President Oliver Ruiz called the meeting to order. He welcomed everyone and extended Happy New Year greetings to all. He thanked the PBA for hosting the Club at their meeting hall for our annual Griffitts Award presentation. It was a lovely event and the hospitality was outstanding. Oliver also mentioned that the Gala committee is working hard on the upcoming celebration of the Club’s 100th Anniversary. The Gala website, www.centuryofservice.org, is up and running.
Jay Almeida gave an invocation and John Carroll led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
Guests and Visitors were introduced by Shirley Pardon:
Ian and Gillian Balcombe were visiting the club again. Ian is a Rotarian from the London club;
Geovanni Valerio is a visiting Rotarian from the San Pedro Sula club in Honduras. He is president of the Hoteles La Cordillera.
Bunny Uriarte joined the meeting today, as a visitor for the last time. She will become an “official” Rotarian next week.
Happy $$$$$$$$$$$ were collected by Rick Hernandez
Rick was thrilled to contribute happy $ in celebration of FSU’s victory in the Orange Bowl. He had a great time at the game and even ran into Oliver at the stadium. Definitely a fun night for all Noles fans (even though it was a close one);
Dave Skinner was happy to welcome in 2017;
Linda Singer was looking forward the Gala. She also thanked Marcia Brod for her work with the TBM Alumni project.
Renel Noel reported on a very productive trip to Haiti. He thanked the Club for their financial support which is helping to do so much good for those in need;
Ian Balcombe was happy to be joining the meeting today;
Marcia Brod reported that TBM received a $5,000 donation from one of its alumni, and that she got a new car and spent a wonderful week in Gainesville visiting her daughter. The week’s highlight was a visit to Rooterville Animal Sanctuary where rescue pigs are housed;
Robert Bull thanked Rick Hernandez again for his diet supplement program that has slimmed him down;
Karen Guy was thrilled that her son, despite the challenges of autism, has passed all the necessary courses and is now heading on to FIU.
Announcements
There will be a Gala Committee phone-in meeting on Tuesday, January 10 at 5pm.
There is a District Heat Night on Saturday, February 4.
Tickets are still being sold for the District Helicopter Golf Ball Drop. They are $25 each.
Oliver, along with everyone attending, wished Norby Rudel a happy birthday.
Phil Seipp mentioned that the TBM/FIU pinning ceremony will be Friday, January 20.
Our Speaker was introduced by Shirley Pardon
Sage Hoffman is a woman of many talents. Her background includes being a dancer, US Army veteran, Realtor, Mary Kay director and living kidney donor;
She currently works as a Realtor and is an Independent Sales Director for Mary Kay. She teaches natural anti-aging though simple habits, smart ingredients and quick make-up tips.
Sage, upon hearing that an ex-boyfriend was in renal failure and in need of a kidney, proved to be a match and made the bold decision to donate a kidney to him. She had the opportunity to give him a gift and felt it was her destiny and the reason why she had been living a healthy lifestyle all these years.
The surgery was held in Boston and during the months of prep time, Sage and her ex fell in love again. After the successful transplant, Sage ended up marrying her kidney!
Some insights into the surgery:
Two complete teams of surgeons operate on each individual;
The cost of both surgeries are completely paid for by the recipient’s insurance;
Sage was thankful for the Affordable Care Act which allows her to have now medical insurance with the preexisting condition of having only one kidney;
She was invited to the White House to participate in discussions on organ transplants.
Sage and her husband are both healthy and enjoying life. She encourages everyone to be a donor. She “lost a kidney, but gained true love”.
