The Rote – March 31, 2022
Via Zoom
Scribe: Marcia Brod

President Noreen Timoney opened the meeting by welcoming everyone in attendance.

Jay Almeida gave an invocation.

Marcia Brod led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

As we close out Women’s History Month, let us remember a few of the many outstanding women contributors to the world and Rotary.

President Noreen mentioned there are over 62 Rotary Clubs in Ukraine and how important it is to keep their many members in our thoughts and prayers.

Robert Bull shared additional information about the upcoming Miami-Dade County Baynanza event. Registration has been extended to April 4, so sign up now. The event is April 23, 2022. Different locations are available. Select one when you sign up.

The Club is working on a coral reef restoration project in collaboration with today’s speaker and the UM Rosenstiel School. Keep on the lookout for further details.

It is so important to keep the connection with our Interact Club at Miami Senior High strong. We are planning to have a meeting at the high school sometime in the future.

 

President Noreen reminded everyone to keep their Club pre-paid Accounts up-to-date and filled. Please contact Phil Seipp if you have any questions on the balance in your account.

The Thursday, April 7 hybrid meeting of the Rotary Club of Miami will be IN-PERSON at the Miami Yacht Club and on Zoom. Please make every effort to attend. It has been a while and we would love to see everyone there! RSVPs are required.

Today’s Speaker:

Dalton Hesley is a Senior Research Associate in Dr. Diego Lirman's Benthic Ecology and Coral Reef Restoration Lab at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School (UM RSMAS). His main areas of interest and focus are coral reef conservation, ecosystem management, environmental education, and citizen science.

Mr. Hesley manages “Rescue a Reef,” the lab’s coral conservation program designed to support coral reef research and restoration through education, outreach, and citizen science. His mission is to continue learning about, and understanding, the complex relationships between individuals and their environment.

The coral reefs play an important role in our world. They protect our coastal areas, are an essential habitat to reef organisms, they provide food for billions of people and provide jobs for a $8.5 billion industry.

The reefs are under threat from coastal development, overfishing, pollution/disease, and our changing climate.

The Club is planning to participate in one of RSMAS’ Expedition trips in May or June. Participants will be able to visit and harvest coral from underwater farms, set the coral pieces in cement stands on the boat and then plant the coral to hopefully begin our own “Rotary Reef.” This project is hopefully the beginning of an expanded effort to initially involve other clubs in our district to take part in the efforts to restore our coral reefs and then branch out to other districts in our State (and perhaps beyond).

President Noreen shared the following quote from Ed Begley, Jr., which was very appropriate for today’s program:

“I don't understand why when we destroy something created by man we call it vandalism,
but when we destroy something by nature, we call it progress.”

Those happy today were:

Noreen Timoney – for Dalton’s presentation and the work he is doing to save the coral reefs;

Robin and Susan Shelley – for the outstanding work being done on the reefs and the opportunity to go on the upcoming expedition;

Angela Deggs – for today’s presentation and she is also eager to participate in the restoration project.

Robin Shelly shared that he went to a fundraiser for the Coconut Grove Club. The funds raised were for their micro loan project in Uganda. He stated that the women, who create crafts for their market and have benefited from the loans, have organized into their own Rotary Club. Amazing how Rotary gets around!!

President Noreen thanked Robert Bull for sharing with her that 50% of the world’s population is women and the other 50% are the sons of women!

Robin Shelley concluded today’s meeting by leading everyone in the 4-Way Test.