The Rote – August 24, 2017
The Miami Yacht Club
President Phil Seipp called the meeting to order. Dave Anderson gave an invocation and Oliver Ruiz led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Guests and Visitors were introduced by Phil Seipp:
- Ryan Hegarty is a Vice President, Client Advisor, with U.S. Trust. He visited today and is interested in learning more about Rotary and membership;
- Dave Pilger joined us today. Dave is a former member and is now enjoying the retired life;
- Frank Gowin, also a former member, is with Keen Battle Mead & Company;
- Bob Decker, an honorary member, was glad to join us today and we were thrilled to see him;
- Bill Rammos is Vice President of Miller Machinery.
Happy $$$$$$
- Cory Gittner had a celestial time in Greenville SC watching the eclipse;
- Diane Landsberg was happy about the high-energy board meeting held today. She also shared that she, Arlene Terrinoni, Linda Singer and Dave Skinner enjoyed a wonderful evening as Norby Rudel groupies. They sang and swayed to the Norby’s music at Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza;
- Don Van Orsdel was happy that his daughter just earned her Master’s Degree from FIU;
- Greg Herman-Giddens was glad to be officially a new member in the Club;
- Robin Shelley commented on the time-warp effect that was evident with so many of our former “senior” members of the club in attendance. He and our speaker (and former member) Art Bivens go back to elementary school, so he was excited to see him;
- Bob Decker was happy to see the high-energy at the meeting;
- Dave Skinner was glad to have Greg as a new member and happy to see Art and our other former members;
- Dave Anderson was happy to be at the meeting;
- Noreen Timoney was glad to be part of the Club and is looking forward to reinvigorating old members and prospecting for new members;
- Dave Pilger shared that he has been happily retired now for nine years and was excited to be at the meeting.
Announcements
- Phil Seipp presented Greg Herman-Giddens with his red membership badge. Dave Anderson was given the red badge for his wife, a new member, Nelly;
- Norby Rudel is working with Bunny Uriarte on the creation of a new member program to nurture newbies through mentorship with seasoned members. There will be a new member dinner meeting at the home of Diane Landsberg on Wednesday, August 30 at 6pm. All are invited;
- Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) will be held October 7. Ten Miami Rotarians are already signed up.
Rotary Foundation Minute
Annual Fund-SHARE is the primary source of funding for a broad range of local and international Rotary Foundation activities.
- Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) is the fundraising initiative designed to encourage support for the Foundation’s Annual Fund. EREY aims to engage every Rotary club member by:
- Encouraging members to contribute to the Annual Fund every year
- Encouraging them to participate in a Foundation grant or program every year
Through the SHARE system, contributions to The Rotary Foundation are transformed into grants for projects that change lives. At the end of every Rotary year, contributions to the Annual Fund- SHARE from all Rotary clubs in a district are directed into two funds:
- Fifty percent is credited to the World Fund.
- Fifty percent is credited to the District Designated Fund.
Member Focus on Club President Phil Seipp
Why did you join Rotary? – Actually I followed my dad into Kiwanis. I always knew Rotary was a step up. When I was asked to join Miami Rotary, I jumped at it in 1978.
Positions Held? – I did not qualify to serve on the Board for many years. Finally, I was able to serve on the Board under Dave Anderson as Youth Services Chair. I then got interested in TBM and helped Norm and then became a TBM Co-Trustee with Diane. Eventually I became Treasurer and liked working with nice, big numbers! Finally, I had to take this President job and am really looking forward to becoming a Past President!
Recognition & Awards? – After being a stealth, “Rotarian in name only” member for many years, I needed a little “recognition”. I got active finally and am most proud of my Rotarian of the Year for 2014-2015.
Personal Life? – After graduating from Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, VA, I attended Stetson University where I was a Business/Accounting major and a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
I have a son Rob who will turn 51 this year and have been married to Sharon for 41 years. She has taught me that travel memories are far more valuable than possessions.
Professional Life? – I joined the family business forms business in 1969 when computers still used continuous forms. Business has changed drastically, but I am still handling some great accounts.
One Thing you didn’t know about me. – I took a year off from college after starting my sophomore year with a nasty case of TB. I required surgery to remove half of one lung and proceeded on with my life – did not have to finish ROTC or go to Viet Nam.
Today’s Speaker
- Art Bivens, a member of the Rotary Club of Miami for many years, was President in 1979-1980. Art's father was President eight years earlier. He also acted as Executive Secretary for the Club. He had many stories to tell about our past club members and the history of the club;
- He joined at a time when there were 400 members in the Club. The “Silver Backs” sat at the same table at every meeting. At the time, new members were to be seen but not heard, but that didn’t keep Art from learning their stories. Here are a few memories from the past;
- James Jackson was a dedicated GP. He was fighting to help those during the 1917 influenza pandemic, but found time to be the Club’s founder and first President;
- Frank Shutts was the Club’s second president. He was the founding partner of the Shutts and Bowen law firm. He brokered a deal with the Florida East Coast Railroad and the City of Miami to create Bayfront Park;
- Ernest Coe was known as a nag. His nagging helped convince President Truman to create Everglades National Park;
- Arturo di Filippi, founder of the Miami Opera Guild, was a great fundraiser and presented the first production (naturally an opera) at Bayfront Park;
- Tom Wolfe created the Rotary Club of Miami Foundation and supported its fundraising by sponsoring the first night of Holiday on Ice for 8 years, plus organizing golf tournaments and dinners;
- Buck Ashmore had a barbershop at the Columbus Hotel where the Club met. Many members used his shop’s services and encouraged him to join. He was a terrific new member recruiter and fundraiser;
- Ruth Kassewitz was the first woman member of the Club. She was a true “force of nature” and eventually become a club president;
- Thomas Brown McClelland worked for the government and was a soft spoken individual. He created a Trust upon his death to benefit Miami-Dade high school graduates going to medical school;
- Bill Wood saved the day when he worked around a possible $1,000,000 tax bill that might have been required when the TBM Trust was finally in place;
- Trent German made a presidential decision to place Foundation funds in a CD at 17% interest. Bud Purdy thought the decision was heavy handed when it was discovered, but the investment doubled the Corpus of the Foundation;
- Joe Davis, Dade County Medical Examiner, was another example of a great Miami Rotarian;
- Art shared that Rotary has been a significant part of his life. The words that come to mind when describing Rotary are humility and pride. It has been an experience beyond belief. He reminded everyone that there is nothing beyond your reach….the Rotarians he mentioned were ordinary people with extraordinary accomplishments.
Marcos Menendez led everyone in the 4-Way Test of the Things We Think, Say or Do.
