The Rote – July 22, 2021
Via Zoom
Scribe: Shirley Pardon
President Noreen Timoney welcomed everyone to our weekly Rotary Club of Miami membership meeting, the Noon meeting on ZOOM.
Invocation:
Bunny Uriarte gave the invocation and
Diane Landsberg lend us in the Pledge of Alliance.
Birthdays: David Anderson, July 24th, and
Diane Landsberg, July 28th 
Guests and Visitors: President Noreen welcomed many visitors from around the Globe especially Rotarians from India, Pakistan, Peru, and Germany. We had over sixty (60) people in attendance.
Historical Facts of July 22nd:
Ongoing Happenings – Community Service Projects
- Gathering Back-packs – over 70 collected so far
- Baby Products & Gift Cards for new Babies born on Miami’s birthday – July 28th
- Honey Bees
- Mentoring Programs – tenured members will be mentoring the new members in an updated version of our Red Badge Mentoring program
- Red Badge Members – Wonderful “Meet and Greet” meeting on Friday evening at Diane’s home to welcome and get to know our new members and provide a warm, informal gathering for them to get to know us
- Leadership Development program
- Interests: Investment club lead by Dave Anderson
Miami 125
Birthday celebrations and different initiatives for civic engagement and education have been arranged by the city of Miami to commemorate it becoming 125 years old on July 28th. It has developed from a frontier town in the late 1800s to the major city of today. Although July 28th will have special events, Miami 125 will continue throughout the year. Rotary will be collaborating with a couple of other organizations on a service project, an expo in a community park scheduled for the Fall of this year, and a celebratory Birthday Bash in December.
Steve Dutton announced the July 27th event at MDC – a panel discussion to include Dr. Paul George and Christine Rupp.
Christine Rupp, Director of the Dade Heritage Trust (DHT), gave a brief historical summary of DHT from its beginnings. She also highlighted the events taking place to celebrate the City’s birthday which will continue through the year. All information can be found on their website:
www.miami125.com
Norman Kassoff gave a detailed talk on the relevance of
Dr. James Jackson’s influence on the City’s development, including being the founder of the Miami Rotary club.
He went further to share the history of early South Florida before, during, and after the City’s incorporation. He spoke about Julia Tuttle’s role as “the mother of Miami.”
President Noreen and Past
President Robert Bull shared more about the life of
Julia Tuttle.
President Noreen discussed the importance of recognizing the valuable contributions of organizations to found and develop Miami, especially three organizations: The
Rotary Club of Miami, The Miami Woman's Club, and the
Black Archives.
Dr. James Jackson was the first president of the Rotary Club of Miami 105 years ago. Dr. Jackson participated in the early development and many civic aspects of the new City of Miami. Upon his death in 1926, the community recognized Dr. Jackson for his many outstanding contributions by naming the local hospital the Jackson Memorial Hospital in his honor.
Dr. Bascom H. Palmer, a Miami ophthalmologist who settled in Miami in the 1920s. He was a prominent member of the Rotary Club of Miami. The Eye Institute of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine carries his name. The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is ranked as the #1 in the USA and is a Global Leader. 
The first Burdines store started in Miami in 1898, and the founder’s son, Rodney Burdines, took over the chain in 1911. The chain grew under the leadership of Rodney D. Burdines and became essentially the “Florida” Department Store. Rodney D. Burdines was an active member of the Rotary Club of Miami. Eventually, the Burdines Department Store merged with Federated Department Stores, in 1956. Several years later to the disappointment of Miamians, Federated management decided to consolidate many of their department store brands under the Macy’s brand name.
There was further discussion and questions.
HAPPY $$$$$
- Tim Ryan shared a joke;
- President Noreen - for information on the history;
- Marcia Brod - for family time in Daytona Beach;
- Robin & Susie Shelley – went to Islamorada to celebrate Susie’s birthday;
- Priscilla Dames - including Dr. Dorothy Fields;
- Shirley Pardon - for The Miami Woman’s Club’s involvement in the City of Miami’s formation;
- Linda Singer - for the get together of Rotary on Friday night at Diane’s, and also for family time together;
- Two of our Indian Guests were happy - one to learn about the City and the other
visited Miami many years ago and was glad to be back even on Zoom.
Happy Dollars can now be paid by the following methods:
Today’s Inspirations – read by
President Noreen
President Noreen thanked:
All attendees,
All of today’s Club volunteers,
All guest panelists and Rotarian panelists, and
All visitors, especially our international guests.
Next meeting: The next meeting will be a ZOOM HAPPY HOUR on Thursday, July 29, 2021 from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. The theme will be Space Travel as our Club rockets higher.
Four Way Test –
Shirley Pardon 
President Noreen Timoney adjourned meeting and rang the bell.
