that was held with school children in Miami-Dade over the last several years.

GUEST SPEAKER – President Norby then introduced our guest speaker, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho with a short bio of his credentials.

  • Superintendent Carvalho gave a very detailed and informed talk about the changes that he had been able to initiate and see come to fruition during his tenure as the Superintendent of the 5th largest school system in the United States for the past 10 years.  
  • Many schools were failing when he arrived in 2009 – 10 years later, not one school was failing.  Miami-Dade has become the highest performing urban school system in the U.S.
  • Superintendent Carvahlo has been recognized with many awards during his time, including the 2019 District of the Year in America award – a National recognition that went along with the many other distinctions heaped upon him and our school system under his command.
  • Superintendent Carvahlo recognized Rotary for their work in the community; especially their foresight in partnering to help set up the Lighthouse for the Blind. He referred to the work that Virginia Jacko as Director does with the school children in Miami-Dade, helping them achieve phenomenal results through the technology that she is able to offer.
  • Finally, Superintendent Carvalho referred to the immense wealth and great poverty that we have in our District.  Children need help in being properly nourished, something that the Miami-Dade education system is now taking a proactive role in.  Superintendent Carvalho referenced his humble beginnings here in the U.S. and recognizes the opportunity that we must offer, through education, to grow a better society.  He said we all need 3 things – ‘Belief, Skill and Will’ – most important is the WILL and the urgency to do the right thing.

President Norby thanked our Superintendent for his inspirational talk and presented him with a certificate of appreciation and shared that we were giving dictionaries to a 3rd grade class in his name and also presented him with the board of Fingerprints, compiled from the annual Peace Conferences. Phil Seipp presented a Paul Harris award to our speaker as well as a Paul Harris pin with 2 stones. Superintendent Carvalho is an honorary member of Coral Gables Rotary club and is already a Paul Harris fellow but we gave him the coveted PHF pin!

Another fantastic meeting concluded, as always, with the Four Way Test led by President Norby